Colorado Avalanche giving Nordiques fans a double middle finger?

The Colorado Avalanche want to cosplay as the Quebec Nordiques, spurring controversy. But is it really a middle finger to Quebec City?

Alright, time for Article No. 2 of Puck the State, where I put forbidden takes on all things hockey that you won’t get in the mainstream. Today, I’m talking about two things: Middle fingers and cash grabs.

So, the Colorado Avalanche recently announced they’ll be cosplaying at times as the Quebec Nordiques. Predictably, the normies out there cry “cash grab,” while claiming wearing those good old threads is like sticking a giant middle finger into eastern Canada, where Quebec City resides.

Okay, I can sense the frustration here. Kinda.

But for a guy who loves the old Nordiques and that incredible shade of blue, I’m all for bringing them back at the moment. Hell, why not wear these threads against the Carolina Hurricanes, who could cosplay in white Hartford Whalers sweaters?

Cash grab? Could be. But for so many of us, we call it bringing on the nostalgia. 

Colorado Avalanche can and should bring back the Nordiques uniforms

For now, at least, it’s a great idea. The Avs roots are in Quebec City, not Denver.

It’s not like the Avs were founded in 1995-96. Yeah, I agree that it sucked seeing them win the Cup that year, and this is coming from a guy who’d become a Nordiques fan in two seconds if the team ever came back.

It also sucked seeing Colorado win it all in 2001 and 2022. So, as you can decipher, I don’t like the Avalanche and never will.

But right now, the Avs bringing back the Nordiques unis as an alternate is the only way those of us who’d root for that old team can see them on the ice again. That said, they can wear them as often as they want, and I’ll pull for the Avs during those cosplay games.

Now, suppose the NHL expanded into Quebec City, but the league, for some strange reason, didn’t let the prospective team revive the name. Now, we got a problem.

The Tennessee Titans-Houston Texans situation in the NFL

Let’s shift gears to a league that I barely even recognize anymore. In 2023 and 2024, the Tennessee Titans cosplayed as the Houston Oilers and did so twice against their AFC South rivals, the Houston Texans.

That’s a giant middle finger. While it was great to see the Oilers uniforms on the field again (they’re the best in NFL history), wearing them against the Texans just wasn’t right.

Why not wear them against the Jacksonville Jaguars? The Titans are the Jaguars oldest rivals, having played in the same division (AFC Central, AFC South) for their entire existence.

That would’ve made sense. Or what about against the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Cleveland Browns? Now, we’re bringing that nostalgia back, not throwing middle fingers.

If Quebec City had a new team with a new identity and no history?

If the league never gave a prospective team in Quebec City the name Nordiques, then what? Suppose the they expanded into Quebec City, and that was the case, so ownership went with the name Bulldogs instead.

Yep, “resurrecting” the name Quebec Bulldogs, much like how Ottawa “resurrected” the Senators. Anyway, I’d be more than cool with the Avs cosplaying as the Nordiques against someone like the Montreal Canadiens.

But against the Bulldogs in this scenario? Nah, they’re diving straight back into that giant middle finger territory. That would be wrong.

Not a problem unless the Avalanche make it a problem

Right now, it’s not a problem for the Avs to wear the Nordiques uniforms. Hell, I’m welcoming it just so I can see those beautiful threads on the ice again.

But they don’t need to rub it into Quebec City’s face should the latter get an expansion team and was forced to call it something other than Nordiques.

So, until then, wear the uniform, Colorado, as you have every right to. Just make sure you wear them against the right opponents – ahem – the Canadiens….or the ‘Canes cosplaying as the Whalers…

Think this is bold? Wait till you see what I write in fiction.

I’m not just here to drop truth bombs about hockey—I write dystopian, liberty-driven fiction too. Check out my latest books for more politically incorrect content.