SalarySwishSalarySwish
Avatar

MakingMoves121

MakingMoves121
Member Since
Apr. 23, 2016
Favourite Team
New York Rangers
2nd Favourite Team
Columbus Blue Jackets
Forum Posts
127
Posts per Day
0.0
Forum: NHLJan. 17, 2018 at 5:20 p.m.
Thread: NHL Timeline 2018-2022
Thank you for this exercise. It's a lot to think about, so I don't mean to nit-pick, but I'm assuming this was done in the hopes of inducing discussion:

1) I think I've assumed all year that the Sabres would turn this around (not completely, of course) and finish where they usually do (with the exception of the tank years): smack dab in the middle of teams that missed the playoffs. Not good enough to be in the chase, but not bad enough to have a real shot at the lottery. The idea of getting Dahlin honestly hadn't really sunk in until now and I think I just pee'd a little. Though, to be honest, we all know the Sabres can't win a lottery. So it'll be Edmonton.

2) Hamilton won't get a franchise. While it's true that the Toronto area can almost certainly handle a second franchise in that close a proximity, the Sabres probably cannot. The Sabres are a small market team, and a lot of that market bleeds into Canada and fan run-off from folks for whom Toronto is just a little too far out of the way, too expensive, or tickets are just too hard to get your hands on. At the same time, the NHL can't let the Sabres franchise sink. Buffalo has one of the strongest pro hockey fan bases in the states, and ownership is making a lot of investments around the city and related to the sport of hockey in general. While Hamilton would be a viable market, I think it would be at the expense of the Sabres, and I don't think the league will have any interest in letting that happen.

3) I would flip Buffalo and Columbus in the divisions. The Sabres/Leafs rivalry shouldn't be interrupted, especially with the careers of Matthews and Eichel just beginning. Trust me, that's going to be an interesting development (heated rivals for clubs, teammates for country). Plus Buffalo fits in more with the Canadian cities: we love Labatt and view the Hip as gods too!