Already Setting Up For 36

Now it's official.  The Arizona Coyotes will be moving to Utah next season.  Well, technically, Utah is getting an expansion team with all of the Coyotes' players, while the Phoenix franchise is being "put on hold" with the chance of being resurrected if Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo can get an arena built within the next five years.  So, basically, the Arizona Coyotes are getting the Cleveland Browns treatment.

For those of you who aren't old enough to get that reference, 30 years ago, when Art Modell announced he was moving the Browns to Baltimore, the NFL wouldn't let him take the Browns' colors, logo and history with him.  Cleveland was also promised the return of the Browns as an expansion team once the new stadium was built.  So, the Ravens entered the NFL as an "expansion" team in 1996, with the Browns returning to the league in 1999.

The NHL, for its part, seems committed to the Phoenix area.  That's why they're giving Meruelo the opportunity to bring the team back should he win the land auction and the arena project is completed.  Considering the Coyotes' success (or lack thereof) in their previous attempts to get a new arena in Phoenix, I'm skeptical that he'll be successful.  But, for argument's sake, let's assume he is.  That would bring the NHL to 33 teams, which obviously isn't a workable number.

Almost immediately after the Kraken joined the league, the talk began about where the NHL would expand next, even though expansion wasn't on the horizon.  The Salt Lake City thing wasn't even planned.  It moved quickly once it became clear that the Coyotes' situation in Arizona was not sustainable and they needed a more permanent solution.  Although, should the Coyotes return, that expansion talk will kick into high gear again, since the NHL would want to get back to an even number.

I've seen plenty of projections that the NHL will eventually grow to 36 franchises, which doesn't sound all that unrealistic.  It would split nicely into six divisions of six.  Which is obviously a much easier number to deal with than the 17-team conferences that would come with the league being at 34.  One step at a time, though.  Before getting to 36, they'd have to go to 34 first.

One of the cities I've seen mentioned the most, and even considered "inevitable" by some, is Atlanta.  Now, I personally don't see why Atlanta would ever be an option.  Yes, it's a Top 10 market and a chance to establish the NHL in one of America's largest cities.  Except the NHL has already tried and failed in Atlanta twice, with both franchises moving to Canada after a few years.  Maybe the thought process is third time's the charm?  But, it seems more likely it'll be three strikes, you're out.  So, why bother?

When the Coyotes relocation talk started, I actually thought the most logical place for them to move was Houston.  Houston's the biggest market that's never had an NHL team, and the Rockets' arena was built to NHL standards so that it would be able to accommodate a hockey team without having to do any major renovations.  They also had a very successful minor league team, the Aeros, for many years, which would give Houston a built-in fan base.

And, if we're talking about bringing the NHL back to cities that used to have a team, let's not forget Quebec.  Things are much different now than when the Nordiques left Quebec City to become the Avalanche.  Some of those problems would still exist.  Quebec City is still a francophone city that's smaller and further north than anywhere else in the NHL.  But that's not the reason the Nordiques left.  And you can bet a Nordiques redo would work just as well as the Jets' reboot in Winnipeg has.  Quebec also already has an NHL-ready arena, which is a major point in its favor.

Hamilton's been pushing pretty hard for an NHL expansion team, too, but I don't think there's any way Hamilton gets a team (either through expansion or relocation).  It's halfway between Buffalo and Toronto.  Do you really want to put a third team in essentially the same area?  Especially since they're all either Sabres or Leafs fans already?  Would they really abandon the team they've supported for years to adopt an expansion team instead?

There are a few other places that haven't been discussed nearly as much as those four, but I can easily see making a run for an NHL franchise if and when the "new" Coyotes need an expansion partner.  One is Kansas City.  The Penguins almost moved there in 2006, and the T-Mobile Center is a first-rate arena that hosts the Big XII men's basketball tournament every year.

Milwaukee has an AHL team, and I can see the NHL wanting to establish even more of a foothold in the Midwest by placing a team in Wisconsin for the first time.  And, while this one seems unlikely, Portland could be interesting.  The three-way rivalry between Vancouver, Seattle and Portland is perhaps the best in MLS.  Why not trying it in the NHL and seeing if you can recreate some of that same magic?

So, again, for argument's sake, let's assume Phoenix is back in the NHL as the 33rd franchise.  The other team to join the league would have to be from the East to balance out the conferences (although, they could always move Nashville to the East if they needed to).  Which would actually bode well for Atlanta's chances.  Then, when the NHL increases in size to 36 teams, Houston and Quebec City get the nod.

That would set up these conferences and divisions: EAST--Atlantic: Atlanta, Carolina, Columbus, Detroit, Florida, Tampa Bay; Metropolitan: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Washington; Northeast: Boston, Buffalo, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec, Toronto; WEST--Central: Arizona, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, St. Louis; Northwest: Calgary, Edmonton, Minnesota, Seattle, Winnipeg, Vancouver; Pacific: Anaheim, Colorado, Los Angeles, San Jose, Utah, Vegas

Does the NHL need to expand to 36 teams?  It does not.  At least not in the near future.  That's why the Phoenix situation will be an interesting one to follow.  Because the NHL seems set at 32, but with the promise to resurrect the Coyotes at an undetermined future date, they've essentially committed themselves to further expansion, as well.  That's, of course, assuming an NHL-caliber arena can eventually be built in the Phoenix area.  Which is by no means a guarantee.