The offer the Pittsburgh Penguins received Thursday from the city of Kansas City, Mo.–rent-free use of a new building plus the opportunity to become part-owner of it–could bring to fruition the Blackhawks’ biggest fear.
The Penguins have said they will make a decision in a month regarding their future. They certainly will take Kansas City’s offer into the negotiating room when they meet with Pennsylvania officials regarding a new building in Pittsburgh. If the city and state can’t match Kansas City’s offer, the Penguins almost certainly will move west.
How does that affect the Hawks?
If the Penguins move to Kansas City, they also will move into the Western Conference. Unless the NHL wants to have one conference with 16 teams and another with 14, one team will have to move back to the East.
Currently, two teams in the West are situated in the Eastern time zone: the Detroit Red Wings and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Considering how little travel is involved playing in the East, plus a more favorable starting time for home fans when their team is on the road, both franchises probably would like to move to the East.
Which one would go? Considering the Red Wings have been around longer, they likely would get first choice if they wanted to jump.
That would mean instead of the Wings coming to Chicago four times a year and bringing with them near-sellout crowds at the United Center, they would come, at the most, once a year.
The Hawks long have feared losing their biggest rival to the East, and for good reason. The Hawks’ biggest crowds have been against the Wings, Maple Leafs and Bruins, three teams with which longtime hockey fans in Chicago can identify.
Of course, if the Penguins do move to Kansas City and join the Hawks’ division, they will bring with them Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin three or four times a season.
Would that offset losing the Red Wings rivalry? The Hawks might soon have to confront their worst fear and find out.
