7 Arguments for and Against the NHL Expanding Beyond 32 Teams

Hey all and here's a video I decided was timely and worthy of discussion.
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[@chemguy5468]

The year is 2075 and there is currently 288 teams in the NHL. They've made hockey quite popular in Arizona and there are now 37 teams just within the Phoenix area. Unfortunately Quebec is still waiting for a team

[@antr7493]

Well at least Hawaii will get a team

[@shawnschaitel838]

​​@@antr7493and 6 in Alaska with nome, fairbanks, Anchorage, Valdez, Juneau and the Prudhoe bay Deadhorse as the teams

[@ground.jordan]

⁠@@shawnschaitel838I heard Point Barrow (Ukpeagvik) is getting a team in 2078! Things are heating up in the Alaska division 👀

[@FischerFan]

The NHL has just announced it will be awarding an expansion franchise to the planet of Venus.

[@sweetmapleleafs]

Canadian Stanley Cup drought would be 82yrs by then!

[@moose9689]

THG being interrupted by a FanDuel ad while talking about gambling being all over sports is poetic

[@jeeplivion]

Hahaha casinos BC for me

[@malman0789]

Get off Chrome and start using Ad Blockers.

[@cronoros]

Con: THG has enough to try and do videos on full slate nights already?

[@wendellblackett8317]

Nah I think he can cope.

[@BoyNamedSue4]

Im far more concerned with the playoffs expanding than if the nhl adds more teams.

[@kidranchan]

I'm more concerned that it isn't - right now you do have a decent amount of mix where if you exclude the teams that know are going into a rebuild, the sellers know they should be selling by the new year. If it gets harder to make the playoffs, then you have situations like MLB or NFL where teams start "giving up" within the first 20 games because they know they can't leapfrog - maybe add 2 more teams (1 more in each conference) and then have a small play-in with the 8/9 (say a best of 3 at 8th's rink over 3 days during the traditional break between regular season and playoffs) - it gives a small nod to the conference winner to have a small advantage and something tangible to play for.

[@Mitch-ui8ps]

20 team playoffs incoming

[@DonCastSports]

Even if the league expands to 40 teams (hypothetically), the playoffs should stay at 16 teams. We want the regular season to matter and we want the playoffs to be difficult to reach.

[@SirLangsalot]

​@@DonCastSportsI agree.

[@Ryuzakku]

There's no nice way to expand the playoffs unless you give teams bye's or if you make a play-in. And teams on a bye would be super cold.

[@yelling3874]

Tbh, if we're worrying about watering down the level of talent in the league, the cost for kids to play hockey should be the biggest concern.

[@cypsrp7924]

Yeah I love those ads that hockey is for everyone...meanwhile I consider myself extremely fortunate to have played hockey in MN as a kid and that I can still play 1x/wk now in my early 40s!

[@jeffreyclinard2002]

You're spot-on about Vegas. Hockey is pretty much the only reason I go to the strip. Once in a blue moon I'll go to a show there, but the only time I recall going to the strip over the last two years (other than hockey) was for a Thanksgiving Day buffet at Caesar's Palace (and, no, it wasn't worth it, for either the hassle or the price). The local support is there, but Vegas is always going to have the advantage of being a warm weather tourist city. Visiting fans will go there to escape a cold weather winter and see their team play. Remember, Las Vegas had been the largest US market without any of the big four team sports (baseball, football, basketball, or ice hockey). It did boast the only successful original XFL team, and boxing has been around a long time. The NHL snatched the market first, and hooked the city on hockey. I personally believe within ten years, the city will have gone from zero to four when it comes to having the top level team sports (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL).

[@kidranchan]

I was convinced that Vegas was always a good town - the issue was the gambling stigma that the leagues didn't want to into until they embraced online gambling.

[@TheLeviclow]

can you guess how many of the season tickets are attached to Airbnb or other inclusive stays? Just wondering since I think some other markets would be harder to tap into a regular attendance. Also, LV did an amazing job on setting up a show. I have been to a few other NHL team arenas, and the show at Vegas games outmatches all the other teams on the presentation.

[@jeffreyclinard2002]

@@TheLeviclow I couldn't hazard any kind of guess at all.

[@FischerFan]

@@geoff3103 Don't forget what Vegas DOESN"T have....a state tax!

[@scotthoneycutt6967]

Thanks for repping Cleveland :)

[@wild_lee_coyote]

Another advantage of expansion is you can reach new talent pools. Auston Mathews would not be a hockey player if the Coyotes weren’t in Phoenix. Expansion allows development of new hockey programs in locations that don’t have them now.

