Does the Coyotes Move Mean Expansion is Next on NHL Agenda?

[@VentDTP101]

I know he hates how many times he’s had to cover the coyotes but I genuinely enjoy every one of these type of videos

[@HutchIsOnYT]

Oh THG could make a thousand videos discussing relocation and expansion and I will watch every single one

[@BoyNamedSue4]

As a former Seattle Sonics fan I feel for the Yotes fan base. Losing your team because ownership screwed you over is a special pain.

[@DanRaidersWarriorsSharksGiants]

Seeing old photos of Kevin Durant as a sonic is still crazy to me.

[@corey6393]

MN North Stars fans can relate, too.

[@ajchristlieb]

St. Louis Rams fans relate

[@squidMB]

At least with the Sonics they should return in expansion in a couple of years (and hopefully get their name, history, etc. back too)

[@DanRaidersWarriorsSharksGiants]

@@squidMB History is owned by OKC.

[@philtorrez4198]

Alex Muerelo has no business being gifted another franchise.

[@Chimeratech8]

The only reason he's keeping the rights is because he's the only one who the NHL thinks will keep the team in Arizona.

[@rodchallis8031]

I think the NHL will just outwait the five years until Muerelo times out. Then someone who knows what they are doing will come in and buy a franchise in Arizona.

[@mercywilliams2698]

@@rodchallis8031Right. Easing things through…

[@shanegiannini6166]

​@rodchallis8031 Well, if he loses that land auction he'd be screwed any way cause and can take 3-4 years to build especially that entertainment district that he wanted so he wouldn't be able to fit it in a 5 year window if he loses. Personally I'd just take the 1 billion and be happy with that

[@saskcch]

@@Chimeratech8 Jeff Marek made the point this morning that it MIGHT be so he can keep his gambling rights in AZ. Something about you have to own a pro team to have rights there.

[@calebkent6706]

I feel bad for coyotes fans no fanbase deserves to have a team ripped away from them like this

[@honkingantalope]

They never supported them. Why did they get to fail for 20 years. It's a joke.

[@TheBeardedGentleman]

@@honkingantalope Tell me you have no clue what you're talking about without telling me you have NO clue what you're talking about.

[@shawklan27]

I mean even the A's was given another season until they move away to Vegas while us Yotes got told we are going to be leaving just before the very end of this season with no warning during the off season. Bro this shit is going to rough for me bro 😫

[@sa-j2o]

@@TheBeardedGentleman damn if only they had a chance to vote on a new arena. Maybe then this supposed "fan base" would have showed up and voted yes. But I guess we will never know

[@WizradtheNoble]

@@sa-j2oyou think there aren’t die hard coyotes fans? Sure maybe not as much as for other teams but they exist. And it fucking sucks for them, how about having some compassion asshole.

[@dj4aces]

Houston actually tried to join the NHL twice. Prior to merge of the Cleveland Barons and the Minnesota North Stars, the owner of the Houston Aeros put in a bid to purchase the Barons. I don't know if that offer was too late or if it was outright rejected, but needless to say, it didn't happen. The second, of course, was the almost-successful purchase of the Oilers. On the Flames, I cannot stress this enough, the issue in Atlanta *was not attendance*. As I said before, Tom Cousins -- then owner of the Flames -- went broke because the real estate market in Atlanta collapsed in the late 1970s. He first offered it to Ted Turner (he refused because he said hockey "wasn't good for television") before eventually selling to the highest bidder. Some of those Flames players couldn't even sell their homes when the team moved, and some of those still live here today. That history is pretty easy to find. Simply looking up the attendance figures on hockeydb really doesn't tell the story at all.

[@thomasthomasthomas296]

and worth noting i think the blues put up a big fight against a team in kansas city.

[@agent00puffball]

The problem with giving Meruelo a 5 year window is that he's already soured relationships with pretty much everyone in Arizona, and that's not even counting the hotel bills they allegedly skipped out on. I think if the NHL is intent on going back to Arizona, it can't be with Meruelo. He's squandered every opportunity he's been given and really ruined relationships.

[@ghost_615]

Exactly. If the reason it didn't work was ownership, you don't go back with the same owner.

[@FischerFan]

This is why, the moment that land auction is completed, the NHL needs to impose the same 13,000 season ticket goal on Phoenix that it did on Winnipeg back in 2011. The NHL should demonstrate some backbone and confirm evidence of adequate support for any future expansion team before one shovel goes into the ground on a new arena.

[@pdg3283]

If the NHL ever gets to 36 teams, the best solution would be 6 divisions with 6 teams in each. And then go back to the 1-8 Conference playoff seeding.

[@closethockeyfan5284]

Been beating this drum since 36 teams was floated, and the Guy doesn't seem to conceive of it

[@otsoruotsalainen612]

Exactly. Northeast (Boston, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Buffalo, Detroit) Metro (NYR, NYI, NJ, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington) Southeast (Florida, Tampa, Atlanta, Carolina, Columbus, Nashville) Central (Colorado, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, St Louis, Kansas City) Northwest (Minnesota, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Seattle) Southwest (Vegas, Utah, Arizona, LA, Anaheim, SJ) 1-6 in each conference straight to the playoffs, 7-10 play a best of 3 play-in for the final two spots. You play your division four times and everybody else twice for an 80 game schedule to leave a little space for the play-in round.

[@gregorybiestek3431]

If the NHL does go to 36 teams, then I have a proposal for the games & playoffs. First the season goes from October 1st to March 31st with playoffs starting immediately after. Second there are 4 divisions of 9 teams each; a team plays every one twice during the season - one at home & once away (70 games) plus 4 home and 4 away games against the eight teams in its division (8 games). The location of third in-division games rotate alternate years. After the 78-game game season, the top six teams (three in each division) get automatic spots, while the next four teams have best-of-five play-in in the first 12-14 days of April. Starting around the middle of April, the 8 remaining teams in each conference begin the regular playoffs seeded 1-8 with a bracket just like March Madness. Maybe start calling the period of April 1st to May 31st "Hockey Hysteria".

[@andrewsurowiec80]

@@otsoruotsalainen612 play in tournaments are stupid. Just the 8 best teams from the conference

[@otsoruotsalainen612]

@@andrewsurowiec80 I agree, but I figure with 36 teams the owners wouldnt be happy with only 16 making any kind of postseason

[@klompsauce]

RIP Yotes

[@JWLearning]

Bring back the Nordiques! The NHL is incomplete without Quebec.

[@BillyCharlyEmy]

Merci😉

[@lordrayden3045]

LOL Sure

[@kylewittet3717]

Nope. Not going to happen. I see 3-4 US teams before another Canadian team. Besides Hamilton would likely get one before Quebec.

