Gary Bettman warns of NHL team closures

Bouchie

Bettman has apparently said that the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames will go under, unless the players can come to terms on a fair deal with the owners. Is that just a threat? Either way, it's another reason why the players should take the salary cap and stop the madness.

Dr. Giganto

Sports Moderator

last week i went on that FlamesGirls site....wow

Made me wanna move to Calgary

Actually, my cousin who works for the Rangers is going there next month. I suppose they're still scouting, even though there's no season...

Cyrus

Bettman is a fool. The NHLPA was smarter about this issue even if I support the salary cap. They were quick to point out Calgary and Edmonton were two of the largest markets last season. And with Calgary's low player salary I don't see them in too much trouble. I mean the Flames owners have been considering buying the Stampeders too. Doesn't sound like money trouble to me. He needs a reality check that teams like Carolina are the problem teams.

Freak

I think he was just pointing more at the fact that the Flames and Oilers can't compete whatsoever with the payrolls of other teams. They played well last year, but they've also gone through some really rough times in the not-so-distant past, and in all likelihood will face them again soon if there's no cap. There's been talk about both teams folding before, and since nothing's been done to prevent it, it could happen again any time.

IRALB

What he failed to mention in that interview, was that the Oilers and Flames were two of the most profitable teams last season. Edmonton was ranked ninth in the league, and with the Cdn dollar steadily increasing, Bettman should be worrying about the sunbelt teams that will be gone come the CBA.