NHL only vaguely denies major expansion rumor.

National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman has a reputation, at least in Canada, of having no love for Canadian teams, and some fans have long since doubted just how likely the NHL would be to expand with another team in Canada under his watch. This rumor certainly won't be helping that reputation.

A major bombshell was dropped on 91.9 Sports in Quebec, specifically regarding the likelihood of Quebec City getting the expansion franchise they so desperately have been craving since the departure of the Nordiques to Colorado. According to George Laraque , a man who has worked closely with the NHLPA in the best, a source within the Players' Association revealed to him that Las Vegas would receive an expansion franchise, while Quebec City on the other hand would not. It's a scenario many have predicted from the very start.

It's important to note here that while Laraque is a former player, he does not usually break major stories of this kind, although his ties to the NHLPA certainly add a great deal of credibility to his statements on this topic. It's also worth noting that while 91.9 Sports tweeted out this story(in French) at the time Laraque revealed it on their airwaves, they have since removed that tweet following a denial issued by the NHL. However we managed to grab a screenshot before they pulled it down.

Now this brings us to the aforementioned denial via NHL Public Relations, one that at no point refutes the statement by Laraque, and one full of vague language that only suggests the process is ongoing.

"We will not comment on the substance of our process, which remains ongoing. No Final decisions have been reached and no recommendation of any kind has been made or communicated by the League Office or the Executime Committe either to the NHL Players' Association or tyo the NHL Board of Governors," said Bill Daly in the official statement.

It does make you wonder why the NHL would not flat out state that there was no truth to Laraque's statement, and it certainly makes you feel for fans in Quebec City if this turns out to be more than a rumor.

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