New NHL Rumor Reveals Top 2 Expansion Destinations
· Yahoo Sports
The NHL used to have 30 teams before moving to 32 over the last decade. In 2017, the Vegas Golden Knights debuted and won their first Stanley Cup in 2023. Meanwhile, the Seattle Kraken debuted in 2021 and continue to work toward their second playoff berth. However, the NHL is looking to expand even further, and two destinations have emerged.
Atlanta and Houston are believed to be the NHL’s top-2 expansion destinations, as reported by Jeff Marek on The Sheet. Atlanta has landed two NHL teams, but they never lasted. The Flames were in Atlanta from 1972 to 1980 before moving to Calgary. Then, the Thrashers came to town from 1999 to 2011 before becoming the Winnipeg Jets.
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The city lost NHL teams twice due to poor on-ice performance, weak attendance, and ownership instability. They also experienced financial losses, the inability to build a dedicated fanbase, and management issues. However, could a third time be the charm?
Meanwhile, Houston has never had an NHL team, but it has hosted minor league and World Hockey Association teams. Most notably, hockey legend Gordie Howe was a member of the Houston Aeros during the 1970s. Despite never having an NHL team, Houston has always been mentioned as a potential expansion city.
The NHL won’t force an expansion to 34 teams, but it is clearly something that could occur over the next few seasons. Thirty two teams has been great for the sport, and hockey is on the rise even more in North America. If the league were to expand, it would make sense to bring into two new cities at the same time.
Houston and Atlanta have different hockey histories; however, both could land an NHL team in the next couple of years.
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