NHL agrees to another expansion team

The Arizona Coyotes haven't left the desert yet, but their is speculation already that if and when they return to the league and it happens within the next five years, provided they build a new arena, it will occur as an expansion team, and ultimately an expansion draft will be required.

As many are aware, the last expansion team that was granted entry into the league was the Seattle Kraken, and due to some genius decisions and a stroke of luck, they made the playoffs in their second year in the league. Will the new Arizona expansion franchise be so lucky? Probably not, but the fans in the state can dream.


There are a number of things that are puzzling about the entire situation that fans across the league and NHL fans should be worried about. Why was the relocation of the current Coyotes franchise a well-guarded secret, and when it came out, why did it blow up in spectacular fashion? Although the Canadian dollar plays into it, why hasn't Gary Bettman considered either moving a team or granting an expansion team to a Canadian market? Does Bettman have his hand so far into Arizona's cookie jar that he needs a team to eventually work in the desert?


Whatever happens at the end of this season and into the next half decade, it will be interesting to see if a new team can flourish and thrive if and when it returns to Arizona.