NHL Rumors: Gary Bettman Speaks On NHL Expansion Rumors

Thursday, September 26, 2024

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman recently addressed ongoing speculation about the league's potential expansion, making it clear that no immediate plans are in place. 

Speaking at an event in Toronto, Bettman refuted reports linking cities like Houston, Atlanta, and Phoenix to new franchises, saying, "We’re not going through an expansion process. Other than updating the board in October about places that have expressed interest, nothing else is going to be done." 

This response comes in the wake of rumors, fueled by insiders like Kevin Weekes, suggesting the NHL could expand from 32 to 34 or even 36 teams in the near future.

Bettman emphasized that while various cities have expressed interest in hosting NHL franchises, any formal expansion talks are far from imminent. 

"Everything that’s been written in the last week is categorically wrong," Bettman said, dismissing much of the recent speculation as baseless. 

He acknowledged that the league will brief the Board of Governors on interested markets during their upcoming meeting, but stressed that expansion remains a "back-burner issue" for now. Deputy 

Commissioner Bill Daly echoed this sentiment, noting that while expansion is possible "at the appropriate time," it is not a current priority for the league.

Despite the rumors, Bettman did not completely rule out the possibility of future expansion. 

He hinted that the NHL could revisit the topic at a later date, saying, "There’s every reason to believe expansion is coming somewhere down the line, but let’s tap the brakes."

Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images



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