The NHL shot down rumors about the league adding two expansions teams - one in Toronto, the other in Quebec - according to Jason Kay of the Hockey News.
Kay originally said that there was “strong speculation” the NHL might announce that Canadian expansion once a new CBA was settled last Thursday.
It’s unclear what the exact origin of that “strong speculation” was.
That being said, one logical reason for expansion comes to mind: conference realignment. Perhaps two extra teams could alter the (currently unapproved) setup from two seven-team and two eight-team conferences to four eight-team groups?
Either way, it’s a moot point right now, as the NHL said “No” to the scuttlebutt.