I think the NHL should put teams back in Hartford,Winnipeg, and Quebec. what do you think?

Question

Just like the NFL did with Cleveland, and Houston, possibly Los Angeles. I know it would dilute the talent pool, but with the"New NHL",and the game becoming a "young mans game" the league would manage. Then realign back to 2 divisions per Conference. Same intra-division, and inter- conference schedules. With current play-off format.
What do you think?

Answer 1

Absolutly they should

Answer 2

I don't think teams should be added at all, but rather move a few of the existing teams. Winnipeg and Quebec should get hockey back. Hartford deserves hockey as well, but just doesn't have the arena available to accommodate an NHL team. The arena there was ugly, small and outdated(not to mention being in the middle of a mall) back when the Whale were there, and I think it's still the only arena in town. Plus the Rangers own it for their minor league team.

I think Nashville, Florida and Phoenix should all be relocated. All bad choices to begin with and just not drawing enough to make them viable. Move those three to Winnipeg, Quebec and K.C. Put Quebec in the East, move Columbus or Detroit to the East and put Winnipeg and K.C. in the West and either go with 2 or 4 divisions in each conference.

Answer 3

I think Winnepeg and Hartford do deserve teams. They have good traditions. Who doesn't remember the white out in Winnepeg, or The Harford Whalers March? By the way I loved that song, and wish Carolina would use it. Quebec City was a good NHL city, but putting a team there might cause a civil war. 2 divisions per conference would be good, but instead of the current format, take the top 4 from each division, put d1 vs. d4, d2 vs. d3 in each division, then those winners face each other, then those winners in the conference finals. There would be more intense playoff games.

Answer 4

Just what the league needs- more teams...............not. Maybe if teams like Florida and Phoenix moved back there then OK but NOT more teams. To the above poster who said they have already failed-that was pre-salary cap and they could now compete. A city like Winnipeg has a new arena. You don't hear about teams like Ottawa/Calgary needing to relocate now because of the cap. If there is one good thing the cap has brought, it is that. Too little, too late for those cities but the teams you mention would do better in today's NHL than alot of teams that already exist. Too many people with the option of going to a hockey game or going to the beach. If it were beach weather all year long in Canada, not as many people would watch hockey.

Answer 5

I think that those teams moved for a reason. Quebec maybe but I wouldnt put teams back in the other cities. Its the nature of the beast some cities lose teams while others get awarded teams, and what have those cities done lately to bring hockey back, do they have plans for a new arena if they can get a team, do they have a list of people that are willing to buy season tickets.

Answer 6

I would love to see more Canadian teams in the NHL. Even Hamilton is trying. I know Winnipeg didn't make much money, but now that tickets are so expensive, how can you not make money? (Didn't Betteman say the new salary caps would lower ticket prices? roflmao) Anyways, Winnipeg drew larger crowds then Pittsburg did a few years ago. USA isn't hockey crazy like Canada. I don't know what Betteman's thinking is, but it seems pretty wrong to me.

Answer 7

Winnipeg has an arena which I dont believe would be good enough to bring in NHL-level revenues. In addition, they moved because they did not have corporate support.

Winnipeg is a great city for hockey, but does not have enough corporation sponsorship to support an NHL franchise. Thats why they lost so much money before, and thats why they moved.

Answer 8

To Kenneth.. Yes Winnipeg has built a new arena in hopes of getting a team. They now have the largest AHL arena... they wnat a team. They deserve a team to. Hockey is life in Winnipeg and Quebec City, but they go to Phoenix and Colorado where no one knows anything about hockey. It pisses me off.

Answer 9

U R Right that it should work, but I think Hartford, Winnepeg, and Quebec should bring back teams to their towns. I still believe that cities that really want pro sports franchises, get togeather and find ways to get them, or keep them. Just like Pittsburgh, if you want the Pens, you'll make it happen. Teams don't leave just because it's warmer in Miami! They bail out because the city doesn't back them.

Answer 10

Mathew H: sorry to disappoint you but the NHL will never move a team to, or expand to Canada.
Bettman wants the NHL to flourish in the states, he cares little about Canada.
The new C/A was all about helping the small market American teams, NOT Canadian teams.
The Canadian guy that had a offer in on the Penguins withdrew because he wanted assurance he could move the team anywhere; the NHL said yes to anywhere in the states. They did not want the team to move to Canada if the Pens were to move from Pittsburg.
Sad to say but it's reality.
The irony is, Lemeiux (Canadian) helping an American team, Gretzky (Canadian) helping an American team. Where were the Canadian players helping Winnipeg or Quebec?
I don't balme Bettman or Americans, I blame the "who cares" attitude of Canadians.
It was an American (Bettman) that trashed the Canada Cup (to honour the country that gave the world the game of hockey) and NOT one Canadian gave a damn...pity...only in Canada!

Answer 11

I would love it.
I would also love to see the NHL go back to the old division set-up. patrick division,norris divion, and so on.

These things wont happen though simply because fans would like it.