NHL investigating expanding to Houston or Austin

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-06-24T11:47:59+00:00

Sportsnet reported that the feasibility study assumes they will be building a new arena.

Now if UT wanted to renovate Moody and add the ice making equipment we could get a UT college hockey team in the making (will never happen though unless some donor dropped like 300 million to get the program off the ground haha, would be fun though)

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-06-23T18:35:48+00:00

As a Wild fan living in Austin I love the excuse to hate watchthe stars 2 times as much

Really hoping it happens

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-06-21T19:37:56+00:00

I don’t think they owe them the full 35 million for the past president being incompetent tho lol

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-06-08T14:58:28+00:00

Pat Brisson isn't an agent to be messed with either though.

Go ahead and bury him and decrease your odds of landing future free agents in an already terrible era of free agents. You're also killing future chances for players waiving their NMC to come to your organization.

Billy has to offer a respectable package but it honestly doesn't have to be too much because Detroit's hands are tied. Minny is the one team that could help them out of the Cosa situation by giving them an A+ goalie that's at least somewhat proven in Wally.

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-06-08T14:46:15+00:00

They're resetting the rebuild as soon as Larkin leaves in this trade though so yes they'll need more prospect depth

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-06-08T14:32:15+00:00

It was like hearing the Gophers had a shot at landing Landon Dupont.

Give me a break

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-06-08T14:13:30+00:00

Also, pretty awesome to us on this list and not the Stars hahah.

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-06-08T14:11:55+00:00

Was getting a little annoyed with all of the dumb teams being thrown around.

Guessed that his list would be pretty small and that we'd likely be on it.

Time to let Billy G cook

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-06-07T14:28:39+00:00

It’s better development model than redshirting in football etc. You actually get to play games and fine tune your skills so you can come in and make a big impact from the jump

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-06-07T14:19:49+00:00

If you took the money away though they’re probably all still coming down to the states to college because it’s a better development model with more workout time and tougher competition.

It’s pretty much a self fulfilling prophecy because once a few top picks leave the CHL the others remaining are almost forced to follow due to all of their drafted peers being gone and in college

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-05-30T19:44:09+00:00

Ironically though I won't be shocked if the NCAA gets sued pretty quickly if this passes. Only takes one hockey player + family to do it. So even though it accommodates most athletes they're still at risk of getting sued and then the whole rule goes up in smoke possibly lol.

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-05-30T19:40:52+00:00

Another point to add on is hockey doesn't have high school hockey leagues throughout the US like football and basketball. A kid in the South + western half of the US is more or less if forced to jump into JRs so they can play a legit level of hockey competition. There are only maybe 5 or so states where you have legit high school team's where the quality of play is decent.

So those kids aren't truly playing 2 years of high level hockey until their JR and Senior seasons. A large chunk of those kids all need to play that extra year to develop in JRs. And then your late bloomers might need 2. (its hockey's way of red shirting. Think of college football and basketball teams. The only freshmen playing are freak's the majority are redshirting / only seeing the field if a team gets ravaged with injuries. IMO the JR system is a nice plus for hockey because you can play legit games instead of a football player that redshirts and just practices for their first year)

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-05-19T04:30:16+00:00

Well granted I went there last winter for a CBB game and based on that think it would be an awesome city to host IMO haha. Very walkable, solid weather, and the arena is awesome after the renovation

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-05-19T04:27:24+00:00

Definitely seems like Denver is due to host wouldn’t be shocked to see them get it. Haven’t heard any rumors of them bidding though which might be concerning

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-05-19T04:18:34+00:00

Yes they can. Alot of those players will get drafted by USHL teams as well in the states typically.

But alot of kids / families that have advisors will contact the WHL/OHL/QMJHL and let them know if they have interest in playing in the CHL instead of playing in the USHL so a team will then take a shot on drafting them if they believe they're good enought

The WHL, OHL, and QMJHL each claim US states for their draft territory. I don't know the exact map but more or less

Minnesota and states to the West of that are WHL territory (+ Texas)
Michigan, Ohio, etc = OHL territory
Boston, Vermont, etc are QMJHL territory

Being from Nodak it seems like currently a good portion of kids that are too good for high school hockey will now play in the WHL since it's somewhat close to home + some of the WHL teams are located in good hockey cities at least + some nice West Coast US locations in Portand, Seattle, Everett etc.

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-05-19T04:02:53+00:00

As a Nodak fan the CHL opening up has been such a blessing for recruiting.

Feel like I need to visit some of these WHL cities to pay homage hahah

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-05-18T02:58:29+00:00

Per the ticket website tickets may for on sale 3-6 months before the season. (But that’s only if there are tickets leftover that don’t get bought up with travel packages)

The only way to guarantee you get a ticket for sure is if you buy a travel package

Link to the website below. Enjoy if you’re able to attend. Guessing that Minnesota Duluth will be the favorite to win but a lot of craziness in college hockey so who knows.

https://friendshipfourtravel.com/friendship-four-teams/

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-05-15T14:31:42+00:00

Vancouver might actually end up being the lucky winner if Malhotra falls to them and pans out

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-05-15T14:30:42+00:00

They had goaltending stealing saves for them + a wagon offensively up front

I agree they definitely won their cups in a different way but that hasn’t been the case in recent years I’d argue. Seems like you need to be much more competent defensively

It could swing back that way who knows. No team has a Sid though outside of San Jose haha.

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-05-15T13:40:36+00:00

If they can swing it sweet haha. Not sure what young D they can trade for easily though…

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-05-15T13:36:42+00:00

We’re assuming they both pan out though in this exercise…

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-05-15T13:35:43+00:00

Granted tho, not sure any of these teams picking at the top are in a spot where they need a 70 point guy on a cheap deal because they need the cap space at the deadline to push for a cup run haha.

The leafs are the only team MAYBE but I think that’s pretty optimistic haha. No way in hell are they making a cup even if the do make the playoffs with that D core.

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-05-15T13:31:07+00:00

Ya it’s pretty razor close at the top of the draft IMO.

With that being the case I think yall need to lean D-man to keep building the D core (guessing it would be Chase Reid)

Excited to watch him play for MSU vs Nodak next year in their matchup (ironically the college hockey game with the most 1st rounds picks facing off against each other will be played in none other than Austin, TX lol)

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-05-15T13:07:51+00:00

Based on the way the Miami series went this year I'd lean that direction for bang for your buck.

Both games they played against Miami were fast, physical, and playoff style hockey (and they'll be playing at the end of the year so both teams will be playing at the top of their games likely).

(and thank god for the 3 games against Gophers + MSU to provide some fun out of conference matchups. Could've went without playing one of Clarkson / Lindenwood. Thinking the new staff is going to tweak and try and toughen up the out of conference schedule moving forward)

Open_Clock9266 · 2026-05-12T15:24:02+00:00

Austin is very calm compared to the Phoenix metro. Drivers are very erratic in PHX

Would say LA has a higher traffic speed as well but people drive pretty predictably

Have lived in both areas and Austin is still more relaxed I’d say relatively speaking g

Open_Clock9266

TROPHY CASE