[@chrismdb5686]

​@@geoff3103It'll have to eventually, there's a wall for everything when it comes to pricing. When teams can't field a roster they'll have to make things more accessible.

[@chrismdb5686]

@@geoff3103 Again, when teams can't manage to field a roster it will have to drop. You can only raise prices so high before it's unaffordable.

[@chrismdb5686]

@@geoff3103 A strong economy? We haven't seen that in four years!

[@DarkLobster69]

Yeah eventually the prices will level off and plateau while relative incomes rise. The manufacturers of the equipment know that if they drive costs too high, they might permanently kill the sport, not good for anyone’s pockets.

[@ericweeks8386]

I could swear you are saying 3:09 "New chances for French players..." :)

[@MarkBonneaux]

That's what I heard too lol

[@TheMrTwizter]

Same 😆

[@jeeplivion]

Ditto

[@dmwd96]

Well I’m sure glad I read this comment before posting my comment on his concern for French players 😅

[@SirLangsalot]

Same.

[@jaykwiththeredshirtandkhak9390]

36 teams and sticking to the 16 team playoffs makes sense

[@DarkLobster69]

I’d even be ok with 18 team playoff, and a bye, but at the very least, do not go up to 20 teams

[@Meowmixpleasedeliver]

Could do a wild card round. Which could be neat.

[@DarkLobster69]

@@Meowmixpleasedeliver yeah I think 18 works with either a bye or a “play in” series like the bubble had (to a smaller scale) or like the nba has.

[@WW3_Soon]

The expansion fee is No. 1 rationale for expansion.

[@Djblames2348]

I think the quality issue is more of a problem because of what NHL expansion does to other leagues. There has been 84 Swedish players appearing in the NHL so far this year. Players who earlier would have become star SHL players now become third or fourth liners in the NHL instead. If all talented Swedes go to the NHL the quality of the SHL goes down and there is a risk the Swedish interest in hockey goes down with it. This might be a problem for the NHL down the line too as the decreasing interest leads to a smaller swedish talent pool. The return of the best on best national teams is a way to counter this though, and I’m sure this type of reasoning are part of why the NHL seem to see those events more positively now than they used to.

[@goadamson]

Very similar argument in soccer. Canada produces some great players but you’ll never see them play as the draw for the sport is in Europe not here in North America.

[@tyleryoung8977]

Playoffs: Stay at 16 Western Conference: Salt Lake & Houston Eastern Conference: Atlanta & Quebec City

[@DonCastSports]

Yep. Would be perfect in my opinion

[@wendellblackett8317]

If ?Coyotes move add Portland or Milwaukee.

[@ekim4363]

As long as there is money to be made and markets willing to pay the expansion fees, there’ll be expansion.

[@mr.brenman2132]

​@@geoff3103Yes. Team values will keep going up. Professional sports franchises are a prestige item in a billionaires portfolio. They only have value when you sell them.

[@johnnymittle]

Nah, they will run out of big enough cities.

[@Rounder2205]

One thing we know for sure. The NHL will expand to the point where it negatively impacts the league. Maybe mortally.

[@woodsie22]

The NHL just wants to make sure I never finish my rink tour. I’m at 24 for current teams, plus 4 arenas no longer in use.

[@TFG2880]

I just started mine

[@Quintendejong123]

I think the NBA play in system or a system with bye's is most likely. But I wouldn't mind a Coyotes relocation instead either.

[@Amm17ar]

Yeah and follow the NBAs lead in removing divisions. I feel like theres always teams that deserved to be in that end up missing because divisions arent balanced. Plus making divisions not matter in terms of playoff seeding. We get a Conf. Finals caliber matchup in the Semis every year. Make it so 1 plays 8, 2 plays 7 and so on. 1/8 match up with 4/5 and 2/7 match up with 3/6 in the semis. The NHL could take a lot from the NBA to make their product more exciting and make more sense.

[@Quintendejong123]

@@Amm17ar I am fine with the current format. Everybody is fine with the mlb divisions as well. Just making it top 8 with no WC race will devaluate the regular season even more. Look the tv ratings drop.

[@captbloodbeard]

@@Amm17arYeah, I'd like them to get rid of the divisional system for the playoffs, have it just be seeded based on conference like it used to be. This semi-divisional wild card system is dumb, so is calling it 1st round, 2nd round, etc. Should be conference quarter final, conference semi final, conference final, then cup final. I don't know how the NBA system works, but the old NHL playoff system was so much more exciting, and really made it feel like the best teams were making it through.

