Will NHL expand to 32 teams? In 2018, the NHL Board of Governors awarded a franchise to Seattle. The team, as yet unnamed, will play its first season in 2021-22, bringing the league to 32 teams.
What are the two newest teams in the NHL?
League adds Las Vegas franchise, first new team since 2000
- 2000: With the addition of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild, the League reaches 30 teams.
- 2016: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announces the addition of a franchise in Las Vegas that will begin play in the 2017-18 season, bringing the NHL to 31 teams.
What is the new NHL team in 2021? The Seattle Kraken are a professional ice hockey team based in Seattle. The Kraken compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and began play during the league’s 2021–22 season. They play their home games at Climate Pledge Arena.
What city needs an NHL team? Since losing the Nordiques in the 1990s, Quebec City has constantly been in demand of an NHL team. Eager to have a team back, commissioner Gary Bettman has expressed interest in bringing the NHL back, including conversations with representatives of the Quebec government.
Will NHL expand to 32 teams? – Additional Questions
What is the smallest city that has an NHL team?
Quebec City was, and would be still, the second-smallest city in North America with a professional sports franchise (the smallest is Green Bay, Wisc.). The NHL, in trying to gain a foothold in the sports world, should continue to avoid small markets.
What NHL team is most likely to relocate?
Florida is probably the most likely option. Nobody cares about hockey in Florida. The Panthers are valued at $295 million, the second lowest in the NHL, and almost always rank last in NHL attendances.
What is the largest city without an NHL team?
Greater Houston is the largest market in terms of both city proper and metro population in the US or Canada without an NHL franchise; since 2016, Houston is also now the largest metropolitan area without a complete set of teams in the major professional sports leagues.
Can Quebec City support an NHL team?
The bad news is Quebec City has been actively trying to land an NHL franchise for more than six years now, and the league has shown absolutely no interest in accepting them back into the fold.
Could Portland support an NHL team?
Does Portland have a stadium that can host an NHL team? The answer is yes. The Moda Center, which is currently home to the Portland Trailblazers of the NBA, would be a fantastic home for an NHL team. They can fit 18,280 people for hockey, which is more than the Staples Center can hold.
What’s the largest US metro area without an NHL franchise?
Largest population without all four leagues represented
After the St. Louis Rams moved back to Los Angeles, Houston, which lacks an NHL team, became the largest metropolitan area that does not have a franchise in all four major professional sports.
What NHL team has the smallest fanbase?
The team with the lowest number of online fans are the Florida Panthers who are also the most southerly team. They have a total of 196,000 fans which is only 6% of the fan base of the Chicago Blackhawks – the most popular NHL team.
Will Kansas City get an NHL team?
The NHL granted Kansas City a team as part of its ’74 expansion which also included the Washington Capitals, but for two seasons the Scouts struggled, both on the ice and at the gate. They averaged just more than 8,000 in the seats in an arena that seated 17,000.
Will San Francisco get a hockey team?
The San Francisco Bulls were a professional minor ice hockey team of the ECHL located in Daly City, California, serving the San Francisco Bay Area market.
| San Francisco Bulls |
| City |
Daly City, California |
| League |
ECHL |
| Conference |
Western |
| Division |
Pacific |
Is Atlanta getting a hockey team?
Atlanta lost another hockey team to Canada when the Atlanta Knights of the International Hockey League became the Quebec Rafales in 1996 after four seasons.
Two misses and you’re out for NHL in Atlanta.
| Original team |
New team |
Year of move |
| Hartford Whalers |
Carolina Hurricanes |
1997 |
| Atlanta Thrashers |
Winnipeg Jets |
2011 |
Will the Coyotes move to Quebec?
Canadiens: Arizona Coyotes Will Never Move to Quebec City.
Will Canada get another NHL team?
It’s doubtful, according to the business economics. So hockey fans, enjoy your favourite existing Canadian NHL team. Welcome the Kraken as a new rival, particularly for the Canucks. Things aren’t likely to change any time soon.
What is the smallest NHL market?
Buffalo is the smallest of the 24 American N.H.L. markets. Raleigh, N.C., home of the Hurricanes, is the second smallest.
Are any NHL teams relocating?
Seven active NHL teams are a product of relocation (Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes, Winnipeg Jets).
What would a Houston NHL team be called?
The Houston Aeros started out as an expansion franchise in the International Hockey League (IHL) in 1994 with home games at The Summit.
Why did the Quebec Nordiques relocate?
The Nordiques left Quebec City after the 1994-95 NHL season, relocating to Denver to become the Colorado Avalanche, which won the Stanley Cup in the new team’s first season.
Where Will NHL expand next?
Photo Credit: @TheScore (Twitter). Following the 2021 Seattle Expansion Draft, speculation is running rampant on which city could get an NHL team next.
Top Potential Expansion Cities for the NHL
- Quebec City, Quebec.
- Hartford, Connecticut.
- Houston, Texas.
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
- Kansas City, Missouri.
