sensei_hanson
New Member
Errr...I see where you're going with the explanation HOS, but comparing Gers and Celts move to England with expansion in the NHL is off the mark. The point I was trying to make is that elite teams jumping from one league to another is virtually unheard of. It would be the equivalent of a couple of the top Dutch teams jumping to the Bundesliga, or a couple of the finer French teams playing in La Liga. And since this has never happened before, there's no precedent as to what the results will be. Its a total crapshoot whether the move will be a success or failure.
Gers and Celts, unlike Atlanta and Columbus, have quality players already on their team and will not have to go through the rough first years that many expansions cities suffer through. The Auld Firm will be competitive right off the bat. This is not like the Carolina and/or Phoenix situations where quality teams were moved to new cities....this is a case of quality teams being added to an already strong league.
I mean, theoretically, it could work that the newfound balance of power/competition in the SPL means the smaller clubs may gain more prominence. Also consider that two more European spots open up in Scotland with the departure of Rangers and Celtic.
But, in the end, it does seem to be a case of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.
Gers and Celts, unlike Atlanta and Columbus, have quality players already on their team and will not have to go through the rough first years that many expansions cities suffer through. The Auld Firm will be competitive right off the bat. This is not like the Carolina and/or Phoenix situations where quality teams were moved to new cities....this is a case of quality teams being added to an already strong league.
I mean, theoretically, it could work that the newfound balance of power/competition in the SPL means the smaller clubs may gain more prominence. Also consider that two more European spots open up in Scotland with the departure of Rangers and Celtic.
But, in the end, it does seem to be a case of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.