Bill Daly reveals exactly why the NHL isn't expanding to Quebec City

For decades now, the dream of bringing the Quebec Nordiques back to the NHL has lingered in the hearts of hockey fans across the province and beyond. Ever since the franchise packed up and moved to Colorado back in 1995, there has been a constant drumbeat of hope that one day, professional hockey would return to Quebec City. The city even went ahead and built a state-of-the-art arena in anticipation. But despite all the enthusiasm, all the lobbying, and all the infrastructure, the NHL still hasn't pulled the trigger. And now we know exactly why.

The Missing Piece Has Always Been Ownership

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly appeared on The Eye Test Podcast with Pierre McGuire and Jimmy Murphy this week and laid it all out in plain terms. When asked about the Quebec City situation, Daly didn't dance around the issue or offer vague corporate speak. He was blunt.

"I think the biggest issue that we have faced with Quebec City is that we have not identified an owner who is either willing to pay the price tag," Daly said.

That's really what it comes down to. The league hasn't been able to find someone who is both willing to fork over the massive expansion fee and committed to operating a franchise in the city for the long term. And this isn't a new problem. Daly pointed out that the NHL has been exploring Quebec City as a potential home for a team for at least a decade, going all the way back to when the league was simultaneously evaluating Las Vegas as an expansion destination.

Of course, we all know how that played out. Las Vegas found its willing owner in Bill Foley, who paid the expansion fee and brought the Golden Knights into the league back in 2017. Quebec City, meanwhile, was left on the outside looking in. And the conversations have continued in the years since without producing a serious ownership candidate.

To put the financial hurdle in perspective, the current expansion fee is reportedly sitting at around $2 billion USD. For a Canadian buyer, that translates to roughly $2.8 billion CAD given today's exchange rate. That is four times what Foley paid to land the Vegas franchise less than a decade ago. It is a staggering number, and it helps explain why the line of potential owners isn't exactly stretching around the block.

Daly also acknowledged that the Canadian dollar presents its own set of challenges. The currency has continued to lose ground against the US dollar in recent years, which only makes that price tag look even more daunting for prospective Canadian buyers. However, Daly was careful not to frame the currency issue as a dealbreaker.

"Does that present challenges? Sure it presents some challenges, no doubt about that; but I think the state of our game in Canada and each of our Canadian cities is strong," Daly said.

So the league isn't writing off Canadian markets by any means. All seven existing Canadian franchises are performing well financially, and Daly seems genuinely open to the idea of Quebec City joining the fold someday. The problem remains finding the right person with the right resources and the right commitment.

A Dream on Hold, Not Dead

What makes the Quebec City situation so frustrating for fans is that so many of the pieces are already in place. The 18,259-seat Centre Videotron is sitting there ready to host NHL games. The fan base is passionate and has been hungry for top-level hockey for nearly 30 years. The historic rivalry with the Montreal Canadiens is one of the most storied in the sport's history, and reviving it would be a gift to the entire league.

But without an owner stepping up, none of that matters. Daly confirmed that the league has continued its conversations, meetings, and explorations with parties interested in bringing a team to Quebec City, but the right fit simply hasn't materialized.

Meanwhile, the expansion spotlight appears to be shifting elsewhere. Daly confirmed that there are active discussions with an ownership group in Texas that is willing to pay the expansion fee, with Houston and Austin emerging as the leading candidates. On top of the $2 billion fee, a Texas franchise would also need to build a new arena, reportedly adding another $1.5 billion to the total cost. Quebec City's existing arena should theoretically be an advantage, but it hasn't been enough to overcome the ownership void.

The Nordiques' return isn't dead. Daly's comments make that clear. The league is still interested, and the door remains open. But until someone with deep enough pockets and a long-term vision steps forward and writes what would be one of the biggest checks in sports history, the people of Quebec City will have to keep waiting. And after 30 years, that wait is getting awfully long.