Quebec fans send message to NHL and ...

Quebec fans want their team back

Quebec Nordiques fans by the truck load descended on historical Plaines d'Abraham to drum up support for a return of their team, who had moved to Colorado,following the 1994-95 shorten season.

The message was also clear that the canadian government should put up the money for a new building.It was also a message sent to the NHL brass,that this market must be given back a franchise.With struggling franchises in non traditional markets,the NHL's board of Governors can not overlook a good potential market like the one in Quebec city.According to hockey columnist,Yvon Pedneault,Gary Bettman has given a drop date for the franchise in Phoenix.If no owner is found by December 31st of this year,there is a good chance, the Coyotes will be relocated.No particular alternate market was mentionned,but with the demonstration yesterday in Quebec,it will be hard to pass by.The teams in the canadian market represent 31% of the yearly revenues for the NHL.

The hockey news recently polled NHL players and asked where the NHL put a team via either relocation or expansion.Quebec City got 33 votes,Winnipeg 18 and Las Vegas 12.

Should the league look in to the Islanders cap situation ?

Larry Brooks from the NY post thinks it should.The Islanders have been able to reach the cap floor because of the Yashin and Whitt buyouts,which total in a $6,088,400 cap hit.Brooks wonders why the league is not too worried about this,as they where with the Kovalchuck contract contraversy.

What's in store in the next CBA ?

Pierre Lebrun from ESPN,takes a look at possible points the NHL would like to change in the next round of CBA talks in two years.Lebrun mentions the following points as ones the league and the NHLPA may look over.

• Lower the percentage of the players' share from the revenue pie from the current 57 percent (which would obviously lower the salary cap).

• Explore the magnitude of the payroll range; the current gap is $16 million from the higher to lower limit (this season, it's $59.4 million to $43.4 million).

• Try to scrap salary arbitration, which has long been a thorn in the league's side, especially now in a cap system.

• Adjust the age for unrestricted free agency.

Records since the lockout

Eastern Conference

Team	Rank	GP	W	L	OL	PTS
New Jersey	1	410	240	134	36	516
Buffalo	2	410	230	136	44	504
Ottawa	3	410	223	144	43	489
NY Rangers	4	410	209	146	55	473
Caroline	5	410	215	156	39	469
Montreal	6	410	211	153	46	468
Pittsburgh	7	410	208	153	49	465
Washington	8	410	204	151	55	463
Boston	9	410	197	151	57	451
Philadelphie	10	410	194	165	51	439
Floride	11	410	183	167	60	426
Atlanta	12	410	188	176	46	422
Toronto	13	410	181	172	57	419
Tampa Bay	14	410	176	184	50	402
NY Islanders	15	410	171	191	47	389

Western Conference

Team	Rank	GP	W	L	OL	PTS
Detroit	1	410	257	101	52	566
San Jose	2	410	248	114	48	544
Nashville	3	410	228	143	39	495
Anaheim	4	410	219	139	52	490
Vancouver	5	410	224	146	40	488
Dallas	6	410	221	144	45	487
Calgary	7	410	217	146	47	481
Minnesota	8	410	208	159	43	459
Colorado	9	410	206	167	37	449
Chicago	10	410	195	165	50	440
Phoenix	11	410	193	186	31	417
Los Angeles	12	410	181	183	46	408
Edmonton	13	410	179	188	43	401
St-Louis	14	410	169	180	61	399
Columbus	15	410	175	187	48	398

That's all for now.