[@gillesjacques1022]

Phoenix and Atlanta have a better chance of getting a franchise, than Quebec City, we all know it.

[@FischerFan]

Yeah, because the tail (the U.S. television execs) wags the dog (the NHL).

[@kokocaptainqc]

a trailer park in an obscure dirty hole of the US would get a team before quebec city

[@Based_Morty]

Taxes are too high in Quebec.

[@FischerFan]

@@kokocaptainqc Even though there's already a team in Nashville, Memphis will get a team before Quebec City because of the 'need to create new fans'. Bloody pro-American double standard.

[@davidrivera9743]

Bleep create new fans when you can reenergize old ones (Quebec) who got screwed because C$ was running 1.5C$ to $1 USD. It would take paradigm shift, but running nhl on c$ would fix stuff.

[@jdsmith1740]

Thank You Shannon the Video I have been waiting on!! I really appreciate all that you do. I know how much effort goes into each and every one of your videos. Hope we get an expansion team soon!!! Lets Go Thrashers!!!!

[@KS__99]

Go Thrashers!

[@jdsmith1740]

@KS__99 yes Sir!!!! If we are awarded a team in Atlanta do you think we keep the Thrashers name or start fresh??

[@KS__99]

@@jdsmith1740 would love to keep it but realistically I think it would be something new

[@dominicgarcia34]

It is 2024 and the nhl is still not in Houston yet..... that's crazy with how big of a sports market Houston is

[@fnregistration]

No point until humans grow gills.

[@jdsmith1740]

It's coming. I feel the NHL will announce Houston and Atlanta into the league within the next two years

[@Vitalitay]

houston dallas rivalry would be insane. Next devils Vs. Rangers

[@gbtrat]

Hockey would be a fad in Houston just like it was a fad in Atlanta and Phoenix

[@dominicgarcia34]

@@gbtrat is it a fad in Dallas?

[@generalimlerith8356]

Having Ryan smith in our league is a great benefit to the league

[@honkingantalope]

Who's that the hockey player Ryan Smyth? There's also a pro skater named Ryan Smith.

[@-TurboS]

@@honkingantalopeUTAH JAZZ owner

[@pjpredhomme7699]

He evidently did not read the book " how to buy an NHL team" by Jim Ballsillie

[@honkingantalope]

@@-TurboS on thanks. Finally someone give me a staught answer.

[@davidrivera9743]

​@@honkingantalope LOL

[@LegionOfEclaires]

I'd love to see Houston get a team. I think that Dallas-Houston rivalry could be grand.

[@bdonaghu]

It would be the single most NHL thing ever to immediately bring back an Arizona team right after moving it...

[@gabetalks9275]

If they want to keep Arizona hockey alive, they have to because if they don't, the youth hockey scene will quickly die off. They need to keep that flame alive.

[@FischerFan]

It would be the Bettmanized NHL thing to do. The League wants to be in these large American markets a lot more than vice versa.

[@adamspark9259]

@@FischerFan Bettmanized? You do realize he was hired to accomplish expanding the game in the south, right?

[@mayavenuemisfit814]

​@@FischerFanI can think of at least four other southern/western markets who can better support a team than Arizona did.

[@FischerFan]

@@adamspark9259 One day the NHL will realize that Jerry Moyes was right.

[@hunterslater12]

You can fill a building in Phoenix… now getting a building is another story

[@stuartdollar9912]

Prove it. The Coyotes couldn't. They never consistently filled the building in Phoenix or Glendale. Certainly not with Coyotes fans. I attended a number of those games. Agree with you on getting a building. I see no way anybody is going to put up public money for an NHL arena in the Phoenix area. The Coyotes poisoned that well for a good generation.

[@kjorlaug1]

If you expand by four teams and don't add another Canadian team (whether Nordiques, second Toronto team, or Hamilton) it's a travesty

[@BillyCharlyEmy]

If you give a second team to Toronto and no team to quebec it's also a "tragedy"!

[@kylewittet3717]

Hamilton is likely the next Canadian team but it has to wait a while

[@Aaron-kd3zl]

Adding teams to Canada is a waste the players don't want to play for them. They will just be garbage teams

[@petelamoureux9656]

How about HARTFORD! The Whalers were THIRD in NHL gate receipts between 1986 and 1990 (per Howard Baldwin). Their merchandise is currently ranked 11th in NHL sales, and their market is currently the largest in the U.S. without a major league team. Peter Karmanos and the league made a huge mistake in leaving there in 1997. (the Canes lost 275 million in their first ten years in North Carolina per Michael Amendola- the team's comptroller and Connecticut native.) I know the HOCKEY GUY believes we should have never left! CT. Governor Ned Lamont had meetings with Bettman last year. It's time for the NHL to redeem themselves and come back to the state that RONNIE FRANCIS made famous.

[@Bob-wy6zv]

Washington and Kansas City came in during the 1974-75 season

[@VastContent]

Y'know I always felt like we all knew they were going to move, but to Salt Lake City, that is something I really never thought about

[@oshiri69]

Salt Lake City Saints?

[@ecstasycalculus]

I thought the NHL would've looked at a bigger market like Houston. Hasn't Tilman Fertitta expressed a ton of interest in owning an NHL team?

[@VastContent]

@@ecstasycalculus I mean yea, but I almost guarantee that the next expansion team will be in Houston

[@stevehirzel1737]

Yeah, why add a team in the Winter Sports Capital of the USA? Crazy.

[@MikeS29]

It wasn't washington and the islanders, it was flames and islanders, then scouts and caps.

[@andrewgreen815]

Correct.

[@Leafsdude_]

Came here to say this. Clearly Shannon is getting old. XD

[@MikeS29]

⁠- Shannon is not as old as I am, that’s why I remember it well. He’s the GOAT!

[@roberteaston6413]

Also Canucks and the Sabres.

[@spencer2365]

Just keep us posted on the land auction. Part of me feels like they don’t even bid now.

[@TheBeardedGentleman]

This is what all of us here in Arizona are waiting to see. If he genuinely continues the process, bids and wins, and actually starts building the arena, then his commitment will be obvious. If he takes his $1b and effs off back to Nevada, then all of us in AZ will happily escort him to the state line and never let him come back.

[@elosogonzalez8739]

I bet Alex Meruelo doesn't even show up for the land auction! He's got his Billions!

[@bryancollins6800]

@@elosogonzalez8739 then what’s the point of retaining the naming right and patents

[@elosogonzalez8739]

@@bryancollins6800 He Meruelo wants another team(OR at least says) he wants another team. ALEX MERUELO could have kept the team, if he didn't have his head up his ass! It all started with his first game as owner. Lies and empty promises, not paying the City of Glendale for the arena they were using, eventually they were shown the door. Arizona wants the Coyotes; WE DON'T WANT MERUELO. Unfortunately, I've seen my last hockey game.

