With all of the drama surrounding the Phoenix Coyotes’ ownership issues, a handful of hockey-less cities were hoping that their days without the joy of NHL hockey were numbered.
Unfortunately for these cities, their plans of gaining a NHL franchise in the coming years were halted as the Coyotes have been sold and will remain in the City of Glendale.
However, the future may not be so bleak for some of these cities. The new realignment seems like it could inspire expansion, as each Eastern Conference division has eight teams while each Western Conference division has only seven.
Since it would only make sense for expansion to happen in the Western Conference, here is a list of five cities in Western Conference territory that could be good spots for NHL hockey.
Seattle, Washington
Obviously, Seattle was the likely destination of the Coyotes if they could not come up with a deal. Its inhabitants are known as some of the most vocal sports fans, providing an extreme home field advantage for the NFL’s Seahawks.
Seattle is a northern city that already could have a geographic rival in the Vancouver Canucks. It also lost out on a NBA franchise when the Kings announced that they would be staying in Sacramento.
A new arena is scheduled to be built in Seattle within the next few years that would support both hockey and basketball, but it would likely require a NBA franchise first in order to land a NHL team.
Kansas City, Missouri
The Sprint Center opened up in Kansas City in 2007, but it is yet to have a major tenant. It is an arena that is built perfectly for basketball and hockey, but Kansas City has not been able to land a NBA or NHL franchise.
There is NHL history in KC, as the Scouts used to play there before becoming the New Jersey Devils.
A team in Kansas City could have several geographic rivals in the Central Division, especially the St. Louis Blues.
Saskatoon, Sasketchewan
Hockey nuts in Saskatchewan (there are a lot of them), have to travel either to Alberta or Manitoba to see any NHL action without a team of their own. Saskatoon may not be a huge city, but it is a Canadian city that would surely draw a huge fanbase.
A geographic rivalry with the Winnipeg Jets would certainly arise, and the fans could turn it into one of the most exciting rivalries in the NHL.
Saskatoon would draw in huge profits for the league since nearly all home games would likely sell out.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a huge soccer town, as the MLS’s Timbers have a huge following. Also, Oregon Ducks football provides one of the loudest and most intimidating crowds in all of college sports, and while it is not in the city of Portland, it is proof that Oregon can have some pretty rowdy and dedicated fans.
Like Seattle, Portland would likely develop a rivalry with the Vancouver Canucks. Unlike Seattle, Portland already has a stadium that is definitely suitable for NHL hockey in the Rose Garden (home of the NBA’s Trailblazers).
Seattle, however, would likely get a team sooner than its southern neighbor.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Hockey is big in Minnesota, and Wisconsin is not much different. There are many minor league teams scattered throughout the state, but a NHL would likely be very successful in Milwaukee.
The BMO Harris Bradley Center, home of the NBA’s Bucks, is a suitable arena for NHL hockey, and the construction and expense of a new stadium would be unnecessary if the NHL decided to expand to Milwaukee.
There would also be no shortage of Central Division rivalries for Milwaukee, as the Minnesota Wild, Winnipeg Jets, and Chicago Blackhawks are all in very close proximity.