Will the New York Americans Ever Come Back?

[KingWantsCup]

I was just browsing through a pawn shop near my gym on the way out and funny enough came across a throw back New York Americans hat. The Americans were actually the first NHL team in New York, beating out the Rangers by one year.

The team played from 1925-1942 and shared MSG with the Rangers. Uncoincidentally the team became a victim to the war in '42, but also had a history of financial issues to that point. The team once affectionately knows as the "Amerks" has not been seen on ice for 75 years now.

But that doesn't mean they'll never come back. Do you believe there is any such condition that would make their resurrection possible? If so, where in New York would they play? And if not New York at all, then where?

All just for fun and food for thought-- all because I saw a silly hat.

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[karnige]

Love the name but na it won't happen. I can see some sort of tribute jersey though

 

[RempireStateBuilding]

When the Islanders fold, they'll be rebranded as the Amerks.

 

[KingWantsCup]

When the Islanders fold, they'll be rebranded as the Amerks.

Actually that's a fantastic point. If the Islanders ever moved they obviously couldn't really keep their name because it wouldn't make sense, but changing it to the Americans would be a way to still keep the spirit of the team connected to NYC. This is of course assuming any potential relocation would be in the US.

 

[KingWantsCup]

Love the name but na it won't happen. I can see some sort of tribute jersey though

I'm not sure, but I do know Habs vs Amerks would be crazy fun!

 

[Quarter]

It's probably not a coincidence that the Rochester Americans are called what they're called.

 

[Jumptheshark]

It's probably not a coincidence that the Rochester Americans are called what they're called.

Yep. And my guess is if another hockey club tried to use that name..they would get mad

 

[Its a Trap]

Three teams in the metro area already. You'd have to think if one of them moved nobody would be in a hurry to add the third team back.

 

[DustyMartellaughs]

The Americans uniforms were gorgeous, whether in New York or Rochester. As a Canadian, it's my favourite jersey that I can't wear.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I'm pretty sure it's impossible for the Amerks to be resurrected because the franchise was "retired" rather than suspended.

That being said, the league could always pull a Sens or Hornets and merge a current team with the history of the old franchise. But it would probably take something like the Islanders moving away and then being replaced by an expansion team, which falls into the "wildly speculative" category.

 

[MikeyMike01]

Three teams in the metro area already. You'd have to think if one of them moved nobody would be in a hurry to add the third team back.

The Devils compete with the Rangers, and the Rangers compete with the Islanders, but the Devils and Islanders don't really compete.

There's a market for all three, if they're run correctly.

 

[tp71]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the league had promised the Americans and Maroons that they would be resurrected in the future after they folded which never came to pass.

I would have loved to see what the rivalry of the anglophone Maroons and the francophone Canadiens would have been like in the present.