(06-14-2016 07:19 AM)Dr. Isaly von Yinzer Wrote:  Now that the Pittsburgh Penguins have claimed their fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history (hallowed be thy name), expansion now moves to the top of the NHL's agenda.

Here are 10 bold expansion predictions from reading a lot of stories and the tea leaves:

1.) The NHL will announce in June that it is expanding for the 2017–18 season. That means that we are about to see a flurry of trades league-wide as teams try to prepare for the expansion draft and protect themselves from losing valuable assets for nothing.

2.) The NHL will also announce in June it is going to expand to Las Vegas but it will not expand to any other city...yet.

3.) When Seattle gets its act together regarding a new arena in that city, they will get the NHL's 32nd team. I think they're probably two years away on that front.

4.) The Las Vegas expansion team will be extremely successful. This is nothing like the Arizona situation – which is mostly an issue of arena location. This arena is right on the Vegas strip and it will be extremely popular for home and visiting fans.

That Las Vegas team is going to have a hell of a home ice advantage, I can tell you that much.

5.) Quebec City will eventually get a team but it won't be for a few years and it will be through relocation, not expansion. My bet is that it will either be Florida or Carolina but it won't happen until the Canadian dollar recovers and each of the existing markets has been fully exhausted.

6.) Depending on who moves, that could spark further realignment.

7.) The Oakland Raiders are moving to Las Vegas and that will happen sooner rather than later and the announcement of the move is going to come quicker than some seem to realize.

8.) The NFL will be fabulously successful in Las Vegas. Visiting fans will regularly flow into the city to take advantage of all of the things that it has the offer. Raiders fans from California will also make it over, and tourists from elsewhere will attend those games as well - and that's before even mention the people that already live and/or work in Las Vegas.

Honestly, this is the best possible outcome, IMO.

9.) The Chargers are going to build a brand new stadium in San Diego.

10.) Ten years from now, the Los Angeles Rams will still be the only team in the nation's second-largest media market.

That Stanley Cup victory was certainly well enjoyed by this Pittsburgh area kid.

Go Pens!

Now if Pirates can right the ship this season and the Steelers win the Super Bowl, all will be right with the world again.