Hockey fans stunned by new report on NHL's rapid expansion plans
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
Reports continue to circulate around the NHL that suggest the league will expand from its current 32 franchises to 36, and possibly more by the year 2030.
Reason for rapid expansion could be financially motivated
The NHL's new collective bargaining agreement with the NHLPA is expected to include a large amount of cash for owners, and this could be a factor in a future expansion, according to NHL.com
For instance, the expansion fees for the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken totaled over $1 billion.
Potential expansion fees for new teams could be as high as $2 billion USD. This revenue is currently not included in Hockey Related Revenue (HRR) shared with players, according to reports.
At some point, however, the NHL must consider factors other than financial ones when making decisions about the league's health and its continued success.
Adding more teams requires more players, potentially leading to a short-term dilution of the talent pool, as players who might not have made the cut in lower leagues or bigger markets now find roster spots.
Also, the current playoff format features 16 teams and is considered effective. However, with 36 teams, maintaining the current format without reducing the chances of teams making the playoffs could lead to an expansion of the playoff field, which could lead to a viewership and TV ratings.
All said, the decision to expand is a difficult one when all factors are considered. The NHL must weigh the need for more revenue against the possibility of diluted talent. Rapid expansion may not be the solution, in my opinion.
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