Winnipeg back on the schedule

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…