[@Amm17ar]

@@captbloodbeard Yeah, youre basically describing the NBA system before they added the play-in (which I think is also a really good idea to keep the fringe playoff teams invovled and giving them an incentive to keep pushing vs. tanking after its clear they wont be a playoff team) The NBA basically a few years ago got rid of the divisions, before that the top 3 teams from the 3 divisions in each conference made up the top 3 seeds. So even if the second place team in Division A had a better record than the top seed in division B, the Division B team would get a top 3 seed and a better playoff matchup. Now its simple, top 6 teams make the playoffs regardless of division, in theory every team from 1 division could make the playoffs if theyre the best teams in the league. Then the play-in is basically the 7th-10th seeds have a 1 game elimination at the end of the season. The 7th seed gets two chances to make the playoffs, they play the 8th seed, and if the 8th seed wins then the 7th seed would have to play the winner of the 9/10 matchup. If the 7th seed loses, theyre out of the playoffs and whoever won between the 9th/10th seed makes it in. It sounds complicated but its pretty simple and a lot more fun imo.

[@Quintendejong123]

@@Amm17ar In my opinion a play-in system devaluates the regular season. Looking to baseball, from july onwards every game matters due to only a few teams being involved in the postseason.

[@vipeholmskolan6052]

Harder to win a cup is a pro, not a con. It should be hard.

[@ElmerFudd16]

It's already hard enough now with 32

[@DonCastSports]

Exactly

[@vipeholmskolan6052]

@@ElmerFudd16 Why settle for enough? Harder is even better.

[@johnnymittle]

You're missing part of the point that it's not just harder based on skill or hard work, it's harder based simply on math. Your odds are decreasing. As Gretzky pointed out, the Islanders worked their asses off to win their last Cup. But at the same time, their odds were just 1 in 21.

[@vipeholmskolan6052]

@@johnnymittle it takes more skill and hard work to make the playoffs now.

[@Peksisarvinen]

Rather than expanding beyond 32 teams, I would much rather see them developing 32 solid, passionate fanbases located in strategically smart locations across NA. I think it would be much better to see 32 arenas selling out than to see 36 teams with like six of them floundering on the boundary of relevancy. I don't know how realistic this is, since you're always going to have teams who aren't doing well, but I think that should be their long term plan. But having said that, I'm sure if they do expand, they do so after doing much more number crunching and risk-benefit analysis than I'm willing to, so I'll give the league the benefit of the doubt if they do expand further.

[@johnnymittle]

No matter what you will always have cities that lower interest when the team is bad. The real issues are when interest is low when the teams is good to great.

[@sangfroideur]

This decade might go in history as the golden era for professional sports. Everything seems to be coming together. Global visibility, record contracts and rights, the gaming industry in high gears ,and the memorablia business that keeps re-inventing itself. If one is looking at the next ten years, any opportunity for expansion should be considered within the next 3 to 5 years.

[@ElmerFudd16]

Golden era except for on-ice/field/court products. Funny you didn't mention that.

[@davidminor4213]

Once any league hits 33, it's only a matter of time until it's 40

[@user-vr2vq9bf5b]

Pro #1 Money Cons #1 All Null and Void Money is being made

[@iliaponomarev1624]

> went from 21 teams to 30, didn't water down the product Yes, but it coincided with the influx of Russian and Czech players.

[@bdonaghu]

Add Salt Lake City to the Pacific, Houston to the Central, Quebec to the Atlantic, and Atlanta to the Metro. Of course this is assuming Arizona doesn't move...

[@DonCastSports]

I agree. I’m a Blue Jackets fan and as much as I’d love for a team to come to Cincinnati, the four you mentioned make more sense. Even Kansas City would make more sense than Cincy.

[@rhyta5042]

Salt Lake is not a hockey town, only talking about it because the NBA owner thinks he can make more money. Atlanta had two chances, just Phoenix redux and bad idea.

[@DonCastSports]

@@rhyta5042 the “whatever city” isn’t a hockey town has been overused and proven irrelevant. They said that about Savannah Georgia when they got the Ghost Pirates in the ECHL. They’ve been a massive success (in terms of fan interest and attendance, not so much in the win column). Also, the Thrashers failed because of the owners, not lack of fan interest. Fan interest in hockey is at an all-time high in Atlanta, even for their ECHL team.

[@meh.4748]

Banger video after Banger Video. Thank you Shannon! 🤘🏻

[@atomic_hok]

I don't think they should expand until at least 2030, move teams like Arizona if they can't get an arena sure but expansion the league doesn't need it

[@mr.brenman2132]

Why aren't other teams investing in the expansion of the game like Vegas is? I swear the NHL has the dumbest owners.

