The Columbus Blue Jackets And NHL Expansion

Jun 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman at a press conference before game one of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final between the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

At the end of June during the NHL’s Board of Governor’s meetings commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the NHL expansion process had begun.  This has been long rumored about and today is the first day that ownership groups can submit applications for the chance to give the thirty other owners a combined $500 million dollars for the privilege of spending a second fortune to actually begin day to day operations.

I have wondered for a long time how the different NHL expansion targets would affect the Columbus Blue Jackets.  With news today that a bid does not seem imminent from Kansas City (see here) I thought it would be a great time to offer some thoughts on how the remaining four contenders (Las Vegas, Seattle, Quebec City, and a second Toronto team) would affect the CBJ.