Where else could NHL be headed after expanding to Texas?

It is no secret that the NHL has been eyeing expansion, and it seems an official announcement could be coming within the next few months. It also seems that Texas is going to be getting its second NHL franchise when it happens.

Bill Daly says NHL expansion is coming to Texas

Bill Daly, the NHL's deputy commissioner, told The Athletic on Saturday that the league's 33rd team could begin play as soon as the 2029-30 season and that an official announcement of its location could come by the end of this year.

Austin and Houston are the two markets in the driver's seat to be awarded the league's 33rd team, giving the state a second franchise to join the Dallas Stars.

The Stars have played in Dallas since the start of the 1993-94 season when the Minnesota North Stars relocated there.

Friedkin's Pursuit Sports has already agreed to pay a massive $2 billion expansion fee to play in one of the new markets, pending an agreement to build an arena, as well as approval from the league's board of governors. 

The NHL's most recent expansion franchises have been the Vegas Golden Knights (2017-18) and the Seattle Kraken (2021-22).

Just for perspective on that $2 billion expansion fee, the Golden Knights paid a $500 million fee to enter the league, while the Kraken paid $650 million. Both of those teams were within the past decade. The $2 billion fee would be a substantial boost to the league's economy, and likely contribute to an already rapidly rising league salary cap.