The rumors were finally put to rest this morning when the group known as True North Sports and Entertainment announced that is has purchased the Atlanta Thrashers and intends to move the organ-eye-zation to Winnipeg. What does that mean for the Kings? According to various reports, the Winnipeg team will spend the 2011-12 season in the Southeast Division, so there will be no division realignment for now. Under the NHL’s current schedule setup, the Kings would have played in Atlanta next season, so presumably they will now play in Winnipeg. That game could fit into a road trip that included Minnesota and/or one or both of the Alberta teams, but we’ll find out when the schedule is released sometime after the Stanley Cup Finals. Anyone know of any good restaurants in Winnipeg?
As for Atlanta, well, it’s difficult to be surprised. I only made it down there for one NHL game, in 2009, and I’ll always remember going to a nearby sports bar with the broadcast crew the night before the game. The Thrashers were playing in New York that night, and we asked the waiter if he would turn on the hockey game. His response? “Which game?” This was essentially across the street from Phillips Arena. Of course, that was only one person, and not indicative of an entire city’s fan base, but it did make me wonder…
YEEEAAAAA!!
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Yess!
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I hope this means Detroit will move to the East in two seasons..Next year the team will still be in the southeast..that is some tough travel. Can’t wait to see how the realignment goes.
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EJ Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:56 am
@Vahe, it is good for the league and the rest of the West for Detroit to stay put.
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Osaka Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 5:11 pm
@Vahe, God no, don’t move Detroit.
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wes Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 7:44 pm
@Vahe, EJ and Osaka are exactly right. Columbus moving to the East makes the most sense for the League. Glad to see Winnipeg get their team back. Thinking against the grain though– get a new name. The Jets franchise records/history went to Arizona twelve years ago.
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bill donnelly Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 7:51 pm
@Vahe, Most likely Nashville to the Southeast.
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CB14 Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 8:00 pm
@bill donnelly, I agree. That way they wouldn’t have to realign the East at all. If Detroit went there it wouldn’t make sense to put them in the Southeast. Plus Nashville is further south than Columbus, which is another team being mentioned.
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Poor Bob Miller, time to buy a new parka.
Also sorry for Atlanta, but unless your college football or nascar, that is one sad sports town.
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tuan jim Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 3:07 pm
@Jack the Lad,
Even L.A. doesn’t have what Atlanta’s about to lose — teams in all four major sports leagues.
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Maybe the Yotes could move to Atlanta and therefore actually be closer to the city of Phoenix?
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gralx Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 9:48 am
@DesertKing, Chandler resident here. I get that comment
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Shakes Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:01 am
@DesertKing,
that’s pretty funny
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Try Tim Horton’s. There’s one on every corner.
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Bob Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 9:50 am
@4/10/82, Just what I was thinking!!!
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Just bought a Thrasher jersey. What I’m I going to do now?
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Crown Royal Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 9:59 am
@dactribble,
It’s now called a trasher jersey!
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Blurker Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:05 am
@dactribble, Put it on ebay and call it vintage.
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DesertKing Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:12 am
@dactribble,
Trade it for a cooler Winnipeg Jets jersey!
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Unbelievable, this is the 2nd time they have lost an NHL franchise, the 1st time was in 1980 of course when the flames moved to Calgary and have stayed ever since. Hopefully in my lifetime, I will not see NHL hockey in Atlanta anymore. The way I see it is, if you lose 2 teams to Canadian markets like Calgary and Winnepeg who are small by comparison to Toronto, then you dont friggin deserve another kick at the can !
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wes Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 8:40 pm
@puck73, Calgary and Winnipeg are both clean, beautiful cities, heavily stocked with hockey smart hockey fans. Don’t know why they should be compared to Toronto. Agree that the NHL needs to abandon the repetitively failed “Georgia on my mind” experiment.
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PRMan Reply:
June 1st, 2011 at 4:13 am
@wes, Having been to both Toronto and Calgary, in my experience Toronto was cleaner and more beautiful.
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Belexes Reply:
June 1st, 2011 at 3:42 am
@puck73,
Yes, and when Winnipeg loses this new franchise, then we’ll be able to say that there are two Cities that have lost their team twice….
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So is this another Canadain game not on fox’s TV broadcast?
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Blurker Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:01 am
@OnTheFly, you realize that every Kings game this season was on TV, right? In HD even.
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Dominick Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:38 am
@Blurker, Only if you live in the broadcasting area, or further than 100 miles beyond the cut off point. If you live in the deadzone then, no, there not all on. Some games are blocked out by all media, except for radio.
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So where was Bettman objecting to the Trashers moving? Why no resistance? Bettman made a big sting about Phoenix being moved and he basically did nothing to stop Atlanta.
Next move Phoenix to someplace like here in Seattle or Quebec City. Even Milwaukee, but stop putting teams where they are not going to be supported.
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Blurker Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:03 am
@Seattle757, Phoenix has a potential owner IN AZ. Atlanta had no one even willing to pretend to buy the team.
