Thrashers sold to True North, relocation to Winnipeg awaits BOG approval
by Donny Rivette on May 31, 2011 12:45 PM EDT
in NHL & General Hockey
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PrintAnd that approval seems pretty cemented in stone. Details of the deal are scattering out of Manitoba, and will continue to throughout the afternoon, but all you really need to digest is the lunacy which is this.
Consider this post an open thread for the topic, and keep our pals from Bird Watchers Anonymous close to the heart during this brutal period.
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Well, I wish the NHL would have gone the route of expansion instead of relocation, but its too late now. Cant help but think the NHL will run into the same problem when Quebec wants its team back.
The unaimed arrow never misses
When Olesz skates, empires will fall
by Chris S Roberts on May 31, 2011 1:10 PM EDT reply actions
Hate seeing another fanbase get robbed, but further watering down the product with expansion just doesn’t bode well for the sport, imo.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on May 31, 2011 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
How is the product water down? You have more areas of the USA producing players, more countries internationally producing players. The product isn’t watered down. If anything, the skill level has increased, and the amount of skilled players.
by MrOmnipotent on May 31, 2011 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed that the pool of talent is broadened over a lot of time, but expanding by two teams only promotes some 40-odd players who otherwise would have been in the AHL. Or twenty years ago the ECHL.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Jun 1, 2011 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions
20 years ago, they’d have been NHLers, as there wasn’t the talent pool then that there is now. Just add up your players from former Communist countries, players from places like Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and you could stock about 5 teams in today’s NHL, according to the numbers here. Roughly 106 players at the beginning of this past season from countries that weren’t know to send players to the NHL previously. That means 106 players not from Canada, USA, Sweden, or Finland. And Sweden and Finland. I wish I could easily find the percentage of Swedes and Finns compared to 20 years ago, but I would gather their numbers have gone slightly up as well, with more scouting.
Good points, all.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Jun 1, 2011 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes, more idiot Canadian snowbirds rooting for a “Canadian” team, because they’re from Canada and blow six months here anyway. Great. I guarantee if Winnipeg is in the Southeast next season, the games in Sunrise will be loaded with these idiots. We’ll draw more “Winnipeg” fans here than any other team in the Southeast Division. Wonderful.
I wouldn’t count on it. Part of the reason that so many Habs and Leafs fans come here for games is because the tickets are so expensive and hard to get. Plus so many of them are here anyway. Winnipeg is a whole different other thing.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
You must sit in a different area than me. Most of the away fans I talk to are snowbirds. When I find some that actually traveled here for the game, it’s usually in the holiday week or holiday time. I am sure we will see lots of Team Canada jerseys in the stands when Winnipeg comes to town next season.
Bob McKenzie already reporting that WPG will play in the Southeast this year. Going to be some hellacious roadtrips.
On the bright side, if there is one, maybe I’ll do that Western Canada hockey trip this year. Since we have to play WPG three times, there’s bound to be one WPG-CGY-EDM trip in the schedule.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
This redefines “hellacious”. It’s laughable.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on May 31, 2011 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Can you imagine it? They’re going to have to play six games in Florida and three in Carolina. Washington’s not as bad, because at least they can make them like WAS-PHI, then WAS-NJD-NYR or whatever. The others are going to be like DAL-TBL-FLA, NSH-FLA-TBL-CAR. Stuff like that.
We’ll probably see DET-MIN-WPG this season. I think we’re due to visit both Detroit and Minnesota anyway. We went to Calgary and Edmonton this season, but I bet they send us again just because we have to be out there anyway. And possibly Chicago again as well.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
No western Canada road trip in 11-12
Florida played EDM-CLG-VAN to start last season on the road. They will all be coming to the BAC. If WPG is part of a road trip, its going to be a long out of the way one. We play at Min and COL next year
W00t! That means I’ll be the only cats fan in the Pepsi Center (again)
The unaimed arrow never misses
When Olesz skates, empires will fall
by Chris S Roberts on Jun 1, 2011 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Wait… the Red Wings in our division. Nooooooooooooooooo!!!
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
Wouldn’t be permanent; I mean c’mon…Detroit in SE?
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on May 31, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I really wonder if they’re going to keep the “geographic” alignments. They really should think about going back to a version of the older system. Not necessarily old teams vs. expansion teams, but give up on the alleged geographic divisions and make the travel schedules more fair for the Western Conference.
But, oh, god, can you imagine two Red Wings games in our building, to go with the two Canadiens games? Yeesh.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
That would be ungodly. My money is on Nashville ultimately being the fifth team. It just makes a little more sense geographically.
