Houston 'Priority' Over Austin As NHL Eyes 33rd Franchise Commitment By December, What About Canada?

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For Canadian hockey fans who have watched the NHL grow almost exclusively in American markets over the past decade, the question remains persistent and pointed: What would it actually take for the league to expand north of the border again?

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly addressed that exact issue Friday during the league’s European Media Tour stop in Munich, offering a clear-eyed assessment that mixed optimism about Quebec City’s potential with a blunt acknowledgment of the economic realities currently steering expansion toward the United States.

In a 1-on-1 conversation with The Hockey News on Friday, Daly said that league continues to advance serious discussions with an ownership group interested in Texas, with Houston still the priority market and Austin as an alternative.

Houston and Austin have emerged as the top two destinations to land the NHL's 33rd franchise. Where does Canada fit into the league's future plans for expansion? Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly shares his thoughts in this exclusive 1-on-1.

thehockeynews.comHouston 'Priority' Over Austin As NHL Eyes 33rd Franchise Commitment By December, What About Canada?Houston and Austin have emerged as the top two destinations to land the NHL's 33rd franchise. Where does Canada fit into the league's future plans for expansion? Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly shares his thoughts in this exclusive 1-on-1.

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