NHL Insider reveals the NHL has reportedly already picked the next two cities they'll expand to

A few days ago, multiple reports surfaced that the city of Atlanta will soon be revisited in expansion. ESPN reporter John Buccigross, as well as Twitter account @NHLRumoursDaily both confirmed that the Atlanta Thrashers could make a comeback soon, citing factors of growing demand, larger market, and a strong potential ownership group.

Now, NHL Insider Kevin Weekes appears to have confirmed this report of expansion in Atlanta, and even further goals of expansion in the city of Houston.


Weekes shared a picture of two old franchises from each city in a tongue-in-cheek post about keeping the secret of NHL expansion. Although it'd be amazing to see, there's no confirmation that either franchise would be a revitalization of the now defunct IHL and NHL teams, the Houston Aeros and Atlanta Thrashers.


With several reports emerging in the last few days, it seems like we may get more than some tacit confirmations soon - it's possible the process to integrate these teams have progressed further than we know to this point.

One thing of note, these will be expansion franchises, not relocations. Although there are markets that look primed for relocation, being Arizona and Florida, the entry price for teams to secure a place in the NHL has been valued too highly to pass up in favour of relocation.