The Hockey News: Jason Kay's blog: THN.com Blog: Don’t expect second Toronto team anytime soon

THN.com Blog: Don’t expect second Toronto team anytime soon

The Air Canada Centre is home to the Maple Leafs and the NBA's Raptors, could it hold a third tenant? (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Jason Kay
2008-10-24 11:42:00

I’m not sure how the “news” played outside the self-ordained center of the hockey universe, but within the 416 and 905 area codes it spread like chicken pox in daycare.

I know you’re not supposed to scratch those spots, but my will power is ebbing, so here goes.

For starters, the notion the NHL could/should consider two franchises for Toronto isn’t new. Commentators and analysts have been speculating for decades about the possibility. The twist this time is the Globe and Mail’s David Shoalts got a couple of undisclosed NHL governors to muse on the subject.

The twitter was good fun, but the reality reads differently. Forget for a moment whether you believe two NHL teams could co-exist in Toronto, there are far too many obstacles in the way to believe this would happen any time soon. Such as:

• No expansion on the horizon. Gary Bettman and Bill Daly have gone on record as saying growing the number of teams in the league is not part of their short-range plan. They could change their minds, but I don’t see it; keeping 30 franchises viable and healthy in their existing markets is Job 1. So what about relocation? Read on.

• Indemnification. The NHL has a history of compensating the senior club when a newbie wants to move into their market (New York, Los Angeles). Assuming the Toronto Maple Leafs ever relented and voluntarily allowed a second franchise into their territory, they’d fight mightily for a devastatingly huge payout. A maverick billionaire could theoretically try to circumvent league bylaws, but he’d still have other hurdles to clear. Read on.

• No building. What about the Air Canada Centre? It already has two tenants, the Leafs and NBA’s Raptors, who not coincidentally, also own the facility. They’d hog all the good dates; a second Toronto franchise in the ACC would hardly get a sniff on Saturdays – hockey night in Canada. Of course, a second facility could be built, but there still remain issues. Read on.

• The economy. Like it or not, we’re in dark times, a period from which we’re not expected to emerge for many months. Banks are swooning and there’s a global credit crunch. Even billionaires have their limits. Who’s going to finance such a wildly risky venture in this unstable climate?

Finally, I don’t believe Toronto should be at the top of the pecking order for a new or relocated franchise. While I could see two teams co-existing in Canada’s biggest market and economic capital, I don’t think it would be the slam-dunk some are projecting.

Related Links

The incumbent nearly always owns the city in multi-team markets. Take the Islanders and Devils in New York. Through a couple home dates, they ranked 30th (NYI) and 27th (NJ) in average attendance. Last season, they were 30th and 23rd. The Rangers are “it” in the area, ranking 13th so far this year and 11th last season.

While there may be more puck passion in Toronto than the Big Apple, it has always been about the Leafs in T.O. As lousy as the club has been, its fandom is entrenched and it’s no easy task to entice people to sway their allegiance.

Next week in this space, I’ll give my order of preference for where the NHL should next head, whether via relocation or expansion.

HABS HEROES NOTE
In a recent edition of The Hockey News (magazine version),I suggested surfing this site for more on one of our new book offerings, Habs Heroes.

Seems I was premature. We’re going to start selling the book on THN.com beginning late-November. If you want to get your hands on it immediately, try your local book store, or online via Random House or Chapters Indigo.

If you’re not familiar with the book, Habs Heroes is our ranking of the greatest 100 players in the history of the Montreal Canadiens. It’s written (masterfully in my opinion, but I’m biased) by senior writer Ken Campbell. He compiled the list in consultation with a panel of noted hockey history/Habs history experts.

Jason Kay is the editor in chief of The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears every Friday.

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COMMENTS (16)

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Billwinkle Posted
(2009-04-30 07:14:08)

If you start in Detroit and drive to Montreal, you will find more hockey fans than anywhere else in the world including all of the rest of the U.S. Not just fans either, crazy fans. If you can't make it there, you can't make it anywhere.

Hakan Posted
(2009-04-30 07:14:02)

Panthers to Seattle. Someone start a campaign or petition or something. They can play in Key Arena until more suitable facilities are finalized and/or built. No to Kansas City or Las Vegas...horrible ideas. Hockey might work in St. Louis, but Kansas City would become sports saturated for a city/metro area of its size (barely larger than Columbus, Ohio). We can only make this argument so many times, but the NHL's leadership will eventually be blinded by a shiny new arena and not put a team in a market that will respect and support it.

