Quebec City mayor speaks with Gary Bettman about return of Nordiques to NHL

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to reporters after the NHL board of governors meeting in Montreal, Wednesday June 24, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

QUEBEC CITY, Que. - The return of the Quebec Nordiques to the NHL may be one step closer to reality.

Quebec City mayor Regis Labeaume confirmed Saturday that he met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman along with former Nordiques owner Marcel Aubut.

The mayor said the talks between him, Aubut and Bettman in New York on Friday were "fruitful."

"It was very welcoming, very profitable, very worthwhile," Labeaume told the media.

"But we'll get back to you in a few days - we still have work to do."

Several Quebec City media outlets are also reporting that a new arena for the city will be announced next week.

Bettman said earlier this month he would consider Quebec City as a possible home to an NHL team if it went through with plans to build a cutting-edge arena and if a team were up for sale.

The Nordiques were sold in 1995 and moved to Denver as the Colorado Avalanche.