While you're not wrong about the league's focus on US broadcast deals, one must take care to never say never.
How many people thought Atlanta would be a part of the conversation to get an expansion team when the Thrashers moved in 2011? I might have been among the only people who had a level of optimism that the region would ever get another go at it. Today, Atlanta is firmly in the conversation, with most insiders now bullish on the idea themselves.
There's no reason at all QC can't also make the same return, regardless of the idea they're "already served" by another team. There are challenges, but they're not insurmountable.
Before moving the Nordiques were drawing near 15,000 average per season.
they had a pretty loyal and rabid fan base. so the market was there even when "served by another team".
the difference between Pre Cap relocation and Post Cap relocation CANNOT be overstated.
Markets that lost teams "pre cap" were substantially handicapped in ways that markets that lost teams "post cap" never were.
QC and Winnipeg were trouble and full of issues from Ownership to arenas and local politics.... but the way the league operated and the lack of transfer payments, big TV deals etc.. was a much larger impact on those teams leaving than "the market size" or attendance.... from the beginning those teams were built to fail because the NHL BOG really didn't want them to succeed. Edmonton was the exception because they got Gretzky..5 cups MADE them a success....that's it. no great one? 90% probability the Oilers failed too.
Comparing the Thrashers and dogs to those failures to Winnipeg QC and Hartford is like comparing a DC3 to a Airbus A220.
so for expansion?? the league really needs to pay attention to the sport and it's success and it's markets....
Watching Atlanta piss away a third NHL Franchise is a game some BIllionaire wants to play? fine.... I guess....Watching AZ flail around after 30 years of proof there is no market in the valley? absurd and pathetic....throwing teams hither and yon for the lucrative payments from new owners? ok but it's not going to help the game long term. because blatant cash grabs look tacky and diminish brands....
The League is doing the sport, itself, and the fans a huge disservice if it chases all that cash and but still won't put teams in markets where they actually exist.... QC.