PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- Gary Bettman has always been careful not to get fans hopes up in cities that want an NHL franchise. That continued Tuesday when the commissioner reiterated the league has no official expansion plans in the offing. It wont happen for the 2014-15 season and maybe not even in 2015-16, but that hasnt stopped the calls from pouring in. "Were getting lots of expressions of interest, and no decisions have been made to do anything other than listen," Bettman said after the leagues board of governors meeting wrapped up. We havent embarked on a formal expansion process, but when people want to talk to us, we listen." If the NHL listens and decides to move forward with expanding at some point in the near future, Quebec City, Seattle and Toronto figure to be the front-runners. But Bettman insisted theres no ranking of potential cities and that no decision has been made to expand. Thats despite uneven conferences right now -- 16 teams in the East and 14 in the West -- that deputy commissioner Bill Daly conceded was a bit of misalignment. Getting up to 32 would make for four divisions of eight teams each and solve the disparity in playoff odds. It seems like a natural move, especially considering the expansion fees the NHL could get. But Bettman said a few things must be lked at before considering a place. "When theres an expression of interest, you lk at three factors predominately, show-stoppers so to speak," he said. "You want to understand the market and can it support NHL hockey? Would it be a gd addition to the league? Two, youve got to have an arena and three, and perhaps most important, it comes down to ownership." Ownership is one of the keys to the NHLs success in the big picture. Bettman was quick to point to negative attention around the Phoenix Coyotes and how theyve been sold along with the Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils within the past six months. "My my, how far weve come since the summer, when all the articles and speculation were about all these franchises that were supposedly in trouble, which we never believed were," Bettman said. "The franchises have never been stronger. So we went from relocation in your view and distress to now we should be expanding. Everybody needs to slow down. We dont operate like that. Everything in due course. If, in fact, theres a due course to pursue." The city of Markham, Ontario, recently struck down plans to build an NHL-ready arena as the league made it clear it should not happen with the hopes of getting a team. An arena is being built in Quebec City, and one could be on the way in Seattle to lure an NBA team, as well. "I clearly have acknowledged that the Pacific Northwest has a strong interest in hockey," Daly said of the Seattle expansion possibility. As of now everything is just a possibility. But just drawing interest isnt a bad thing. "The fact is there are lots of expressions of interest from lots of different places and thats great, its gratifying," Bettman said. "It shows the business and the game are healthy because there is so much interest and people want to be a part of the game and invest in the game." What is the best place to buy knockoff jerseys .com) - Guess whos back, back again? Josh Gordons back, tell a friend. What is the best site to buy team jerseys from China . Louis, MO (SportsNetwork. https://www.wheretobuycheapjerseys.com/. The Montreal Alouettes announced Tuesday that they have acquired the return specialist from Calgary, as well as the Stampeders fifth-round draft pick in the 2014 CFL Canadian Draft. Where to Buy Cheap Jerseys . Sam, who joined the Cowboys in early September, has spent the entire season on the practice roster. How to Buy Cheap Jerseys .Y. -- A month ago, Syracuse was unbeaten, ranked No.He shouted, he chewed, he spat but in the end, he couldnt do what he truly wanted. There was nowhere for him to hide. With much going on around him, it is hard to imagine a coach on the sidelines being lonely but in reality, it can be one of the loneliest places in the game. Standing on the side of the field in Houston on Thursday night, Montreal Impact boss Marco Schallibaum was a show in himself. Fortunately, as sideline reporter for TSNs broadcast, I had a front row seat. With the unscripted drama playing out on the pitch, Schallibaum std powerless, at times, to the events unfolding in front of him. He told me in our morning meeting at the team hotel about that feeling he gets when he needs some of his players to be extensions of himself during the game. When the speed intensifies, he wanted calmness, some authority from his senior players. The decisions to play Nelson Rivas in his first game for 13 months and hand Matteo Ferrari the captains armband were attempts from the coach to bring the leadership from the side and on to the pitch. The attempts turned out to be nothing more than just that. When Ferrari got dragged out of position, lost his fting and left a gap for Houston to exploit for the first goal, Schallibaum turned in disgust and threw his gum to the ground. Fifteen minutes later, the ball was inches from him on the right side when his right back, Hassoun Camara couldnt find an outlet and gave the ball away. Seconds later, a foul in their own box, a penalty and a second goal left Schallibaum in tatters. He lked desperately for a replay of the Hernan Bernadellos foul and when he realised the stadiums video board wouldnt give it to him, I pointed to TSNs screen I had next to me for the replay. He waved me off. In a split second, the former player had gathered himself and knew full well it was a foul. He talked briefly with his assistants about the issue of the lack of outlets for Camara in the buildup and, down 2-0, now, more than ever, his players were lking at him. Constant misplaced passes were met by hand gestures and regular walks towards me with his back to goal. I got the feeling if there wasnt a stand behind me with fans in it, he might have kept walking. Back on the touchline, the coach gave RDS aan interview on 30 mihat was evolving on the stage in fronnutes, as he does for all games, and one he needed to be commended for, considering wt of him.dddddddddddd At half-time in my interview, he tried to maintain some positivity but was unable to filter himself. A minute earlier, he was the conductor of an orchestra without instruments inside a drained dressing rm of professionals who needed to be lifted. Time was running out and at such moments, he decided to react on impulse. There were no spreadsheet scenarios thought out ahead of time. This was on gut feeling, based around individual errors. When Andrea Pisanu cut inside and gave away another ball with a pr pass, Schallibaum signaled to his staff to call for Andres Romero. Sn after, still down 2-0, Andrew Wenger again lost the ball to centre-back Eric Brunner. Another signal came and this time, it was a double change. Schallibaum turned around again. He lked at me and, feeling the need to justify the changes, just said we need to get a goal! He was all-in at a card table with a terrible hand. It would get worse. Much worse. A red card for Rivas, a third goal for Houston, and a leg injury to Ferrari with all the subs used. There was still 20 minutes left and if he had a white flag, he would have raised it. Montreal were deflated, distraught and defeated. Schallibaum had nowhere to go. Fans behind us mocked him. "Doctor Phil says its okay to cry," shouted one. "Start the plane - time to get home to Canada," mocked another. Sport is a great theatre, one that brings out a whole range of emotions. The often emotional Schallibaum used this time to observe his silence. His players were not as reserved and a melee at the end saw two more sent off, leaving the Impact with eight men to finish the game. Eight men knocked out of the playoffs at their first attempt. It certainly was a nightmare Halloween for the coach and his team, and as Montreal traipsed off the field for the final time in 2013, their coach finally got to express his emotions behind closed drs. It isnt always easy to be yourself on the sidelines," he told me earlier in the day. Win, draw or lose, even like this; he still wouldnt want to be anywhere else. ' ' '