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30th May 2011, 19:45
Eki

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firstgear

Yes, Winnipeg is quite small, about 700,000.

I guess "small" is relative. Helsinki is biggest city in Finland, and it only has about 590,000 inhabitants.
30th May 2011, 19:49
DexDexter

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firstgear

Yes, Winnipeg is quite small, about 700,000.
Can a team here be profitable? I think Mark summed it up pretty acurately a few posts back. I read or heard a few days ago (I wish I remember where) that all the Canadian teams are in the top 10 in the league in profitabitily and Winnipeg, if it got a team should be right up there as well.
Things have changed in the league and in our city since the Jets left. The league now has a salary cap. That, combined with the Canadian dollar being pretty much at par with the US dollar (15 yrs ago it was about .65US and the players contracts are all in US) gives a team here a chance to be competative. Also, the team previously didn't have rights to consession or parking money. The new owners (if the deal goes through) own the new arena (the old one was demolished a few years ago) so they have that going for them as well.
You're right about them usually being a bad team (dump & chase, dump & chase....man that was some boring hockey) but with the factors listed above changing things in their favour, I think they've got a chance here.
Two possible things holding them back are the size of the new arena (16,000?) being quite small by NHL standards, and that Winnipeg is known to be quite a wholesale (read - cheap) town. So will the fans fill the arena every game , paying NHL ticket prices after the initial jubilation wears off? Hard to say. People here have been talking about the return of the Jets for years now, and it's gotten loads of attention lately. There have been new rumours in the local papers here nearly every day for months now. People are getting really excited, but will they put their money into it?
Me? - my boys are Calgary & Montreal fans, so we might go to the occasional game when those teams are in town.
People here loved Teemu, one of I believe 6 players still in the league that played here before the team left. Do you remember Thomas Steen? He's still here and recently was elected one of our city councellors.

I remember Steen, didn't know he didn't go back to Sweden. Winnipeg Jets is pretty well-known in this country because Selänne was a real superstar over here when he went to the NHL and people and the media followed his first year quite a lot, a lot more than they follow the NHL now. I think they even showed live Winnipeg games over here if I'm not mistaken.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eki

I guess "small" is relative. Helsinki is biggest city in Finland, and it only has about 590,000 inhabitants.

That's not really the case, as you know. Helsinki is the basically a city of about 1 000 000 people, Espoo and Vantaa are just huge suburbs of Helsinki in reality. They don't even have a centre.
30th May 2011, 20:59
Firstgear

Well, for an NHL city, 700,000 is definately small, especially as there are no other relatively large centers nearby. You could drive 8 hrs east or west before hitting anything with a population over 100,000.
30th May 2011, 22:20
A.F.F.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DexDexter

That's not really the case, as you know. Helsinki is the basically a city of about 1 000 000 people, Espoo and Vantaa are just huge suburbs of Helsinki in reality. They don't even have a centre.

It's other way around. Vantaa on Stadin Amerikka.
31st May 2011, 03:13
Mr. Mister

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firstgear

Well, for an NHL city, 700,000 is definately small, especially as there are no other relatively large centers nearby. You could drive 8 hrs east or west before hitting anything with a population over 100,000.

Yeah, surrounding area is the problem, not the city itself. Most teams are in cities with less than 700k in the cities themselves.

I think Winnipeg would be more successful than the team in Atlanta, at the very least. Still think it should have been the Québec Nordiques getting to debut that new logo they never used (the one with what I guess was a husky or a wolf)...but I don't call the shots. Honestly, hockey's a niche sport. Always going to be. Just cater to the people who want to be catered to. Many of those people are in Canada...
31st May 2011, 14:20
Firstgear

Well, word on the radio is that the deal is done. True North Sports Entertainment (the guys wanting to bring the Thrashers to Winnipeg) have called a news conference for 11am today (just under 3 hours from now) with Bettman flying into town as well.

YouTube - ‪Stompin Tom Connors - The Hockey Song‬&rlm;
31st May 2011, 14:57
schmenke

Sounds promising :up: .
31st May 2011, 16:24
A.F.F.

I'm all for it :up:

( Like it needs my blessing :dozey: )
1st June 2011, 12:14
DexDexter

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.F.F.

It's other way around. Vantaa on Stadin Amerikka.

:D :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Mister

Yeah, surrounding area is the problem, not the city itself. Most teams are in cities with less than 700k in the cities themselves.

