To play devils advocate what other potential market besides QC already has an established fanbase and foothold in their given market? Also another team in close proximity would ease travel issues for the entire EC. I can understand your concern but Hartford is a separate market from NY it wouldn't fight over anything except for perhaps Fairfield county, MSG doesn't even broadcast their games here.
If they were looking at an eastern based team... why choose Hartford over Toronto2/Southern Ontario or QC? Both would almost certainly do better than Hartford.
Wiki said:Compuware founder Peter Karmanos pledged to keep the Whalers in Hartford for four years when he purchased the team in 1994. However, two years later, frustrated with lackluster attendance and little corporate support, he announced that if the Whalers were unable to sell at least 11,000 season tickets for the 1996–97 season, he would likely move the team.
Not that there were not other issues... but again... I see multiple other places that are a lot more attractive than Hartford.