The arena has been approved by the city of Calgary and is under construction.
- JRocknRoll

no it isn't. a design hasn't even been unveiled yet, though the budget HAS been approved.

Eklund: Source: We could see a team re-locate to Quebec the year after Seattle
- Eklund

Quebecor is hemorrhaging cash , they've sacked almost everybody in their TVA sports division.

If anyone's migrating, it's Arizona to Houston to become the Aeros again

Shoulda been done years ago, Quebec is a great hockey city.
Bring back the old logo and memories...

QC population: 550k + surrounding area

Houston population: 2.3 million + surrounding areas

Which do we choose for a team first? Oh yea, the city the league already left.
- gocanes0506

people who enjoy hockey and would likely pay to watch games

QC + surrounding area: 450k

Houston + surrounding area: probably about 11 people

Yes, but we can only hope.
As a Canucks fan, I have hoped for both Seattle and Portland to eventually have teams, preferably would have liked relocation and not expansion though, as the talent is already watered down.
- Reubenkincade

disagree. Population growth, popularity of the sport, increase in global scouting, training and development. All have increased greatly over time. Plenty of talent to go around.

There's very little chance that Quebec ever gets another team. It was a pipe dream when the Canadian dollar was on par with the American dollar, but now there's no way. It makes zero sense from a business perspective and will just be another team that the other owners have to support and no players want to play for. It'd be worse than Winnipeg, and who wants that?

They'd fill the building sure, but there aren't enough major local businesses to throw money at them. Any merchandising and media income isn't really an addition since it'll be cutting into Canadiens' revenue. The Canadiens are pretty much treated as the local team already.

The only way Quebec gets a team is if the only other option is to delete a team. And even then, deleting a team probably makes more sense.

TBF, when you look at the hockey climate and histories in the areas, QC seems to be the better fit for success. The Nords were supported by fans, it was the government that failed them and gave them little support; a new and larger/better arena most likely would have done the trick. Houston is not a hotbed for hockey, whereas QC would draw fast from a greater hackey base... if they have adequate and welcoming support this time around. Quebec City is a fantastic city to take a hockey trip to; in fact, I've personally visited multiple times without any hockey factored in.
- ForeverFlyer16

you should run for president, you nailed it.

Amen

Harris and Blitzer are private equity bros that for some unknown reason got into sports as a portfolio diversification. They treat their franchises like hedge funds and are incredibly savvy at upping the value of franchises they take over, but all of their decisions are purely profit driven and they meddle with the decision making process of their FOs to that end using the "expertise" of their sports guy Scott O'Neil. Great for business, awful for on ice/on court product type of owners.

-signed: A Sixers Fan
- Victoro311

You have very Valid Points on Harris/Blitzer. I have always said its about the arenas and not the teams with these guys. I do see a very bright future with the Devils in spite of how they handle the team. Fitzy is doing a bang up job thus far.
I am relieved in knowing that the Harris/Blitzer bid for the NY Mets fell short, I shudder to thing what they would have done with them. When the Wilpons pulled SNY network off the market, the possible new toy lost its shine and didn't increase their bid to buy the team. I feel for the Sixers fans. They deserve better then what they have been getting

Quebec City Islanders!!!

hope barzal loves poutine.

Done deal!

Would the NHL really want to add another team to Canada and risk the FX issues that have risen in the past? I would love a team in Quebec, but not sure the financials make sense of it.

Houston would be a reasonable fit, Kasnsas City would be okay.

I think the teams hurting would have to include Florida and Arizona. 3rd one is a bit more tricky... Ottawa? New Jersey? Anaheim?

There's very little chance that Quebec ever gets another team. It was a pipe dream when the Canadian dollar was on par with the American dollar, but now there's no way. It makes zero sense from a business perspective and will just be another team that the other owners have to support and no players want to play for. It'd be worse than Winnipeg, and who wants that?

They'd fill the building sure, but there aren't enough major local businesses to throw money at them. Any merchandising and media income isn't really an addition since it'll be cutting into Canadiens' revenue. The Canadiens are pretty much treated as the local team already.