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PaulHB Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:15 am
@Blurker, Not only that but it was widely reported that the Atlanta Spirit group offered to sell the Thrashers “at a greatly discounted price” to anyone who would keep the team in Atlanta and they didn’t even get an offer.
Bettman repeated several times this morning that the NHL doesn’t want to move any team and will always resist doing so at all costs. I do believe they resisted this move but plain and simple there was no other choice. The Atlanta Spirit group was going to sell the team regardless of where the new owners were.
Atlanta’s now lost 2 NHL franchises. I doubt they’ll ever get another one.
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TROJAN KING Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:26 am
@Blurker, I would love to see a NHL team in Oregon! 1 more excuse to go there!
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Dominick Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:39 am
@TROJAN KING, That’s where the Ducks should move.
Big Rob in Dallas Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 12:13 pm
@TROJAN KING, When I lived in Portland every NHL team that was in financial trouble was rumored to go to Portland. Especially when the Rose Garden was built. I remember Pittsburgh and Calgary were rumored to relocate.
Sebastian Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:10 am
@Seattle757, they tried everything possible to keep both teams where theyre at. there was nobody willing to step up to buy or show any interest in buying the Thrashers.
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Sebastian Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:11 am
@Sebastian, …to keep them in Atalanta of course.
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:25 am
@Seattle757,
The city of glendale also forked over $25M to the NHL to cover most of the losses and has pledged another $25M for next year. It was widely speculated that the NHL would have moved Phx back to winnipeg after this current season ended but the city stepped up.
in Atlanta…the mayor said he doesnt think the team will stay…two weeks ago.
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joe Reply:
June 15th, 2011 at 1:51 am
@Seattle757, Phoenix will most likely move to either Seattle,Kansas City,or Houston.Houston can support them just like they do the Aeros.That would also give Dallas an in state rival.I left out Hartford simply because they still haven’t built an arena yet.What people don’t realize about the Hartford Whalers is they moved because the city/state would either build them a new arena or give them money from the parking.They got zero dollars from the parking.Also the governor was trying to get the New England Patriots there in the worst way,so he didn’t care about hockey.By the way the Whalers are in the top 3 in retro merchandise from mitchel & ness.
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Yay! A whole year of realignment speculation!
I saw some wacko newspaper guy with his plan a couple weeks ago… He had Dallas moving out of the Pacific and Colorado sliding in. I’m not sure that Detroit moves to the East before Nashville does. Detroit would run over too many teams and Nashville plays more of an eastern game IMO.
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nykingfan Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:03 am
@Blurker,
I would think it would be between Detroit and Columbus
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dbrown23 Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:09 am
@nykingfan,
I dont think they will take the Wings away from the Hawks, that rivalry is intense. Also losing the Wings would be terrible for a lot of western conference teams, lets face it, those game are sellouts for sure when they are visiting a team that cant, and that includes the Kings.
But the southeast loses a team for sure, and the only team that makes sense even remotley is Nashville.
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nykingfan Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:34 am
@dbrown23,
Unless they reconfigure the divisions within the conference.
The Detroit rivalries make sense..but you have to wonder about the travel issues that Detroit has to deal with.
Nashville makes sense along with Columbus
Shakes Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:11 am
@nykingfan,
they should just merge Detroit and Columbus and call them the Blue Wings.
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Sebastian Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:20 am
@Shakes, or the Red Jackets
KingsFanFTW Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:21 am
@Shakes, LOL
nykingfan Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:31 am
@Shakes,
LOL
Dominick Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 12:41 pm
@Shakes,
Or the Rue Wickets. lol
dbrown23 Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:13 am
@Blurker,
That guy might be wacko, but hes probably right
Nashville to the southeast
Winnipeg to the North
Dallas to the Central
Colorado to the Pacific
the other option that i have heard would be
Nashville to the southeast
Winnipeg to the North
Colorado or Minnesota to the Central
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Jeff Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:31 am
@dbrown23, I never understood why Dallas was put in the Pacific over Colorado. It boggles my mind even today. They should fix that mistake. The Kings rivalry with Colorado is a lot bigger then it is with Dallas, plus Colorado is closer to us then Dallas. The 2 playoff series we had shows the rivalry, although it has dissipated over the years but still.
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wes Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 8:57 pm
@dbrown23, “the North”? Northeast Division makes sense.
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wes Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 8:57 pm
@wes, okay, my bad too. Northwest.
bbb7 Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 1:43 pm
@Blurker,I think it makes sense moving Colorado into the Pacific, Dallas to the Southeast and Winnipeg into the Northwest. A minimum of changes and sensible alignments.
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wes Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 8:52 pm
@bbb7, concur
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poor poor Bob Miller
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there are rumors about northern/southern conferences … making all the time zone travel equal
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EJ Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 12:00 pm
@Robert Beck, highly doubtful you’ll get the votes necessary from the eastern teams. They’ve got it good, and they know it.
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This is starting to resemble the NBA
Everyone moves everywhere and nobody can keep track of who you are or who you used to be.
