Thrashers headed to Winnipeg

[Johnny Chase]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=367433

Yea, I know we sort of had a thread on this. Thought it was a big enough deal for a new topic.

It's just awesome to see the NHL back in Winnipeg. I had just started getting into hockey when the Jets left in 96, and I thought that sucked. Hopefully the new team will be called the Jets.

As for Atlanta, never thought they deserved a team in the first place. Yea, you feel sorry for the few true fans that were there, but for the most part they were a team that nobody cared about.

 

[Armchair_QB]

So after you subtract the relocation fee, they only paid $110 million for the team.

 

[Starman]

Supposedly Bettman's remarks at the presser were met with stone silence.

"We are very happy to be back in Winnipeg"

Yeah, never mind the fact that you (yes you) helped grease the wheels to send the Jets out of town, midget.

 

[Mark2010]

Not sure that the team and league isn't trading one losing situation for another. Time will tell. Sad to see Atlanta lose a team. Ownership really botched that for many years. Hopefully the new owners will run things better.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Dozens of fans in Atlanta will be devastated.

 

[cougargirl]

The Atlanta-to-Winnipeg move begs another question - is the NHL ready for another round of expansion? (no)

 

[bigbadeagle]

There was support from the public for hockey in Atlanta. But not when the owners and Don Waddell continued to let a mediocre at best product skate on the ice. One playoff appearance in the Thrashers' existence that ended almost as soon as it started ain't the fans' fault, yo.
I'll miss having a chance to see the NHL live and in person in a relatively short drive. But I won't miss paying out the nose for gas, tix, parking, beer, post-game strippers, etc., or buying a new Orr jersey that I can afford to have beer spilled on.

 

[Brooklyn Bridge]

Winnipeg? Can Hartford and Quebec be far behind?

 

[Mizzougrad96]

ESPN had a chart that showed that the Thrashers had the third worst attendance in the NHL last season. How is it even remotely possible that the Islanders, a team with history and a fanbase could be last?

Granted, that question comes from someone who hasn't watched a NHL game in about six years.

 

[Brooklyn Bridge]

ESPN had a chart that showed that the Thrashers had the third worst attendance in the NHL last season. How is it even remotely possible that the Islanders, a team with history and a fanbase could be last?

Granted, that question comes from someone who hasn't watched a NHL game in about six years.

As a casual fan, I would say that the arena is a dump and the **** play of the team the past few years may have something to do with it.

 

[king cranium maximus IV]

Number of playoff wins, Atlanta Thrashers history:
0

I don't blame the city, which admittedly can be a crummy sports town some parts of the year.

 

[NightHawk112005]

ESPN had a chart that showed that the Thrashers had the third worst attendance in the NHL last season. How is it even remotely possible that the Islanders, a team with history and a fanbase could be last?

Granted, that question comes from someone who hasn't watched a NHL game in about six years.

Because nobody wants to go to the Nassau Mausoleum and the Islanders have been a joke since their miracle run to the Wales finals in 1993. Since the lockout, the Islanders have only managed above 80 points once in six seasons. They have finished higher than eighth in the Eastern Conference once in the last 17 seasons, finishing fifth in 2002.

During those 17 seasons, they have made the playoffs five times, four of them as the number eight seed. They have lost all five series and have won a total of six playoff games out of the 26 they've played.

That's a pretty nice recipe for disaster.

 

[silvershadow1981]

So the question begs to be asked - are the Isles next on the relocation list or even a candidate for contraction?

 

[bigbadeagle]

ESPN had a chart that showed that the Thrashers had the third worst attendance in the NHL last season. How is it even remotely possible that the Islanders, a team with history and a fanbase could be last?

Granted, that question comes from someone who hasn't watched a NHL game in about six years.

Because nobody wants to go to the Nassau Mausoleum and the Islanders have been a joke since their miracle run to the Wales finals in 1993. Since the lockout, the Islanders have only managed above 80 points once in six seasons. They have finished higher than eighth in the Eastern Conference once in the last 17 seasons, finishing fifth in 2002.

During those 17 seasons, they have made the playoffs five times, four of them as the number eight seed. They have lost all five series and have won a total of six playoff games out of the 26 they've played.

That's a pretty nice recipe for disaster.

