Quite a bit of talk about relocation of NHL franchises.

That brings up two topics. First, why is there so much talk about franchises moving and what does that say about the NHL. Ok, so that is a topic for another day.

Second, Hamilton, Ontario has completely taken the place of Kansas City as the “next” NHL city. It is my personal belief that Kansas City should rank third on the list of potential NHL cities (behind Hamilton and Hartford). Of course, not everyone shares my belief. At one time, KC seemed to be at the top of the list. Now, it seems that Hamilton has officially moved to the top of the list.

Here are some links about Hamilton’s first place position.
Hamilton at centre of NHL relocation talk

Spectator publisher urges NHL commissioner to consider Hamilton

Atlanta Thrashers moving to Hamilton yet another NHL scenario, report suggests

Group wants to move Atlanta Thrashers to Hamilton

So what is going on here. I think the #1 reason is, and we’ve been over this, THERE IS NO POTENTIAL NHL OWNER THAT WANTS TO PUT A TEAM IN KANSAS CITY.
Period. End of story.

Unless there is some phantom potential owner that we don’t know about. This has been the problem ever since Kay Barnes and AEG starting throwing out the possibility of an NHL team in KC. There is no potential owner.

No one wants to buy an NHL team and put them in a market that is very similar to the other markets that have struggled (Nashville, Raleigh, Tampa, Phoenix).

Even though there is a new building, Kansas City is an unknown. Is the market big enough? Well, we have 1.8 million people. Some may say, what about Omaha, Topeka, Wichita? OK, let’s go out in a 200 mile radius to establish the market. What size does that make the market? About 3 million, I suppose. How many people are within a 200 mile radius of Hamilton, Ontario? 8 million? How many people are within a 200 mile radius of Hartford?

You get my point?

We know Phoenix is in trouble.

Atlanta may be in trouble (key word may). They have been for years because of a legal dispute between the former owners.
Thrashers goal: ‘Bring people back’

Q: How does the end of [the lawsuit against co-owner Steve Belkin] affect the Thrashers?

A: The lawsuit is about buying out a partner. There will be an end to that process, and there will be a buying out of that partner. We have begun to have conversations with people about the possibility of them coming into our group and buying out that interest. That may or may not happen.

Q: People talk about the Thrashers being in Hamilton [Ontario] or someplace else, could that happen?

A: Absolutely not. I haven’t heard that talk. Maybe I’ve been busy with a court case. I certainly haven’t been part of any conversation about that

Atlanta’s Basketball, Hockey Teams Overvalued, Executive Says

Don Waddell says he spoke with the Thrashers owners and the team is not for sale nor are they moving anytime soon. Well, let’s wait until the lawsuit is settled there Mr. Waddell. (I’m still a bit bitter about what a lousy job Don Waddell did at putting together the 2006 US Olympic hockey team. No Ryan Miller?)

The bottom line is that KC doesn’t seem to be part of these conversations.