 By 1976 , both leagues were dealing with serious financial problems . Talks of a merger between the NHL and the WHA were growing . Bobby Hull declared that a merger was " inevitable " , though WHA president Bill MacFarland stated that his league had no interest in joining with the NHL . In 1976 , for the first time in four decades , the NHL approved franchise relocations ; the Scouts moved after just two years in Kansas City to Denver to become the Colorado Rockies , while the California Golden Seals became the Cleveland Barons . In its wake , the league quietly shelved provisional expansion franchises granted to Seattle and Denver to take place in the 1977 season . Two years later , after failed overtures towards merging the Barons with Washington and Vancouver , they merged with the Minnesota North Stars , reducing the NHL to 17 teams for 1978 – 79 . 