[@bryancollins6800]

@@elosogonzalez8739 I agree he’s a pos. The real sign will be if he tries to buy this land auction or not. It’s his opportunity to run if he’s truly not interested in coyotes 2.0

[@johnnyroberts3761]

I know the NHL is looking to grow interest in the game, but I don’t think expansion is the way to go. They need to strongly market the stars they do have, but I also think there needs to be more accessibility for watching games.

[@RobDucharme]

The other day I was at OJs in Red Deer (as I often end up doing), and there was a Canucks game (I think it was the Coyotes game, funny enough) that they couldn't show because it was blacked out. I know there are people who explain the point of the blackouts, but can't they just make tiered pricing based on location?

[@bradleyminoski2020]

@quinten3427That was over 20 years ago. Get over it.

[@SirSiegrist]

​@quinten3427accessibility and affordability.

[@kokocaptainqc]

@@bradleyminoski2020 2015 was 20 years ago? how did that happen?

[@GabrielHodge]

Oh totally it's getting harder to watch my stars here in louisiana they took away bally from me :(

[@scarboroughbluffer169]

“Why would the owners of a league, which already has 32 teams, and would further dilute the talent by growing, be looking to expand to even more teams?” “It’s called greed old sport!”

[@BJ-sk4xh]

If we constantly have more than 5 teams finishing below .500, than there is no need for new teams.

[@michaellewter8671]

Stop with the diluting talent stuff...

[@BJ-sk4xh]

@@michaellewter8671 When there are several teams finishing below .500 each year then the talent is diluted.

[@apferrando]

@@BJ-sk4xhHow does that NOT occur, mathematically? Remove teams, several teams will finish under .500. Add teams, a proportional number of teams will finish under .500. The only way that doesn’t occur, is if literally every team finished precisely AT .500. You’re confusing parity with talent. And the talent has never, in the history of the sport, been better than it is now top-to-bottom.

[@terks43]

@@BJ-sk4xh That just might be the dumbest thing I've read on the internet today. Congratulations on your lack of logical reasoning.

[@gilbertgutierrez5560]

Shouldn't go back to Atlanta or Phoenix. Need to go back to Quebec city and Hartford

[@EveryoneIsAnIdiotExceptForMe]

Agreed

[@gordonmacdowell8117]

The Salt Lake City team must be called the Rappers, because they already have the Utah Jazz, and need to represent the other least listened to music genre in Utah.

[@zacksheets9726]

I've heard the name "Rock" for that reason

[@closethockeyfan5284]

NUtah Metal

[@darrenblocklinger7171]

Nonono lol​@@closethockeyfan5284

[@QuentinDude]

Utah-Choirboys

[@kokocaptainqc]

that a terrible reason....i love it

[@mikelfrance-l6x]

Similar reason why Oakland was given permission to leave Oakland for zero $$$. Pretty clear no Oakland stadium was going to be built for at least 8 years, if ever. Now that the A's are leaving and some kind of resolution takes place in Tampa, MLB can expand. And that's where the big money is for MLB. For MLB it looks like Salt Lake City and Nashville.

[@tombraiderstrums09]

You’re right about Nashville but I’m not so sure about SLC. It would be a similar timeline to Phoenix actually (Yotes in ‘96, D-backs in ‘98) but Phoenix is still a much larger market. Having just left Sacramento I don’t think an expansion team has a chance there-it’s too close to the Bay Area-but there’s a chance the A’s will stay. My money for MLB expansion is on Nashville (where I live now) and Charlotte NC.

[@brentos96]

I don't care what anyone says or the jokes. Hockey absolutely can work in Atlanta, and the reason it failed wasn't because of an uninterested fanbase. It was because of a terrible ownership group who never tried to market and connect the game with the community. I'm a Jets fan, and while I'm thankful to be a benefactor of relocation, I also know how it sucks to lose your team because of bad ownership. I 100% want to see hockey back in Atlanta.

[@closethockeyfan5284]

Atlanta Spirit's lazy attempt at connecting with the community was "Let's get a few Black players." Now instead the two new potential owner groups avoid the problem altogether by following the white flight north halfway to South Carolina. Hooray, progress🎉

[@notNajimi]

@@closethockeyfan5284fuck yeah murica, running away from the race and racism issue since reconstruction 😎

[@brandonmartin9498]

So 30 owners will all get $6,666,666.66

[@kevinhover461]

Jeremy Jacobs will fight for that extra penny.

[@bryanbest5113]

31 owners

[@brandonmartin9498]

Pretty sure Vegas and Seattle don't get a cut

[@juanpeace3y2d]

​@@brandonmartin9498 then 29 owners if you take yotes, vgk, sea out

[@matthewmireles2827]

Always a nice video when the Thrasher's gear comes out. As an Atlantan and a Thrashers fan, I think the next team DOES need to be named the Thrashers. Update the aesthetic if necessary but the Brown Thrasher is Georgia's state bird, it still fits with the Hawks and Falcons and as a hockey fan it feels like the brand needs redemption. All that said I understand good business decisions rarely leave room for sentiment like that. I just feel like if we got a third team not called the Thrashers it wouldnt redress the injustice done to the team by the Atlanta Spirit.

[@KS__99]

Hello fellow Atlantan. 100% agree. Even looked at other native animal/bird names but all the good ones are taken by the MLB and the rest just don’t work as a team name. The Atlanta Emperors would be a name because of Georgia being the Empire State of the South

[@jdsmith1740]

I agree 100% 👍 I hope we remain the Thrashers and show the NHL we can and will be a thriving franchise.

[@ikedubois]

Nah as a Georgian we need to get away from the dorky bird names. Where that leaves us I don’t know but the thrashers were a complete joke the way they were managed by ownership. Go with Atlanta Artillery or something heavy like that. Atlanta Arrowheads (goes with Braves an actual winning franchise).

[@HutchIsOnYT]

@@ikeduboisof all the dorky bird names, Thrashers is the coolest

[@MC-td1wo]

It’s kind of corny, but I think the Phoenix would be an awesome name. It combines the flames and thrashers, and the logo could incorporate the phoenix on the City of Atlanta’s seal/flag

[@yivo9996]

The dallas stars have a couple motto: "One State, One Team. Texas Hockey." I don't know how much say owners have but I can't imagine the Stars would be silent if Houston tried to get a team.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

Owners have quite a bit of say

[@tiger5869]

The owners will look at the money and if it's good for business they'll go against their motto and keep saying it anyways

[@davidrivera9743]

Lol, same could have been said in the 1970s with the Aeros.

[@dennis2376]

This is crazy. This whole issues was calm down and now it is out of control again. HG you were correct about the sale would be fast. Thank you.