The only way Quebec gets a team is if the only other option is to delete a team. And even then, deleting a team probably makes more sense.
- Hunkulese

Also once this pandemic is over who will have 500 million lying around for transfert fees

Quebec really deserves a team.
Whatever team they end up with will be hot garbage, though, so I'd start looking at whoever sucks and has the worst fair-weather fan-base/worst attendance record.
- Nh_kong

No one is going to KC bruh

people who enjoy hockey and would likely pay to watch games

QC + surrounding area: 450k

Houston + surrounding area: probably about 11 people
- sensarmy_11

beat me to it, exact count !

There's very little chance that Quebec ever gets another team. It was a pipe dream when the Canadian dollar was on par with the American dollar, but now there's no way. It makes zero sense from a business perspective and will just be another team that the other owners have to support and no players want to play for. It'd be worse than Winnipeg, and who wants that?

They'd fill the building sure, but there aren't enough major local businesses to throw money at them. Any merchandising and media income isn't really an addition since it'll be cutting into Canadiens' revenue. The Canadiens are pretty much treated as the local team already.

The only way Quebec gets a team is if the only other option is to delete a team. And even then, deleting a team probably makes more sense.
- Hunkulese

All of this is stupid. Congrats. You actually appear to know less than Eklund

All of this is stupid. Congrats. You actually appear to know less than Eklund
- BringNYIhome

Great rebuttal. You had the perfect argument against each of my points.

Quebec City Islanders!!!

hope barzal loves poutine.

Done deal!
- bruceflyers

They’re building a new arena moron. Mix in a clue

All of this is stupid. Congrats. You actually appear to know less than Eklund
- BringNYIhome

He's right.

Quebec City would be the smallest market in the NHL by quite a large number and the NHL wouldn't gain any new fans in the process.

Great rebuttal. You had the perfect argument against each of my points.
- Hunkulese

I don’t have the time to argue all that’s wrong with your post. It’s uneducated nonsense.

I would think a list of teams most at risk would look something like this:

1) Arizona
2) Florida
3) Ottawa
4) Columbus
5) Carolina
6) Winnipeg
7) Nashville (I remember reading rumors that surprised me)

The Devils still make tons of money, and QC isn't a great bet for a place in which to earn more. I don't see it happening, especially considering the taxes.

Quebec should use the current situation to turn the tables a little bit. The league is going to have to abandon some of these 'never a hockey market anyway' cities like Miami and they're going to need places like QC which can guarantee sell outs and be a profit generator not a league wellfare receiver. Nothing will temper the joy of those happy little Quebecers faster than the first trade the team has nixed by an NMC. Canadian teams generate the money, share the wealth so that teams can survive in cities where ice doesn't exist outside of a drink only to find the top players all have Canadian cities filling up their NMC's. QC should make nixing NMC's a part of any deal to help the league with one of it's wellfare teams. PA can chose whether they want to lose the jobs that contraction will cost them as well as the league revenue that another sold out arena would generate or lose the NMC's. The current situation plays Canadian fans for suckers and it should be corrected.

He's right.

Quebec City would be the smallest market in the NHL by quite a large number and the NHL wouldn't gain any new fans in the process.
- BINGO!

Winnipeg is more or less the same size.

Great rebuttal. You had the perfect argument against each of my points.
- Hunkulese

He's right.

Quebec City would be the smallest market in the NHL by quite a large number and the NHL wouldn't gain any new fans in the process.
- BINGO!

They have a team in Florida that has 45 fans. They can gain more fans if they move that 💩show to Quebec

Quebec should use the current situation to turn the tables a little bit. The league is going to have to abandon some of these 'never a hockey market anyway' cities like Miami and they're going to need places like QC which can guarantee sell outs and be a profit generator not a league wellfare receiver. Nothing will temper the joy of those happy little Quebecers faster than the first trade the team has nixed by an NMC. Canadian teams generate the money, share the wealth so that teams can survive in cities where ice doesn't exist outside of a drink only to find the top players all have Canadian cities filling up their NMC's. QC should make nixing NMC's a part of any deal to help the league with one of it's wellfare teams. PA can chose whether they want to lose the jobs that contraction will cost them as well as the league revenue that another sold out arena would generate or lose the NMC's. The current situation plays Canadian fans for suckers and it should be corrected.
- OilyJay

Except there are no serious buyers