Bettman used cities like Atlanta to help secure the national TV contract.
It’s easier to push Atlanta on a network than it is to push Winnipeg.
Now that the contract with NBC has been finalized, they’ll be moving to Winnipeg..hmmm coincidence?
maybe..maybe not, but with Bettman, you never know!
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number 6 Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 12:53 pm
@nykingfan,
Mr. Commissioner to you mate!!
Hey, now we can already start moaning about the weather again! How you doin?
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nykingfan Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 2:12 pm
@number 6,
whats up buddy
I bitched and complained all winter. Now we have to deal with the heat and humidity…
I’ll take it over the cold..the only thing that sucks is when the weather gets warm, there’s no Kings hockey..that needs to change!
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I think it’s terrific that the NHL is back in Winnipeg where it should be. Now if we can get back into Quebec City…..
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New Pacific Division: LA, Phoenix(for Now), San Jose, Anaheim, Colorado
New NW division: Winnipeg/Manitoba, Vancouver, Calgary, Minnesota, Edmonton
New Central Division: Dallas, Chicago, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis Blues
I believe either Detroit goes to the East in NE Division, or Nashville goes to the Southeast
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DesertKing Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:15 am
@Vahe,
It wold be nice to see a more competitive team in your NW division, one who could give Vancouver some competition. With that line-up, the Nucks would be in the top 3 of the conference every year.
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Token Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:25 am
@DesertKing, One would shudder at the thought of having all the Pacific teams in the Pacific Division. That’s just crazy!
I say pull Vancouver into the Pacific and kick out Dallas. It’s all about the timezones.
Move Columbus east. They could use the money.
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Sebastian Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:15 am
@Vahe, that would all make sense, but i dont think a team like Detroit would move divisions.
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dbrown23 Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:19 am
@Vahe,
Detroit leaving the western would terrible. plus i dont think they will seperate the Wings and Hawks. That combo was a winter classic matchup, and two matchups on NBC.
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Vahe Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:31 am
@dbrown23, I think Detroit has been wanting to move to the East for years..They have been complaining about their travel for years..In my opinion it makes the most sense to move the Preds to the Southeast..But I am sure the league will bend over backswards for the Wings
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Vahe Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:31 am
@Vahe, *backwards
Dominick Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:50 am
@Vahe,
Makes sense, but 4 Canadian teams, all in the same division, means they would compete against each other more, cancelling each other out, further giving teams in the staes a stronger foot hold in the standings.
Would be a mistake IMO. Maybe it wouldn’t matter IDK.
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IceGuy Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 5:50 pm
@Dominick,
That’s what I was thinking. 4 Canadian teams grouped? Good for the regular season I suppose, but very bad for playoff spot opportunities. The best realignment would be by time zones. The following has every Divisional Team team playing at most one zone away from home:
(assuming Phoenix stays put and Columbus goes East)
Pacific:
Vancouver (P)
San Jose (P)
LA (P)
Anaheim (P)
Phoenix (Mt)
Central:
Chicago (C)
St. Louis (C)
Nashville (C)
Winnipeg (C)
Detriot (E)
the new “Plains” Division:
Calgary (M)
Edmunton (M)
Colorado (M)
Minnesota (C)
Dallas (C)
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jonsey Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 8:00 pm
@IceGuy, Looks the best so far.
Dominick Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 8:55 pm
@IceGuy, I like your re-alignment alot. All Canadian teams are spread out evenly too.
wes Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 9:04 pm
@IceGuy, how is Minnesota in the Plains and Winnipeg not? But it’s better than some suggestions. Agree that Columbus should be the one heading East. That’s a move that could turn a weak franchise into a solid one.
Anyone know if they will hold on to the name Thrashers? Winnipeg Thrashers? Or will that change?
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PaulHB Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:17 am
@Scot, The new ownership group were asked this morning about the name and they said they hadn’t decided yet but will very quickly. They & Bettman said the negotiations literally went on to 4:30am local time this morning so there was no time to settle on that issue.
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Sebastian Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:18 am
@Scot, they will surely drop the thrashers…most likely be the jets but looks like the new owners want to go a different dirrection.
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PaulHB Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:19 am
@Sebastian, Agreed. I’ve been hearing a lot that it will be the Manitoba Moose, with the AHL Moose moving to St. Johns
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Vahe Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:35 am
@PaulHB, The Mayor of Winnipeg, wants to use Manitoba in the name..But the Moose, sounds too much like a minor league team (which it was) ..So I believe they will be called the Manitoba Jets..I just dont get the league wanting to move to a city where the arena at capacity only holds 15k
PaulHB Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:38 am
@Vahe, And they expect to sell 13,000 season tickets in a 15,000 seat arena?? That’s what I don’t get. What happens when they only sell 8,000 or 9,000? Does the NHL BoG block the deal on June 21? Bettman repeated numerous times this morning “This doesn’t work unless the arena is sold out every night”
Dominick Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 1:04 pm
@PaulHB,
That’s what I don’t understand. The Thrashers had one of the worst attendence records last season selling seats at less than capacity to under 14,000 a game. MTS Centers’ capacity is 13,769. Absolutely gaurentees lower numbers than when they were in Atlanta, and lowest attendence in the NHL even at sold out numbers. If Winny hasn’t got plans for a new building in their future that team is moved in 10 years.
tantrum4 Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 1:34 pm
@PaulHB,
Actually guys, the seating capacity is 17,071. They’ll sell that out every night easily.
tantrum4 Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 1:39 pm
@Sebastian, Sorry that was for a concert. Capacity is 15,051 and I will guarantee they sell out every night easily. This isn’t some non hockey town in the US like Atlanta or Phoenix. This is Winnipeg, CANADA.
