From the inaugural season in 1917 to 2024, the NHL has seen many changes to its rules, players, and broadcasting formats worldwide, but only sometimes changes come toward a franchise. Relocations occurred throughout the NHL’s run due to money, finances, legal issues, etc. They will continue to do so if owners of specific teams don’t happen and sell the team with the NHL’s approval.
So here is every NHL franchise relocation ranked from the WORST move to the BEST move in history.
Which NHL franchise relocation made the most impact in this list?
13. Quebec Bulldogs To Hamilton Tigers
The first relocation in league history took place in 1920, as the Bulldogs were sold to Hamilton and renamed the Tigers.
The move occurred when the NHL had to take the franchise from its then-owner, Percy Quinn. Quinn wanted to use the Tigers to rebuild the National Hockey Association, and the NHL canceled its franchise when it became aware of the idea.
12. Kansas City Scouts To Colorado Rockies
The Kansas City Scouts had one of the shortest run times in the NHL, as they only had two seasons until they were sold in 1976.
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Due to inflated player costs, undercapitalized ownership, an economic downturn in the Midwest, poor performances on the ice, and weak attendance, the team was on track for its whole short life to be moved. A short ditched effort of the team’s group of 37 owners, buried in debt, mounted a season-ticket drive to raise more revenue, failed, and was bought by a Denver-based group led by oilman Jack Vickers for the NHL franchise relocation.
11. Hamilton Tigers To New York Americans
Just being bought from Quebec, the New York Americans unfortunately didn’t last long as they were sold in 1925.
After years of struggling, they would finish first for the first time in the 1923-1924 season. It would be a short-lived celebration as shortly after the season, the team players would go on a strike that would cause the franchise dissolution. All player contracts were later sold to the New York City interests to stock the expansion of the New York Americans.
10. Pittsburgh Pirates To Philadelphia Quakers
No, you’re not reading it wrong; at the time, it was not an MLB team but an NHL team, but like many franchises back then, it wouldn’t last long as they were sold in 1930.
With the level of play on the ice diminishing each season, the team went through the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and then the Great Depression; on October 18, 1930, at the NHL Board of Governors’ meeting, the team was relocated to Philadelphia and renamed the Quakers.
Also read: All 32 NHL Teams’ Mount Rushmore: Which 4 Players Made It For Your Team?
9. Ottawa Senators To St Louis Eagles
Another team significantly impacted by the Great Depression and its lack of performance on the ice was the Ottawa Senators, which were sold in 1934.
They have spent multiple seasons finishing last in the league, paying their players “under the table,” and asking the league and other companies for financial help to protect shareholders and help pay off debts. It all came down in 1934 when the owner, Thomas Franklin Ahearn, moved; the team was approved to move to St. Louis, Missouri, and change their name to the Eagles.
8. California Golden Seals To Cleveland Barons
The California Golden Seals lasted six years in the NHL until the franchise was merged with the Cleveland Barons in 1976. Through multiple ownership changes, the team struggled to keep attendance and play on the ice high; an NHL franchise relocation was needed.
When attendance and team improvement finally showed growth and stability, it was too late, as minority owners George and Gordon Gund persuaded the team to move and merge with the Barons.
7. Colorado Rockies To New Jersey Devils
What was once the failed project brought back to life from Kansas City was doomed to repeat its predecessor’s failures of team performance, poor business decisions, and lack of revenue, which saw the team relocated in 1982.
A failed petroleum business would turn into a team that takes home three Stanley Cups and helps produce arguably the most outstanding goaltender to ever play in the NHL with Martin Brodeur; that is a good investment.
6. Atlanta Flames To Calgary Flames
Through inconsistent play and attendance in their eight years in Atalanta, more was needed to keep the team there, and they were sold to Calgary with plans of a shiny new Arena in 1980.
Many rumors of Dallas Houston were mentioned, and it ended up in Calgary for $16 million, which was, at the time, the highest price ever paid for an NHL franchise relocation. The team would see great success after the purchase, with playoff success, including a Stanley Cup in 1988-1989.
5. Winnipeg Jets To Phoenix Coyotes
One of the founding teams in the WHA and 27 years with the NHL after the merger, The Jets saw great success in the WHA but couldn’t translate it to the NHL. They were losing many of its best players to the reclamation draft, which saw multiple disappointing seasons, including a nine-win season, which triggered the chain to move to Phoenix.
The early days were decent, as they saw the playoffs for five out of the six first years after the move. However, after a brief stint in the early 2010s, the team trended down. Today, the Arizona Coyotes are in jeopardy of moving out of town.
Also read: Ranking All 32 NHL Teams After Week 26 Games
4. Minnesota North Stars To Dallas Stars
One of the longest-tenured teams on the list with plenty of playoff success but no Stanley Cup, unfortunately, in hand. The team moved to Dallas in 1993 due to financial problems and not wanting to play in Target Center.
Unlike the Jets in the WHA, the Stars continued their playoff success and continued it as they would win their first Stanley Cup three seasons after their NHL’s franchise relocation in 1998-1999.
3. Hartford Whalers To Carolina Hurricanes
Like many teams on this list, the Whalers saw decent playoff success and stayed competitive. Still, after disappointing seasons, Governor John Rowland refused to allow state taxpayers to fund an arena for the Whalers, so the move to Raleigh was set.
The Hurricanes would start hot as they would win their first Stanley Cup in 2005-2006. Though, after some disappointing seasons in the mid-2010s, the Hurricanes today look ready for another Stanley Cup.
2. Atlanta Thrashers To Winnipeg Jets
After being selected in the 1999 expansion draft, the team struggled right out of the gate, finishing bottom of the division for its first three seasons. Including ownership instability, franchise troubles, and attendance, the straw was pulled to move the team back to Winnipeg.
The Atlanta period is arguably one of the most notorious times in the NHL. While the Jets have had solid seasons with plenty of playoff experience, they have never been able to get over the hump and secure a Stanley Cup.
1. Quebec Nordiques To Colorado Avalanche
Quebec had many problems unravel with a team being there at the time. Financial problems grew as fan support dwindled, teams struggling to pay players with the weak Canadian dollar, the second-smallest major-league city in North America, behind only Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the unique disadvantage as a virtually monolingual francophone city.
After a 1995 playoff elimination, the team was sold, moved to Colorado, and renamed the Avalanche. They would win their first Stanley Cup the following year and add another in 2001. They ushered in a dynasty run from the late 1990s to the early 2000s and are looking to add their fourth Stanley Cup after winning their third in 2022. Their NHL franchise relocation really worked out well.
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