I would think a list of teams most at risk would look something like this:

1) Arizona
2) Florida
3) Ottawa
4) Columbus
5) Carolina
6) Winnipeg
7) Nashville (I remember reading rumors that surprised me)

The Devils still make tons of money, and QC isn't a great bet for a place in which to earn more. I don't see it happening, especially considering the taxes.
- Quetzalcoatl

Winnipeg and Nashville are never moving. NJ is a joke. I could see them moving. 50% of that state is Rangers fans. 25% is Flyer fans. Do the math

Quebec should use the current situation to turn the tables a little bit. The league is going to have to abandon some of these 'never a hockey market anyway' cities like Miami and they're going to need places like QC which can guarantee sell outs and be a profit generator not a league wellfare receiver. Nothing will temper the joy of those happy little Quebecers faster than the first trade the team has nixed by an NMC. Canadian teams generate the money, share the wealth so that teams can survive in cities where ice doesn't exist outside of a drink only to find the top players all have Canadian cities filling up their NMC's. QC should make nixing NMC's a part of any deal to help the league with one of it's wellfare teams. PA can chose whether they want to lose the jobs that contraction will cost them as well as the league revenue that another sold out arena would generate or lose the NMC's. The current situation plays Canadian fans for suckers and it should be corrected.
- OilyJay

It takes more than fans showing up to turn a profit. Winnipeg sells all their tickets and are losing money. Quebec would do better than Florida, but would still be a team that the rest of the league supports.

I would think a list of teams most at risk would look something like this:

1) Arizona
2) Florida
3) Ottawa
4) Columbus
5) Carolina
6) Winnipeg
7) Nashville (I remember reading rumors that surprised me)

The Devils still make tons of money, and QC isn't a great bet for a place in which to earn more. I don't see it happening, especially considering the taxes.
- Quetzalcoatl

Move Columbus down two or three

Winnipeg and Nashville are never moving. NJ is a joke. I could see them moving. 50% of that state is Rangers fans. 25% is Flyer fans. Do the math
- BringNYIhome

The Devils were 10th in revenue in 2018/19.

Senators, Coyotes, Panthers? New Jersey?
- BINGO!

Carolina?

Winnipeg is more or less the same size.
- Hunkulese

True. Metro populations are similar.

Carolina?
- Crushers68

Just signed a new lease through 2029 last summer.

They have a team in Florida that has 45 fans. They can gain more fans if they move that 💩show to Quebec
- BringNYIhome

Big "meh". Florida averages 14k per game. Not great, but you have to look at the size of the surrounding market as well.

Move Columbus down two or three
- General Mokus

https://www.forbes.com/nh...uations/list/#tab:overall

https://www.forbes.com/nhl-valuations/list/#tab:overall
- Alexzanki

Dang, I was pretty close. Missed Buffalo, but they at least have deep pocket ownership.

He's right.

Quebec City would be the smallest market in the NHL by quite a large number and the NHL wouldn't gain any new fans in the process.
- BINGO!

Winnipeg says sup

QC population: 550k + surrounding area

Houston population: 2.3 million + surrounding areas

Which do we choose for a team first? Oh yea, the city the league already left.
- gocanes0506

People in Quebec that live and breath hockey = 90%x550k = 495k
People in Houston who actually know what hockey is = 5% = 115,000

https://www.forbes.com/nhl-valuations/list/#tab:overall
- Alexzanki

Small market team that hasn't been around long and hasn't had much success historically. But we'll get there. We have good ownership

Big "meh". Florida averages 14k per game. Not great, but you have to look at the size of the surrounding market as well.
- BINGO!

Attendance figures mean absolutely nothing without the average price of those tickets.

It's great to fill your building to sell beer and hot dogs, but at the end of the day, you are better with 10,000 people who have paid $100 per ticket than 14,000 people who have paid $9.

I'm looking at you, Florida.

Calgary is going nowhere. They'll fight with the city and make threats to try and get a new arena, but at the end of the day they'll get their rink and stay.

Canes just signed a new 5 year lease extension to the end of 2029 where Tom Dundon himself is liable for cash penalties if the Canes break the lease early.

There's an agreement in place to explore the possibility of a new arena in downtown Raleigh with Dundon putting in a couple hundred million out of his own pocket. If it's determined that building the arena down there is not feasible, then instead they'll further renovate the current arena and Dundon has committed to developing the area around the current arena to create a new entertainment district.
- BINGO!

Bingo they already have a signed agreement in place and plan on starting contstruction in 2021.

people who enjoy hockey and would likely pay to watch games

QC + surrounding area: 450k

Houston + surrounding area: probably about 11 people
- sensarmy_11

You make me laugh!
- General Mokus

Torts would do well in Quebec City. Being a Richard to local media in English would be very well received.

He's right.

Quebec City would be the smallest market in the NHL by quite a large number and the NHL wouldn't gain any new fans in the process.
- BINGO!

And they wouldn't be able to sell a single luxury box.

Winnipeg and Nashville are never moving. NJ is a joke. I could see them moving. 50% of that state is Rangers fans. 25% is Flyer fans. Do the math
- BringNYIhome

I know this one.. the other 25% are Islanders fans..am I right?

Torts would do well in Quebec City. Being a Richard to local media in English would be very well received.
- grim

For what it's worth, I did not type the word "Richard" in my post... it was shorter, 4 letter short form of the name "Richard"... starts w/ a "D"

Attendance figures mean absolutely nothing without the average price of those tickets.

It's great to fill your building to sell beer and hot dogs, but at the end of the day, you are better with 10,000 people who have paid $100 per ticket than 14,000 people who have paid $9.

I'm looking at you, Florida.
- Atomic Wedgie

Better for the team itself, not so much the league. Having the Panthers moves the needle more on a U.S. television contract more than having a team in Quebec city would.

Potential market growth counts for an awful lot in the eyes of the league itself.

Bingo they already have a signed agreement in place and plan on starting contstruction in 2021.
- FlamesFan1230

Yeah I forgot that they had reached an agreement. Can't wait to see what it looks like. I usually catch every Canes game that comes through Calgary.

Carolina?
- Crushers68

Didn't Carolinas woes get settled with the sale to current ownership?

I would think a list of teams most at risk would look something like this:

1) Arizona
2) Florida
3) Ottawa
4) Columbus
5) Carolina
6) Winnipeg
7) Nashville (I remember reading rumors that surprised me)

The Devils still make tons of money, and QC isn't a great bet for a place in which to earn more. I don't see it happening, especially considering the taxes.
- Quetzalcoatl

I don't think Ottawa is at risk of relocating.....the issues in Ottawa are 100% based on ownership, and that problem doesn't go away with relocation. The league will step in and force an ownership change before they consider relocation away from the capital of Canada.

Better for the team itself, not so much the league. Having the Panthers moves the needle more on a U.S. television contract more than having a team in Quebec city would.

Potential market growth counts for an awful lot in the eyes of the league itself.
- BINGO!

What potential market growth do you speak of? If anything, hockey did not grow in Miami, it has largely receded. Also we are discussing a hypothetical team move because of the financial hardships caused by this covid mess. When the NHL's revenues are 40-45% dependent on ticket sales and arena revenues, trust me, the board of directors and league owners would vote more for a team that will fill its building at avg 100$ a pop than Florida at whatever abysmal numbers they're showing...