Top Ten NHL Teams That Don't Exist

As of right now - June 2017 - these NHL hockey teams don't currently exist...but should they? Did they? Will they rise from the ashes again? Will they come to exist for the very first time?
With the Winnipeg Jets returning to Canada six years ago and the Las Vegas Golden Knights entering the fold this upcoming season, any good idea is now possible!

[@SophiaQuinn1212]

The only thing holding back Quebec getting a team is Gary Bettman

[@timtwoface]

I still think it's moreso the Canadian Dollar and economy, though that's improved, even since I made this video. I still think Seattle should be the primary focus for expansion, but I'd love Quebec to come back, all the same - likely through relocation, a la Winnipeg in 2011.

[@Coach_Shiner]

timtwoface c'mon, give Atlanta another chance #thirdtimesthecharm

[@Coach_Shiner]

timtwoface a problem with adding another team to the eastern conference is that it will unbalance the conferences, with the east having more teams. So a western team has a bigger chance of expansion. Sorry Hartford and Quebec, but you'll have to wait your turn. Next stop, SEATTLE on the NHL expansion express.

[@pomerlain8924]

Shinespark 7 Quebec has been waiting its turn. Seattle should not be vaulted above them. Quebec has been ready. They have ownership, they have fans, and they have a new building. If they were to get an expansion team, then Detroit or Columbus could move back to the West to balance out the conferences.

[@oldsrocket8841]

Why don't they move Detroit back to the West and give the open spot to Quebec.

[@Newfieguys]

The song is terrifying at the whalers part

[@timtwoface]

Newfieguys9868 that's just a little whale sound! Also, I just got back from my first trip to Newfoundland - screeched in and everything - and now understand your profile pic/flag colours!

[@_minnvikesfan_8683]

Newfieguys9868 I

[@richardmarsh2317]

Newfieguys9868 - The music is a little creepy, but at least it's not the Brass Bonanza! 😬🤢

[@nyo6177]

yeh it sounds like throw up

[@brynncunningham]

Newfieguys9868 yeah

[@h1nkle]

Luckily, Seattle has officially signed an expansion team and will be playing in 20-21! Not to mention the new Vegas Golden Knights!

[@timtwoface]

I don't believe Seattle is in any way official at this point...but they are undeniably a lock to get the 32nd team, just as Vegas was a lock to get a 31st team after they submitted their request for expansion. It's obvious the NHL has wanted to be in both of these markets for over a decade, now. Frankly, it makes sense - especially in the case of a Seattle expansion team.

[@Jose-ee2se]

Wait the affiliate

[@Jose-ee2se]

WE FORGOT ABOUT THE AFFILIATE

[@Coach_Shiner]

@@timtwoface it was confirmed near the end of the 2017-18 season. The expansion plans are underway. Key arena is being renovated as we speak

[@MrCubFan415]

21-22, not 20-21

[@goodzucc4239]

And guess who's getting an NHL team in 2020... Seattle... And guess who should get a team instead.... Hartford or Quebec City

[@mrbuddysmemesupplier4369]

Dat Nick facts my man, Quebec can honestly live without one, but as a Hartford native I can tell you that there is not 1 person here that doesn’t want the whalers back

[@mkoerber44]

I would recommend KC to

[@Coach_Shiner]

Maybe because Seattle has the economical ability to house an NHL team. You have to take finance into consideration when you're talking about expansion teams or relocations.

[@MrCubFan415]

2021, not 2020

[@ObiWannaBrick31]

Toronto #2

[@sethsteener]

25% Hartford and 45% Kansas City?! NO other way around!

[@richardmarsh2317]

Ss 240 v spec - Kansas City is much larger than Hartford and would have more potential fans. I do think Hartford would have a better hockey fan base though.

[@enriquelovo1125]

HawksFan 007 this guy is an idiot that's why, he claims there's two teams in LA

[@liamjmbtaandrailfan2791]

Elmer Lovo he's talking about the anaheim ducks since anaheim is part of the la metropolitan area

[@FAITHandLOGIC]

Hartford is not getting the Whalers back. It's not an attractive market for the NHL.

