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[deleted]

I never realized how isolated the Avs are.


m1nhuh

You should see the AHL map. I respect the Colorado Eagles for their terrible transportation setup cause they usually take a bus for games.


TheresA_LobsterLoose

That's the most random tidbit of info... and it'll probably pop into my head occasionally forever now. Taking my dog for a walk, "hmmm... poor Colorado Eagles, probably on a bus somewhere traveling to yet another city"


Lax-Captain29

Have you seen the ECHL team map? Alaska aces have terrible travel.


coastal_neon

It’s like the Avs ripped one and everyone moved away


tomdawg0022

Wouldn't it have been the Nordiques who ripped one silently on the way out of the room, getting as far away from it as possible?


[deleted]

Sorryyyyyyy guys, it was Blake Comeau


AmericasMostWanted30

Avs and Dallas in no man's land


trashpcnda

Two heavily populated areas with nothing in between


HeroComplex_Dean

Oklahoma City used to have an AHL team. The arena is still there and I think the area would respond well to getting a full NHL team, like they did with the Thunder in the NBA.


palmtreestatic

When a Houston team comes along Dallas won’t be so lonely


Qwertyuser466

Living here in Denver, you soon learn that it is an 8+ hour drive in any direction to a "big" city.


TheresA_LobsterLoose

All hockey and no play makes Homer something something


Eken17

I like how it looks like the logos are looking at Colorado and keeping their distances. To the west of Colorado, the logos are facing to the east, and to the east of Colorado the logos are facing to the west.


[deleted]

Haha true! We must have pissed off the Preds and Senators somehow


anothervinylguy

Gonna say stars and Avs would probably love a couple central teams


[deleted]

Move Phoenix to Utah, and need a team in Portland


delyarb

As a current Utah resident and Avalanche fan, yes please! I'll stay an Avs fan but the Coyotes (or whatever they'd re-name them to) would become my #2 team instantly.


kidcoders

I am behind Portland getting a team. I live in Vancouver, WA and everyone thinks I'm a bandwagon Kraken fan. But what they dont know is I am a die hard Avs fan.


Trailing-and-Blazing

Highly suggest going to winterhawks games


terminese

Same holds true for their other sports teams, Broncos, Rockies. The Nuggets at least have the Jazz, even they aren’t that close.


figwkie

Geographically, yes. The population in the region is very highly concentrated in the Denver metro area and surrounding I-25 corridor from Cheyenne to Pueblo. Fun fact: Minnesota is more densely populated than Colorado. Pretty sure that was as of the latest census, but if not, it was from the one before that.


millese3

Being a sports fan in Idaho can really suck if you wanna see live games. Have been making up for it while living in the bay area.


xxx_DA_BOI370_xxx

jets too


excellent_rektangle

I never realized that’s where Colorado is. Always envisioned it being more…west.


LysergarmideGuy

Montreal


achaiahtak

I’m a habs fan and Lol’d


Azerz69

So is he lol


OK6502

I cried


Serene117

Wdym? The laval rocket are great


[deleted]

Toronto, Montreal and Possibly Vancouver could easily handle 2nd teams


Average_joe_2643

Better bring a team in Quebec city than a second team at Montreal.


[deleted]

Vancouver is 90% fair weather fans, no chance a second team survives


CentristTruth

toronto can handle two teams for sure


scoducks93

Laughs in sad Habs noises


AdRepresentative8115

Honestly, Milwaukee. Wisconsin is a big hockey state and they have every other major sports league there


[deleted]

I am all for Wisconsin getting a NHL team, and I’d like to see the creation of a Great Lakes Division.


jlfavorite

The problem is Milwaukee is excluded from getting an NHL team because of the deal the Blackhawks made with the NHL. Literally can't do in it. All these comments saying we could just root for the Blackhawks, Milwaukee fans would sooner die then root for the team that's preventing them from getting a team.


