Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly reveals NHL expansion is likely

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Cooper Godin
August 26, 2024 (12:17)

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Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said in an interview recently that further expansion in the National Hockey League is likely.

Since Gary Bettman took on the reigns as NHL Commissioner in 1993, the league has expanded all over the United States, with eight new teams being added under his tenure - Florida, Anaheim, Nashville, Atlanta, Columbus, Minnesota, Vegas and Seattle. Utah will also be added to the league this coming season through a non-traditional relocation of the Arizona Coyotes, who are now folded after their former owner, Alex Meruelo, stepped away.

32 teams seems like the perfect number for the National Hockey League - 16 in the Eastern Conference and 16 in the Western Conference. However, it appears that the league has their sights set on the next round of expansion, but won't confirm when that'll occur.

In a recent interview with Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly was discussed future expansion in the league saying that it'll happen at the appropriate team, but didn't explain specifically when we could see new franchises added.

"Daly was most interesting talking about expansion. It's coming - and the union believes that as well - but was very careful not to be pinned down. "At the appropriate time" was the phrase he used. It's clear the league sees legitimate interest and is putting together a proper process, taking meetings and gathering information. He pointed out that, in the United States, the NHL is in fewer markets than its professional brethren, while Seattle and Vegas prove there is "a model that works, a model that allows you to be competitive out of the gate. Doesn't mean that it's imminent, doesn't mean that it's going to happen in the next year or so." Friedman said.

It's going to be interesting to see when the NHL decides it's the right time to add more teams and how many they're wanting to add, whether it be up to 34 or even 36.

There's also a number of cities across the United States, and one in Canada, that would be a perfect fit for a National Hockey League franchise. Those cities are - Atlanta, Georgia; Houston, Texas; Quebec City, Quebec; Portland, Oregon; Phoenix, Arizona; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Kansas City, Missouri; Cincinnati, Ohio and Sacramento, California.

Expansion beyond 32 teams is inevitable and while the talent in the National Hockey League is only getting better year by year, hopefully they get this right and don't add too many new franchises to the fold.

Source: Elliotte Friedman/32 Thoughts
32 Thoughts: A collection of late off-season notes