Saturday, May 21, 2011

Winnipeg's New NHL Team

The NHL is returning to the fine city of Winnipeg, as a local group is reported to be buying the Atlanta Thrashers. This is exciting news for Canadian hockey fans, especially in Manitoba where fans of the departed Jets have been celebrating in the streets. Today's poll question; what should the new franchise be named? The Winnipeg Jets or the Manitoba Moose? Or maybe the Winnipeg Moose or the Manitoba Jets? Perhaps some of you out there like the Thrashers brand, so that option is on the table.

It would have been nice, at least nostalgic, if the Phoenix Coyotes moved back to Winnipeg because that is the original franchise (even if only Shane Doan remains). That being said, there are some interesting puzzle pieces with the Thrashers. Evander Kane and Dustin Byfuglien are going to become cult heroes in Manitoba. Evander is the future.

13 comments:

  1. Jets.

    They should also see if Selanne is available to sign for the year, or even part of it, giving him the option of retiring where it all started in Winnipeg.

    ReplyDelete
  2. One thing for sure, Winnipeg has a great fan base. Will see what developes next week, personally, I hope they get their team.

    Clown Paarty

    ReplyDelete
  3. The team should be called the Winnipeg Jets. This what people want, no matter what the pointy headed suits say the Jets need to be called the Jets.

    Manitoba Threshers? I don't think so..

    ReplyDelete
  4. Threshers remind me of threshing crews and they were not hockey players.
    But, Atlanta is not very happy, and season tickets are still being sold. Would they be good in Winnipeg.

    ReplyDelete
  5. We already have a Winnipeg Thrashers, they're the AAA Midget national champions. Jets would have been obvious if we were getting the Coyotes, because it would be the same team coming home.

    Moose is good, but a lot of people are starting to move towards Falcons. Winnipeg Falcons were the first Canadian team to win gold at the Olympics in 1920. Canada has even worn the Falcons jerseys in recent competition.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It would be a nice gesture to Manitobans living outside the perimeter for the team to be named after all Manitobans not just Winnipeg.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Not to throw too much cold water on this, but the reason the Jets left in the first place was Winnipeg was NOT a viable market.

    I can see the new owners crying for a bailout in a few years, or moving the team to a bigger market...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thucydides, what was the value of the Canadian dollar when the Jets left Winnipeg? What is the value of the dollar now? Also, did the NHL have a salary cap when the Jets left? Salary caps after all, make small markets more comptetive with large markets.

    Winnipeg is much more "viable" in 2011 than it was in 1996. If you want to debate, let's debate. I'm an economist as well as a hockey fan who wants to see hockey continue to thrive in Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Winnipeg Jets! Then they can have their farm team the St. John's Jets.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Besides Winnipeg's own hockey history, renaming the team as Falcons would be the best option for the NHL. After the first couple of years' immediate excitement, it would be far more easy to sell a 3 or 2 game regional Southeast series back to Atlanta than if the team renames to Jets or keeps it as Thrashers. Atlanta also has a successful football Falcons team. Likewise, the small city Buffalo Bills have already been selling one of their NFL games to the Toronto market for the revenue support.
    This keeps the NHL alive across a large population base and shores up regional interest between Tampa, Nashville, and North Carolina. It would help Winnipeg raise its annual ticket revenues plus tweaks (if any) U.S. television interest for a smaller Canadian city.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The Jets... or the MooseJets... seriously though... The Jets!

    ReplyDelete
  12. If Winterpeg get's another shot at an NHL franchise, then Waterloo's Jim Balsillie better get one.

    ReplyDelete