The NHL is still evaluating expansion plans that could add a 33rd team in either Houston or Austin, Texas, but sources indicate the league has additional work to do before approval.
Reports note that while momentum for expansion may be growing, the process involves steps and conditions that have not yet been fully met. The league’s decision-making focuses on requirements that go beyond basic location interest, including readiness related to team and market factors.
The coverage from outlets takes a similar approach, emphasizing that the NHL has not yet given final approval and that more progress is needed. While both point to Texas as a likely candidate region for expansion, they describe the remaining process as a set of hurdles rather than an immediate commitment, with Houston and Austin viewed as competing options under consideration.
