NHL Not Opening Expansion Bids—but Houston, Atlanta Still in Mix

The NHL will not pursue a formal expansion process to bring in a 33rd and 34th franchise, but the door is still not closed for active suitors such as Houston and Atlanta.

Speaking late Wednesday before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton between the Oilers and Panthers, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the long-delayed question of league expansion will stay in a more unstructured format. 

“If somebody wants to essentially apply for an expansion franchise and has all the requisite elements that we would look for in an expansion franchise, we would raise it with the Board of Governors and see if they have any interest in it,” Daly said. “There are some people we’ve talked to more than others, but there’s a lot of interest, which I think we’re gratified with.”

Houston, the No. 6 U.S. media market, and No. 7 Atlanta have been particularly interested in securing franchises. Atlanta previously had the Flames between 1972 and 1980, and the Thrashers between 1999 and 2011. Houston has never had an NHL franchise. 

Money Matters

Both NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Players’ Association executive director Marty Walsh said labor discussions are progressing well enough that both sides believe a new agreement is achievable well before the September 2026 expiration of the current pact. 

“I think we’re in really good shape, having really good discussions,” Bettman said. “That’s a testament to Marty Walsh and [assistant executive director] Ron Hainsey and people at the Players’ Association who have been working tirelessly with us.”

The two sides are still working through key matters such as future salary caps, but there are no significant wedge issues.

“It’s moving steady, it’s moving forward, and I feel good with where we are and we’ll see what happens,” Walsh said. “It gets complicated at certain times, any collective bargaining agreement, but it’s not where it was in the past here.”

Sunshine State Tax Issues

Both the league and union, meanwhile, downplayed the role Florida’s lack of state tax is having on the sport’s competitive balance and the securing of top talent. The Panthers are playing in their third straight Stanley Cup Final, immediately following a similar three-year run by the Lightning. The Golden Knights, similarly playing in Nevada without a state tax, have made two Finals appearances in their eight seasons of existence.

“Those imbalances have existed forever,” Daly said. “There’s nothing new here. There are so many reasons why a player can choose to play in a particular location for a particular team that have nothing to do with the tax situation in that market. So I don’t expect it’s anything we’re going to address proactively as part of this collective bargaining negotiation.”

The Oilers won Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in overtime, taking an early series lead and bringing superstar Connor McDavid one step closer to securing his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.