I come back again to Gary Bettman and particularly to the press briefing he gave on the sidelines of his visit to the Bell Center on Monday, during the very first game in the history of the National League (NHL) broadcast in streaming on Prime. Of course, the commissioner was questioned about the possible return of the Nordiques to Quebec.
Without appearing annoyed – that would be too strong – the big boss of hockey in America still rolled his eyes before putting the lid back on the pot, and again making a commendable effort to extinguish even the smallest flame that could remain lit.
In short, Bettman said that no one had yet shown a real desire to obtain a concession in favor of the city of Quebec. And that no one had filed a case meeting the circuit’s standards in this regard.
In other words, dissatisfied with keeping Quebec away from the executives of his league, the commissioner places the responsibility for the absence of the Nordiques on any local promoter who, oh, sacrilege, would have failed to present a proper offer in order to obtain a team. As if we had to swallow that with a file presented before Salt Lake City and meeting NHL standards, André Tourigny’s Coyotes would currently be playing at the Videotron Center.
When it comes to excelling at evasiveness, Gary Bettman is a master. Fortunately, it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Fortunately, there is a limit to housing teams on American soil. And above all, fortunately, no one is eternal, not even Gary Bettman, although I tend to suspect him of believing that he could be. Bettman is 72 years old and he has reigned over hockey by favoring the market of our neighbors to the south since 1993. That will make him somewhere between 84 and 87 years old when the Nordiques return. I hope that from up there, they will bring him to life at that time, but I just as much hope that he will be recluse and retired, enjoying his old days.
Eight Canadian teams
Here, I seem to be announcing the return of the Nordiques… and in fact, that’s not bad, yes. I would even add that the question is not whether Quebec will find its team, but when it will do so.
Nothing says that the colossal sums that Bettman will ask for in broadcasting rights from 2026 will not find an equitable relationship with market shares, the crucial audience ratings. Eventually, even GAFAM risks becoming cautious about unprofitable investments.
However, new money will always be needed. Always, we will have to feed the beast and justify to governors the billions they will have spent to obtain concessions and build arenas. One day not so far away, the NHL will have 36 teams: 28 in the United States and 8 in Canada, a proportion that will please Bettman.
The eighth Canadian team is likely to be Quebec, while Winnipeg may have moved its home to the Greater Toronto Area. Quebec will, I am convinced, have its ticket, but it will be the 36th and last of a movement of expansion of four new concessions which will extend over 12 years from probably 2026, giving existing teams three years between each new entry in order to rebuild their strength and have some worthy players to make available during the expansion drafts.
Until then, Gary Bettman holds the party line: he pouts and rolls his eyes. Somewhere, he demonstrates that he has nothing to worry about the hypothetical return of the Nordiques.
Understand a little better by listening to the commissioner say why Geoff Molson has a good time saying that if the opportunity presents itself, he will vote for the return of the Nordiques. The big boss of the Canadian knows very well that as long as Bettman is in charge, he will never have to exercise his famous right to vote in favor!