[@mkoerber44]

Um.......Kansas City is much larger

[@Jiltedin2007]

R.I.P.: California Golden Seals Hartford Whalers(Carolina Hurricanes) Quebec Nordiques(Colorado Avalanche) Atlanta Flames(Calgary Flames) Colorado Rockies(New Jersey Devils) Minnesota North Stars(Dallas Stars) Everyone of those Former Hockey Teams left us with plenty of Unforgettable Memories!

[@DemonFighterNB]

I want the nordiques back really bad

[@bigchungusclips1283]

Airline747 I wanna see a lot of fights again 😂

[@Danfrombackhome]

I do too so i can get the jersey

[@trumetalheadonmauiey9715]

I always turned up the sound to hear Brass Bonanza when the Whalers scored a goal.

[@CanadaBricks]

So who’s here when Seattle actually has an NHL team, the Kraken?

[@owenjonker]

I laughed when he said 1000%

[@mbatchelor5553]

If i am not mistaken, the California Seals after a short move to Cleveland as the Barons merged with the Minnesota North Stars. And it was the same half of the North Stars ownership group that once owned the Seals that created the Sharks bringing hockey back to the Bay Area and dissolving the merger when expansion started again. The Sharks in a sense is the return of the Seals. They even chose Teal again as the main color, much like the Seals final jerseys but with the addition of black. There is some routes.

[@joelewis6405]

That would be the Gund Brothers, who bought the Seals, moved them to Cleveland for 2 seasons, then bought the North Stars and merged their 2 teams. Later they attempted to move the Stars to San Jose, but wound up selling the Stars and getting an expansion team in San Jose. So yes the Sharks can trace their history to the Seals. Sorta like how people say they can trace their family tree back to George Washington.

[@jennifersman7990]

Hartford Whalers games were an event in the 80’s, the arena was usually 80% filled and being between Boston and NYC it would be a guaranteed sellout when the Bruins, Rangers or Islanders were in town. Had the new owner not demanded a new arena they’d still be in Hartford. The fan base was DEFINITELY there

[@edwardofgreene]

I rarely agree with the over all of a top 10 list more than this. Very well done sir!! Good list and all the right points made. (Any issue? I would have made more of a case for Milwaukee)

[@bernadettebo4843]

They should get some More teams in canada.

[@davidtosh7200]

How about Cleveland Barons from 1970 to 1976? It did not catch on, because the arena is in the farmland, about 25 miles south of Cleveland. However Columbus did get an NHL team in 2000, and it did caught on for the NHL in Ohio.

[@JohnDoe-dh4fi]

Cleveland Barons got an Honourable Mention

[@JJJJ-gl2uf]

People keep trotting out that old line "The only thing holding Canada back from getting more teams is Gary Bettman." I don't like Bettman very much, but he did see that Winnipeg got another team. Face the facts, there simply aren't that many Canadian cities that can support an NHL team today. The economics - Canadian $, sky high NHL salaries, expansion fees, NHL arena - just don't work unless you have a large population base (and the US has many more cities that fit that criteria than we do). The NHL is now (once Seattle starts playing) at 32 teams, 16 in each conference. That's what the league has been aiming for and now they've achieved it.

[@ericbond5276]

I visited KC in 2013, beautiful city.

[@targettoad691]

let's start a betting line on who moves to Quebec City first: Arizona or Carolina

[@rtovatt6642]

Carolina

[@waricqc563]

TargetToad 9/9/99 bettman want the coyotes to stay in arizona so they will stay there under bettman's reign even tho they are loosing money

[@damienfalconer6451]

TargetToad 9/9/99 dont forget the avalanche

[@rtovatt6642]

Well actually the avalanche have good fans

[@dominicsalvaggio2601]

Calgary

[@matthewpaluch777]

Quebec city & Seattle most definitely. Milwaukee & Indianapolis should be considered.

[@kenphillips8525]

What about the Hamilton tigers,the were a very early NHL team.