[@xonerex7501]

Expansion shouldn't be tied to some time limit. It just shouldn't happen. They'll end up killing the game unless they restrain themselves and realize there needs to be a hard limit on the number of teams the league can support.

[@mr.brenman2132]

@@xonerex7501 They should at least match the number of teams the NBA, NFL, and MLB have in the U.S.

[@BvG_Venom]

My fear is that the owners and the players union will love their pros and not care about the cons for a second.

[@anubisgod23]

No. They'll like one pro and ignore everything else.

[@vipeholmskolan6052]

I agree that the playoffs should not be expanded. It should be hard to make the playoffs. The 82 games in the regular season really matters when there are few playoff spots to fight for.

[@DonCastSports]

It would improve quality of play throughout the regular season as well because the games would mean more

[@vipeholmskolan6052]

@@DonCastSports Exactly!

[@mikemallimo9286]

I wouldn’t blame you for tapping out

[@davidfkennedy7816]

The gambling advertising has less to do with Vegas entering the major North American leagues and more to do with the legalization of sports betting across the USA. End of the day, the leagues have to show consistent growth monetarily, and one way to open up new markets is to welcome gambling. Here in California, it’s still not legal outside of Native American reservations, but it’s coming and I’m sure the crypto arena will soon be the FanDuel Center

[@elwizschold]

I'm guessing that before my time on this planet is up, we'll have 40 teams in the league - and the playoffs will have an extra round.

[@TheVlad1616]

Sadly, I agree.

[@PenguinNote67]

Another option is an inter-conference draft. West expansion teams pick from Western Conference (except Seattle) East expansion teams pick from the Eastern Conference

[@kidranchan]

You mean, if 2 teams come in at the same time, but each existing team loses 1 player? - the only trouble is that will get you 16 players, that's not enough to field a roster.

[@djexpo6655]

Just want to see 8 Canadian teams for the reasons you’ve outlined. It would make for a perfect Hockey Night.

[@ChadHerring]

My question is about cost of attendance: what does expansion do, if anything, to keep fandom from gentrifying and pricing out good and committed fans?

[@HHSGDFootballJPD]

It probably won't do anything in the short term...the SLC team will need to make money, so why not charge and extra $15 to go see the Bruins in SLC as opposed to the Islanders in SLC. Medium term: If the franchise can't get out of the bottom 3rd, those games can be relatively cheap. It was over $200 to see the Bruins play the Panthers in Boston in the 1st round but only $75 in Sunrise.

[@user-ds4wc5wh4h]

The NHL is a corporation and like any corporation its prime objective is to maximize profits. There are many cities where the league could expand to and they could always add a second team to Toronto or Montreal so there's no shortage of prospective sites. The league will expand and it's really just a question of how much and how fast.

[@FischerFan]

The NHL is a business. That's why it only makes for it to get out of Arizona. It shouldn't tolerate any of its franchises to be operating at an arena, revenue-producing disadvantage.

[@kyegonzales6294]

You should do a video on great AHLer’s who never got their break in the nhl

[@omerta316]

Im all in for more Canadian teams

[@natedunker123]

also usually. expansion means teams to crush for a bit. but with they way they do the expansion draft. teams are good pretty quickly

[@ronfehr7899]

No matter how many more teams get added in the future, I agree that the playoff format should stay as it is. Even with more than the current 32 teams, it should ensure that the best teams are the ones who get to the playoffs. Sixteen teams is the ideal amount for four playoff rounds.

[@tedvdw1975]

The "watering down the league" argument goes back expansion through the 70's.

[@FischerFan]

The WHA was playing and that's why the NHL saw the Washington Capitals stink up the joint as the worst team of all time.

[@tacsat0117]

I hope they do expand

[@kmccart85]

To my recollection the gambeling ads started simultaneously with golden knights expansion coincidence I think not

[@lordrayden3045]

Yeah…… It’s called the legalization of sports gambling

[@FGHY8]

If there are 36 teams, there might be a trade where a team like Edmonton this season, is asked for their 2024 and 2025 first round picks because their first round picks are going to more more like 2nd round picks.

