2025-2026 NHL Offseason

a5pj

quebec population 884k
houston 2.28 million
hmmm, wonder if that has anything to do with it...

nautical_disaster

I guess that's why I watch maybe 80% less hockey than I used to - and i know it's my problem only, because clearly @a5pj and @MayDay10, you guys make sense in your reasoning. But it's insane to me that they got rid of  the hockey equivalent of Wrigley and Fenway (The Forum and the Maple Leaf Gardens), got rid of the Nordiques when not only did all of the surrounding area in Quebec came to watch, but also yours truly in the Maritimes because it was the closest team to us. But I get it, make you money, get your luxury boxes etc. I just wish some things would be too important historically to mess with. 

Johnny Abruzzo

Quebec should have a team. It's not even interesting with all these dumb sunbelt teams deep into the playoffs.

MayDay10

In a perfect world, for general flavor of the league, and nostalgia, I would have Quebec in there.  But I do see the prudence that it makes little business sense for the NHL.  Plus, they would also probably need a multi-billionaire person to be willing to buy a team and relocate them to QC.

The US TV market is what wins the day.  Also the creation of new fans.  Say what you will about southern expansion, it has certainly had a few bumps... but it has also had some amazing success stories and has created a lot of new hockey fans.  Believe it or not, Houston actually has a somewhat ingrained hockey interest and Gordie Howe played there.
The other location that has been mentioned (along with Atlanta where I dont think it is going to go) is Salt Lake City.

My son played in a AAA hockey tournament last weekend from kids from all around the country.  There was a kid from South Florida who went to a Panthers game when he was 5 and instantly decided that hockey was his jam.  Another similar story with Southern CA and Anaheim.  Another kid came from Texas.   

nautical_disaster

100% agree that there are lots of success stories for non Traditional hockey markets in the US - hell I remember watching a Pittsburgh-Columbus playoff game a few years back, and being amazed at how "Canadian hockey fan" crazy the crowd was in Columbus. The Hurricanes fans are great too. It's awesome to have new fans discover the game. 

mrussel1

Johnny Abruzzo said:

Quebec should have a team. It's not even interesting with all these dumb sunbelt teams deep into the playoffs.

Why?  It's the same players that would otherwise be playing in the northern tier.  Do you really think that having a team in Quebec City would be healthier for the league than Tampa?  Not a chance.  

nicknyr15

Johnny Abruzzo said:

Quebec should have a team. It's not even interesting with all these dumb sunbelt teams deep into the playoffs.

Not interesting? To each his own. 2 out of 4 teams have never won a cup. I’m loving these playoffs. 

MayDay10

mrussel1 said:

Johnny Abruzzo said:

Quebec should have a team. It's not even interesting with all these dumb sunbelt teams deep into the playoffs.

Why?  It's the same players that would otherwise be playing in the northern tier.  Do you really think that having a team in Quebec City would be healthier for the league than Tampa?  Not a chance.  

Also, the players themselves seem to prefer living and working in nicer and warmer cities (self-own, I know coming from Buffalo).  Quebec City would just be another outpost like Winnipeg and Edmonton.

Wobbie

MayDay10 said:

Quebec City isnt going to get them.  

It'll probably be Houston, with a Dark Horse of Salt Lake City.

I live in Salt Lake and have heard zero rumors of this. the current flavor is MLB. I’d rather get an NHL team.

CROJAM95

I think Florida will win it, they had the pressure last year with #1 seed, Presidents curse.....they are loose this time around

I think the Eastern teams, whoever makes it will have a slightly better chance to win it

MayDay10

Wobbie said:

MayDay10 said:

Quebec City isnt going to get them.  

It'll probably be Houston, with a Dark Horse of Salt Lake City.

I live in Salt Lake and have heard zero rumors of this. the current flavor is MLB. I’d rather get an NHL team.

https://twitter.com/andystrickland/status/1658875529859039237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1658875529859039237%7Ctwgr%5E0a3c0bf9da0316c32acebba5a16b7dea82b3041e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsabresfans70.proboards.com%2Fthread%2F53234%2Fend-arizona-coyotes%3Fpage%3D3

Also


https://www.sltrib.com/sports/2023/04/22/utah-jazz-owner-ryan-smiths/

Poncier

MayDay10 said:

 (along with Atlanta where I dont think it is going to go) 

Why anyone would consider Atlanta yet again is beyond me.
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
Fool me 3 times, shame on Gary Bettman.

HughFreakingDillon

MayDay10 said:

mrussel1 said:

Johnny Abruzzo said:

Quebec should have a team. It's not even interesting with all these dumb sunbelt teams deep into the playoffs.

Why?  It's the same players that would otherwise be playing in the northern tier.  Do you really think that having a team in Quebec City would be healthier for the league than Tampa?  Not a chance.  

