Chances for second Toronto-area NHL team could be dead by September

[Wickabee]

Yeah, Seattle / Portland - I think one would work as well as the other (though Seattle is probably the bigger 'name' city).

Kind of a chicken and egg thing then? They want teams before they'll build an arena, but the leagues want an arena before they'll grant teams?

From what I gather, that's been Seattle's problem here all along. Everything is there, including the want, but no one will blink first. With Portland already having the Moda Center (Rose Gardens), one has to wonder if that city will jump in the mix. An NHL franchise would likely do better business than the WHL Winterhawks (though I can't see it supporting both) and another sport/team in there with the Trailblazers could be nice revenue for the arena. Portland likes hockey, or really seems to, it's an interesting thought.

I think it's just a matter of time for Seattle. They really want the NBA back and, I would assume, would love to be a 4-sport city. They are close enough to Vancouver to develop major rivalry off the bat, yet far away that it wouldn't affect Canucks ticket sales (probably indirectly help, really).

I really want to see a team in Seattle. Always have really. A Canucks rival that's less than a 14 hour drive away from Vancouver would be awesome.

[Estovia]

Personally I think the chances for a second Toronto area team were dead the moment the NHL went forward with the current realignment.

While Quebec City will certainly remain vocal about it's desire for a team, the most likely destinations are Seattle (or Portland) and Kansas City, as those two cities fit two major criteria - they have an arena, and they fit the current alignment plans. I can't see the NHL expanding into the east and having to re-align someone back to the central/west again so soon after moving them to the east.

Presumably, that's the same thinking they're thinking in Markham - why commit so much money to something that is unlikely to see any major use for a pretty substantial amount of time.

[centrehice]

Portland is quite concerned about losing the Winterhawks, a very successful Junior Franchise. This is one of the major reasons that they aren't doing back-flips over the NHL. The other concern, a BIG WALLET. There just is not anyone high profile enough to write this initial expense off, seeing as Phil Knight (Nike) and the woman that owns Columbia Sportswear (Gert what's her name) seemingly aren't interested.

Maybe somebody could convince that retiring ball-headed lunatic Ballmer to pony up, but he owns other Sports teams and I heard he does not care much about Hockey, and he'd want Seattle as a 1st shot first anyway.