[@charlesmclearn4642]

He kinda lumped Hamilton in with the 2nd GTA team.

[@algeborusas1883]

I'm with you, bro. Damn Ottawa stole the team that should have gone to Hamilton.

[@unbrysonabletga6017]

Yep

[@randomronaldo706]

Hamilton won’t get a team because Toronto and Buffalo signed a paper that says they won’t and can’t get a team

[@geohawk7]

Canada needs more teams so I hope that Quebec, Hamilton, Saskatoon and Halifax get teams

[@mattfischer6133]

I want hockey back in Cleveland because the Columbus/Cleveland and Pittsburgh/Cleveland rivalries would be awesome, and we all know how good a hockey team in Wisconsin would be.

[@TBirdThe15th]

Was this before the kraken announcement? Because if it was you called it even before it was cool. Good on you man!

[@timtwoface]

Yes it was but for a long time it was quite clear the NHL wanted to expand to Seattle and Las Vegas...so i predicted it would come true, and soon. :)

[@jingFlixx]

i need to pause the video to read the text. hahaha. #slowreader

[@patricklelievreracing337]

Let’s just agree that the NHL would be better with the Quebec Nordiques back.

[@Polytrout]

How about Colorado plays several neutral site games as the home team in le Centre Vidéotron wearing Quebec Nordiques sweaters ?

[@epic4lifetime]

Houston has an NHL-caliber arena already built, and of the last few seasons before the Aeros relocated, their attendance rate was one of the highest in the entire AHL.

[@christfollower7315]

Atlanta and Houston should get teams.

[@CharlieND]

Good video. I hope Halifax or Saskatoon or Seattle gets a team. Also, 4:28 is wrong. Toronto's metro area is only 5 million. Are you counting Hamilton?

[@prchristman]

My favorite: The NHL Pittsburgh Pirates of 1925-30 (moved to Philadelphia in 1930 to become the Quakers in 1930-31 before leaving for good). No rise from the ashes, no need for second teams in Pennsylvania. But they don't currently exist. And they deserve some sort of mention.

[@michealjacksonsinnocent2488]

Why such a terrifying song?

[@davislove686]

I've gotta go drop some Portland Rosebuds in my toilet.

[@frankd8434]

I've got an NHL team that doesn't exist! It's called the Psvdhzkbs's. They're good :)

[@krispyboi2519]

River dogs is a corner gas refrence lmao

[@timtwoface]

It sure is! ;)

[@Polytrout]

You were spot on. Seatle got their team. A team in Quebec City? I wish but let's be realistic, Houston and Kansas City are larger markets. A second team in Toronto or a team in Hamilton? It makes financial and fans sense but as cities everyone hates Toronto and nobody likes Hamilton.

[@arefriendselectric8285]

Cheeseheads is that a joke but im dying right now! Lol

[@bcunningham5799]

Did anybody else cry at all?

[@stevenloeffler1266]

What was the main song in the background?

[@waynebrady1819]

Toronto is the largest hockey market in the world. But I still think a second team would not really work with this market in this agglomeration. Canadians are just like us Europeans when it comes to their sport, very tradition-conscious and attentive to history. The best example is Ottawa. I've been able to visit this city three times and all the Ottawans I met were either Leafs or Habs fans.

[@coopergilkinson6421]

Personally I would love to see the Quebec Nordiques in the NHL because another French team would be awesome! Also I like the colours the logo and everything about that idea.

[@Hedukfan23]

I'm all for Quebec coming back, just don't move the Avs. We need a team here in the mountains

[@randomronaldo706]

Calgary and Vancouver

[@samplautz5586]

Atlanta should definitely get another team. The sooner they can get a team, the sooner that team can relocate to Quebec City so that the Nordiques can come back

[@stevejennings3082]

it sucks to see all these teams gone

[@trumetalheadonmauiey9715]

So Toronto could house 2 NHL clubs and give Ontario 3 Pro teams including Ottawa Senators.Also I think it would be either or between Seattle and Portland for a NHL team.

