And I was having such a pleasant weekend too.
30 Thoughts has quickly become one of the most widely read hockey columns. Each week, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman provides a collection of news and behind the scene info from around the National Hockey League.
It’s a good column. Well it usually is.
This week, Friedman snuck in a note that certainly has the potential to rile up the Sens fan base a little bit. A thought on relocation really shouldn’t be something we have to concern ourselves with but a couple sentences from an insider seem to suggest otherwise.
Here’s what Friedman had to say…
26. Where does that leave Quebec City? One week ago, Brian Mulroney, Chairman of Quebecor’s Board of Governors, told LaPresse that city’s bid is “not for tomorrow.” It is expected Bettman will ask Quebec City to wait as Winnipeg did, while Carolina sorts out its ownership situation and Ottawa continues negotiations for a new arena. Bettman again threw cold water on the Hurricanes moving and people will wonder why Ottawa is even being mentioned, but a smart commissioner always keeps his options open — just in case.
Uhh pardon?
Whether intentional or not, Friedman seems to be making the claim that on a list of potential relocation candidates, the Ottawa Senators would be second behind the Carolina Hurricanes.
The way I read it was that if the Senators were to run into trouble with their LeBreton negotiations, relocation would be a possibility. He seems to be suggesting this is something on Bettman’s radar too.
I think we all recognize that the LeBreton move is an important one for the team and that winning the bid was huge for Eugene Melnyk. I said it often during the lead up to the LeBreton decision and it’s worth repeating- the Senators aren’t going anywhere. The way Bettman hangs on to franchises in struggling American markets it’s ridiculous to think he would even consider moving a team out of Canada’s Capital.
Yes Ottawa has had financial issues in the past and yes, their Owner can be a tad unpredictable. But that doesn’t make them a legitimate candidate for relocation.
Not only does Friedman’s note seem like an incredible leap, but it’s strange for him to even mention it without more substance. I get that the 30 Thoughts format doesn’t lend itself to detailed explanation but if you’re going to make such a dramatic claim, it might be worth backing it up with some details.
Certainly hope Friedman has plans on elaborating at some point.
Actually, never mind. I think I’d rather just pretend I never read it.
