Years ago now, 8 years ago to be pretty much be exact, I was told by a two sources VERY familiar with the situation that the NHL and the City of Quebec held high level meetings and the city was promised by the league that if they built an arena the NHL would be back.
They built it.
And yet....when it comes to expansion lately the word "Quebec" is barely being mentioned, despite the fact that the NHL has put just as much research and work into the Quebec bid as it has the Vegas one. And the Quebec bid is VERY solid I am told.
Remember, back in July Quebecor Inc. AND Las Vegas Hockey Vision (aka Black Knight Sports and Entertainment LLC submitted applications, along with the $10 million fee..2 million of which was non-refundable. Both groups put in a ton of time and serious money....the NHL didn't just blow off Quebec. The fact that news has been so quiet out of Quebecor to this point is only a positive sign for those of us who want to see the Nordiques skate again. The NHL has many very firm policies about the expansion process, and the biggest BY FAR is "Say nothing."
So there is no public news....and even if people were talking about Quebec behind the scenes, and I am 100% sure in facc they are, no reporter would be able to discuss it.
But there are people who know. and there is a logic and methodology the NHL sticks to...
One such person in the know did speak to me on the record. He/she said, The NHL knows with total confidence a team will work in Quebec...Remember the ticket drive in Vegas? Now try to remember the ticket drive in Quebec...The NHL didn't even ask for one. Again..nothing here is just happening by chance right now.
There are those who are saying the Nords won't get a team because they NHL needs to balance out the East and West. Not at all. I was assured, and Gary Bettman has even said before publicly I believe, that the complications of who plays in which conference has no bearing. If all the checkmarks fit and the team looks stable they are will be given every opportunity to pay their money and play hockey. Everyone wants the same thing here.
The ONLY issue with Quebec that cold hold any weight is the Canadian dollar....There is plenty of uncertainty right now regarding that but NOT having a team in that fancy new building sure won't help the economy in Quebec. That is a certainty.
One source does believe the NHL may, in the end, leave it up to the Quebec owners as to whether to start in 17-18 or after. I have heard they want to start in 17-18.
And as an aside, I do believe it is much easier for the executive committee to put in two teams at the same time. Do they really want another year of questions about this? What will really change in a year's time?
More to come when I land in San Jose. I fully expect a different game out of these teams tonight.