[@Elite]

When it go to top 3 the music wasn’t bad.

[@duskrpg119]

If Seattle does get a team they will technically play at keyarena but it is get renovated in Start of March 2018 probably with a new name and with a new interior but same outside what you see right now if u see pics or go to the arena

[@jkdm7653]

How about the Seattle Sub-Sonics...they might not be so fast leaving?

[@coryshannon3815]

I'm guessing Iqaluit was meant as a joke, but honestly, a team in a remote part of Canada would be pretty cool.😁

[@ExcelGenerations]

Quebec will definitely get its team back. Also yes, the Pacific Northwest is an untapped reservoir with Portland and Seattle. Expect those places to be prime expansion and/or possible relocations targets. Honestly I truly believe the NHL is trying to expand into markets that don't really follow hockey all that much just to try and expand the sport for more consumers. The sport is pretty big nowadays and it's worked by allowing the south to finally come around even if their attendance numbers are subpar compared to the north, northeast and west coast. Also the Bay Area could support 2 NHL teams, but it most likely won't happen unless there's a real push for it and a new arena built. The Bay Area region has 3 sectors of large populations and the 6th largest media market. San Francisco in the west, the East Bay (most notably Oakland) and San Jose in the south bay.

[@nickisvery303]

This feels like: Top ten best obituaries.

[@joelewis6405]

Would have loved to see the Victoria Cougars on there, although they weren't an NHL team, neither were the Seattle Metros. Last non-NHL team to win the Stanley Cup.

[@Rockhound6165]

I think the mistake made in the '79 merger was not leaving the Aeros in and leaving the Whalers out. The Whalers were going to have a hard time competing with the Bruins which is what sunk them. As for Seattle, I'm betting it's going to be another Thrashers situation. Seattle couldn't even support the Sonics so I don't see the Kraken lasting long.

[@minixi1414]

Hope we'll see Seattle and Quebec soon enough ^^

[@BINGOBALL111222]

Quick question, does anyone think that San Antonio would be a potential city just saw someone say they would be a good city for a hockey team and was wondering if it could work there?

[@fredd4320]

He was right about Seattle, they have an expansion draft going on for the 20-21 season

[@MrCubFan415]

Fredrik VanBeuren They’re not starting until the 2021-22 season

[@youssef5652]

KeyArena requires a HUGE renovation, while ShoWare Center is too small. Portland has a 19,000 seater arena, and has a big enough population (640,000) I'm not just saying this cause I'm from there. Quebec Nordiques will come back, and so will Hartford Whalers.

[@ajalonzo2705]

TotallyAFootballFan it wouldnt be cost effective to either renovate key arena or modify showare to house more. there were talks in the city council of building a new arena kinda near the wharfs. i havent been following the news as of late so i dont know if its pulled through or if they're still considering. i just know that Seattle does not wanna spend the money on either of those arenas. just might be cheaper to make a new one that can remake all the money back within 3 seasons. theres such a rabid sports base here so you know it'll happen.

[@duskrpg119]

ShoWare Center is not shoWare center anymore it's accesso ShoWare Center

[@Coach_Shiner]

MLGSOCCERCORGI the moda center holds 10,900 (I looked it up)

[@Coach_Shiner]

MLGSOCCERCORGI they settled it. Key arena is getting renovated

[@joelewis6405]

Wasn't Key Arena originally built so it COULDN'T host hockey, with permanent seats close to the basketball floor? Almost like Seattle was thumbing their collective noses at the NHL. Guess it can be renovated though.

[@JohnDoe-dh4fi]

you for got to mention Kansas City Scouts moved to Colorado Rockies 1976-1982 then moved to become New Jersey Devils

[@araparseghian2]

Islanders aren't moving anytime soon. They're building an arena in Belmont Park.

