Yes and no. The NHL never really wanted a team in Hartford and a group of way more influential owners badly wanted the team out. Hartford has a relatively low ceiling for a sports franchise, it would perpetually be a small market team. So they orchestrated the sale to an owner who wanted to move the team, who then did his best to suppress attendance to build the case for relocation. Hartford fans met the attendance and season ticket sale goals Karmanos said he needed to keep the team in Hartford, and he moved it anyway.