Globe and Mail: Thrashers to Winnipeg a done deal

[TwinTownBisonFan]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/h ... le2029179/

An agreement to sell the National Hockey League’s Atlanta Thrashers to a Winnipeg group which plans to relocate the franchise to the Manitoba capital is done.

Sources confirmed Thursday night that preparations are being made for an announcement Tuesday, confirming the sale and transfer of the Thrashers to True North Sports and Entertainment, which owns and operates the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League and the MTS Centre arena, which would become the NHL team’s new home.

[Grizalltheway]

Great news.

[dbackjon]

Bettman is denying it.


How long would the NHL last in Winnipeg this time?

[GannonFan]

Wow, great news, it's not like hockey in Winnipeg has never flopped before.

Does this mean there's still a chance to have the Hurricane move back to that mall in Hartford? And how about the Avalanche moving back to the Chateu Frontenac?

On a serious note, are they ever going to let the Coyotes move to Hamilton? That's one relocation I think that could work.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Wow, great news, it's not like hockey in Winnipeg has never flopped before.

Does this mean there's still a chance to have the Hurricane move back to that mall in Hartford? And how about the Avalanche moving back to the Chateu Frontenac?

On a serious note, are they ever going to let the Coyotes move to Hamilton? That's one relocation I think that could work.

No. Betteman would sooner die than let Jim Beslile own a team... I don't really get it... but at this point it's personal and irrational.

That, and the Leafs will NEVER allow their market to be split... even if only 25% of their fans would become fans of Hamilton.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Bettman is denying it.


How long would the NHL last in Winnipeg this time?

They are in a much better position now - my guess is that they'll be a bigger success.

1. Better arena. Much better.
2. Revenue sharing and salary cap.
3. MUCH stronger Manitoba economy
2. Revenue sharing and salary cap.
4. Improved TV deals
2. Revenue sharing and salary cap.
5. Stronger Canadian dollar
2. Revenue sharing and salary cap.
6. Fanbase that has been deprived... look at the Wild - a terrible team selling out 10 years worth of games.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

GF - the NHL is MUCH stronger now than it was 10 years ago. While it still has issues, most of them stem from the sun belt expansion. I still think contraction may happen - but that remains to be seen. As for Quebec - there is a BIG push for an NHL arena in Quebec City - but it's uphill at this point - the plan was to try and lure Atlanta or the Islanders... seems less likely right now.

Kansas City however seems like it would be a good contender for Phoenix once the Glendale thing inevitably falls apart.

I'll be interested to see if the NHL does a re-alignment based on this... would be good for the league - put Winnipeg in with Colorado, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver... Put Nashville in the southeast... and put Minnesota in with their traditional rivals - Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit... and Columbus...

[Pwns]

Wait...Atlanta has an NHL team?

[93henfan]

Wait...Atlanta has an NHL team?

[SuperHornet]

Does this mean that the Jets are back?

[Gil Dobie]

It's not that the Jets flopped in Winnipeg, their owner didn't get an arena when he wanted it. After he left, they built a new arena. I grew up 75 miles from Winnipeg, great hockey town. The fans deserve a team.

It's not like a hockey team has failed in Atlanta twice.

[Ivytalk]

Wait...Atlanta has an NHL team?

Was that Dan Bouchard?

[Ivytalk]

Kansas City however seems like it would be a good contender for Phoenix once the Glendale thing inevitably falls apart.

And I'll bet a bean bag chair full of Kansas City Scouts season tickets that you're wrong!

[MSUDuo]

Kansas City will get an NBA team again before they get a NHL team. Don't think Missouri can support 2 NHL teams

[SuperHornet]

At the risk of p!$$ing off UNC fans, I'd love to see a return of the Quebec Nordiques. At the same time, I'd ALSO like to see a return of the Hartford Whalers.

[griz37]

I agree SH, there are some places hockey belongs, Quebec & Hartford are two of them & some places it does not & Raleigh, NC is one of them.

[93henfan]

Was that Dan Bouchard?

¡Si señor!