Everyone says that, but Detroit and Columbus are both in the Eastern time zone and both want in the Eastern Conference. I don’t think it’s going to be as simple a process as someone looking at a map and saying, “this one’s close.”
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
Knowing the NHL, I have to agree with you. However, if you move Detroit, where do they go? Would you breakup the Atlantic or Northeast divisions? Doubtful. That leaves the Southeast, however, if NBC/Versus are calling the TV shots, I doubt they want to give up the Chicago/Detroit rivalry that figures prominently in their broadcast schedule multiple times per season.
I read an article awhile back that the Red Wings have been pushing for a move to the Eastern Conference for a long long time. They may get it due to seniority. I’m sure the Western teams are fighting it since they are such a draw.
Florida Panthers, Good Hockey, Great Sponsors!! Panthers STH since 1994 and Lightning STH since 2011.
They are due.
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by Donny Rivette on Jun 1, 2011 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Winnipeg is a natural fit in the Northwest Division with the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche.
Dallas plays in the Northwest? Where is Vancouver?
by MrOmnipotent on May 31, 2011 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
vancouver should move to the Pacific, Winnipeg to the NW, Dallas to the Central, Nashville to the SE. Detroit can suck an egg.
The unaimed arrow never misses
When Olesz skates, empires will fall
by Chris S Roberts on May 31, 2011 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions
You missed what was said by the writer. He speaks as if Dallas presently plays in the Northwest with these teams. That’s like Winnipeg playing in the Southeast. Most likely scenario is goin to be the four Canadians together with the Avs, and Minnesota moving to the Central with Detroit and Chicago. Vancouver won’t go to the Pacific, cause of the added international travel.
I am beginning to get swayed to the idea of a 16-14 split among the conferences, details aside.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on May 31, 2011 1:24 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
It works in MLB
One division would be filled with 6 teams in the east, another with 4 out west. I’d venture to have DET-PIT-NJ-NYR-NYI-PHI. And the Pacific with VAN-SJ-LA-ANA.
Fish, Heatles, Cats, Fins
by National Mario on May 31, 2011 2:05 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
The MLB playoff format makes it possible though—I think you create a major imbalance with anything other than an even split.
by Craig Fischer on May 31, 2011 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
The league is thinking about changing up the playoffs and may be tossing conference seeding. I think a lot is going to happen next summer.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
Hope you’re right. The division winners getting automatic top-3 seeds is ridiculous.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Jun 1, 2011 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions
three things
Worst typo of the month award goes to TSN’s Bob McKenzie:
“Historic day few, if any, would have seen coming 15 years ago. Congrats Winnipeg fans. Condolences to Thrashers fan. WPG fans know your pain”
He apologized in his next tweet for using the singluar and blamed twitter’s 140-char limit for his (freudian?) slip.
Oh man, that’s dark.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on May 31, 2011 1:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Honest mistake, but it still stings
The unaimed arrow never misses
When Olesz skates, empires will fall
by Chris S Roberts on May 31, 2011 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Really sad day in hockey—because it means everyone failed the fans of the Thrashers. One positive for the Panthers would be to get out of playing this team in the next few years s o many times. I really think that team is going to be a real force; Kane and Burmistrov are something special.
I just want to give a personal perspective to this—as a beneficiary of the last relocation from Atlanta, in many ways I am thankful for it because having professional hockey in my hometown really blossomed my passion for the game, but in saying that I can’t imagine what it would be like to be on the other side of that.
by Craig Fischer on May 31, 2011 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Feel really bad for the Thrashers fans, know so many of them. As a USA Hockey official for the last 9-10 years I have officiated many Atlanta travel teams including the Jr. Thrashers, Knights, Ashburn Xtreme, etc… and the enthusiasm and love for the game that has grown there over the years is amazing (same with Florida, especially SoFla-Orlando-Tampa). Especially with kids like Stewart Cinks son, even met Tom Glavine while he was coaching one of the teams. Can’t imagine how disappointed they are, along with some personal friends. Hopefully there will be an AHL or other high level professional league team moved there soon enough, thats some great hockey to look up to also.
AHL in Atlanta and a team in Orlando would be beautiful.
by MrOmnipotent on May 31, 2011 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Orlando is where I live now (the Knight is for UCF, my school), so I couldn’t agree more!
by HockeyKnight on May 31, 2011 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions
LOL, I wonder if he realizes, that it was just him now, and not relocating the team that was the problem.
by MrOmnipotent on May 31, 2011 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
The only good thing to come of this:
Waddell said he won’t remain with the soon-to-be-renamed team after the sale closes and isn’t sure of his next career move.
Talk about a pro-active move.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
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