The Globe and Mail's William Houston reported that the CBC is the front-runner to retain National Hockey League broadcast rights past the 2007-08 season. A source close to the negotiations said CBC should hold on to the rights, but it will be a short deal of only three of four years. If that happens, Habs' fans across Canada will have to endure four more years of Leaf Night in Canada... err, Hockey Night in Canada, which has been ignoring the Quebec market for far too long. It has been speculated that the CTV network, which owns TSN, is making a pitch for the national rights, but talks between the NHL and Bell Globemedia have not reached a serious stage yet. One possible downside to the CTV deal would be the fact only one game would be shown on Saturday nights instead of the double header the CBC carries. If the CBC were to lose the NHL TV contract, it would mean the end of Canada's longest-running and perhaps best-known television show, Hockey Night in Canada. Here's is what some believe could happen, according to Houston: The CBC would continue to air Saturday night doubleheaders, but would be required to share Canadian games in the playoffs with TSN. TSN would have its Canadian content increase dramatically. It would air a doubleheader Wednesday nights in which both games would involve Canadian teams. In the playoffs, TSN would get a first-round, and perhaps a second-round series involving a Canadian team if more than one was playing. The CBC's rights fee would likely be in the range of $100-million a year. Right now, the network is paying $65-million annually and earning a profit of about $30-million. With the increased fee, that cash cow would disappear. It is believed TSN is paying the NHL between $15-million and $20-million annually in its current cable agreement. With the added value of more Canadian games and playoff content, that fee would jump considerably.