I really like this concept! There are talks about a 84 game schedule which could desaturate the game (same thing with expansion), but this works beautifully keeping rivalries alive + seats filled. Your expansion teams i’m a fan of, I would like to see a return to the Kansas City market! (In my own universe i would make Hartford a team, little bit of silliness + i’m a devils fan so more rivalries). Overall, amazing video and concept!
St. Louis doesn't even make money...why add another team in Missouri??? The best bet for the NHL is to stay away from American markets that will lose money - Kansas City, Atlanta, Phoenix, Houston...they won't make money
Good concept. I 100% agree with the four cities you chose, and my best judgement tells me those will be the next four cities to get teams if (or when) the NHL decides to expand again. Thanks for mentioning my video. I gotta say, you made a compelling argument with having a mostly division-based schedule with an expanded league, and I agree with which teams you put in each division. I wouldn't be opposed to the NHL having six divisions when the league expands, but as the league is right now, I still think that the NHL's divisions should go (or at the very least, have no part in making up the playoffs seeding, which is my main problem with them). Since your hypothetical schedule is more division based, I think your playoffs format makes sense. I also like that you added a ninth seed in each conference; having a ninth seed would make the regular season more exciting down the stretch.
You know, Penguin Note, I have to say, I’m very impressed with your 36-team NHL concept! At first, I admittedly thought 36 teams was too much. But you did a terrific job of convincing me how a 36-team format could work. Which is another reason why I love your videos. Keep up the great work! 👍👍
If the NHL were to expand to 36 teams, here’s my ideas for each division. Pacific Division: Portland Beavers Central Division: Houston Outlaws Metropolitan Division: Milwaukee Badgers Atlantic Division: Quebec Nordiques
Cincinnati Mayor has said they are planning to build a new sports arena complex in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio that would host an expansion NHL franchise team or a relocated NHL Team (i.e Blue Jackets) an former World Hockey Association (WHA) team Cincinnati Stingers would join the National Hockey League (NHL) in the near future
Wisconsin is a state that is deep into hockey culture - has a rich hockey history with the outdoor weather to boot - and has a fanatical sports culture in general. And an NHL team there would be instant rival fuel for Chicago, Detroit and Minnesota. Milwaukee has a metro area of 1.5 million, Madison metro is 900,000. People have been clamoring for an NHL team in Wisconsin for a long time.
Divisions are good. Conferences are the problem. They limit playoff possibilities. Especially with this scheduling, conferences would only be a negative.
Food for thought: Omaha metro has population of around 850k, with 300k more living 1h drive in Lincoln, and 750k 2h drive in Des Moines. There are no professional sports teams in that area. Combined, that's a nearly 2 million market. Kansas City metro (with Topeka and St. Joseph) has around 2.5 million, but it already has three major league sports teams (including MLS). I think Houston, Atlanta and Phoenix are shoe-ins for expansion teams. So it might come down to a choice between Omaha, KS and Quebec for the fourth spot. Out of the three, I think Quebec would be the favourite, with Omaha second, and KS third. Also, there are interested ownership groups in Quebec and Omaha. There isn't one in KS, from what I could find.
The playoff format should be taking the top 2 teams from each division + 2 wildcards. Then either seed the teams by points and continue that way or have the 2 teams from each division + 2 wildcards play each other and reseed afterwards to continue on.
Kansas City Scouts were briefly the original Colorado Rockies before becoming the New Jersey Devils. If Denver can succeed decades later as an NHL market (I doubt anyone would challenge the claim that the Avs are a successful franchise), then so can Kansas City.
36 teams 2 conferences of 18 teams 6 divisions of 6 teams play other conference two times (18 teams x 2 games = 36 games) play your own conference two times (12 teams x 2 games = 24 games) play your own division four times (5 teams x 4 games = 20 games) Total = 80 games if you want to add more games to get to 82 or 84, then play a designated "rival" an additional 2 games... LA vs. anaheim an additional 2 more times. Pitt vs. Philly an additional 2 times. Or Calgary and Edmonton an additional 2 times...etc.
