The NHL is exploring potential expansion to Texas, with Houston and Austin identified as leading options, according to a person familiar with the league’s discussions who spoke with The Associated Press on Tuesday. The sources say the matter has not been publicly announced, and the individual spoke on condition of anonymity. The reports also indicate that the NHL’s Board of Governors meets annually in the period after the Stanley Cup Final and before the NHL draft, and that the discussion takes place around that time in New York. Separate coverage frames the effort as part of the league’s broader interest in further growth in the southern United States, citing the NHL’s ongoing expansion momentum. One report notes that, if additional Texas-based teams are added, the NHL would become the largest professional sports league in North America. Across outlets, the central point remains consistent: Houston and Austin are being considered among possible new Texas locations as the league weighs future expansion.