if the NYR Rangers did the trade with the Nordiques, the Nords could had won the cup in 1994
and lots of chances then the Flyers might won the cup if Kerr was 100% healthy
I add my pinch of salt as well
*If the WHA (World Hockey Association) had been created earlier like 1967 or 1970?
*If the NFL-AFL merger resulted into a "MLF" (Major League Football) instead of being NFL with the SuperBowl being the football counterpart of the World Series?
*The NHL "Original Six" era continued to the early 1970s or ended more early like the late 1950s?
For the Lindros trade-Philadelphia would probably become a much more dangerous team with a younger, less-injured Peter Forsberg while the other players such as Mike Ricci, Chris Simon etc. who played a key role in Colorado's win in 96 do the same for Philly. Quebec and Philadelphia could become a heated rivalry. Philadelphia beats Detroit for the Cup in 97.
Quebec may win the Cup in 95 and/or 96, which staves off relocation for a few years, perhaps entirely. The government of Quebec could be more willing to help out a Cup-winning team in their province, especially since it would bring in money.
The Rangers end up like the Flyers here, a strong team for a while that's always "right there".
-This would also affect the Patrick Roy trade, as I highly doubt the Habs would trade him to a divisional rival. Perhaps they take Chicago's offer for Ed Belfour and Eric Daze?
-Detroit would be the strongest team by far in the west, but won't be able to beat the strong teams in the east, at least for a while.
-Winnipeg still relocates to Phoenix.
-Colorado enters the NHL as an expansion team in 1996, and become an in-joke for hockey fans due in part to them being the worst team in the league. Their record is somewhere in between Ottawa's first year and San Jose's first. They draft players such as Joe Thornton, Vincent Lecavalier first overall, turning them into a potential future powerhouse.
Now, for the others.
-The Original Six could have ended as early as the 1950's. The Cleveland Barons and a possible team from Buffalo wanted to get in (and the Barons almost did, if I recall correctly, as they were dominant in the AHL), but Clarence Campbell was opposed to any kind of expansion at the time. With Cleveland and Buffalo in as early as the 50's, this opens the door for expansion in the west by the 60's (and with a team already in Cleveland, perhaps the NHL tries much harder to save the Oakland Seals and keep them there?).
An opportunity is seen in the west, and the WHA starts up in 1967, until they eventually merge with the NHL in the mid 70's. The NHL does it's damnest to keep their draft picks secret for as long as possible, and possibly offer contracts to underagers (illeagally), especially with highly coveted players like Guy Lafleur, Mike Bossy, Gilbert Perreault, and Larry Robinson. The WHA raids NHL rosters like they did here, and manage to get stars like Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull. Perhaps other players who were afterthoughts on their NHL team at the time, guys like Ken Dryden before he was traded to Montreal and Billy Smith, get signed by the WHA as well. The WHA still introduces European players to pro hockey.
With the WHA gone by the late 70's, Wayne Gretzky gets drafted in 1979 by the dead last Minnesota North Stars, and the Edmonton Oilers dynasty could very well never occur. It could, however, turn Minnesota into a powerhouse, as they pick up all kinds of stars in the draft in the late 70's and early 80's.
-I always kind of thought that the NFL was already like that. Maybe less inter-division play?
I've got a few,
-How could the lockouts in 94-95 and 04-05 been avoided, or more likely, shortened so there could have been more hockey?
-What if Marty McSorley is never caught with an illeagal curve in the 93 finals? Does Los Angeles win it? Or does Montreal still manage to come back?
-What if Alexandre Daigle lived up to expectations of being a first overall choice, instead of ending up like he did here?