Here's a fun, more radical, and perhaps less plausible vision of the near future. As before, the NHL expands to 32 and the AHL follows suit. Here though, several additional existing NHL teams relocate to greener pastures. Most of the old teams resurface in the AHL. Meanwhile, the trend of western NHL teams relocating their eastern AHL affiliates west continues, leading to the demotion of some AHL sites to the next tier down. A flurry of minor league franchise purchasing, relocation, and affiliation changes takes place over the next decade. Eventually a one-to-one correspondence is established between NHL parent teams and their minor league affiliates on both pro tiers. The ECHL absorbs the strongest SPHL franchises to reach 32 teams itself (and finally changes its name).
So here's how things shake out in this radical scenario by 2025.
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Key:
() = NHL affiliate in parentheses
* = NHL parent team owns minor league franchise
All relocation notes [in brackets] are relative to the expected 2015-16 league composition.
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Northeast Division
Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
Detroit Red Wings
Hamilton Bulldogs [was Florida]
Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Quebec Nordiques [expansion]
Toronto Maple Leafs
Atlantic Division
Cleveland Barons [was Columbus]
New Jersey Devils
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Tampa Bay Lightning
Washington Capitals
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
Dallas Stars
Kansas City Scouts [was Nashville]
Milwaukee Admirals [was Carolina]
Minnesota Wild
St. Louis Blues
Winnipeg Jets
Pacific Division
Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
Los Angeles Kings
Portland Cascades [was Arizona]
San Jose Sharks
Seattle Thunderbirds [expansion]
Utah Grizzlies [was Anaheim]
Vancouver Canucks
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AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Northeast Division
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI*)
Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR*)
Laval Canadiens (MTL*) [was St. John's]
Providence Bruins (BOS)
Rochester Americans (BUF*)
Syracuse Crunch (HAM)
Toronto Marlies (TOR*)
Trois-Rivieres Draveurs (QUE) [expansion]
Atlantic Division
Atlanta Gladiators (NJD*) [was Albany]
Carolina Hurricanes (MIL*) [was Milwaukee]
Charlotte Checkers (WSH)
Columbus Blue Jackets (CLE*) [was Lake Erie]
Hershey Bears (OTT)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI)
Orlando Solar Bears (TBL*) [was Portland]
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT*)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
Chicago Wolves (CHI*)
Colorado Eagles (COL*) [was Springfield]
Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)
Iowa Wild (MIN*)
Nashville Predators (STL*) [was Rockford]
San Antonio Rampage (KCS)
Texas Stars (DAL*)
Thunder Bay Bombers (WPG*) [was Manitoba]
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks (UTA*) [was San Diego]
Bakersfield Condors (EDM*)
Fresno Firebirds (SJS*) [was San Jose]
Las Vegas Wranglers (SEA) [expansion]
Ontario Reign (LAK*)
Reno Renegades (VAN*) [was Utica]
San Diego Gulls (POR*) [was Binghamton]
Stockton Heat (CGY*)
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UNITED HOCKEY LEAGUE
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Northeast Division
Manchester Monarchs (NYI*) [was Utah]
Reading Royals (PHI)
Springfield Falcons (QUE*) [was Kalamazoo]
Worcester Bruins (BOS*) [was Brampton]
Empire Division
Adirondack Wildcats (MTL*) [was Rapid City]
Albany Senators (OTT*) [was Gwinnett]
Binghamton Sabres (BUF*) [was Elmira]
Utica Blizzards (TOR*) [was Orlando]
Atlantic Division
Cincinnati Cyclones (CLE)
Norfolk Admirals (MIL*) [was Tulsa]
Toledo Walleye (DET)
Wheeling Nailers (PIT)
Southeast Division
Florida Everblades (TBL)
Greenville Road Warriors (NYR)
Pensacola Ice Flyers (POR) [expansion]
South Carolina Stingrays (NJD)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Midwest Division
Fort Wayne Komets (VAN)
Peoria Rivermen (STL) [expansion]
Quad City Mallards (MIN)
Rockford IceHogs (CHI*) [was Alaska]
Central Division
Evansville IceMen (WPG)
Huntsville Havoc (HAM) [expansion]
Indy Fuel (SJS)
Knoxville IceBears (WSH) [expansion]
Southwest Division
Allen Americans (DAL)
Houston Aeros (LAK*) [was Manchester]
Oklahoma City Barons (COL*) [was Colorado]
Tulsa Oilers (EDM*) [was Norfolk]
Frontier Division
Idaho Steelheads (UTA)
Missouri Mavericks (KCS)
Rapid City Rush (CGY*) [was Adirondack]
Wichita Thunder (SEA)
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Questions, comments, and constructive criticism are welcome!