Insider Pierre LeBrun Confirms Major News Regarding NHL Expansion

Since the NHL expanded to Las Vegas back in 2017, they have seen massive revenue from their newest teams. With the Golden Knights winning their first Stanley Cup last year and the Kraken making the playoffs for the first time last year as well, the two teams are some of the most profitable in the NHL.

Currently, the league has 32 teams but many other cities are looking to get an NHL team themselves. Insider Pierre LeBrun just confirmed some major news for the potential NHL expansion.

None of the other major sports leagues in North America have expanded past 32 teams but the NHL could show that it is quite a profitable venture. It will make things a bit more complex but it should do nothing but generate revenue.

LeBrun mentioned four cities as potential suitors for a new NHL team. Salt Lake City and Houston have been mentioned as potential Arizona Coyotes relocation areas and both cities have arenas that could house an NHL team. Atlanta is in talks for a $1 billion sports complex that could also easily have an NHL team. Finally, Quebec City has proved that they are more than willing to have an NHL team by consistently selling out arenas for junior games and are now going to have a preseason game next year.

It will be a coin toss for which city gets an NHL team first but it will likely go to the area that is projected to generate the most revenue. Only time will tell which cities get a team but Bettman will have a hard time avoiding expansion even further.

As seen on The Athletic - LeBrun: What to expect from NHL Board of Governors meeting — expansion, cap talk, gambling, more