Commentary: Persistent & Consistent

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We can all agree the most exciting two words in sports are “Game Seven”.

Lately it’s been my experience that the single most exciting word in sports is “Expansion”.

As a years-long talkshow host, I know there are few things sports fans like to debate more than expansion in their favourite sports leagues.

I enjoy it too.

How did this come up today? Because the Los Angeles Kings are playing a pair of exhibition games in Quebec City this week – including tonight versus the Boston Bruins – at the VideoTron Centre. Saturday they’ll take on the Florida Panthers.

That arena opened in 2015 and at a capacity of about 18,200, it’s the second-largest arena in North America that doesn’t host an NHL team. (Can you guess the largest?)

The Quebec government is getting criticized for spending $5-million to $7-million on hosting these games but clearly it’s an attempt to lure the NHL back to the Quebec capital.

Money well-spent if you ask me.

And, for whatever reason, expansion has been a hot topic in the NHL the past few weeks with pundits saying the league could grow to 34 or 36 teams within the next decade. Atlanta, Houston and Kansas City seem to be at the front of the line.

And then there’s Quebec City, who’s been passed over recently as the League has opted for Las Vegas and Seattle instead. But you’ve gotta admire Quebec’s ‘never quit’ attitude don’t you?

They just want the NHL so bad.

One of my favourite sayings in Recovery is, “If you are persistent you will get it, and if you are consistent you will keep it.”

I can vouch that works for sobriety, but I’m just not sure that concept applies to NHL expansion.

But it really feels like we’ll find out over the next few years.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary.

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm & 4 pm ET on Game+TV, WQEE Radio, Podcast & YouTube Live)