Arizona Coyotes (Pacific) Atlanta Thrashers (Metropolitan) Houston Aeros (Central) Quebec Nordiques (Atlantic) Notable candidates: Cleveland, Hamilton, Kansas City, Memphis, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Portland, San Diego*, Toronto* * - Need an NHL sized arena, the rest of the cities already have an arena.
Between 2012-2021 - Thirteen NHL teams lost money (in millions USD): - Florida (-195.9) - GARY BETTMAN EXPANSION TEAM - Arizona (-141.6) - GARY BETTMAN RELOCATION - NY Islanders (-132.1) - Carolina (-108.8) - GARY BETTMAN RELOCATION - Tampa (-74.4) - GARY BETTMAN EXPANSION TEAM - Buffalo (-59.9) - Anaheim (-79.6) - GARY BETTMAN EXPANSION TEAM - Columbus (-76.0) - GARY BETTMAN EXPANSION TEAM - San Jose (-13.3) - Nashville (-64.1) - GARY BETTMAN EXPANSION TEAM - Minnesota (-55.1) - GARY BETTMAN EXPANSION TEAM - St. Louis (-43.9) - Colorado (-23.5) - GARY BETTMAN RELOCATION Fun Fact: Atlanta set the NHL record for MOST MONEY lost by ANY franchise in history...$130 million losses in only 5 years between 2005-2010.... Meanwhile between 2012-2021 every Canadian team generated revenue for the league....every Canadian team had NET positive profits
I like this concept. I’m sold on divisions, but for regular season scheduling purposes only. With a fully interlocking schedule, division winners shouldn’t get leapfrogged to a higher seed than teams with better records. Not sure about adding two teams to the playoffs. 50% of the league making the playoffs is already a bit sus, so they should stick to 16 teams as the league expands. The playoff structure doesn’t incentivize regular season success enough IMO, we should do away with the brackets and go back to reseeding, but we should take it one step further. The President’s Trophy winners should get to play the 16th seed regardless of geography, and then 2nd vs 15th, 3rd vs 14th… etc. and then let teams get reseeded so the top team remaining is always matched up with the bottom team remaining each round until the final.
Just focus on expansion to 34 first. Expand to Houston and Quebec, get rid of divisions, play 3 games against teams in your conference, 2 games against teams in other conference. Do NBA Play-in model for seeds 7-10.
Kansas City is probably out of the running because they're preoccupied with getting new home facilities for the Chiefs and Royals right now. Besides, Bettman has said that they're still committed to Arizona, which makes me think that it will be Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta and one other market. Also, it should be four divisions with nine teams each to avoid breaking up historic rivalries.
If the NHL keeps expanding, I think they have to do away with the "everyone hosts everyone" schedule. There's already way too many interconference games in my opinion, and while Habs and Leafs fans in the west will only see their team every other year, I think everyone will be fine.
I would have called them six conferences rather than divisions, just because there are no intraconference cross-division games (i.e., more than interconference). I've said this for years that the League should do away with divisions and have more conferences instead, and you've done that from a scheduling standpoint.
How about 40 teams including... San Diego, Portland in the Pacific Division Kansas City, San Antonio, or Milwaukee, in the Central Division Quebec City and Hamilton in the Atlantic Division Cleveland and Cincinnati in the Metropolitan Division with permissionfrom the Blue Jackets. If California and New York can have multiple teams, why not Ohio as well? Since both cities have amazing hockey histories, and with Columbus in it, then it's an Ohio hockey rivalry.
@@PenguinNote67Permit me to counter point. Omaha could draw interest from nearby Lincoln. Just like the Nebraska Cornhuskers do for College Football. Omaha and Lincoln both have teams in the USHL, for those who don't know compare them to the CHL teams. And Omaha does have the Mavericks at the collegiate level. It's not to say there isn't interest for an NHL team here. More like no ownership group has shown interest.
Gordie Howe played here. Scotty Bowman coached here. We have hockey fans here. Actually a lot more hockey history in Omaha than people outside of Nebraska realize. We are not just football nuts.
