Paul Kelly wants more Canadian franchises

From TSN:

NHLPA Executive Director Paul Kelly weighed in on the side of NHL expansion into Canada and increased revenue sharing on Team 1040 radio in Vancouver on Thursday.

“We’re very supportive of the Canadian franchises, not only because of the history and tradition, but also because of the results,” Kelly explained on the TEAM 1040.

“I mean the Canadian fans are like no others,” he continued. “They’re passionate, they come out and support it, they buy the merchandise, and they’re knowledgeable about the sport. And it seems to us a no-brainer that if you’re going to expand or you’re going to relocate, that you first and foremost have to consider some of the major hubs here in Canada. You know, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Quebec City, perhaps Halifax if they had an arena that could sustain an NHL team. But I think there are locations in Canada that would strongly support the NHL game.”

Read the entire article here.

I couldn’t agree more with Kelly. The game needs to move back to its roots and where it matters most. There are many successful American NHL franchises, but the ones in the south that have been struggling for some time are the most likely candidates for any franchise relocation.