Are NHL teams allowed to change their name if they relocate after they've been to the Stanley Cup Finals?

Question

I know Anaheim wasn't allowed to drop the Ducks part of their team name when they changed after last season, same with the Dallas Stars when they moved from Minnesota. If the Pittsburgh Penguins do move, would they be stuck with the Penguins name?

Answer 1

It's not that Anaheim wasn't allowed to drop Ducks, they chose to keep it to provide some continuity. Same with the Stars. The Pens would be allowed to change their name if they want, there's no rule against it.

Answer 2

It is really up to the owners. Take the Phoenix Coyotes for example, they moved from Winnipeg where they were the Jets. On the other hand, like you said, Anaheim kept their name and the team in Dallas became the Stars after they were the Minnesota North Stars. It would be pretty goofy if Pittsburgh's team moved to KC, they'd be the Kansas City Penguins (not a good match).

Answer 3

Dallas did change there name it use to be the Minnesota North Stars and when they moved to Dallas the became the Dallas Starts. Anaheim Mighty Ducks was a team in the NHL that Walt Disney owned and use the same name as the Walt Disney movie Mighty Ducks. Walt Disney sold the team and the new owners changed the name to the Anaheim Ducks. and if Pittsburgh moves to Kansas City they too will change there name they will not keep the Penguins name in Kansas City.


greenwitc...>>>>>San Jose Sharks where just an expansion team, they didn't come from another city. And the North Stars moved to Dallas and became the Dallas Stars.


GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Answer 4

Habitant - This might clear up the Sharks story http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars

They can change their names, and most teams that move, do to reflect the local area. Nordiques wouldn't have been appropriate in Colorado, Whalers not so great with Raleigh, and some do it because the city may somehow obtain the right to the name, like in football Cleveland was the only city that could use the Browns name.

The Penguins, if they move, may keep the name for a season, or they may change it right away to a more appropriate name for where they are.

Answer 5

Well teams that have won the Cup have moved and names changed. Example the original Ottawa Senators moved to St louis and were the Eagles.
The North Stars carried with them the absorbed Clevland Barons. They spilt after 1991 and became the Stars and the Sharks. Note not both carry the word star or north. Seals to Barons to N. Stars to Sharks.
Anyway there may be a rule at present however it wasn't always that way. Many other teams that were not in the finals have moved and took part of thier name with them. the flames moved from Atlanta ( way cool the alt capt's A is the old logo).

Answer 6

It's up to the team regardless of if they've been to the Finals or not. Sometimes a name is tied to a geographic region and wouldn't make sense in a new location. For example, the Colorado Nordiques or New Jersey Rockies wouldn't really sound right.

Answer 7

Well the Quebec Nordique became the Colorado Avalanche and the Winnipeg Jets are now the Phoenix Coyotes.Playoff results have no bearing on what a team may call itself.

Answer 8

that's a stable question, anyplace it is ought to have some severe nightmares over the summers : P umm yet yeah Conklin, no longer consecutive, yet has 3 stanley cup very final loses excpet he in user-friendly terms performed in one million with edmonton and Hossa with 2, consecutive. i will think of there are some others to boot.

Answer 9

There's nothing preventing a team from changing its name when it relocates. That should be obvious from the number of teams which have (Colorado, Phoenix, Carolina, New Jersey).

Answer 10

I think the Jets changed to the Coyotes and the Nordiques to the Avalanche. If they move to Portland then they could keep their name and it would still sound clever