Earlier this year, speculation emerged that the NHL was strongly considering expansion again in the near future. It was not a well-kept secret because Winnipeg and Quebec have been trying to get their teams back for years (Winnipeg now has the Jets back), Kansas City built an arena and hosted NHL exhibition games, Hamilton unsuccessfully tried to get the Phoenix Coyotes, Portland has been biding its time, and in Seattle there has been talk about building a new arena to get the basketball Supersonics back as well as a new NHL franchise.
So far, Toronto, Quebec, Seattle, and Las Vegas have made it known they will try to get an expansion team if the NHL opens bidding.
NHL Expansion Candidates Based on Rivalries
But for this fun speculative article, pretend that the NHL will expand to cities based on who will be the best new rivals for existing teams in the NHL (not which city has the best fan-base, new arena, or ownership, which is the best criteria for an expansion team).
Also assume that the NHL will adopt an NFL structure of 2 conferences with 4 divisions and expand to a symmetrical 40 teams, meaning 5 teams in each division.
What follows is a list of the ten best rivalries not currently in the NHL.
Note:* It would be logical that Columbus should get a rival of Cleveland, Cincinnati, or even Indianapolis. But as explained in a previous article, these cities are all failed NHL-WHA franchises located in hockey’s “Death Valley” of Ohio-Indiana. Columbus’s very existence has been precarious at times and the NHL is wary of expanding into “Death Valley”. Hence a rival for them has been omitted.
10. Dallas Stars – Houston
Current best rivals: Phoenix, Colorado, Los Angeles, Anaheim
Dallas has no real rivals to speak of and putting another team in Texas would make sense. The NHL has long coveted Houston with its huge market and a sound, legitimate expansion bid from Houston (or San Antonio) would get high priority. Houston was favored to get a team during the last NHL expansion and somehow fumbled it away. Houston-Dallas (and San Antonio) are great rivals in the NBA. MLB shifted the Houston Astros to the American League so that they would play more games against the Texas Rangers in hopes of reviving their franchise. Only the NFL has shown little regard for a Houston-Dallas match-up that only occurs every four years.
Odds of it happening: If a serious Houston bid appeared, there is a great chance that Houston would be one of the four projected expansion teams in the next NHL expansion.
9. Nashville Predators – Memphis
Current best rivals: Chicago, St. Louis
Nashville does not have any natural rivals either so another Tennessee team would be welcomed. It would be an interesting experiment because there has never been a Nashville-Memphis competition in any of the “big four” sports.
Odds of it happening: It is a good idea but neither Nashville nor Memphis have ever tried muscling in on one another’s ground (NHL, NFL, NBA). It seems that Tennessee is content to have only one team in a major league. It could happen but not in the coming NHL expansion.
8. Washington Capitals – Baltimore
Current best rivals: Philadelphia, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey, Carolina, Pittsburgh
Washington has a lot of bitter rivals but a Baltimore team would be an added sweetener that could be the best rivalry of all. Curiously there has been no attempt to develop a Baltimore-Washington rivalry in “big four” sports except in the days when the Washington Senators played against the Baltimore Orioles in baseball. Currently Washington only plays a brief series of inter-league games against Baltimore in baseball and they only play against each other once every four years in the NFL. Like Nashville-Memphis, the NHL could develop a long-dormant rivalry. Baltimore would also be rivals with the teams on Washington’s list.
Odds of it happening: Baltimore has never made much noise about getting an NHL team, but a sound bid would get serious consideration. Until Baltimore starts seriously talking about the NHL and an arena, it will remain quiet. It will not happen in the coming NHL expansion.
7. San Jose Sharks – San Francisco
Current best rivals: Los Angeles, Anaheim, Vancouver
The NHL pulled out of Oakland and did not come back to the bay area for over a decade. But unlike the Seals, the Sharks have been a success in the area and have become solidly rooted. Perhaps the time has come to consider two teams in the bay area. There are two teams in both baseball and football, but both are located in different conferences/leagues so they do not play each other very often and rarely in the playoffs. San Jose-San Francisco regular season and playoff games would be an experiment which promises success. San Francisco would also be rivals with all the west coast teams.
Odds of it happening: The NHL has preferred to let the Sharks become successful in the whole bay area and become well rooted. It will not happen during this expansion but it could in future expansions if hockey continues to increase in popularity.
6. Minnesota Wild – Milwaukee
Current best rivals: Chicago, Colorado, Detroit, Winnipeg
In the NFL, there is the “black and blue division”- Minnesota, Green Bay, Chicago, Detroit. In the NHL, Detroit has moved to the eastern conference so there is a space for another good rival. Milwaukee would be a front runner in any NHL expansion because Wisconsin is a hotbed for developing American players. Milwaukee would also be great rivals with Chicago, Detroit, and possibly Winnipeg.
