NHL Teams That May Be Looking for New Homes

There are some fans of NHL teams who, like the young couple in the picture, don't seem to have a lot to cheer about when it comes to their favorite teams.

When it comes to rumors, with the advent of the Internet and the introduction of mobile applications, there is never a shortage of them, but some of them are just ludicrous.

It was reported, for example, about two years ago, when the Toronto Maple Leafs were in the throes of another season that would find them heading to the golf course sooner than they wanted, that there was a real possibility the team could be moved to Winnipeg.

The Toronto Maple Leafs...to Winnipeg?

Who woulda thunk it'?

It didn't happen, of course, but here are a few teams that could be on the move soon.

Edmonton Oilers

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ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 16: Sam Gagner #89 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates his second period goal with teammate Theo Peckham (L) #49 against the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center on January 16, 2011 in Anaheim, California. The Ducks defeated the Oilers 3

Edmonton was once the home of Wayne Gretzky, arguably the greatest player to ever don a pair of hockey skates, but its glory days have been long forgotten in the face of the team's most recent struggles.

The Oilers were originally a WHA (World Hockey Association) team founded in 1971, and weren't officially part of the NHL until 1979.

After being part of the league for just five seasons, the Oilers went on to become one of the NHL's last real dynasties, winning five Stanley Cup titles from 1984 through 1990.

Despite only failing to make the postseason 10 times in their 32-year history since joining the NHL, and the fact that their average combined attendance this season is 14th in the NHL at 95.4 percent, there are rumors that the team wants to relocate to Quebec City.

Bleacher Report correspondent Edmond Dantes reported in early December that the Edmonton Oilers brass was in fact meeting with the Mayor of Quebec City, Regis Labeaume, and that the topic of discussion would, in fact, be the possible relocation of the Oilers to La Belle Province.

Another opinion on the possible reason for the meeting was to compare notes on how to secure public funding for a new arena given that both cities are, in fact, trying to build.

Either way, the fact that the organization has vehemently denied there is any possibility of it relocating should be taken at face value. There will always be relocation rumors surrounding them, at least until they are able to build a new arena.

Atlanta Thrashers

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ATLANTA - APRIL 14: Fans pose for a photo before the Atlanta Thrashers game against the New York Rangers during game two of the 2007 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on April 14, 2007 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The Rangers won 2-1. (Photo by S

According to a comment made recently by TSN's Pierre LeBrun, the ownership issue that has been surrounding the Atlanta Thrashers organization for some time now may be coming to a head of sorts in the near future.

"The ownership situation is getting urgent in Atlanta.

"We were told this weekend that the league is trying mighty hard to find a new owner who's willing to keep the team in Atlanta.

"The league's sole focus right now is to keep the team in Atlanta, and given its ability to find new owners in Tampa, Buffalo and Phoenix, it's not unrealistic to think the league won't [sic] be able to pull it off again," LeBrun said.

LeBrun goes on to say, however, that if a new owner cannot be found within the next couple of months, there is every indication that the current ownership will seek relocation, and the most likely destination will be Winnipeg.

In a related article, Examiner.com's Phil Foley indicated that such a move may not come as soon as LeBrun indicates, though.

“If we are faced with [relocating the team] as the only alternative, that’s what’s going to happen,” said Thrashers co-owner Micheal Gearon, speaking to a reporter from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“I don’t think there is an ability to stomach another $20 million in [yearly] losses. We just can’t do it.

"The reality is we need fans showing up and we need investors or a primary investor.”

Foley contends that, aside from other legalities outlined in his article, any application for relocation must be made by January 1st of the current NHL season.

If the current ownership group indeed has a plan for relocating the Thrashers, it couldn't happen until the 2012-2013 season, by the time the application was filed, reviewed and approved.

Even if all of those things were fast-tracked, and the NHL Board of Directors ignored certain things pursuant to NHL bylaw 36 and article 4.2 of the NHL Constitution—reportedly stating that a team cannot move—the battle between Thrashers ownership and Gary Bettman could be long from over.

