NHL Expansion Rumors

[Laker]

The cities listed for possible expansion by 2017 are Seattle, Quebec, Las Vegas and Toronto. I can understand going to 32, but 34 seems bloated. I don't like the idea of two teams in Toronto- put one in Hamilton. Wouldn't it be better to move some teams that don't belong where they are at now?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nhl-expansion-rumors-four-more-132430889.html;_ylt=A0LEV0.p9P1T86MAKQxXNyoA

[clenz]

Move Arizona to Seattle - everything about their time in AZ has been a giant mess.

Move Florida to Quebec

I don't get a second team in Toronto at all.

I could see Hamilton being a target.

That would really load the US/Canada boarder with a ton of teams

Hamilton/Toronto
Ottawa
Montreal
Quebec
Buffalo

[darell1976]

Cities that should have teams are Quebec City, and Hartford.

[superman7515]

Cities that should have teams are Quebec City, and Hartford.

Bring back the Whale!

[clenz]

I can't see 34 happening. There are too many team in the south that just aren't doing well.

This is what I'd see as "best" but least likely to happen

Arizona to Seattle/Portland
Florida to Quebec City
Tampa to Hamilton/Toronto

No expansion needed but getting into markets that would love a team

19572

Of course the NHL will never abandon the failure that has been trying to get the south to care about hockey so there will always be at least 1 team in Florida - I assume

[darell1976]

Bring back the Whale!

xnodx

[BisonFan02]

Bettman wont abandon the south...they are just expanding to contract later on...the GTA area can definitely support two teams. I'm a Flyers fan, but is two teams in NYC...plus NJ, Philly, DC etc. Necessary too for a niche sport?

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

There absolutely does not need to be more teams. As an avid hockey fan there's already about 6 teams too many. Phoenix should go to Quebec and Panthers would be a good fit in Hartford.

Seattle would be a good landing spot for Nashville. I could easily live without Columbus and Carolina too....

[Southern Bison]

There absolutely does not need to be more teams. As an avid hockey fan there's already about 6 teams too many. Phoenix should go to Quebec and Panthers would be a good fit in Hartford.

Seattle would be a good landing spot for Nashville. I could easily live without Columbus and Carolina too....

Carolina has a great regional draw being in Raleigh with their minor league team in Charlotte. There is no reason to include the Hurricanes in this discussion. The advantage they have is that they're the only pro sport in the city and don't really need to compete for the public's ticket $$ with the NC State/UNC/Duke football & basketball.

[ElonFirefighter]

Bring back the Whale!

A hurricane blew that chance away a long time ago.

[citdog]

I could easily live without Carolina too....

99% of the South easily lives without hockey. Did the nhl ever come back from their strike?

[TTUEagles]

There absolutely does not need to be more teams. As an avid hockey fan there's already about 6 teams too many. Phoenix should go to Quebec and Panthers would be a good fit in Hartford.

Seattle would be a good landing spot for Nashville. I could easily live without Columbus and Carolina too....

What? Hockey has been very successful in Nashville. High # of season tickets every year. The team was at 97% attendance for last season, this with an awful team. THey have really struggled with corporate dollars and turning a profit, but it's not from attendance by regular Joe fans. It's grown more every year with the team opening up a second, and massive hockey/ice rink facility within the city.
Nashville's NHL tesm isn't, and should't be, going anywhere!

[melloware13]

On the original list, Vegas should just go right to the trash can (of an idea). There's a reason no other major league is there (gambling), and it would just allow too many questions. If they expand to 32, first I'd move Detroit back to the west. Then you can expand one in the east and one in the west, maybe Seattle and Quebec. In addition, maybe Arizona could go up to Salt Lake City (only competing with the Jazz) and Florida to Hamilton or Hartford. Then, the divisions could be:


Northeast

Southeast

Central

Pacific



Quebec

NY Islanders

Detroit

Vancouver



Montreal

NY Rangers

Nashville

Seattle



Ottawa

New Jersey

Chicago

San Jose



Toronto

Philadelphia

St. Louis

Anaheim



Hamilton

Pittsburgh

Minnesota

Los Angeles



Buffalo

Washington

Colorado

Calgary



Boston

Carolina

Dallas

Edmonton



Columbus

Tampa Bay

Winnipeg

Salt Lake City

[Cocky]

I didn't know Nashville , Florida and Carolina had a NHL team nor did I know Atlanta had moved or bankrupted.

[Twentysix]

Move Arizona to Seattle - everything about their time in AZ has been a giant mess.

Move Florida to Quebec

I don't get a second team in Toronto at all.

I could see Hamilton being a target.

That would really load the US/Canada boarder with a ton of teams

Hamilton/Toronto
Ottawa
Montreal
Quebec
Buffalo

I don't follow hockey, but doesn't detroit play in the NHL? They are north of the Canadian border. Also, Winnipeg and Vancouver.

[clenz]

I don't follow hockey, but doesn't detroit play in the NHL? They are north of the Canadian border.

They are too far west for what I was trying to point out.

[citdog]

I didn't know Nashville , Florida and Carolina had a NHL team nor did I know Atlanta had moved or bankrupted.

Only the occupiers know or care about ice hockey.