NHL commissioner Gary Bettman hit reporters with a big dose of reality on Tuesday, dropping the news that the league’s board of governors is taking a serious “wait-and-see attitude” when it comes to adding two more expansion franchises. If you were hoping for some fast-track action for new teams to join the NHL, Bettman just put the brakes on that idea, telling everyone not to expect overnight decisions for the next wave of NHL cities. This isn’t just some casual chat, either; this is about the future map of the league, folks.
A Multibillion-Dollar Marathon, Not a Sprint
Bettman didn’t mince words, saying, “We continue to evaluate and receive expressions of interest, which I guess is a really good thing.” He’s right, interest is always good. We’re talking about serious players here, too. The Friedkin family has reportedly thrown their hat in the ring for potential expansion teams in *both* Houston and Austin. That’s a massive power play right there. And it’s not just Texas making moves; other groups have also stepped up, expressing interest in bringing teams to Atlanta and Phoenix, both places that have hosted NHL organizations before.
But don’t go clearing your schedules for expansion drafts next year. Bettman was pretty clear on the timeline. When asked about the Friedkin family’s process for Houston or Austin, he said, “I don’t think we’re putting time limits on things. We’re working through the process. They’re working through the process.” He did mention that “originally, we contemplated at least knowing where we are in December,” and he expects they will “certainly know a lot more than we do now, come December.” But then he immediately walked it back, adding, “I don’t think there’s any magic date by which something has to get done or not get done.” So, December might give us more info, but it won’t be a decision day for sure.
The Kraken Know What’s at Stake, and It’s Big Money
This isn’t some minor league deal. Bettman laid it out plain and simple: “Expansion is a multibillion-dollar transaction, which has an impact on all the other clubs in the league.” Think about that for a second. Every single franchise in the NHL feels the ripple effect of a move like this. And because of that, it’s not a simple majority vote. Three-quarters of the governors need to be “comfortable that this makes sense to them.” That’s a huge hurdle to clear, and it absolutely means “that’s not something you do overnight.”
We here in the Emerald City know a thing or two about expansion. The NHL last brought in a new team in 2021, and that was our very own Seattle Kraken, bringing the league to 32 franchises. Before us, the Vegas Golden Knights joined up in 2016. Each of those moves was a big deal, shaking up the league. Now, with Houston, Austin, Atlanta, and Phoenix all on the radar, the next expansion is going to be just as impactful. It’s a waiting game until at least December, when we might get a clearer picture of which cities are getting closer to NHL action.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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