Potential National Hockey League expansion facts for kids

The National Hockey League (NHL) is a major ice hockey league in North America. It has grown a lot over its nearly 100-year history. Today, the NHL has thirty teams: twenty-three in the United States and seven in Canada. On June 22, 2016, the NHL decided to add a new team in Las Vegas. This team, called the Vegas Golden Knights, started playing in the 2017–18 season. Their name was announced on November 22, 2016.

What is NHL Expansion?

NHL expansion means the league adds new teams. This makes the league bigger and brings hockey to new cities. When a new team joins, it creates more games and more jobs for players. It also gives more fans a chance to cheer for a local team.

Why Does the NHL Expand?

The NHL expands for several reasons. One big reason is to reach new fans. When a team moves to a new city, it can grow the sport there. More teams also mean more games, which can bring in more money for the league. It also creates more opportunities for players to join the league.

How New Teams Join the NHL

Adding a new team is a big process. First, a city or ownership group must show interest. They need to prove they have a strong fan base and a good arena. The league then reviews their proposal carefully. If approved, the new team pays a fee to join. After that, they get to pick players from other teams in a special "expansion draft." This helps them build a team quickly.

Where Could New Teams Go Next?

The NHL is always looking at new places for teams. Many cities in North America have shown interest. These cities often have large populations and modern arenas. Some cities that have been mentioned as possible future homes for NHL teams include:

• Quebec City, Canada: This city used to have an NHL team called the Quebec Nordiques. They have a new arena, the Videotron Centre, which opened in 2015. Many fans there would love to see hockey return.
• Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: This city is close to Toronto and has a large arena called the FirstOntario Centre. Some people have tried to bring a team here in the past.
• Houston, Texas, USA: Houston is a very large city in the southern United States. It has a modern arena, the Toyota Center, which is home to an NBA team.
• Kansas City, Missouri, USA: This city also has a modern arena, the T-Mobile Center. It opened in 2007 and is ready for an NHL team.
• Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada: While smaller, Saskatoon has the SaskTel Centre. There have been ideas to play some NHL games there.

These cities show that the NHL is always thinking about where it can grow next.

Images for kids

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  A team photo of the Quebec Bulldogs around 1914. They were one of Quebec City's early professional hockey teams.

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  The Videotron Centre, a modern indoor arena in Quebec City that opened in 2015.

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  Jim Balsillie in 2008. He tried to buy an NHL team to move it to Hamilton or other parts of southern Ontario.

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  The FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario, a possible home for a future NHL team.

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  The SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon in 2015. There was a proposal to play some Phoenix Coyotes games here in 2009.

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  The entrance to the Toyota Center in Houston in 2010.

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  The T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, an arena ready for an NHL team, opened in 2007.