The Videotron Centre in Quebec City (Photo by populous.com)
Ottawa Senators team owner Michael Andlauer raised some eyebrows and seemingly caught the NHL off guard this past Monday.
In a press conference announcing that his team will host two preseason games at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City next September, Andlauer didn’t pull any punches on his feelings about the NHL potentially returning to Quebec City full-time.
“Quebec deserves, in my opinion, an NHL team, but that will not be on my file,” Andlauer told the assembled media.
Andlauer wasn’t done, though, and what he said next surprised NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.
“In the future, I hope we can play a few regular-season games in Quebec City,” the Senators owner said.
“If we can play in Sweden, we should be able to play in Quebec City. That's a decision the NHL must make.”
In a phone conversation with RG, Daly didn’t have an issue with Andlauer’s sentiment on a potential return to the city they left for Denver back in 1995 but seemed taken aback at the suggestion of playing regular-season games at the Videotron Centre.
“He said what?” Daly asked when notified of Andlauer’s comments. “Well, I don't have any inside information here; all I read is that there was an announcement that Ottawa would be playing some preseason games in Quebec City.”
After clarifying what the Senators and former minority owner of the Montreal Canadiens said, Daly offered his take on Andlauer’s idea and the potential for a permanent return of NHL hockey to the former home of the Quebec Nordiques.
“So, that was the first I've heard of it, and I think it's the first I've heard of that,” Daly told RG. “We talk to Michael on occasion about potentially playing games in Quebec City, so I don't view the Quebec City news as big news because we played preseason games there in the past, including last September with L.A. and Boston. I mean, it should be newsworthy from a novelty standpoint.”
Daly however didn’t rule anything out, saying that more discussions needed to be have before he and the league could promise anything moving forward.
“Look at the end of the day; it's a beautiful facility, the Videotron Center, and we know they're passionate about hockey there.
It only makes sense if you're looking for places to play preseason games, in particular; that would be a logical location to look at,” said Daly. “Again, I haven't given much thought to whether we think of it as a neutral site for regular season games. I wouldn't rule anything out, but I don't think it's anything that we've given much thought to.”
The main obstacle to bringing NHL hockey permanently back to Quebec City has always been the city's financial infrastructure, but now, combined with the rapidly declining Canadian dollar and the likely $2 billion expansion fee, any return for the NHL to Quebec City seems like a pipe dream.
“There hasn’t been anyone who has stepped up and been willing to pay a $2 Billion expansion fee. Until that happens, it’s a non-starter,” a high-ranking NHL executive source told RG. “Even the government, who in the past has promised they would help finance a new team, has yet to deliver. Until that happens, it’s all pure speculation.”
James Murphy
