FanPost

Why the Canes shouldn't leave...

All off-season, the hot topic about the Hurricanes is the talk of the franchise moving to Canada. Majority of hockey spectators know that Canada is the home of hockey, and find that all the best players are from there. I have still yet to get an answer to one question: Why should the Canes move?

The first reason for why the Canes could move is the decline in game attendance. I can admit last year’s game attendance was pretty poor. Finishing dead last in game attendance at an average of 12,204 for the year is horrible standard, but that number is for only one year. If we look at one-year stats, below are the previous five bottom finishers (not including this past year);

Florida Panthers

Phoenix Coyotes

New York Islanders

Phoenix Coyotes

New York Islanders

Looking at the list of previous five bottom finishers, it seems like there are at least two other franchises that should be moved first. We all know the Islanders are not going anywhere because of their new arena. The Canes, during this 5-year period, finished as high as 18th and as low as 29th being 2 years ago. These numbers are not bad, noting that the Hurricanes have not made the playoffs since 2009. Additionally, when we look back a little farther to the period right after the strike of 2004-2005, the bottom teams were Pittsburgh, Chicago, and St. Louis.

Next, people talk about the Canes not making the playoffs. Caniacs know it has been seven years since we have seen the postseason. Luckily, we are not as long as our foe, The Oilers, from the Finals of 2006. The Oilers have not made the postseason since. Interestingly, we have missed the last seven years, but we have a history of going a long way. Luckily, we are not like Toronto who hasn’t won a series since 2004, or Columbus who has never won a series. Even worse, the Panthers last post-season series win was in 1996. We should remember that we have raised the Staley Cup in the last ten years, which is better than half of the league.

Finally, the main reason I think Quebec is pushing to get the Hurricanes is Quebec sees the future of the team and the future is bright. They notice a young defense that is going to be able to shut down the league and future scoring phenomes like Aho, Teravainen, and Gauthier. Quebec recognizes a goalie of the future in Nedeljkovic and a General Manager in Francis who will not sacrifice the short term for long-term gain. The Canes have a great contract with PNC arena and Karmonos would like to keep the team in Raleigh. Based on what Bettman says, "it’s not time for hockey to go back to Quebec."

Multiple facts add up to why Canes staying in Raleigh for many years to come and hopefully with hockey and playoff success Raleigh is where the Hurricanes will stay.