Penguins going north??

That may sound like a headline from the South Pole. It may even be true, since when you are standing at the true South Pole, every step you take brings you north.

In this case, we are talking about the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL. Canadian businessman Jim Balsillie wanted to buy the team, but the NHL refused to allow him to move the team from Pittsburgh. Now the Penguins are looking to leave Pittsburgh on their own.

Winnipeg and Quebec City have lost NHL franchises. Many would argue that Hamilton could support a NHL franchise. But no Canadian city is likely to get the Penguins should they move.

Many Canadians feel NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has a bias against Canada, and it would be difficult to argue against them. From a marketing standpoint, they feel Bettman does not want Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh's young sensation, to be north of the border.

Some of the possible U.S. relocation destinations include Kansas City, Houston, and Portland, Oregon. But then again, Penguins might be better suited for the temperatures of Winnipeg than Houston.