NHL teams expansion

By: Cristina Hauerstein

These past few years there has been a lot of talk about moving current NHL teams to other cities and expanding the league to more than 32 teams which is great because it grows the NHL viewership and support.

Some cities have been in high demand by fans to have a hockey teams.

1- QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC, CANADA

Quebec has been the go-to city for most NHL fans when asked where they would want to see a new NHL team, especially since it used to have a team before it got moved to Colorado. It would be the 8th canadian team in the league currently and it would create great rivalries against teams like Toronto and Montreal. The team could also bring back their loved team name "the nordiques" as well the old logo.

2- HOUSTON, TEXAS, USA

Houston is the runner up for Quebec. It would help expand the game of hockey in the south, joining teams like the lightning and the panthers as well as creating good rivalries against the predators and the stars. They have an hockey arena ready (toyota center) and Houston being one of the bigger cities in Texas it would gain a lot of comission and TV viewership which would also help the NHL.

3- MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, USA

Milwaukee is a greate candidate as well though not as popular. This team could also create great midwestern rivarlies against teams like Chicago or Saint Louis and the city would have teams for the 4 major sports being, ice hockey, baseball, football and basketball, so the fanbase would be fast growing. Also considering it's a hockey state, it would increase youth hockey and opportunities for minor league teams that a closer to home.

4- ORLANDO, FLORIDA, USA

Orlando is a great option that isn't talked about much or at all. Another team in florida would have many benefits like stronger rivarlies and more engagment with the sport creating popularity in the south like mentioned for the team in Houston. Orlando also has a hockey ready arena and a large population would go to games, espcially games against Tampa or South Florida.

5- HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, USA

Although Hartford is a small city in a small state, there is many teams - NHL and AHL - that would benefit from a team in this city. NHL teams would have more competition and AHL players have a team close to where they play like the Syracuse Chrunch though they are currently the Tampa Bay Lightning affilliate as of this year. It is also a nothern state where a winter sport like this one wouldn't be taken for granted.

HONORABLE MENTIONS & AND MY FAVORITES:

1. San Francisco, California

2. San Diego, California

3. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

4. Indianapolis, Indiana

5. Cleveland, Ohio

6. Montauk, Canada

7. Halifax, Nova Scotia

8. Cincinnati, Ohio

9. Portland, Oregon

10. Hamilton, Ontario

11. Salt Lake City, Utah

What teams do you seeing being a future addition to the league? What teams are moving? Check out the forum with these questions and answer!

CREDIT: I used 2 different sources to help with this article.

1. "top potential expansion cities for the NHL" By Kevin Braeunie (ginohard.com)

2. "past and future NHL expansion" (prostockhockey.com)