[@RyanDonziger]

The whalers part was not okay

[@canadiancatgreen]

Seattle and Quebec I would agree at top of list Portland maybe #3

[@CanadianAPX]

I think a team will move to Seattle (Arizona preferably) and Quebec City will be an expansion team. Mind you Carolina doesn't have a stable hockey market and could move. The possibilities for a relocation on their behalf may be Hartford in my opinion. This uneven 31 team league will expand to 32 sometime in the future (hopefully not too long).

[@ghl3186]

carolina and arizona are currently too successful to move. they usually fill an ASTONISHING 11,000 seats PER GAME!!! and they have pretty small arenas also...like 18k or so.

[@CJbrinkman602]

CanadianAPX Arizona has stable ownership, but maybe Carolina could move to Quebec. And Seattle/Houston can get a expansion team?

[@jakewhite7126]

CanadianAPX Carolina used to be the Hartford Whalers lmao, why would they move back?

[@christfollower7315]

If Carolina is going anywhere, it should be Atlanta.

[@etiennesigouin4653]

and for saskatoon the population might be small but they're passionate af for their sport teams. Saskatoon has the only succesfull CFL team and their stadium is always full.

[@randomronaldo706]

Calgary is successful with the stampeders

[@yellowmartian]

I always thought if St Louis relocated, they should relocate to Salt Lake City. Dave checkets used to be a part owner, maybe he still is. He has ties to Utah. Plus how random would it be if SLC had the jazz in basketball and the Blues in hockey? That would be mildly amusing.

[@TheNewChevyRoll48]

I'd say the NHL gets no other offers and takes on the Quebec Nordiques (2nd incarnation) as the 32nd expansion team in the NHL. However, that's assuming Seattle doesn't offer an expansion bid.

[@starfystars4011]

I am making sure Atlanta gets a team.

[@nicktleafs401]

i think that toronto has a higher market than montreal. not talking about how passionate fans are in each city just talking about the market

[@ruffus910]

With the addition of Seattle in 2020, I dont think the NHL will easily expand afterwards. 30-ish teams seems to be the magic number for sports leagues, and there is an arguably legitimate concern about balancing exposure to as many markets as possible while not dilluting talent and money.

[@thebrucechannel8061]

Should take the Phoenix or Arizona Coyotes or whatever their name is this year and move them up to Seattle, the arena situation in Phoenix is so messed up and Seattle would have a great fan base and a brand new arena in a good location.

[@loganclarke4884]

QC put in a bid for an expansion team, but Seattle didn't.

[@AvroBellow]

Tim, you're a Habs fan aren't you? We can smell our own! GO HABS GO! ;)

[@rmartin7558]

I thought this top ten NHL teams that don't exist? Half of these teams never played in the NHL.

[@timtwoface]

Exactly! It doesn't exist!

[@CCT3]

This song makes me sad cause i am emotional

[@rubym357]

Absolutely true regarding the Islanders! They need to go back to LI or find greener pastures. The Barclay Center doesn't do well for them- too many Rangers fans in Brooklyn (I'm one of them, not to shit on Ken Morrow's big pro success after 1980 Lake Placid). They got back at the WHA and formed a team in LI where no NHL team was. Nassau Veterans Colosseum exists today and is waiting for an NHL team to return, or the Islanders.

[@kevinmorrissey2105]

Katrina Paige MacCray WRP you are lucky seems Isles are moving to Belmont (Isles fan here) we going back to our home!

[@chaseontwo]

this video is terrifying omg couldn't watch.

[@isaiah9757]

No way will the blues move... They have gained such a fan base even though they have never won a cup. Even when they were in January, their worst month in the 2016-2017 season, scottrade center was still full! Great video though!

[@Mickelraven]

6:59 1000%? Does that mean there will be 10 NHL teams in Seattle?

[@georgepartal9960]

Wow, I can't believe how confident you are that Seattle and Quebec City will get a team.

[@MrCubFan415]

Well, he was right about Seattle.

[@rentslave]

We need a 4th team in the Greater NYC area to re-open the Izod Center.

[@MaxMaximale]

keep in mind the chiefs did exist, but only as an ECHL team in Johnstown Pennsylvania a few years after the move Slap Shot was filmed there. the Chiefs in the movie actually used the same jersey template from the Johnstown Jets that played there at the time. Either way, I think the Chiefs need a comeback, somewhere.

