NHL Expansion Rumors: Houston Leaks, Atlanta Gets Third Shot for Hockey

The NHL is buzzing with expansion rumors, and it’s not just speculation or rumor anymore—concrete leaks are pointing to an NHL team heading somewhere new. Top of the list? The NHL to Houston looks closer than ever, with billionaire Dan Friedkin leading the charge in the expansion process. Posts on X and reports from insiders like Kevin Weekes suggest Houston and Atlanta are prime targets for an expansion team, and the NHL could be gearing up fast—maybe even by the fall’s Board of Governors meeting in 2024. But as the league talks about stretching to 84 games, is this about growing hockey or just stuffing Gary Bettman’s pockets? Let’s dig in.

Houston Leaks: A Billionaire and a Big Market

The Houston NHL expansion talk hit a fever pitch when ESPN dropped that the league has met with the Friedkin Group—headed by Dan Friedkin, a strong ownership option who owns Italian Serie A club AS Roma and Gulf States Toyota. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed the league’s interest in bringing a team to Houston, a city of 7 million with no hockey team yet. Think Houston’s ready? The Friedkin Group’s met with the group multiple times, eyeing a team in Houston at the Toyota Center, owned by Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta. Tilman’s been vocal since 2017 about wanting an expansion franchise, telling CW39, “The NHL would be great in Houston.” With potential expansion fees rumored at $1.5 billion according to Forbes, Fertitta’s also considering a bid—he’s got the cash from the Houston Rockets and could look to add two clubs with staggered start dates alongside Friedkin. The NHL wants to expand to big markets, and Houston’s a no-brainer. But can the talent keep up?

Atlanta’s  Rumors NHL For expansion A Third Time: Fool Me Twice, Shame on Me

Over in Atlanta, two groups are fighting to bring the NHL to Houston’s southern cousin. Anson Carter’s crew and Vernon Krause’s outfit are pitching rinks in Alpharetta, a shift from the downtown flops of the Atlanta Flames and Atlanta Thrashers. The league has met with both, per WSB-TV, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman’s listening. Krause even owns a piece of English Premier League club Everton—Tilman Fertitta’s got Everton ties too via the English Premier League—so the money’s there. But why give Atlanta and Houston another team when the Thrashers couldn’t draw flies? Fans say ownership tanked it, not the hockey town itself. Still, three strikes feels generous—especially when Quebec’s begging for a new team and Calgary or Salt Lake City could use the boost. Is Atlanta just a pawn to get a team to Houston and beyond?

84 Games: Expansion Prep or Greed?

Here’s the kicker: the NHL is going to 84 games, per X posts like @AzorcanGlobal’s, maybe as soon as next season after the CBA talks. That’s 146 more games with 34 teams—perfect for putting a team in Houston and Atlanta. The Board of Governors might greenlight it at their 2024 meeting, and Commissioner Gary Bettman’s grinning. Vegas and Seattle paid $500 million and $650 million to join; now it’s $1.5 billion for a Houston expansion franchise. The NHL would want that payday—add two teams, and you’re at 34, with Kansas City or Dallas Stars’ neighbors like Coyote country next. But this reeks of prep for expansion to Houston and beyond, not love for the game. Focus on making money’s clear—revenue’s already $6.5-7 billion. How long until they stagger their start dates and dilute the product further?

Talent’s Thin: No Centers, No Goalies, No Chance

The potential NHL problem? Talent. The league’s 32 teams already scrape by—fourth lines are AHL rejects, and center depth’s a ghost town. Look at Anaheim or Chicago; they’d kill for a decent pivot. Goalies? Maybe 40 are NHL-caliber, and that’s generous. A Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta-funded team could buy stars, but the collective bargaining agreement won’t magically spawn them. Vegas and Seattle got sweetheart drafts; even then, they stretched the pool. Posts on X claim USA Hockey’s 556,000 players mean depth’s coming—not for years, though. The NHL expansion team in Houston or Atlanta would just expose the cracks. And protecting McDavid like Mahomes? One touch, five-minute major. Parity’s a myth with this talent shortage.

Vegas: The Blueprint for a Cash Grab

Remember Las Vegas? A $500 million buy-in in 2017—chump change next to $1.5 billion now—landed a Cup champ. Seattle’s $650 million in 2021 looks quaint too. The NHL sold on Thursday to gambling’s capital, and it worked. Now, Bettman’s dreaming of 100 cities, each coughing up billions. Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta and Friedkin see the blueprint—expansion to Houston’s a cash cow. But at what cost? Competitive balance is toast when you’re looking to expand for profit, not passion. Serie A club AS Roma’s Friedkin might fund a new stadium, but the NHL’s just chasing million in funding checks.

Fans Say No—Quebec Says Yes

X posts scream it: fans don’t want more teams. @LarryHockett88 suggests Houston, Atlanta, Phoenix, and Quebec as the “final four,” but parity’s the enemy. Why prop up New York’s runt Islanders or California’s Sharks when they can’t touch their big brothers? Move one to Quebec—a real hockey town—or Kansas City. Atlanta’s third try feels like a pity play to justify Houston NHL expansion. The league’s too bloated at 32—drop a few, not grow. Bettman and NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly might think Houston and Roma’s cash will save them, but fans want quality, not quantity.

The Verdict

The Houston expansion and Atlanta bids are real—leaks say 2027-28 if arenas align. The 84-game shift’s a sign the NHL could add two soon. But with talent stretched thin and Vegas’s $500 million deal a distant memory, this is about money, not hockey. Bettman’s focus on making bank over building a sport is glaring. Quebec deserves a team before Atlanta’s third flop. The NHL is going all-in on cash—too bad the ice can’t support it.