May 31, 2011

Glad to see hockey back in Winnipeg. I'm surprised Atlanta didn't have a new buyer who wanted the franchise to stay there, but it's a sign of how hockey was doing there.

posted by rcade at 01:40 PM on May 31, 2011

Considering how hard the NHL worked to keep the Preds in Nashville and Yotes in Pheonix (for now), it must have been pretty dire in Atlanta. Either that or it's because Mr.Blackberry wasn't involved.

posted by MrFrisby at 01:57 PM on May 31, 2011

He fought tooth and nail against the team moving out of Atlanta. What a weaselly thing to say.

That's not how we see it in Atlanta. Here's a local look.

posted by flannelenigma at 02:33 PM on May 31, 2011

From flannelenigma's link: First player: Damian Rhodes. First draft pick: Patrik Stefan. First coach: Curt Fraser. First general manager: Don Waddell.

There's part of the problem right there. Otherwise an interesting take on it, "the franchise failed, not the city", "Calgary is an outpost", etc. And an impressive 400+ comments.

There're some hardcore fans of southern hockey teams here on SpoFi who have tempered my kneejerk feelings about hockey in the south. So I do feel for Atlanta fans.

It will be interesting to see how the players respond. Some will love being the centre of attention, the big fish in the small pond. Others, though, will miss their golf games in March. I've no doubt the Peg can support a team, but it might well be more of a spend to the salary cap floor than a spend to the ceiling type of team. Success therefore demands great - not just good - but great management, something the team has never really had. The worst thing they could do would be to bring back some old Jets players to run the team on the name recognition/nostalgia factor. They need to be pretty ruthless in search of the right management or it will be a lot of long winters of meaningless games with the only reward at the end of the season getting your ass chewed off by gnats.

posted by rumple at 02:49 PM on May 31, 2011

need to be pretty ruthless in search of the right management

This is a different group entirely than previously was associated with the Jets. The current GM of the Manitoba Moose (Craig Heisinger) has done an exceptional job of identifying hockey talent, both coaches and players. He's also been named the top executive in the AHL. He'll remain on in some capacity, possibly even as GM.

Pretty certain whatever management we end up with will not be as enamoured with overweight out of shape Russian players and brawlers as were Mike Smith and John Ferguson.

posted by cixelsyd at 03:44 PM on May 31, 2011

@bill Ouch!

posted by flannelenigma at 04:11 PM on May 31, 2011

I think we need a spofilter pick'em for new team names.

The Venetian Snares?

posted by owlhouse at 09:27 PM on May 31, 2011

Well, if they sign with Toronto, they'll at least get to golf every year when the playoffs start.

*sob*

posted by grum@work at 10:39 PM on May 31, 2011

So the story I posted over a week ago was right.

posted by Drood at 01:58 AM on June 01, 2011

Does this end NHL hockey in Atlanta, or will Bettman think three's a charm?

I don't know whether Bettman can count to three.

posted by roberts at 08:47 AM on June 01, 2011

No, wait, I can't count. The next one will be attempt #4, I think.

posted by fabulon7 at 02:40 PM on June 01, 2011

Video evidence that he can indeed count to four

How dare you sully the Count's good name by comparing him to Weasel Boy. For shame...

posted by MeatSaber at 08:32 PM on June 01, 2011

NHL officially approves sale/move of Thrashers

posted by tommybiden at 08:14 AM on June 22, 2011