[@dj4aces]

16 teams in the playoffs is a perfect amount, and I feel like the idea of changing the playoff formula is the only real "con" on the list that matters. Even if talent was a problem, that talent pool will grow exponentially over time with teams in new or former markets inspiring more youth to join youth and high school programs, maybe even make their way to the USHL. On the difficulty to win a Cup? Damn right it should be difficult. 16 of 21 teams making the second season is prime opportunity for a mediocre team to get hot at just the right time. 16 of 32 ups the ante, and 16 of 36 makes it harder still. If someone is upset their team didn't make it because a new team did instead, well, maybe the front office of your team should do a better job at building a roster, eh? In many ways, I think the NHL is in a much better position to expand now than they were in the 90s, but their hasty and haphazard expansion of that era has resulted in them learning some incredibly valuable lessons since they approved the ownership transfer of the Thrashers in 2004. You had a ton of teams struggle to work their way towards being good, as if they started out with both hands tied behind their backs and a roster full of plugs. SJS? Plugs. OTT? Plugs. Thrashers? Full of plugs. CBJ still hasn't really seen any success, and they're on what, year 23? Vegas and Seattle have seen near instant success with the new expansion draft rules. A market like Atlanta, Salt Lake, or others could *thrive* with success like that, especially with getting more locals involved in the sport.

[@RobPenguinsSince78]

Since it is already getting difficult to win the Cup based upon the current number of teams, I can see expanding making it even more difficult for fan bases to keep interest. One solution would be to make some other type of rivalry trophy to win for the teams, like in college football. An example would be a Battle of Pennsylvania trophy handed out at the end of the last game of the season between Pit and Philly. Then expand that to other rivalries. Yes, you might need to make up some 'rivalries' just to have every team be able to play for a trophy. (I would make them far prettier than the Penn State vs Michigan State Land Grant Trophy.) Some of these could be a three team horse race (NYC Metro teams or the California teams), similar to the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy between Air Force, Army, and Navy. This would be great consolation prizes for bragging rights because you can gloat when your team beats the bad guys. Just a thought.

[@s.w9935]

Lol participation trophies

[@RobAndJuana]

Not participation trophies, but rivalry trophies. You still need to defeat your rival. These trophies have been a mainstay of college football for a hundred years or more.

[@XpersonX335]

Like soccer, as I know for the MLS the cascade cup goes hard due to the teams hating each other, it’s one of my favorite parts of soccer honestly

[@dealy9268]

All good points.

[@joshcateyes]

I think more teams give more older free agents a team to play for. Like Phil Kessel for example.

[@kesler171717]

I say maybe a play-in for the playoffs so you only expand the wildcard qualification to a mini series (best of 3?) with 2 extra teams per side and then its an extra benefit for not getting the wild card

[@Oxmen33]

I expanded to 40 teams using franchise hockey manager and the most consisten issue was the playoffs not having enough teams, as well as 82 games not being enough for a balanced schedule.

[@scottiepaterson192]

What do you mean the playoffs didnt have enough teams? I'm kind of against the league expanding again so soon, but in my mind the only one positive would be the playoffs would be more prestigious Half the teams in the league make it in right now, so if they were at 40 team and sill only allowed 16 in then, you would guarantee that every team in the playoffs had to work their ass of to get there. Just makes the playoffs more exciting

[@ji4324]

I wonder if the league would ever consider draft picks being allowed in the expansion draft? They would have to limit the amount for each expansion draft, but some teams may prefer to lose a pick over a losing player.

[@kimepp2216]

Expansion should not occur. There is not enough talent for 34 more teams. I don't like to see teams give up players to a new team. It will be harder to play each team twice. I think 32 teams is just right.

[@mitchfran9611]

ATL has TWO interested groups and we will hopefully get our team back in 2027

[@yelling3874]

Speaking of expansion creating more good players, I'd love to see a video talking about some of the guys you're talking about who might not have made a career of it otherwise

[@alesd2120]

If there were 36 teams - could the league get rid of divisions and conferences? The season would be 70 games, teams playing each other home and away (2x35 games), with extended playoffs the season would be still long enough. And also the seeding would not be limited by div/conf format but only by standings table. we could get some unexpected (and every year different) match-ups that are impossible right now. I would surely like it!

[@moose9689]

I think you’re on the right track but if that still includes western and eastern conference. Have the top 8 teams out of each conference make the playoffs

[@kevaninthe4135]

Potential 36 team league, likely to have 3 divisions in each conference, 6 teams per division, line up where it makes sense to have teams. You got your expansion locations.

[@hashbrown77]

The NHL was better with 3 divisions per conference. Florida teams shouldn't be in the same division as Toronto, Boston or Buffalo. 👍👍

[@Desert-Father]

No. The talent pool is diluted enough. Most teams cant even field four competitive lines. A handful of hockey teams arent even financially sustainable. One plays in a college stadium ffs. Besides, not even the NFL has more than 32 teams.

[@dustylover100]

When the NHL first expanded in 1967-68, none other than Maurice Richard said that the NHL became too watered down at that time.

[@dustylover100]

And that expansion skewed previous individual and team records.