[@Frankingatoryt]

Nah if the NHL goes back to the ATL, they MUST be called the Thrashers. That was one of the most kick ass names in sports

[@KS__99]

And it has tons of meaning for the state of Georgia as well as fitting with the other pro team names

[@jeremykraenzlein5975]

...and unlike "The Flames", the name "Thrashers" is no longer being used by their former franchise, so it is available.

[@tombraiderstrums09]

I also can’t imagine a new Arizona team not using the Coyotes name. The kachina is too iconic

[@jeremykraenzlein5975]

@@tombraiderstrums09 I think that is part of the deal. The team moving to Utah is required to change it's name, again, for the precise reason of making the name "Coyotes" available for a new Phoenix area expansion team.

[@jeremykraenzlein5975]

... and ironically, their former name change is the reason why the old name of "Jets" was still available when Winning got a new team, and the current Jets changing their name upon relocation to Winnipeg is the reason why "Thrashers" would still be available to a new Atlanta team.

[@kellenc_]

I predict in 2034 there will be 36 teams with teams in Zona, Houston, Atlanta, and either Quebec City or another in the GTA.

[@kokocaptainqc]

Grand theft auto? also Quebec city wont ever happen.....theyll put an arena in ohio between 2 corn fields way before quebec city

[@YouCanChangeYourWorldToday]

@@kokocaptainqcGreater Toronto Area ?

[@ryans3795]

I am in georgia, hours away from Atlanta, but the team I roo for is carolina hurricanes, as they are the closest in proximity being 4 and a half hours away.

[@KS__99]

Always fun to see fellow Georgians watching hockey!

[@lafther210]

The argument that Quebec is too small of a market does not make any sense since the cities where the Coyotes were playing at were smaller than Quebec City, and yet, they are handed a franchise on a golden platter. Maybe you are right, that part of this issue is also that the Nordiques bring back the memory of the WHA.

[@lordrayden3045]

The Phoenix metro area is lie, the 5th largest market in the USA

[@jeyDsixx18]

Utah gotta go with the Yeti for its name…The Utah Yeti has a different ring to it and the jerseys and logos and signage would have the opportunity to be cool af

[@seand1011]

The Utah YETI? Seriously?

[@KanyeTheGayFish69]

I mean the Avs already used the bigfoot branding for a few years. If they were going to name after that it would’ve been Seattle.

[@jeffrowe3951]

Arizona & Atlanta don't deserve a 2nd or 3rd chance hockey dose not work in those markets

[@brycemcneil4404]

I'm glad Shannon has the same love that I have for the blue "ATLANTA" sleeve Thrashers jersey. The majority seem to prefer the original fits, and I think they're hideous. :-p

[@ryberg60]

I'd prefer that Meruelo just faded into obscurity.

[@LarryWeinreb]

Quick correction - Atlanta came in with the Islanders...Washington with Kansas City. Having listened to a lot of Phoenix based reporting lately...something seems dubious with Meruelo. He is deeply unpopular with everyone even before the recent talk of the move. I see him taking the money and we will never hear from him again. Other than the return of Atlanta (ive lived here for both the Flames and Thrashers), I am most happy to see the return of the Nordiques - I miss the battle of Quebec.

[@DarkForceEight]

He doesn't do public statements & his mouthpiece only does announcements badly. That & they dumped money & effort into clothing lines while kicking the arena issue down the road a couple years. Priorities seem lacking.

[@GamerPastHisPrime]

Man, if Atlanta comes back, I hope they are the Thrashers. I loved their jerseys.

[@iliaponomarev1624]

Adding 2 teams to the West can work. Preds have no business being in the West. Preds should be in a division with Atlanta, Carolina, Florida and Tampa.

[@ianhall6614]

It really is kinda odd that unless your state is touching the Atlantic Ocean a lot of people consider it “the west”. I guess it’s just a catch all term

[@purplebeard1526]

That time the Canes & Preds shared a division went over well. I think we'd be good rivals for each other.

[@AdamLaMore]

It's all due to time zones. Nashville is Central, Columbus/Detroit are Eastern.

[@AdamLaMore]

@@ianhall6614 It's because there are 16 teams in the Eastern time zone and 16 teams in Central+Mountain+Pacific. They arrange it by time zone for scheduling reasons - Detroit and Columbus wanted out of the Western Conference so they wouldn't have to play as many late road games.

[@AngieBee-uz1tw]

@@AdamLaMore Late road games or they didn't want the travel that the West has to deal with?

[@likeag1000]

I have to imagine the main thing preventing Houston being the obvious next franchise is that the NHL and Fertitta cant agree on a dollar figure. Fertitta has recently said that he’s “working on” bringing an NHL team together to Houston but it has to “make sense”. Once they agree on an expansion fee, Houston 100% has to be the next choice. And yes, as a Houstonian I am biased. But it also makes a whole lot of sense. *No state income tax *Massive population *Lots of oil expats live in Houston (lots of Calgarians) * Natural rivalry with Dallas * Toyota center is getting renovations done to accommodate hockey * successful hockey history with the Aeros and Apollos. I think having PHX and ATL as the next expansion teams would not go over well with the fans. League would get a lot of bad press. They should and will give those cities teams again but if they both jump to the top of the queue, it will be very disappointing to a lot of people.

[@benjaminlynch9958]

Houston makes a ton of sense for the reasons you cite, but Atlanta and Phoenix also make sense. I think a lot of the ‘bad press’ and bad vibes generally around Atlanta and Arizona comes from people north of the border, particularly people who are butthurt about Quebec being ignored as a market for the last two decades. Atlanta is a no-brainer decision for the league if they can get an arena and ownership group for that market. It’s a HUGE market and also the headquarters for their national TV broadcast partner. They kinda have to go back to Arizona if Meruelo gets his arena built as well. That’s part of the deal him voluntarily allowing the Coyotes to relocate. But even if that falls through, the league still wants to be in Arizona. It’s a huge market, and interest in the sport is growing thanks to the Coyotes. Youth participation has exploded in the last two decades, and the league needs to get back into that market as soon as they have a viable owner and arena. To me, the expansion teams should be Atlanta (East), Houston (Central), Arizona (Pacific or Central), and then one of Kansas City (Central), Milwaukee (Central), or Portland (Pacific). To balance the conferences, Nashville goes to the Eastern Conference, and if necessary Arizona & SLC can shift between the Central and Pacific to balance things out.

