Some may feel it's unfair for Winnipeg to get such a quality team by default, but those who remember the WHA teams getting flattened by the NHL will know this is just a case of the hockey Gods making things right.
One more Harold Ballard injustice (he was behind the noxious expansion rules) made right. 1,000 more to go.
Congratulations to my friend Dean Belanger and the many other Jets fans I've met along the way. Don Wittman probably talked God's ear off, so I'd give him some credit, too.
Here's hoping they call the team "Jets", but "Polar Bears" is a strong rumor. If so, they'll be the Bears by Christmas.
Good for Winnipeg.
ReplyDeleteIn other news v3.0 signs MBS to a 3 year extension.
Happy news day all around.
And mbs is extended!
ReplyDeleteGood for Winnipeg if this happens. They have some quality D and some good forwards with size and skill.
And they better run as the Jets. Anything else just doesn't sound right.
Anyone ever been to Winnipeg? How about the Manitoba Mosquitos?
ReplyDeleteI kid... it is great news!
They're a better team than Edmonton, sure (who isn't), but they're hardly so good that it's "unfair" for a city to get them by default.
ReplyDeleteThis is a team who finished with the 6th worst record in the league, has made the playoffs once in their entire history (where they were swept in the 1st round) and have maybe 4 players worth getting excited about. Put them in the NW and they'll be eaten alive.
I don't mean to beat up on them, I really am happy about the move back to Winnipeg. I really just hope they don't do something stupid like change the name to something other than the Jets. Go with the ravenous built-in fanbase and be thankful for it. The NHL has this bad habit of getting in its own way a lot. Moving a team back to Winnipeg and calling them the Manitoba Polar Bears on the basis of "hey, some people still have Jets jerseys" would be a prime example of that.
If it were the Phoenix franchise moving back to Winnipeg I think "Jets" would be a slam dunk.
ReplyDeleteIts a different franchise, different owners, different era.
While there is a lot of history with the Jets name, the history in the NHL isn't exactly stellar.
I prefer the name Sharks to the Golden Seals.
MBS is about the best thing we've got going as Oiler fans these days.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Winnipeg. They need to make sure they leave Don Waddell behind. He's the only guy who can make 3.0/Vish look competent.
On the other hand...
So... does Winnipeg now have any assets that would be worth trading the 1st overall for?
ReplyDeleteYou have to think they might be willing to overpay a bit to be able to have the first overall pick in the first draft after they've relocated.
1st overall + ?
for
7th overall + 36th + roster player/prospects?
I like the Manitoba Warriors, it's too bad about the whole organized crime thing though...
ReplyDeleteAtlanta's farm system is surprisingly weak for a team that has not made the playoffs much.
ReplyDeleteBut their NHL team has some room to develop, so maybe they have a bit of a run.
I don't like their longterm prospects due to the small building and likely inability to draw FA's, but if they have a seat at the table they always have a chance to win.
Put them in the NW and they'll be eaten alive.
ReplyDeleteThe same Northwest that has such teams as Minnesota, Edmonton, and Colorado?
Paquin's one of the sexiest ugly people around.
ReplyDeleteA couple of weeks ago it became clear that one of the struggling teams would land in Winnipeg and that was the day I was really happy; from them on it's just been a foregone conclusion.
Of course that's easy for me to say I know;) but while I'm still happy we all know it's been in the front view for awhile now.
I hope it works and I hope Thomson stays on and eats the losses if they come. I'll be interested in seeing what their budget is because I'm still not convinced it's gonna be a big moneymaker.
I mention Thomson staying on because honestly I heard Nick Kypreos make a good point the other day that Thomson might be rewarded for this move by being granted second franchise in southern ontario.
New 2nd favourite team, with a bullet. Careful Oilers, I don't have any geographical tie to you.... smarten the fuck up.
ReplyDeleteNew #1B team for sure.
ReplyDeleteI'll be at The Forks tonight celebrating.
Edmonton hosted Atlanta last year - this guarantees a game in Winnipeg, yes? I'll be a small part of group season tickets.
Fuck yes: this is a good day.
The same Northwest that has such teams as Minnesota, Edmonton, and Colorado?
