Canucks Army Roundtable: Sleepless in Seattle

The NHL expanding or moving to Seattle has long been thought of as a possibility. There’s a fan base, a geographical rivalry in Vancouver and the growing population. The only thing missing is a new arena. As has been discussed for a long time. Gary Bettman was in town yesterday and was asked about this. In his political way, he basically said without a new arena the NHL isn’t even thinking about it. But are you? Our writers are, and I asked them!

Yes

HECK YEAH IT DOES except it probably won’t be for at least 4+ seasons. I have no doubt they’ll eventually get a team, it’s just a matter of when.

How could anyone say no? Of course it excites me. Vancouver has never had a legitimate geographical rival, which is something both they and the NHL deserve. Plus, Seattle is just a wonderful city with so much to do and a great culture, so it gives us all another excuse to go down there.

I think Disneyland should get a team, like they used to. The current Anaheim one doesn’t count, it’s just a shell of a greater former self. They aren’t even mighty. Sad!
I think the new Disneyland team name should be the Exhaustion and the logo should be a picture of me passed out after spending 30 hours in Disneyland over a 3 day period with 2 small children.
Also, I guess Seattle would be pretty cool.

How the NHL hasn’t already put a team there is beyond me. Vegas just doesn’t seem like a market that can survive and will at some point 10-15 years down the road, beg to move. Seattle gets hockey. All the surround leagues like the idea of a little brother NHL team hanging around SoDo. The idea of a road trip 3-4 times per year is exciting and it starts a rivalry that all of the northwest can get behind.
Hopefully, Carolina or another failing franchise gets a clue and forces the NHL to up and move them.
I love the idea of Seattle getting a team and eventually it will happen. The Pilots/Metropolitans deserve a successor.

Well, yes, of course it does! It would sure buck the trend of putting expansion teams in non-traditional hockey markets. Seattle has a significant hockey history and is a great sports town (see: Seahawks, Sounders). And of course, on a selfish level, it would be great to make a day trip by car to watch the Canucks play in another city. That would be such a great development for this franchise to have a true geographical rival.

I’m definitely excited for the day to come, but the luster has worn off a little bit with the continuous road blocks. That being said, the minute the NHL goes there, I’ll be all about it.