(06-24-2015 08:47 PM)UConn-SMU Wrote: The Whalers were a success in Hartford.
Hartford is exactly like Cleveland was after the Browns moved to Baltimore.
Long term I think Hartford is where the Islanders end up. Either as the Hartford/New England/Connecticut Whalers or perhaps the Connecticut/New England Sounders. (Sounders referring to Long Island Sound of course which may keep some of the Islanders fans interested in the relocated franchise.)
I think the NHL is nuts to even consider expansion, a better plan would be contraction by two squads to reconcentrate the talent levels a bit. Arizona can be one squad and let's go with Florida as the other.
Since contraction would never happen lets just relocate Arizona and Florida to places where they'd be supported. I say Quebec City gets one and whoever comes up with the best ownership group and plan of Seattle, Kansas City or the second Toronto area squad gets the other. If Halifax had a serious plan and group to bring in a team I'd move that second squad there in a heartbeat. The metro area only has about 400K people in it, but Nova Scotia as a whole has about 925K people living there and let's face it many in the Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, PEI, Newfoundland) would follow a Halifax squad plenty closely.
Tampa Bay, Carolina, Nashville and Dallas all do fine with fan interest/attendance, especially the latter two. Carolina will continue to do better as long as the team is competitive given its division with the Devils, Caps, Pens, Flyers, stRangers, Islanders and Blue Jackets all of which have expats in the Triangle.