The Quebec Nordiques were one of the four 1979 additions from the WHA to join the NHL. After departing for Colorado, they may be headed back to the world’s top league.
Through the 1980s and early ’90s the Nordiques experienced both successful seasons that included reaching two conference finals and losing seasons that included an ugly 12-61-7 record during the1989-90 season.
Overall, the Nordiques had some very competitive teams during their time in the NHL, but the franchise fell into financial difficulties and eventually in 1995, the Nordiques moved to Colorado and were renamed the Colorado Avalanche.
The first season in Denver went perfectly as the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in the 1995-96 season and again during the 2000-01 season.
Now, more than 20 years later, Quebec City may be getting their NHL team back as the NHL contemplates expansion again.
Last Monday, news agency Quebecor tweeted out that Quebec City was a candidate for NHL expansion.
We confirm that we submitted our candidacy for the #NHL expansion process in order to bring the #Nordiques back to #Québec City.
— Québecor (@Quebecor) July 20, 2015
With Las Vegas being the only other city up for NHL expansion, now the question remains, which conference would Quebec City and Las Vegas have their NHL team in is. The answer is not as concrete as it may seem.
Recently, in an interview with the Boston Globe NHL commissioner Gary Bettman conceded that both new teams could end up in the Western Conference saying, “The answer is that’s something we would obviously have to consider. The experience with Winnipeg in the Southeast was less than ideal. The experience over time with Detroit and Columbus in the West — and they’re farther west geographically — they couldn’t wait to get into the East. So geography is an issue. But the fact that we identify it as an issue doesn’t mean we’ve reached a conclusion. It means it’s one of the things that has to be considered.”
For Avs fans, if the Quebec Nordiques were realigned to the Western Conference, that would certainly add a different dimension to Avalanche vs. Nordiques games. This would be a surreal experience for Avalanche fans, as you see Nordiques jerseys on a nightly basis at Pepsi Center during Avs games.
However, looking at the history of the Quebec Nordiques, during their time in the NHL, they had a historically fierce rivalry with the Montreal Canadiens of the Eastern Conference.
Maybe creating an eight-team all Canadian Division would be the best solution. Winnipeg, which is a small market in Canada has been a rousing success with the Jets having one of the best attendances in the NHL.
Whatever Bettman and the NHL decide, it needs to be a decision based on the history of the sport and not necessarily the easiest solution.
The last two teams to enter the NHL as part of an expansion of the league were the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild for the 2000-01 season. With expansion looming, realignment will be at the forefront of all discussions.
As of late July, the Quebec Nordiques look well on their way to becoming an NHL franchise again.
Sammy Mugharbil, a Mile High Sports intern and student at MSU-Denver contributed to this report