The Hockey News asked 34 of its writers which city is next in line for an NHL franchise. Houston led the way, and Adam Proteau explains why.

A second NHL team in Texas continues to generate interest, even if expansion isn't imminent.

The Hockey News commissioned a poll of online writers – this writer included. Among the questions was which city will be first in line to get an NHL team, either via expansion or relocation. A total of 34 respondents gave their votes.

Five cities got at least one vote, including Salt Lake City (10 votes), Atlanta (eight votes), Quebec City (two votes) and even one vote for Rock Springs, Wyo.

The winner, which was our choice, was Houston, with 13 votes. Expansion isn’t a certainty – NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly always remind fans and media there are no imminent plans to add teams – but there’s never a shortage of cities that make it clear they’d welcome the opportunity to become part of hockey’s top league.

Now, we’ve said on more than one occasion that Quebec City deserves another shot at hosting a team. And Salt Lake City is an intriguing contender, whether it’s as the new home for the foundering Arizona Coyotes or as an expansion destination. However, we chose Houston as the most likely spot to get an expansion or relocated franchise for a few reasons.

For one thing, if the NHL can have two teams in Ontario, three teams in the Greater New York City area and three teams in California, surely it can handle two teams in Texas. 

The NBA has the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets. The NFL has the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans, and the MLB has the Houston Astros and the (Arlington-based) Texas Rangers. Surely the NHL can capitalize on the rivalry between the two cities by putting a second team in America’s second-most populous state.

Secondly, as the fourth-most populated city in the United States, Houston easily could handle a second main tenant in the Toyota Arena, the current home of the Rockets and the former home of the AHL’s Houston Aeros (now the Iowa Wild). 

Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta does not have any overt interest in owning an NHL team, but after he purchased the NBA franchise in 2017, there’s an expectation he’d welcome the 41 hockey games per year that would be played in that building.

From this writer's standpoint, Houston would be a better choice for expansion or relocation than Atlanta, a city that has had two previous opportunities to be an NHL city yet never could drum up enough consistent fan and corporate support to keep either the Flames or the Thrashers in Georgia. Quebec City could be a better choice than Atlanta as well, as would Salt Lake. And with the Ottawa Senators recently being purchased for nearly $1 billion, an expansion franchise or two could generate upwards of $2 billion to be split among current team owners.

Two new teams would also provide at least 40 more jobs for the NHL Players’ Association. Neither the league nor the players can turn up their collective noses at that kind of payday, which is why rumors of expansion or relocation continue to bubble beneath the surface of everyday speculation. In addition, the success of the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken demonstrates there is a hunger among major-league cities for elite hockey.

There would be hurdles to leap over for any new NHL town, but the benefits outweigh the potential pitfalls. For instance, Houston could provide the NHL with a massive marketplace, and the ripple effect of having an NHL team in that city would boost the growth of grassroots hockey in Texas. TV rights would also only help a Houston NHL team, as it currently is the seventh-biggest TV market in the United States. And when the AHL Aeros were around, they consistently ranked in the top 10 in the league for average attendance. Bring the NHL into town, and there's loads of potential. Even the Dallas Stars are putting up top-10 attendance numbers.

Really, it’s readily apparent why THN’s writers chose Houston as the most likely spot for an NHL team. The sport is ready for a Texas-sized boost, and the league can only benefit from adding it to its ranks. You can make solid arguments for a number of cities, but Houston has so much going in its favor that it’s somewhat shocking the NHL hasn’t already set up shop there.

It’s not Houston-or-bust for the NHL, but it is fair to say Houston is at the top of the pecking order for expansion or relocation. Texas is due for new hockey blood, and Houston is shaping up to be the next big splash for elite hockey in the Southern U.S.