Yardbarker
x
Does it have to be a Quebecois to bring back the Nordiques?
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The subject of the Nordiques’ return has been the talk of the town for years. There are quite a few people who would like to see a second team in the province… but at the moment, the project is making no headway.

There have been meetings between the Québécois government and the NHL, but we’re a long way from an agreement.

And this morning, the subject came up in Renaud Lavoie’s column on BPM Sports. The tipster noted that the whole thing is at a standstill because, at the moment, no one is stepping forward to bring a team back to town.

And that’s when Anthony Desaulniers, part of the morning team at BPM Sports, asked himself this question:

Does it have to be a Québécois [to bring back the Nordiques]? – Anthony Desaulniers

What Desaulniers notes is that the Quebec City market comes with advantages that other markets don’t have: a fan base already established and an arena already built. Already, there’s a good basis for attracting interest… and of course, it’s hard not to think of George Gillette.

There’s a reason he came to the Canadiens: he saw what a solid base he had.

That said, there are a few obstacles: someone south of the border who has a ton of money and wants to invest in an NHL team might want a team closer to home, and we know that right now, the relationship between Canada and the United States isn’t exactly rosy.

There are advantages, but there are also risks.

On the other hand, considering how quiet this project is at the moment, we have to ask ourselves whether this is perhaps the best chance of seeing the Nordiques return. Pierre Karl Péladeau, who worked hard on this project, no longer wants to be the main owner of a team in Quebec City (even if he wants to be part of a consortium if such a team ever arrives), and perhaps the big investor could come from south of the border.

In the current context, I wonder if that would be well received, though. But that’s a question for another day.

Overtime

In addition to the casino question, the Habs are also cooking up prospects on ship and submarine issues at the Combine.

– It starts any minute now, for those interested.

– I love this.

This article first appeared on Dose.ca and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!