Rockets Owner Is Trying To Bring An NHL Team To Houston, A Market It Should've Expanded To Years Ago

NHL expansion is always an interesting topic. There are some places where you'd think putting a hockey team would be a no-brainer.

To me, Houston has always been one of those cities, and the owner of the Houston Rockets is trying to bring the NHL to town; something that probably should've happened years ago.

Tilman Fertita told Bloomberg in a recent interview that he has had talks with the NHL about starting a franchise.

"We are talking to the NHL, but it’s got to be good for both of us … We just know that when there’s a concert downtown, how it activates downtown, we know what the Astros do for downtown, we know what even soccer does for downtown," he said.

Fertitta said he had been chatting with the NHL ever since he bought the Rockets in 2017. He added that talks had heated up recently.

One of his more interesting comments was that he  was "open to helping bring in either an expansion franchise or acquiring a team from another market."

Anyone who follows hockey would immediately think of the Arizona Coyotes a team that is struggling to find a long-term arena and has been a rumored relocation candidate for years.

However it happens, the NHL needs to give Houston a shot. It's the fourth-largest city in the country, and not having a team there is bizarre. In fact, the NHL is the only one of the four major professional leagues that doesn't have a team in the city.

Of course, putting a team in a major city doesn't guarantee success. See: Atlanta… twice.

However, Houston has some hockey history. The Houston Aeros played in the legendary WHA and at one point had Gordie Howe, as well as his sons Mark and Marty. As you might expect, the team was successful and won two AVCO Trophies as the league champions.

Gordie Howe and his sons, Mart and Marty Mark, all played for the WHA's Houston Aeros. (Getty Images)

Another version of the Houston Aeros played in the IHL and AHL from 1994 to 2013.

Plus, you throw a team in Houston — boom — instant geographic rivalry with the Stars. 

It seems like a great fit, but the league has some other options on the table including Salt Lake City, and — for a third time — Atlanta.