Quebec is really behind the eight ball. If they could get a team at the same terms Winnipeg did in 2011 they might be able to handle the debt as True North paid $170M USD in 2011 but now the NHL will be getting $650M (USD) for Seattle. That is 835 million loonies.
The person taking control of the Hurricanes has to agree to stay in Raleigh for at least 7 more seasons which I suspect is tied into the lease at PNC Arena.
If Arizona can't figure out a long term option we now have Houston lurking. So what options are left for Quebec City?
Ottawa depends entirely on the proposed downtown arena. Calgary will get a deal done, not at the terms the Flames wanted but that franchise won't move. South Florida is a market Bettman will fight for.
The Nordiques should have been able to get funding for a new arena in Quebec back in 1995 but the Canadiens moved heaven and earth to prevent that from happening. Keep in mind the Canadiens were in financial trouble then as the new Centre Molson was costing far more than expected. The baseball Expos would wind up dying in the crossfire.
@Frenchy - Nobody has to tell me how good a hockey market Quebec City was as I experienced it first hand. It is a tossup who was more inept - Marcel Aubut or Claude Brochu.
Badaboum weeps tonight