NHL Expansion back on agenda?

[Voight]

So thing to remember is that the NHL can afford to take a long view of things.

Take Seattle for example. City started a process to renovate the arena in 2016. Deal struck to renovate arena in 2017, and at the same time NHL officially explores expansion. 2018 expansion franchise announced. Expansion draft and team's first season in 2021.

The issue with the NHL is always, and will always be, is if someone is willing to pay the price. They'll put up with waiting for an arena, or waiting for renos, for quite awhile - if they get their money.

This isn't entirely correct. The process wasn't started until December 2017 and that was only when they knew the NHL would give them an expansion team.

 

[StreetHawk]

This isn't entirely correct. The process wasn't started until December 2017 and that was only when they knew the NHL would give them an expansion team.

City owned the arena and still do. Didn’t ok any renovation until the nhl granted Seattle a team. Same would apply for the Atl bids. No final approvals until team is awarded.

NHL waited nearly 30 years before an nhl team got to Seattle from their early 90’s expansion until 2021 when the puck finally dropped at a climate Pledge.

 

[Melrose Munch]

NHL has historically been about getting their money for their franchise vs location of said team.
So, they have no problems not being in Houston if TF won’t meet their price. And if no one else is looking to build another arena they will just move forward without this market.

NHL wanted the Pacific Northwest for a very long time since the expansion in the early 90’s. When the Seattle bid was screed over by the then nba Sonics owner. They were also disappointed that Allen did not apply for that round in the late 90’s for Portland. But moves in without a team in that area of the USA.

This of course has led to multiple issues, including owners who lied about their net worth and missed opportunities to grow the game.