Insider Leaks Gary Bettman's NHL Expansion Plan, and Delivers Another Blow to Canadian Fans

According to Sportsnet analyst John Shannon, NHL expansion is not only imminent but already underway. In a recent statement, he suggested the league could welcome two new franchises by 2030, bringing the total to 34 teams.

Shannon believes the next wave of expansion would begin with the return of hockey to Atlanta, as early as 2028. This would mark a third attempt for the Georgia city, which saw the Flames relocate to Calgary in 1980 and the Thrashers move to Winnipeg in 2011.

Despite those failures, Atlanta's rapid growth and renewed interest in professional hockey could convince NHL leadership.

He also mentioned Houston and Phoenix as potential destinations, though with a major caveat in Arizona's case-a new arena would be essential to relaunch a team in the desert.

The proposed expansion fits into a broader vision: to strengthen hockey's presence in commercially promising markets.

Houston, a booming metropolis without an NHL team despite having a ready-to-use arena, ranks among the most logical candidates. Phoenix remains in the mix as well, but only if a new arena is built.

Behind these ambitions lies Gary Bettman's apparent intent to leave a lasting legacy. However, this direction also highlights the league's ongoing disinterest in bringing a team back to Quebec City, which once again appears to be excluded from the expansion plan.

As the NHL continues to push its borders southward, the idea of a 34-team league is no longer fiction but rather a structured, long-term plan.