Some fans will feel discouraged after hearing the Bruins' owner's take on Quebec getting a NHL team

BarDown Staff

Former Quebec Nordiques captain Peter Stastny. , Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images

As the NHL continues to expand, it appears one interested city might get left out.

Quebec City has been searching for a new team since losing the Nordiques in 1995 and has attempted to find a replacement for quite some time. But according to Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, it doesn’t look like a second team will be returning to the province any time soon.

On Wednesday morning, Boston Bruins on CLNS host Jimmy Murphy reported that Jacobs doesn’t expect to see an NHL team in Quebec City in the near future due to the small market (income, TV) and later claimed Houston might be the next city in line after Seattle.

#NHLBruins owner Jeremy Jacobs made it clear that due to market (income, TV) he doesn’t see a NHL team in Quebec City anytime soon. Cited Houston maybe being the next after Seattle.
— Jimmy Murphy (@MurphysLaw74) May 16, 2018

Houston was put on the map when Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta expressed interest in bringing a team to the city. The Rockets' Toyota Center is already available and would be a realistic home for a hockey team.

Which logo would you choose if Houston gets an NHL team? 🤔

A post shared by TSN (@tsn_official) on Nov 17, 2017 at 8:41am PST

Hockey fans didn’t exactly take too kindly to Murphy’s tweet. Here’s how they responded:

I would ask him how a relatively big market like Atlanta did. Or how Carolina, Phoenix and Florida are doing. Quebec City would do better than all those.
— Evan (@Y2JEvan) May 16, 2018

I just look at Winnipeg as an example. They are about the same size market and are successful. I'm sure there is more to it than that but I see them as something the league would like to see duplicated.
— Evan (@Y2JEvan) May 16, 2018

When Winnipeg got the Jets back canadian dollar was a lot stronger. Now when it is weak it's unlikely that NHL will expand there.
— Maxwell Jeremy (@MaxsWetStache) May 16, 2018

QC City would be fine. The networks are already set up for them & are owned by who would be the likely owner of the team. The fans are there as well. He created TVA Sports just for that team in the first place. Take your pick of Arizona, Florida or Carolina and move it to QC City
— David Mariez (@kuliddar) May 16, 2018

Translation: Jacobs does not see a Canadian expansion team paying as much as a US team for the entry fee.
— InMarshmontWeTrust (@pasbermar) May 16, 2018

If you're a Steak House, will you put your restaurant in a small but full of carnivore market or go to a large market full a vegetarians ?
— Andre Sauvageau (@ASauvageauJr) May 16, 2018

It’s reasonable to believe Houston would succeed with a NHL team. It’s more than double the size of Quebec City and the Stars’ large following is nothing but encouraging. Time will tell which of the two cities emerge as the favourite if an opportunity arises in the league.

(H/T r/Hockey)