[@gregorybiestek3431]

@@benjaminlynch9958 YES all of those cities are big sport media markets. HOWEVER, the problem here is the BIG question of IF Atlanta and Arizona get arenas. Atlanta has failed twice and Arizona has failed under several owners for more than 20 years. As the economy has shifted toward inequality, it has become harder to convince people who are not already fans to pressure politicians into coughing up hundreds of millions if not billions. For every really good owner, you tend to get about half-a-dozen bums who screw the whole thing up. I know the NHL is all about $$$, but if they continue to goof-up and ruin the next attempt, what happens if the media does NOT renew at much higher amounts? that problem is already appearing in Canada with the major media attempting to sell their NHL rights. Then they have to depend solely on local fans buying tickets and if those fans are fairly new, will they be willing to pay a LOT more $$$ to keep a sport that is not their first love alive?.

[@hardrada3534]

They really don't need to add eastern teams to keep the conferences even, just move Blackhawks and Predators over if needed. Both of those teams work better in the eastern conference anyways.

[@gregorybiestek3431]

The only problem with that suggestion (which I love, but the NHL would never agree to), is that without the Blackhawks in the west, ALL of original six and MOST of the TV fan base becomes concentrated in the eastern conference. Look at what happened to both the PAC-12 & the original Big-12 - far fewer viewers , very little prime time tv slots, and hardly anybody knowing who was playing west of the Mississippi all of that resulted in teams complaining constantly that they were being ignored by the sports media.

[@bretts2356]

The Flames attendance was bad, but the situation was escalated by the owner Tom Cousins lost a ton of money in the late 70s real estate crash. He sold them to save himself. Had he not had the real estate problems, the team would have stayed. As far as expansion goes .. I think Meruelo takes his money and the new Arena never gets built. Atlanta and Houston get announced before the end of the current CBA.

[@JasonTzzz]

Didn't know that about Tom Cousins. Too bad Atlanta didn't have another local owner step in. If Meruelo has to pay an expansion fee he would be better off taking the money and running.

[@TheAllardP]

I don't think they would want to bring two team at the same time. The last time it happened, the expansion draft was much more limiting. Doing the new type of expansion draft with two teams at the same time would be damaging to a lot of teams. My bet is that they would want to space out those draft by a few years (just like Seattle and Vegas) to limiting the depleting effect than this kind of expansion can have.

[@miccrhaafetl5101]

Born and raised in Arizona, they are my second favourite team. I really hope there is a chance they come back.

[@joshciviletti3032]

People complain about how far behind the NHL is compared to other sports but at the same time they don’t want the NHL to be in massive markets that other sports thrive in. The NHL NEEDS to be in markets like Phoenix, Atlanta and Houston.

[@ryguy2501]

Why Atlanta? The populous has shown they don’t care about professional hockey. Twice.

[@tevinsherrill5653]

@@ryguy2501 I honestly don't know how the hell people come up with this logic that the Atlanta fans didn't care. Atlanta OWNERSHIP didn't care. If the team is bad but shows good signs of what's to come for the future, people will show up. Atlanta ownership never tried, and blaming the fans is a p**sy move.

[@closethockeyfan5284]

​@@ryguy2501tell us you're an ignorant jerk without telling us you're an ignorant jerk

[@ryguy2501]

@@tevinsherrill5653 Really? Because I’ll blame the fans. The Wild have never been a cup contender. Is a 50/50 team to make the playoffs most years and still sell out every game. A lot of NHL teams are bad and don’t make the playoffs. But saying it’s ownership’s fault they weren’t gifted a championship calibre team like Vegas is funny to me.

[@thedragon9326]

@@ryguy2501 This channel has told people like you the same thing time after time and you still don't get it. In as big of cities like Phoenix and Atlanta, there will always be people who care. Bad ownership will ruin that care to the point where fans don't wanna give them their money anymore. Edit: That's also the same logic that John Fisher, owner of the Oakland A's is using.

[@daveblock4061]

In a 1972 expose on Ken Dryden he said he worried if fans would pay $7-8 for a ticket to watch poor teams as the league expanded from 14-16 franchises. There is not the talent for 32 teams now, so can we expect AHL or even ECHL level players in the bottom half of the league with 36?

[@lordrayden3045]

Maybe at first, but things would pick up Remember there are so many more European players now compared to then

[@dreamcage1801]

Stan Kroenke has said that he wants an NHL team in San Diego

[@AngieBee-uz1tw]

As a resident of St Louis, I hope Stan Kroenke gets absolutely nothing he wants.

[@retailhiphop1991]

Proposed arena there is not big enough. It would house less than 15,000 for hockey. That won't cut it.

[@dreamcage1801]

@@retailhiphop1991 the arena is 16,000 seat so it should be big enough

[@TheCrazyCanuck420]

The only plus to Atlanta getting yet another team is that when it folds, it stands a good chance at becoming a team where people actually follow the sport.

[@mattlabrecque7842]

I would love to have the battle of Quebec back. No divisions is an interesting idea. Would the playoff format change to 1-8 or 1-16?

[@jaymerlyn7457]

Here's another realignment option: what if they do 6 divisions? If they wanted to do 36 teams total, then 6 teams per division fits nicely.

[@JPMadden]

1) Someone suggested "Utah Polygamists," which I find amusing. 2) I heard player agent Allan Walsh say he was told that future expansion fees might be as high as $2 billion. 3) I don't know how it could work, but it would make more sense if Nashville was in the Eastern Conference. It seems absurd that they, Carolina, and the 2 Florida teams are in 3 different divisions. Which division would a new Atlanta team be in? Would they revive the Southeast Division and go back to 6 divisions? 4) Proposed 6 divisions: Northeast: Boston, Buffalo, Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto Metropolitan/Mid-Atlantic: Both New York teams, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Detroit Southeast: Washington, Carolina, Nashville, Atlanta, Florida, Tampa Bay Mid-West: Columbus, Chicago, St. Louis, Minnesota, Winnipeg, Colorado Central: Dallas, Houston, Utah, Arizona, Edmonton, Calgary Pacific: Vancouver, Seattle, Vegas, San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim 5) The 2023 rankings for U.S. metro areas by population have Houston at 5th, Atlanta at 6th, Phoenix at 10th, and Kansas City at 31st. The first 3 cities would seem to be obvious choices for the NHL, but Kansas City much less likely. San Diego (18th), Orlando (21st), San Antonio (24th), Portland, Oregon (25th), Austin, Texas (26th), Sacramento (28th), and Cincinnati (30th) all have more people than Kansas City. Hartford is 51st and Omaha is 56th. Quebec City would be 72nd, unless it's measured differently, but their fanbase had a much larger geographical area.

[@cisium1184]

I've always wanted a Washington DC team to call itself the Bureaucrats

[@tombraiderstrums09]

I saw Stormin’ Mormons last night 😂😂

[@letsgocapsbeatpens]

Hockey Brings up a point NO ONE talks about when it comes to the Quebec City, you can fill the stands, but can you fill the corporate boxes?

[@oliviergagne1516]

Yes. We have many mining, natural resources company headquarters, tech industries that weren't there in 1995.