I think Winnipeg would be more successful than the team in Atlanta, at the very least. Still think it should have been the Québec Nordiques getting to debut that new logo they never used (the one with what I guess was a husky or a wolf)...but I don't call the shots. Honestly, hockey's a niche sport. Always going to be. Just cater to the people who want to be catered to. Many of those people are in Canada...

Let me correct you a bit. Ice hockey is a niche sport in the United States of America, it's not a niche sport in Russia, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic or Slovakia.
1st June 2011, 20:26
AndyRAC

So, are the Thrashers, going to stay as the Thrashers - or will they revert to Jets? Was watching NHL On The Fly before, and it seems they are staying in the South West Division.
1st June 2011, 20:43
Firstgear

Name hasn't been decided yet, but it sounds like Thrashers is out (Atlanta Spirit Ownership Group kept the name).
Here's an article from a local paper:

What

Sounds like Jets, Falcons, Polar Bears, Moose (our current American Hockey League team name) are all possibilities.

Almost everyone here that cares at all "Wants their JETS back". But if the new owners want to make any money selling jerseys etc. they better at least change the logo/colors because it seems (from the way people were dressing yesterday) that everyone here still has a Jets jersey.

I believe they're staying in the East for the first year, and then there's supposed to be a realignment of divisions.
2nd June 2011, 14:55
schmenke

Although I can understand the nostalgia for the "Jets", the new team needs a new name. As I understand it, ultimately the old Winnipeg Jets were named after the New York Jets football team :dozey:
The new franchise needs to be renamed to something more appropriately Manitoban.
I heard someone suggest the "Winnipeg True North". Sounds good to me :)
2nd June 2011, 15:13
Firstgear

I've always been told they were named after the Avro Arrow. I don't know though, how the Arrow's saga fits in with Winnipeg specifically.
2nd June 2011, 15:32
schmenke

I could be wrong, but I understand that the name was borrowed from Winnipeg's WHL team at the time, the owner of which was a fan of the NY Jets :mark: .
3rd June 2011, 18:46
dunes

I can admit when i'm wrong so there it is. Boston in 7
7th June 2011, 17:48
Mr. Mister

Luongo's always good for one of those 8-1 kind of games, but I'm still surprised it happened. Boston's supposed to just be a grit team, and without Horton or Seguin last night, their team of third and fourth liners pulled 8 goals out of somewhere. When it comes to Bruins hockey, I'm wrong about everything...

On another note, they won't be the Jets, that much is confirmed. Winnipeg Whiteout has been tossed around, since that's the only term they have trademarked at the moment. Hard to make a home jersey with that name, but then again, you could get a polar bear in the logo without having the name "Polar Bears," which, while suggested, just has an AHL feel to it.
16th June 2011, 13:09
Bagwan

Well , well , nice job , Vancouver .

Very classy .

Good thing we didn't have any Bruins sweaters hanging around in that crowd .
With the smell of alcohol said to be noticeable at 1:00pm in the afternoon , there might have been people killed .

Hundreds have been treated for tear gas inhalation and various injuries(like stabbings) .
Stores looted , and multiple vehicles over-turned and burned .

Nice show .

We are all ashamed .
Sad to see it after some great hockey .

Thank-you to the teams . Sorry to the NHL .

I started watching hockey when there were only six .
I only bother with play-off hockey now .
I'm happy an original six team won .

They have more canucks on the team than the Canucks .
16th June 2011, 14:32
schmenke

I too remember the original six. I used to marvel at Bobby Orr skating end-to-end to score a goal, then a smile and a nod, not whooping up with fist pumps the way some prima-donnas celebrate a goal these days. He was pure class.

Boston was by far the better team in this series. Alain Vigneault simply didn’t know how to play a big, physical team like them. Congrats to the Bruins :up: .

As for the riots, well, the city was partly to blame. I can only assume next time they won’t permit 100,000 spectators into the city core to watch the game on big screens, all the while consuming alcohol.
There wasn’t a hockey fan in those crowds :down: .
16th June 2011, 15:01
Bagwan

Quote:

Originally Posted by schmenke

I too remember the original six. I used to marvel at Bobby Orr skating end-to-end to score a goal, then a smile and a nod, not whooping up with fist pumps the way some prima-donnas celebrate a goal these days. He was pure class.

Boston was by far the better team in this series. Alain Vigneault simply didn’t know how to play a big, physical team like them. Congrats to the Bruins :up: .

