The NHL is open itself up to some new flavors. The league’s Board of Governors, meeting in Las Vegas ahead of last night’s NHL Awards, approved a formal process to evaluate markets and ownership groups interested in launching a new NHL club. Applications will be accepted from July 6 – August 10. While Las Vegas is clearly in the crosshairs, Seattle and Quebec City are other markets expected to express interest in a team.
“Over the past several years we have received numerous expressions of interest from potential markets and ownership groups that have indicated an interest in joining the National Hockey League. The Board decided today to examine those expressions more formally and also to welcome any other groups or markets that may be considering pursuit of an NHL team,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. “The fact that we are beginning this process does not necessarily mean that any expansion teams will be granted as a result of this process.”