An interesting bit of news is circling the web right now as Tony Gallagher of The Province has reported that the NHL expanding to Las Vegas is essentially a done deal. Not only that, but the NHL will grow with four new squads, in Quebec City, Seattle, the Toronto metropolitan area, and the aforementioned Vegas. This comes as a shock to the hockey world considering that Gary Bettman has been trumpeting that expansion is not on the horizon, even though we all know Bettman loves to make an impact with expansion teams, and rumors have been swirling for quite awhile that Seattle could find themselves with an NHL franchise sooner then later.
The NHL should definitely have teams in Seattle and Quebec City (yes Quebec City, not Las Vegas); two markets starving for an NHL franchise. The Toronto metropolitan area would be an ideal spot as well, setting up new rivalries in the NHL. But with such dismal attendance records for so many southern NHL teams, wouldn’t relocation be a wiser move at this point? Both Florida and Arizona have teams with underwhelming attendance numbers and even less impressive financials, so wouldn't it make far more sense for the NHL to take franchises that are drowning and place them into these new markets? It's understandable that by expanding the number of NHL franchises as a whole that the the collective value of the NHL would increase, but a betting man would think that taking failing franchises and moving them into these markets would be just as progressive and profitable for the NHL. The opportunity for expansion will still be there as Seattle, Quebec City, and the Toronto metro area will no doubt continue knocking on the wall to get teams in their cities.
Now, having a team in Las Vegas would make the NHL the first Pro Sport League in North America to make the move to Vegas, but maybe Vegas is an area better left to the Casinos, Elvis Presley and the Cacti.
Roberto Luongo said it best on Twitter:
"Gonna be unreal when Las Vegas goes undefeated at home every year........ #nhl #expansion"