New York Islanders

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UNIONDALE, NY - OCTOBER 09: Fan at the game between the New York Islanders and Dallas Stars at the Nassau Coliseum on October 9, 2010 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

While there haven't been many rumors regarding the possible relocation of the New York Islanders, there are a couple of little red flags surrounding the organization that may, in fact, point current Owner Charles Wang in that direction.

Firstly, according to an Examiner.com article, Wang is embroiled in somewhat of a political stalemate between New York State Governor David Patterson and Town of Hempstead Supervisor, Kate Murray.

Charles Wang initiated a venture called the "Lighthouse Project," with which he would develop the land surrounding Nassau Coliseum to include an expanded stadium, housing and entertainment venues.

Patterson said at a recent function "The Town Supervisor of Hempstead, Kate Murray, continues to reject this plan, and if allowed to continue, will lose the franchise [sic]."

While this particular issue could be solved by Charles Wang simply relocating to Brooklyn or closer to the New York Mets' ballpark according to Examiner.com's Evan Weiner, there is another issue that may be adding a little fuel to the fire:

Kansas City.

The fact that the Islanders have played an exhibition game in Kansas City may not in and of itself mean that the Islanders may be on the move, but the fact that they would likely move into a shiny new 19,000-seat facility called the Sprint Center would certainly sweeten the pot for a city that has been clamoring about an NHL team for some time now.

Nashville Predators

Dave Sandford/Getty Images

COLUMBUS, OH - JUNE 22: A Nashville Predators fan hold up a sign during the first round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft at Nationwide Arena on June 22, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

The Nashville Predators have been the subject of numerous relocation scenarios, but truthfully, not one of them has much basis in reality.

That being said, we all remember the fiasco that took place in 2007, when the team was almost purchased and relocated to Hamilton by Research in Motion founder Jim Balsillie.

If you don't remember this soap opera that lasted some two years, you can find a good time line of it here.

The Predators have been linked in the past to several cities for possible relocation, including Hamilton, Winnipeg, Kansas City and Seattle, but after the William "Boots" Del Biaggio fraud and subsequent bankruptcy in 2007, there hasn't been much in the way of concrete rumors.

The Close

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PITTSBURGH - OCTOBER 05: Jim Balsillie Chairman and Co-CEO of Research In Motion and new owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins speaks in a press conference announcing the purchase of the team after the first period at Mellon Arena on October 5, 2006 in Pitts

Jim Balsillie has been thwarted by Gary Bettman and the NHL Board of Directors all three times he has tried to purchase an NHL team.

Why?

Because Jim Balsillie is a businessman, and one who knows how to make money.

He also knows that losing $20 million a year in a hockey market where you can show up for a game in a bikini just doesn't make a lot of financial sense.

Balsillie may never own an NHL team—people don't like it when you try to back-door them—but that doesn't mean his vision to relocate another team north of the border is wrong.

From a purely financial standpoint, putting any club with failing revenues into a large Canadian city is a good idea and virtually a guarantee of success.

To be fair, very few people are enamored with the idea of having more Canadian teams in the NHL, but being Canadian myself, and a lifelong fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, you'd be hard-pressed to convince me that Gary Bettman is one of them.

I think, in large part, Bettman's stubborn refusal to admit that there has been a mistake of any kind made under his regime is often misconstrued as hatred for Canadian markets when it comes to talks about relocation.

In truth, relocating a team is no small venture to begin with. Fans in Canadian markets also should take into account the feelings of the fans in the markets they would like to displace.

Fans of the Winnipeg Jets and Quebec Nordiques know the feeling all too well of losing their team.

Don't forget to join me next Monday, starting at 9 a.m. EST, for an exciting, all-day live blog, right here on Bleacher Report, where we will have all the NHL trade rumors and discuss all the speculation right up until 4 p.m. EST!