This past April, the NHL officially sanctioned the transaction of the Arizona Coyotes to Smith Entertainment Group. This new ownership will move the franchise to Salt Lake City, Utah. Following this sale, the league has granted Alex Meruelo, the former owner who sold the Coyotes, a five-year time frame to establish conditions for a possible new franchise in Phoenix.
With that in mind,deereplanet.com – your source forOntario sports betting The analysis has produced odds that estimate which cities in the U.S. and Canada could be front-runners for receiving an NHL expansion team. Below are the top potential candidates as we've identified them:
City
Percentage Chance
Odds
Atlanta, Georgia
75.0%
-300
Houston, Texas
66.7%
-200
Quebec City, Quebec
12.5%
+700
Kansas City, Missouri
10.0%
+900
Phoenix, Arizona
10.0%
+900
Cincinnati, Ohio
9.1%
+1000
Omaha, Nebraska
7.4%
+1250
The Field
9.1%
+1000
*Odds are structured to account for the simultaneous addition of two teams
Please note that these odds are intended solely for entertainment and informational enjoyment. They won't be found on any betting platform.Ontario sportsbook apps .
Pros, Cons of NHL Expansion
Recently, league officials have expressed skepticism regarding the notion of expansion, particularly as the last wave, which introduced the Seattle Kraken and the Vegas Golden Knights, concluded just a short while ago. Nevertheless, if Meruelo can successfully develop a new venue in the Phoenix vicinity within five years, he will hold the option to reestablish the Coyotes as an expansion team.
Given the franchise's ongoing challenges in securing a long-term home in the Phoenix region, this outcome is still uncertain. However, if realized, the NHL would consequently field 33 teams. While having an odd number isn't entirely unmanageable—considering the league operated with 31 teams for four seasons until 2021-22, which marked the Kraken's inaugural season—having one conference host 17 teams while the other contains only 16 may present logistical issues. A nine-team division could be unwieldy.
See ourStanley Cup odds Check out this page for a detailed overview of the current playoff teams.
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Third Time The Charm For Atlanta?
Atlanta has previously welcomed two NHL franchises. The Flames arrived in 1972 and spent eight seasons in Georgia before relocating to Calgary. In 1999, the Thrashers made their debut, but they only survived for 11 seasons before moving to Winnipeg, which had its original WHA/NHL team relocate to Arizona in 1996. The former Thrashers franchise is now represented as the Winnipeg Jets in their second incarnation.
Despite a challenging history in the South's largest metropolitan area, various stakeholders believe Atlanta could once again support a hockey team. In March, a contingent led by ex-NHL player Anson Carter put forth a request to the league for a franchise to be established in Alpharetta, a suburban area situated north of Atlanta.
With a metropolitan population exceeding 6.2 million, Atlanta holds a larger market presence than 23 cities that currently house teams, including Toronto and various other Canadian locations. However, it is not the largest U.S. city without an NHL team.
Houston Has An Interest
Houston's metropolitan area boasts a population of 7.4 million and has not yet hosted an NHL franchise. It did, however, have a WHA franchise back in the mid-1970s. A notable aspect favoring this city is Tilman Fertitta, a local businessman who owns the NBA's Houston Rockets, along with the Golden Nugget casino chain. Fertitta has mentioned he is in discussions with league representatives about the possibility of introducing an expansion team in this vibrant market.
Adding a second NHL team in Texas would also foster a natural rivalry with the Dallas Stars. Nonetheless, even with its substantial size, there are voices in the community indicating that an ice hockey team would face stiff competition from other significant professional and college teams in the vicinity.
“You have to approach this with a realistic mindset,” noted Janis Burke, CEO of the Harris County Houston Sports Authority, while speaking to the Houston Business Journal in March. “We are already saturated with college athletics and numerous professional sports franchises; any new arrival would have to exert considerable effort to carve out a niche and effectively promote itself.”
We consider Atlanta (-300 in American odds, reflecting a 75% implied chance) and Houston (-200, representing 66.7%) as the two cities with the highest likelihood of being awarded new franchises if the NHL opts to extend beyond its current 32 teams.
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Other Markets Under Consideration
Quebec City, holding +700 odds, is the most populous Canadian market without an NHL team. Though it slightly surpasses Winnipeg in size, its metropolitan population is still under 900,000. Nearly three decades have passed since the Quebec Nordiques departed for Colorado. While the NHL plans to host two exhibition games in the city this coming October, local officials will need to build a compelling case to justify establishing a team there instead of opting for a larger market in the United States.
At one point, Kansas City was viewed as a significant contender for either an NHL or NBA team. The city had the Scouts in the NHL, who later became the New Jersey Devils, as well as the NBA's Kings. However, those franchises relocated years ago. Kansas City is currently equipped with an NHL-capable arena, the T-Mobile Center, and could serve as a regional rival to the St. Louis Blues. Nonetheless, it ranks smaller compared to numerous current NHL markets, with only six other U.S. metropolitan areas hosting NHL teams having smaller populations. We assign Kansas City +1000 odds, equal to those of Phoenix, for cities seeking another opportunity in the NHL.
Recently, there has been growing interest surrounding Cincinnati. While the city has rallied behind its MLS team, its market size is comparable to that of Kansas City. A new franchise in Cincinnati could pull supporters from nearby Dayton and Louisville, but to make it a reality, the city must construct a new venue to replace the outdated Heritage Bank Center. City officials are currently planning a study for this initiative; however, there is no set timeline for when this construction will start. Additionally, Columbus already has its Blue Jackets, situated just about 100 miles away.
Omaha has also expressed a desire for an NHL franchise, which would make it the only major professional team in Nebraska. However, it would be the smallest market within the league, with roughly 170,000 fewer residents than the population of Buffalo, which stands at 1.2 million.
Regarding the current season, the finalists for the Hart Trophy have been revealed; take a look at ourNHL MVP odds page to find out more.
Steve is a skilled and award-winning journalist with over two decades of experience reporting on gaming, sports, politics, and business topics. He has contributed to various esteemed publications, including the Associated Press, Reuters, The Louisville Courier Journal, The Center Square, and many others. Operating out of Louisville, KY, Steve has focused extensively on the expansion of sports betting in the U.S. as well as other gaming-related subjects. He provides his insights on OntarioBets and several other platforms.
