Bettman debunks report Hurricanes could be on the move

A lawsuit involving Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos and his three adult sons has no bearing on the state of the franchise, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman maintains.

Speaking with SiriusXMNHL's Scott Laughlin and Boomer Gordon on Wednesday, Bettman said while the family dispute is unfortunate, it doesn't mean the club is in any jeopardy.

"It's led to unfortunate speculation about the Hurricanes and that speculation is really unfounded," said Bettman. "People are opining on things they don't know anything about. The fact of the matter is that franchise has been in good hands, remains in good hands, and we don't see that changing in the near future.

"And frankly, we don't see the franchise relocating anywhere, which has been part of the speculation. We like the Carolina market, we like the fan support, and they're working very hard to make sure that franchise can be successful."

Bettman's statement comes two days after a report emerged citing two NHL executives who suggested the Hurricanes could be relocated to Las Vegas, putting expansion on hold for the time being.

The commissioner concluded by saying the speculation "just isn't right."