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Dominick Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 2:04 pm
@tantrum4,
Maybe it will change when the NHL is in there. I got this seating chart off the internet. It could be the wrong building, but I don’t think so.
http://www.mtscentre.ca/seatingchart/hockey.php
wes Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 9:18 pm
@Dominick, it’s 15,051
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTS_Centre
Dominick Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:56 pm
@wes,
interesting. Is wikipedia right? or the guys who sell the tickets? 15,000 is still only 1,000 more than the bottom of the league, if they sell out every year. My point still stands, 10 years.
Dominick Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:06 pm
also wikipedia says 15,015.
tell em how has it even made sense that detroit is a west team??
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joe Reply:
June 15th, 2011 at 1:59 am
@pr0cess, It absolutley doesn’t.Then again Toronto was in the west for the longest time too.Here is a better one,how is it that Pittsburgh is in the same division as 2 New York teams,New Jersey,and Philadelphia?Pittsburgh is closer to Detroit than they are to anybody in their own division right now?
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wow i never thought it would happen they took forever thank god Winnipeg deserves a team
I hope we dont loose to the Moose LOL i hope they find a different name i am going to laugh each time they have th epuck am sorry but too funny in my eyes
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DesertKing Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:38 am
@KingsFanFTW,
The perfect solution – The Manitoba Bullwinkles
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:46 am
@DesertKing, lol yea
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DesertKing Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 12:40 pm
@KingsFanFTW,
Hey Rocky, watch me pull a Cup outof my hat!
Stuart Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 12:53 pm
opps wrong hat!
I always dug his alma mater: Whatsamata U
KingsFanFTW Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 12:56 pm
@DesertKing, if it say LA Kings winning the Stanley Cup i wish u could
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Dominick Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 1:07 pm
@DesertKing,
Nothin up my sleeve…….Presto.
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DesertKing Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 1:10 pm
@Dominick,
We could get Boris to coach the PP.
Dominick Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 1:22 pm
@DesertKing,
Right now………….I’d settle for Proffessor Peabody, and Sherman.
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DesertKing Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 1:59 pm
@Dominick,
LOL!!
SLIM Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 4:43 pm
@Dominick,
“Sherman, set the WABAC machine to …”.
tantrum4 Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 1:40 pm
@KingsFanFTW, Its actually better than the Penguins. Still easily the worst name in hockey.
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 2:33 pm
@tantrum4, yea after all u get use to it …i got use to Penguins but still want them out of the playoff everytime they in it for soem odd reason i dont get y
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Garrett Reply:
June 2nd, 2011 at 12:44 am
@tantrum4, Nothing will ever, EVER trump, The Mighty Ducks.
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Wow has there ever been another city that lost two professional teams in one sport. Besides the Dodgers and giants in baseball?
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Chip Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 2:40 pm
@gene, Minneapolis (Lakers, North Stars)
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still waiting Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 4:50 pm
@gene, sure – LA with the Rams and Raiders
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Will Reply:
June 4th, 2011 at 10:29 am
@gene,
Cleveland lost the Rams (NFL) and the Browns (NFL), but ended up getting the Browns back.
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From Winnipeg: Celebrations and parties all week are being planned, they shut down the busiest intersection in the city on a weekday! I think its safe to say this team will have way way more support in a way way smaller city than Atlanta.
Rich try Earls or there’s a great sports bar right across from the MTS Center called Foreplay. Or Old Spaghetti Factory at the Forks!
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Arron Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 3:22 pm
@flats,
Take a cab and go to Maximes. Way better food and the steaks are amazing!
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cracks me up every time i hear “organ-eye-zation”.
so what happens to the Manitoba Moose, where do they go play?
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PaulHB Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:33 am
@Sebastian, It appears they’re moving to St. Johns, Newfoundland
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Steve W Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 12:20 pm
@PaulHB, Will the newly crowned Memorial Cup champions Sea Dogs stay in St. Johns?
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Steve W Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 12:24 pm
@Steve W, My bad wrong ‘St’ team!
For Rich:
http://pichonlongueville.blogspot.com/2011/05/quest-for-best-burger-in-winnipeg.html
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So does this mean that we’re going to get to see the portrait of the Queen again?
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Jack the Lad Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:19 am
@Goring 19, I’d rather see a portrait of Princess Kate, or even Prince for that matter.
