Expected price for next NHL expansion team is insane

While there are no imminent plans to expand the league to 32 teams, the stage is set for it to happen sooner rather than later. After the Vegas Golden Knights joined the NHL - with a $500 million fee attached to their admission - we now have a likely estimate of what it will cost the next team to enter the NHL via expansion.

“Expansion is not formally on the agenda as owners gather Thursday and Friday in Florida, but there is a strong feeling that it will be discussed on some level,” Chris Johnston said on Hockey Night in Canada. “We’ve talked about Houston, we’ve talked about Quebec City in recent weeks. There’s also a key vote in Seattle on Monday where the Oak View Group could have its $600-million arena proposal approved by council to get things going. That will obviously get the attention of NHL owners should it go through.

“And with how well things have gone in Vegas on the ice, off the ice, all this interest that they’re getting, the feeling is that the next franchise in the league is going to cost $600 million to $700 million.”

That's a $100 to $200 million increase over the previous expansion, which, in itself was over a $400 million increase over the previous NHL expansions back in the year 2000.

Gary Bettman is clearly showing his greedy nature - and making it quite the investment for a city to join the NHL. Will the stiff price tag turn cities away? Relocation may be some cities' best hope at joining the NHL.