BREAKING: Insider Confirms NHL Planning On Expanding In The Near Future
The NHL currently has 32 teams but it looks like Gary Bettman feels that some areas could use new teams and has decided expanding past 32 teams is the way to go.
NHL Set To Expand In The Near Future
The success of the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights has shown the NHL that new markets can generate more income than some existing markets. With that, the idea of expanding past 32 teams is quite attractive.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has confirmed that the NHL and Gary Bettman is looking to expand past 32 teams.
"They are going to expand at some point and I believe too if they leave Arizona eventually they will go back there, they will not leave that market open» - Elliotte Friedman
What Could A 32+ Team League Look Like
An ambitious idea would be for the NHL to expand all the way to 40 teams and instill a play-in-round similar to the NBA. So if the NHL expands to 40 teams, what locations are going to get a franchise?
I believe the order will look something similar to this:
1) Houston
2) Atlanta
3) Quebec
4) Salt Lake City
5) Milwaukee
6) Hamilton
7) Sacramento
8) Halifax
2) Atlanta
3) Quebec
4) Salt Lake City
5) Milwaukee
6) Hamilton
7) Sacramento
8) Halifax
This would establish a league with 10 Canadian teams and 30 American teams. It would also give fanbases who could use a franchise an NHL team. If the NHL expands to 40 teams, I think they keep the schedule to 82 games with every team playing each other at least twice and have 8 total 5-team divisions where you play a division rival three times.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 13 | 255 ANSWERS BREAKING: Insider Confirms NHL Planning On Expanding In The Near Future What do you think of the idea of the NHL expanding to 40 teams? | ||
| I like it | 102 | 40 % |
| I hate it | 106 | 41.6 % |
| I don't really care | 47 | 18.4 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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