Quebecor has applied for an NHL expansion franchise with the aim of bringing the Nordiques back to Quebec City.

The company confirmed the move on Twitter today, saying the company had submitted its candidacy to the National Hockey League.

We confirm that we submitted our candidacy for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHL?src=hash">#NHL</a> expansion process in order to bring the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nordiques?src=hash">#Nordiques</a> back to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qu%C3%A9bec?src=hash">#Québec</a> City. —@Quebecor

​Interested parties must apply between July 6 and July 20.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has said the expansion fee will be at least $500 million US.

Quebecor, which will be responsible for operations at the new 18,259-capacity Videotron Arena in Quebec City, is among several groups, including Las Vegas and Seattle, that have expressed interest in an expansion franchise. The arena is owned by the city.

The NHL already has a relationship with Quebecor through its French-language television-rights deal with the TVA television network.

Quebec City has not had an NHL team since the Nordiques left for Denver and became the Colorado Avalanche in 1995. The NHL has not expanded since adding its 29th and 30th teams, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild, in 2000.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly has said the earliest any expansion would happen is the 2017-18 season.