Expansion rumors could reignite dormant rivalries for the Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks have historically called the Western Conference home, and that didn’t change during the previous realignments that took place over the last decade. But with expansion rumors in full swing, there’s a good chance the Blackhawks could be the next in line to switch conferences. 

Fans may not like that, but considering the historical ties the Hawks have to the East, in my view, it’s not a bad idea. For one, they’d have the Blackhawks-Red Wings rivalry to look forward to once again, and it’s a tilt that could grow significant if the Wings keep improving and the Hawks figure things out. 

Plus, the move would reunite the Original Six in one conference, allowing the Hawks to play at least one more game per season against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, and New York Rangers, in addition to the Red Wings. 

Fans should welcome the Blackhawks moving to the East if the NHL expands

The question you might be asking now is, “Why would the Blackhawks move East if the NHL expands during the latter part of the decade?” Easy. At this point, it looks like New Orleans is on track to get an expansion team after the NHL met with an ownership group (see link in the above section). 

Should the NHL revert to an odd number of teams, the Hawks would stay put. But, Houston is another city on the radar, along with Atlanta and Quebec City. Now, the latter two cities would keep the Hawks in the West if they received teams during the next round of expansion, whether that took place during the second half of the 2020s or into the 2030s. 

But if Houston and New Orleans snagged a team, the Hawks might be the likeliest candidate because of its historic ties to the Red Wings and the Original Six. However, there’s one caveat: the Nashville Predators. 

Would the NHL stay geographically friendly or push the Hawks eastward?

I’ll be real and admit that I’m being somewhat hypocritical here, as I’m a stickler for sports leagues to remain geographically friendly. But in historical circumstances, I’ll budge, and lobby for the Hawks, instead of the Predators, to venture eastward. 

Nothing would be cooler than to see the Original Six teams playing at least three games a year against one another, and when playoff hockey began, those rivalries would be more than just re-ignited in some aspects. Yeah, this would mean cutting ties with the West, but in other historical ways, it would be worth it. 

Now, suppose the Quebec Nordiques and Atlanta Thrashers were resurrected instead of two new teams in New Orleans and Houston joining the NHL. At that point, you would likely see the Red Wings return to the West, reigniting the rivalry they had with the Blackhawks for decades. 

While this wouldn’t reunite the Original Six, I’ll go on record and say that neither fanbase would mind if it occurred. With the Wings historically calling the Western Conference home, going this route might just be the better option.