Looks like the Coyotes will be moving. I’d like to see a team back in Quebec, and bring back the Nordiques.
There's an astute hockey guru who weighs in on these things through an online blog or vlog. He says it's unlikely we'll see an NHL team back in Quebec anytime soon. He has a keen understanding of the NHL business model, and his take on this is very interesting.
The Gary Bettman business model for the NHL isn't based on the strength of a market for hockey, but on the growth prospects it offers to attract new hockey fans. This is what drove the whole migration to places like Florida, Phoenix, Dallas, Raleigh-Durham, Nashville and Columbus in the first place.
This guy thinks Quebec has one important characteristic that makes it a POOR prospect for an NHL franchise: It is already a strong NHL market even without an NHL team. They get great NHL TV ratings up there. NHL sponsors in Canada do very well in Quebec. Quebec Nordiques jerseys are still one of the top NHL-branded items sold around North America today.
The most likely candidates for new or relocated NHL teams (in no particular order) are:
- Houston
- Atlanta
- Kansas City
- Salt Lake City
- Milwaukee
- Hamilton, Ontario OR a second Toronto team