No, the Nordiques are not back, but there will be NHL hockey in Quebec next year. From October 2-6, the Los Angeles Kings will be at the Videotron Center for the home stretch of their training camp and two preseason games.
the newspaper learned the news, which will be confirmed this morning during a press conference where team president Luc Robitaille will be present to reveal the details.
We’ve already learned that on Thursday, October 3rd, the Boston Bruins will be in town for a preseason game against the Kings at the Videotron Center.
It could be a great opportunity to greet the newly retired Patrice Bergeron, in his hometown with his former team in attendance, but no information has been filtered to that effect. So far, the only certainty is that the Bruins, who are still atop the Atlantic division with a hot start, will be there. To take care of their former captain.
Two days later, on Saturday, October 5, it will be the turn of the Florida Panthers to take the ice against the Kings. The Stanley Cup finalists are also off to a strong start to the season.
It should also be noted that some trainings will be open to the public.
Test?
It is difficult to explain the reason for the presence of the Kings at this point, but the connections between colleagues from Quebec and Robitaille certainly did not hurt. One thing is for sure, hockey fans will not complain about it.
After winning two Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014, the team experienced a slump, but has returned to the playoffs in the last two seasons and continues to improve.
It will also be a chance for fans to spy Quebec forwards Pierre-Luc Dubois and Phillip Danault, who are both in the front row.
Is this once again the famous “test” to demonstrate the persistent interest of Quebec fans in National League hockey? This term has been overused in the past, although Quebec no longer has to prove itself in this regard, and Gary Bettman has repeatedly reiterated that he never doubted the “passion of the people of Quebec”.
Return
Regardless, the NHL hasn’t played a preseason game at the Videotron Center since September 20, 2018, when the Canadiens and Washington Capitals took the ice.
The Kings will make their first appearance in Quebec. Several NHL teams have played exhibition games there over the years, but this is the first time a team will stay there for part of their training camp.
It will be the fourth appearance for the Bruins. They were the first in a series of Canadian pre-season games in Quebec that began in 2009 and then returned in 2016 and 2017.
Moreover, this game drew just 9,248 spectators in the fall of 2017, the lowest attendance ever for an NHL preseason game in Quebec.
Other teams that have had a presence in Quebec over time are the Islanders (2010), Lightning (2011), Hurricanes (2013), Avalanche (2002 and 2014), Penguins (2015) and Maple Leafs (2017). .
