Carolina Hurricanes: Not Moving, Right?
The Carolina Hurricanes have denied their intent to move, so why is there so much talk about it?
So are the Carolina Hurricanes moving from Raleigh?
This was something that I did not know was even a question. Sure owner Peter Karmanos was sued by his sons for $105 million dollars. Sure Karmanos was talking about selling the team’s majority interest while remaining in a management capacity. Sure the Hurricanes were at the bottom of the league in attendance this year.
Yet general manager Ron Francis says everything is fine and he does have a point. The Hurricanes have the only professional championship from the three major sports where North Carolina has a team. They are now reshuffled and have a good young core that could be playoff bound next year. There is still nothing quite like watching a hockey game.
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So where is all the talk about relocation coming from? First off, the South is still not seen as hockey country. This is despite the existence of the Nashville Predators and the Florida teams. Almost twenty years later are we still having the discussion of whether a team can make it in the state?
Secondly, the NHL is considering expansion. I use the word considering very carefully. The NHL has gotten too big before and talked about contraction before too. The NHL knows that expanding their footprint brings in new markets and new moneys but at the cost of talent level among the teams. In the end, is going to Las Vegas or Quebec worth it if no one wants to see mediocre hockey.
I am sure you’re thinking that expansion involves new teams. How could expansion affect the Hurricanes? Call it sour grapes. Let’s say the NHL decides not to expand. Well now you have formed ownership groups in Quebec and Las Vegas without teams. Why not buy an existing franchise and move it to one of those cities?
Moving hockey teams from the American South to the Canadian Shield has happened before and recently. Atlanta has lost two teams to Canada over the years. Most recently the Atlanta Thrashers left to become the new Winnipeg Jets. Canadian cities may not have the population of US centers, but they have hockey hungry fans.
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Quebec would fit in that category too. The city used to be home to the Nordiques, and then the team moved to Colorado to rake in money and become the Avalanche in the late 90s. They weren’t a failing team either, since Colorado went on to compete for some Stanley Cups. Ever since, Quebec has quietly hoped for the return of hockey. Snatching another team probably wouldn’t bother them as it didn’t bother Winnipeg.
Will the Hurricanes move? I doubt it. Raleigh is growing and you only need 18,000 people to fill up PNC Arena. Quebec cannot hope to match the growth that Raleigh can. The team is just in a lull that they are pulling out of and the fans will come back. So if Ron Francis does his job, then there should be hockey for another decade.