Update those bookmarks...

Considering the traffic numbers I'm seeing here lately, it's worth posting a reminder that going forward, On the Forecheck can be found over at a new site, OnTheForecheck.com, as part of the SB Nation community of sports blogs. You'll want to update as follows:

Web address: http://www.ontheforecheck.com

RSS Feed: http://www.ontheforecheck.com/rss

Moving On Up!

Well folks, the big news today is that after 3 years toiling away here on Blogger, I'm moving this blog to greener pastures; starting today I'll be contributing over at Kukla's Korner, under the same byline and focusing on the same issues. Namely the Nashville Predators, statistical analysis of NHL hockey, and the occasional forays into fantasy hockey or the business side of things.

I'm thrilled to be joining Kukla's Krew, along with the other new additions Mike Chen, Bethany, The Puck Stops Here, Red & Black Hockey, Goal Line Report, and SensHobo.

So switch your bookmarks over to the new address (http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/otf/), and for RSS feeds, use (http://feeds.feedburner.com/kuklaskorner/Forecheck). Existing content will remain here for the time being, although there are two series of posts (Forechecker's Forecasts and The Forechecker's Fantasy Hockey System) that I've migrated over to Kukla's Korner so that as I complete them, all the articles are in one place. Those series will pick up tomorrow.

I want to thank all of you who have visited, emailed, or provided comments here over the last 3 years for your encouragement, suggestions, and corrections when I posted something truly boneheaded. I'm really excited for what this upcoming season holds, and like the rest of you, can't wait for the regular season to start!

Your Tuesday Morning Quickies

Big news for On the Forecheck coming tomorrow, but in the meantime...

1. Wheels are turning in Las Vegas to launch the construction of an arena near the Strip that is apparently destined for NHL hockey. James Mirtle breaks down the expansion scenario, as the NHL's Board of Governors prepares to meet in Toronto. Personally, I think this a fascinating possibility. While the locals may not be able to fully support a team there, I could definitely see a brisk business for people visiting there to catch their favorite team. Just ask yourself, would you rather pack up a few pals and follow your team to St. Louis, Edmonton, or Las Vegas?

2. One question I have is how expansion money might affect the Sommet Center lease agreement, which allows local ownership a buyout prior to 2012 if financial losses exceed $20 million. I know that when it comes to "Hockey Related Revenue" that drives the salary cap under the CBA, expansion fees (which may net each team $10-20 million if two teams join the league soon) aren't counted, but I'm not intimately familiar with the lease terms as to whether anything's different there. The reason that's important is that if expansions fees are considered part of the general bottom line (which I would consider likely), that may effectively take that 2012 buyout option off the table. I hate to even bring up lease stuff, but it's a thought that crossed my mind.

3. The Nashville Predators advertising campaign has kicked off, and it's good to see the team aggressively marketing themselves. When I moved to Nashville in the fall of 2005 I was suprised to see how little was being done in that area, other than a few incredibly lame billboards.

4. Puck Update highlights a fascinating occasion; a MSM columnist (Terry Frei) writes a column about Patrick Roy, gets blasted by readers for omitting comment about the infamous junior hockey brawl that Roy and his son were involved in, and then writes a followup that not only admits that he could have handled it better, but offers up a preferred version of his text. MSM "bloggers" aren't usually so interactive with their readers, let alone open to criticism and self-correction. Well done, Mr. Frei.

5. The Predators and "Our Team Nashville" are hosting a Rally at the Sommet Center all day Tuesday, September 23rd. It's a day chock-full of activities, with a radiothon running from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on 104.5 "The Zone". Just take a look at the happenings, and stop by at some point:

6-8 a.m.: FREE breakfast sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts (mmm... donuts...)
10-11 a.m.: Hockey 101 Presentation (duck out of the office and tell your boss it's for an educational seminar)
11:00 a.m.: Nashville Predators Rookie Game
11 a.m. -1 p.m.: $5 Box Lunch Special
11 a.m. -12 p.m.: Nashville Predators Player Appearance (select players will be in attendance)
2:30-3:30 p.m.: Rookie Autograph Signing
4-6 p.m.: GNASH (Greater Nashville Area Scholastic Hockey) Senior Game
5-7:30 p.m.: Nashville Predators Foundation Silent Auction
5:45-6:30 p.m.: Beverley Mahood performing on Plaza
6:30 p.m.: Rally Begins
7:15-9 p.m.: FREE Public Skate (register at the Preds website beginning September 20).

The public skate on the Sommet ice sounds like a great idea. So if you work downtown, make your plans to stick around afterwards and catch some live music, get fired up at the rally, then do your best prat fall on the very ice where the Predators play.

All Toronto needs is an NHL-caliber team

There's some interesting commentary from the Puck Daddy this morning about Toronto, which is fretting over the future of the Maple Leafs fan base. Apparently changing demographics and youth hockey participation trends don't bode well for Toronto's long-term outlook.

As for my $0.02 on the issue, I think the best thing for both the Toronto market and the NHL at large would be to get another team in that city. They could easily support it, and since the Maple Leafs are such a ridiculously tough ticket to get currently, that serves to isolate them somewhat from casual fans. A new, upstart franchise might help to shake things up in that regard. Look at the Mets and Yankees in New York to see how this could work.

If the Big Apple can support multiple hockey teams, Toronto absolutely would. Whether by expansion or by relocation (properly done, not a Balsillie-style hijacking), helping hockey grow even in the Great White North starts with making it accessible to the broadest audience possible. The problem, of course, is getting the Maple Leafs to drop their opposition to having another team within their zone of control; what they need to realize is that growing the game is in their own long-term best interest, as well as the best interest of the league.