New and Improved National Hockey League: Part One

I am sure every hockey fan in North America will agree on one thing—we host some of the best talent out there. However, if we want to help build this sport back into one of the most profitable leagues in the world, something has got to give. We already get the best players from around the world but something is missing. People say move to Europe. 

I have another idea.

Part One, The major metropolitan areas of North America, where hockey would work.

Part Two, What my NHL would look like if I were the commissioner and where I would either move or place expansion teams. 

Part Three, What the new divisions and conferences would look like. 

Part Four, The New Schedule and Playoff Format

Where the Numbers have come from and how I make them work.

First off, I went to Wikipedia.org and looked up all the major cities in North America. There I found a list of the top 62 Metropolitan Statistical Areas by population. Then I took those numbers and, for the Canadian centers, I went with 2 percent of the population to come up with an estimated hardcore fanbase. For the U.S. centers I went with 0.5 percent. 

Seems like a pretty small percentage but when you look at the TV numbers for the NHL, those numbers in the US are probably not that far off. Then I took the fanbase numbers and in Canada, I divided it by 20,000 or a full house to watch a home game. In the United States, I went with 18,000. 

Ok now one more thing, please everyone remember, I do not care about lease agreements, NHL by-laws and stroking owners’ ego. I care about one thing: making the NHL the best league in the world and the most profitable league not only for the owners but based on the new partnership with the players, I have taken their interests into account as well, the best and most honest athletes in the world.

Part One: The Major Metropolitan Areas of North America, Where Hockey Would Work.

1) Toronto, Ontario

- The hockey capital of the world has unquestionably, the most profitable NHL team. The Toronto Maple Leafs is a storied franchise, established in 1917. The franchise has won 13 Stanley Cup championships.

Based on 2008 population, Toronto sits at approx. 5.8 million. Based on those numbers, I have calculated a fanbase of approx. 116,000. I believe these numbers could support almost six teams but let’s not get greedy. 

2) The New York metropolitan area

The Tri-State Region is the most populous metropolitan area in the United States and is also one of the most populous in the world. The Region is already the home of three NHL teams.

The New Jersey Devils are centered in Newark, New Jersey and moved to the area from Denver, Colorado in 1982.

The New York Islanders are centered in Uniondale, Long Island (New York) and they were established in the 1972 expansion, along with the then-Atlanta Flames.

The New York Rangers are centered in Manhattan, New York City. One of the original six franchises, were established in 1926.

The Population of the area is just over 19 million people. An estimated fanbase could be established at approx. 95,000. Based on the US numbers, this area could support at least four teams.

3) Montreal, Quebec

Home of the most successful franchise in NHL history and some of the most recognizable and famous players, as well. The Montreal Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cup championships since being established in 1917.

Another original six franchise has an almost cult like following and every player faces the pressures of the high expectation of not only the city but the province, as well.

The Metropolitan area of Montreal has a population of 3.8 million people, a calculated hardcore fanbase of approx. 77,000, and could support at least three clubs.

Did you know for one season, the city of Montreal played home to three NHL franchises? In the first season, way back in 1917, Montreal had the Canadiens, the Maroons and the Wanderers.

Hrmmm.

4) The Greater Los Angeles Area

The Greater LA Area, or the Southland, is the agglomeration of urbanized area around the county of Los Angeles, California. Greater Los Angeles includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area (Los Angeles and Orange counties) as well as the Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario metropolitan area, and the Oxnard–Thousand Oaks–Ventura metro area.

San Diego and Imperial Counties, while a part of Southern California, are not included in this agglomeration.

The area is currently home to two NHL franchises, the L.A. Kings and the Anaheim Ducks.

The Kings were founded in 1967 as part of the biggest expansion in NHL history. At that time the league went from the original six to 12 franchises.

The Ducks were founded in 1993. Originally known as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, they joined the league with their expansion cousins, the Florida Panthers.

The Metropolitan area of Los Angeles has a population of 12.8 million people. It is the second most populated area in North America. L.A. has a calculated hardcore fanbase of approx. 64,000 and could support at least three clubs

5) The Chicago Metropolitan Area

"Chicagoland," is the metropolitan area associated with the city of Chicago and its suburbs. Home of the one of the oldest NHL franchises, the Chicago Blackhawks, who began play in 1926 have won three Stanley Cups. The Blackhawks also hosted the 2008-2009 Winter Classic.

The Metropolitan area of Chicago has a population of 9.6 million people, making it the third most populated area in North America. Chicago has a calculated hardcore fanbase of approx. 48,000 and could support at least two clubs.

