NHL Board of Governors updates expansion, names Leonsis, Edwards executives

The NHL Board of Governors met on Tuesday to receive an update on expansion interest, with Commissioner Gary Bettman confirming ongoing discussions with The Friedkin Group about a potential second Texas team in Houston or Austin, as well as strong interest from groups in Atlanta and Arizona. Bettman emphasized there is no set timeline for expansion decisions, noting that any expansion represents a multibillion-dollar transaction requiring approval from three-quarters of governors. The Board also named Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Capitals, as the new chairman, with further expansion updates expected at the December meeting.