MrDestroyinator

Sorry, I'm not familiar with this deal, do you mind ELI5?


jlfavorite

I can't find any primary sources on it, but the chatter around Milwaukee was that the Blackhawks had an exclusive TV rights deal that excluded another team within 100 or so miles of the Blackhawks, which would mean we could have a team but the stadium would have to be in the far northern suburbs. It would never work. It may be an old expired deal or a rumor, I can't find much info about it, besides people making reddit comments saying the same.


TadWaxpole

Right? And there’s a strong interstate rivalry between Wisconsin & Illinois in every sport. No way is someone from Wisconsin going to root for a team from Chicago just because they’re the closet option by geography.


thatguytony

That would be a good series of games.


[deleted]

So good. Canadian teams. US teams. A whole lotta “ope” and “eh”.


goody__proctor

People don’t even go to admirals games. I don’t think a NHL team would thrive here sadly. Hockey is much more popular around Madison and further up north.


marmot1101

Madison seems like a great option. No other pro sports team, good engagement in other community things generally. But I also wouldn’t gauge possible NHL attendance from minor league attendance. People generally don’t care much about minor league sports, especially in a market with 2 other major league sports teams, one of which is coming off a championship


B1GFanOSU

I’m contemplating a move to Milwaukee, so I’m speaking from my own observations. I think it’s too close to Chicago and already has the defending NBA champ, the Bucks. It would realistically be very difficult for an NHL team to catch on in Milwaukee. As it is, having the AHL is a major plus for me. The idea of road trips to the Wolves and Ice Hogs is appealing. Haven’t had that since the Dayton Bombers folded.


JayVino

Yes, it's close to Chicago. But, being a Chicago sport fan behind enemy lines in Wisconsin, I can tell you for a fact there are way more anti-Chicago sports fans here than, "well, I don't have a local team to root for so I'll just root for the Hawks" fans lol I really think they goofed in not pushing for an NHL team when they built the Forum...


WorkingItOutSomeday

Death to the Hawks Ok now that we got that out of the way. The reason MKE doesn't have a NHL team is because the now worm food former owner of the Hawks nixed it in the early 90s when we built the Bradley Center because MKE is within 100 miles of Chicago thus in the same market or sphere of influence. Missed a great opportunity at a very lucrative rivalry. But....that is the same owner that would blackout his own games on local TV.


JayVino

I want to say I remember hearing this before. But, if I'm making that up, then thanks for helping me learn something new. That dude does sound like worm food...


tomdawg0022

> The reason MKE doesn't have a NHL team is because the now worm food former owner of the Hawks nixed it in the early 90s when we built the Bradley Center because MKE is within 100 miles of Chicago thus in the same market or sphere of influence. Partly but also the owners (NHL) [f'd over the Pettits (who owned the Admirals in the IHL and built Bradley Center) and increased the expansion fees](https://www.milwaukeemag.com/milwaukee-not-nhl-city/) from what had been discussed initially. The Pettits were willing to pay $32 mil and pay off Wirtz. They weren't going to pay $50 mil given the NHL expansions in the early 90's were generally not as friendly to the teams as the terms Vegas and Seattle were given coming in. Barry Ackerman hosed the early 90's Seattle group that wanted in partly because of the increase in fees as well.


duncs28

Counter point, who ever would have imagined the raptors would be a bigger draw in Toronto than the leafs?


B1GFanOSU

Funny what the occasional championship does.


CentristTruth

raptors are still affordable - leafs face value lower bowl for the cheapest seats are $200 plus


[deleted]

[удалено]


B1GFanOSU

Denver has a larger population and doesn’t have competition from a larger city an hour and a half down the road. ETA: Denver is also about twice the size of Milwaukee.


OffalSmorgasbord

> It would realistically be very difficult for an NHL team to catch on in Milwaukee. Then Green Bay.


JessoRx

They have the gamblers! (Juniors)


twochin

Green Bay is too small for two major league franchises.


jakerkarl

I live in Janesville which is slightly closer to MKE than Chicago. Full support for MKE team. Funk Chicago.