[@alex75521]

If having just two conferences brings back 1-8 seeding I'm for it.

[@gregorybiestek3431]

If the NHL does go to 36 teams, then I have a proposal for the games & playoffs. First the season goes from October 1st to March 31st with playoffs starting immediately after. Second there are 4 divisions of 9 teams each; a team plays every one twice during the season - one at home & once away (70 games) plus 4 home and 4 away games against the eight teams in its division (8 games). The location of third in-division games rotate alternate years. After the 78-game season, the top six teams (three in each division) get automatic spots, while the next four teams have best-of-five play-in in the first 12-14 days of April. Starting around the middle of April, the 8 remaining teams in each conference begin the regular playoffs seeded 1-8 with a bracket just like March Madness. Maybe start calling the period of April 1st to May 31st "Hockey Hysteria".

[@henryca03]

The state of the Winnipeg Jets over the last decade serves as a potential bellwether for a Quebec Nordiques revival. The team will do well early on due to strong nostalgia, but if or when the team's fortunes on or off the ice decline after the honeymoon period ends, the team's long term viability will be put into doubt.

[@michaellewter8671]

The Jets are going nowhere....

[@invertedxxxi]

@@michaellewter8671 and neither is Quebec if you catch my drift. As in, it’s not coming back.

[@matthewcowan9324]

After the SLC move: Arizona, Houston, Atlanta and Milwaukee (hopefully) but probably KC.

[@JarradBruessel32]

The issue with Wisconsin is that they are too spread out for a good support in one particular city.

[@robertparker6280]

I am down with that!

[@matthewbrueckner8374]

There is no way the NHL will get rid of divisions and go with 17 or 18 team conferences only. With 4 new teams, that would mean 4 x 9 team divisions. But i would think that 6 x 6 team divisions would be far more likely than 2 x 18 team conferences (no divisions).

[@zacksheets9726]

I see people complaining about Atlanta, the fact is that the Atlanta of 2011 when the Thrashers left is a completely different market than the Atlanta of 2024 when we think about giving them a team back. I think this is the last chance for Atlanta though, and I would be VERY picky with ownership groups. If I'm being honest, the reason I'm not willing to move to Atlanta for work is because of the lack of an NHL team within a reasonable distance (Nearest team is Nashville, which is 4 hours away).

[@KS__99]

ATL and the suburbs primarily has grown over 30% in population and total revenue since 2010. If you want to work in ATL and still be close to NASH, move to towns like Cumming, Dahlonega, Canton, etc. About an hour and a half from ATL and 3 hr from NASH. Hurricanes are also an overnight stay away

[@zacksheets9726]

@@KS__99 My point exactly, Atlanta of 2011 is different than the Atlanta of 2024

[@tombraiderstrums09]

And here I was moving to Nashville two weeks ago excited about being in a hockey city again so I could go watch the Yotes when they came to town 😭😭

[@fc1984fc]

10:39 How's Quebec different from Winnipeg then, if the criteria are market size and novelty? Winnipeg is a small market, and the fans there were already eating and drinking hockey all the time even before the Jets returned, building on the storied history of the 1979-1996 Jets there. The issue with the Canadian Dollar is just as tall a hurdle for Quebec as it is for Winnipeg, so I wouldn't be surprised if there were something else behind it, some other factor some of us ignore. Because this explanation, as it stands, just does not cut it for me. Also, kudos @TheHockeyGuy for using the old Rockets logo. I miss it so much.

[@Ekinoxe]

The difference is the Habs. Half the province's population lives in the greater Montreal area. If you're a local business and you want to sponsor a team, do you choose to put your brand on the boards at the Bell Centre in Montréal or at the Vidéotron Centre in Québec city. The Habs are an absolute juggernaut in the province in terms of media exposure and cultural impact. Québec lost its team due in part to a lack of corporate money. Nothing has changed since then, so this is still a huge hurdle that a potential Quebec city ownership group would have to overcome. Unfortunately, there's no easy solution to this.

[@fc1984fc]

@@Ekinoxe Interesting. I'm not from the area, but I'm not sure the corporate environment in Winnipeg is that much better, is it? There's the current ownership in Winnipeg, which does not count because they don't buy luxury suites from themselves, and then? Who else?

[@Ekinoxe]

@fc1984fc it's not so much that it's better, but the Jets are alone in Manitoba. The Blue Bombers are huge in Winnipeg, but the CFL and NHL have very little overlap, schedule wise. They don't compete with each other. Quebec City could absolutely support a team, just like Winnipeg. I just think that they have a hurdle to overcome in the form of the Habs.

[@OWlsfordshire]

I want expansion teams, but i also want consequences for owners that let their teams rot or even stagnate. Keep up the trend of replacing bottom of the barrel teams. Next on the chopping block should be Buffalo.

[@brianjones7660]

Hamilton TigerCats.....S. Ontario team near GTA but not overpoweringly so, Eastern Conference. Buffalo is done.

[@biffstrong1079]

NHL will just wait out the five year window.

[@Goodall10]

If they end up reviving Phoenix or Atlanta, they shouldn't be paired together. Pair one or the other with a market that's new and/or more of a sure thing, like Houston or Quebec. For instance, Atlanta and Houston come in together, and then a couple years later Phoenix and Quebec City.

[@cedricksusername]

Geoff Molson recently came out and said that he'd vote in favor of a Nordiques team in a governor's meeting, if it were to come up.

[@andrewgreen815]

As a Jets fan, we lost our Jets 1.0, they moved to Arizona, now they move on to Salt lake City. I know they have finally found a home. As for AZ, Winnipeg was blessed with True North Sports and entertainment, bringing back the Jets via Atlanta, be optimistic.

[@jdsmith1740]

Your blessing was our hell lol. I miss our Thrashers very very much. We had terrible ownership. Our fans were great. People have to realize we had the attendance we did with horrible teams. We still showed up. If we had a decent team and owner it will boom!! I am glad that Winnipeg got there Jets back, however it broke our hearts here in Atlanta. Hopefully we will get an expansion team soon and we will both be happy 😊

Not for much longer. That tiny arena built by the Canucks for their farm team, has never been a revenue generator worthy of an NHL franchise. Best buy your Jets 2:01 souveniers now.

[@andrewgreen815]

Since the comeback in 2011, the Jets have not lost money in any season. Ownership does nor care how much profit is generated. They are partly owner by David Thompson, one of the wealthiest Canadians, Gary Bettman recently announced the NHL backs the Jets as they are not financially burdening any of the ownerships. They are investing over $184,000,000 in developing the surrounding area surrounding the arena. These are facts, I could not help but notice you failed to provide any facts backing up your B.S., but nice try wierdo.