As for the riots, well, the city was partly to blame. I can only assume next time they won’t permit 100,000 spectators into the city core to watch the game on big screens, all the while consuming alcohol.
There wasn’t a hockey fan in those crowds :down: .

There were a lot of dirty moves mixed into a good game .
But , good hockey by today's standards . That's why I only bother with a few play-off games .

Well , that and the fact that I can't keep all the teams straight , let alone know the names of all the players .

We must be getting old or something .

As for the riots , the city let them do it , but it is the individual that must makes his/her own choices .

Healey , before the game , said that if the Canucks win they'd blow the roof off the town , and if they lost , they'd burn it down .
He wasn't too far off in that prediction .
Such was the passion in the crowd .

They burned a stuffed bear on a pike .
They were a drunk , depressed hockey mob , burning cars and destroying property because they lost a game .

Vancouver has a black eye .
Pictures of it are flooding in , and many will hear loud knocks on thier front doors in the near future .
Place these people on display , and charge money to shoot pucks at them to pay for the damage .
18th June 2011, 13:37
dunes

Congrats to both teams on a 7 game series. I don't believe Vancover showed up for game 7 but a nice series anyways. Congrats to my Mom's Bruins. Congrats to Tim Thomas truely deserving in my iopinion.

Total disgrace on the city of Vancover for thier aftermath.Even boston had some troubles with celebration at home.Its just a disgrace.

Jagr to Detroit I hope not. I think personally hes a whinney brat and should stay where ever it is he went to.
Thanks Mike Madano for your 1 year contribution to the Wings this year. hope the wrist heals nicly and you'll allways be welcome back home in Westland as well as detroit.
18th June 2011, 18:12
A.F.F.

Congrats to both teams for great series.

Too bad for city of Vancouver.... :(
10th September 2011, 10:09
Garry Walker

I am surprised no one has posted here regarding the catastrophe that happened in Russia. Almost every teammember of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl got killed in the plane crash, such big names for hockey world, in both players and coaching staff.
15th September 2011, 16:02
Mark in Oshawa

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Mister

Yeah, surrounding area is the problem, not the city itself. Most teams are in cities with less than 700k in the cities themselves.

I think Winnipeg would be more successful than the team in Atlanta, at the very least. Still think it should have been the Québec Nordiques getting to debut that new logo they never used (the one with what I guess was a husky or a wolf)...but I don't call the shots. Honestly, hockey's a niche sport. Always going to be. Just cater to the people who want to be catered to. Many of those people are in Canada...

Sold out all season tickets in 17 minutes. I think a city of 700000 can at least make a go of supporting the Jets. God knows there are 11 teams in financial trouble in the NHL, and none are in Canada. Sometimes you sell your product to people who understand it rather than selling it to people who choose not to learn or enjoy it....
15th September 2011, 16:05
Mark in Oshawa

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garry Walker

I am surprised no one has posted here regarding the catastrophe that happened in Russia. Almost every teammember of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl got killed in the plane crash, such big names for hockey world, in both players and coaching staff.

I havne't been posting on Chit Chat for the most part since the spring...it was a tragedy and an awful thing to conteplate, but I am not shocked in a sense. Russian airlines such as Aeroflot are still using on all their domestic routes old USSR era relics such as the Yak 42 that were in the crash. Dave King, the former Canadian national team coach coached in the KHL for a year or two and he said it was one of the reasons he left, in that he didn't think much of the airplanes he had to sit in.

Pavel Demetria, Ruslan Salei, and a few others plus head coach Brad McCrimmon all died on that plane...and were NHL'ers. I counted 5 or 6....so a lot of people starting the NHL season will do so with heavy hearts.....
18th September 2011, 08:05
BleAivano

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa

I havne't been posting on Chit Chat for the most part since the spring...it was a tragedy and an awful thing to conteplate, but I am not shocked in a sense. Russian airlines such as Aeroflot are still using on all their domestic routes old USSR era relics such as the Yak 42 that were in the crash. Dave King, the former Canadian national team coach coached in the KHL for a year or two and he said it was one of the reasons he left, in that he didn't think much of the airplanes he had to sit in.

Pavel Demetria, Ruslan Salei, and a few others plus head coach Brad McCrimmon all died on that plane...and were NHL'ers. I counted 5 or 6....so a lot of people starting the NHL season will do so with heavy hearts.....

yes many Russian airlines do but not Aeroflot.

