NHL expansion teams confirmed by NHL's deputy commissioner Bill Daly

Elliotte Friedman, in the latest written edition of 32 Thoughts, reported that NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly believes more teams will join the league at the "appropriate time."

"Daly was most interesting talking about expansion. It's coming - and the union believes that as well - but was very careful not to be pinned down. �At the appropriate time' was the phrase he used. It's clear the league sees legitimate interest and is putting together a proper process, taking meetings and gathering information. He pointed out that, in the United States, the NHL is in fewer markets than its professional brethren, while Seattle and Vegas prove there is �a model that works, a model that allows you to be competitive out of the gate Doesn't mean that it's imminent, doesn't mean that it's going to happen in the next year or so.' [...]

Is 34 teams the maximum, or could we see 36? Is there a maximum number you wouldn't exceed? �Yes. Do I know what that number is? No. I will also say it's not just (commissioner Gary Bettman) or I making that decision, it's also our ownership group that makes the decision. With the last two expansions in particular, the thought process was a lot different (than 1998-2000). Everybody was just interested in adding clubs; there was an $80M expansion fee, right? It's much more business-oriented now in terms of how clubs look at it. They don't want to add franchises just to add franchises; they want to add franchises that will grow the value of the league. «Does this market make sense for the National Hockey League? Does it make my franchise more valuable?' Understanding that I might get a nice cheque in the short term, but this is a longer-term look at asset value and whether they are making the league better.»