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Bettman: NHL continues to grow, but ‘we’re not in an expansion process’

2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic - Toronto Maple Leafs v Detroit Red Wings

ANN ARBOR, MI - JANUARY 1: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman checks out the snow prior to the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on January 1, 2014 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Jamie Sabau

Two days ago, the National Hockey League scored big at the SportsBusiness Journal Awards.

So, with all the success it has had since emerging from the lockout in January 2013, talk and speculation continues into whether the league will expand beyond its 30 markets. Seattle remains at the forefront of the discussion around the hockey world, along with Quebec City and Las Vegas. In fact, all three of those cities have been mentioned as potential expansion markets for some time now. Not really anything new there.

In fact, commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly were in Seattle recently to get a better idea of the situation involving a new arena in the city.

It’s also been reported that Los Angeles-based real estate tycoon Victor Coleman wants to bring a team to Seattle.

But, as Pierre LeBrun of ESPN reported, the NHL still has no plans to expand just yet.

“Things are popping up, but we’re not in an expansion process. Could we get to one at some point? Maybe,” Bettman told ESPN. “But right now we’re not focused on going through an expansion process.”

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