NHL Expansion - Part 8 Summary

Right now, it appears Seattle has the best chance of landing an NHL expansion team. If that fails, they still have a good chance at relocating an existing one (Coyotes take note).

Giving Seattle an NHL franchise would pose the problem the Pacific Division would be home to nine NHL teams, meaning one of the existing teams has to move to the Central. That’s all very well and good but who do you move? Let’s ignore the teams on the Pacific coast (LA/Anaheim/San Jose, Seattle/Vancouver) as those are the teams farthest West. Moving Edmonton or Calgary means splitting the Alberta rivals which just isn’t going to happen (unless Calgary to relocate of course), meaning one of Phoenix or Vegas has to move. Technically the Coyotes are the team to the East, but would you want to be in a division that has most teams in the mid-west region and your closest neighbours are in Denver and Dallas? It certainly poses a problem for sure and of course Phoenix could end up relocating anyway.

 

For argument’s sake lets imagine Houston, having missed out on an expansion berth decided to offer the Coyotes an arena they have been trying to land for a while now. The Coyotes move to the lone star state and become the ‘Houston Aeros’. Solving the Divisional issues in one fell swoop.

 

I resent Carolina having an NHL team, there I’ve said it. They should never have stolen the Whalers from Hartford in 1997 in the first place and common sense should prevail in taking them back to their rightful home. It’s never going to happen but what if Quebec throw their new arena and loyal fan base at the new ownership tandem and it proves too good a deal to turn down. Carolina struggle to get 11,000 fans to games, Quebec have been waiting far too long and will pack out their arena. Bettman, just give them back their Nordiques already!

 

Finally, the Islanders. You’ve sucked for over 30 years, The Nassau Colliseum was outdated and Uniondale too far from Manhattan to make it work there again. The Barclay Center is possibly the worst hockey venue in North America let alone the NHL. With options running out the Islanders realise it’s teams to leave New York and move to Connecticut, just a stone throw away from the Empire State, to give Hartford their Whalers back.

 

Obviously, this is all if’s, buts and maybes and is totally my own opinion. I have ruled out Calgary and Ottawa from relocating but who knows what might happen to them. The Senators could move to Quebec? Calgary could move to Houston, Kansas City or even Saskatoon. And let’s not forget another struggling franchise left off this list, that of the Florida Panthers. They could still relocate so let’s not rule them out.

 

With a couple of divisional moves, here is how a post expansion/relocation NHL could look with 32 teams:

 

Metropolitan – Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres, NY Rangers, New Jersey, Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers.

 

Atlantic – Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Quebec Nordiques, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins.

 

Central – St Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks, Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, Houston Aeros, Colorado Avalanche, Trashville Predators.

 

Pacific – San Jose Sharks, Seattle Metropolitans, Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Anaheim Sucks, Vegas Golden Knights.