The Penguins might die. Where should they go?

[Indiana Sev]

Unfortunately, the Pittsburgh Penguins NHL franchise is on its last legs. Should Pittsburgh lose the team, which city should they move the team to? Or make a top 5...

I'm not sure yet, I want to see what others say first.

[TheAxeGrinder]

There's already speculation that the Pens might end up in the most unlikely, yet most deserving of places:

Courtesy of TSN.ca:

Seven years after losing the Jets to Phoenix, it appears the city of Winnipeg wants the National Hockey League back. The Winnipeg Sun reported Thursday that the city's deputy mayor Coun. Dan Vandal penned a letter to Penguins owner Mario Lemieux on Dec. 9 to consider moving his team to Manitoba. In his message sent to Lemieux, Vandal pointed out that the league is facing "difficult decisions" with an imminent labour shutdown, and said Winnipeg was ready to welcome the struggling club if it can't make things work in Pittsburgh. "We have to be cognizant of the changing issues in the NHL, and position ourselves to capitalize on those changes," Vandal told The Sun in explaining his inquiry to Lemieux, which is dated Dec. 9. "The quality of the fan here is second-to-none -- so consider us." Neither Lemieux nor anyone from the team has responded to the letter, and Penguins general manager Craig Patrick told reporters earlier this week that a rumour saying Lemieux would sell without a new arena deal by the time a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is reached is false. Vandal's letter - not considered to be an official city query - is the first public declaration of another city wanting to house the Penguins. Many expect the league to suffer a shutdown due to a strike or lockout when the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL and its players expires next September, and that some teams may not survive a potential work stoppage.

Sounds interesting, eh? If you want the NHL back in Winnipeg (I know I do), head on over to www.jetsowner.com (http://www.jetsowner.com) and sign the petition to bring back an often-overlooked yet successful franchise.

[horrorfreak13]

I love to see the NHL back in Winnipeg I really do but their new arena only seats about 15,000.


Quebec could also be an option I'm not sure how much LeColisee seats but the first two places I would think of would be Quebec and possibily Winnipeg.

I don't think there is anywhere else in the US you could go.

[Indiana Sev]

Originally posted by horrorfreak13
I don't think there is anywhere else in the US you could go.

Lol, so true. I think the only option left is Mississippi. :rolleyes:

I may be dreaming but I say give HARTFORD back their team and make Paul Maurice their coach again.

And let's put Mike Liut in nets again too. :)

1 - Hartford
2 - Quebec
3 - Winnipeg
4 - Providence
5 - Alaska (too far to travel maybe)
6 - Saskatoon :D (hey, it might work)

[Nate6]

Originally posted by Indiana Sev
6 - Saskatoon :D (hey, it might work)

Where would they play, in a wheat field? Saskatchewan's so boring birds fall asleep whilst flying over it. ;)

I like the idea of giving Quebec City or Winnipeg a team again (especially QC...a shorter drive and less...Manitoban :p). They did it in Minnesota, why not in the REALLY Frozen North?

[Indiana Sev]

Originally posted by Nate6
Where would they play, in a wheat field? Saskatchewan's so boring birds fall asleep whilst flying over it. ;)

I like the idea of giving Quebec City or Winnipeg a team again (especially QC...a shorter drive and less...Manitoban :p). They did it in Minnesota, why not in the REALLY Frozen North?

I'm proud of you. I was certain you'd say Halifax. :D I actually would love to see a team move to Atlantic Canada, I just don't see it working in the long run.

[Nate6]

Originally posted by Indiana Sev
I'm proud of you. I was certain you'd say Halifax. :D

LOL. I'm idealistic but not stupid. ;)

I do actually think a Halifax team would work in the short term (people are HUGE hockey fans here, they'd come from all over the region), but after the novelty wore off, and the high ticket prices and transportation costs for fans emerged, it would ultimately fail.

[Slim]

It would be nice if Winnipeg had a hockey team. It's unrealistic, but still would be nice.

