I think you're vastly underrating how much Canadians hate Gary Bettman. Winnipeg and Quebec City were not financial viable markets at the time. Calgary is not even close to being nonviable. To move the Flames when other markets are black holes isn't gonna be rooted on by other Canadians, especially given how Bettman has done everything but sell himself on the street to keep the Coyotes losing $30-50 million a season. It will be extremely poorly received in this country, regardless of rivalries.
Plus consider the standard that would be set for all the non-Toronto/Montreal markets (and yes Vancouver has to be included because it's mostly a fair weather fan base): Give in to owner demands, or lose your team. Who would be happy for that to be the new standard?
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"Think I'm gonna be the scapegoat for the whole damn machine? Sheeee......."
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