Jim Balsillie believes Canada should have another NHL franchise.

Houston and Seattle.

 

If Winnipeg ever gets another franchise, the portrait of the Queen from the old arena must be displayed in the new one.

 

Seattle might be a good option.
Hartford.
Milwaukee.
Portland, Ore.
Baltimore. (just kidding)

 

I can't see the league putting a team in Hartford again. Hartford's biggest problem is that it's between Boston and New York, so the fan base root for either the Rangers or the Bruins.

 

Its not like there are busfuls of people driving to MSG and the TD Banknorth Garden to see those teams. You are talking about a metro population of a 1-million people, which I think would be enought to support a franchise. Now, you talk about Bettman not liking Hartford because of past ownership (crooks) and a 30-year old arena, that is a different story.

BTW, I think a Candian city has better than a fighters chance simply because of the CN dollar is equal in value to the AMerican Dollar. (wasn't the exchange rate one of the things that killed previous franchises in Winnipeg and Quebec?)

 

It's not just the exchange rate, it's dealing with TV companies and corporate sponsors who have no interest in Winnipeg.

 

And remember, Balsillie is the one who was exposed as a lying fraud when he went to buy the Penguins.

 

you got that fuckin right.

If I recall correctly, the Whalers nearly filled the HCC (now it's got some hideous corporate name) in their last few years in Hartford even though the team was a.) not very good, b.) playing in an outdated arena in deadass downtown Hartford and c.) clearly headed for greener pastures. Hartford can support an NHL team. A new arena could be built in the burbs, a la the UConn football field in East Hahhhtford. It'd be the only pro game in town and the local corporations would jump all over luxury suites and what not.

It'll probably never happen. but the Whalers didn't fail b/c of Hartford. They failed b/c of Lowell P. Weicker, Gary Bettman and the ponytailed motherfucker. Oh and Claude Lemieux, too.

 

You'll find Claude Lemieux at the root of most evil.

 

Milwaukee would siphon off the fanbase from Chicago, an Original Six team already struggling (due to longtime incompetent ownership, the reason for almost all franchise failures).

With the Sonics gone (or going) from Seattle within a season or so, I could see the NHL filling the gap. A nice little rivalry with Vancouver could be developed if both teams were reasonably good.

 

The problem with places like Milwaukee and Cleveland is they're not huge markets and they already have the NBA. It's a stretch to think you're going to support two indoor winter sports with attendance and corporate money.

 

Many of the cities mentioned here either have AHL teams or, in the case of Seattle and Portland, long-established Western Hockey League franchises. No guarantee their fan bases would cough up the big bucks to watch the NHL.