[ToRontoRon]

Here is my list of the most likely destination for Pittsburgh, and future loser teams:

1. Portland
2. Seattle
3. Houston
4. Winnipeg
5. Hamilton
6. Milwaukee
7. Quebec City
8. Regina
9. Salt Lake City
10. Halifax

It should be noted, however, that I think that a lot of NHL franchises will eventually have to move:

New Jersey
New York I.
Pittsburgh
Atlanta
Tampa Bay
Florida
Carolina
Washington
Nashville
Columbus
San Jose
Dallas
Phoenix
Anaheim

Some of these teams have good attendance numbers right now, but I can't see it lasting.

I only think the top 8 on my first list will get a team in the foreseeable future, and of those, only Houston and Milwaukee won't work. Therefore the League will eventually be 22 teams. 12 American teams, 10 Canadian teams. Canada will reclaim it's game.

[Indiana Sev]

Originally posted by ToRontoRon
Here is my list of the most likely destination for Pittsburgh, and future loser teams:

1. Portland
2. Seattle
3. Houston
4. Winnipeg
5. Hamilton
6. Milwaukee
7. Quebec City
8. Regina
9. Salt Lake City
10. Halifax


Wow, excellent picks - all of them. The only one I would have doubts about is Houston. I mean, hockey is working great in Dallas but let's not forget they inherited a winning team right off the bat.

Of the other four American cities, I think all of them would work well. Morgana will be on cloud nine if Portland gets a team. :D

[Morgana]

Originally posted by Indiana Sev

Of the other four American cities, I think all of them would work well. Morgana will be on cloud nine if Portland gets a team. :D

I would crap myself with glee if Portland got a hockey team. I would MOVE to Portland if it got a hockey team! :D

I think out of principle Canada should have first rights to a hockey team. I'm a guilt-ridden Yank, I feel guilty we have so many teams (while Canada has so few now), some of which don't do that well in the US cities. So ideally I'd like to see the Pens in Winnipeg, Hartford, Quebec, or really any other Canadian city where the team would be embraced. But if that doesn't happen, I think the Pens have a good chance in Portland. We don't have any teams here in Oregon besides the Portland Jailbreakers :rolleyes:, we usually end up supporting the Seattle teams because it's the next closest thing. So if the Pens don't work out for Canada, we'll take them.

[Rated R]

Originally posted by Morgana
So ideally I'd like to see the Pens in Winnipeg, Hartford, Quebec, or really any other Canadian city


Uhhh, not to be a dick or anything Morgs...but Hartford is in Conneticut(sp?). But I do agree that those three would be my choices overall. Nate is right about Halifax though...novelty would wear off and they'd be in a worse boat than Pittsburgh is now.

[Morgana]

Originally posted by Rated R
Uhhh, not to be a dick or anything Morgs...but Hartford is in Conneticut(sp?).

Oooops...brainfart on my part. I wasn't a hockey fan when the Whalers were around, so I keep on thinking they must've been a Canadian team. Somehow I didn't connect them with Connecticut. My bad. ;)

[blankpage]

I'd like to see the old Hartford Wailers jersey in action again. But, it'd be nice to see Winnipeg get a team. I wish the Jets would've stayed there.

[Benny]

NUNAVUT!

Just kidding, I do think they possibly move to Quebec or Winnipeg. Or how about bringing back the Seattle Metropolitans from 1917? :D

[ToRontoRon]

Originally posted by Benny
NUNAVUT!

Just kidding, I do think they possibly move to Quebec or Winnipeg. Or how about bringing back the Seattle Metropolitans from 1917? :D

No, I've got it, the Kenora Thistles. :D

[ToRontoRon]

Originally posted by Indiana Sev
The only one I would have doubts about is Houston. I mean, hockey is working great in Dallas but let's not forget they inherited a winning team right off the bat.



Yeah, I don't think it would work either, but the Houston Aeros have been a successful minor league team for many years, and so they might decide to give the city a shot.

They really are running out of U.S. markets, unless you think they'd want to expand to Oklahoma City, Norfolk, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Providence, or some other place it won't work. With the number of U.S. teams in trouble, that's why I think it's just a matter of time before Winnipeg gets their Jets back. :D

[dannywalker17]

Originally posted by ToRontoRon
They really are running out of U.S. markets, unless you think they'd want to expand to Oklahoma City, ...