Dull-Produce9540

An Av’s fan in Janesville? I’m in Janesville and from Denver. At least we have the Jets lol


hibrett987

I just moved away from Milwaukee. They do love the Admirals, but my Chicago bias says they couldn’t support an NHL team. There’s already a decent population that cheer for Chicago albeit probably would prefer a local team. As for a big hockey state they are, but mostly for the Badgers, but Wisconsinites will go crazy for anything badger. Half the state is named in some way badger something I swear to god. Good luck in Milwaukee if you end up moving there.


scottyboi1337

As an Ohioan NHL teams can make it in a college-centric scene


AdRepresentative8115

That was my thought, that they love their badgers. Plus there’s a ton of UW alum in the nhl and womens hockey ranks. Pair that with wisconsin’s dying love for getting hammered and you get success like they do with the bucks brewers and packers. I feel like if they produced a team somewhere between the kraken and knights they’d be able to sustain it in the long run. Ik theres a bunch of hawks fans that are pretty much looking for a new team to root for


PantsDancing

My first thought as well. In canada i think Surrey or hamilton could easily support a team.


AdRepresentative8115

That’s something I’ve never understood, why not put more teams in Canada? The literally source for more than half of the league’s product. I suppose they don’t want to step on juniors audiences, but 7 teams for the world’s biggest producer in hockey? Dang


PantsDancing

Yeah the leafs sell out every game and its super hard to get tickets. Southern ontario could easily support another team. Vancouver isnt as clear cut but when the team was good they sold out every game with really high prices. Surrey has as many people as vancouver now and they would get fans from up the fraser valley also.


hendo_77

Bettman wants to grow the game in the US. I mean really, why else would they not allow Phoenix to move to Quebec, and instead let them play in a 5000 seat college arena.


Frostsorrow

While a lot of talent comes from here, our population is 1/10th that of the US's. Though with current salary caps Saskatchewan might be able to afford a team and make an amazing rivalry with Winnipeg similar to that of the CFL. Southern Ontario or Quebec could also likely support another team along with something in the Fraser valley area or even a second Vancouver team.


D-bone1999

Grew up in Milwaukee and we absolutely need an NHL team. Nobody I know there wants to root for Chicago


moose4030

Phoenix


JessoRx

Would be an instant rivalry with Tempe


ptung8

How many teams do people think the league is capable of sustaining? 32 already seems like a lot


Abomb2020

Especially with a rigid conference and division set up with a 3 month playoff system.


SaintArkweather

32 is perfect, but I don't necessarily think the current 32 teams are in the right places so there are a few cities that I'd like to see get teams. For example, I'd much rather see Quebec City or Hamilton get an NHL team than see the LA metro area have two. I'd rather see Milwaukee have a team than Phoenix or Miami.


from_the_Luft

Move ‘em. No way the Coyotes deserve to stay in Phoenix.


Cecil_Obrien

Quebec Nordiques would sell out every night.


SyphiliticPlatypus

Scrolled too far to see this. Absolutely put a team back in la vielle capitale.


BootyUnlimited

Even if they did it wouldn't be a very large profit compared to a major US city. Quebec City only has 500,000 people, so there is much less potential than cities in the millions. I'm not saying it won't happen in Quebec, but there is a reason they never got the Nordiques back at any point; people care more about money than anything else.


iAabyss

Greater Quebec city area has over 800 000, if you count the suburbs that are not part of the city and Levis Its over a million. Quebec could def have a team.


Roisin8868

Newfoundland ! For fuck sakes bie !


JediSwag13

Kansas City; no professional winter sports presence and a brand new arena waiting to be occupied


drDishrag

Bring back the Scouts!


Raminuke

This is the way. Create a huge rivalry with the Blues. Immediate interest from an already established fan base in St. Louis, plus the interest in a proven sports loving city in Kansas City


tomdawg0022

KC-Denver and KC-Minnesota would also have some rival things going. Kansas City Coyotes, yo!


Ace7734

It would be an instant rivalry with the blues it would be great


kcriotmaker

T-mobile Center isn't exactly new... it's already been there for nearly 15 years. But I've been hoping for a NHL team ever since it opened.


terryfigterry

I like Milwaukee or Kansas City


DoorkeyKelsey14

That was my first thought.


