The Associated Press asked Gary Bettman about the topic that won't go away--NHL expansion--and Bettman revealed a little more than he usually does about what the league isn't doing:

"If we go through a formal expansion process, then we will have to evaluate that very question," Bettman said Tuesday during an interview with The Associated Press inside his Manhattan office. "What we are doing is continuing to listen to expressions of interest, and we're pleased that there are lots of expressions of interest, but we haven't and are not ready to deal with them in a very structured, formal way and make that decision."

Before any expansion discussions can be held, the NHL will have to decide how many teams is enough, and if adding others will water down the product.

"That would require us to do an analysis we haven't done," Bettman said. "If you look around, there is no list on the wall ranking cities where we're not. We're listening. There is apparently a lot to listen to, but at this point that's all we're doing."

And now that the Coyotes are again firmly entrenched in Arizona, there is no immediate risk of any team moving, either.

"There is no reason to relocate," Bettman said. "The 30 franchises have never been healthier, never been better owned, never been more stable."

The interview continues, and Bettman also appeared on Sportsnet's HockeyCentral At Noon prograram to talk about Sportsnet's new TV deal, the opening of the 2014-1 season, fighting, and yes, troubled franchises: