Two major cities surface as finalists for NHL expansion per source

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Tom Banks
September 8, 2024 (2:25 PM)

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NHL expansion has been a particularly hot topic this off-season, and a big time agent has predicted the two cities that may be the front runners to land a new team.

This off-season, the NHL officially made their move into Salt Lake City, with the Utah Hockey Club taking over the once Arizona Coyotes, and while the novelty of the situation hasn't yet worn off, discussions over the next potential city to host a new NHL team has begun.

For quite some time now, Gary Bettman has faced the criticism that he favours the teams in the United States, and this latest report won't do anything to stem that, as once again, the Quebec Nordiques return has seemingly been ignored, with Allan Walsh revealing that Houston and Atlanta are the front runners to get the NHL to 34 teams.

This came after the famed agent declared that expansion to 34 teams is 100% happening, and while it won't be in the very near future, it's very likely to happen over the next few years.

«It's not a question of 'If?', it's a question of 'When?' for the next NHL expansion process, and we will reach 34 teams. I predict that the price to pay for each of the two new franchises will be $1.5 billion for the franchise purchase, more than double what Seattle had to pay in 2021.»

- Allan Walsh

Given the amount of money that new teams must pay to enter the league, things could definitely change for the NHL if Quebec can pull together an offer that can't be denied, but if the report from Walsh, who has plenty of sources within the league, is true, we will be seeing another two teams in the United States before a Canadian city gets a shot.

Source: Habs Fanatics
Two cities emerge as possible expansion frontrunners for Gary Bettman and the NHL according to Allan Walsh