NHL reportedly tells 5 cities to pony up $2 billion for NHL expansion franchise

According to a report from NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the NHL under commissioner Gary Bettman have informed potential expansion franchises that the fee to join the league is $2 billion.

You may recall that the Seattle Kraken paid $650 million for their expansion fee when they joined the league in 2021, the Vegas Golden Knights paid $500 million back in 2017.

Seravalli goes on to name five major contenders for NHL expansion:

• Houston
• New Orleans
• Indianapolis
• Atlanta
• Austin

I mean...

what are we doing here?

New Orleans? Indianapolis? Are you FREAKING kidding me!?!?

Houston, to me, is the only legitimate contender here for a team. From all indications though, it sounds like Atlanta is a frontrunner... again.

Personally, I feel like the league is already too watered down and we just welcomed a new franchise with the Arizona Coyotes moving to Utah last season. Can we just chill at 32 teams for a bit, Gary?