The NHL has seen some wild moments throughout its history, but these four relocation scares are among the strangest, most bizarre, and most unbelievable stories the league has ever produced. Some of these franchises came within a hair’s width of disappearing forever, and the circumstances surrounding each near-move are absolutely extraordinary.
You guys really enjoyed my previous video on this topic, so consider this to be a follow up, discussing more NHL teams.
Which team’s relocation scare involved circumstances so unusual that even the most seasoned hockey historians do a double take? Which fanbase was saved by a sequence of events so strange and unpredictable that it almost defies explanation entirely? These are the relocation stories that get stranger the deeper you dig, becoming absurd to think about in today’s NHL, and many people have no idea how close these teams cam to relocation.
Whether you’re a die-hard hockey historian, a casual fan who loves a great sports story, or someone fascinated by the weird and wonderful side of NHL history, this video is going to have your jaw on the floor from start to finish.
#nhl #toronto #montreal #newjersey #edmonton #edmontonoilers #torontomapleleafs #montrealcanadiens
Honest question (while doubtful) say all 7 Canadian franchises relocated to the US where do you see these franchises going and what rebrands would you expect?
I remember the early 2000s Oilers being pretty much the NHL's dying Expos: a litteral farm club that would play in the big league.
Joseph too expensive? Out. Guérin? Weight? Out. Brewer? Poti? Out. Every time a guy got any good, they would trade him for a handful of picks and suspects, rince and repeat. The cap saved them.
In the case of the Leafs and Oilers, would the franchises actually move? Toronto Oilers and Edmonton Maple Leafs? Or were the owners agreeing to trade their entire roaster and ownership. Oilers owner becomes Maples Leafs owner with his old Oiler's roster, and vice versa?
Can the Edmonton oilers just relocate to Houston already?
I have heard about the Maple Leafs and the Oilers trading franchises before
I enjoyed hearing about a couple stories I had never heard before. I would add that just because an offer is made or a plan is conceived, it doesn't necessarily mean the NHL Board of Governors would approve it.
My friend, as a bonafide hockey nut, you do good work…..your research is great, you cover interesting subjects. Keep up the great work, always enjoy your vid drops….Be Well & Good Health….✌️😎
Habs to Cleveland? Really? That would never happen in my lifetime.
The one about the Leafs and Oilers surprised me. When I saw the thumbnail, I thought it was going to be about how they almost moved to Philadelphia in the 20's.
imagine habs in cleveland?
and pocklington sold off gretz and nearly sold oil off to houston.
and what about blues? ralston/purina blues owner sold the blues to saskatoon interests in 1983. would have been the saskatoon blues except nhl stepped in and voided the deal to move blues to saskatoon. r/p in retaliation with blues in limbo bypassed the '83 draft as blues failed to participate in draft. no reps, no draft table-nothing.
Imagine if the Oilers-Leafs deal happened. Toronto wouldn't have the long Stanley Cup drought.
Have you read about when the Blues almost moved to Saskatoon in the early 80's? That got really messy. You could probably do a 20 minute video on just that.