Recent NHL expansions/moves?

Question

Of the NHL expansions/moves in the last 15 years which places do you think deserved a team the most and which city least deserved one?

Answer 1

No city/state really deserves a team more than the next. A certain city/state might appreciate it more than another, such as Ottawa and Minnesota compared to Phoenix and Florida.

Answer 2

Best move: Colorado Avalanche.
If you look at the climate, it's perfect. Denver is a cold winter city, and hockey fir perfectly into the city. It gave the people something to do when the Broncos weren't playing (because God knows the Nuggets and Rockies never were powerhouses in their respective sports). Not only that, they have amassed two Stanley Cups in 12 played seasons, nine straight division titles, and were in the playoffs every year except last, and even then they missed a spot by one point.

Worst Move: Nashville Predators
So many options to choose from. Florida, Phoenix, Columbus, and Atlanta made this an extremely close call. BTW, Tampa and Carolina are excluded because they have something these other teams don't: a ring. But Nashville wins this because not only do they draw dick when they have a good record (only because they're in the Central), but they are in Nashville, Tennessee. Nothing against Nashville. I've been there, and it is truly a nice city. But hockey doesn't belong there. It's like baseball in Canada: best intentions gone horribly wrong. Throw in the fact that there was a very strong possibility of them leaving Nashville (for a place like Kansas City. Even worse idea), and you have ateam destined to be disbanded. And they play country music after each goal. What the hell? Even Dallas doesn't do that, and they're in Texas! No excuse on Nashville's part.

I think they should relocate Phoenix, Florida, and Atlanta to Winnepeg, Quebec, and Hartford, respectively. Those would be great moves. Long live the Whale!!

Answer 3

There you go again, denigrating warm weather areas who have hockey teams. It is not about where the team is placed. Any city is going to take time to build a base when a new team or apart arrives. It is the moves that the ownership takes to promote the sport and the team that will make the difference. Tampa has been selling out most of their games since there Stanley Cup year. There are established teams in this league that play in smaller arenas that can't say the same thing.

Just because you're Canadian or from the North doesn't make hockey an ownership right.

Answer 4

There are cities that gained hockey teams that now appear to be really good moves. Is that the same as deserving a team? S'pose it is. Denver, Ottawa and Minniapolis come to mind as the best of the feel good stories.
Phoenix, love the city, been there a bunch of times, just don't get that hockey town feeling when I'm there. Same as Tampa Bay, nice area, had a blast with some of the locals, didn't see evidence of too many hockey fans.

Answer 5

I think both Colorado and Ottawa both rightfully deserved franchises. Nordiques supporters no longer wanted a losing team in the Pepsi Coliseum and Colorado was a growing market that actually had cold weather. Ottawa gained a brilliant owner who fertilized the market in Ottawa mostly platooning of the Maples Leafs struggles on the ice. While the Leafs sucked more an more, it brought more new Sens fans into the arena to not only cheer for a decent team in Ontario but to piss off family members who are Leaf fans.

Phoenix prolly deserved it least. They go out and build an arena far away from the metropolitan area where no one can find it...except Suns fans who want to go watch basketball not hockey.

Answer 6

Any city that can't fill their stadium and requires money from the teams that can fill their stadiums to stay in the place they're at doesn't deserve a team (read Phoenix, Florida and Nashville into the eqation here and soon to add Atlanta). If a city fills the stadium it deserves the team. It's about the sport not just winning and if you only support a team when it's winning it won't survive.

Answer 7

Well clearly Phoenix deserved it the least.
I think Dallas took the North Stars in the last 15 years and of the expansions and moves hard to argue there was one that really took as well.

Answer 8

Good moves - Dallas, Minnesota, Tampa, Colorado, and Ottawa. They all support their teams. I don't think Minnesota should have lost their team but Dallas was a good move.

Bad moves - Phoenix, Florida, Atlanta, and Nashville. These cities couldn't care less if they have a team or not. Nashville had one of the best teams in the league and still nobody went.

Answer 9

The North Stars moving to Dallas was the biggest blunder in the history of the NHL!!! The NHL has continued to shoot themselves in the foot by moving or adding teams in cities that don't know a hockey puck from a pile of dog doody such as in Florida, Nashville, Texas, Phoenix & even a few California teams! The NHL is so watered down now with players that should be insurance salesman or selling cars!!!

Answer 10

"Like I'm telling you", Colorado deserved a hockey team just as much as Minnesota. The Avs have thrived in Colorado. The cities that deserved teams the most are Ottawa, Minnesota, and Colorado. Cities that deserved teams the least are Phoenix, Florida, and Nashville.