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This meesage is intended for Rich.
What happens to the Trashers hockey equipment they utilize at the Phillips Arena? i.e. Zamboni, etc
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DesertKing Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:39 am
@Steve,
They give the Zamboni to the Hawks so they can drive it down the street as a publicity stunt to draw more NBA fans. Maybe they could convert it to groom the infield at the Braves’ stadium?
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Goring 19 Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 1:05 pm
@Steve, I see the Zamboni races, like NASCAR
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Dominick Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 1:10 pm
@Steve, They hold on to it so that they won’t have to buy new ones when Pheonix looses their team.
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Lots of good restaurants in Winnipeg. Current favorite is Mise http://www.miserestaurant.com/
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Purple Ghost Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 10:56 am
@Purple Ghost, Make sure you take Jim Fox and have him order the wine!!
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I had a similar experience when the Kings were playing… in SJ, mind you, but it was game 2 of the playoffs. I walked into the Yardhouse at LA Live, and every TV in there had a playoff basketball game on involving NO LA teams! I kept asking the waiter to get the Kings game on, and no less than 20 minutes later, with like 5 minutes left in the 1st period, they finally put the Kings game on 1 TV. I’ll never go back to the Yardhouse at LA Live again!
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Jeff Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:45 am
@Brownkingsfan, I ate at the Yard House all 3 home games, b4 going to the Kings game. They had hockey games that were on, on some of the tvs with Basketball on the others. I can’t imagine that they wouldn’t have had the Kings games on some of the tvs. I forget which teams were playing at the time, but they did hasve the 4/4:30 games going and I saw most of the game each night I ate there, while I was eating and waiting to go across the street to Staples.
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Jeff Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:45 am
@Brownkingsfan, I ate at the Yard House all 3 home games, b4 going to the Kings game. They had hockey games that were on, on some of the tvs with Basketball on the others. I can’t imagine that they wouldn’t have had the Kings games on some of the tvs. I forget which teams were playing at the time, but they did hasve the 4/4:30 games going and I saw most of the game each night I ate there, while I was eating and waiting to go across the street to Staples.
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Jeff Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:46 am
@Jeff, How come I got two reply posts?
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tornado12 Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 12:09 pm
@Jeff, do you have a stutter?
Dominick Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 1:14 pm
@Jeff,
Posts that continually express the same singular opinion will be deleted. LOL
SLIM Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 4:52 pm
@Jeff,
Who do you think you are the “Sedins”
Darrell Reply:
June 1st, 2011 at 5:10 pm
@Brownkingsfan, Back when there was Fox Sports Bar in STAPLES, we went to have lunch and watch a Kings game on the road. They put us in the back, as there was also a Lakers road game on.. against the Sacramento Kings. It was really funny to start chanting “GO KINGS GO” and get booed while sitting in our own building.
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I believe it was stated before:
But I think moving Dallas out of the Pacific is the best move. No need to deal with 3 time zones in the same division. Oh wait… that’s what the Northwest has been doing too. Well “f” them. I’m a Kings fan.
Nashville to Southeast
Winnipeg to Northwest
Dallas to Central
Colorado to Pacific
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:44 am
@m, LOL like that forget about them all we care is about what best for the Kings
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I guarantee Detroit stays in the West, no way they will break up the many rivalries that sellout games, much easier to transition Colombus or Nashville to the East.
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:34 am
@Puckn-A, i say Jackets its a win win for them they can have a ten times better chance to get in the playoff and they get more fans
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Sebastian Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 12:18 pm
@KingsFanFTW, how would they have a better chance to get in the playoffs? are there less teams in the east, are the teams less competitive? i dont get it.
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Stuart Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 12:39 pm
@Sebastian, it takes less points to get into the dance in the east, at least that’s how it’s been the last few years.
KingsFanFTW Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 12:53 pm
@Sebastian, look at the West and look at the East whats different??West soo tight and the East is not.East u get winning streaks and then loosing streaks and ur still fine where u at if ur 5 u going to be at 5th for awhile maybe the whole season if lucky maybe go up by two or maybe down by two..
If ur in the West and u are in 5th u lose one or two ur down to 10th.In the West there no room for errors..
they have competitive teams don’t get me wrong on that…to get in the East playoffs it should be easy if u can get in a winning streak..If u loose about 4 or 5 games..U could only move down one spot at the least or more than one spot maybe 3 but never 5 spots..thats why it is easy for them to get in playoffs..come on its only make sense if u look at the standings of East and West u need about 98 points just to be safe in the West to make the playoffs and the East u need 95 at the most to be safe.so what u think fits and has a better chance??Red Wings always going to make the playoffs no matter what they go East or West they don’t need the help but Blue jackets they do in less they get more good players in their team..
