The National Hockey League (NHL) is the preeminent professional ice hockey league in North America. It is one of the oldest professional sports leagues in the world, and it was founded in 1917. The NHL consists of 31 teams, which are divided into two conferences and four divisions. Each team plays an 82-game regular season schedule, with the top teams advancing to the playoffs and ultimately the Stanley Cup Final.
Currently, there are no NHL teams in eight states: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Each of these states has a small population and a lack of suitable venues to host an NHL team. There have been some attempts to bring an NHL team to some of these states. For example, in 2018, the Arizona Coyotes considered moving to a new arena in Las Vegas, which is located in Nevada, but eventually decided to remain in Arizona.
These states are also home to other professional sports teams. For example, Alaska is home to the Anchorage Bucs, an independent baseball team in the Alaska Baseball League, and Hawaii has the Hawaii Warriors, a Division I college football team. In addition, most of these states are home to teams in minor leagues, such as the Central Hockey League, the Federal Hockey League, and the Southeast Hockey League.
For those who are looking for an NHL experience, there are other options. Many NHL teams have minor league affiliates, and those teams often host NHL preseason and regular-season games. Additionally, many cities in the United States and Canada host NHL preseason games, offering fans a chance to see the NHL teams in action.
While there may not be an NHL team in these states, hockey remains a popular sport in these areas. There are plenty of options for fans of the sport, from local minor league teams to NHL preseason games. While there may never be an NHL team in these states, hockey fans will always have plenty of options to enjoy.
Exploring The Reasons Why Certain States Don’t Have A NHL Team
The National Hockey League (NHL) is one of the most popular sports in North America, but not every state gets to have their own team. Currently, the league is comprised of 31 teams from the United States and Canada. States like Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee don’t have a NHL team. Here, we’ll explore some of the reasons why.
One of the primary reasons why certain states don’t have a NHL team is financial. It’s a costly endeavor to start a team and maintain it. The NHL requires a minimum investment of $500 million to start a team, and that’s just the start of the costs. Teams must also pay for staff, players, equipment, and other expenses associated with running a successful team. Additionally, some of the states that don’t have NHL teams don’t have a strong enough fan base to support a team, making it difficult for potential owners to make a large enough profit to justify their investment.
Another reason certain states don’t have a NHL team is the lack of an appropriate arena. Most NHL teams require an arena with a capacity of at least 16,000 people, and many of the states that don’t have a team don’t have any arenas that meet that requirement. Additionally, many of the arena’s located in those states are too small, too outdated, or too far away from the team’s fan base to be used as a suitable home for a NHL team.
Finally, certain states don’t have a NHL team because they don’t have a strong enough hockey culture. Hockey requires a strong support system and knowledge of the game in order for it to succeed. Many of the states without NHL teams don’t have enough of either, making it difficult for potential owners to invest in a team. Additionally, many of these states don’t have a strong enough local economy to support a team.
These are just some of the reasons why certain states don’t have a NHL team. While it is possible for a team to move to a different state, it’s a difficult and costly process, and one that many potential owners are unwilling to take on. As a result, states like Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee may be without a NHL team for the foreseeable future.
Which States Are Missing Out On NHL Teams?
The National Hockey League (NHL) is one of the top professional sports leagues in the United States. With 31 teams in the league, it is the biggest professional hockey league in the world. While most states have an NHL team, a few are still missing out. Here’s a look at which states don’t have an NHL team.
The following states are without an NHL team: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
The majority of the states without a team are in the south and midwest regions of the US. While these teams may not be as popular as teams from major cities like New York or Chicago, there is still a market for hockey in these areas. Unfortunately, due to the cost of running an NHL team, most of these markets are not big enough to support one.
The good news is that some of the states without a team are considering expansion. For example, Oklahoma City is home to an AHL team and is looking into bringing an NHL team to town. In addition, there have been rumors that Seattle is looking to join the league in the near future. In the meantime, fans in states without an NHL team can still support their favorite team by attending games in nearby states or watching the games on TV.
State | NHL Team |
---|---|
California | Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Vegas Golden Knights |
Florida | Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers |
New York | New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres |
Illinois | Chicago Blackhawks |
Michigan | Detroit Red Wings |
While there are currently no NHL teams in the states listed above, there is still a lot of hockey to be enjoyed throughout the US. Whether you’re watching the games on TV or attending a game in a nearby state, there are plenty of ways to support your favorite team.
Currently, there are no NHL teams located in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, or Wyoming.
Currently, there are 18 states that do not have a NHL team.
Yes, there are NHL teams located in Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Arizona, Louisiana, and Texas currently have teams in the American Hockey League (AHL) that are affiliated to NHL teams.
There are 31 NHL teams in the US, spanning across 25 states.
The states with the most NHL teams are California (3 teams) and New York (3 teams).
The states with the fewest NHL teams are Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Rhode Island (all with 1 team).
The oldest NHL teams are the Montreal Canadiens (founded in 1909) and Toronto Maple Leafs (founded in 1917). Both teams are located in Canada.
The newest NHL teams are the Vegas Golden Knights (founded in 2017), Seattle Kraken (founded in 2021), and the Arizona Coyotes (founded in 2021).
Yes, there are 7 NHL teams located in Canada.