Portland is actually into hockey. They have an AHL team and arena already. Knowing Bettman though, he’ll opt for an odd city in the southern US again with no hockey fanbase to speak of. Also, since Bettman hates Canada, he’ll probably move one more of the Canadian teams with a tried and true fanbase there. He really should step down and let someone that knows where hockey fanbases really are to grow the game.
I don’t believe that Oklahoma City has any hockey fanbase to speak of. Making the argument that they have football and basketball doesn’t equal success in hockey. Different sport with different weather. Altanta also had two chances to get it right and failed both times. It’s simply too hot there and former owners there didn’t know how to manage and run a hockey arena and team. Quebec City never should have lost its team, so that’s a totally different scenario. In a perfect world, the next likely teams would be Quebec City, Portland, Houston, and Milwaukee. If you need another two, maybe Halifax, Nova Scotia and Hamilton or London, Ontario.
Houston is prob the front runner! They have a fan base and it would create an auto rivalry between them and Dallas. Plus they used to have the Aeros who weren't in the NHL but were pretty good in their league. Plus Hou has the $ and the owner of the Rockets expressed interest in bringing NHL to Hou
Betman, will never allowed quebec to have a team its been 15 years that we asked for a team, built a arena nhl size on the old place that was the one in the past, but still nothing lol
Top 10 possibilities for NHL expansion according to AI:
1. Houston, TX – 25% 2. Atlanta, GA – 20% 3. Quebec City, QC – 15% 4. Phoenix, AZ – 12% 5. Kansas City, MO – 8% 6. San Diego, CA – 7% 7. Portland, OR – 5% 8. Oklahoma City, OK – 3% 9. Cincinnati, OH – 3% 10. Milwaukee, WI – 2%
22 Comments
what about Hamilton ?
Bro where id Halifax
No more deadbeat American teams Canada ONLY F America!
Houston is the only one you have mentioned that is even remotely realistic
OK and QC fine, the rest big no, Portland ain't Vegas.
Why Atlanta again? They move two times. It's cleary not working in this city
Or just keep it with 32 teams
Give us back the coyote’s
Portland is actually into hockey. They have an AHL team and arena already. Knowing Bettman though, he’ll opt for an odd city in the southern US again with no hockey fanbase to speak of. Also, since Bettman hates Canada, he’ll probably move one more of the Canadian teams with a tried and true fanbase there. He really should step down and let someone that knows where hockey fanbases really are to grow the game.
I don’t believe that Oklahoma City has any hockey fanbase to speak of. Making the argument that they have football and basketball doesn’t equal success in hockey. Different sport with different weather. Altanta also had two chances to get it right and failed both times. It’s simply too hot there and former owners there didn’t know how to manage and run a hockey arena and team. Quebec City never should have lost its team, so that’s a totally different scenario. In a perfect world, the next likely teams would be Quebec City, Portland, Houston, and Milwaukee. If you need another two, maybe Halifax, Nova Scotia and Hamilton or London, Ontario.
If Canada wants another team put them in Atlanta…they will be there soon
Saskatchewan needs a team
Houston is prob the front runner! They have a fan base and it would create an auto rivalry between them and Dallas. Plus they used to have the Aeros who weren't in the NHL but were pretty good in their league. Plus Hou has the $ and the owner of the Rockets expressed interest in bringing NHL to Hou
Oklahoma City 89ers (or Outlaws)
Houston had a WHA team but never have had a NHL team!!!!
Nobody mentions Saskatchewan where all legends come from
Newfoundland
Quebec, Not Quebec CITY
Betman, will never allowed quebec to have a team its been 15 years that we asked for a team, built a arena nhl size on the old place that was the one in the past, but still nothing lol
Atlanta again? No thanks Houston and Quebec are the only ones that make sense
I mean maybe Duluth
According to AI:
Top 10 possibilities for NHL expansion according to AI:
1. Houston, TX – 25%
2. Atlanta, GA – 20%
3. Quebec City, QC – 15%
4. Phoenix, AZ – 12%
5. Kansas City, MO – 8%
6. San Diego, CA – 7%
7. Portland, OR – 5%
8. Oklahoma City, OK – 3%
9. Cincinnati, OH – 3%
10. Milwaukee, WI – 2%