[@christopherramirez7459]

i want the Cleveland barons back

[@patrickpghfan]

Though i hate to see a fellow nhl fan lose their team to a new city i rather not see an expansion draft for at least 5 years...maybe more.

[@jbtrains]

Seattles NHL is needed though they are not ready and it's on the low in priorities cause they would rather have the NBA team 10x more than the NHL and no not all NBA arenas are set for hockey. Like for example in Phoenix the coyotes had to move to another arena because the downtown arena the suns use had lots of blocked sight lines

[@daydreamer8662]

If you want a team relocated to Canada, put another team in Atlanta and let it flounder again

[@candiceelliott3062]

It would be amazing if the Québec Nordics played again the big rival reed against MTL Canadians and Québec Nordics🤔

[@Lucky.27_]

Relocate Florida panthers in Quebec City, relocate hurricanes in seattle, job done!

[@akirafromwiisports]

How about the Montana Scorpions? Seattle Silvertips? Portland (Maine) Jetlife? Oklahoma Beavers.

[@AlexsAssortedBricks]

I know it’s a tiny city, but why don’t we expand to Boise and have a team called the Boise Potatoes?

[@FirewolfKnight]

Because if You're going to put another team in the Rocky Mountain Corridor it should be Salt Lake City, which you know, has hosted international Hockey competitions before?

[@reidkuliga4955]

No

[@Chief_FireWater]

Is it me or the music sad

[@loskevinsxd3111]

Now seattle going have a team lol

[@richardmartinez3078]

Aviators, pilots, legends, myth, reign, would be good names for a Seattle expansion team

[@infronbrothers4837]

Just because Montreal has won the most Stanley Cups does not mean they are the best. It means they were the best (or the most lucky) AT THE TIME. Montreal has not won a cup since 1993

[@HardKorKid]

And Seattle is getting an NHL team in the 2020-21 season

[@Burgley1]

I'm pretty sure your picture of Charlestown is London UK lol

[@TheXscreech2004x]

Milwaukee Cheeseheads? Nope, we have the Admirals and wouldnt change that name.

[@NOCLICKBAITISWEAR]

They got it correct. The Seattle Kraken now exist

[@julianromero4761]

I think we should still try to make Atlanta a hockey city. And your welcome Canada.

[@robertboekee8733]

the Honorable mentions are hilarious. Milwaukee Cheese-heads? A team in Iqaluit?

[@goaliegoogan9133]

Used to, used to exist

[@rri12]

You are wrong that Golden Seals have no chance of ever returning, but in a very real sense they already have! California Golden Seals moved the Cleveland to become the Barons in 1976, The Seals'/Barons' financial woes continued, so they were merged with the Minnesota North Stars in 1978. Flash forward 11 years, the owners of the North Stars decide to relocate to San Jose, who just built a new arena. And the NHL, in their infinite wisdom, said "NOOOOOOOOOO! You can't leave a hockey hotbed like Minnesota!" So they made a deal, the North Star owners would sell them and they would be granted an "expansion" team instead. The existing North Star roster was split between the two teams and both held an expansion draft acquiring players from the other clubs. That "expansion" team was, of course, the Sharks. The team was the Seals was folded into and split apart from the SAME TEAM and returned to the Bay Area! Of course three years later, the new owners of the North Stars said they couldn't make money in Minnesota.....

[@AdRevenuePlz]

I’m surprised that Halifax is on here, I’ve watched both goon movies and I’ve wished that they where in the NHL

[@timtwoface]

Small market, but boy, they would be huge fans of a team here!

[@matthewfein]

Atlanta DEFINITELY deserves an NHL team!!

[@petergirimonte4437]

This is terrifying

[@wmbeam211]

If you started a new league with these cities it could eventually rival the NHL

[@Idk-xm2ng]

Wm Beam it could create a conference between the NHL. Hockey could end up turning out to be like thE NFL in the future