flyingelvii {l Wrote}:Yeah that really falls flat when you look at the plight of pretty much every Canadian team not named Vancouver. Toronto has the longest active streak without making the playoffs at the moment. Calgary is mired in being in the bottom half of the conference. Montreal is a francophone mess. Edmonton keeps drafting high but has failed to get a competent defenseman. Ottawa was supposed to be one of the worst teams in the league until some other guys emerged/reemerged.
Not to mention, how does the NHL go and prop up these franchises, aside from putting them on NBC to gain exposure, which really has no bearing on how they perform on the ice and is the main driver of attendance, revenue, popularity, etc.? Did they hold Chara at gunpoint to have him sign in Boston? Did they let it slip that Lucic and Krejci were going to be good values in the second round and that Tim Thomas would find the fountain of youth? Did they force Brian Burke to make the Kessel trade? Did Bettman poison Bill Wurtz so that Hawks home games wouldn't be blacked out any longer? There's just too many variable to not call bullshit on that theory.
I don't think the league is omnipotent, but I do think they may mess around with the draft lottery and I definitely think they encourage officials come playoff time.
The penguins situation doesn't even need explanation. 1,2,1,2 from 2003-2006. Then obvious protection of the "next one" from the league. Team goes from a move to Kansas City, to having a new stadium and a nice sell out string.
Boston just gets away with murder on the ice and everyone knows it.