The NHL is reportedly considering one of two major Texas cities for its next round of expansion

The NHL is reportedly eyeing Houston or Austin for its next expansion team.(iStock)

Atlanta(yes, for a third time) has emerged as a potential expansion destination, and a return to Arizona has also been floated in the past.Of course, Quebec City is always part of the conversation, and the idea of a second team in the Toronto market continues to generate interest.

But according to Kaplan’s report, the league is zeroing in on Texas, a giant state home to just one team as it stands, theDallas Stars.

Later in the day, a statement from the Friedkin family revealed that they have been given exclusive rights to put a team in one of the two Texas cities.

“Pursuit Sports, our family’s global sports ownership and operating platform, has reached an agreement with the NHL that provides us with the exclusive rights to bring an expansion NHL team to the State of Texas, with a primary focus on both Austin and Houston as potential markets,” the statement reads.“Each city brings unique attributes that would make a new team a huge success — both have the infrastructure, passionate fan bases, and economic strength needed to support a championship-caliber franchise for years to come.

“We have wanted for some time to bring an NHL team to Texas, and we are excited that the process has now begun.Selecting a new market for an NHL franchise is a special and important responsibility, and we are grateful to the league for their faith in us and their support.Working with Commissioner Bettman and the NHL, we will undertake a principled, disciplined, and methodical process to ensure we find the right long-term home for this new franchise.”

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The American Hockey League’s Texas Stars currently play in an Austin suburb.(Photo by Jonathan Kozub/Getty Images)

Both cities have some hockey history.Austin has been home to minor league teams, including the current Texas Stars, Dallas’ AHL affiliate, who play in one of the city’s suburbs.

As for Houston, it has been home to a few different iterations of the Houston Aeros, with the most notable being the World Hockey Association version in the 1970s, which at one point featured Gordie Howe.

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Gordie, Marty, and Mark Howe played for the WHA’s Houston Aeros in the 1970s.(Bettmann / Contributor)

Austin is the biggest market in the country without a team in one of the four major North American leagues.The NHL would have a chance to be the first, and that was a strategy that worked out well inLas Vegas.

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Of course, it also didn’t hurt that the Golden Knights have been competitive every season since they entered the league.

But, on the other hand, Houston is one of the biggest markets the NHL is not a part of.Sure, Houston is a massive TV market, but they would also be trying to compete for fans’ attention and money with established organizations in the Astros, Rockets and Texans.

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Who knows which one it will be, or whether they ultimately turn to another destination.

Whatever the case, it seems the NHL is getting serious about expansion.

Matthew Reigle is a writer for OutKick.