How bringing more franchises into the NHL could mean more league-wide scoring

While more teams may raise concerns about talent dilution and the overall quality of play, history suggests that expansion has often led to a boost in scoring.

Each time the NHL has added teams - from Vegas in 2017 to Seattle in 2021 - the league has seen a notable rise in goals per game. This is partly due to weaker players entering the talent pool, creating more opportunities for the top stars to excel. Historically, each expansion has pushed up league scoring, typically by 0.12 to 0.4 goals per game, with the 2021-22 season showing a jump to 6.28 goals per game.

If the league expands to 34-36 teams, the analysis suggests we might see scoring rise to around 6.48-6.58 goals per game. This would bring the NHL closer to the high-scoring era of the early 90s, where offensive stars like Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid, and Auston Matthews could reach even more impressive totals. For example, McDavid's 153 points last year could rise to nearly 160 in a higher-scoring environment.

This scenario could increase excitement for the game, but expansion isn't without risks. Strategic shifts could counteract rising scoring, and adding too many replacement-level players could dilute overall talent. Still, for a league eager to grow its footprint and revenue, the scoring surge that comes with expansion may be seen as a positive side effect.

Ultimately, more teams could mean more goals, a bigger star spotlight, and a more thrilling product for fans.

Source: The Athletics
How NHL expansion to 36 teams could increase league-wide scoring