OKC Barons Stopping After This Season... One Step Closer To AHL Western Division...???

((HT: KFOR-TV))

In the American Hockey League, anyway...

The AHL, which the HQ has been saying for a few months, is looking at some location swapping with franchises in the ECHL to create a truer representation for affiliate agreements announced the Oklahoma City Barons are not going to be a part of the league plans next season.

Here are the prepared statements:

Statement from Prodigal

"The decision to cease operations of the OKC Barons at the end of the current season was business-driven. This was a very difficult decision to make because we love the team, love the city and love our fans," said Bob Funk Jr., CEO of Prodigal, the OKC Barons' management company. "Without a more equitable financial agreement with economic terms to provide the best opportunity for sustained success, we can no longer justify additional investments in the operations without higher returns. We have the highest regard for the Edmonton Oilers organization and it has been a privilege serving as its primary development club. Even though we were not successful at completing an agreement, we have enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the Edmonton Oilers' management and coaching staff over the past five years. We are also grateful for the committed partner we have had in the City of Oklahoma City. They shared our passion for bringing hockey to Oklahoma City. Most of all, we want to thank our fans in Oklahoma City for five years of unconditional enthusiastic support. We appreciate your dedication to the OKC Barons and the sport of the hockey. The management team at the OKC Barons is unequaled. They are simply the best. We will never say never to bringing professional hockey back to Oklahoma City in the future. We will always leave the door open."

Statement from Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett

"I love hockey and I've been a fan since the time of the Oklahoma City Blazers. I am appreciative to Prodigal for bringing professional hockey back to Oklahoma City five years ago with the Barons. Throughout their tenure in Oklahoma City, Prodigal, through the Barons, Energy and other events, has enhanced the quality and variety of entertainment offerings available in our growing city," Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said. "I want to personally thank Bob Funk Jr. and his team at Prodigal for bringing the Barons to Oklahoma City and running a first class operation. The recent overwhelming success of the OKC Energy during its inaugural season points to good things ahead for the company and Oklahoma City."

Statement from Edmonton Oilers

"The players, coaches and fans of the OKC Barons have been outstanding partners to our organization as our development team affiliate. We have enjoyed a solid working relationship with the City of Oklahoma City as well as with Prodigal, the Barons' management company, throughout the team's five years," said Oilers Entertainment Group President & COO Patrick LaForge. "The decision to move on from Oklahoma City, although not easy, will open new opportunities for the Oilers organization and our AHL business. We want to thank Bob Funk Jr. and his team at Prodigal for their partnership in bringing professional hockey to Oklahoma City."

This isn't to say that the Barons, or hockey in general, couldn't return to Oklahoma City for 2015 and beyond. It will just take some work figuring out what the city thinks can proceed.

If they should even make the effort...

Here's Bob Funk discussing the decision


So, taking our previous posts into account, Anaheim or Edmonton would make their play for an expansion franchise next season (or taking the Barons assets) and what Gerry Cantlon talking about back then may be coming into play after all.

NHL Doesn't Object To Looking At Vegas

((HT: Sportsnet))

MGM is building a new arena in Las Vegas, the HQ knows this...

The NHL Owners Meetings in Boca are now are kicking the tires on the the idea of going to that new Maloof Brothers arena and housing a franchise in that city- whether it's as a relocation or an expansion franchise.

Here's Strombo, Kypper, and Friedge after Evanka Osmak sets the introduction to discuss

The HQ has looked at the landscape and it appears to be going in three directions- Las Vegas, Quebec City, and Seattle.

It would make more sense to relocate ailing franchises in Phoenix and Florida to two of those cities and expand to Seattle and a 32nd city. But, with the idea of fellow owners getting over $30-million if two franchises are added, there's going to be a push in the next few years for the watering down of a product instead of strengthening what you already have.

Money in hand always trumps money down the line...

Is The NHL Heading To Vegas...? It May Be Being Shot As We Write...

((HT: VegasChatter))

This isn't the first time that the HQ has floated this story, but the idea is that the WorldWideLeader is already looking at the story and may be shooting a "30 for 30" with the Maloof Brothers.

Without an arena and a team...

But...

Vegas Chatter is saying that the "Birth of a Franchise" story is already being shot with the development of the new AEG arena front and center. The arena, set for opening in spring of 2016, would be the apparent home for a new sports franchise- when its completed.

Two weeks ago, NHL Number Two Bill Daly was asked about Vegas by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

Las Vegas is intriguing, Daly admits. In fact, out of curiosity, Daly queried a bunch of service industry folks — bartenders, waiters, drink servers, dealers, pit bosses — last weekend about whether they felt a professional sports team could thrive there.

“I got a variety of different responses,” Daly said. “The demographics of the market are pretty good in terms of average annual income. Las Vegas natives earn good salaries, good livings. I think they genuinely like sports. It’s a nighttime city, so it would have to be uniquely scheduled in terms of focusing maybe on industry nights as opposed to your typical Thursday-Saturday nights where everybody would be working.

NESN's "The Instigators" think Seattle and Quebec City are better ideas...

Report: NHL To Las Vegas A "Done Deal..."

((HT: The Score))

After word of Victor Coleman wanting to be a part of the idea of Seattle getting an NHL franchise, there's now word trickling out of Vancouver that Vegas is already there.

In an article in the Vancouver Province newspaper, columnist Tony Gallagher has it pegged that some arena in town will be hosting a team sooner rather than later:

A new team close to the newly renamed Arizona squad and California’s big three is all but assured, the only question being when and with which other city. Or should that be plural?

With all the activity going on in the Seattle area in the last little bit it would be quite a stretch to imagine that much time and effort being spent by so many wealthy men being frittered away for nothing.

Adding two teams in the west to get to an even 32 makes sense- especially if the ECHL reorganization would lead to a 31-team league and the AHL would finally have it's true western division in the 2015-16 season. Also, moving the Florida Panthers to Quebec City to placate the Canadian fan base from all the American movement would also be a solid part of the equation with a teram hemorrhaging money and not getting their way when it comes to the new arena the owners are looking for at present.

The ECHL Wranglers have their niche, and there is a history of NHL games in Las Vegas dating back to 1991.
((HT: NHL Network))


There's simply too much money in place in Quebec with Quebecor Media and the pieces are there for all of this...

And another cash-in day for the National Hockey League...

Chris Hansen Unchanged In Seattle Arena Plans, Bettman Acknowledges Shortcomings

((HT: KING5-TV))

Chris Daniels has been at the forefront of the Seattle Arena-bringing a team to Seattle whether it's at Key Arena for a while, then moving to a new arena-Clippers teaser when Steve Ballmer bought the team and kept them in LA, anyway- stories over the last month or so.

The larger questions go to Seattle Arena project developer-hopeful pro team owner Chris Hansen from now on...

Are you stopping...?
Where is the environmental survey standing right now...?
Are you looking to buy like Ballmer has and hold on to a property...?

Daniels caught up with Hansen
Then, as the Rangers and Kings get ready for the Stanley Cup Final, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman caught up with Bob McCown on "Prime Time Sports" to discuss everything hockey going into the last series of the year. ((HT: Sportsnet))