Two more expansion teams are coming to the NHL.
NHL agent shares his belief that the league will expand to 34 teams in relatively short order.
The sport of hockey is booming and there is perhaps no better indication of that than the fact that the National Hockey League is rapidly expanding the size of it's league as all the while the value of new franchises entering the league continue to increase dramatically.
Although the NHL itself hasn't announced any additional plans to add new teams, during a recent interview NHL player agent Allan Walsh revealed his belief that the league is heading in that direction. Walsh indicated that not only does he expect the league to add an additional franchise via expansion, but instead predicted that two additional franchises would be joining the NHL in the future.
"The NHL is going to expand," said Walsh on his podcast. "It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when, two more teams. The NHL will go to 34 teams."
Walsh believes the entire league is headed for a dramatic increase in value.
"I'm telling you right now, you can write it down, in the next three years NHL franchise values will double," said Walsh.
If the value of NHL franchises are set to skyrocket as Walsh has predicted, this will also mean an increase in cost when it comes to new owners buying into the league via an expansion franchise. Walsh believes that cost will more than double when it comes to the league's next two expansion franchises.
"When it does those two expansion teams, I predict the franchise fee will be $1.5 billion," said Walsh. "That's more than double what Seattle was."
Walsh's co-host Adam Wylde shared some thoughts on who could be one of the two new owners to enter the league.
"Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia has been on record saying 'Not interested in hockey, I'm here for the Suns' soon as the Coyotes leave town and the previous ownership group gives up the rights to bring the Coyotes brand back, now all of a sudden he's saying 'Yeah I might be interested,' said Wylde.
Walsh had two predictions of his own however.
"If I had to pick two markets I would go with Houston and Atlanta," said Walsh.
Walsh is extremely well connected within NHL circles and if he is making a prediction of this nature with such confidence, it's probably a very good bet that it will come to pass sooner rather than later.
