 The EIG were spearheaded by Cal Nichols, who had a commitment to retain NHL hockey in Edmonton.The deal was finalized on May 5th, and thus prevented them from being the third Canadian team to move in the 1990s and the fourth former WHA team to move in successive years (Quebec had moved in 1995, Winnipeg in 1996 and Hartford in 1997).The Oilers received support from the NHL for this very reason.