Hilary Knight #21 of Boston shakes hands with former Boston Bruins player Patrice Bergeron (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The NHL returned to Quebec City for several preseason games at the Videotron Centre. The Los Angeles Kings hosted the Boston Bruins on Thursday evening, October 3rd, and the Florida Panthers on Saturday evening, October 5th.
With expansion talk in the news, many fans hope that Quebec City will one day get another NHL franchise. One of those people is former Boston Bruin and Quebec native son Patrice Bergeron, who spoke with RG.
"I mean, it'd be amazing," Bergeron said. "I think that's what the city would want and has been wanting for years now."
The city has wanted a team since the Quebec Nordiques relocated to Colorado in 1995 to become the Colorado Avalanche. That Nordiques team won the Stanley Cup in 1996. Many factors contributed to the team's departure, including the building.
The old La Colisse needed help to accommodate NHL hockey. As much as the fans wanted pro hockey to return to Quebec City, they needed the correct facility. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has always wanted an NHL-ready facility for a team to relocate to or expand to, and now they have it with the Videotron Centre.
"That's why we built this facility and building," Bergeron added. "I think the market is definitely there. I think the love of the game is there. We'll see, you never know. I hope for the fans but also for the younger generation too. I grew up idolizing Joe Sakic because I was a Nordiques fan. They were here back then. So I know the impact that they can have on kids, on the game and whatnot. So yeah, we'll see what happens. I hope so. But I know there's a lot that goes into that question."
But it was not all about Quebec City getting an NHL team back.
A preseason game was played, and his former club, the Boston Bruins, were in town. Despite coming on the losing end and Jeremy Swayman, their number one goalie, needing to be signed, Bergeron still likes his former club's chances this season.
"I think they're gonna be great," Bergeron said. "They're a good team. I think they're deep. You have a lot of depth, I guess at every position. So I think it's gonna be a good year for them, hopefully. But I think it's gonna be like, it's gonna be a lot of you know, it's a tough division. The Atlantic is obviously stacked, but I really believe in them, and hopefully, they can make some damage."
After the games this weekend, as Bergeron said, you hope everything aligns for the NHL to return to Quebec City.
Jim Biringer
