“With the [new] arena in Seattle, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put hockey back into the Seattle/Portland marketplace and we have to make a commitment to that. There’s a new building being built in Quebec. They are way ahead of anyone else as to considerations because we took a team from Quebec. [The Nordiques moved to Denver after the 1994-95 season.] I think we owe Quebec another shot. Seattle, Kansas City, Quebec, Las Vegas right now, are all way ahead [of Toronto]. There’s not a second team coming to Toronto in any time in the near future.”

-Tim Leiweke, MLSE president and chief executive officer, at a speech yesterday. David Shoalt of the Globe and Mail has more from Leiweke.