NHL expansion underway: These 3 cities are reportedly 'a given' to receive a hockey franchise
Photo credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Three cities were listed as being "a given" for getting an NHL expansion team, with the league being rumored to go to 36 teams soon.
The NHL expansion has been a hot topic of discussion in the past years. After watching the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken come into the league and the Arizona Coyotes relocate to Utah to become the Mammoth, there's a lot of hype surrounding what's coming to the NHL.
The NHL commissioner Gary Bettman talked about a potential expansion in a press conference last week, saying that the league isn't in the process of expanding right now, and repeated what it would take to get a new team in the league.
In his own words:
"We are not in an expansion process. As I've repeated before, if a group comes forward and checks the following boxes - a strong owner, a good market, a suitable arena, and proof that its arrival would make the league stronger - we'll take a look at it."
"No one has applied. No one has come forward to check those four boxes. If that had been the case, I would have presented that application to our executive committee, and we would have discussed it."
"Besides, people tend to forget that an expansion isn't really a cash grab, contrary to popular belief. Yes, at first, it brings in some money. But afterward, there's an additional share to divide the national revenues."
"The increase in the salary cap has always been directly related to the league's revenues. However, we still need to make up for the three-year freeze that occurred because of COVID. We're simply back to where we were supposed to be."
"No one has applied. No one has come forward to check those four boxes. If that had been the case, I would have presented that application to our executive committee, and we would have discussed it."
"Besides, people tend to forget that an expansion isn't really a cash grab, contrary to popular belief. Yes, at first, it brings in some money. But afterward, there's an additional share to divide the national revenues."
"The increase in the salary cap has always been directly related to the league's revenues. However, we still need to make up for the three-year freeze that occurred because of COVID. We're simply back to where we were supposed to be."
However, today, a massive statement from Andrew Zadarnowski leads people to believe there will be 36 NHL teams soon, with three cities already targeted.
NHL To Expand To 36 Teams, With Three Cities Emerging As Top Candidates
Although Bettman confirmed it isn't happening right now, according to Zadarnowski, Houston, Atlanta, and Phoenix will get an NHL franchise.
Here's what he posted on X:
It's surprising to see Atlanta and Phoenix listed among the potential destinations for the NHL, considering the league has been there in the past and it wasn't a success.
But before we get an official confirmation from the League, this will remain at the speculative stage.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
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