Gary Bettman Under Fire For The Timing Of His Major Expansion News

Despite NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman stating there are no current plans for expansion, it sounds like those claims are false.

The NHL Is Expanding To A New City

The Smith Entertainment Group, owners of the NBA's Utah Jazz, have formally requested the NHL to start an expansion process for a team in Utah. The request was made via a release from the parent company, Smith Entertainment Group, on Wednesday morning.

The recent success of NHL expansions with the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken has heightened interest among potential owners. Jazz owner Ryan Smith has expressed his eagerness to bring an NHL franchise to Utah, putting them in direct competition with Atlanta, where efforts are focused on reviving the Thrashers.

Insider Kevin Weekes previously reported on the South Forsyth Project in suburban Atlanta, including an arena, progressing swiftly with design work and builder interviews.

This move by Atlanta marks a bold attempt to re-enter the NHL scene. Atlanta first hosted an NHL team in 1972, which stayed until 1980 before relocating to Calgary. The Thrashers joined the league in 1999 but became the Winnipeg Jets in 2011.

While this development is exciting for Atlanta, it presents another setback for Quebec City, which has been advocating for the return of the Nordiques, despite Bettman's reservations about adding another Canadian hockey club.

It's important to note that the NHL would need to go through a process with the Board of Governors for Utah's expansion, a step that has not been initiated yet.

The timing of this news has sparked discontent among fans and reporters, especially given the recent update on the 2018 World Junior investigation. The Globe and Mail reported that five players were instructed to surrender to London police.

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