Are The Winterhawks NHL Bound?

The Portland Winterhawks have been one of the top junior hockey teams in North America for years now. Many have wondered if they could eventually make the jump to the NHL. Are the Winterhawks NHL bound?

Introduction

In juniors, the Winterhawks have been one of the most successful teams over the past few years. With their strong play, many are wondering if they will make the jump to the NHL.

The Winterhawks are a junior hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League (WHL). The team is based in Portland, Oregon, and has been in existence since 1976. The Winterhawks have won three WHL Championships (1982, 1998, 2013) and two Memorial Cups (1982, 1998).

The Winterhawks

The Winterhawks are a team on the rise. They have one of the best young cores in the NHL, and their farm system is loaded with talent. They have a good mix of veterans and young players, and they are coached well. They have a chance to be a very good team in the NHL.

History

The Winterhawks began play in 1976 as an expansion team in the WHL. They were originally based in New Westminster, British Columbia, and were known as the New Westminster Bruins. In 1978, they relocated to Portland, Oregon, and became the Portland Winter Hawks. The team has won three WHL Championships (1982–83, 1997–98, and 2012–13) and two Memorial Cups (1982–83 and 1997–98).

successes

In the mid-1970s, the Winterhawks were one of the hardest working and most successful junior teams in North America. They were both a farm team for the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, and a dominant force in their own right, winning the Western Hockey League championship three years in a row from 1974 to 1976. In 1976, they became the first American-based team to win the Memorial Cup, hockey’s equivalent of the Stanley Cup.

NHL expansion

The NHL is currently made up of 31 teams, with the most recent addition being the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017. There has been talk of further expansion, with a 32nd team expected to be announced in the near future. The frontrunners for this expansion team seem to be the Seattle Kraken and the Quebec Nordiques. However, there is another team that has been gaining a lot of attention lately, and that is the Portland Winterhawks.

history

The NHL first expanded in 1967, when six new teams were added to the league. These were the California Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues. The league then expanded again in 1970, when the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks joined.

After a 14-year break, the NHL expanded again in 1984, when the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, New Jersey Devils and Quebec Nordiques joined the league. In 1991, the San Jose Sharks were added as an expansion team. The most recent expansion team is the Nashville Predators, who joined the league in 1998.

current situation

As the NHL looks to expand its footprint, there has been talk of adding a team in Seattle. The front runners for that position are the Winterhawks, who currently play in the Western Hockey League.

The Winterhawks have a strong history, dating back to their inception in 1976. They have won three WHL championships and six Memorial Cups. They have also produced a number of NHL players, including New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh and Winnipeg Jets star Dustin Byfuglien.

With their strong history and impressive pedigree, the Winterhawks would be a strong contender for an expansion NHL team. However, they face stiff competition from other potential teams, such as the Quebec Nordiques and the Kansas City Scouts.

The Winterhawks and NHL expansion

With the NHL expansion draft coming up, there is a lot of speculation on which team will be selected. One of the front runners is the Portland Winterhawks. The Winterhawks have been one of the most successful teams in the Western Hockey League, winning the league championship three times in the last five years.

Pros

NHL expansion is a topic that has come up many times in recent years, with the most recent waves of rumors coming out of Seattle and Quebec City. While there are many pros and cons to NHL expansion, we’ll take a look at some of the benefits that could come with adding additional teams to the league.

One of the biggest pros of NHL expansion is the increase in revenue that would come with it. With new teams comes new markets and new fans, which means more people buying tickets and team merchandise. In addition, TV rights deals would likely go up with the addition of new markets, as well as sponsorship deals. The increased revenue would not only be a big boost for the NHL but could also lead to increased player salaries down the road.

Another pro of expansion is that it would lead to a more balanced schedule. With 30 teams currently in the NHL, each team only plays every other team 2-3 times per season. This can lead to some rivalries fizzling out over time as fans don’t get to see their favorite team’s biggest rivals as often as they’d like. However, with 32 or 34 teams in the league, each team would play every other team 3-4 times per season, leading to more intense rivalries and a more exciting overall product.

Cons

-NHL teams are only located in major cities
-NHL expansion draft would decimate the Winterhawks roster
-Player salaries would rise, making it difficult for the team to compete

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Winterhawks are a very good team and have a lot of potential to be an NHL team in the future. They have a lot of young talent on the team and they are continuing to improve each year. The NHL is definitely taking notice of them and it would not be surprising to see them become an NHL team in the near future.