Yep, the Islanders are a long way away from the days of Trottier, Tonelli, Nystrom, Gillies, Potvin, Chico Resch and Bad Billy Smith. They've got Tavares and ... did I mention they have Tavares?
It's moribund franchise playing in an antiquated barn.
The Thrashers were a moribund franchise playing in a freaking palace. Philips Arena is just gorgeous inside.
People will turn out to see a winner or even a team that might have a shot at winning. But when they keep getting burned by management's unfulfilled promises, either through out and out deceit or just neglect, they get turned off.

 

[Smash Williams]

Well I'm glad this at least happened entirely above the table. Whatever happens in Phoenix, there's no escaping it was started by an illegal bankruptcy that disrupted an impending sale everyone had already agreed to.

Atlanta's not a great sports town, but the Thrashers were also a terrible franchise. If they played in Canada (or, say, Boston or Chicago) and had attendance like they did, people would simply say the fans were rightfully rebelling against sub-par play and terrible ownership. The demonstrated support for this team was very similar to teams in "hockey markets" that went through long stretches of terrible play and ownership.

I'm skeptical of Winnipeg's potential as a market. It failed before because it was simply too small. The Jets average attendance was on par with what the Thrashers announced this year, and there are nowhere near as many potential high-dollar sponsors in town to make up for the fact that it's a small arena. The highest average announced attendance the Jets had in their final six years was 13,550.

But the owners are willing to pay the price to go there and take the potential money drain the franchise might be. That's their prerogative since they went through all the correct channels to get it done.

 

[Mark2010]

I hold nothing against Winnipeg getting a team, although I don't consider it a major league market. I wish it had been the Islanders moving there, instead. New York doesn't need two teams with a third over in New Jersey.

As for Hartford and Quebec, neither has a suitable arena at present. If an arena gets built --- a big if in the current economy --- then those cities could be in play. Ditto for Seattle. Cities that DO currently have suitable arenas: Houston, Kansas City, Portland, Milwaukee.

Winnipeg's current arena was built in 2004. Fairly nice, just a little smaller than the NHL would prefer. Then again, given the population base, might be just right. The bigger issue may turn out to be corporate support. They'll be fine for the first few years, being the new guy in town and the only major pro sport in the region. But if the team doesn't win after, say, 5-6 years, who knows?

 

[NightHawk112005]

So the question begs to be asked - are the Isles next on the relocation list or even a candidate for contraction?

Not contraction, but maybe they move to Hartford if they can't get a new building.

 

[HanSenSE]

The biggest differences for Winnipeg v 2.0 are a) the loonie is much stronger than it was then vs. the U.S. dollar; and b) the salary cap.

 

[ShiptoShore]

ESPN had a chart that showed that the Thrashers had the third worst attendance in the NHL last season. How is it even remotely possible that the Islanders, a team with history and a fanbase could be last?

Granted, that question comes from someone who hasn't watched a NHL game in about six years.

It has a lot to do with the arena, but more to do with the incredibly stupid moves of management and ownership (Wang's stubbornness with the new arena plans, DiPietro's unfathomable contract, the repeated trading of very good players to watch them peak with other clubs: see Luongo, Chara, Jokinen, Spezza, Bertuzzi, etc.)

With that said, and believe it or not, the Islanders are team on the rise. In 10-11, they had six players with 44 or more points, including Tavares (67) and free agent gems Grabner (52), a rookie, and Moulson (53). Okposo will be healthy next season, and NYI also has a couple young D guys in Hamonic and MacDonald who should hold spots on the blueline for the next few years. NYI had three 30+ goal scorers.

The low attendance would also have a lot to do with the 20 losses in 21 games, which is downright embarrassing and cause for league intervention. however, the team went 24-21 in their next 45 before tanking the end the season for a draft pick while giving DiPietro some time in net.

Dealings for the new arena are finally in motion, and the team had some sellouts at the end of the season. The 9-3 thrashing of the Pens was also a big morale-booster. I think they'll stay on the island.

As for the Jets, I'm excited about the news. It's cool to see a franchise return.

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

This is the second time that Atlanta has lost an NHL franchise now. Forget the year, but the Flames went from Atlanta to Calgary.


Phoenix could be the next team to move (depending how their ownership situation pans out).


The Winnipeg move could also shake up divisions, eventually, with Winnipeg moving to the West and maybe Detroit (or Columbus) to the East.