NHL Expansion in 2017-18?

Las Vegas has been mentioned in expansion rumors for both the NBA and the NHL in recent months and it was reported today that a viable investor has been in extensive talks with league officials to bring a professional hockey franchise to Sin City. Here is a passage from that article.

[Billionaire William] Foley is in advanced talks with the NHL about bringing the first major league sports franchise to Las Vegas, The Post has learned.

"He's the real deal," a source said. "He has deep pockets.

His goal is to bring an NHL team to Vegas starting with the 2017-18 season, which would mark the league's 100th anniversary.

I'm making the first entry in the naming contest for an NHL franchise in Vegas: the Snake Eyes.

Seattle is not mentioned in the article, but it should be noted, regarding the NHL's 100th Anniversary, that the league was formed the year after the Seattle Metropolitans won the Stanley Cup. Of course, we know that Seattle needs two things to happen before the NHL will come to town: final approval of the MOU and either an acquisition of an NBA franchise or a hockey first modification of that MOU.

None of this matters though. This is just one more completely unfounded NHL expansion rumor. Right, Commissioner Gary Bettman?