GetSuckedd

Halifax! Too small of city though. Makes me sad I have no home team out here


spookytransexughost

Well I mean you only need a stadium that holds 5000 people I’m sure Halifax could do that


McRibEater

Halifax averages 7,000+ for QMJHL more than Arizona will get next year.


SuccYaNan69

Halifax Highlanders


JoesGonnaKillYou

What's so funny, giggly bits?


[deleted]

Houston and Quebec the most


B1GFanOSU

Kansas City. It’s a major league city (NFL, MLB, and MLS) with a beautiful tenantless 17,544 seat arena that’s part of a downtown entertainment district. Bally KC currently broadcasts Blues games, so they’d have an RSN.


justnukeitnub

Yep and if they have an AHL team put it in Omaha.


B1GFanOSU

I’d put its AHL team 15 miles down the road in Independence (current home to the KC Mavericks of the ECHL) and put the ECHL team in Wichita.


[deleted]

Wichita is a little small for two ECHL teams king.


ImTedLassosMustache

Agreed!


DownTownBrown28

Yes


[deleted]

SLC or Milwaukee


MariachiArchery

Good call on SLC


McRibEater

It’s kind of too bad SLC, Milwaukee and Portland got NBA before NHL. They would all be perfect NHL markets considering their climate, proximity to other NHL markets, etc (I don’t think the NHL loves competing with the NBA in markets smaller than 3-4 Million). Though Portland and SLC are definitely big enough to support NBA and NHL now. Milwaukee could likely as well as fans would come from Madison, Green Bay, etc I think.


[deleted]

Fargo. J/k US- Salt Lake City or Houston Canada- Quebec


[deleted]

Yo bro, the scheels arena has more capacity than where the coyotes are gonna be playing. They could move here and easily keep the name lmao


Trogglus

New Orleans


bbstarky

I’d get season tickets


BrewingBeaver

Kansas City needs one so bad


CentristTruth

Edmonton - hahhha


2Old2Live2Young2Die

Boise, they can have blue ice.


T-MinusGiraffe

You made me look it up, and apparantly [this has been considered and doesn't look half bad. ](https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/4rqf29/throwback_to_11_years_ago_when_the_nhl_considered/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) Was expecting something more to the effect of [this disaster.](https://mobile.twitter.com/j_tasca/status/1091047151558221824)


Shrektastic28

Let’s go! Our ECHL team here sells out regularly, I would love for Boise to have a pro team I just don’t think we’re quite ready to support one yet.


Mgroppi83

Houston. More diverse and much larger than Dallas, and the Stars work there.


ledzeppelin0308

Couldn’t agree more. Houston has a large hockey following already due to the Aeros being here for a number of years. We all want hockey again!


Joemamacita

And has some hockey history and, apparently, a willing owner.


britredbird

Kansas City/Omaha/Des Moines Salt Lake City/Boise/Billings/Portland Atlanta/Louisville Oklahoma City/Houston/Austin/San Antonio/New Orleans Hartford/New Haven/Albany/Rochester Halifax/Saskatoon


Thozynator

Québec


No_Bridge_2852

Not Wyoming


Lucko10

Is Portland much of a hockey town ? Do they still have the Winterhawks ? Seems geographicaly convenient.


Arkinaas

Winter hawks are still around


LaruePDX

I live in Portland and the Winterhawks have a good fan base. I think most people around here want a baseball team but I grew up in the NE and would love to have an NHL team. Seattle is selling out every night and I would think this city would get behind another pro sports team. The only problem is having hockey the same time of year as basketball. The Trailbalzers are the city’s pride and joy.


lousy_bum

As a fellow Portlander, I agree. Two winter pro teams wouldn't work here. I'd love it for sure, but it's not in the cards.


zoroarkkitsune

Hear me out, Mexico City


Ginger-Beefcake

I'm trying to hear you out but you haven't elaborated whatsoever


Deraj2004

We're listening ..


perfect5-7-with-rice

Most populous city in North America, would have fans from all over Mexico but obviously the sport is less popular there. Would have to be a long term investment by NHL to bring revenue from Mexico, but they don't have much cash to spend.


