The Great North Exodus
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The Great North Exodus
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About this listen
Join Callan McClurg for Episode 8 of Empty the Bench: Small Market Edition as he delves into the heartbreaking and chaotic relocations that defined a dark period in NHL history. This week, we explore the dual tragedies of the Hartford Whalers becoming the Carolina Hurricanes and the Quebec Nordiques transforming into the Colorado Avalanche.
What forces truly drove these beloved franchises out of their passionate small markets? Was it simple economics, lack of support, or something more calculated? Callan strips away the myths to examine the financial pressures, arena demands, and the broader shift in the NHL landscape that saw the "Great North Exodus" move these teams south.
We take a deep dive into the financial drama surrounding the Nordiques' move and the post-relocation crisis when the New York Rangers tried to snatch franchise player Joe Sakic with a massive offer sheet. The incredible "poison pill" contract Sakic signed forced the Avalanche's cash-strapped ownership to match, a desperate move that nearly bankrupted the franchise right after they left Quebec. It's a tale of nostalgia, corporate maneuvering, and the small markets that got left behind.
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