Anthony Mohr Posted
(2009-04-30 07:13:55)

Before they even think about putting a second team in Toronto or expanding to Europe, first give me a team in Seattle. Hockey is big here, we just can't drive up to Vancouver to watch hockey. Plus it adds some balance to the travel for the west coast teams. NHL Hockey in SEATTLE!!!!!

Mark Cooney Posted
(2009-04-30 07:13:54)

As the centre of the "hockey universe", my apologies Montreal fans, Toronto deserves another hockey team. The Toronto Maple Leafs will always be a shrine of a team, attendance will not suffer, Leaf fans are some of the most rabid dedicated fans in professional sport. The region financially can and will support another NHL team. My reasoning for another team is competition. As a former "Leafs Nation" member I finally became disenchanted with the organizationl last year due to lack of perfomance, the last time they were a contender was 1993 and of course the last time they challenged and won the cup was Canada's 100th birthday, 41 years ago. It has been fun but disheartening to watch Mat Sundin carry this team on his shoulders for over a decade, he is a game breaker. If I were him I would not want to do it anymore with the Leafs. I had to finally stop the emotional roller coaster of promising seasons, being a Leaf fan to me was like being in a bad relationship, you want to believe: you have hope, management gives you promise, but in the end disappointment and no movement forward time and time again. As I could not afford to even go to a game, my only recourse for displeasure with management was to cancel my Leafs TV, step one of the twelve step program. Since then I have become what I always was "A Hockey Fan!" Now I enjoy good games from all the teams. I appreciate organizations with a dedication and plan to being competative. As a former Leaf fan, that organization had me, a dedicated die hard believer, they had me..... I think the Leafs fans should have another choice. I have since moved to Napa, California, step 12..... I am still a hockey fan but had to become....unattached. I know realize being a "hockey fan" is great, I watch a lot of different games, including HNIC on Saturdays, but there is always sunshine in my days. Simply put, Leaf ownership does not care, they have not shown it in decades, so why should I?...."that felt good"

Rémi Bourget Posted
(2009-04-30 07:13:53)

So TO wants a SECOND NHL team?!? I didn't know they already had one!

bill Posted
(2009-04-30 07:13:52)

toronto needs to worry about building one team as a winner first, canada has enough hockey so quit worrying about stealing franchises. all your little towns have their junior leagues, women leagues, senior leagues, etc etc etc, quit wining and go back to your room little brother

Bo Allisat Posted
(2009-04-30 07:13:51)

Here's an interesting idea... Jim Balsillie or some such billionaire buys a foundering NHL franchise, buys up Maple Leaf Gardens, moves his team to Toronto, builds a great team and wins the Stanley Cup lickety split. Now I'd prefer a team in Hamilton (great town, superior arena, deal in place) I think either scenario would be a terrific kick in the monopolistic pants to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and Bettman & company's version of the NHL.

John H. Posted
(2009-04-30 07:13:50)

There's a lot of talk about another team in metro Toronto, but that may not be the issue. Surely the NHL could expand or relocate into Southern Ontario, somewhat separate from Toronto and Leafs country, right? Give the team the "Ontario" title and regionalize it in Kitchener, Waterloo, Hamilton, St. Catharines and any number of communities further down the northern Lake Erie region. This new franchise could serve that region, as well as the southern end of the Golden Horseshoe. Anyone who thinks it wouldn't work obviously doesn't live near Southern Ontario and doesn't see how hockey-mad that part of the world is. The hockey-supporting population -- and more importantly the corporate support -- is certainly there. Give folks south and west of Toronto another team to live and die by than the Leafs, and they will support the Ontario Watch'yacallits! Ask yourself this: would there ever be problems like the Panthers or Preds are having in terms of lack of interest or corporate dollar support? Not a chance.

dave Posted
(2009-04-30 07:13:50)

It's pretty obvious that MLSE will NEVER allow another team in Toronto unless they stop careing about making money and focus on growing the game, which they won't. They aren't even allowing a team in Hamilton. (well Toronto and Buffalo)

Alex in AZ Posted
(2009-04-30 07:13:49)

t-murder - I think the funnier scenario is that the expansion team (or relocated team) may make the playoffs sooner and more often than the Leafs. The unfortunate outcome of a second team in Toronto though is that media focus in Toronto will double and other teams in the league will get almost zero media attention from websites like this if the amount of attention the Leafs currently get is any indication. I mean, look at it now. When Mats Sundin sneezes, 10 reporters analyze the mucus. When Burke opens his mouth about something totally unrelated, speculation about him as GM in Toronto kicks off like it's some sort of new concept. It's ridiculous.

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