BREAKING - Did Bettman Just Leak The 33rd NHL Teams Location?

The prospect of a third NHL franchise in Atlanta, Georgia is on the horizon, and it's generating buzz in the hockey world. This potential revival of hockey in Atlanta, a city that once hosted the Atlanta Flames and Atlanta Thrashers, comes with its share of challenges and opportunities.

While NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has stated that expansion isn't the league's current priority, Bill Daly, the NHL's Deputy Commissioner, holds an optimistic outlook on the idea of an expansion team in Atlanta.

Daly expressed his confidence in the NHL's ability to overcome past challenges in Atlanta, pointing to the recent successes of the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights as evidence of the growing demand for hockey teams among owners.

Daly explained, He noted that the landscape has changed significantly since the previous NHL ventures in Atlanta, with a shift in market demographics and increased interest in professional hockey ownership.

The NHL's revamped expansion rules and its willingness to consider new team ownership proposals provide a favorable backdrop for expansion discussions. Daly emphasized that the league and its governors would seriously evaluate the possibility of adding another team to the NHL.

Location plays a crucial role in this potential expansion, as Daly highlighted. He pointed to the Atlanta Braves as an example, where the team faced attendance challenges despite on-field success. The Braves' move to a strategically located stadium improved their attendance dramatically.

Daly emphasized the importance of rink location in any decision to establish a franchise in Atlanta, recognizing that accessibility and market dynamics play vital roles in the success of a team in a city.

Speculation has also arisen about the possibility of locating the new franchise in the suburbs, such as Alpharetta or Forsyth County. These considerations indicate that the NHL is carefully weighing various factors to ensure the success of a potential Atlanta expansion team.

While expansion isn't an immediate priority, the NHL's willingness to explore the idea suggests that hockey fans in Atlanta may have reason to be excited about the sport's potential return to the city.