The NHL is never transparent about its plans for expansion, which makes comments issued by Commissioner Gary Bettman at the league’s annual meeting of general managers especially spicy.
“We’re not in expansion mode right now,” said Bettman on Wednesday [15 March], after he wrapped the general manager summit in sunny Florida. “There continues to be a number of people, entities, and cities expressing interest in having an NHL franchise – places like Atlanta, Houston, and Quebec City – but it’s not really something that’s a front burner issue for us right now.”
That said, there are plenty of reasons why hockey fans probably shouldn’t take the commissioner at his word.
History is the primary justification for a dose of scepticism.
The NHL is always opaque when it comes to the topic of expansion – with the arrival of the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights prominent examples.
Rumours swirled about the possible launch of new teams in Nevada and Washington, but the NHL went radio silent on the subject until expansion actually arrived.
So, what should we make of recent comments on expansion to Atlanta, Houston, and Quebec City?
NHL Expansion: Are the Atlanta Thrashers set for a remarkable return?
The NHL has tried and failed to establish a foothold in Georgia, the peach state, twice before.
The Atlanta Flames arrived in the league with the Washington Capitals in 1972, but – unlike the Caps – were never able to recover from a slow start to life in the majors. After only eight seasons in the city, the franchise was relocated to Calgary – where it remains to this day.
The Thrashers were born in 1999 but only lasted in Atlanta in 2011 – when the team became the Jets and relocated to Winnipeg.
Could this be a case of third time lucky? Maybe.
Atlanta, one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, is a major television market and has a thirst for major-league sports.
NHL Expansion: Atlanta is also home to the Gladiators, the ECHL affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes (Image: ECHL)
While Bettman said the league hasn’t studied the sustainability of a third try in Atlanta, he did provide a titbit on arena areas.
“To the extent that we’re getting expressions of interest from the general region, it’s in locations for arenas that are different from where we’ve been before,” he told reporters earlier this week.
In short, nobody should rule out the return of the Thrashers. It is – at the very least – a topic of discussion for decision-makers at the NHL.
NHL Expansion: Houston should be a slam-dunk case for the NHL
There is a clear case for the addition of a team in Houston, the most-populus state in Texas and the whole of the Southern United States.
Speculation about a new franchise is Houston is never out of season, with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently adding fuel to the fire on 32 Thoughts.
“There’s something happening, but I think the question is how far down the road we are,” Friedman said. “The NHL is trying to throw some cold water on this, which I get. They don’t want everything to get out of control here.
“The one thing I think and I absolutely agree with Jeff is that I think Houston someday will be an NHL city, I do. I just don’t know if it’s expansion or it’s relocation.”
Houston would be a perfect fit for the NHL – not least due to the rivalry potential with the Dallas Stars. Hockey is on the rise in Texas; it would be sensible for the league to expand its footprint in the state.
NHL Expansion: Could the Quebec Nordiques make a dramatic comeback?
Unlike Houston and Atlanta, Quebec City cannot lean on population size to justify the return of the Nordiques. But there is still hope, with provincial politicians keen to attach their voices to the campaign to relaunch the hockey club.
If the NHL returns to Quebec City, it would present a similar scenario to the NFL’s Green Bay Packers.
The Packers are based in a smaller market but can call upon a vociferous fanbase to fuel their success in a money-rich sport. The Nordiques would need to channel the same kind of vibes to be a success in the modern NHL.
There is a clear sentimental appeal to support expansion – or relocation – to Quebec City for the NHL. It is a hotbed for hockey, with fans desperate to relaunch a historic rivalry with the Montreal Canadiens.
While there is a tonne of fan support for a return to Quebec City, it is an outside candidate for NHL expansion – based on commentary from the league’s decision-makers.
You shouldn’t rule out a Nordiques redux – but new franchises in Houston and Atlanta remain Bettman’s favoured option.
Expansion in the NHL is always a hot topic; where would you like to see the league move next? Join the discussion in the comments.
