Viewpoint

So say if next year the Ducks win the Stanley Cup.
-Pronger gets traded back to Edmonton

+Selanne retires

+and Giguere signs with the Leafs as a free agent (Isn't that far fetched).

+The Ducks go to play the European champs in September without all three players?

=Senseless.

Not sure how I feel about this idea - but I suppose I'd rather have Bettman chasing money in Europe (where at least they actually know a thing or two about hockey) than pimping the league in Florida and California. The big question for me is, whose rules would they use? I've always thought it was strange that the Olympics used European rules instead of ours - considering the game started here. I'd be interested to see the European club teams try to adapt to our rules, for once, instead of the other way around.

And the winner gets to go to Disney World.
Isn't the whole idea so speeeccciiaall. Whoop dee doo!!!!!!!

i absolutely hate bettman, if he consolodates n agrees to anything remote of this idea, he should seriously be fired, european players come here to play in this league, if expansion to euro then we'd most likely lose all those players that make up our favourite teams, this idea should recieve the sack, a world competion is not nhl like, well wait, new nhl, less physical contact, i bet u my life n canadian passport that bettman is from russia or something

I think this idea is not well thought out. If you have it in September, than the previous year's Stanley Cup champion would be a different team than the team that won (see Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers this past season, far inferior to last year's clubs). If you hold it after the mid-June classic (Stanley Cup finals), than the champion will be too worn down to put up a decent fight and would most likely dog it over in Europe, becuase honestly, they're the Stanley Cup champions, that's all that matters.

One option might be to take the two 9th place teams and send them over to Europe for a tournament once the regular season is over, some sort of a consolation for just missing the playoffs, but the timing for this is dicey becuase of World Championships and Stanley Cup playoffs going on in April and May, I can't imagine there'd be many people watching. Maybe move it into summer and have it end prior to July 1st, or move back free agency to accomodate. UFA's (and RFA's too) would need some kind of insurance before they would play.

As for expansion into Europe, the NHLPA will fight that as hard as the salary cap.

I have been preaching NHL European expansion for years. Eliminate the dead weight in the southern us, maybe give Winnipeg back a team, and then make a 5 or 6 team Euro division. Play night games, we can watch them on Canadian TV. I mean, how different it is from the once or twice annual western Canadian pilgrimage teams (used) to make from the east. With modern technology (and maybe an update supersonic commercial jet) take a few hour flights to Europe, play all the teams there once or twice, and come home. Return the playoffs to the old style of divisional play first (which did hurt the jest every year playing the eventual champion without the benefit of a nice soft first rounder against the sad sack 1980’s leafs or red wings) and it would work just fine. Why chase after 200 million US southerners who could care less about hockey when you have 300 million in Europe that already love it. I think the talent level would rise, as more of the quality Europeans would be able to play without leaving their home continent (or at least getting a chance to return once or twice a year).

It's not about the hockey...it's about the money!

The Victoria Cup would be a great idea. While I agree with Noah that an NHL expansion into Europe would probably not be feasible (unless they had month long road trips...) a tournament of champions between our best and their best would be entirely possible. It would be similar to what pro soccer leagues in already do. Also, holding this event in September ensures that the players would have had ample time to rest and recuperate from the wear and tear of the hockey season/post season.

Would it be worth it? Absolutely! We'd all get to see more great hockey. You KNOW that whatever NHL team(s) goes wouldn't dream of losing this thing. Likewise, the Europeans would like nothing better than to beat what would arguable be the worlds best. And that is competition at its finest.

I don't think it is feasible. It might be
nice for the fans, but so would seeing
Pittsburg play Vancouver a couple of times
a year, or Montreal play San Jose a couple
of times a year. Maybe get that first in the
schedule . Walk before you run . The fans
want it and so do most teams except a few
in the East . Don't really want to see
same 2 teams play 8 times a season .

Well it's an interesting idea. but we should eliminate all the southern based teams in the nhl then. the talent pool is way too watered down.
i'd say more, but im kinda tired, go Ottawa!

I agree with the posters who say that the season is too long now. 80 plus games over a 5 month season followed by 6 weeks of playoffs is ENOUGH even for a hockey junkie like me.

The NHL is already complaining about travelling , etc.
So instead of including Europe in the NHL, why not just put new orginizations back in Canada...eg...Quebec and Winnipeg???
Thanks too Betman they won't

I think the Victoria Cup would be a fantastic idea! While I agree with Noah that an expansion into Europe, while enticing, would most probably not be feasible, a small tournament of champions would be entirely possible. It wouldn't be much different to the tournaments held in pro soccer in Europe. Also, by holding the event in September the players would have had a few months of rest and recuperation. Would it be worth it? Of course! Heck, we'd get to see more great hockey! You KNOW whatever team(s) goes wouldn't be able to even bear the thought of losing such a tournament. Competition at its finest.

The Logistics of Travel for NHL Expansion for Europe would be ridiculous. It's bad enough flying from Vancouver to, say, Florida-try Los Angeles to Moscow! At the same time, it would be very interesting culturally to see nhl competition between North American and European teams.

Boo hoo for a longer season....the guys work hard 7-8 months a year for 6-7 figure salaries and we're worried about asking them to play an extra few games?

Have the tournament in late September just before the NHL season begins. It'd be a good kickoff to the NHL season and would avoid any teams being decimated with injuries or completely worn down.

I think the Victoria Cup is a good idea. Really. But I also share Brad's concerns.

i love the idea of a europe team vs. a nhl team!

i love the idea of a europe team vs. a nhl team!

Are some NHL teams to be expected to play year round soon? A Victoria Cup is an interesting idea but with the Stanley Cup finals already encroaching into the middle of June I feel its just too much for the players to bear. If they want to shorten the season, play the Stanley Cup finals in May and then go to Europe it would be more appealing.

The talent level is already watered down in the NHL with 30 teams. The travel is already hard enough as well.