While we’ve gotten caught up on what a big deal it is now for Quebec City to look into getting an NHL team back there, what with their desire to build a new arena and the “Blue March” to rally support for the old days of the Nordiques, it turns out the NHL players might want to go back there too. Adam Proteau of The Hockey News conducted a player survey to find out which city they’d like to have an NHL team call their home and the runaway winner was none other than Quebec City.
According to THN’s latest player poll, Quebec City is the clear choice as deserving of a franchise. Out of 90 players polled, 33 (or 36.7 percent) picked the capital of La Belle Province; Winnipeg was next with 18 votes (20 percent), followed by Las Vegas (12 votes/13.3 percent), Hamilton (11 votes/12.2 percent) and Seattle (five votes/5.6 percent).
Other cities receiving votes were Toronto, Houston and Kansas City (all of which received two votes each) and Stockholm, Prague, Halifax, N.S., Saskatoon, Sask., and the Kitchener-Waterloo region of Ontario (which each garnered one vote.)
With Hollywood mogul Jerry Bruckheimer always getting the ear of commissioner Gary Bettman, his wont for a team in Vegas will always be there. Seattle is fascinating not just because of their proximity to Vancouver but also because it’s a city that the NBA has abandoned and has rabid fans of their own. Just check out a Seattle Seahawks football game or a Seattle Sounders MLS game for proof.
As for Quebec City, their main problem the first time around for players were taxes and culture there, but Proteau hears from former Nordiques player and current Panthers play-by-play man Randy Moller about what could make it work this time around.
“Winning cures most ailments and that’s the way it was there,” the native Albertan said. “When we were winning, a lot of that stuff was swept under the carpet. But unfortunately, it rears its ugly head - as it does in a lot of places - when the team isn’t winning.
“As long as you respect the French culture and their language - and I did - you’ll be embraced by the people there.”