How many of you are frustrated by the lack of Canadian teams competing for the Stanley Cup, the new rules/policies/practices of the NHL and.. Gary Bettman. Whether it's labour disputes and lockouts or moving Canadian teams to deserts, the Americanization of the game continues.Who can forget the glowing puck on FOX? Who else is inspired and impressed by the KHL in Russia? The game is under ATTACK. Here's what I'm thinking ... let them have it and take Bettman with them.
1. Get rid of the NHL and let's focus on the game here in Canada. 10 Canadian teams, creating a true CHL / Canadian Hockey League.
Including: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa, *Winnipeg, *Quebec, *Hamilton and *Halifax.
*I shouldn't have to go into detail about bringing/maintaining Canadian teams BUT... click here for an example
2. American teams can choose to assemble the AHL resting in the 4 of the "Original 6" i.e. Detroit, Boston, New York and Chicago AND open to other clubs.
3. Like the KHL in Russia, (the strongest hockey league in Europe) teams must be representative of the country, allowing 5 international players max.
4. Competitions like the IIHF Championships, Olympics, World Juniors and Spengler Cup are left uneffected.5. By creating the CHL, Canadian teams would play against each other in the regular season with the top 6 teams competing in playoffs. There would be a CHL champion along with the top 3 teams progressing to the World Stage, a Champions League for hockey.
6. The Champions League will include the top teams from the KHL and all European elite leagues and run concurrent to the regular season. The format could follow Champions League of European football (soccer).
Sounds like a logistical nightmare BUT it seems the game needs a new global direction. Similar to football, I think the the game should welcome it's global audience and progress to the next level. Maybe I'm just a sour Leaf fan but I know that something fishy is going on within the NHL under Bettman's control. I'm not the first and certainly not the last to criticize... but come on! It's our game.
I'm not saying... I'm just saying.
Jaymes this is a great idea and a really well thought out plan. It would obviously take some time to get off the ground and Canadian players would need a lot of convincing to leave American NHL teams and come to a new league. But, considering the talent we have in Canada I think that corporate sponsors would follow and the players would be able to have the same success in a new Canadian league as they do in the NHL.
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