Contraction: Could It Help the NHL?

With continued reports that the Phoenix Coyotes are losing money, and with a Globe and Mail report stating that at least 11 out of the 30 NHL clubs lost money during the 2007-2008 season, it's time the NHL took a bold step as the world heads towards the looming economic crisis.

Contraction.

Contraction may be a dirty little word for the NHL and Gary Bettman, but it is something that can no longer be ignored, for the health of the NHL, as well as other pro hockey leagues.

With teams such as the Phoenix Coyotes potentially facing crippling losses at the end of this season, it leaves many wondering how they could be economically viable in upcoming seasons.

With the team on the verge, according to the Globe and Mail report, of losing between $25-35 million dollars, the NHL has many questions it must ask itself in the coming years:

- Where does hockey fit in the North American landscape?

- How economically viable does the league believe it will be?

- Which markets work?

It is clear that hockey is a niche sport within the North American sports hierarchy. It does not have the "Sunday ritual", like football. It can be perceived boring by the basketball crowd. It is also not "America's pastime", like baseball is.

Hockey has primarily settled itself as a northern sport. Tradition, more than anything dictates so.

Canada and the northern United States have embraced all aspects of hockey, from the 6 a.m. practice to playing outdoors during the winter time. It is a tradition that is stable in these parts, and will continue to be.

When the NHL started to expand in 1967, its goals were much like the goals of other professional sports leagues at the time: to cash in on television rights.

To a certain extent, it did so in the early part of the 1970s, and markets such as Los Angeles, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Minnesota embraced hockey and its culture.

Each sport in North America has tried its luck in markets that it forecast it would do well in; or in some cases, let an owner do what they wanted to do with their franchise.

For instance, the NBA has tried its luck in markets such as Buffalo, Vancouver, and San Diego; to very little success.

Al Davis, the owner of the Oakland Raiders, moved his team freely between Los Angeles and Oakland, to the dismay of many fans.

The NHL, in the 31 years since its initial expansion, has clearly found which markets have embraced the NHL, and which haven't.

How Could Contraction be Beneficial?

It these coming economic times, downsizing will become the norm. Companies will become more efficient.

The NHL should follow the model of corporate America and create a stable economic future for itself. It needs to downsize.

If the NHL, for instance, were to downsize from 30 to 26 teams, the league would see an increase in skill and athleticism in its players. The skill set would dramatically improve on each team, depending of course on how coaches would intend on using those players.

Although the NHL is already a highly competitive league, parity would be even greater league-wide, where perhaps final games in the season could depend on playoff berths, something the NHL hasn't seen since the Original Six.

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