[89Hen]

Good for Winnepeg. Atlanta doesn't even care about the Braves let alone hockey. I do wonder what, if anything, this will do to the conferences and divisions. Obviously they could just leave them alone, but I've been wanting to get the Caps back in the old Patrick for a while and maybe this is the chance. It would be good to get the Caps/Pens playing more times every season, but I'm afraid if there is any change, it will just be that Nashville and Winnepeg trade places, or that Colorado moves to the Central and Winnepeg to the Northwest so they can be with other Canadian teams and Minnesota.

[Gil Dobie]

Good for Winnepeg. Atlanta doesn't even care about the Braves let alone hockey. I do wonder what, if anything, this will do to the conferences and divisions. Obviously they could just leave them alone, but I've been wanting to get the Caps back in the old Patrick for a while and maybe this is the chance. It would be good to get the Caps/Pens playing more times every season, but I'm afraid if there is any change, it will just be that Nashville and Winnepeg trade places, or that Colorado moves to the Central and Winnepeg to the Northwest so they can be with other Canadian teams and Minnesota.

They have been mentioning around here, Minnesota back to the original Norris Division.

[89Hen]

They have been mentioning around here, Minnesota back to the original Norris Division.

Has any sport has as many division shifts as the NHL? I remember Minny being in the Norris, the Adams, the Smythe... It's funny to go back and see some of the old, strange pairings.

1975-76
Prince of Wales Conference
Norris Division
Montreal Canadiens
Los Angeles Kings
Pittsburgh Penguins
Detroit Red Wings
Washington Capitals

Adams Division
Boston Bruins
Buffals Sabres
Toronto Maple Leafs
Calif. Golden Seals

Clarence Campbell Conference
Patrick Division
Philadelphia Flyers
New York Islanders
Atlanta Flames
New York Rangers

Smythe Division
Chicago Blackhawks
Vancouver Canucks
St. Louis Blues
Minnesota North Stars
Kansas City Scouts

[89Hen]

Damn, what I forgot is my getting the Caps back in the old Patrick relied on the Islanders being the team that got moved to Canada. I don't see how you can split up the 3 NYC teams, so that makes for a 6 team division. Efffff

[ASUMountaineer]

I agree SH, there are some places hockey belongs, Quebec & Hartford are two of them & some places it does not & Raleigh, NC is one of them.

Why? The Canes are actually well supported. They have a lot more of a following here than I ever expected. Growing up without a local hockey team, it's great to have them here. I love hockey, just didn't get much of it when I was a kid.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

They have been mentioning around here, Minnesota back to the original Norris Division.

Has any sport has as many division shifts as the NHL? I remember Minny being in the Norris, the Adams, the Smythe... It's funny to go back and see some of the old, strange pairings.

1975-76
Prince of Wales Conference
Norris Division
Montreal Canadiens
Los Angeles Kings
Pittsburgh Penguins
Detroit Red Wings
Washington Capitals

Adams Division
Boston Bruins
Buffals Sabres
Toronto Maple Leafs
Calif. Golden Seals

Clarence Campbell Conference
Patrick Division
Philadelphia Flyers
New York Islanders
Atlanta Flames
New York Rangers

Smythe Division
Chicago Blackhawks
Vancouver Canucks
St. Louis Blues
Minnesota North Stars
Kansas City Scouts

Part of it is that the NHL has seen more tumult with their franchises than the other sports in the last 40 years.

California Seals became the Cleveland Barons who merged with the North Stars who then were siphoned for the San Jose Sharks and then eventually moved to Dallas
the KC Scouts became the Colorado Rockies who became the NJ Devils
the Atlanta Flames moved to Calgary
the WHA was a highly disruptive force, and the peace between the two led to:
Winnipeg who moved to Phoenix
Quebec who moved to Denver
Hartford who moved to Raleigh
and Edmonton - who has damn-near moved to 3 or 4 cities.

Every time a franchise re-locates or is expanded things get jumbled.

Keep in mind too - the NHL in 1991 was only 22 teams. today it's 30... in about 10 years they added 8 teams... VERY rapid expansion...

[SuperHornet]

And the only one of those 8 expansion teams worth a darn is the Mighty Ducks.

[Grizalltheway]

And the only one of those 8 expansion teams worth a darn is the Mighty Ducks.

Umm, the Lightning won a SC, have a shot at another one this year, and have great fan support, genius.