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The question isn't to re-build so much that it is where to re-locate this team. Rumours are flying over the blackberries about it...Bettman is just not up to speed (no surprise there) on them as he is unable to purchase one of these Blackberries for some reason...Seriously, he has made 2 attempts and is in the process of a third time trying but is having his credit card blocked through the Canadian outlet in Southern Ontario where he thought his name would be unrecognized due to the disinterest in hockey there... :)

They should go to Quebec City, Lecavalier and St. Louis, a couple of Canadiens to fight right in.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:57 AM ET  05.07 by Sports_Fan_19

They should go to Quebec City, Lecavalier and St. Louis, a couple of Canadiens to fight right in.

That would be a riot to see that happen...Imagine Bob Gainey's reaction if it did!

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 08:11 AM ET  05.07 by Baun-ded=PUCKHEAD

The question isn't to re-build so much that it is where to re-locate this team. Rumours are flying over the blackberries about it...Bettman is just not up to speed (no surprise there) on them as he is unable to purchase one of these Blackberries for some reason...Seriously, he has made 2 attempts and is in the process of a third time trying but is having his credit card blocked through the Canadian outlet in Southern Ontario where he thought his name would be unrecognized due to the disinterest in hockey there... :)

touche

Tampa Bay is a team that is in deep trouble with ownership, management and coaching. They will never attract free-agents, nor will they be able to sign anyone to play with Vinny. This is just a sad place to play hockey...

Maybe Balsillie's partner at RIM can buy them and move them back to Canada.

slightly long post alert, sorry;

wow, another team in a "non-traditional" market is in trouble? Imagine that, Mr. Bettman?
This actually goes to the very heart of the problem with putting teams in areas where I (very snobbily so I am told) believe they simply do not belong. Snobbery or not, the very real facts are right there, and this franchise is a perfect example. Here is a team that won The Cup a few years ago, has one of the league's marquee players in Vinny (and some would say, St. Louis too), yet they can't keep it together. It really is very simple. After the novelty wears off, what then, oh Midget Master of Ineptitude? There is no loyal fan base to build upon, (and it'll be even worse if he tries to put a team in Vegas) so when things go south, so to speak...there's nothing to bring it back.What aAre you going to try tp base a team's survival on? Spring Break?
It's time to get off the pot, admit the error, (which, ijn my eyes at least, would make you seem almost 5 feet tall) and correct it.

Midget Master of Ineptitude? I can see it now...MiMI.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 01:01 PM ET  05.07 by Nifkin

Midget Master of Ineptitude? I can see it now...MiMI.

In the immortal words of Ed Norton (Honeymooners)
'Maybe the phrase just fit"

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 12:20 PM ET  05.07 by PopKing

Maybe Balsillie's partner at RIM can buy them and move them back to Canada.

Let him buy both!

Keep the kid you cheap @#$%s

Tampa to KC

10 million per year is a hard sell to any team.

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 03:32 PM ET  05.07 by Minisoda Connection

Tampa to KC

No chance.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 10:05 AM ET  05.07 by Baun-ded=PUCKHEAD

That would be a riot to see that happen...Imagine Bob Gainey's reaction if it did!

Indeed! If he really wants Lecavalier, he better pull the trigger now 'cause if the Bolts move to Quebec (I like the idea), they would never, ever trade the guy to Montreal. Same goes for St-Louis.

Did I mention I like the idea of them going to Quebec a lot? Lecavalier and St-Louis haunting the Canadiens in the age of the Internet and 24-hour sport networks (RDS in Quebec would set viewing records) would make every game a must-see event across La Belle Province. Ask anyone who witnessed the old Nordiques-Canadiens rivalry from up close. They'll tell you.

QUOTE(#17):

Originally posted 05:30 PM ET  05.07 by Stranger

Indeed! If he really wants Lecavalier, he better pull the trigger now 'cause if the Bolts move to Quebec (I like the idea), they would never, ever trade the guy to Montreal. Same goes for St-Louis.Did I mention I like the idea of them going to Quebec a lot? Lecavalier and St-Louis haunting the Canadiens in the age of the Internet and 24-hour sport networks (RDS in Quebec would set viewing records) would make every game a must-see event across La Belle Province. Ask anyone who witnessed the old Nordiques-Canadiens rivalry from up close. They'll tell you.

yes...and asking me, since I did actually witness many of those games...two Quebec teams going at it head to head, even in Bettman's "My my don't touch me NHL" havoc would surely break out...pretty big long shot though...lets see what happens in Phoenix...this could really be beginning of the changing of the guard...Man that would be so sweet! The simple fact that there is a very good chance of this thing unfolding and rolling that team back to Canada and have the Canadian fans have something to do with the process to send Bettman packing...well...I simply can't contain my dilerium much longer....

QUOTE(#17):

Originally posted 05:30 PM ET  05.07 by Stranger

Indeed! If he really wants Lecavalier, he better pull the trigger now 'cause if the Bolts move to Quebec (I like the idea), they would never, ever trade the guy to Montreal. Same goes for St-Louis.Did I mention I like the idea of them going to Quebec a lot? Lecavalier and St-Louis haunting the Canadiens in the age of the Internet and 24-hour sport networks (RDS in Quebec would set viewing records) would make every game a must-see event across La Belle Province. Ask anyone who witnessed the old Nordiques-Canadiens rivalry from up close. They'll tell you.

Thank you, thank you.

I actually first thought of that back when the first ever Lecavalier to Montreal rumours surfaced.

I would love to see a Quebec City team again but I don't think Bettman will never allow that to happen. My guess is he would use whatever resources, money and power to keep Tampa Bay, Phoenix, Nashville etc etc in small market US cities rather than permit a move to Canada. We will see a team in Butte, Montana before Hamilton, Ontario or Quebec City, Quebec or even Winnipeg.

Lecavalier's contract is too rich for most teams but my guess is Gainey will take a shot at it, he knows his days are numbered in Montreal and he needs to pull off a monster trade to save his bacon. The problem is that Montreal has too many holes that need to be filled, taking on Vinny's monster contract would be disastrous.

Unless of course Vinny can play goalie and defense too.....along with some off ice duties like coaching....and maybe some scouting....perhaps some GM duties.

Spiny, your whole snobby rant was based on attendance as if the Bolts don't have any fans and that's what this is about. Attendance is not what this is about. It's about colossal mismanagement, something that happens everywhere at one time or another.

In 2009(with possibly the worst team) the Lightning had better attendance than nine other franchises including New Jersey and the Islanders. And Boston(!), Pittsburgh(!), and Edmonton BARELY outdrew them.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance

The fact is the Bolts filled up 90% of their gym every night with a terrible team. Hockey is big in that particular market. Don't let the snobs convince you otherwise.