[News] UPD: NHL BOG approves Las Vegas as 31st team for 2017/18. $500 million expansion fee

[sureLoss]

^ Well they did pay the application fee. Might as well be on hand

Probably going to get asked few questions about why QC didn't get a team.

[Par]

What time is the press conference? Anyone know?

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

So today is the day we get the official confirmation and rules for the expansion draft?
Any idea what time?

I don't think the draft rules will necessarily be finalized as part of today's announcement.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Well this is interesting. Pierre Dion - Quebecor's President and CEO - will apparently be at the press conference. Reliability of source not known.

https://twitter.com/MarioWRoy/status/745588900912062464

Maybe they're announcing the timeline for the move from Carolina to Quebec City?

[LanceUppercut]

Originally Posted by Par

What time is the press conference? Anyone know?

2PM Calgary, 4 PM Eastern.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

I don't think the draft rules will necessarily be finalized as part of today's announcement.

They did state that they would have the rules established in time for a draft and a free agency (in other words, a full year before the actual expansion draft)

They should be announced today (or very soon)

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Maybe they're announcing the timeline for the move from Carolina to Quebec City?

Possibly? Hard to imagine either a relocation or expansion being announced today, given the complete lack of news and speculation. It would be one hell of a job keeping either story under wraps.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Possibly? Hard to imagine either a relocation or expansion being announced today, given the complete lack of news and speculation. It would be one hell of a job keeping either story under wraps.

There was no lead-up to the announcement of the sale and move of the Thrashers to Winnipeg. I don't doubt that an announcement for the relocation of the Hurricanes could be part of today's PC.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

There was no lead-up to the announcement of the sale and move of the Thrashers to Winnipeg. I don't doubt that an announcement for the relocation of the Hurricanes could be part of today's PC.

There was, actually. TSN was speculating over a month before the announcement that it was possible, which Yahoo! picked up on.

[SuperMatt18]

I feel like Carolina is going to end up in Quebec today.

Quebec didn't go through the application process, have owners willing to pay the expansion fee, have a new rink built, to then just not get an expansion team.

Carolina's owners need out, the league wants to leave one more expansion location open in the west, and relocation for Quebec became the best option.

[troutman]

People are just guessing:

LV 2017
QC 2018

[Toonage]

I'd like to think they're bringing out Quebec reps just to point and laugh at them. Gary's a bully.

[Resolute 14]

Also, as far as relocation goes, not a chance they would announce relocation after the schedule was released. Only way that works is if Quebecor is willing to lose gobs of money on a lame duck final season in Carolina.

[troutman]

https://translate.google.ca/translat...hui&edit-text=

Sources said the VAT journalist Stéphane Turcot the president of Quebecor, Pierre Dion will attend the press conference at the invitation of Gary Bettman and will answer questions from the media. The league should address the issue of Quebec, according to the journalist. "I hope that the speech will be clear net and precise genre Vegas, so, for 2017, and Quebec is delayed it to 2019, or just Quebec that is finished," says Mr. Turcot broadcast on 102.1 BLVD.

[Yoho]

Ooh I would not like the thought of a 2019 expansion draft.I'm thinking we lose someone that hurts by then.

[troutman]

Bilingual Board set-up for press conference:

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

The Quebec group balked at the $0.5 B expansion fee, didn't they?

Nope. They have even staffed up their MLSE equivalent. They are ready when the NHL is.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by troutman

Bilingual Board set-up for press conference:

Huh.

[Flamescat]

I remember the day The ATL to WPG rumour broke, and there was a lot of smoke, but nothing concrete, then that Stephen Brunt article was posted and then the footage of Bettman at the game when he kept checking his phone.

https://vine.co/v/hEwvHh1W3zp

That timeline was May 19th, 2011 Stephen Brunt article in the NatPo leaking the sale.
May 24th, Still no confirmation, being denied by Atlanta, the NHL and even True North.
Official announcement was made on May 31st at a press conference.

So I think until a deal in place leaks out, nothing has happened. I don't think that many people can keep their mouth shut, and we won't get confirmation for days.

Then again.. the quebecor guy will be there.. well, I'll be tuning in.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Huh.

The screen is in English and French, and some are reading into this that there will be an important message for QC.