So Its Best for them to move Blue Jackets to the East and they have a slightly better chance on making the playoffs than they have a chance on the West..They could make the playoffs in the West too every team could have a shot in the playoffs just only 8 spot and there no room for errors another words loosing streaks in the west to make the playoffs u just cant..In the East u can there lots and lots of room to make errors
tantrum4 Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 1:46 pm
@Puckn-A,
They also can create new rivalries. I think they already have a pretty decent rivalry with Pittsburgh, plus playing against 4 original 6 teams instead of just one will also be great. Everyone said the same thing when the Leafs moved from the West to the East, and it’s turned out ok. I think Detroit goes.
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joe Reply:
June 15th, 2011 at 2:04 am
@Puckn-A, It’s not Detroit’s job to sell out other team’s arenas.What do they do the rest of the year?I mean Detroit goes to teams in their division 3 times a year and twice everywhere else.If you can’t fill up your building all year and only rely on Detroit selling it out twice a year,then pack up and move.This is what it should look like in the 2012-13 season:
Eastern Conference
Division 1
New York Rangers
New York Islanders
New Jersey Devils
Boston Bruins
Montreal Canadiens
Division 2
Philadelphia Flyers
Washington Capitals
Carolina Hurricanes
Tampa Bay Lightning
Florida Panthers
Division 3
Detroit Red Wings
Pittsburgh Penguins
Toronto Maple Leafs
Buffalo Sabres
Ottawa Senators
Western Conference
Division 1
Chicago Blackhawks
Columbus Blue Jackets
St.Louis Blues
Nashville Predators
Dallas Stars
Division 2
Minnesota Wild
Winnipeg Jets
Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
Vancouver Canucks
Division 3
Los Angeles Kings
San Jose Sharks
Anaheim Ducks
Colorado Avalanche
Phoenix Coyotes
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I think that Nashville is the likely candiate to move to the southeast. And winnipeg will move into the central division.
I saw a NHL spot on Winnipeg once that said it was VERY unlikely that Winnipeg would ever get a team back due to the luxury boxes that are a staple of the new NHL areanas. Winnipeg just doesn’t have enough big business to allow for this type of income. Never been to Winnipeg just parroting what the guy on this show said.
Now of course those “never” predictions are just that…never predictions!!
Ya, Atlanta has now expired it alotment of chances at NHL franchises. I think the folks in Winnipeg will love the new franchise and support it with sellouts. That is HOCKEY country up there.
So who will be the next Salanie for Winnipeg?
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deadcatbounce Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 2:03 pm
@centericeman, You’re not missing much if you’ve never been to “Peg. It’s so freaking cold there during january and February that it even scares the stupid mosquitoes out of town, and those damn things are the official municipal insect!!!
Personally, I don’t think Winnipeg is rich in high-quality restaurants, but I remember eating at a place called Branigan’s that was good. Just use the passageways and try to avoid going outside at all costs during the winter!!!
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Arron Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 3:30 pm
@deadcatbounce,
Or you can just grow some and brave the weather. Hey you if you can make it in a Winnipeg winter you can make it anywhere
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its hard to find a sports bar in l.a. that has the Kings on. 24 hour fitness doenst always put the Doyers on either.we really are not a good sports town.
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Keep it simple. Nashville and Winnipeg swap places. The Jets used to be in the Central in the 90s, and I’m tired of hearing that Detroit doesn’t belong in the east. They are, and should be in the west because of all the teams in the NHL they are georaphically in the west. The NBA has Chicago and Detroit in the east because teams like Portland, Utah, San Antonio, Houston and Oklahoma City put more teams farther west.
So just swap Winninpeg and Nashville. Simple. Done.
The Colorado and Dallas swap can be done too, but thats secondary IMO.
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Dominick Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 2:23 pm
That sounds like a simple solution. I do want Dallas gone at the end of the day though.
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King John Reply:
June 1st, 2011 at 11:24 am
@KingTrojan,
No, it should be Winnipeg to the Northwest, Minnesota to the Central.
But yes, Nashville to the Southeast.
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joe Reply:
June 15th, 2011 at 2:06 am
@KingTrojan, How can you put a team in the central time zone over 2 teams in the eastern time zone?What’s Nashville supposed to do have all their road games in the eastern time zone now start at 6:00 pm?This is what’s gonna happen and everyone just needs to face reality.It’s not Detroit’s job to sell out your building:
New alignment will be this:
Eastern Conference
Division 1
New York Rangers
New York Islanders
New Jersey Devils
Boston Bruins
Montreal Canadiens
Division 2
Philadelphia Flyers
Washington Capitals
Carolina Hurricanes
Tampa Bay Lightning
Florida Panthers
Division 3
Detroit Red Wings
Pittsburgh Penguins
Toronto Maple Leafs
Buffalo Sabres
Ottawa Senators
Western Conference
Division 1
Chicago Blackhawks
Columbus Blue Jackets
St.Louis Blues
Nashville Predators
Dallas Stars
Division 2
Minnesota Wild
Winnipeg Jets
Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
Vancouver Canucks
Division 3
Los Angeles Kings
San Jose Sharks
Anaheim Ducks
Colorado Avalanche
Phoenix Coyotes
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KingTrojan Reply:
June 16th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
@joe, Really? So having Nashville one hour off of their opponents is better than having the “Jets” road games at Vancouver start at 9pm Winnipeg-time. Only one of Winnipeg’s divisonal foes are on the same time. Tell me how that is different than Nashville being the Southeast.