[@andyjarvis37]

I think it would be interesting if the hampton roads area in virginia got a team, maybe it's just me. They have a large population between virginia beach and norfolk

[@JimPryde]

KC voters just shot down a tax proposal that would have relocated the Royals to a new space just south of the T-Mobile Center, where an NHL team would play. This is an exciting wrinkle regarding thoughts about revitalizing downtown KC. Full disclosure: I live 45 minutes away from KC, and would love to see a team come here. I've been to several preseason games at the arena, and turnout has been very good (despite the ridiculous prices for preseason tickets.) I'd love the natural rivalry between St Louis and KC, particularly as someone who grew up in St Louis.

[@dreamcage1801]

I wanna see an NBA team coming to KC again and I think they’ll support them every step of the way too

[@thomasthomasthomas296]

I think St Louis Blues ownership would fight against Kansas City getting a team (also unfortunate for you that you’d be fighting against Houston for a team)

[@jeremykraenzlein5975]

If they add four more teams for a total of 36, you wouldn't have to get of divisions. 36 would be a good number for going back to three divisions per conference, like we had in the 1998-2013 alignment. The only difference is that it would now be six teams per division instead of five.

[@stephenphillips6245]

The Utah Magic Underwears...LoL

[@HawklordLI]

Or the Utah Sisterwives...

[@doctorx3]

Goddammit, I was gonna make this joke! Also, I bet NHL players are gonna be surprised when they can't buy alcohol after 10 PM. Downright amused, even.

[@ericb5059]

Utah Goblins, named after Utah Goblin Valley State Park could create a cool jersey potential!

[@that_guy0_0]

Bring back 1-8!!

[@gregorybiestek3431]

Better yet, since TV always wants to know who would be playing who to better promote the playoffs to viewers, - why not got all the way to 1-8 BRACKETS like March Madness? If a #8 team upsets the #1, they have to play their way thru the bracket to reach the finals. And if the NHL ever goes to 36 teams, give the top six in each conference the automatic spots and then have the next FOUR have a best-of-five play-in to get into the regular brackets.

[@AngieBee-uz1tw]

@@gregorybiestek3431 Please stop with the play-in garbage. The postseason is too long as it is.

[@gregorybiestek3431]

@@AngieBee-uz1tw I looks like you FAILED to actually read my post. I proposed CUTTING the season from 82 to 78 games while expanding the playoffs. That way the LENGHT of the entire season & post season REMAINS the SAME.

[@DeanRung-ed3fh]

Would love another wha video. I really think Phoenix/ Houston out west and atlanta and Quebec in the east. Living in the Buffalo area some of my earliest hockey memories were sabre/ nordique games... but that is probably wishful thinking

[@1337slic3]

"Poor Coyotes fans, they got screwed by ownership! So unfair!" "Screw Atlanta, the fans didn't care, they don't deserve a team!" People will actually say both of these in the same breath.

[@knutthompson7879]

One can say Atlanta and Phoenix already failed, but fact is there aren't many sure thing markets left. Those are really big, attractive, and now wide open media markets, and that is really what matters.

[@SpectreUSMC]

If any team should just "come back" with the same branding and name, its the trashers. Great jerseys, great logo, great name.

[@JFoxman]

NHL IN HOUSTON!

[@atomic_hok]

If they expand to 36 teams I think that's the absolute most they can ever go to because after that the product will just be diluted too much

[@Desert-Father]

It already is diluted too much. The same reason $$$ that leads them to expand to 36 will lead them to expand to 40. You're going to be watching NHL teams with 3/4 of the roster manned by career AHL players soon.

[@anthonydurante1149]

I wrote a map up until the 2031-32 season on another clip. By that season, there will be 36 teams grouped in either 6 or 9 team divisons. Here is how its going to pan out: 1. Coyotes move to Utah. Still 32 teams. 2. Coyotes owner wins land auction, builds arena and Coyotes return by 28-29 season. 33 teams. 3. Also for the 28-29 season, Atlanta is awarded an expansion franchise. 34 teams 4. Can't have 17 teams in each conference unless NHL does away with divisions. I believe 36 is the magic number. 5. By 2031-32, Houston and drumroll....one of Quebec or Hartford are also awarded expansion franchises. Six teams in six divisions or 9 teams in 4 divisions. 6. Bettman rides off into the sunset as a hero. His legacy is expanding the league by 10 teams, and bringing back nostalgic franchises for either Quebec or Hartford, proving hockey works in Arizona and Atlanta, and finally awarding the 4th largest tv network in the USA with a team in Houston.

[@jeremykraenzlein5975]

A great man once said "It's hard to make predictions, especially about the future", so I doubt that it will unfold exactly as you describe, but it would be nice if it did.

[@thomasnorman5978]

Public naming thing you say...? Cue the "HockeyTeam McHokeyTeamFace"

[@dantares3377]

Atlanta and Arizona would be the least exciting expansion duo ever.

[@patmanbnl]

If you expand past 32 I'd like to see an NBA style play in for the final playoff spots.

[@OldRustySteele]

NOOOOO! A thousand times NO. No more than 16 teams, 8 from each conference. Hockey is too physical to extend the playoffs any further than it is now.

[@mattburke1869]

I think one solution re: Divisions is 3 divisions of 6 per conference SW: Anaheim, Arizona, Los Angeles, Salt Lake, San Jose, Vegas NW: Calgary, Edmonton, Minnesota, Seattle, Vancouver, Winnipeg Cen: Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, St. Louis SE: Atlanta, Carolina, Columbus, Florida, Tampa Bay, Washington Metro: Buffalo, New Jersey, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh NE: Boston, Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec, Toronto

[@katemoo9581]

The two new expansion teams should be the thrashers and the coyotes

[@jacobc2046]

As a Red Wings fan living in Lincoln, NE I would love a team in either Omaha or KC because it would cut the closest NHL games to be from 8 hours away to 1/3 hours

[@stevie-pea]

Bring back ... Wales Conference - Adams & Patrick Divisions . Campbell Conference - Smythe & Norris Divisions . Teach about hockey history . * sorry / I'm olde . 💁‍♂️

[@OldRustySteele]

The LEGENDARY “Chuck” Norris Division!!!! Blues, Blackhawks, Red Wings, Maple Leafs, and North Stars. And yes, please rename the Wild to the NORTH Stars!!!!! It’s OK to have Stars and North Stars in the same league.

