Where would you move a hockey franchise?

Question

If any of these southern teams ever start to dry up and decide to go back to hockey's core part of the continent, what towns spark your fancy for relocation? I'm kind of against expanding the NHL, but I think moving some teams to the snowier parts of the US or Canada would help the sport. I like the ideas of Winnipeg or one of Wisconsin's bigger towns (Green Bay or Milwaukee). Let me know what you think.

Answer 1

I am still not sold on the fact that the Nordiques were such a poor team. IF memory serves me correctly they constantly sold out home games. I definitely would LOVE to see hockey back in Quebec. Winnipeg also. I would love to see the Jets come back. Maybe even Hartford again.

I like the people who give Wisconsin a nod. Hockey in Madison is great. You'd get some great fans there for an NHL team. The only reason they lost their UHL team was because of poor ownership. The Kodiaks and Monsters were VERY succesfull.

Answer 2

I would move possibly the Panthers to Seattle, and then put Columbus in the Eastern conferance.

Greenbay would never work, in a city of 100,000 people, the Packers are more than enough. Beleive me, any team from any league, form any sport in the world could not compete with the Pack in Greenbay.

Milwaukee is too close to Chicago, but maybe the disgruntled hawk fans would actually get to watch some real hockey though.

So yeah, Seattle it would be.

Answer 3

Either Winnipeg or Quebec City. With the US dollar about the same as the Loonie, both Canadian cities will be able to support an NHL team better than other places like Phoenix or Nashville.

Answer 4

If there were 2 teams moving I think we would see one move to Canada and the other to the US. If only one moved, I'm pretty sure Bettman would make sure it went to Kansas City or on an outside chance Las Vegas. In my opinion, Milwaukee, Seattle or Portland Oregon would be better choices for US destinations. In Canada, the best choice would probably either Hamilton or Kitchener with the edge going to Kitchener since they would not infringe on Buffalo's territory and would be on the edge of Toronto's limit (not real sure which side of the line they would fall on, close enough to call in a measurement). Winnipeg would also want to get in on the bidding, but since they had their shot, I'm sure Bettman would dismiss their chances.

Answer 5

I have to think Jim Balsille will one day succeed. He's only 46 and seems to just keeps getting richer and richer. Since he offered to buy the Pens the value of his RIM stock has increased by about the amount he offered for the Pens.

If he goes for a new building on his land in Kitchener-Waterloo he will be just outside the Leafs territorial rights, but still not a bad drive from Toronto. Bettman won't be commissioner forever, but Balsille is likely to be around for a long time. He needs to hire well connected consultants who will help him develop a long-term plan to purchase and relocate a team.

Answer 6

In order of urgency:

Milwaukee
Seattle
Winnipeg

But, Albuquerque, Baltimore, Birmingham, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Louisville, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Salt Lake City, and San Antonio will probably get a team before them.

Answer 7

Cleveland, Seattle, KC, Quebec City, San Francisco

Answer 8

Seattle looks pretty good, as do Kansas city and Winnipeg. But it looks like there are only 2 teams that may remotely move, the yotes and the panthers. And we'll see how they do once they start doing well.

Answer 9

In this new day and age, plenty of cities can handle having a franchise, but I think we should go back to Winnipeg, Quebec City, and also add Halifax, Hamilton, or Kitchener/Waterloo

Answer 10

If the NYC area can support 3 teams then Ontario can definitely support 3. Hamilton/London/Kitchener should get a team. And the Peg.