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# Monday's FTB: Expansion is coming
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/mondays-ftb-expansion/
- Published: 2026-08-24T10:00:15.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-24T10:00:14.000Z
- Description: And everyone ranks everything in August.
- Author: Cathy Squires
- Tags: From The Branches

[NHL could see expansion team awarded to Houston or Austin before the end of the yearThe National Hockey League is on track to add a 33rd franchise as soon as the end of the year, according to deputy commissioner Bill Daly.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/favicon-363ae03a-cf36-4c2a-88bf-b76385cec8d1.ico)TSNTSN.ca Staff![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/KGJW3NXFNXXHB6EZGQ2K5TQNEA-01c8c022-34d6-4e5c-ad46-307c20d106b5.jpg)](https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/nhl-could-see-expansion-team-awarded-to-houston-or-austin-before-the-end-of-the-year/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

> “We’re moving forward in Texas,” Daly said in an interview at the NHL’s European Media Tour to TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston [in a piece published on *The Athletic*](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7531325/2026/08/22/nhl-expansion-houston-austin-bill-daly/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com). “I expect ultimately we’ll be in a position to bring something to the board to get their view on it. So, that’s proceeding at a pace. We’ll probably get together with the group again in September and kind of see where they are in the process and what they want us to do to help, to the extent they need anything.

> “If we finalize that and the board approves it, then (at the) end of this calendar year we’ll have an announcement that we’re expanding to either Houston or Austin.”

> The two cities in play, according to Johnston, are Houston and Austin. Houston boasts the fourth-largest market in the United States, while Austin is viewed as an intriguing option in a unique, emerging city.

As announced in June, the Friedkin Group is the bidder, prepared to buy in with an expansion fee of around $2 billion as well as fronting the cost of building the arena. The projected first season of play for the new team is 2029-2030\. 

I'd crack a joke about articles about prospective expansion draft scenarios, but they already exist. 

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[Matt Larkin’s fantasy hockey top 300 player rankings for 2026-27With the season starting early, get the jump on your competition with this cheat sheet, complete with bios for each player.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/favicon-32x32-5b30f8af-ec79-4504-862b-a02b8d7cb08d.png)Daily FaceoffMatt Larkin![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/image-47db6ce1-97be-4627-8fb0-ec96ca43623d)](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/matt-larkin-fantasy-hockey-top-300-nhl-player-rankings-2026-27-list-draft-pool?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

[Ranking the best all-time seasons by the NHL’s ageless warriorsWith two of the game’s superstars in the ballpark of 40, Ryan Dixon wanted to honour all ageless warriors by identifying the best seasons by a player — including skaters and goalies — aged 41 or older in NHL history.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/sn_favicon-6a0248d3-d90f-4c9d-9783-fb9ec678903e.ico)Sportsnet.caRyan Dixon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/Untitled-design-107-738be1a4-fe95-4ef5-90ac-9004ae750c16.jpg)](https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/ranking-the-best-all-time-seasons-by-the-nhls-ageless-warriors/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

[‘Zee’s Final Shift’ brings Chara back to ice for tribute game | NHL.comLongtime Bruins captain joined by retired NHL stars, former teammates![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/favicon-32x32-abf6384f-c837-43fd-b880-591404ec7d69.png)NHL logoMichael Langr – NHL.com/cs Senior Independent Correspondent![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/rvwx8hgy1bg1z5nlylla-5ae29e93-7b06-463e-89ba-bfda4d892855.jpg)](https://www.nhl.com/news/zees-final-shift-brings-zdeno-chara-back-to-ice?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Have a great Monday. The T25 is already up to number 17.