G'day tribe! Let's hit it off with some ice hockey as the NHL playoffs kickl into gear. What are the teams that are facing NHL relocation? If the league doesn't add expansion teams, it may look at relocating one of the existing 32 teams.
The most recent NHL relocation was the Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg in 2011. The Seattle Kraken joined the league as the 32nd team in 2021, so it's unlikely the league will expand any time soon.
With relocating an existing team being the most likely option, which current teams are facing relocation?
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6. Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes have been the subject of NHL relocation rumors for quite some time. Arriving in the city in 1997 at the expense of the Hartford Whalers' relocation, the Hurricanes have rarely made the playoffs since winning the Stanley Cup in 2006.
Ranked as the fifth least valued NHL franchise, markets such as Houston and Portland could be very appealing for owners. The Hurricanes have however turned historically poor attendances around and are now one of the best.
In 2021 the Hurricanes also extended their lease at PNC Arena until 2029. By then the arena will be 30 years old and they'll need to look at a solution if they want to continue to stave off relocation rumors.
5. Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a team facing possible NHL relocation mostly because of the small market they're in. The NFL's Buffalo Bills have had a history of being in discussions for relocating, and the former team the Buffalo Brave played in the city for eight seasons before relocating in 1978.
At the end of the 2022-23 season the Sabres missed the playoffs for the 12th consecutive season. Having the longest playoff drought in NHL history isn't going to help the Sabres' chances of staying in the city and questionable draft selections has just made things worse.
While Buffalo still remains a hockey town a popular city for NHL relocation is nearby Hamilton in Southern Ontario. The Sabres are the third least valuable franchise making NHL relocation an attractive option for owners.
The Buffalo Sabres will miss the playoffs for 12th straight season, tied with the New York Jets for the longest active drought in pro sports.https://t.co/SqeodYLb5z pic.twitter.com/IMTxN97gTH
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 12, 2023
4. Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators have faced financial issues in the past partially as a result of playing in the most weakly supported corporate market. Historically the Senators have had one of the worst average attendances and the Canadian Tire Centre, built in 1996, is showing signs of ageing.
Poor attendances has seen tarps placed across the arena to cover empty seats in the past, and the Canadian Tire Centre's location in the western suburb of Kanata is far too inconvenient for fans.
The Senators have failed in the past to build a downtown arena and further setbacks could see momentum continuing to build for NHL relocation away from the Canadian capital.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are one of the weakest teams in the league with no notable success since their first season in 2000. The Blue Jackets are also ranked on the lower end of the league in terms of average attendances.
A lack of success and low attendances has seen the Blue Jackets faced with financial issues in the past and the franchise makes a loss every year. So what's saving them from NHL relocation?
Any owner who relocates the Blue Jackets away from Columbus would have to pay $39 million in damages to the city, and despite being the fourth lowest valued franchise, the value of the Blue Jackets has almost doubled in the space of five years.
The Blue Jackets have also been playing rent free at Nationwide Arena since 2012 when the arena became publicly owned.
2. Florida Panthers
Florida is not your typical hotbed for ice hockey. They're the second lowest valued NHL franchise, the seventh lowest attended team in the league, and they've been overshadowed by state rivals the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Panthers have been the butt of all jokes when it comes to NHL attendances. In 2019 when winning the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, even Panther’s captain Aleksander Barkov joked “We have more fans from Finland than from Florida here”.
Performances on the ice have further fuelled NHL relocation rumors and the Panthers have only appeared in one Stanley Cup Final since their debut season in 1993.
"We have more fans from Finland here than Florida now." 🤦♂️😂 #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/HoKCdmdjLP
— David Nestico (@davidnestico200) June 20, 2019
1. Arizona Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes are the least most valuable franchise and have the worst attendances in the league making it the favorite for NHL relocation. Relocation rumors for the Coyotes have been loud since moving to Phoenix from Winnipeg in 1996.
In 2022 they were kicked out of Gila River Arena as the City of Glendale no longer wanted the Coyotes in their city. The Coyotes are now playing at Arizona State University's 5000-seat capacity Mullett Arena.
At three times smaller than Winnipeg Jets' 15-321-seat capacity Canada Life Centre, Mullett Arena is easily the smallest arena in the National Hockey League.
Financial issues have plagued the Coyotes and in 2009 they were set to relocate to Winnipeg following bankruptcy. They only stayed in Arizona because the bankruptcy court denied a sale to a Canadian owner.
On the ice the Coyotes have been irrelevant. They've only reached the playoffs once since reaching the Western Conference Final in 2012 and they're yet to appear in a Stanley Cup Final.
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