What are our favorite candidate NHL expansion teams to join the 25 American and 7 Canadian teams in the league? Back in 1942 the National Hockey League had only six teams in the league.
In 2017 the Las Vegas Golden Knights joined the league followed by the Seattle Kraken in 2021. Which cities will follow Salt Lake City and gain a new ice hockey team? Here are the 10 most likely options:
10. Oklahoma City
The Oklahoma City Barons joined the AHL in 2010 and played for five seasons making the playoffs every year. Home crowds for the Barons were well below the AHL average and was as low as 3,089 in its final season.
Poor crowds for the Barons won’t help the case for an NHL expansion team in Oklahoma City, but the sole pro sports team in the city are the Thunder which gives room for another major league team in OKC.
9. Atlanta
In 1980 the Atlanta Flames relocated to Calgary after eight seasons in the city. The NHL then returned to Atlanta in 1999 after a 19-year hiatus only for the Thrashers to relocate to Winnipeg in 2011.
If Atlanta were to get an expansion team they would become the first city to be awarded an NHL franchise three times. As a major city and metro population of over 5 million people the city can certainly handle a team but does the city still have an appetite for a team for a third time?
8. Cincinnati
Cincinnati Cyclones have one of the highest averages in the ECHL and set a franchise record crowd of 16,529 against the Indy Fuel in 2016 at Heritage Bank Center – an arena built in 1975 and in desperate need of renovations or rebuilt.
The potential for big crowds is an attractive option for Cincinnati to become one of the next NHL expansion teams and would create a big rival with the nearby Columbus Blue Jackets. The city has also proven to be a reliable sports market with the Bengals, Reds, as well as FC Cincinnati who joined MLS in 2019 and regularly sells out TQL Stadium.
7. Omaha
Omaha’s first pro sports team the Omaha Supernovas played its first Pro Volleyball Federation game in 2024 and are continuing to break attendance records and averaging almost 10,000 fans in their first season.
The excitement for the Supernovas bodes well for a potential NHL expansion team in Omaha. A new stadium for the team could also host an ice hockey franchise in the city and a National Hockey League team is the most likely of all the major leagues to play in Omaha.
6. Portland
Portland is one of the most likely cities for an NFL expansion team and the NHL is no different. The city has strong links to the minor leagues with the Portland Winterhawks. Many Hall of Famers including Marian Hossa, Mark Messier, and Cam Neely have hailed from Portland.
Moda Center, home to the Trail Blazers, could host an NHL team, and a team in the city would be an excellent Pacific Northwest rival against the Seattle Kraken.
5. Kansas City
The Kansas City Scouts failed miserably and lasted only three seasons in the National Hockey Leave in the mid-70s. Things have changed since then and the Pittsburgh Penguins were closer than you think to relocating in 2007.
T-Mobile Center has hosted St. Louis Blues preseason games in the past and can seat more than 17,500 for ice hockey games. A team would also be a big rival to both the Blues and the Predators.
4. Milwaukee
Home to AHL team the Milwaukee Admirals, expanding the NHL into a city with an already strong ice hockey tradition makes sense. It would also create big rivalries with the nearby Wild, Red Wings and Blackhawks.
Milwaukee is our fourth favorite on our list of potential NHL expansion teams and one almost eventuated in the early 90’s but fizzled out due to cost. Today, the state-of-the-art Fiserv Forum is home to the Bucks and is ready to host a team. The arena has hosted the NCAA Frozen Four and even NHL preseason games.
3. Quebec City
A Quebec City NHL expansion team would only be a bigger market than Winnipeg, but similar to Buffalo and Washington. Despite its lack in size the locals are passionate and local junior team Quebec Remparts average almost 10,000 fans per game.
Despite the strong support the Quebec City Nordiques relocated in 1995 to become the Colorado Avalanche but the state-of-the-art Videotron Centre could easily host a NHL game.
2. Hamilton
Despite multiple attempts for an NHL team Hamilton keeps on failing. Disastrously, an expansion bid in 1990 attempted to negotiate the $50 million expansion fee. Ottawa and Tampa were chosen instead, and the 2021 Seattle Kraken fee was now up at $650 million.
Just an hour south of Toronto – the NHLs most profitable market – a Hamilton team would makes sense as one of the next NHL expansion teams to create a fierce rivalry with the Maple Leafs. The 17,000 seat FirstOntario Centre can immediately host a team and is home to Ontario Hockey League team the Hamilton Bulldogs.
1. Houston
Houston is our favorite city for NHL expansion and the simple reason is because they’re the largest market in either America or Canada not to have a team in the league. The Edmonton Oilers even came within hours of relocating to Houston in 1998.
An all ensuing rivalry with the Dallas Stars would be a given if the NHL expanded into Houston. Toyota Center can also seat almost 18,000 fans for an ice hockey game and has hosted preseason games in the past.
