Carolina Hurricanes: NHL Commisioner Gary Bettman Says the Canes Aren’t Going Anywhere

In attempts to dispel all rumors surrounding a potential relocation involving the Carolina Hurricanes, Gary Bettman makes a forceful statement in support of keeping the team in Raleigh for a long time.

Rumors have swirled around about the possibility of the Carolina Hurricanes relocating and finding a new home, but according to the commissioner of the National Hockey League, it ain’t happening.

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“I don’t think anyone needs to worry about the future of the franchise in Carolina,” Bettman said in an interview. “Peter is exploring his options, but there is no rush, no pressure, no timetable. I am certain if he sells the franchise he will continue the legacy of having the franchise in what has been a strong market and keep it where it is.

“People should not be concerned about something fueled by media in other locations. Everything Peter is doing is being done to ensure the long-term future of hockey in the Triangle. That’s where the league believes it should be and where it will be.”

Carolina Hurricanes majority owner Peter Karmanos Jr. has been in talks to sell his share of the team, but as Bettman said, there is no timetable and no one feels as if there is any rush. It appears that, when the sale is made, it will be to a group that has its eyes on keeping the Hurricanes in North Carolina for the long haul.

The Carolina Hurricanes rank last in the NHL with an average home attendance of 11,411. They are filling up, on average, 61.1% of the PNC Arena, according to ESPN.com.

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15 games into the 2015-2016 season, the Canes sport a record of 6-9-0, which is good for 7th in the Metropolitan Division and 14th in the Eastern Conference.

The club has formed a young core with the likes of Justin Faulk, Jeff Skinner, Elias Lindholm, Victor Rask, Jordan Staal, Noah Hanifin, Brett Pesce, and Ryan Murphy all in the mix at the NHL level, along with Haydn Fleury, Jaccob Slavin, Brock McGinn, Trevor Carrick, Alex Nedeljkovic, and Sebastian Aho amongst others who have yet to even make their NHL debuts but are expected to make a significant impact at the highest levels of professional hockey.

The only way for the Hurricanes to get more people in the stands is to win, as Eric Staal has made clear in the past. Now is a better time than ever to start winning, especially with the ugly attendance numbers looming over the franchise.

Despite the unimpressive on-ice performance, the Canes have one of the brightest futures of any franchise in the league, and it appears that Bettman knows this and has no interest in moving the team. If Gary Bettman says a team isn’t going anywhere, that team isn’t going anywhere.

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Carolina will play four straight games and five of their next six at the PNC Arena. Some solid play at home should bring in more people to those games. The Hurricanes are just 2-4-0 at home this season. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets are the only clubs with fewer wins in their own arena this season.

For more information about Bettman’s comments and the club’s future in Raleigh, go to NewsObserver.com.