Writing On The Wall For Pens?

The new brand of NHL hockey moves fast, and it might not be too long before some of its teams are on the move as well.

According to an article on ESPN.com, officials representing a brand spankin' new arena in Kansas City have expressed a desire to have a second NHL team representing the Show-Me State as their tenant. In addition to K.C., Houston and Winnipeg are also considered serious contenders.

Winnipeg has been without NHL hockey since 1996, when the Jets packed up and moved to Phoenix because of the economics of the league and the lack of a new arena. Well, Winnipeg recently built a new arena -- home of the Manitoba Moose -- and the dawn of the new NHL has created an environment more hospitable to small-market teams.

Efforts to regain an NHL team in Winnipeg have been intense. Lauren Robb has even created JetsOwner.com devoted to rallying support for the return of major-league hockey. (You can even purchase a "Return of the Jets Campaign" T-shirt!)

So which team is most likely to move? According to ESPN, the Pittsburgh Penguins look like the frontrunner. The Pens have said they need a new arena deal with the city complete by the end of the 2006-2007 season or the team will relocate.

While it would be a shame for Pittsburgh fans to lose their storied franchise, one can't deny the importance of hockey to Canadians. Couldn't the NHL just send the Coyotes back north of the border?