If you thought that 32 teams in the NHL was enough, well, I'm afraid that Wade Barrett has a word for you. A Texas-sized word from ESPN's Emily Kaplan, I might add.
It seems that the NHL is exploring yet another expansion team in the Texas area. We're talking about Houston and Austin as potential expansion cities, giving the Dallas Stars some company in the Lone Star State. The NHL has a $3.5 billion agreement with the Friedkin family, who will have six months to figure out whether a team in Austin or Houston is more viable.
The NHL is looking to start the expansion process in Texas, with Austin and Houston as potential targets, sources told @emilymkaplan and @PatMcAfeeShow on Tuesday. https://t.co/pOlkNREjkU
— ESPN (@espn) June 23, 2026
Gary Bettman also added that a new Texas team won't interfere with the territorial rights of the Dallas Stars, meaning that they'll get some company. With record revenues between $7.5 billion and $8 billion this season, it makes perfect sense to strike while the iron's hot.
But what does this have to do with the Golden Knights? Specifically, what does it do for the short-term and the long-term? Believe it or not, there's more to the story involving Vegas than people would like to believe.
How the latest expansion news affects the Vegas Golden Knights
Of course, you have your basics with the latest expansion news. That consists of having some more traveling to do, along with a condensed Western Conference field to contend with. In short, life gets harder for the Golden Knights.
However, there's more going on behind the scenes than people realize. Remember how the NHL (allegedly) gave the Golden Knights free rein in their Expansion Draft? Well, that will apply to the new Texas team, too. That means they can do some deep scouting and pluck a Marc-Andre Fleury or a Jonathan Marchessault.
Of course, that Texas team could go the Seattle Kraken route and "draft and develop the right way." However, the Golden Knights is preferrable, for it'll put them ahead of the Kraken in the whole "Better Expansion Story" conversation. Trust me, you don't want to be like Seattle if you're an expansion team.
Bettman also added that symmetry didn't necessarily matter regarding expansion. That means the NHL could add another Western Conference team (think of the other Texas city left behind). That means a friendlier schedule that could see the Nashville Predators bumped to the Eastern Conference (or a similar team).
Regardless, Golden Knights fans have their ears perked up on the latest expansion news. Vegas has already established itself as one of the greatest expansion franchises of all-time with an incredible run in its first nine seasons. But that could be challenged by yet another expansion team aiming for that title.
Add us as a preferred source on Google