Did the National Hockey League take a backhanded shot at groups in Seattle and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) during its official expansion application announcement on Tuesday?

That’s the impression we get when all the dots are connected, but we’ll let you decide on your own.

When the NHL revealed that the only two bids submitted by the Monday deadline came from Quebecor (Quebec City) and Bill Foley (Las Vegas), it came as no surprise. The fact that nothing was forwarded by any other groups — specifically, from Seattle and the GTA — certainly must have, however.

You have to think that, behind closed doors, league officials likely had their fingers crossed that at least one of the three interested parties in Seattle would have tabled the appropriate documents. There probably were similar hopes concerning GTA Sports & Entertainment, the group that has for the past few years unsuccessfully attempted to get an 18,000-seat rink built in Markham, the affluent community north of Toronto.

Of course, given that none of those parties in Seattle or the GTA followed through, the following paragraph from the statement released by the league appears to be oozing with sarcasm — at least a little bit anyway.

“Apparently, only Mr. Foley and Quebecor have the confidence in their ability to secure an arena and suitable ownership capability to move forward with this process,” the statement said.

Our translation: groups in Seattle and Toronto didn’t have their you-know-what together in time.

If the league indeed is irked, it’s easy to see why. It admitted Tuesday that 16 applications were originally sent out to interested parties back on July 6. Only two came back. You do the math. Surely the NHL expected more return.

So, where does the league go from here?

“We now intend to focus exclusively on the two expansion applications that have been submitted in accordance with the previously announced process. The process we have outlined for qualified applicants includes at least two more stages of documentation submission,” the statement said.

“Exclusively” is a strong word. Does that mean if, for example, one of the parties from Seattle — a potential expansion landing spot that has been coveted by the league — was to come with an application in the next few weeks, the NHL would simply turn its back on them?

It’s hard to think that’s the way the league would choose to go. But we’ll have to see how it all plays out.

VIVA LA QUEBEC

Yes, the falling Canadian dollar could be an obstacle to Quebec City’s aspirations moving forward.

And yes, there will be questions surrounding the politics of Pierre-Karl Peladeau, Quebecor’s former president and CEO and leader of the separatist Parti Quebecois.

Having said that, the belief here for years has been that the return of the Nordiques and NHL hockey to Quebec City should be a priority for the league.

Hockey is a religion in Quebec City. More than 200,000 fans attend the International peewee tournament there every year. That’s minor hockey, folks. And yet, they still come to watch.

Years ago, without guaranteeing anything, the league told cities that they need an appropriate facility to be considered a potential landing spot for an NHL team. The response: construction of the new 18,259-capacity Videotron Arena in Quebec City.

“I know the Nordiques market very well, having worked for the organization for five years. I think it’s a market that would really support a hockey team,” Jacques Martin, the former head coach of the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, told TVA on Monday.

“I think it’s exciting for the people of Quebec and we hope that within a few years, a franchise will be established in Quebec City.”

Martin’s comments came on Tueday. Two years ago, Wayne Gretzky was singing a similar tune.

“I think it’s only a matter of time before Quebec City is going to get a franchise,” Gretzky told reporters in 2013. “Listen, I think we all agree it’s a good city and it can support an NHL team, especially now with the salary cap rules and the parity we have in the game of hockey.

“When that’s going to be, it’s anybody’s guess but when they do come back in, it’s going to be a strong, solid franchise just like Winnipeg is now and it will be as successful as they are.”

We rest our case.

Can’t wait for those Habs-Nords grudge matches. Hopefully Quebec City is granted a franchise so it plays out that way. If so, all other hockey rivalries will pale in comparison.

LAST MINUTE OF PLAY

Braden Holtby is asking for a raise.

He deserves one.

Of course, what he ends up getting is what’s intriguing.

Holtby, a restricted free agent who is scheduled to go to arbitration Thursday, has submitted a request for $8 million per year, while the Washington Capitals have offered a one-year, $5.1 million contract, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.

According to the Post, the Capitals previously offered Holtby a multi-year contract worth about $5.5 million per season but Holtby wants more than $6 million per year.

Henrik Lundqvist carries the largest cap hit for NHL goalies for the 2015-16 season at $8.5 million US.

Stay tuned.