Blame the Coyotes ownership, not SEG. Ryan Smith was willing to wait for expansion. Coyotes ownership, 💩 the bed and the NHL needed to move. SEG was ready to accept the team and assets.
@@anthony_rivera4735 Coyotes would have done better if they had moved to another city and state like Indianapolis, Indiana where they would have been the reborn Indianapolis Racers they would still be in the Central Division and Western Conference where they would have rivalries with the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League
Thanks for the shoutout, GO DEVILS!!
I really like this concept! There are talks about a 84 game schedule which could desaturate the game (same thing with expansion), but this works beautifully keeping rivalries alive + seats filled. Your expansion teams i’m a fan of, I would like to see a return to the Kansas City market! (In my own universe i would make Hartford a team, little bit of silliness + i’m a devils fan so more rivalries). Overall, amazing video and concept!
St. Louis doesn't even make money...why add another team in Missouri???
The best bet for the NHL is to stay away from American markets that will lose money - Kansas City, Atlanta, Phoenix, Houston...they won't make money
Good concept. I 100% agree with the four cities you chose, and my best judgement tells me those will be the next four cities to get teams if (or when) the NHL decides to expand again.
Thanks for mentioning my video. I gotta say, you made a compelling argument with having a mostly division-based schedule with an expanded league, and I agree with which teams you put in each division. I wouldn't be opposed to the NHL having six divisions when the league expands, but as the league is right now, I still think that the NHL's divisions should go (or at the very least, have no part in making up the playoffs seeding, which is my main problem with them).
Since your hypothetical schedule is more division based, I think your playoffs format makes sense. I also like that you added a ninth seed in each conference; having a ninth seed would make the regular season more exciting down the stretch.
Yes, we need wild card rounds.
@@WeberAreiv We don't need that BS in hockey 💀
You know, Penguin Note, I have to say, I’m very impressed with your 36-team NHL concept! At first, I admittedly thought 36 teams was too much. But you did a terrific job of convincing me how a 36-team format could work. Which is another reason why I love your videos. Keep up the great work! 👍👍
Houston, Arizona, Atlanta, Quebec
If the NHL were to expand to 36 teams, here’s my ideas for each division.
Pacific Division: Portland Beavers
Central Division: Houston Outlaws
Metropolitan Division: Milwaukee Badgers
Atlantic Division: Quebec Nordiques
Maple Leafs and Canadien fans/franchises would hate the Nordiques returning. So yeah let’s bring them back!
Cincinnati Mayor has said they are planning to build a new sports arena complex in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio that would host an expansion NHL franchise team or a relocated NHL Team (i.e Blue Jackets) an former World Hockey Association (WHA) team Cincinnati Stingers would join the National Hockey League (NHL) in the near future
Wisconsin is a state that is deep into hockey culture - has a rich hockey history with the outdoor weather to boot - and has a fanatical sports culture in general. And an NHL team there would be instant rival fuel for Chicago, Detroit and Minnesota. Milwaukee has a metro area of 1.5 million, Madison metro is 900,000. People have been clamoring for an NHL team in Wisconsin for a long time.
@roccobierman4985 only downside for Wisconsin is Chicago has TV rights
As an Islanders fan, I’ve always been waiting for the second coming of the Nordiques.
Divisions are good. Conferences are the problem. They limit playoff possibilities. Especially with this scheduling, conferences would only be a negative.
I like your concept. Could be something to actually happen in the future.
Food for thought: Omaha metro has population of around 850k, with 300k more living 1h drive in Lincoln, and 750k 2h drive in Des Moines. There are no professional sports teams in that area. Combined, that's a nearly 2 million market. Kansas City metro (with Topeka and St. Joseph) has around 2.5 million, but it already has three major league sports teams (including MLS). I think Houston, Atlanta and Phoenix are shoe-ins for expansion teams. So it might come down to a choice between Omaha, KS and Quebec for the fourth spot. Out of the three, I think Quebec would be the favourite, with Omaha second, and KS third. Also, there are interested ownership groups in Quebec and Omaha. There isn't one in KS, from what I could find.
