Tuesday, July 21, 2009

551...Hockey News, After All, It Is July In Canada

QMI Agency had a story this morning in the Ottawa Sun that Pierre Karl Peladeau, who lives with the funniest woman on the planet, Julie Snyder, wants an NHL team for Quebec City.

Mr. Peladeau, who was rebuffed in his attempt to buy the Montreal Canadiens, makes the solid point that "Quebec City is a hockey city...more than certain American cities..."

He is right there of course.

And then again, he is wrong.

Quebec City's problem is that it is Quebec City.

When attracting talent, reference Eric Lindros, it comes down to location, location, location and Quebec City is a place that star players don't want to play in.

Location is also what spiked the Vancouver Grizzlies. If you recall, the most likely first ever draft choice of the NBA team was Stephon Marbury who said he wasn't going to go to Vancouver, to close to Russia for his liking, so they had to pass on him. Ditto their last obvious draft, Steve Francis said he wouldn't go to Van. They drafted him but he invoked, among other things, God's will, and forced a trade to Houston where he was co Rookie of the Year. It just isn't a town that NBA stars want to be in.

Same with Quebec City. Attracting third line players, no problem, but the higher you get up the food chain, the less likely the player [and his wife, you cannot forget they have to live there too] will want to play in the town.

Not hating, just stating.

WFDS

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