Name the new Expansion Franchises
So the cat is out of the bag, horses out of the barn and now once again the NLH has a pr crisis brewing as they try to manage the leaked news of potentially four (4) new franchises entering the league as soon as 2017.
Let's be clear, we don't know if that is four franchises added in one year or a staggered process. Needless to say that's over 100 nhl player jobs added so that's going to make some one happy. Regardless, the fun part for fans is where these teams are going to be and what their names will be.
With the rumor being Quebec City, Greater Toronto, Las Vegas, and Seattle it's time to consider what these teams will be named.
Quebec City is easy, why mess with history it should, and likely will be Les Nordiques
Toronto is a different story though. Will the team be in a suburb in it's own building, (get cracking Markham) or an existing one like Hamilton? It's a 'burb folks even if it has it's own CFL team.
Toronto Revenue (it will be a cash machine)
Hamilton Balsillies (in honor of good 'ol Jim)
Toronto Crackers (an ode to Rob Ford)
Toronto Argonauts (no one seems to care about that name right now)
GTA Beavers (includes basically everyone in and of Ontario)
Toronto Toros (alliteration, that is all)
Hamilton Hoovers (they'll likely suck)
Toronto Universe (because you can do the rest of Canada a favour finally own it!!!)
Las Vegas has no limit to names based on the 'sin city' reputation and gamut of vices available. It's a smorgasbord of possibilities.
Las Vegas Craps (a homage to the game and obvious initial quality of the team)
Las Vegas Bandits(a tip 'o the hat to the one armed bandit slot machines)
Las Vegas Odds (no team will be better suited to understand the draft lottery chances)
Las Vegas Handicappers (references the sports book industry)
Las Vegas Hangover (as that will be the real home ice advantage and imagine the movie tie-ins)
Las Vegas Vice (there's a vice for everyone there and more than a few players are likely to meet the LVPD vice squad too. Also pays respects to mafia history and squeezing down business for cash or with heads in a vice)
Seattle has long been a bridesmaid but never a bride for the NHL, until recently. With a nearby rival and only two major leagues in town it seems curious as to why it's been overlooked for so long. Oh right, because no one cares about hockey there,
Seattle Stones (an homage to the beaches and legalization of recreational marijuana)
Seattle Reign (see what I did their)
Seattle Surf (there's surf somewhere outside of Puget sound and it's likely the team will have to ride revenue sharing for some time too)
Seattle Pilots (can't be the Jets but there is a long standing aviation history there) Washington Whales (perhaps the Canucks can be talked into ditching that Orca finally but that may really offend people in Hartford)
Unfortunately there are more questions than answers surrounding the logic to add four expansion teams in the NhL. We're bound to hear many explanations and tales justifying the decision before anyone can get enough information to determine if it is smart. We can joke about the franchise names, unless of course you're in Quebec. They're far to sensitive :), just like Winnipeggers. It's the plight of being the once scorned.