@@versuskn I'm talking about Kansas City, MISSOURI. They would have a better chance in KCMO
@@PenguinNote67 "I'm talking about Kansas City, MISSOURI."
Me too :) And I think they wouldn't, for reasons I mentioned.
The playoff format should be taking the top 2 teams from each division + 2 wildcards. Then either seed the teams by points and continue that way or have the 2 teams from each division + 2 wildcards play each other and reseed afterwards to continue on.
Kansas City Scouts were briefly the original Colorado Rockies before becoming the New Jersey Devils. If Denver can succeed decades later as an NHL market (I doubt anyone would challenge the claim that the Avs are a successful franchise), then so can Kansas City.
Only 2 are going to get a team, not 4 KC will be on the outside looking in
The Wings in the Civic division is interesting.
We need Hartford back!
Bring back the Hartford Whalers.
36 teams
2 conferences of 18 teams
6 divisions of 6 teams
play other conference two times
(18 teams x 2 games = 36 games)
play your own conference two times
(12 teams x 2 games = 24 games)
play your own division four times
(5 teams x 4 games = 20 games)
Total = 80 games
if you want to add more games to get to 82 or 84, then play a designated "rival" an additional 2 games...
LA vs. anaheim an additional 2 more times.
Pitt vs. Philly an additional 2 times.
Or Calgary and Edmonton an additional 2 times...etc.
Arizona Coyotes (Pacific)
Atlanta Thrashers (Metropolitan)
Houston Aeros (Central)
Quebec Nordiques (Atlantic)
Notable candidates: Cleveland, Hamilton, Kansas City, Memphis, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Portland, San Diego*, Toronto*
* - Need an NHL sized arena, the rest of the cities already have an arena.
Houston and Quebec should be the two
Coyotes 2.0 has a chance of happening. so that cannot be ignored. More likely than Quebec City has a realistic chance at another team.
Hartford and Quebec should have first dibs on expansion teams. More hockey in the south makes no sense
Between 2012-2021 - Thirteen NHL teams lost money (in millions USD):
- Florida (-195.9) - GARY BETTMAN EXPANSION TEAM
- Arizona (-141.6) - GARY BETTMAN RELOCATION
- NY Islanders (-132.1)
- Carolina (-108.8) - GARY BETTMAN RELOCATION
- Tampa (-74.4) - GARY BETTMAN EXPANSION TEAM
- Buffalo (-59.9)
- Anaheim (-79.6) - GARY BETTMAN EXPANSION TEAM
- Columbus (-76.0) - GARY BETTMAN EXPANSION TEAM
- San Jose (-13.3)
- Nashville (-64.1) - GARY BETTMAN EXPANSION TEAM
- Minnesota (-55.1) - GARY BETTMAN EXPANSION TEAM
- St. Louis (-43.9)
- Colorado (-23.5) - GARY BETTMAN RELOCATION
Fun Fact:
Atlanta set the NHL record for MOST MONEY lost by ANY franchise in history...$130 million losses in only 5 years between 2005-2010....
Meanwhile between 2012-2021 every Canadian team generated revenue for the league....every Canadian team had NET positive profits
I like this concept. I’m sold on divisions, but for regular season scheduling purposes only.
With a fully interlocking schedule, division winners shouldn’t get leapfrogged to a higher seed than teams with better records.
Not sure about adding two teams to the playoffs. 50% of the league making the playoffs is already a bit sus, so they should stick to 16 teams as the league expands.
The playoff structure doesn’t incentivize regular season success enough IMO, we should do away with the brackets and go back to reseeding, but we should take it one step further.
The President’s Trophy winners should get to play the 16th seed regardless of geography, and then 2nd vs 15th, 3rd vs 14th… etc. and then let teams get reseeded so the top team remaining is always matched up with the bottom team remaining each round until the final.
Just focus on expansion to 34 first. Expand to Houston and Quebec, get rid of divisions, play 3 games against teams in your conference, 2 games against teams in other conference. Do NBA Play-in model for seeds 7-10.