[@FischerFan]

'NOT ONE of you belongs in the NHL!' - Coach Scotty Bowman to his new St. Louis Blues players, 1967

[@KOZMOGRAFX]

Don't forget that the only players available at the time were mostly Canadian! This was well before the influx of Europeans and Americans.

[@billyp8675]

Pretty tricky. I dont mind it but youll see even more teams threatening relocation when the new teams succeed. And theyll also need a cup for the east and a cup for the west.

[@themorethemerrier281]

Utah and Québec! Let's do it.

[@shaman9]

At 32, the NHL is tied for the most teams of the major NA leagues (NBA, NFL, MLB, MLS). Expanding faster than the larger leagues would be aggressive, and I'm here for it.

[@daltontf]

Only NFL and NHL have 32 teams. MLB, NBA and MLS have 30.

[@moose9689]

@@daltontfNBA is rumored to be announcing an expansion soon

[@pomerlain8924]

​@@daltontfAnd the NFL is the only league that is in a realistic position to expand, and they don't. What they did do was add one more game to the regular season and expanded and updated the playoff format.

[@DonCastSports]

Pretty good when you consider the narrative that is pushed that “people don’t care about hockey” 😆 I hope we see this expansion happen sooner rather than later!

[@FischerFan]

@@pomerlain8924 After thirty years of Bettman at the helm, the NHL is showing its desperation by entertaining the idea of returning to Atlanta for a third time. Unlike the NFL, the NHL has often been a case of a League wanting a market a lot more than vice versa.

[@pjp9310]

You killed me witht the divorce joke at the end lol

[@JesterRace139]

Just move the Coyotes to Utah and be done please..

[@Dnt461]

I’ll take it….however rebrand. New name. New colors.

[@sangfroideur]

The Vegas casinos used to consider the fall and winter seasons as quiet with a significant decrease in revenues. The local minds got to work and have landed two professional franchises within a five year time frame with state of the art facilities. I would be curious to know the number of visitors that would have never been to Vegas if not to watch their team while enjoying the city's attraction. The Vegas "Midas" touch.

[@chriszenko3598]

Houston Milwaukee are no brainers for new franchises. the other two will be interesting.maybe Utah and perhaps one Canadian city

[@goenzoy712]

Hamilton

[@FischerFan]

@@goenzoy712 Quebec City. Larger than Hamilton, new NHL-caliber arena, and no territorial infringement.

[@lukefrommacdonalds72]

​@@FischerFanfirst Ontario centre ( copps coliseum) is getting an upgrade which is why the ohl team went to Brantford.

[@babyyoda6549]

For one thing the problem is it’s harder for teams to win the Stanley Cup. The other problem would be. It’s over saturated and the talent is not as good when it’s stretched out , also the fact that it’s hard to have a dynasty and it’s like that

[@Mr.Ed_Wayner]

Why was there only one game played yesterday? Good Friday?

[@jumbolarge108]

My expansion picks: Quebec City, Hamilton, Houston, Atlanta.

[@rittpro]

Bring back the Thrashers!

[@erikmiller2522]

Just curious what your take is on Cleveland? Im from Cleveland and have my thoughts as to why we will not get an NHL team. Just want to know if im thinking the same.

[@lucyvanpelt6470]

As a native Las Vegas resident (born and bred) I totally agree with your assessment Shannon . I HATE the strip . Never worked in a casino my entire 59 years on earth . Found other gainful employment. When the Golden Knights were born-they saved this city from complete collapse because of October 1. I can tell you that as a now retired police officer, that was the single worst shift of my 22 year career. Every game I’ve ever been to, I always see someone I know, friends , former colleagues, etc. There is a smattering of tourists who come to the games but it’s definitely locals who do grace the strip to see our VGK play. Never going to an NFL game despite the raiders being here . NFL blows

[@Travisharger]

What I love about the current schedule is that every team plays every other team at least twice (home/away). It’s great. Its one of the things I love about the NHL vs the NFL where teams come no where near to playing every team in the league. **Sidenote: the NHL schedule would only be better if we made it an 84 game season, so teams also played in conference teams 3x and divisional teams 4x. With that said, I’m a little nervous that we would lose the play every team in the league twice if we expand. It’s still possible, but nervous that the NHL would prioritize divisional games. Sigh.

[@cyberdalekyeti]

Shannon any chance of doing video debating whether the league should be 4 divisions of 9 or 6 divisions of 6 ? when it goes to 36 teams. Like to have your opinion on this subject PLEASE!!!

[@jamesruscheinski8602]

which markets in U.S. are candidates for expansion? Houston? Atlanta? Salt Lake City? Hartford? Cleveland? Milwaukee? Portland? other?

