The pros, cons of an NHL expansion team in Houston

Recommended Video:

It's been more than two years since the last ice age in Houston, when the Aeros packed up and moved to Des Moines after the 2012-13 American Hockey League season.

That left the Bayou City's hockey fans without a team to cheer for after three continuous decades of pro hockey in Houston.

But is there hope on the horizon? The NHL on Wednesday announced it is officially exploring expansion from its current 30 teams.

Houston is the largest city in the country without a pro hockey team and a recent study had it pegged as the best market to add an NHL team. However, Houston isn't high up on the list of expansion favorites. Rather, it's Las Vegas, Seattle and Quebec City in the driver's season to land an NHL team.

Sports Illustrated hockey writer Allan Muir ranked Houston eighth on his list of NHL expansion possibilities, three spots below San Antonio (really, Allan?).

To his credit, Muir cited the elephant in the room when it comes to Houston and the NHL: Rockets owner Les Alexander, whose Toyota Center lease gives him exclusive rights to an NHL team in the building. It's not known if he's interested in hockey again after previous failed attempts to bring an NHL team here.

Would an NHL team work in Houston? That's very much up for debate, with passionate arguments on each side.

Pro: Best spectator sport From the speed of the game to its physicality, no sport is better to watch in person than hockey. Toss in the odd fight and it's hard to come up with a more entertaining spectator experience. While HD and big screens ahve helped, hockey on TV doesn't come close to how great the sport is to watch in the arena. less Pro: Best spectator sport From the speed of the game to its physicality, no sport is better to watch in person than hockey. Toss in the odd fight and it's hard to come up with a more entertaining spectator ... more Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close The pros, cons of an NHL expansion team in Houston 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

Click on the gallery above to see the pros and cons of bringing an NHL expansion team to Houston.