They should move the red wings back to the western conference
What about San Diego? They are currently building a new arena.
This makes way too much sense for the NHL to adopt, well as long as Bettman is in charge.
Can you do a 40 team expansion? I’d like to see what you think!
@@kaitlinbennett4181 I'll put it in the box of ideas
Houston, Arizona, Quebec, Atlanta, Hartford, Kansas City, Portland and Hamilton.
40 teams, 8 Divisions
I think the final 4 should be Arizona, Hamilton, Milwaukee, and Portland.
Kansas City is probably out of the running because they're preoccupied with getting new home facilities for the Chiefs and Royals right now. Besides, Bettman has said that they're still committed to Arizona, which makes me think that it will be Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta and one other market. Also, it should be four divisions with nine teams each to avoid breaking up historic rivalries.
If the NHL keeps expanding, I think they have to do away with the "everyone hosts everyone" schedule. There's already way too many interconference games in my opinion, and while Habs and Leafs fans in the west will only see their team every other year, I think everyone will be fine.
I picking Cincinnati & Kansas City that’s all
I would have called them six conferences rather than divisions, just because there are no intraconference cross-division games (i.e., more than interconference). I've said this for years that the League should do away with divisions and have more conferences instead, and you've done that from a scheduling standpoint.
What's wrong with adding Hamilton?? 3rd team in Ontario they had an NHL franchise
@@mattlorentz1988 Toronto and Buffalo will have something to say. And people want Quebec City. One or the other
@PenguinNote67 That's true I wany Quebec back Buffalo will have mote of a problem than Toronto
Oakland, baltimore, charlotte,
Milwaukee
Only thing I'd say is 18 teams is far too much. That's half the league. Cut it down to 12 and it'd be reasonable
How about 40 teams including...
San Diego, Portland in the Pacific Division
Kansas City, San Antonio, or Milwaukee, in the Central Division
Quebec City and Hamilton in the Atlantic Division
Cleveland and Cincinnati in the Metropolitan Division with permissionfrom the Blue Jackets. If California and New York can have multiple teams, why not Ohio as well? Since both cities have amazing hockey histories, and with Columbus in it, then it's an Ohio hockey rivalry.
Right...lets give the ATL another expansion hockey team. What am I not getting here.
This Atlanta team will have an ownership that has deep pockets and ACTUALLY CARES about hockey
@@PenguinNote67 but do the fan?
Find a way to put Detroit back in the west
85 games would work better…this way you play all your division thevsame
Saying omaha doesn't have interest in hockey is wild
It's more of they haven't shown NHL interest
@@PenguinNote67Permit me to counter point. Omaha could draw interest from nearby Lincoln. Just like the Nebraska Cornhuskers do for College Football. Omaha and Lincoln both have teams in the USHL, for those who don't know compare them to the CHL teams. And Omaha does have the Mavericks at the collegiate level. It's not to say there isn't interest for an NHL team here. More like no ownership group has shown interest.
Gordie Howe played here. Scotty Bowman coached here. We have hockey fans here. Actually a lot more hockey history in Omaha than people outside of Nebraska realize. We are not just football nuts.
I like the idea and it would be great for getting more fans
That's why Bettman will neaver go for it
How about no expansion at all 8 teams in 4 divisions works just fine in 24-25
I miss when the league was only 21 teams
I hate this Utah team for poaching the coyotes, please ban Ryan smith.
Blame the Coyotes ownership, not SEG. Ryan Smith was willing to wait for expansion. Coyotes ownership, 💩 the bed and the NHL needed to move. SEG was ready to accept the team and assets.
Its all the Coyotes ownership.
Do sum research dude
What about that 4, 500 seat college arena they played in
Should have done something so they're weren't playing in a 4, 500 college arena
@@anthony_rivera4735 Coyotes would have done better if they had moved to another city and state like Indianapolis, Indiana where they would have been the reborn Indianapolis Racers they would still be in the Central Division and Western Conference where they would have rivalries with the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League