When no local buyers emerged for the team and a proposed Canadian government assistance program for the six remaining Canadian teams was canceled following public disapproval, it was feared that the Canadiens would follow the Winnipeg Jets and Quebec Nordiques in relocating to the United States.
Cando ningún comprador local xurdiu e o programa de axuda do goberno do Canadá proposto para os seis restantes equipos canadenses foi cancelado logo da desaprobación popular, temíase que os Canadiens seguiran o mesmo camiño que os Winnipeg Jets e os Quebec Nordiques en ser reubicados nos Estados Unidos.