Geniuses, all of them.
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I mostly agree here. I think Columbus can be salvaged. It's the Panthers who have to move. Interestingly, there is a growing number who believe the greater Toronto area can support 3 NHL teams. Toronto, Hamilton, and Markham being those 3 locations. I think the only way the NHL can ever be successful again is if there are more teams in Canada and fewer in the United States.
Actually, I think it would be better if they contract and re-locate. IMO, neither Florida team is viable in the long-run. I don't believe Columbus nor Seattle is either. I agree about the idea of having more Canadian teams but I think a 24 or 26 team league would be best.
jom
I think it's unfair to declare Florida a failure. That team hadn't seen a playoff game in 12 years until this last spring. Their tradition of throwing rats too is something that tells me that there could be something there if the team has any sort of lasting success. Tampa has also been decent from what I've seen. I don't have numbers to support this but I don't remember them having any attendance issues. Columbus is in the same boat as Florida.
Do we know who the 8 teams are? I'm assuming Philly, NYR, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, are among them.