New Jersey, you're out of the NHL

I am sick and tired of watching American hockey franchises play in a building with Canadian sponsorship, in front of 10,000 fake fans.

Regardless of the quality of the team (New Jersey Devils) some American markets just cannot support an NHL franchise. Sure they can support the team financially through tax breaks, corporate sponsors, and state and municipal grants, but these teams with zero fan support are the equivalent of the Washington Generals and every real NHL franchise are the Harlem Globetrotters.

For example

New Jersey - 11 of the teams 29 home games had less than 13,000 in attendance. 6 of those games had barley 10,000 people. Now this team is a 3 time Stanley cup Champion, 3 in the last 10 years. If anybody deserves some hometown support it’s these guys. I know your thinking that maybe the opponents sucked for those 6 games with 10,000 fans. Nope, Ottawa (play off and conference rival), Pittsburgh (with Lemieux and Crosby in the line-up) and Defending Champs Tampa Bay. The town goes crazy come playoff time, but it is a fucking embarrassment that this team is allowed to operate with zero hometown support during an 82 games season every year. This isn't even a new thing. After all this team was in Kansas City and Colorado and couldn't draw dick and that continues to this day in New Jersey.

New York Islanders - 15 of the teams 28 home games had less than 13,000 in attendance. 9 of those games had barley 10,000 people. With home and road games, they have played in front of less than 13,000 fans 23 times in 55 games. On the road or at home, everybody hates to watch these guys.

Washington - 14 of the teams 30 home games had less than 13,000 in attendance. 5 of those games barley had 10,000 people. In fact they played 5 consecutive games where less than 11,000 people showed up to watch (home and road). Fuck Ovechkin. Nobody wants to watch these guys play.

Carolina - 10 of the teams 28 home games had less than 13,000 in attendance. This is supposed to be the best fucking team in the league. The Whalers always drew more than 14,000. How does moving that team improve the finances of the team or the image of the league?

Nashville - another team that played at home in front of less than 13,000 fans 10 times.

Anaheim - yet another team that has played 10 home games in front of less than 13,000 fans. In fact they played another 4 games in front of barley 13,000 fans.

But wait a minute, every team in the league suffers from a down game once and a while. Right?

To-date the Edmonton Oilers have played in front of 25 sell out crowds (16,839) and one non-sell out, of course that game was 300 tickets shy of a sell out.

The Calgary Flames have played at home in front of 27 sell-outs in 27 games (19,289). What more can you say?

I fucking hate the Ottawa Senators, but even this bunch of assholes haven't played a home game in front of less than 18,600 fans. They have only played in front of less than 18,900 four times, but have played in front of more than 20,000 4 times. I have no idea what an actual sell out is in Ottawa (except building the rink in Stittsville) but the team averages 19,400 fans a game. Even more impressive is that this city appears to just love hockey, regardless of the opponent. The year’s biggest crowds to-date belong to the likes of the Islanders, Carolina and Washington (and of course Toronto).

Hot bed of Hockey, Montreal, no surprise, 26 home games, 26 sell outs (21,273). Again, enough said.

Vancouver 26 home games, 26 sell outs (18,630). Proving a point gets a little boring doesn't it?

Last one. Toronto, our evil empire, again I have no idea what a sell out is in Toronto (except somebody who commutes, but still says they live in Toronto), but it has to be more than 19,200 because this team has not played in front of less all year.

Phil Esposito said in a recent interview that hockey doesn't work in Canada and that it does in the US and they proved that with Tampa Bay. Besides the fact that Espo ran the team into the ground and then got throw out on his ass, this was a team three years ago that was GIVING AWAY 10,000 tickets a game and still couldn't get anyone to show up.

Hockey works in Canada. Take 4 of the loser American franchises and give them to Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Quebec City and Hamilton for FREE. No debt, no nothing, and see what happens. Nobody wants to watch Atlanta play Nashville anywhere USA included, but Hamilton / Toronto or Quebec / Montreal now that is something everyone can enjoy.