“We’ll begin with the 2 preseason video games and we’ll go from there. For me, that is the imaginative and prescient. If we will play in Sweden, we will play in Quebec. That may be good,” Andlauer says on the potential of common season video games
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The Ottawa Senators are bringing the Nationwide Hockey League again to Quebec Metropolis within the fall.
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Nevertheless it’s just for a very good time, not a very long time.
Senators proprietor Michael Andlauer confirmed at a press convention in Quebec Metropolis on Monday that his membership will spend 4 or 5 days within the space subsequent fall as a part of their coaching camp in September and host two exhibition video games on the Videotron Centre.
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Andlauer additionally famous relying on how this experiment works that someday sooner or later the Senators would contemplate internet hosting a few of its regular-season dwelling video games within the metropolis.
However Andlauer instructed reporters that transferring the membership to Quebec Metropolis isn’t an possibility even being thought-about and that he nonetheless believes within the Ottawa-Gatineau area.
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He’s attempting to get a take care of the Nationwide Capital Fee finalized for the acquisition of 10 acres of land at LeBreton Flats and that continues to be the main focus.
The NCC said after its annual assembly on Thursday that they hope to have the settlement carried out by the tip of 2025. Andlauer would really like it to occur quicker, however is assured it should get carried out.
“I might have thought that we’d have had an settlement carried out as we speak,” Andlauer mentioned.
Naturally, Andlauer was requested if there’s an possibility for the Senators to maneuver to Quebec Metropolis if a deal for a brand new enviornment falls by at LeBreton Flats.
That introduced an emphatic response.
“No. I’ll say it straight, no. I really like Ottawa-Gatineau and I really like our followers. It’s viable,” Andlauer mentioned.
The 18,259-seat Videotron Centre opened in 2015 with the hope that the NHL would return to town, however that hasn’t been the case.
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As Postmedia reported on Sunday, the Senators will face the arch-rival Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. whereas the membership may also host the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 3 p.m.
Andlauer mentioned he views this as a possibility for the Senators to assist develop their model within the province of Quebec. All of the Senators regional video games on TSN are proven in Japanese Canada from right here to Newfoundland.
He has mentioned that he needs his membership to be a group for the Ottawa/Gatineau area and needs to make inroads on the opposite aspect of the Ottawa River with strikes like this.
There isn’t any want to fret about the way forward for the Senators in Ottawa and this isn’t Andlauer attempting to check out a brand new market to maneuver his group.
He reiterated he would like to see the Nordiques return to Quebec Metropolis and assist a bid for an enlargement franchise. However famous that the choice rests with the NHL.
Andlauer didn’t rule out the potential of having his group play some regular-season video games in Quebec Metropolis down the highway, however famous that may be as much as the NHL’s head workplace to find out if it’s reasonable.
“We’ll begin with the 2 pre-season video games and we’ll go from there,” Andlauer mentioned. “For me, that’s the imaginative and prescient (taking part in regular-season video games).
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“If we will play in Sweden, we will play in Quebec.”
That won’t sit effectively with Ottawa followers.
After the late proprietor Eugene Melnyk handed away in March 2022, La Presse reported the Senators had been in negotiations with the Nationwide Hockey League and the provincial authorities to play regular-season video games in Quebec.
These talks had been halted by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after the story leaked, however Postmedia was instructed it may have been as many as 5 dwelling video games on the Videotron Centre.
The mere point out of that story introduced a adverse response from the followers.
In contrast to the Los Angeles Kings, who held a part of their camp in Quebec Metropolis final fall and performed two exhibition video games, the Senators gained’t be receiving any funding from the provincial authorities for this go to.
Quebecor government Martin Tremblay made it clear that gained’t occur as a result of the provincial authorities invested $5-7 million to carry the Kings to city.
“I by no means had the intention of asking for presidency funds,” Andlauer mentioned. “I used to be slightly shocked to inform you the reality, like many Quebeckers.”
Andlauer said the group is giving up some income by transferring these video games out of the Canadian Tire Centre to Quebec Metropolis, however he feels it’s useful to the membership’s model.
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Andlauer was accompanied by Senators president Cyril Leeder and alternate captain Thomas Chabot, who makes his low season dwelling within the Quebec Metropolis space, for the announcement on the rink.
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Former Senators’ ahead Antoine Vermette, who suited up for 359 video games with the membership over 5 seasons, additionally was available.
“We are able to’t wait to get in entrance of the Quebec Metropolis crowd for a portion of our coaching camp,” Leeder mentioned. “Quebec Metropolis was the apparent vacation spot, and we’re very excited to see our gamers in motion on the ice at Videotron Centre.”
Although Chabot was given the choice to take the break day with the remainder of his teammates after back-to-back video games towards the Toronto Maple Leafs and Utah Hockey Membership on the weekend, he insisted on attending.
“He needs to indicate off his hometown,” Andlauer mentioned of Chabot.
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