ReplyDeleteThe very same.
Atlanta's record last year
...vs the East: 28-26-10 (51.6%)
...vs the West: 6-10-2 (38.9%)
...vs the NW: 2-4-0 (33.3%)
They had a worse record against the NW than any other division.
Someone should check my math, but if you kept those win% and gave them a WC schedule, they would've ended up with 68 points and the 2nd worst record in the NHL.
I missed you Winnipeg welcome back I missed the Jet logo. I missed the rivalry I missed it all! It still sticks in my craw that you won that final championship for the Avco World Trophy in 1979 but to be a great rivalry you need winning on both sides. SO let the wars begin!! I will say I missed you only this one time starting tomorrow expect venom at all times let the wars begin.
ReplyDeleteForget trading for Bogosian now.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Winnipeg.
LOVE IT! Congrats Winnipeg
ReplyDeleteSomeone tell me, is "jets" short for "jetsam" or "jetison"? I was never good at diminutives growing up. Jet or no jet, any of those Atlanta players with no moment clauses are going to discover it's a long commute.
ReplyDeleteIt will be a weird scene the first time the Winnipeg Welp show up to play in Phoenix 3.0. They'll have to tug a wishbone at center ice over Teemu Selanne's retirement jersey.
I fear by late February, after a string of losses at home, the Bears will be right back to Pallor Bears. Nothing a road trip won't cure, prior to realignment.
Memo to the Atlanta players:
ReplyDeleteI've got good news and bad news. The good news is that half our road games in the upcoming season involve no travel. The bad news is that the other half of our road games visit all the same cities. Also, we will have more road jerseys than before, and they've been attractively updated.
What a wonderful day to be a Manitoban.
ReplyDeleteI've been an Oilers fan since I was a wee tot. I don't think that will ever change.
When the Jets left I was saddened but not as much as die hard fans were. I've missed NHL hockey in our city and now that I have two small children I can't wait to bring them to the rink to watch live NHL hockey like my father did with me.
This new franchise automatically becomes my #1b. The Oilers will always be my first love and I will still live and die with the wins and losses. However, the "Jets" need my support and every Manitoban's in order to thrive in the NHL.
Can't wait to see the Oilers come through town. This year is going to be a treat with Crosby coming through twice and Ovechkin three times along with Stamkos.
The Forks was rocking today what an awesome day.
So when do they announce MacT as head coach?
ReplyDeleteWe'll give you Byfuglien and #7 overall for Gagner and #1 overall. Deal?
ReplyDeleteI'll also jump on that Team 1B theory. I've invested enough time and beer into the Oilers now that it seems foolish to just give up on them. But who knows, it could turn into a "what have you done for me lately" scenario.
ReplyDeleteOn the Thrashers big-league roster:
Seems a very good mix of Top-6 roles and Bottom-6 roles, accoridng to my morning paper. Ladd, Little, Kane, Burmistrov and Wheeler are all capable hands with the veterans and bangers like Antropov, Thorburn, Stewart and Boulton to eat minutes and not look out of place. Defense is the true strength of this team as Dustin Alphabet, Enstrom, Bogosian and Hainsey are a legit Top-4. Goaltending looks average and can improve steadily due to a young Pavelec who still has ceiling to reach (if only he'd get on a proper conditioning plan, sez paper). But the most important part of all, and the thing that'll put this team over the top;
WE HAVE THE HOCKEY JESUS!!!! He will save us all and bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada.
I keed...
On the Prospect Pipe:
Yeah, we've really got nothing good coming our way in America. That's the price you pay to have the Chicago Wolves as an AHL affiliate. They don't want NHL help, nor do they really provide it. They've always operated almost as a separate entity. There's a couple of blueliners bubbling under like Paul Postma but the system is one of the worst in the NHL. Only Carl Clingberg looks like he hasn't taken a step back this year, and he's not in North America.
I'll try and work together a state-of-the-city prospect table over at Bubbling Under in the days to come, if nothing else to give everyone a sense of what's there. It'll remain first and foremost an Oilers page (if I ever write again), but having a second system of prospects to write about will be nice, especially for comparisons.