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| The crowd for the Florida Panthers home opener |
A Saskatchewan team (either Regina or Saskatoon)
Halifax
Seattle
Oklahoma City
Quebec City
GTA (Greater Toronto Area)
Las Vegas
Cleveland
Saskatchewan
A team in Saskatchewan would have to be in one of the major cities, being Regina or Saskatoon. The positives they have going for them are the CHL teams draw good attendance. However, having a successful CHL team is a lot different from an NHL team. The major cities are too far apart, and I'm not sure either city is populated enough. I'm sure everyone would cheer for and support the team, but are there enough people who would be able to go to the games night after night? Not right now, neither city is that big and they are too far apart to be able to get people from both. I wouldn't rule out a Saskatchewan NHL team in the future after the cities have grown more, but right now I don't think it works.
Halifax
Halifax is a similar situation to Saskatchewan. The Atlantic coast has popular CHL teams, but again, supporting a CHL team and NHL team are different. Halifax and the rest of the coast probably have the population to support a team, but only so many people live close enough to be able to go night in and night out, and it likely wouldn't be enough people. I would rule Halifax as being unlikely to ever get a team, because they don't have growth the way the Saskatchewan cities might. There likely would never be enough people to support the team just because so many people would have to travel long distances to make it work, which is unlikely.
Seattle
I would list Seattle as a likely candidate to have an NHL team. They need a new arena, but once that issue is solved the fan base would be there. Seattle fans are passionate about sports and I believe would be willing to support an NHL team. The fact that there is also potential for a rivalry with Vancouver would add to it. If they can get an arena Seattle is a strong candidate for an NHL team.
Oklahoma City
I don't think Oklahoma City could have a team. Basketball is the main sport there and the Oilers' farm team (the Barons) are there. I honestly believe the AHL is the highest level of hockey that can exist on OKC. An NHL team is almost definitely not in the near or even distant future for this city. If anything it would be something a long ways down the road, and something would have to change for it to work.
Quebec City
This is the city where most Canadian fans want to see a team. They are building an NHL sized arena, and are likely on the top of a lot of people's list for a team. The building doesn't guarantee anything, but it is a good sign. They would also have a good rivalry with the Canadiens. However, there is one reason that a Qubec team might be held back. Bettman. Gary Bettman has been pushing more for American expansion, and Quebec City is obviously Canadian. I don't think this will hold them back for too long though. The fan base is there, and soon an arena will be there, I would not at all be surprised if Quebec City gets a team soon.
GTA
A lot of people seem to think this is a good idea and it will work. I'm not completely sold on it. The arena's there, but I'm not sure if the fan base is. A lot of those people are Leafs fans and it's hard to convince people to change loyalties. I know some people would, but I can also see a consistently half empty arena. I would say it's 50/50 on them getting a team.
Las Vegas
This past summer there were some fairly serious rumors regarding a team in Vegas. It obviously hasn't happened, but I'm not so sure if it won't. There are some more attractive locations for a team than Vegas, but if you look at the California teams they have had a fair amount of success and a lot of fans. A Vegas team would have to be good to draw fans, the first couple years fans would have patience and as long as they improved they would draw fans over time. There are so many other places to go in Vegas which the NHL team might have to compete with and there is the possibility of being swallowed up by everything else that is in Vegas. However, there is also a chance that for whatever reason it excels. I think Vegas definitely in the running to have a team and I wouldn't count them out.
Cleveland
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. This literally would turn into the Cleveland Browns of the NHL. Cleveland teams and pro sports haven't mixed up until the Cavaliers getting Lebron back. Other than that though, the Browns are a failure, and between Lebron leaving and coming back so were the Cavs. Is the fan base there? Maybe, there might also be too many other teams close by which already have fans (Columbus and Pittsburgh). I think Cleveland is an all around bad idea and likely won't happen.
Bottom Line: Next round of expansion and relocation, who will have a team?
My answer is Seattle, Las Vegas, and Quebec City. Seattle is planning on building an NHL arena and as long as they can get it done I believe a team is as good as theirs. I know Vegas is a bit of a long shot, but with the Western Conference having two less teams, the NHL I believe would be looking to expand in the West before anywhere else and Vegas is the city in the West which likely makes the most sense. It will be tough, but I think it's possible, the only other way would be realignment, but I believe Detroit and Columbus would be hesitant to leave the East, if they could be convinced at all. Quebec City would likely be a relocation of another Eastern Conference team such as Florida. They wouldn't take a Western team because they are already short two teams. Florida likely makes the most sense to move to Quebec and it wouldn't surprise me at all.
Who do you think is getting an NHL team next round of expansion and relocation? Comment below this post or find me on twitter @thewildman111
-Darren
photo taken from the National Post
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