Should Canada get another NHL team, and if so, where?

The most logical choice would be southern Ontario, in the Kitchner-Waterloo area. The population growth is off the charts, and with Leafs tickets an overpriced pipe dream, a second team would make every sense.

In the short run they would probably have to play at Copps, and then move into a purpose-built facility in K-W.

My point of contention is that there are more teams in the NY/NJ area (three) and the state of California (three) than in the province of Ontario (two).

Winnipeg and Quebec City are not sustainable (Winnipeg being a romantic choice though), for Quebec City the tax situation is a huge non-starter.

Adding a 7th Canadian team would also, in theory at least, make the next round of Canadian rights fee bidding interesting. Would Global/CTV try to come in and bid for the CBC package given a second GTA franchise, and what of the cable package?

The wild card is that the Canadian teams have had a huge boost with the exchange rate, which was murder several years ago. Obviously if we're back to 62 cent CDN this is a nonstarter.

The corollary is that the impact in the US would be negligible, at best as the big-market US teams are not relocation targets. Plus, the free-to-air broadcaster pays zero upfront rights fees (NBC).

It's time for the NHL to realize that its "Southern Strategy" has been, at best, a mixed blessing. Sure, teams like Dallas, San Jose, and (to a limited extent) Anaheim could be called successes, Atlanta, Florida, Nashville are all disasters (poor attendance, money losing, tv ratings are poor). Carolina and Tampa, despite winning Cups, have very fickle fan bases. Phoenix should be doing better. Minnesota and Denver aren't southern but made sense and both teams have done well.

Yes Canada should get another team. When the Canadian 1/5 of the teams is making 1/3 of the revenue and at least 1/2 of the post lockout NHL revenue growth has been tied to the rise in value of the Canadian dollar it just makes common sense. That being said I think the NHL needs to try out some American markets that might be more viable...

As for who could be moved, The New York Rangers are killing the Islanders and Devils in sales and revenue because they are to concentrated. With the Devil's record over the past several years there is really no excuse for their record. Florida and Tampa Bay are too Concentrated as well and the Lightning kill the Panthers in sales and revenue. Carolina hasn't grown despite a cup and a good team, Nashville is just a mess and I don't see Atlanta going anywhere (this is there 2nd chance too)

As for potential canadates for an NHL franchise

southern ontaio (hamilton, london, missasauga, etc) because there is enough of a fanbase and the only way the Leafs will ever get better is if there is competition for their revenue. Halifax would be good for Canadian city, as well. The city is big enough and it would have a support base of all of the maratime provinces which combined have a good enough economy to hold a team together. Winnepeg has shown that it has issues but overall with the right stadium you could get a decent franchise.

As for American cities I think Oaklahoma City, Salt Lake and Portland deserve a shot at a team. They all have a decently sized area to create a fanbase... Oaklahoma has shown increadable franchise carrying capacity with the Hornets and for some reason I have heard they are fond of hockey. Salt Lake is a good mountain reigon with a hockey climate that could draw a lot of supporters and Portland is a good US hockey town.

To sum up move: New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, Carolina Hurricanes, Atlanta Thrashers

to: southern ontario, halifax, winnepeg, oaklahoma city, salt lake, portland

oh and Betman needs to be fired.

Sounds like an idea that hs come and gone many times.

See how well the Kansas City Team did (The New Jersey Devils), the Cleveland team, and that bastion of hockey support, Oakland-Alemeida.

What about Hamilton, Quebec City, Halifax and Winnipeg? not going to make the ratings in New York or L.A. - and Pittsburgh does? Are there deep enough pockets in these cities?

The NHL likes to go where there may be a few Canadians who are possibly wintering over - like Dallas and Houston. Want another US city? go to Seattle, Milwaukee, or Cleveland (again). What were the brains thinking with Phoenix? Nashville? Columbus?

Hockey had a history of making things difficult for NBA teams - Braves leave Buffalo, Hawks leave St. Louis, or the NHL team buys the NBA team - Toronto, New York, New Jersey? But not anymore.

When the 1967 bloat began, those teams needed the monies that CBC paid with HNIC. Some said if it was not for those monies they would not have survived. Wow imagine in Vancouver had entered then...

Want to expand sure, but make certain the owners know what they are getting into. Where our American cousins will spend $50 on a blue ticket, Canadians will complain that it costs too much at $25. If it was not for those corporate guys - there would not be any NHL teams in Canada.

Just heard that there was a non-season of hockey a few years ago - never knew because hockey like most professional televised sports is a waste of time. As to going ahead and expanding, move a few teams when leases have expired and other financial things are appropriate.

The NFL has held their ground with team numbers and as such they get all sorts of wannabes saying they will be the next town in the league; don't hold your breath Toronto. The Toronto plan for a NFL team is based upon the OTPP coughing up the cash. Rogers and the Leafs need the OTPP cash - it may not come.

This expansion scenario is similar to most Canadian towns who want NHL - get someone else to cough up the cash for the building while the team hauls in the cash. Ballard was right - build your own place first. Too bad Hamilton listened.

Reminds me of the Simpson's episode with the monorail...

They are passionate people with a bank account and wallet that willopen if they recieve a team. Another team in Canada would allow for more TV coverage in Canada.

I agree that Montreal and Toronto are huge money makers for the league but that doesn't stop other cities from enjoying what they have. A chance to back a team that represents them as people and as hockey fans.

