With the Arizona Coyotes in a bad situation, the discussion about potential cities in North America to host an NHL team has come up again. Cities like Atlanta, Quebec City, and Houston are all on the table. As there are more and more investors approaching the NHL for an opportunity for a franchise, it’s now time to look at these markets to see if they will get an NHL team at some point.
Potential NHL Cities For A Relocating Team Or Expansion
Quebec City, Quebec
Quebec City has been gunning for a franchise ever since the Nordiques left town for Denver in 1996. Like plenty of other former NHL teams that left, they are always brought back up with people wanting them to return.
There was a serious push around 2015 when the NHL was looking to expand further. They were the top bid for a team, and even had an arena ready, but Nevada was too enticing. Quebec City got shunned even further once Seattle was granted an NHL team a few years later.
How This Can/Cannot Work
The problem with Quebec City isn’t the arena or fan base, but rather the location and the language barrier. With Quebec being in the Eastern Conference, it would be an absolute nightmare to try and move teams around. The only optional solution would be a team like Ottawa moving to Quebec, so that way there can be a team in Quebec without having to shuffle teams around.
Another option would be a double expansion with a city like Portland, but 34 teams would be hard to manage. It also only further limits the playoff chances of a team unless the NHL changes the playoff format.
The logos and copyright to the Nordiques are easy to get, considering the Colorado Avalanche would likely want to have their own identity. They may reject it, but that is doubtful considering the only colour they inherited from the Nordiques is blue.
Atlanta, Georgia
Even though this city has failed twice, it still is under consideration as an NHL market, which is fascinating.
The reason why Atlanta is even in consideration is that it is one of the largest cities in the southern U.S. that doesn’t have an NHL team. So far, all of the other sports leagues have worked out. There are also the constant posts from sports pages talking about the team even though it’s been eleven years. Even we’re guilty of it.
Is It Even Feasible For Them To Come Back?
The Thrashers have a decent chance of coming back. The main concern is the divisions and the history. An arena isn’t a concern considering that Gas South Arena based in Duluth is available, and the State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta could be fitted for hockey. It was also the former home of the Thrashers.
Gas South Arena could work considering the size of the arena that the Coyotes are playing in for the 2022-2023 season, but it will be a struggle considering that the arena is based in Duluth. It will be a 45-50 minute drive for fans based in downtown Atlanta, but for a temporary home similar to what the Ottawa Senators played in for their first few years, it just might work.
With the divisions, there are exactly 16 teams evenly in each conference. There will have to be the rotation of some teams, or a team within the Eastern Conference will have to move in order to make the Thrashers possible. The team most likely to move is the Detroit Red Wings. Although Detroit won’t want to move to the West, it would have to be done in order to suit a Western Conference team moving over, unless a team like Ottawa or the Florida Panthers moves. Then, nothing would happen besides some division shuffling. There’s also the copyright issue which is preventing the NHL from producing any Thrashers merchendise. It will take a bit of time and planning, but it totally could work.
Houston, Texas
Houston has been gunning for a franchise ever since the days of the WHA when the Aeros were denied entry into the NHL. Yep, the two-time AVCO Cup winning Aeros were denied. Ouch. Although, they got another iteration of the Aeros in the mid-’90s with the IHL’s Houston Aeros. They won a Turner Cup and a Calder Cup after they jumped to the AHL, relocating in 2013 to become the Iowa Wild. They have the best shot out of any market right now, considering the circumstances.
Why Doesn’t The NHL Put A Team Here Already?
There are a lot of questions involving where the arena where the new Aeros would play. The Toyota Center, home of the NBA’s Houston Rockets, is the most viable home for the franchise. However, the arena hasn’t been in use by a hockey team since 2013, and the franchise that left wasn’t even an NHL team. Rather, it was an AHL organization, which raises even more concerns about the longevity of a franchise in Houston.
The proximity to another city also raises a concern, as the team might have to pay a fee to the Dallas Stars for entering into their market. Similar to what the Anaheim Ducks had to pay the Los Angeles Kings if they first entered the league. However, it is most likely an NHL team goes here, as the American NHL expansions made under Gary Bettman’s tenure have been really successful.
Division Shakeup
An interesting concept would be to shake up the divisions, although the changes are mainly in the east. If a team in Atlanta is introduced, a Southeast and Northeast division could be added, which would make the divisions smaller, but separate them geographically. If Quebec or Houston were added, there would not be too much change. Although the Southeast and Northeast divisions could be added, if they really wanted to neaten things up.
In the end, these are just ideas. The NHL may not even want another expansion team, instead choosing to try and keep the teams alive. If they decide to move a team to make way for a new franchise, it will be either another two decades or a few years. With teams like Arizona on the edge of collapse, it may happen sooner rather than later.
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