The National Hockey League (NHL) has undergone several rounds of expansion and other organizational changes during its nearly 100-year history to reach its current number of thirty teams: twenty-three in the United States, and seven in Canada. A number of potential owners have sought a franchise for other cities, but as of April 2010, the NHL has repeatedly asserted that is not planning any expansion or franchise moves. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman recently stated "we're not planning on relocating. We're not planning on expanding. Anyone who wants a franchise really is out of luck for the foreseeable future. [...] If at some point we're in the business of relocating or expanding, we're going to open it up because the number of people and the number of places that want franchises is a fair