Elliotte Friedman makes disappointing guarantee about NHL expansion

Speaking on the Fan Hockey Show, the Sportsnet insider explained why league leaders keep eyeing new American markets.

The math backs him up. The NHL operates 32 franchises, and only 25 of them play in the continental United States, with the other seven based in Canada.

Football, basketball and baseball all have more American clubs than hockey does, which leaves the league with the smallest domestic footprint of the four.

Friedman's remarks also suggest a long-held mindset rather than a sudden change of direction.

By noting that league decision-makers have held this view for years, he frames expansion as a steady part of the NHL's long-range thinking, not a reaction to any single headline or franchise situation.

The league has already acted on that thinking in recent years. Vegas entered in 2017 and Seattle followed in 2021, each planting the NHL in a brand new American market.

Those additions show the league is willing to turn the idea Friedman describes into action when the right opportunity appears.

Expansion also carries a financial angle. Every new franchise brings an expansion fee for existing owners, fresh television audiences, and another local sponsorship base.

A broader American presence gives the league more chances to grow its fan base in regions where hockey is still building its identity.

As quoted, the comments include no timeline and name no specific cities. Still, the message is clear: the NHL sees untapped American territory, and that belief has not faded. Fans in potential markets will be watching closely to see whether talk turns into a formal expansion process.

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