Eliminate 6 Franchises - NHL Version

[IrishCanadian25]

If the NHL came to you today and assigned you the job of eliminating 6 of it's 32 franchises (just less than 20% of the league), which 5 would you eliminate and why?

The 32 NHL Franchises are:

Anaheim Ducks
Atlanta Thrashers
Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
Calgary Flames
Carolina Hurricanes
Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
Edmonton Oilers
Florida Panthers
Los Angeles Kings
Minnesota Wild
Montreal Canadiens
Nashville Predators
New Jersey Devils
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Ottawa Senators
Philadelphia Flyers
Phoenix Coyotes
Pittsburgh Penguins
San Jose Sharks
St. Louis Blues
Tampa Bay Lighting
Toronto Maple Leafs
Vancouver Canucks
Washington Capitals

Please be sure to provide at least one reason for EACH of your eliminations. Also, you aren't doing this as a fan of a team - you're doing this as an NHL executive. As a Devils fan, I'd LOVE to axe the Rangers but cannot.

 

[Big Sexy]

1. Columbus Blue Jackets- Along with the Wild they are one of the newest franchises as they were formed in 2000. The team has never won shit and wouldn't be missed.

2. Atlanta Thrashers- Joined in 1999. Like Columbus they aren't very good and haven't done anything of note.

3. Nashville Predators- Joined in 1998. Basically see above for the other reasons. Not much success and a very new team that not many people will miss.

4. Tampa Bay Lightning- Joined in 1992 and no one cares about them. Even when they won the cup not many people cared. The franchise is known for losing and their fans don't give a shit.

5. Florida Panthers- The state of Florida just doesn't need a hockey team. The fans don't really care much and the Panthers haven't really done anything save for one Cup Finals appearance.

6. Phoenix Coyotes- Even before moving to Phoenix they didn't have much success as the Winnipeg Jets so it's not like they have some great history. The franchise is currently in turmoil and they don't have an owner so this is an easy choice.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

Tampa Bay Lightning
Florida Panthers
Carolina Hurricanes
Atlanta Thrashers
Nashville Predators
Dallas Stars

I have one reason why all these teams should be eliminated and that is that hockey has no place in the South. In the South, it's college football 1st, NASCAR 2nd and everything else. Living in the South, I can tell you that the only pro sports teams we care about are the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, and the New Orleans Saints. Hockey just never caught on around here and never will even though Tampa Bay won a Stanley Cup.