Your divisions are pretty good. But you can’t say that there’s a specific way to rid the problems of time zones.
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Travel for the SE conference is going to be brutal next season. I hope they at least take away the “home and home” matchups for them in their division. Hell of a back to back between Winnipeg and Tampa.
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Goring 19 Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 1:08 pm
@Space_Shot, my heart bleeds for ‘em. At least we don’t have a brutal travel schedule. Not!
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Sebastian Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 1:47 pm
@Space_Shot, i have a hard time feeling bad for guys who make millions of dollars a year and fly better than first class, and eat in fancy restaurants. im sure they will be just fine.
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So can they still use the JETS name? Shouldn’t the ownership group that moved the original team to Phoenix retain the rights? One condition for the Cleveland Browns moving to Baltimore is that Art Modell relinquish the Browns name and the city of Cleveland got to keep it for it’s expansion team…
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I get to see my Kings play live again!!!!
To put this in perspective the last live game I got to see Byron Dafoe was the goalie, Vitali Yachmenev was the future of the franchise and Larry Robinson was the coach
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Dominick Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 3:32 pm
@Arron,
I thought Pavel Rosa was the future. Maybe it was Aki Berg.
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Stuart Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 4:14 pm
@Dominick, did someone help you get out from under that rock??? Welcome to the 2000′s!
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Stuart Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 4:15 pm
@Stuart, sorry Dom, not meant for you and then I remembered what thread this was and Arron must be living in Winnipeg? In that case, congrats on your next ticket purchase!!!
Many years ago, Bob Miller & Nick Nickson did a between periods segment ranking their top ten restaurants on the road. Topping the list was “Room Service in Winnipeg when it’s 40 below zero!”
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I have a feel good story regarding Atlanta:
Family was on vacation in the southeast back in 2004 and we happen to be in Atlanta on my birthday. Driving by the arena, I saw the Thrashers were playing Philly that night, asked the wife for a birthday gift, and we were off to the game. Parking is HORRIBLE, it was 32 degrees, freezing rain outside. My poor wife & young kids dealing with Dad in a Kings jersey in Atlanta playing Philly having to walk an entire block to the arena. We head to will call when a police officer yells to me, “Hey you, come here!”. I look around, point to myself and he motions ‘Yes’. We head over. He asks, ‘Where are you going?’. I reply ‘I’m just going to will call to buy tickets for the game tonight’. He looks at me like he knows it’s my birthday and says ‘I can help you with that’ and pulls out 2 tickets to the game and hands them to me! I’m Like ‘DUDE! Really? How’d you know it was my birthday today? Thank you! But what about my 2 kids? (Wife was preggo with #3)’. He looks over to a yellow coat (Security), motions him over, says something to him, and says ‘Go see that man over there and do what he says. Have a great time’.
I shake his hand and thank him again, head over to the guy ‘Welcome to Philips Arena, I see you have your tickets. How old are your children?’ I say ’6 & 4′. He says ’4 and 2?’ I say (totally dense) no, ’6 & 4′. He looks at me once again with a ‘look’ and says ‘Oh, you meant 4 & 2, right?’. Finally getting it, I say, ‘Yeah, 4 & 2, correct. My bad’. He says, ‘No problem, have a nice evening.’ and lets us all in.
Family of 4 to see Atlanta & Philadelphia FOR FREE! It got better.
If you’ve never been to Philips arena , it’s kind of strange. One side is 3 tiers of seats and the other is 3 levels of press boxes & suites with the floor seats all belonging to Bank Of America as promotional seats. The tickets we go were for those promo seats, row 17, bottom level from the glass. Seat food service, and the seats were just about EMPTY. Pretty awesome! The thrasher mascot came and played with the kids for a bit. 3 solid fights, Philly won 5-2. I think I paid a total of $20 for food and parking for the whole night!
The people there were extremely nice and hospitable. A lot of questions about the Kings jersey (It pays to wear it on vacation, except in Toronto, they STILL hate us there after ’93). Gotta represent though. I feel bad for the fans there. They had a nice, but small fanbase when I went. I couldn’t imagine losing my team to another city. Feel bad for them.
I do feel happy for Winnipeg though. Not the ideal location for a franchise, but a diehard fanbase who will treat them well. Just hope they don’t end up in the West in a few years. Hopefully they’ll reposition the teams and keep the east as far east as possible, maybe swap Vancouver and Colorado, then Nashville & Winnipeg? Would keep division travel down anyway.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 6:46 pm
@Cynic,
Nice story dude! It must have been your jersey that swayed the cop!