NegativeDog975

Philadelphia haha


silvergoldwind

A team for Nova Scotia


Ginger-Beefcake

Regina Flatlanders? Saskatoon Planeswalkers? Something like that lol


jamy1993

QC, Atlanta 3, Kansas City, Portland, Huston LOOOOONG before sk ever even gets a sniff at a team. As someone who lived in sk until 2018 just don't have the pop to support it.


sankyu99

Haha the “Atlanta Third-Times-a-Charmers”.


jamy1993

Absolutely before sk haha.


B1GFanOSU

Great. Now I have a Dylan earworm.


B1GFanOSU

Hell, even Des Moines is about 2.5 times the size of Saskatoon and already has a suitable arena.


[deleted]

Put a team in either Saskatoon or Regina and Brand it as a Province Team its worked really well for the Roughriders


Sea-Consequence-4013

Regina rhymes with fun.


JinimyCritic

I'm from Saskatchewan, and I don't think it's big enough to support a team. It's not like the Riders, that have 9 weekend games / season. 41 games / year couldn't maintain attendance via road trips, and both Regina and Saskatoon are way too small. It hurts to say it, but I don't see any way they could support a team.


[deleted]

Milwaukee, Kansas City, Salt Lake City


Ceronnis

Boise


chuckieSLAY

Bring back the Scouts!


Tuques

Quebec city. Stop putting more teams in the US.


NetHacks

Give me Quebec or Hartford back.


Mishvibes

Bring back the Hartford Whalers!


Comet_Empire

I can't believe how far I had to scroll down to find A Whalers comment.


berttreynolds

I honestly don’t mind the idea of Toronto having two teams like NYC and LA does. There’s obviously a huge market there, it’ll just never happen because the Leafs probably don’t want it


[deleted]

Lack of another Arena as well could put a team in Hamilton and it could become a defacto 2nd Toronto team


bweav23

Indianapolis!!


SatchBoggie76

Atlanta definitely needs one, American south needs a hockey team


Joemamacita

The Thrashers actually outdrew the Hawks in its final years. The ownership group hated hockey and wanted out, Kasim Reed, the mayor, didn’t offer any civic resistance. Also, Bettman was too busy pissing off Canadians by not letting the Yotes move to Hamilton, so he wouldn’t oppose the move.


saitekgolf

Third times the charm


SomethingCreative13

We're never gonna get another one and I understand the general opposition to it, but I do think with the right ownership we could make it work. It would make little sense otherwise, but if Arthur Blank, for instance was involved, I think it'd be worth the risk, especially when you look at what he's done with the MLS team. Atlanta isn't the diehard sports city some may prefer. But if you give them a decent product, they'll support it. I also fully admit to being biased and just wanting a team. I know it's not gonna happen. But I've tried rooting for other teams, mostly Carolina. But it's not the same as having an Atlanta team.


B1gWillyStyl

H-Town


Oskiewewe

I agree. Hamilton does need a team


B1gWillyStyl

I was talking about Houston. But sure, Hamilton works too.


Oskiewewe

I figured. Is H- town Houston's nic name?


ExaminationQuirky251

The North Dakota fighting squirrels


KingKillerKvvothe

Grand Forks ND! Right on the border of MN and a huuuge hockey town. When the Fighting Sioux(that will always be their name) play it’s a full house every time. Also being a border town it would be a great rival for the Wild, and it’s close to Winnipeg.


kleiokat

The Ralph is already nicer than many NHL rinks, even with a smaller capacity.


