2023-05-17 23:38:57
Former NHL defender Philippe Boucher revealed on Wednesday to “JiC”, having recently spoken to a former senior executive of the National League who sincerely believes that everything is in place for Quebec to get its Nordiques back fairly quickly.
Boucher spoke on the heels of the Arizona Coyotes’ most recent setbacks, which seem closer than ever to a move even though commissioner Gary Bettman’s right-hand man, Bill Daly, has indicated the team will stay in its 5,000-seat arena in Tempe for the 2023-24 season.
The former glory of the Dallas Stars (among others) said he met, a little over a year ago, this former leader, whom he does not want to name, in an airport in Florida.
“He said to me, ‘Phil, I believe in it. The checks are ready, there is more than one group that is capable of bringing a club to Quebec. There is a lot of money in Quebec, more than the world. think. There are people who are ready to do it, and it’s going to happen in the next couple of years, or it’s not going to happen.” We are talking about about 14 months ago, he is someone I respect a lot, ”he explained.
“I still believe in it, but it should happen soon,” added Boucher.
The former number 43 then pointed out that Quebec would not be, within the NHL, the kind of poor relation that some imagine.
“We are going to sell boxes, there are companies that are doing very well,” he said. Include Beauce in there, there’s a lot of money and companies doing well in Beauce, there’s a lot of people I know from Rimouski who have season tickets for the Canadiens, do you think there wouldn’t there be in Quebec? Add the Saguenay to that… we have a market for it. We would have nothing to envy to Winnipeg or Ottawa.”
“There is more than one group ready to make the check, all we need is the green light from the National League and we have been waiting for it for a few years”, he then summarized .
For now, the number one candidate, should the Coyotes move, would be Houston. For some, hockey could experience a success similar to that which it obtains in Dallas, but it is quickly, according to Boucher, who believes that everything would nevertheless remain to be built.
“Yes there would be people (…) but it’s not a natural market like Quebec,” he said.
In short, for Boucher, who is from the Quebec region, it is imperative that the NHL turn its eyes for real to the Old Capital.
“I’m not getting carried away, I’m a realist, but the realist in me tells me that we’re ready,” he explained. We are ready, we are here, knock on the door, there are groups that will give you the check, but Mr. Bettman, please look over here, not just south of the border.
Watch the full interview in the main video.
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