[@Sid_Garrett]

cities the NHL could expand into in no particular order: Atlanta, Phoenix, Houston, Milwaukee, Quebec City, Halifax, Hamilton, Kansas City, Portland, Cleveland, Hartford (one can dream), Virginia Beach (long shot)

[@alexanderscavello6253]

The problems with Quebec are very simple. Taxes are ridiculously high, Canadian dollar is worth less, it infringes upon the Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Senators, Sabers amongst others, the draconian law that you have to speak French in the workplace, rabid fanbase that harass players and their families, little corporate sponsorship, small market that does not grow the game one bit. It would be "cool" to have them back (along with Hartford) but it's probably not going to happen

[@mccartney7108]

literally none of these would be an issue if the league wants to return to qc. the argument that the cad is worth less is moot when you consider the other canadian teams’ existence, plus the revenue sharing model that the league has that’s kept the yotes alive for more years than they probably would have been. the encroachment on other markets is also a non-issue as the league is wanted to expand to houston as well, so encroaching clearly isn’t a problem to them. and a quebec city team would undoubtedly be a bilingual club, like montreal. whichever nordiques fans remain would join that fanbase, but the team could potentially attract new fans from atlantic canada, as they would be geographically closest to the maritimes. quebec would make the league better.

[@alexanderscavello6253]

@@mccartney7108 Yeah...no That revenue sharing has also kept Canadian teams alive. Maybe you don't own a globe but Dallas is a four hour trip from Houston. Quebec would be a FORCED bilingual club

[@Popozable]

Clearly you don't know what you are talking about. 1) All contracts are paid in US dollars, event if it's a Canadian team, so the player don't feel the impact of the canadian dollars being weaker. 2) Players who are playing in Canada often will have a contract structure that include bonuses, which are not taxed the same way, so the pay more taxes than if they would play in the US, but it's not 50%, far from it, otherwise no player would sign here. 3) The "draconian" law that forces people to speak french, it's a gross exaggeration. All the team player and coaching staff are working in english.

[@mccartney7108]

@@alexanderscavello6253 and quebec is a fucking day drive away from buffalo, one of the teams you mentioned that would be "encroached" by quebec. I guess you don’t have a globe either, because four teams in the nhl are less distant from each other than quebec city would be from montreal. your arrogance is infuriating.

[@alexanderscavello6253]

@@Popozable If it's so great why do players bolt for the states and have Canadian teams on no trade lists? They can come to certain states and pay zero taxes. It costs the team more to employ them. The law is not an exaggeration, how many players want to be forced to learn french? Marketing budget would be double if they had to advertise in two languages. Besides since players usually want to win, they need to come south

[@kulba21]

Islanders came in with the Altanta Flames. Not Washington.

[@Habebandebardown]

Just found out QC has 2M people within a 2h drive for any doubters

[@JPMadden]

They must have had some fans in the Maritimes, right?

[@Habebandebardown]

@@JPMadden Indeed even then fans of any team in the maritimes would get easier access to nhl hockey

[@benjaminlynch9958]

That puts it easily as the smallest market on this list and the smallest NHL market except maybe Winnipeg who happens to be struggling to fill a small arena with their small population.

[@Habebandebardown]

@@benjaminlynch9958 Its small but not like Winnipeg, Manitoba has what 1,4M population, Québec city has 2M within 2h drive plus the province of Qc has 9M pop and you add the maritimes would come see games too, it would not struggle I can tell you that

[@marcuskramer3514]

People aren't driving 2 hours in the dead of a Quebec winter consistently enough to consider them part of the core market. At most the core market is about a million right now. That being said, I'm a huge fan of Quebec getting the Nordiques back.

[@nickryan7991]

Omaha would actually be a fun one. If you add in Lincoln, NE it’s close to the metro size of SLC and has great support for the UNO Mavericks and Omaha Lancers. Also has no nearby professional franchises whatsoever so the people would be all in

[@TheVanishedMan1]

Disregarding all of the other (very good) arguments against expansion, as a math person, it pisses me off because we finally got to a 32 (a power of 2) and we should stay there. 32 teams (whether you have divisions or not) lets you keep chopping in halves. 16 make the playoffs, 8 make the second round, 4 the third, 2 the finals, and then 1 winner. If we go above 32, the next stopping point is 64 and I think even Gary Bettman would say that's too many.

[@OldRustySteele]

I tend to agree, but 36 teams is workable. But only have 16 in the playoffs. No more than 16 in the playoffs.

[@paulmezzetta6905]

Utah Swarm, Based on the Bee hive state.

[@jeremykraenzlein5975]

That could work!

[@BayBye2011]

if valued at 500 mil who in their right mind is paying 1.3 billion

[@LSA30]

The same way any other transaction works: A) Someone with enough money B) Someone desperate enough

[@OldRustySteele]

Someone who REALLY wants hockey in Salt Lake City. Note: I’m not necessarily saying he’s in his right mind, however.

[@csolivais1979]

Ottawa was "only" valued at, I believe, $650 million, and they sold for almost $1 billion, so that's not that far out of line.

[@lars2675]

My guess is that this is more like Ryan Smith buying his way into the NHL (while also skipping the line of cities/billionaires interested in new expansion teams) than the coyotes selling their team so the coyotes valuation is not really relevant

[@deanm375]

36 teams is overkill. Further diluting the talent pool, further diluting any single team's chances to win a Cup. I'd be okay with eliminating divisions As long as every team plays every other team at home and away at least once a year and the playoffs brackets revert to a 1vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3vs 6 format. I've hated the current divisional system since it's inception. Two many contending teams are eliminated in the first round specifically the #2 vs #3 matchups in the first round.

[@fredbrandl880]

Totally agree Dean. I know that some of the hockey know it alls like the playoff format the way it is now as they say the first round is so exciting which is true. What I’m seeing is the most years it’s the same teams playing each other in the first round with the odd exception and like you say there are really good teams getting knocked out right away. Id love to see it going back to 1v8 then if there is an upset so be so.

[@CapsBrotha]

WSH did not expand at the same time as the NYI. WSH expanded into the league in 74 alongside the KC Scouts, NYI expanded in 72 alongside the Atlanta Flames.

[@ArgentLost]

Atlanta has had their shot. Multiple times. Enough is enough.

[@cisium1184]

Atlanta resident here. I agree. But it's all about money. Atlanta will fail again, but will get as many more chances as there are people willing to pay the huge fee. Meanwhile Quebec, where the game is loved and respected, with get shit on stick.

[@ArgentLost]

I hear you. They aren't going to say ... hey, large market but not a hockey market ... just go eyeballs. Personally I would rather see Kansas City, Hartford, and/or Quebec. I live in none of those places. Oh, and Bettman out. Its time for a change.

[@Alexandros.Mograine]

Im glad for expansion talks. Honestly, i just want hockey to grow and grow!

[@Paul_Halicki]

I don't think so. Meruelo won't get his act together, won't win the land auction, won't build an NHL caliber arena, and won't resurrect the Coyotes.There won't be a reason to expand, at least to Arizona.

[@pomerlain8924]

Not to mention the fact he's shown to be deadbeat. Missed lease payments in Glendale and then the team got evicted from that arena. And now the report that the team wasn't paying hotel bills.