Insider confirms the two finalists for NHL Expansion
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
David Pagnotta is not hedging on NHL expansion. Speaking on the Tom Gazzola show, the insider told listeners the league is going to Texas, and the only real mystery left is which city gets the team.
It's happening, I think [the NHL's] attempt to pump the brakes was just in terms of timeline; there will be a 33rd team in the NHL and they will reside in Texas, it's just a matter of Houston or Austin
That confidence matches where the process stands. Commissioner Gary Bettman revealed in June that the league began a six-month review of Houston and Austin, working with Dan Friedkin and his family as the prospective owners.
Bettman put the combined price of an expansion fee and a new arena at $3.5 billion.
Why the Timeline Matters
Pagnotta's view that any slowdown was about scheduling, not doubt, lines up with the league's own messaging.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said an announcement could arrive before the end of this calendar year, with the new franchise targeted to begin play in 2029-30.
Either destination requires a new building, so the arena plan will likely decide the winner. Houston is the largest American city without an NHL club, and the NHL is the lone major men's league absent there.
Austin offers a different pitch: an emerging city with no Big Four team at all.
What Comes Next
The Dallas Stars do not hold territorial rights covering the whole state, so Bettman has said they cannot block a second Texas team.
A Houston franchise would create an instant in-state rivalry, while Austin would plant the flag in a brand new hockey market.
Board of Governors approval is still required, and nothing is official until the league says so.
Still, Pagnotta's message is clear: the debate is no longer about whether Texas gets a team. It is about where.
Expect the next few months to bring arena details, ownership updates and plenty of speculation as hockey fans wait for the final call on the NHL's 33rd franchise.
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