Burke, general manager of the Ducks, said he would relay to Bettman that he considers the Ford Center "a major-league venue."
The Ducks are not considering relocation, Burke said. "We're not going anywhere."
But Burke formerly was the NHL's senior vice president, and when asked if this was an NHL market, "didn't hesitate to say absolutely," said Brad Lund, CEO of Express Sports, which owns the Blazers. "I think in general he was stunned with the quality of the arena."
If the NBA leaves Oklahoma City, city officials say they would be interested in the NHL.
"We're fairly new to the fact that we're a major-league market," said mayor Mick Cornett. "We're open-minded.
"I just basically say, increase your options, because you don't know what your options are going to be."
The NBA Hornets are about to begin their second season of playing 35 home games in Oklahoma City. The NBA plans for the Hornets to return to New Orleans next year, but an Oklahoma City group purchased the Seattle SuperSonics this summer and admitted it likely would move to OKC unless Greater Seattle builds the Sonics a new arena.
If Oklahoma City is left without an NBA franchise, "it wouldn't surprise me if a handful of NHL franchises take a hard look at it," said Lund, the man in charge of Oklahoma City's Double-A hockey franchise for 15 seasons.
Lund, Cornett and Ford Center general manager Gary Desjardins toured the arena with Burke, who previously was senior vice president of the NHL and retains close ties to Bettman.
"The best prospects right now are for the NBA," Desjardins said. "But you never want to shut the door on any possibility. There's a better chance at the NBA because the Hornets are here. But I wouldn't necessarily rule out the NHL."
Burke said the Ducks are looking for a primary minor-league affiliate. The Ducks' agreement with Portland, Maine, of the American Hockey League has one year remaining. The Ducks also supply some players to the Augusta Lynx of the East Coast Hockey League.
Several NHL franchises have been mentioned for relocation: Atlanta, Nashville, Florida, Tampa Bay and Phoenix. But other cities have been mentioned as possible NHL destinations: Portland or Seattle, Kansas City, Las Vegas and Houston.
Oklahoma City and Houston were finalists for expansion in 1997, but the league instead chose St. Paul, Columbus, Nashville and Atlanta.
But the Hornets' remarkable success last season changed the status of Oklahoma City. The Hornets were in the upper half of the NBA in corporate support and averaged 18,500 fans a game at the Ford Center.
Desjardins said Burke "was impressed with the Hornets. How far Oklahoma City has come since the last time he was here (1989).
"Oklahoma City has proven itself with fans and corporate support."
Lund said: "This market's always been a mystery. Most doubted patrons would pay major-league prices night after night. What the Hornets accomplished in the gross revenue (owner George Shinn said $800,000 a game) is recognized at the highest levels of the sports industry."
Shinn, through spokesman Michael Thompson, said he was not aware of Burke's visit but is not surprised, "because Oklahoma City has proven to be major league."