6) Vancouver, British Columbia

The Vancouver Canucks began play in 1970, along with the Buffalo Sabres.

The Metropolitan area of Vancouver has a population of 2.1 million people, making it the third most populated area in Canada. Vancouver has a calculated hardcore fanbase of approx. 42,000 and could support at least two clubs.

7) The Dallas-Fort Worth–Arlington

The Dallas metropolitan area, a title designated by the U.S. Census, encompasses 12 counties within the U.S. state of Texas as of 2003. The metropolitan area is further divided into two metropolitan divisions: Dallas–Plano–Irving and Fort Worth–Arlington. Residents of the area informally refer to it as the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, or simply the Metroplex (the term was originally invented to refer to Dallas/Fort Worth), which is the economic and cultural hub of the region commonly called North Texas or North Central Texas.

The Metropolitan area of Dallas has a population of 6.3 million people, making it the fourth most populated area in North America. Dallas has a calculated hardcore fanbase of approx. 31,000 and could support at least one club.

8). The Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area

This metropolitan hub is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the United States and is located towards the southern end of the BosWash megalopolis, the name given for a group of metropolitan areas in the northeastern United States, extending from Boston to Washington, D.C.

The city of Philadelphia is home to the Philadelphia Flyers. Part of the 1967 NHL expansion, the Flyers were the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup. The Flyers won it in 1974 and again in 1975. Despite five return trips to the Stanley Cup Finals, they have not won the Cup since.

The Metropolitan area of Philadelphia has a population of 5.8 million people. Philadelphia has a calculated hardcore fanbase of approx. 29,000 and could support at least one club.

9) The Washington Metropolitan Area

Formally known as the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV MSA, the Washington metro area is a U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB). It is also part of the larger Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.

The Washington Capitals were founded in 1974, along with their expansion cousins the Kansas City Scouts, now the New Jersey Devils.

The Metropolitan Area of Washington has a population of 5.4 million people. Washington has a calculated hardcore fanbase of approx. 27,000 and could support at least one club.

10) Greater Boston

Greater Boston is the area of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts surrounding the city of Boston.

The team has been in existence since 1924, entering the league as the first United States-based expansion franchise. They are also an Original Six team, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, and Chicago Blackhawks.

Boston currently has the second most Stanley Cup championships by an American team (5); Detroit has 11. Their home arena is the TD Garden, where they have played since 1995 after leaving the Boston Garden, which had been their home since 1928.

The Metropolitan Area of Boston has a population of 4.5 million people. Boston has a calculated hardcore fan base of approx. 22,000 and could support at least one club.

11) The Detroit Metropolitan Area

Metro Detroit is the metro area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit. As the home of the "Big Three" American automakers (General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler), it is the world's traditional automotive center and a key pillar of the U.S. economy.

The Red Wings are one of the most popular hockey franchises in North America, so much so that fans and analysts have nicknamed Detroit "Hockeytown." The Red Wings have won the most Stanley Cup championships (11) of any NHL franchise based in the United States, and are third overall in total NHL championships, behind the Montreal Canadiens (24) and Toronto Maple Leafs (13). They currently play home games in the 20,066 capacity Joe Louis Arena after having spent over 40 years playing in Olympia Stadium.

The Metropolitan Area of Detroit has a population of 4.4 million people. Detroit has a calculated hardcore fanbase of approx. 22,000 and could support at least one club.

12) Ottawa

The capital of Canada is a municipality within the Province of Ontario. Connected by several bridges to its Quebec neighbour, the City of Gatineau on the northern shores of the Ottawa River, the two cities had a combined 2006 population of over 1,130,000, making it the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.

The original Ottawa Senators won the Stanley Cup eleven times between 1903 and 1927. The club competed in the NHL from the 1917–18 season until the 1933–34 season. The NHL franchise relocated to St. Louis, Missouri due to financial difficulties and became the St. Louis Eagles. The organization continued the Senators as a senior amateur, and later semi-professional, team in Quebec senior men's leagues until 1954.

The New Ottawa Senators were founded and established by Ottawa real estate developer Bruce Firestone, the team is the second NHL franchise to use the Ottawa Senators nickname. The team has had two changes of ownership, from Firestone to Rod Bryden in 1993 due to the arena development process and its financing, and subsequently to Eugene Melnyk in 2003.

The Metropolitan Area of Ottawa has a population of 1.1 million people. Ottawa has a calculated hardcore fanbase of approx. 23,000 and could support at least one club.

13) Calgary

Calgary s the largest city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. CMA had a population of 1,182,446. Greater Calgary is the fifth-largest CMA in the country after