NHL Expansion back on agenda?

[voyageur]

The key word there is “might.” I don’t recall this ever remotely being a pressing demand by Canadian broadcast partners. And if it was it that was, it doesn’t seem like there’s enough muscle to sway the NHL into a major realignment.

Push comes to shove, someone will (over)pay for an NHL deal north of the border.

I think Toronto in particular wants to be competing against the biggest American markets, New York, Boston, Detroit. The time zones is a big issue for a lot of the teams.

Winnipeg doesn't get a single game on Hockey Night in Canada on CBC this year so they aren't important to the major networks.

I think the next media deal in Canada is blocks, similar to the NFL, which allows Rogers, Bell, and Amazon to bid. TVA vs. Bell in Quebec could be a battleground. More exposure through more platforms.

I like the idea of Quebec getting in, and moving Boston into the Metropolitan division. Renewing a Canadiens-Nordiques rivalry that could produce huge tv ratings, and allowing Boston-New York to be a legitimate NHL rivalry. Dollars and sense the arena in Quebec could certainly allow the team to generate more revenue than Atlanta as a market, especially the merchandising side. Atlanta will get a team though because of the potential to create new hockey fans, and the corporate investment the league brand covets.

I wonder if the league would ever consider an 18-16 alignment, they did run a 16-14 alignment before carefully choosing the next two western expansion markets.

 

[Takuto Maruki]

I don’t recall this ever remotely being a pressing demand by Canadian broadcast partners.

This is the funniest thing about the North Division dead-enders. You would think that if there was a massive groundswell of support for it from the Canadian teams then Sportsnet would have asked the NHL to consider it, or like you mentioned, would have had enough muscle to force it through. But not only has there not been that groundswell of support from anywhere other then fans, but teams absolutely hated the North Division because it effectively guaranteed that a good chunk of divisional games would start at prime time in Mountain or Pacific Time Zone - basically a death sentence for getting eyeballs from eastern markets.

 

[Headshot77]

The year is 2100. The NHL is a 40 Team league. 2 Conferences have 5 Divisions of 4 each.

Northwest: EDM, CGY, VAN, WPG
Pacific: SEA, LV, UTA, *Portland*
California: SJ, ANA, LA, *San Diego*
Midwest: DAL, COL, *Houston*, *Phoenix*
Great Plains: MIN, CHI, STL, *Kansas City*
---
Northeast: MON, TOR, OTT, *Quebec*
Metro: NYI, NYR, NJ, PHI
Great Lakes: DET, PIT, BUF, CBJ
Atlantic: WSH, CAR, NSH, *Virginia Beach*
Southeast: TB, FLA, CAR, *Atlanta*

 

[GreenHornet]

Atlantic: WSH, CAR, NSH, *Virginia Beach*
Southeast: TB, FLA, CAR, *Atlanta*

Are the Hurricanes playing in both divisions or does North Carolina get another team (say, in Charlotte)?

 

[Big Z Man 1990]

Also, back in 2023 the final four playoff teams all ended up being from the Sun Belt, which served to impair the ratings of the Cup Final.

My proposal sets a maximum of two Sun Belt teams in the final eight - one from the South Division, and one from the West Division.