“Goin’ to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come...” Wilbert Harrison hit it big with that song in 1959 and indications are that Kansas City may be a destination for one of the NHL’s several franchises that are currently for sale. You have to wonder if one of them would be bound for the Sprint Center.

Kansas City’s 18,000 seat arena is waiting for a new tenant, at one point, it was being said that the Nashville Predators were headed there, but that talk is over. KC is hosting a preseason game this September between the Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins and you can bet that the NHL will be looking closely at how many hockey fans come out.

Kansas City is a on the larger side of the mid-sized markets from a media perspective, ranked 32, behind Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Tampa and ahead of San Jose (34), Columbus (36), Raleigh (42) and Nashville (44). There will be competition for the sports dollar as KC has NFL and MLB teams, but there is a robust youth program and a core of fans that could be the bedrock of a potential franchise.

So, who’s it going to be? The Phoenix Coyotes? The Columbus Blue Jackets? The New York Islanders? Or does KC become the perennial bridesmaid…

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Random Notes

- An interesting poll on Slam.ca about Shea Weber’s contract… the most interesting part of the poll is the results. As of 8am CDT today, 71% of the 3500 people who have taken the poll say that Shea Weber’s arbitration award was “Too high.”

- Greg Wyshynsky on Puck Daddy reported last night that Vancouver native Milan Lucic has had to tone down his celebration plans due to several incidents that have threatened the security of Lucic and his family. If that is indeed true, these so-called “fans” should be ashamed and have given Vancouver another black eye.

- Another cool piece on Puck Daddy is Jeff Marek’s Hockey Guilty Pleasures. Jeff has moved to Rogers Sportsnet and he shares some excellent and typically twisted insight. Read it here.

- Another Kostitsyn having difficulty in Montreal? Really??? An interview on a Belarussian website (goals.by) indicates that all is not well between the 26 year old star and Montreal’s head coach Jacques Martin. I’m sure he’d be welcome here to join his brother :-)

- This could be fun… after last season’s Michigan/Michigan State outdoor game at the Big House, the announcement came yesterday that another nasty Big Ten rivalry is going to take it outside. On Sunday January 15th, the Ohio State Buckeyes take on hated rival Michigan at Cleveland’s Progressive Field. There will be a little more on the line as this is OSU’s home game and a CCHA Conference game as well.

- The Preds / Ducks WCQF Series continues with Game Five’s OT thriller tonight.

- 34 days till training camp opens.

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