The NHL Is Reportedly Eyeing Texas For 2026 and Nobody's Talking About What That Means For Our Kraken

Alright, Emerald City, listen up! You know we bleed deep sea blue for our Kraken, right? We're all in, every single shift, every big save by Joey Daccord. Well, some news just dropped that's got me thinking, and honestly, a little worried about the long game for our squad. The NHL is out there, *reportedly* checking out Houston and Austin for potential expansion. We're talking the 2026 offseason. That's not far off, and honestly, it's a bigger deal for our guys than some might realize.

The League's Looking South: What's the Scoop?

So, the core of it is this: the National Hockey League is reportedly exploring two cities in Texas, Houston and Austin, as potential homes for new expansion franchises. This isn't just casual talk, this is *exploration* with a timeline attached: the 2026 offseason. Now, for us, as proud Seattle Kraken fans, this hits different. We're still relatively new to the NHL party, building something truly special in Climate Pledge Arena. We've got a killer roster, from Matty Beniers lighting it up to captain Jordan Eberle leading the charge, Jared McCann sniping goals, and Vince Dunn holding down the blue line. We've seen how tough it is to build a winning team from scratch, and the thought of even more t

Trade on Every Game with Kalshi

Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.

eams joining the fray means a thinner talent pool for everyone.

Why This Hits Home for Our Deep Sea Blue Crew

Think about it. We're focused on our Kraken, watching guys like Chandler Stephenson, Berkly Catton, Kaapo Kakko, and Tye Kartye develop, or Adam Larsson and Brandon Montour anchor our defense. Every time the league adds another team, it spreads the talent out even further. That means fewer top-tier prospects available in the draft, and more competition for free agents. It makes signing the next star, or even keeping our current core together, that much harder down the line. We've worked hard to establish our place in the league, and we want to see our Kraken dominate, not fight even harder for every single edge just to stay competitive. This isn't about Texas, it's about what expanding the league means for our future success and the strength of *our* team here in Seattle. So yeah, Houston and Austin, potential expansion in the 2026 offseason. It’s on the radar, Kraken faithful. We gotta keep our eyes on this because the landscape of the NHL is always shifting. For now, let’s keep cheering our hearts out for Matty, Joey, and the whole squad, making Climate Pledge Arena the loudest barn in the league. We're Seattle, we fight for our teams, and we'll be ready for whatever the league throws our way. Keep your sticks on the ice!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.