Two preseason games could be sign for Senators and Canadiens to start a new tradition

From 1979-1995, one team the NHL had was the Quebec Nordiques. In 1995, the Nordiques left Quebec City to relocate to Denver, Colorado. That is where the Colorado Avalanche were established.

What stung for Quebec fans was in the first season the Nordiques moved to Denver, the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 1996. In 2001, the Avalanche won their second Stanley Cup. A true punch to the gut for Nordique fans as they will always wonder what a Stanley Cup celebration would've looked like in Quebec.

While the Winnipeg Jets returned to the NHL in 2011 after relocating from Atlanta, the NHL never brought back the Nordiques. However, there may need to be some talks about a new tradition in Quebec City if the NHL chooses not want to bring the Nordiques back with recent news on the Ottawa Senators.

Senators playing two preseason games in Quebec City next season might be sign to play annually with Canadiens in Quebec City

Earlier today, the Senators announced that next season they will be playing two preseason games in Quebec City at Videotron Centre. The games will take place on Sept. 28 against the New Jersey Devils and Sept. 30 against the Montreal Canadiens.

Before the Nordiques relocated, their rivalry with the Canadiens in the Battle of Quebec was one of the most intense rivalries in the NHL. The rivalry died when the Nordiques left in 1995. However, the Canadiens would then begin a rivalry with the Senators.

With the Senators having two preseason games next season in Quebec City, it could make sense for the Senators and Canadiens of having a tradition of playing a regular season game in Quebec City if the NHL chooses not to bring a new team to Quebec City. The Senators and Canadiens have a strong case to play a game in Quebec City annually.

The Canadiens are the only team in the province of Quebec. Downtown Ottawa is around 10 km to Gatineau, Quebec. According to Best in Ottawa, almost 45 percent of people in Ottawa speak both English and French as of February 2024. In Quebec, French is the main language spoken.

With French being popular in both cities of Montreal and Ottawa, the Canadiens and Senators are the two best teams in Canada to start a new tradition of playing in Quebec City. It would also take the Canadien fans back of going to games against the Nordiques in Quebec City from many years ago.

When the announcement was made that the Senators would play two games in Quebec City, Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot was at the press conference. Chabot is a Quebec native along with David Perron.

There's no doubt that many people in Canada want the Nordiques to return. However, two Senators preseason games next season will be the closest Quebec City will get to having an NHL team playing in Quebec City any time soon. But, a tradition with the Senators and Canadiens playing one regular season game a season might need to be talked about.