As the NHL’s expansion ambitions gather steam, the league stands on the brink of a seismic transformation—one that could rewrite the map of professional hockey in North America.

Behind closed doors, speculation is swirling about which cities will be granted the coveted opportunity to join the elite ranks of NHL franchises, and the whispers have grown louder with each passing month.

A recent revelation from a trusted insider has sent shockwaves through the hockey world, hinting at dramatic changes that could leave fans reeling.

While Atlanta’s return seems all but inevitable, the real intrigue lies in the identity of the next city poised to make NHL history. Could Houston finally seize its long-awaited moment, or will Phoenix stage a stunning comeback under a set of surprising conditions?

The answers are anything but clear, and the implications for the league—and for cities like Quebec, still yearning for the Nordiques’ revival—are profound.

Veteran voices and industry experts are divided, and the stakes have never been higher. What is driving the NHL’s bold new direction, and why are some markets being favored over others?

The full story uncovers the hidden forces shaping the future of the game, and promises revelations that every hockey fan needs to see.

Feb 22, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman speaks during media availabilities before the Los Angeles Kings play against the Utah Hockey Club at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Photo credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

It seems that it’s only a matter of time before the National Hockey League announces that it will move forward with a new wave of expansions.

As reported by John Shannon on Inside Sports, there could be 34 teams within five years.

And while the arrival of a team in Atlanta is looking more like a formality, there may be a surprise regarding the identity of the other city that could join the NHL.

NHL Expansions in Atlanta, Houston and Phoenix?

Here’s another major blow in the Quebec Nordiques file.

According to well-known insider John Shannon, it would come down to the cities of Houston and Phoenix for the 34th NHL franchise – but under one condition.

“I think in the next five years we’re gonna be at 34 teams; I suspect we’re gonna see Atlanta come in let’s say 2028, and then Houston or Phoenix, if Phoenix gets a new arena, in 2030.”

– John Shannon

The NHL could therefore very well return to Arizona only a few years after the Coyotes’ move to Salt Lake City, where the team is now called the Utah Mammoth.

This statement from Shannon is surprising, since many experts agreed that Houston was the favorite to land the league’s 33rd franchise.

Meanwhile in Quebec, there is no news about a potential Nordiques return, but if we go by the veteran journalist’s comments, it’s clear that the NHL leadership’s priority is to favor the development of new U.S. markets – even if some of them (Atlanta and Arizona) have already had teams in the past.

We already know how it ended in both cases.