NHL Expansion

31-team NHL

31-team NHL

Hi all. Here’s a real quickly put together map of what the “New NHL” will likely look like. I don’t foresee the league bothering with realignment yet until they get to 32 teams (and hopefully incorporating my four-conference plan). For now Las Vegas is just added to the current 7-team Pacific. Also in case you …

Quebec City and Las Vegas

Quebec City and Las Vegas

With the news coming down that only two cities actually ponied up the $10M to apply for expansion, we have to look at the very real possibility that the perceived “Westward Expansion” ain’t happening. That said, I threw together a quick map that I shared on twitter (feel free to follow me @NHLMaps), but neglected to post …

After Sunrise

After Sunrise

The Florida Panthers have always been the easy whipping-boy for the “hockey doesn’t belong in non-traditional markets” crowd. They are also always the first picked on by the “NHL realignment is easy, just do this….” crowd. The reality is, they have one of the cushiest arena leases out there (and for 14 more years). So …

After Sunrise

After Sunrise

The Florida Panthers have always been the easy whipping-boy for the “hockey doesn’t belong in non-traditional markets” crowd. They are also always the first picked on by the “NHL realignment is easy, just do this….” crowd. The reality is, they have one of the cushiest arena leases out there (and for 14 more years). So …

Which cities best fit Gary Bettman’s criteria for NHL expansion? – The Hockey News

Which cities best fit Gary Bettman’s criteria for NHL expansion? – The Hockey News

Which cities best fit Gary Bettman’s criteria for NHL expansion? – The Hockey News.

Duhatschek: A novel idea for the NHL’s expansion woes – The Globe and Mail

Duhatschek: A novel idea for the NHL’s expansion woes – The Globe and Mail

Duhatschek: A novel idea for the NHL’s expansion woes – The Globe and Mail.

NHL Expansion Scenario – Quebec City and Seattle

NHL Expansion Scenario – Quebec City and Seattle

Since the Coyotes are locked in (for at least five years), what might an NHL with expansion teams in Seattle and Quebec City look like? Let’s face it, relocation isn’t happening anytime soon (breath easy Panther, Devil, Blue Jacket fans). NHL expansion is the next hot thing (despite “talent pool” arguments to the contrary). Let’s …

Oh, You Want a RADICAL Realignment?

Oh, You Want a RADICAL Realignment?

You all knew I wouldn’t be able to stop. Here is the most radical, yet positively doable re-imagining of the NHL yet. It’s a crazy hybridization of the plans being tossed around lately, plus relocation and expansion. It addresses the biggest gripe of the latest realignment—Chicago losing Detroit as a more-than-two-games-per-season opponent. It does however …

NHL Realignment Project – Week 51

The Benefits: • Rivalries — Like I mentioned earlier in this post, with reader inputs I’ve done my best work so far in keeping most of the major rivalries together. The more obvious ones are all here, of course, but even the “secondary” ones like the Sabres and the Leafs have been maintained where possible. Some …

NHL Realignment Project – Week 50

The Benefits: • Media — With one conference boasting all eight members as previous Stanley Cup winners, we might score a bit of a running narrative for TV/print/electronic media to latch on to. Kind of like the SEC has in college football now. The teams in the Orr will obviously hate each other a ton, but …