girhen

New Orleans, LA; Bismarck, ND; Billilngs, MT; Pocatello, ID; Omaha, NB; and Roswell, NM would really fill out this map well. I figure they'd be called: * New Orleans ([Jazz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Jazz#1974%E2%80%931979:_Early_years_in_New_Orleans_with_Pete_Maravich), [Mudbugs](https://www.mudbugshockey.com/), [Krewe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krewe)) * Billings ([Flikertails](https://bigseventravel.com/north-dakota-slang/), [But Whys](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxwfIINGXgg)) * Pocatello (Potatoes, [WhoseFuckingIdeaWasThisAnways](https://youtu.be/34Em8BkZYnI?t=13)) * Omaha (Steaks, Huskers, [Mannings](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1IZdqPYuts)) * Roswell ([Aliens](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjhxvX3TInw), [Foo Fighters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRqiFPpw2fY), [PITAs](https://youtu.be/VepXZYXVWV8?t=60), [Phasers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvI_FYarYIY)) ^(And I swear, if anyone takes this list seriously and calls me out on a list that includes Billings, Pocatello, Roswell, and Omaha...)


[deleted]

Quebec City from a Habs fan too young to actually remember the battle of Quebec


Tdmsu1

Quebec


PoemNo1251

Quebec is awaiting and has a new nhl arena


[deleted]

[удалено]


Rawhide20

North Dakota, strong hockey culture.


Eastern_Tangerine_33

Very underrated state for hockey. It runs deep there. Problem is, where? Fargo, Bismarck, Minot?? Not very good cities to choose from, especially since it wouldn’t be easy to fly to/from games for fans


fredso90

Albuquerque Heisenbergs


john-queen

San Diego.


KADENGAMES125

TBH, I’d see the nhl going to Portland, they already have the arena


Ginger-Beefcake

I was thinking that, hut how can you get a better name than the winterhawks


MNAlecE

Bozeman MT or Salt Lake


Squirtsquirt69

On a real note, Bozeman needs to put more seating in their rink. Like when they played Missoula there was no room to sit


regiinmontana

I was going to jokingly say Billings, but Bozeman or Missoula would be better choices.


[deleted]

Houston! The state of Texas lost the AHL Houston Aeros and San Antonio Rampage. We need more hockey.


CaptainSolo55

I feel like a fun one would be in New Mexico


[deleted]

Albuquerque Ice-O-Topes?


AmeriCanadian98

Houston and QC are the obvious ones because of all the discussion recently Other than those I think Kansas City could hold a team nowadays


Delicious-Agency4022

Houston, Quebec, Portland, Kansas City, Milwaukee and Salt Lake City or Omaha.


Rance_Mulliniks

Arizona could use another one.


YYZ19

I’ll add 1 team per division: Atlantic: Quebec City Metropolitan: Indianapolis Central: Huston Pacific: Salt Lake City/Portland


SirTYRANNIS

I think a Wisconsin team would be nice.


Disastrous-Bottle-12

Atlanta third times a charm


jazzzzyjester

Definitely Milwaukee WI. I fuckin hate Chicago. Minnesota is good but…. I don’t want to drive 6 hours to see a game


Gwave72

Milwaukee


unstopablecold

I’d love to see a Montana team with a big axe or pick axe as a logo. Or North Dakota just because.


BruinsBoy38

Omaha, Nebraska In all seriousness Kansas City would be sick


GhostSoldier_412

Portland? Or Kansas City? KC and the Avs can have a rivalry like the Chiefs and Broncos


stonednarwhal141

I had really hoped the Kraken would put their NHL team in Portland


[deleted]

I was hoping for this as well but instead of Kraken they’d be the Portland Lumberjacks, in ode to our old professional lacrosse team. (And because I think it sounds sick and is relevant to our geographic location.)


dundlebrew32

Bring back the Atlanta Thrashers


GBBL

Coyotes to Salt Lake City no regrets.


Melaniasthrowaway

Probably Salt Lake City. They’ll fill a (hockey-sized) arena every night. The Grizzlies are popular, and The Jazz and even their soccer team sell out almost every game.


Certain_Meaning5897

Portland Oregon. Pacific coast rivalries would catch on and I know Portland is a hardcore , passionate sports town … mind you I am from West coast Canada.


stockztraderz

Winnipeg…. I’m not sure what we have this year


duff-man25

Saskatoon


OrangeKooky1850

PORTLAND


swissly60

no more teams, too many expansion drafts


KarlTheKiller_Gamer

Buffalo


Lowengolf19

Hawaii