[@csolivais1979]

The two highly rumored ones are Salt Lake City and Houlton.

[@Antizionist1221]

I think expansion will start prior to 2030

[@tomservo9254]

I am indeed going to roll out the talent dilution argument. Just because it's Chicago and SJ that are the ones rolling out AHL-caliber teams instead of Vegas and Seattle doesn't dissuade from the point that we don't even have 32 teams playing to an appropriate level, already rushing to 36 would be even more of a joke.

[@kidranchan]

Especially on an expansion draft for 2 much less than 4 teams - the teams won't be able to realistically handle the losses, either that or they are going be fielding some mediocre teams

[@jefflarson1652]

@@kidranchan Yup, and more mediocre teams will mean more teams in financial straits.

[@tomfilipiak3511]

Nuts!

[@HHSGDFootballJPD]

But why are Chicago and SJ fielding AHL clubs? I don't think it's not enough talent to choose from; it's those clubs right now don't want talent.

[@tomservo9254]

@@HHSGDFootballJPD It also speaks to disingenuous manipulation of the cap floor though. Not necessarily specifically in those two teams cases, but the fact that there are teams out there that have to be using those types of schemes just to remain within on-paper operational requirements is also a testament to dilution. Expansion means a higher cap, which means a higher floor, which means more pressure to adopt zombie-contract technicalities from the bottom-rung owners. It'll float all boats from a raw franchise-value perspective, but the on-ice product is going to be even more widely stratified than it already is.

[@DarkLobster69]

I think that in 2-3 years, 1-2 teams is inevitable for expansion, as the league is already starting to peak in talent saturation, and in 2-3 years from now, it’s going to be crucial to spread it back out a bit. Plus it adds a ton more jobs, both for players and for rink staff, and as long as the NHL is slow and methodical, it won’t pose too much of an issue. Don’t forget, 30 teams for many years saw 2 divisions of 8, and 2 of 7. 2 with 9 and 2 with 8 is hardly different from what we’ve already experienced.

[@TheBlazersfan22]

Wait until the day. Stanley cup becomes a tournament between best of europe, best of north america , and best of asia. With the host city like the memorial cup.

[@omfg322]

also about scheduling. I think right now, teams play a good amount of games vs eachother. with ay 36 teams its now, ok do we increase the number of games a season to burn out players? Or do we cut down the amount of games play against say division rivals for example?

[@squidMB]

Well my guess is the yotes move to Utah, then the 4 teams being added will be Arizona, Atlanta, Houston, and Quebec City

[@fubartotale3389]

Yep, proven winners all! What could go wrong?

[@anubisgod23]

Quebec isn't getting a team lmao

[@blairell975]

Atlanta no no no no

[@ozzmoises]

No way Arizona would get another team right away

[@ozzmoises]

@@geoff3103 far more deserving markets out there right now then to piss away another team in arizona

[@yogibearstie]

16 team playoff, and 20 team draft tournament. Winners pick first, so no big reward for tanking because you need to play well in the Draft tournament.

[@thefurrywabbit]

Probably not a very popular playoff setup.. but two ideas with 36 teams. #1: 4 divisions of 9 teams each. The top 3 in each division automatically move on to the “standard” 4 round playoffs. Each division has a wildcard round where 4/5 play each other in an x games series. 1vsWC and 2vs3 in each division. Then division round, conference round, and Stanley cup. Pros: Intense rivalries will be built, especially in divisions. Less travel early in the playoffs. Cons: High chance of “rematch rounds” occurring every season, but is this really a con? An extra round to squeeze in. High chance of some good teams missing while lesser teams make it in weak divisions. #2: 6 divisions of 6 teams. Top 2 from each division qualify. The final 2 spots go to WC in each conference. Pros: More standard playoff format. No extra round needed. Higher quality of playoff teams. Cons: Less teams will make the playoffs. Less rivalries?

[@XxxXxx-fm3wo]

With 36 teams you have 20 to enter in a playoffs but expect then best of 5 game series and and then same best of 7 for both conference finals and the Stanley cup final round, all the same as now. That sends more teams into shorter first rounds but makes it still a very hard run for the cup without extending the time.

[@edwarddobrowolski9398]

if they do expand at the major league level, the minor league affiliates will also need to be expanded to supply players. Would there also be additional markets for those leagues and teams as well?

