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Ranking the 5 Cities Most Likely to Land an NHL Expansion Team

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5 Cities Most Likely to Land an NHL Expansion Team

5 Cities Most Likely to Land an NHL Expansion Team USA TODAY Sports-Bill Streicher
Barring something extremely unexpected, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will announce the league is opening a formal expansion process after today's board of governors meeting. Here are the five cities most likely to land an NHL team over the next few years.

Barring something extremely unexpected, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will announce the league is opening a formal expansion process after today's board of governors meeting. Here are the five cities most likely to land an NHL team over the next few years.

5. Portland, Oregon

5. Portland, Oregon Getty Images
The Portland Trail Blazers are the only professional team of the four major sports in the city, so there's plenty of room for another. Portland is an affluent city with a population of over two million that has proved they're passionate about sports.

The Portland Trail Blazers are the only professional team of the four major sports in the city, so there's plenty of room for another. Portland is an affluent city with a population of over two million that has proved they're passionate about sports.

4. Toronto

4. Toronto USA TODAY Sports-Tom Szczerbowski
Toronto is the biggest hockey city in the world and there's no doubt adding a team to the city would be a huge financial success. According to a study by FiveThirtyEight, even if a new Toronto franchise lures just 20 percent of the area's hockey fans away from the Maple Leafs, the expansion club would instantly have about as many devotees as the Blackhawks, Kings, or Flames.

Toronto is the biggest hockey city in the world and there's no doubt adding a team to the city would be a huge financial success. According to a study by FiveThirtyEight, even if a new Toronto franchise lures just 20 percent of the area's hockey fans away from the Maple Leafs, the expansion club would instantly have about as many devotees as the Blackhawks, Kings, or Flames.

3. Quebec City

3. Quebec City Getty Images
Quebec City has been home to two NHL teams, most recently the Quebec Nordiques before they moved to Colorado and became the Avalanche. There's a passionate fan base already there, but there's no doubt in my mind the city is a distant third behind the top two cities on this list.

Quebec City has been home to two NHL teams, most recently the Quebec Nordiques before they moved to Colorado and became the Avalanche. There's a passionate fan base already there, but there's no doubt in my mind the city is a distant third behind the top two cities on this list.

2. Seattle, Washington

2. Seattle, Washington Getty Images
A major hurdle was recently cleared when hedge fudge manager Chris Hansen said, "We remain 100 percent supportive of the NHL returning to Seattle and playing in the arena -- and are completely open to the prospect of that occurring prior to the NBA." The Western Conference has two fewer teams than the Eastern Conference, so it makes a lot of sense to choose two western cities for expansion.

A major hurdle was recently cleared when hedge fudge manager Chris Hansen said, "We remain 100 percent supportive of the NHL returning to Seattle and playing in the arena -- and are completely open to the prospect of that occurring prior to the NBA." The Western Conference has two fewer teams than the Eastern Conference, so it makes a lot of sense to choose two western cities for expansion.

1. Las Vegas, Nevada

1. Las Vegas, Nevada Getty Images
It's just a matter of when, not if, Las Vegas gets an NHL team. An arena is well on its way to completion just off the strip and prospective owner Bill Foley has already taken deposits for more than 11,500 season tickets. There is a ton of support from around the league to add a team to Las Vegas, now we just need to wait and see which other team will join them.

It's just a matter of when, not if, Las Vegas gets an NHL team. An arena is well on its way to completion just off the strip and prospective owner Bill Foley has already taken deposits for more than 11,500 season tickets. There is a ton of support from around the league to add a team to Las Vegas, now we just need to wait and see which other team will join them.

Seth Lassen is a writer for RantSports. Like him on Facebook.
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