I’m from Connecticut and was born just after the Whalers left for Carolina. I’ve heard stories of how much fun the Civic Center was, and I still saw the logo all the time around the state when I was growing up. I don’t currently have a favorite NHL team but would instantly be a Hartford fan if they came back.
TL:DR, I’m curious to hear how the rest of NHL fans feel about Hartford if the Coyotes were to relocate?
by ndellostritto
49 Comments
Sick jersey, cool logo, pretty far down the list of next expansion cities.
It’d be fun to have them back, but the league would probably want Quebec or Atlanta as relocation cities. I also think it’s highly unlikely Arizona relocates to the East, due to unbalanced conferences.
I would love it but I doubt the league would pass up potential cash cows like Houston and Kansas City.
Quebec
Less than zero chance of this happening. Same excuse that they use to exclude Canadian cities for expansion or relocation. Hartford wouldn’t create any new hockey fans. The market is too small and if they are predisposed to liking hockey in CT they’re already a Bruins or Rangers fan.
You’re all wrong, Saskatchewan or Mexico City is the right answers. Both better places than Quebec or Atlanta. Those are cool jerseys tho.
Won’t be the Whalers. Carolina still owns the rights and imagery.
The issue with relocating Arizona to Hartford is that you would have to remove a team from the Eastern Conference back into the Western Conference, and that would not be an easy process at all. As much fun as it would be, I think if/when Arizona is relocated, it’s going to be a place like Houston or Kansas City or Salt Lake City.
Bring back the whale!
The world needs the Whalers.
1. If they relocate to any city in the east it should be Quebec City
2. Only way this would work is by moving a east conference team over to the west so I doubt they would do that when there’s a couple of cities in the west that they can move to that would require zero rearranging of the conferences or divisions.
NHL isn’t really interested in relocating anyone, they want that sweet sweet expansion money.
I grew up not far from Hartford and went to a ton of games, yes it was always fun and often packed arena, esp when Gordie played, but also after he was gone. I think a team coming back would certainly thrive even more now.
Looks like Hartford better stick to making great jerseys instead of hoping for an NHL team anytime soon!
There are 32 teams with 16 in each conference. I wouldn’t mess with that formula. If they do move a team somewhere, they ought to keep that 16/16 balance.
It’s looking like SLC is going to get a team in the next few years. Whether that’s the Coyotes relocating or expansion is TBD. For some bizarre reason, the league seems to be looking hard at Atlanta again. I don’t see Hartford coming back.
I’m from Connecticut and would support the team, but many of us are already either devoted New York or Boston fans. Putting an NHL team in between two original 6s is just a fever dream.
Even as a Pens fan, I’ve always loved their logo…top notch. Bringing hockey back to Hartford would be great and not far from me. But they need to get the rights back from Carolina and the NHL for the Whalers’ name and logo. But the NHL will follow will the money is. I can’t see Hartford beating out big money markets.
I know a ton of people in CT who still wear their Whalers gear. They would be elated. Honestly, give Hartford back their team and let CT be more than just the no man’s land between NY and Boston.
As a life long Sabres fan I’m all for a new team in Hartford and Quebec City, fuck put an expansion team in Hamilton or a second team in Toronto for fucks sake
It absolutely should be. That’s just my take. This whole thing of expanding the sport to places that don’t have the infrastructure or the will to create infrastructure to create players isn’t really a good idea.
Inject it into my veins
Pretty disappointed that of all the arguments in favor of this move Brass Bonanza as a theme song wasn’t mentioned…….do better nhl fans
Sure. But Canada first
Better have original jersey. One of the best all time.
Please just focus on Quebec City, it has an NHL ready arena and a huge fan base that would bring in plenty of revenue and a Stanley cup in 6 years like Vegas just did
Do it! Give me an excuse to take a trip to Conn.
I’ve wanted to try New Haven pizza for a long time anyway
Don’t need it, love Hartford forever, one of the greatest brands ever, but caught in between the Boston, Rangers, and Islanders market is there really a point?
Breakfasts come and go. But Hartford? The Whale? They only beat Vancouver once… Twice in a lifetime.
36 teams, still only 16 make playoffs. Split north/south. Add Houston, SLC, Atlanta and have AHL teams in Hartford and QC fight for relegation.
The league is never expanding anywhere close to the Northeast again.
Cancel Arizona, bring back the Whaaaaalahs
They got fucked , and they deserve it, they lead the nation in college hockey attendance
Breakfasts come and go, Rene, but Hartford? The Whale? They only beat Vancouver once, maybe twice in a lifetime.
815 wins 945 loses = .463 winning percentage over 25 seasons as the Whalers so…
As long as the whalers come back.
Unless Hartford has a new arena, the chances are slim and none.
I’m okay with it vs a team remaining in Arizona. But Quebec City would be higher for me; that’s a pipe dream though with the Rat Fuck in charge.
Sure as long as we don’t get any more Canadian teams.
Amazing Bettman would rather re-try failed US hockey markets than give a willing new Canadian market a chance
As a CT native and Hartford Hockey fan…
I would love to see it, but it’s just a nostalgia thing.
The NHL market is too divided between the Bruins, the Rangers, and the Islanders. There isn’t. A market for another team, as much as I’d wish there was.
From CT and still living here. Between the Rangers/Bruins, there’s no room for actual fans to be rooting for Hartford. CT is a great Minor League sports state and it should stay that way. Plus, as a taxpayer, I don’t want to pay for a new stadium when they realize the XL Center(Civic Center) is a dump and they’ll need a new one.
Hartford or Quebec should be the only options
KC would make the most sense since it has a arena ready to go. Still the coyotes probably have to stay in the west
No. It’s not going to happen. Nor should it – Hartford is a total shithole.
If my own Quebec City wasn’t in need of a team, Hartford would be my first choice for favorite expansion location
I’m from CT and would love the Whalers back, I’m actually on video as a little kid for the “Save the Whale” campaign before they left. The only issue is the civic center or whatever it’s called now kind of sucks, it’s just a very old building. If they did it right then people would probably come out but need committed owners.
Just like when the Patriots used us for a better deal, I’m not sure the state can really hold a major league team. I live about 20 minutes from Hartford but it’s also a mess to get in or through the city. We could certainly use a good thing, not to get into too much detail about living here but we seem to be an afterthought between Boston and NY
Don’t give me hope!
I would be ok with it, but it’s not happening. Rangers and Bruins will never allow it.