NHL commissioner Bettman seems open to idea of return to Winnipeg, Quebec City

[doniceage]

CHICAGO - Gary Bettman seems more open than ever to bringing NHL franchises back to Winnipeg and Quebec City.

The NHL commissioner has been open about the league's interest in the two cities recently. He says it has more to do with the economics of the sport than a change in his point of view.



http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...daily_20100608

[30ranfordfan]

keep dangling the carrot Gary.......

It's not happening. Get over it. Only way another team comes to Canada is via a $300 million expansion fee. Relocation here is never going to be a true option. It makes no sense for the other 29 teams.

[Pheebs888]

Keep dangling Sean? Bettman has not once in the past ever said he was willing to consider giving a team back to Quebec...When the NHL came here in 2007 and I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Bettman, I couldnt resist asking him when Quebec would get a team back and I must say he looked really annoyed at the question...

[duwal]

keep dangling the carrot Gary.......

It's not happening. Get over it. Only way another team comes to Canada is via a $300 million expansion fee. Relocation here is never going to be a true option. It makes no sense for the other 29 teams.

exactly, and the sale of the franchise would have to be approved by all of the owners of the other teams. And there have been a couple of the other Canadian franchise owners who said they'd vote against it in order to not lose any of their teams fanbase

[30ranfordfan]

lately he's backed off on the "never" stance. This isn't the first time in the lat 6 months he's hinted that Quebec or Winnipeg could be suitable markets to put a team. I'm not sure what the motivation is - to keep the fans in potential Canadian markets at bay? Hope that you scare Long Island into building a new arena?

I've posted my opinion on this several times. The NHL is a business. It would be a HORIBILE business move for the NHL to move a team to Canada, and I don't beleive it will ever happen.

Keep dangling Sean? Bettman has not once in the past ever said he was willing to consider giving a team back to Quebec...When the NHL came here in 2007 and I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Bettman, I couldnt resist asking him when Quebec would get a team back and I must say he looked really annoyed at the question...