[@siegzeon1071]

I would like to see another Canadian team

[@nathanspreitzer6738]

I’m glad they plan on expanding, no expanded playoffs though thank you

[@ryguy6577]

would be really funny to announce 4 more teams and then just reveal it’s the return of the Whalers Nordiques Thrashers and Barons

[@moralitypolice8334]

I am down to relocate the Hockey team from the city of Toronto, to Utah or Texas, but i am not in favor of expanding beyond 32

[@Amm17ar]

Youre in favour of relocating the Leafs to Utah.......make that make sense lol?

[@Amm17ar]

@@FempireAsmr Ah lol, went over my head.

[@jejsemin33]

Do you mean the Marlies? Don't know of another hockey team in Toronto.

[@moose9689]

Expansion would be great just so more people will understand the pain of blackouts

[@Mr.Ed_Wayner]

What do you think of the NHL going to the NBA play-in model? What about giving the division champions a bye to the third round (after play-in and first round)?

[@joshh5473]

Will expansion lengthen the season? You have to play every team at least once per year

[@kftc1980]

Why? Doesn’t happen in football.

[@petrograd4068]

It doesn't have to as long as we're at 42 teams or less. But they might want more divisional games, or a play-in round in playoffs, which would prolong things.

[@AnoobisSaibotis]

There is a way for the number of games to stay at 82, even with 36 teams, you just have one designated team closest to you outside of your division to play four times.

[@KOZMOGRAFX]

@@kftc1980 There used to be a 3-year cycle in the NHL... which sucked because it was a money-grab to save on travel costs, but some markets would go 3 to 6 years without ever seeing Crosby or Ovechkin come to town... not a great way to treat your season-ticket-buying fans who pony up significant coin to see NHL STARS.

[@DoctorEw220]

Are there going to be more arena issues besides Arizona coming up that will have to be addressed before expansion? Some of those arenas are coming up on 30 years old. Also, I think teams have learned from their mistakes with the Vegas expansion draft.

[@ENGlishJELLo-yk7up]

8:18 Why would the NHL bring a team to Cleveland when Columbus is close by? It's not New York and LA!

[@adamshearer4576]

NHL needs to expand to grow. its not like the NFL where every city has millions of NFL fans. NHL wont ever be that level. But expanding into these locations like Salt Lake or Houston can EASILY grow the sport even more and get it included in the "Big Sports" like NFL or NBA

[@FischerFan]

The NHL needs to wake up and realize that hockey is a regional sport. Winter sports tend to have less fans in warmer climates.

[@fantasticvoyage262]

When the league reaches 36 teams, is there any chance there would be 6 divisions again?

[@jamesruscheinski8602]

which markets in Canada are candidates for expansion? Quebec City? Regina? Saskatoon? Hamilton? Halifax? other?

[@JonDoe-ln6nl]

Nope. Second team in GTA before Hamilton.

[@KOZMOGRAFX]

Regina, Saskatoon, and Halifax will NEVER get NHL franchises because: undersized markets and shrinking Canadian dollars. The NHL should throw a bone to Quebec by granting that city another shot with an expansion franchise... and... if it ultimately doesn't work out down the road, they can always move to Milwaukie, or Baltimore, or Cleveland, or GTA#2, or any other eastern market that is eager and available after SLC, Houston, and Atlanta get in. Come on, Gary, back down and let Quebec have their day... you'd still have an outside shot at saying "I told you so" later on. ;P

[@Earthboundmike]

There aren't that many rebuilds. There should be more. The cap makes it largely impossible. The bottom end of the cap needs to be lower.

[@HHSGDFootballJPD]

Why should there be more multi- year rebuilds?

[@JimLaddie]

Here's my take. I'm a Scot, so I am well used to the system I'm suggesting. The current system is unworkable because of it's size. Cut the current league down to 24 teams and call it the Stanley Division or Premier Division, where the top 16 qualify for the playoffs and the bottom two are relegated to a minor Division. They can freely expand and play for their own cups (Campbell?) and the top two in that Division go back up to the Premier. It works with football where I come from.

[@csolivais1979]

Yea, the owners are never going to go for that. Neither are the players, either.

[@gregmahaffey907]

Old NHL logo so much better

[@gerryhansen8664]

With more teams comes the fact that you may never see your team win a cup in your life time.

[@SMG2fanatic]

I agree that 32 teams is perfect. If they expand beyond, I feel like you have to expand the playoffs, and then we’ll prob be getting into play-in rounds or byes which I don’t think I’d be crazy about. Expansion is fun during the reveals, draft, first games, but then they’re just another team. Though I’d imagine the excitement is through the roof for the city actually getting the team. I’d be stoked if Wisconsin got a team and I could drive across the border to see a Chicago-Milwaukee rivalry game! I know that’s a pipe dream, though.