Odds of it happening: A serious Milwaukee bid would be as good as one from Seattle and Portland. But it is all quiet on the Milwaukee front for this coming NHL expansion so it will not happen. If Milwaukee started talking seriously about the NHL, they would be a front-runner for getting a team.
5. St. Louis Blues – Kansas City
Current best rivals: Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Nashville
The Blues would welcome a seasonal “battle of Missouri” with Kansas City. The cities have both NFL and MLB teams but they seldom play each other and their only sporting rivalry was a memorable Kansas City win over St. Louis in the 1985 World Series. Like some of the other potential rivalries already mentioned on this list, this would be breaking new ground for the NHL. Kansas City would also be rivals with Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, and a new Houston team.
Odds of it happening: Is Kansas City a hockey town or not? Kansas City is already a failed NHL location and the league is wary about going back. Kansas City has built a first class NHL arena and an exhibition game featuring Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Los Angeles Kings was a sellout, but when the New York Islanders tried it, the place was less than half full. Kansas City will get some consideration in the upcoming NHL expansion, should they choose to bid and they could get a team, but they will not be a front-runner against better rivals.
4. Vancouver Canucks – Seattle
Current best rivals: Edmonton, Calgary, San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim
Seattle has deep roots in hockey. It competes with Canadian junior teams for the Memorial Cup and was actually the first American city to win the Stanley Cup. As far as the NHL is concerned, it could be said, “What has taken you so long to get in?” It almost goes without saying that Seattle would be a great rival for all the west coast teams including a potential new franchise in Portland, and probably Calgary and Edmonton as well.
Odds of it happening: A serious Seattle bid is an overwhelming favorite along with Quebec to get a team in the coming expansion. A Vancouver-Seattle rivalry only lasted a few years in the NBA but could be one of the best in the NHL. Get Seattle in as soon as possible.
3. Boston Bruins – Hartford
Current best rivals: Montreal, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Toronto, Buffalo, Ottawa
This is a rivalry that has been tried – and it worked. In every sport, Boston has had the whole New England market to itself, except when the Hartford Whalers were around. The ‘battle of New England” was overshadowed by the “battle of Quebec, Alberta, Ontario” etc. but it was great while it lasted. A returned Hartford team would also be great rivals with the New York area teams, Montreal, and a returned Quebec.
Odds of it happening: If it can happen in smaller Quebec and Winnipeg, it can happen in Hartford. In 2010, Commissioner Gary Bettman said that Hartford would be welcomed back to the league if it met his terms, but Hartford is in no position to make a serious bid in the coming NHL expansion. Whalers fans and investors, the puck is in your end of the rink.
2. Toronto Maple Leafs – Hamilton
Current best rivals: Montreal, Ottawa, Buffalo, Detroit, Boston
This is probably the most shameful expansion situation concerning the NHL. It should have occurred long ago, but Hamilton fumbled away an almost sure franchise to Ottawa and then had its dreams squashed when the NHL fought tooth and nail to save a questionable Phoenix franchise. At the root of it all is politics, greed and the phony fears of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Buffalo Sabres.
In fact the Southern Ontario market may be so good that it can support two more NHL teams. Objections about its arena are phony because Canada Cup games were played successfully there and the municipal government is willing to spend money to renovate it to an NHL acceptable 18,500 seats. If the New York area teams and Los Angeles – Anaheim can work out suitable compensations, than so can Hamilton, Toronto and Buffalo. There is a good chance that Hamilton would be Toronto’s best rival, as it is in CFL football, and all the teams on Toronto’s list of rivals would also be great rivals for Hamilton, plus Pittsburgh (battle of the steel cities).
Odds of it happening: NHL politics and greed always put a damper in moving into Hamilton. There is also a problem concerning which Southern Ontario city should get a franchise. Currently Toronto has stated its determination to bring back the Toros, does Hamilton bid against that? Hamilton should be the overwhelming choice for any NHL expansion but its dreams are being thwarted by behind-the-scenes forces. It could get a team in the up-coming expansion but it might not even bid.
1. Montreal Canadiens – Quebec City
Current best rivals: Boston, Toronto, Ottawa, Buffalo
The “battle of Quebec” may have been the best rivalry in the NHL when it existed. The Nordiques never lacked a fan base and now they have solved their ownership and arena problems. Quebec would also be a great rival for Ottawa, Toronto, Boston, and a returned Hartford team.
Odds of it happening: Gary Bettman stated the terms for Quebec’s return to the NHL and the city has complied. Quebec is an overwhelming favorite (along with Seattle) to get a team in the coming NHL expansion. Montreal-Quebec was second to none in NHL rivalries, and now Quebec has good ownership, an expanded population and a large NHL arena. Get the war going as soon as possible.
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