Breaking: On our way to a 34-team NHL?!

When NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the league had agreed to open the expansion process to a team in Seattle, we expected this would be coming next... 

What if the commitment to considering Seattle as its 32nd team pushes the NHL to become a 34-team league? USA Today tackles this possibility on Wednesday when they published an article asking the very question. 

We all remember when the San Jose Sharks joined the NHL back in 1991 after fans were used to a 21-team format. The Sharks were in, and then the floodgates opened... 

Here is how USA Today explains it: 

"This was a logical step for the NHL because there has long been a fascination with Seattle’s potential. Plus, Seattle is a natural fit to join the Western Conference, thereby balancing the league again with 16 teams in each conference.

From there, it’s not a significant leap to see the NHL embracing Houston as the 33rd team and then Quebec City becoming No. 34. Houston is the USA’s fourth-largest city in terms of population. Adding Houston expands the NHL’s television reach."

Now the ongoing process in Seattle does not guarantee that a team will eventually play there, but over the next few months the city is allowed to have a season-ticket drive to gauge interest in hosting an NHL franchise.

Now, we have to believe that Gary Bettman has a plan. The problem is that he has not told fans - wherever they may be - what it is yet...