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bonvivant1 Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 9:39 pm
@Cynic, Never in my life have I heard that the South was not charitable and hospitable. Obviously the fan bases’ support was not contagious enough to keep the team in Atlanta and convince the owners to settle in. Atlanta will rise again from the ashes of hockey obscurity at some point in time. I have to reference the Phoenix because I live in the desert and the Coyotes at some point in time might be leaving as well. As much as I despise the Yotes I think this whole ordeal has come full circle for me. Winnipeg moves to Phoenix, I move to Phoenix and get to go to Kings games. Atlanta moves to Winnipeg, Phoenix moves to Hamilton and I move back to L.A.
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Dominick Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:44 pm
@Cynic,
Why’d you have to go and do that? Now I feel bad for Atlanta.
No I don’t, Screw Atlanta! I just feel bad for the cop, and the yellow coat security guy. I hope a blessing comes back to them 10 fold.
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The only question not asked here is how bad a city has to be that would make you want to move your team to Canada…TWICE?
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Maybe Quebec City can get the next Atlanta franchise!
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PACIFIC:
VAN
SJ
LAK
ANA
(Dump PHX and DAL)
NORTHWEST:
CGY
WIN
EDM
MIN
(Move COL and VAN)
CENTRAL:
CHI
DET
COL
STL
(Move NAS and dump CBJ)
NORTHEAST:
MON
TOR
OTT
NYR
ATLANTIC:
BOS
NJ
WAS
PHI
EAST:
PIT
TB
NAS
CAR
Say goodbye to the Islanders, Stars, Panthers, Sabres, Jackets, and Coyotes
The NHL does not need more clubs. Can those markets hold these clubs that expanded in boom times, now that we’re in bust times?
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Now we went to Atlanta twice now Winnipeg. Arena holds 15000 wow, now lets hope that Can dollar does not drop to just chunk change again. I am not againt Winnipeg its just seating is low when most rinks are at 18000. Why did winnipeg build an arena at low numbers, if they where thinking bringing back an NHL team?? I hope that Can dollar stays strong or else say goodbye in 10 years or less..
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Dominick Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:46 pm
@Sammuch, Ha! That was my guess.
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King John Reply:
June 1st, 2011 at 12:21 pm
@Sammuch,
I would’ve hoped that they would’ve built an arena holding at least 17,000….
Maybe they can add in a few seats somehow….
When the Jets left Winnipeg in 1995, a whopping 35,000 fans turned out to keep the team there and raised $250,000. When Atlanta was announced to move, 200 fans turned out… (but over the years ownership apparently did nothing to build up fan interest and kids hockey in the area).
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These divisions look good, without much change:
PACIFIC/SW: San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Phoenix, Dallas
NORTHWEST: Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, WINNIPEG, Colorado
CENTRAL: MINNESOTA, Chicago, St. Louis, Columbus, Detroit
—-
NORTHEAST: Buffalo, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Boston
ATLANTIC: NY Rangers, NY Islanders, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
SOUTHEAST: Washington, Carolina, NASHVILLE, Tampa Bay, Florida
—-
Vancouver wants to stay with the other Canadian teams. For those who want Colorado with us, a few other adjustments would need to be made. But I prefer the above realignment and Detroit staying in the West. I really like Minnesota in the Central; those teams together in the Midwest (and with Detroit) look really good.
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Rich, now’s the perfect time to work on your curling/5 pin bowling skills!
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New divisions:
Northwest; Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, minnesota, and WINNIPEG
Southwest: Los Angeles, Anaheim, Phoenix, COLORADO, and San Jose
Central: DALLAS, Detroit, Columbus, Chicago, and St. Louis
Southeast: NASHVILLE, Washington, Carolina, Florida, and Tampa Bay
Atlantic: New Jersey, Rangers, Islanders, Philidelphia, and Pittsburgh
Northeast: Buffalo, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, and Boston
Best divisions:)
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Buster Reply:
June 4th, 2011 at 11:30 am
@Hockey Fan87,
I’d say switch Nashville and Columbus so we’d only face one team in the Atlantic time zone (Detroit) and cut down travel a little for Dallas.
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Back in the bad old days, when Bob and Nick were still together and had to fill time on the last broadcast of the season, I remember they ranked the best feature (or restaurant) in each NHL city. They ranked Winnipeg last and both laughed: “room service.” Enjoy the trip, Rich.
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i wonder if selane will opt to play his last season in winnipeg
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I think moving the Atlanta team to Hartford would have made more sense business wise. Seems to me a bunch of Canuckleheads got together and decided to try to bring another team into Canada just for sake of having another team in Canada. In terms of divisions, they should create a Canada Division, with Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal and now Winnipeg in it. Let them split off into the CHL (Canadian Hockey League) and see how well the new league does financially. Pretty stupid, eh? Just like the move of the Atlanta team to Winnipeg…
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While we are at it, why not bring back the Quebec Nordiques as well? Why not?
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Stuart Reply:
June 7th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
@Rick, i wouldn’t mind seeing those jerseys flying around the ice again… you might be onto something!!
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