Their mainstay in the fleet are Airbuses as well as 9 B767,
However they do have more modern Russian aircrafts such as the IL-96 (6) and the brand new Sukhoi Superjet 100.
Aef also have orders for B777, B787 and Irkut MS-21.
19th September 2011, 10:22
cali

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleAivano

yes many Russian airlines do but not Aeroflot.

Their mainstay in the fleet are Airbuses as well as 9 B767,
However they do have more modern Russian aircrafts such as the IL-96 (6) and the brand new Sukhoi Superjet 100.
Aef also have orders for B777, B787 and Irkut MS-21.

Quite right, and as far as I've been told, biggest problem is not the russian airplanes, but the people and the way planes are maintained.
Like you said, Aeroflot is using very modern fleet.
23rd September 2011, 22:48
A.F.F.

I truly hope that we won't be seeing any more tragedys in the hockey world :/

The new season of NHL is about to start..... what are your thoughts about it? Teemu one-more-year Selänne continues so no news from Ducks camp. Some interesting trades thought. Obvioulsy I have looked most of them through blue and white glasses but most interesting is Dany Healey's move to Minnesota. I hope it'll boost Mikko Koivu and the rest of the team yet another level :up:
26th September 2011, 03:57

what is the difference between from NFL and NHL. I am from Hongkong so not so familiar with your games leagues.
8th October 2011, 21:48
A.F.F.

Does ESPN air NHL anymore?
11th October 2011, 10:13
BleAivano

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.F.F.

Does ESPN air NHL anymore?

to make a long story short:

NHl sold the rights to Medge consulting (MC). MC asks for too much money and no European tv company or ESPN Am have bough the rights so far.
currently there is no legal way of watching NHL from Europe.
everyone just say that "They are working on it".
11th October 2011, 11:03
A.F.F.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleAivano

to make a long story short:

NHl sold the rights to Medge consulting (MC). MC asks for too much money and no European tv company or ESPN Am have bough the rights so far.
currently there is no legal way of watching NHL from Europe.
everyone just say that "They are working on it".

Well isn't that just ****ing great ?? Thank you BleAivano
15th October 2011, 09:45
DexDexter

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleAivano

to make a long story short:

NHl sold the rights to Medge consulting (MC). MC asks for too much money and no European tv company or ESPN Am have bough the rights so far.
currently there is no legal way of watching NHL from Europe.
everyone just say that "They are working on it".

I wasn't aware of that and I consider myself as a hockey fan up to a point. That probably shows how big NHL is in Europe. A fringe sport. You're not going to make a lot of money by selling the rights in Europe.
19th October 2011, 20:37
AndyRAC

Great decision by the NHL - unbelievable. What was wrong with the old deal? Great coverage on ESPN/ ESPN America with live games and NHL on the Fly......and now nothing.

No wonder the NHL is the 4th of the big 4 US Sports........
19th October 2011, 22:32
DonJippo

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleAivano

to make a long story short:

NHl sold the rights to Medge consulting (MC). MC asks for too much money and no European tv company or ESPN Am have bough the rights so far.
currently there is no legal way of watching NHL from Europe.
everyone just say that "They are working on it".

NHL broadcasts expected to start in Finland during next weekend according to a finnish sportmagazine. I believe this is a part of wider deal including other Nordic countries as well.
21st October 2011, 01:26
BleAivano

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonJippo

NHL broadcasts expected to start in Finland during next weekend according to a finnish sportmagazine. I believe this is a part of wider deal including other Nordic countries as well.

correct, VIASAT have bought the rights for this and the following 4 seasons.
according to this article: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nhl...11-10-20viasat paid 50 million US dollars for the rights for the 5 seasons that they now have aquired.
11th January 2012, 21:33
A.F.F.

Congrats Sweden juniors for the title!! :up:

Not much of talk aout NHL this season, eh?
18th January 2012, 17:35
Garry Walker

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.F.F.

Congrats Sweden juniors for the title!! :up:

Not much of talk aout NHL this season, eh?

People must be shocked at New York Rangers' success.
18th January 2012, 21:11
A.F.F.

Well, I can't deny it does the job..... :D
19th January 2012, 11:58
A.F.F.

But I'm looking forward to see if Ducks make it to playoffs :up:
26th January 2012, 17:29
schmenke

Seven goals last night and not one for Gomez... :s

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