The NHL is advancing plans to expand its franchise count by adding a 33rd, and potentially a 34th, team, with a strong focus on the growing Sun Belt region. A key development involves the league's intention to introduce a second Texas-based team by the 2029–30 season alongside the Dallas Stars, who are relocating to Plano. Billionaire Dan Friedkin has agreed to explore options for expansion in either Houston or Austin, with Houston currently seen as the more probable site. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly indicated that the league hopes to finalize commitments for this new franchise by December 2026.

In the Atlanta area, momentum for NHL growth continues as the Alpharetta city council narrowly approved rezoning near North Point Mall to support a mixed-use development capable of housing an NHL arena. This move follows the success of similar sports-centric projects like The Battery adjacent to the MLB’s Atlanta Braves stadium. However, the Atlanta market remains somewhat uncertain, with Forsyth County presenting a competing development that already has local plan approval, reflecting ongoing negotiations and planning hurdles.

Meanwhile, the Phoenix metro area remains under consideration for another NHL franchise, despite lacking the current ownership and political advances seen in Texas and Atlanta. The region was impacted previously when the Coyotes franchise moved out, becoming the Utah Mammoth, but interest in bringing hockey back maintains a place in the league’s expansion discussions. These developments underscore the NHL’s strategy to further strengthen its presence in the U.S. Sun Belt, a region that has become dominant competitively with Sun Belt teams winning six of the last seven Stanley Cups.

Though expansion timing is flexible, the NHL does not necessarily need to add teams in pairs, evidenced by the four-year gap between the 31st Golden Knights and 32nd Kraken franchises. The league’s careful, market-specific approach highlights its commitment to securing the right partners and local support before launching new teams. With multiple cities gearing up for potential franchises, the NHL is positioning itself to grow strategically in fast-developing southern markets where hockey is thriving both on and off the ice.