Look how well the Minnesota team is doing. Winnipeg just needs a second chance. Quebec does also but competition with Montreal is steep. Another team in Kitch-Water is crazy. As is a team in Hamilton....those three have more potential of failing before Winnipeg.and I am sure it would do well. But what about places like Peterbough or Barrie that have a Hockey History. I think Barrie would be good because it would draw people from a large area and would not take alot of market share from Buffalo or Toronto but would still be near enough to major transportation services. It would also boost Barrie's economy and eventually enable it to become a major city. Also Winnipeg would be ideal because of the Western economy and that it has been an NHL city in the past. This would allow them to be in the western conference and perhaps move a more eastern team back into the east division

I'm surprised no one has said Halifax yet. The east coast is huge on hockey, but their sources of entertainment are lacking. Halifax is also the biggest city in the Maritimes; people from the surrounding area will flock in to see the games. (Just look at the success of this year's World Hockey Championships.) A team there would definitely sell out all the time.

With that being said, the NHL doesn't need more than 30 teams, so one of the US teams will have to relocate there.

And although it's been earlier rumoured Nashville wanted to move to Hamilton, having a second team in the GTA (or even southern Ontario for that matter) will just not be as well accepted as somewhere that's less hockey-centric. Rather than load up teams where there are already well established rivalries (i.e. Buffalo-Toronto, Ottawa-Toronto, Detroit-Toronto), the NHL should look towards creating new rivalries.

Rivalries such as Halifax-Boston/Montreal or Winnipeg-Minnesota/Phoenix come to mind as being very plausible.

Another team in Canada is exactly what the NHL needs. They need to tap into the existing fan base that is Canadian Hockey. Teams being moved in the past has made everyone in the country understand that if they were to received a team they would have to back it 100%.

People in Winnipeg should not be misunderstood again. They are passionate people with a bank account and wallet that willopen if they recieve a team. Another team in Canada would allow for more TV coverage in Canada.

I agree that Montreal and Toronto are huge money makers for the league but that doesn't stop other cities from enjoying what they have. A chance to back a team that represents them as people and as hockey fans.

Look how well the Minnesota team is doing. Winnipeg just needs a second chance. Quebec does also but competition with Montreal is steep. Another team in Kitch-Water is crazy. As is a team in Hamilton....those three have more potential of failing before Winnipeg.

I've been thinking for sometime that canada should have another hockey team...more like 2 more teams as we do have the largest fan bases for the NHL. WIth the Canadian dollar doing so well and the newly added salary cap there is really no reasons to not have more financially stable revenue producing canadian franchises.

I think a good bet would be to get Winnipeg a team back as they would already have large supporters. It worked well in minnesota when the stars went to dallas and the wild are now doing pretty good. I'm sure Quebec city could still support a team after the loss of the nordiques. And another interesting Idea would be to have a team in halifax and somehow name them to include all of the maritimes as there isn't any teams east of montreal to be a fan of.

in short yes;winnipeg,halifax,Quebec

Winnipeg is an excellent option, I do live here (since 2001) and would go to the occasional game, but as for paying the high prices I very much doubt fans would pay higher rates consistently. They didn't before when the Jets were here and then were upset when they left.

With the MTS Centre, its a state-of-the-art facility that does a FANTASTIC job with the Manitoba Moose (AHL), but probably too small to support an NHL team properly. Even if it did come here, again the cost of the tickets would probably be too high.

How about someplace where they wouldn't expect an NHL team Victoria could be an option or Halifax maybe.

I don't know what their stadium facilities are like, so there may need to be something built or expanded.

Winnipeg for sure, they've already built a new arena in anticipation... Quebec on the other hand has proven they cannot/will not finacially support any other team other than "les Habitants" (ie: The Montreal Expos) The Nordiques were on way to building a dynasty, which went on to win 2 Stanely Cups as the Colorado Avalanche... Though, in my opinion if there was ever a new Canadian NHL franchise it should be awarded to the London/Hamilton region, even with the Toronto Maple Leafs or Buffalo Sabres in proximity this would still be the most finacially sound area for a team to survive in... Its a damn shame the East Coast doesnt have the economy to support a team, because thats who really needs a NHL team the most in all of Canada!

Canada should get 2 more Canadian teams... maybe even 3 (one being moved in from the states)

Winnipeg ( Brand spanking new arena that only holds 15k... DOH! )

Quebec ( Colisée Pepsi holds 15.4k... never been to Quebec so i am going to assume that it needs some reno's but maybe not. )

Hamilton ( Copps Coliseum holds 17,383 for hockey )

Best bet is to move Columbus out of the States and into Canada. Giving the league a 32 team 8 division setup much like the NFL.

However I would also make the first round of the playoffs within the same division so first would play second out of there division and then be re-seeded for the second round as they are now.

Anyone remember how great it was when the first two rounds were against teams that were in your division. Every year we would see Winnipeg play Edmonton, Detroit vs. Toronto, MONTREAL vs. BOSTON!

No rivalry's left in the NHL except NY vs. NY.

& Canada vs. Toronto

My last pick of the 3 Canadian cities is Quebec as they didnt even try and fight to keep there Nordiques the first time.

I think another NHL team in Canada would be a good idea. Allot of people talk about Hamilton, and I am sure it would do well. But what about places like Peterbough or Barrie that have a Hockey History. I think Barrie would be good because it would draw people from a large area and would not take alot of market share from Buffalo or Toronto but would still be near enough to major transportation services. It would also boost Barrie's economy and eventually enable it to become a major city. Also Winnipeg would be ideal because of the Western economy and that it has been an NHL city in the past. This would allow them to be in the western conference and perhaps move a more eastern team back into the east division