Also, the players themselves seem to prefer living and working in nicer and warmer cities (self-own, I know coming from Buffalo).  Quebec City would just be another outpost like Winnipeg and Edmonton.

HEY! 

Hawkshore

Poncier said:

MayDay10 said:

 (along with Atlanta where I dont think it is going to go) 

Why anyone would consider Atlanta yet again is beyond me.
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
Fool me 3 times, shame on Gary Bettman.

Well one thing to be said for NHL hockey in Atlanta is it is the best way to get more teams in Canada! We are two for two on franchise relocations so far! ...Still think it is dumb Calgary calls themselves the Flames though, almost as stupid as Memphis calling themselves the Grizzlies! 

mrussel1

Hawkshore said:

Poncier said:

MayDay10 said:

 (along with Atlanta where I dont think it is going to go) 

Why anyone would consider Atlanta yet again is beyond me.
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
Fool me 3 times, shame on Gary Bettman.

Well one thing to be said for NHL hockey in Atlanta is it is the best way to get more teams in Canada! We are two for two on franchise relocations so far! ...Still think it is dumb Calgary calls themselves the Flames though, almost as stupid as Memphis calling themselves the Grizzlies! 

How is the jazz scene in SLC?  Maybe it kicks ass, but one thinks of NY, Chicago and NOLA as the jazz centers. 

Wobbie

mrussel1 said:

Hawkshore said:

Poncier said:

MayDay10 said:

 (along with Atlanta where I dont think it is going to go) 

Why anyone would consider Atlanta yet again is beyond me.
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
Fool me 3 times, shame on Gary Bettman.

Well one thing to be said for NHL hockey in Atlanta is it is the best way to get more teams in Canada! We are two for two on franchise relocations so far! ...Still think it is dumb Calgary calls themselves the Flames though, almost as stupid as Memphis calling themselves the Grizzlies! 

How is the jazz scene in SLC?  Maybe it kicks ass, but one thinks of NY, Chicago and NOLA as the jazz centers. 

the only jazz scene is the NBA team.

can’t decide who I want to lose more in the ECF.

Poncier

Hawkshore said:

Poncier said:

MayDay10 said:

 (along with Atlanta where I dont think it is going to go) 

Why anyone would consider Atlanta yet again is beyond me.
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
Fool me 3 times, shame on Gary Bettman.

Well one thing to be said for NHL hockey in Atlanta is it is the best way to get more teams in Canada! We are two for two on franchise relocations so far! ...Still think it is dumb Calgary calls themselves the Flames though, almost as stupid as Memphis calling themselves the Grizzlies! 

Or Utah calling themselves the Jazz or the most egregious...Los Angeles calling themselves the Lakers.

1ThoughtKnown

Hawkshore said:

Poncier said:

MayDay10 said:

 (along with Atlanta where I dont think it is going to go) 

Why anyone would consider Atlanta yet again is beyond me.
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
Fool me 3 times, shame on Gary Bettman.

Well one thing to be said for NHL hockey in Atlanta is it is the best way to get more teams in Canada! We are two for two on franchise relocations so far! ...Still think it is dumb Calgary calls themselves the Flames though, almost as stupid as Memphis calling themselves the Grizzlies! 

Obviously haven’t been paying attention to the news for the past 10 years. Alberta is consistently on fire. 

Wobbie

Poncier said:

Hawkshore said:

Poncier said:

MayDay10 said:

 (along with Atlanta where I dont think it is going to go) 

Why anyone would consider Atlanta yet again is beyond me.
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
Fool me 3 times, shame on Gary Bettman.

Well one thing to be said for NHL hockey in Atlanta is it is the best way to get more teams in Canada! We are two for two on franchise relocations so far! ...Still think it is dumb Calgary calls themselves the Flames though, almost as stupid as Memphis calling themselves the Grizzlies! 

Or Utah calling themselves the Jazz or the most egregious...Los Angeles calling themselves the Lakers.

if SLC gets the PHX team, they could still be the coyotes. we have plenty of them. 

Johnny Abruzzo

Wobbie said:

Poncier said:

Hawkshore said:

Poncier said:

MayDay10 said:

 (along with Atlanta where I dont think it is going to go) 

Why anyone would consider Atlanta yet again is beyond me.
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
Fool me 3 times, shame on Gary Bettman.

Well one thing to be said for NHL hockey in Atlanta is it is the best way to get more teams in Canada! We are two for two on franchise relocations so far! ...Still think it is dumb Calgary calls themselves the Flames though, almost as stupid as Memphis calling themselves the Grizzlies! 

Or Utah calling themselves the Jazz or the most egregious...Los Angeles calling themselves the Lakers.

if SLC gets the PHX team, they could still be the coyotes. we have plenty of them. 

Seems like they should be the Lakers