Actually Oklahoma City has the most successful minor league franchise in the U.S., as well a one year old arena that is the size of the Staples Center that was built to meet NHL standards, so it is not ridiculous to consider it for a future expansion.

[pig farmer]

My dad loves the Pens, it'd be sad to see 'em go. Plus, Wilkes-Barre (near my hometown) has their farm team and I like to go to the games for cheap.

Hartford should get the Whalers back, though. The Whale rules!

[Indiana Sev]

Originally posted by pig farmer
.Hartford should get the Whalers back, though. The Whale rules!

Truer words were never spoken.

[horrorfreak13]

Originally posted by pig farmer
My dad loves the Pens, it'd be sad to see 'em go. Plus, Wilkes-Barre (near my hometown) has their farm team and I like to go to the games for cheap.


It's pretty sad when the farm team outdrawls the NHL team it's also sad when the players the Penguins have are either 4th liners or AHL players on any team in the league except Morozov, Lemieux, and Fata.

[loner]

While I would love to see Winnipeg or any other Canadian city get an NHL franchise, I would be extremely saddened if the Penguins move. Pittsburgh is a great hockey town with over 30 years of NHL tradition. But it's a very small market with an old arena and that gives them a severe disadvantage in these current econonic times of the NHL. Not too mention they have a lousy team right now so that doesn't help.

I live in Flyers territory, but I go out to Pittsburgh two or three times a year when the Flyers or Phillies are out there. Pittsburgh is a cool town; so I will be saddened if I can no longer make any road trips out there to see the Flyers play. Hopefully the new CBA will allow the team to thrive there once again.


In a perfect world, the Coyotes would be moving back to Winnipeg. That's the way it should be.

[MrCouch]

Originally posted by ToRontoRon

It should be noted, however, that I think that a lot of NHL franchises will eventually have to move:

New Jersey
New York I.
Pittsburgh
Atlanta
Tampa Bay
Florida
Carolina
Washington
Nashville
Columbus
San Jose
Dallas
Phoenix
Anaheim

Some of these teams have good attendance numbers right now,

sorry buddy but the dallas fanbase is way to committed to force the team to leave. And after this season i doubt Tampa wants to let go either.

[ToRontoRon]

Originally posted by MrCouch
sorry buddy but the dallas fanbase is way to committed to force the team to leave. And after this season i doubt Tampa wants to let go either.

Dallas still has a solid team. A couple of years ago, San Jose looked like they had a very steady fanbase, but it started to show some serious cracks this year before it became apparent that they had a good team. Right now the fans are really behind the Stars. Once the lustre wears off and the team's fortunes go south, we'll see how they do.

And you're right that Tampa isn't going anywhere anytime soon thanks to their great year, but eventually, I'm pretty sure they'll move.

Remember, I said they would eventually have to move. Some of these teams may be solid for another 10 to 20 years or even longer.

[horrorfreak13]

Actually I remember the Tampa owner wants to sell the team because he said the franchise will never be profitable and sure the attendance is good now but in the season that's a different story the Lightning were doing good all year long and the fans were still not showing up so the team going far dosen't mean they will sellout their building all next year.

A lot of other US cities have been like this too after success Florida, Washington, Carolina, Anaheim.

Chicago barely even draws 13,000 anymore and earlier in the season Boston wasn't drawing well.

Nashville had 12,000 people when they played Colorado when they had Sakic, Forsberg, Hejduk, Tanguay, Selanne, and Kariya and when you can only draw 12,000 for a team like that there are problems.

[pig farmer]

The NHL is just unimportant to most American sports fans. Here's an example: When Boston was seated 2nd this year for the playoffs, no one here in New England cared. People were getting excited about the Red Sox and someone on talk radio even called in to say something to the effect of "I don't want to hear anything more about hockey."

Maybe it's different in Canada, who knows.

[horrorfreak13]

It's much different Canada's World Championship win gets front page of a newspaper not just the sports section and in Toronto the front page on the newspapers are all about the Leafs regardless of what else happens in Toronto and I'm sure it's the same for other newspapers across canada compared to most American cities where hockey ends up on page 12 of the sports section especially Boston.