5 cities the NHL must consider relocating the Arizona Coyotes to in the near future

It looks like the NHL is looking to relocate the Arizona Coyotes, and Salt Lake City is the clear-cut frontrunner, but we’re still in the ‘wait and see’ phase.

Arizona Coyotes v Vancouver Canucks
Arizona Coyotes v Vancouver Canucks | Derek Cain/GettyImages
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Quebec City

One of the best uniforms and color schemes in NHL history, bringing back the Quebec Nordiques in the 2020s via relocation would work. There were plenty of reasons the NHL could no longer sustain a team in Quebec City in the 1990s, one of which was market size. For the times, an ultra-small market made for limited visibility. But in this era, that wouldn’t be anywhere near as much of an issue. 

Plus, it would create a second team in Quebec, and renewing a memorable rivalry with the nearby Canadiens would just add to the fervor. When you look at where the Coyotes and Canadiens are from an organizational standpoint, these two teams are growing together, which means memorable matchups. 

But the downside is obvious: Not only do small markets still get lesser coverage, albeit to a lesser extent, but moving the Coyotes to Quebec City would require realignment. The Nordiques (assuming that would be the nickname) must play in the Atlantic Division, meaning the Detroit Red Wings would likely need to move back to the Western Conference.