WISDOM OF CANADIENS PURCHASE WOULD DEPEND ON DEAL

The Montreal Canadiens aren't even officially for sale yet but speculation is already swirling over who would buy one of the economic crown jewels of the National Hockey League. Karl Moore, a business professor at McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management, says that while the Canadiens have valuable assets and it would be great to have a local owner, it all comes down to price and whether or not the franchise is a good investment.

The Caisse would also have to take into account that buying what to many Quebecers is a piece of their heart is a lot different than scooping up some real estate. It could even be a distracting investment, Moore said. "It's an emotionally engaging investment for anyone in Quebec," he said. "It would be something where it would be almost inevitable that you would be drawn to spending time there when you really should be focused on your job of managing the investments which are now in Quebec but also worldwide.

CTV, March 29, 2009