Las Vegas and Quebec City advanced to the third and final formal stage to land NHL expansion franchises.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed the development in an email to The Associated Press on Friday.
Daly referred to the third stage as "the last formal phase," but added, "it does not necessarily constitute the end of the process."
A person familiar with the process told The AP that the third stage involves the NHL reviewing the applicants' business plans and revenue projections. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the NHL has not revealed the details of the process.