Arizona Coyotes: Expansion Affects On Franchise

Las Vegas And Quebec Submit Expansion Applications For Prospective ’17-’18 Startup — How This Affects Arizona Coyotes

It looks like with a $10 million application fee, $2 million of which are not refundable, two locations are serious contenders to become the first new expansion teams since the 2000-01 season, when Minnesota and Columbus were awarded franchises.

What is surprising (perhaps) is that the Seattle area did not file an application. They may go forward and build an arena suitable for the NBA and NHL, but for now are not applying for an expansion franchise.

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Does this mean all the rumors of the Arizona Coyotes being re-located to Seattle can still happen? It could, but the new expansion teams won’t begin play until the ’17-’18 season.

The dilemma which will be created if Quebec and Las Vegas are awarded an expansion team is, the league will still have unbalanced conferences. The Western Conference would have 15 (an odd number does not suit scheduling, etc.), and the Eastern Conference would have 17. Unless, of course you move a present Eastern Conference team to the other conference. Detroit was just moved to the East, and would not likely want to move again, to the chagrin of all the Red Wings fans in the valley.

There are some who think Florida should be added to Arizona as teams who should RE-LOCATE, and just nix the idea of expansion. That sounds logical, but to the greedy owners who are charging the new expansion teams $500 MILLION to join their elite group, relocation is a foul word. Each owner would receive a whopping $33.33 million in expansion fees, and that’s money they can use to improve their teams, arenas, etc. (not to speak of their own personal profit).

Could a team like our Arizona Coyotes use $33.33 million? I’d say so. For one thing, I am tiring of the lack of money being spent to acquire/keep players on the payroll. I continue to read of OTHER teams signing players for four-six year deals, and the Arizona Coyotes not doing that. WHY? Are they snake bit on what happened with the Ribeiro fiasco? They only have two players — OEL, and Mike Smith signed through the ’18’-19 season. They will be paying Ribeiro’s contract ($7.72M) until the ’19-’20 season, so that really hurts them.

Their current salary cap hit is $56.888M, $14.724M below the cap limit. They probably won’t spend much more, and when they waste a roster spot on a player like John Scott, I begin to wonder about where the management’s head is. I mean, REALLY? John (the GIANT) Scott? He has like TEN points in EIGHT NHL seasons! That’s a pitiful 0.04 points a game. I could see using that spot for a Christian Dvorak, or Brendan Perlini who could actually help the team.

In the end, I think Las Vegas may work for a while, but just like the nay-sayers who claim hockey doesn’t belong in the desert of the Phoenix area, they will repeat their rhetoric for Sin City’s possible lack of success. I can see that opinion, merely because there is so MUCH to do in Vegas.

Consequently, many who may attend a NHL game there will be much like the fair-weather, band wagon fans who come to the Arizona Coyotes games. There will be more cheering for the teams from where fans moved from, than for the local Las Vegas Black Knights. I kinda like that team name… has a ring to it, I must admit. That will be the name if Mr. Bill Foley, prospective owner of the expansion team gets his way. (Don’t bet against him on this one folks, he’s got the advantage)

Here’s a possible jersey design… looks like a real possibility.

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