Winnipeg Jets

[Speed Demon 0]

I know that there has been talk of the Pens moving to Winnipeg. Is this a real possibility? This would be awesome.

[falcons5419 0]

Mario denied it a while back, i sure hope the come back the peg is a great hockey city

[kiprusoff*7 0]

wasn't the st. louis blues, suppose to go to saskatoon,sask? thats what i heard today at school. if this is true. why didn;'t they?

[kosydar 0]

I haven't heard anything about St Louis being in financial trouble.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

The Pens wont be in Winnipeg if they move.

Winnipeg couldent support an NHL franchise the first time around so why would they be given the chance to do it again.

[Pats 0]

Saskatoon already has a WHL team and I honestly don't think even as hockey made as they may be that such a small population (in relation to other NHL cities) could support an NHL team.

[Chadd 916]

Nobody is going to Saskatoon, they can't even support an AHL team. When Pittsburgh moves they will go to Portland, Houston or KC.

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

Ya, because those 3 markets are just DYING for a pro franchise.

*shakes head*

[kosydar 0]

I don't know about Houston or KC, but Portland actually is dying for a NHL team, and they have been for over a decade. Believe it or not, Portland has a rich hockey history, the Portland Rosebuds moved to Chicago and became the Blackhawks (I'm pretty sure of this), plus they have one of the highest attendances in the CHA. Portland most definitely could support a NHL franchise.

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

Really!? I seriously would have thought that. It just doesn't seem like a right fit for a team. I guess if theres a market thats bigger then in the Pits, it would be good for the team.

[Chadd 916]

Pittsburgh is a terrible hockey town, they've had to file for bankruptcy twice and barely sold out in their heydey. The team should have been sold to one of the other investment groups and moved back when Mario got control of the team. I honestly think KC may be better in the long term. They have a natural rivalry with St Louis and neither city has a basketball team. The Jailblazers create a competition for the dollars of the sportsfans and business money.

Edit:

KC is about to break ground on a new building and will be looking for something to fill it in a year or two.

[joshy207 15]

The Blues were rumored to be going to Saskatoon in the mid-80s.

Lemieux and his staff have denied all rumors that the club is up for sale and possibly relocating to Winnipeg. I'd be less surprised to see the Pens fold if there's a long lockout, and maybe see the Islanders sold and moved to the 'Peg. One of the Isles' owners recently got in trouble with the company he was heading up... can't remember all the details, sorry...

[Chadd 916]

The Pens have $20M in the bank, they're just riding out the lease so they can sell the team in two years. If they break even in the meantime they're even better off. Once the lease has expired the team will be up for sale and moved. The Isles Owner was part of Computer Associates. Winnipeg couldn't support an NHL team and their payroll need a decade ago, no reason to belive they can now no matter what the CBA negotiations bring.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=ap-i...ov=ap&type=lgns

[Stampeder 2]

Im pretty sure Winnipeg is putting up a new arena, and the people seem to want it there. BigDogJake would know more than me though.

[Chadd 916]

Im pretty sure Winnipeg is putting up a new arena, and the people seem to want it there. BigDogJake would know more than me though.

They were planning to build a new arena but there's no way a team will move to Winnipeg. The Canadian dollar is still weaker(by government design) and the taxes are much higher for players and the team. Any talk to the contrary is just wishful thinking.

[kosydar 0]

Chadd does bring up a good point about the Blazers, even though they sucks, they have a very loyal following. Having played on the ice surface in Portland where the NHL team would play, I really wouldn't deem it NHL quality. The Rose Garden was built less than 5 years ago, and I doubt that they'd be willing to build a new arena for a team so shortly after they built the other. Plus I hear that there is going to be a MLB team in Portland, and that its more serious than a NHL team. I doubt PTown would get 2 new teams so close together.

[falcons5419 0]

The Pens wont be in Winnipeg if they move.

Winnipeg couldent support an NHL franchise the first time around so why would they be given the chance to do it again.

because minnisota,atlanta and colorado did, winniped is a great hockey city and i hope they can get a team back

[Chadd 916]

The Pens wont be in Winnipeg if they move. 

Winnipeg couldent support an NHL franchise the first time around so why would they be given the chance to do it again.

because minnisota,atlanta and colorado did, winniped is a great hockey city and i hope they can get a team back

Atlanta and Colorado had severe management problems the first time around. Minnesota refused to build a new rink for the North Stars before they moved to Dallas, then built a nice new one for the Wild. The second reason for giving Atlanta and Minnesota expansoin teams is they are mid to large US TV markets meaning more advertising money.

Winnipeg only has fewer than 700k people, while Calgary is one of the smallest markets in the NHL with about 1million people. Hell there are 700k people within 30 mintes of Hershey, should the Bears join the NHL?

I admire your desire to have another team in Canada but be realistic.

[kiprusoff*7 0]

I haven't heard anything about St Louis being in financial trouble.

no i mean that they were suppose to start there not that they were moving, but i thought that they were suppose to start there. thats what i heard i will talk to my source tomorrow

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

I honestly would rather see a team go back in Quebec City, although it won't.

[morty 0]

Saskatoon was going to have an NHL team but they opted to go to St. Louis instead I think. I have a giant book on the life of Wayne Gretzky and it talks about Peter Pocklington (sp?) and how he almost had an NHL team to S´toon before they decided to go with St. Louis. Portland would be good for an NHL team I think. They already have a dub team and my friend who plays for them says they sell out pretty much every game and people love the game down there.

[kiprusoff*7 0]

Saskatoon was going to have an NHL team but they opted to go to St. Louis instead I think. I have a giant book on the life of Wayne Gretzky and it talks about Peter Pocklington (sp?) and how he almost had an NHL team to S´toon before they decided to go with St. Louis. Portland would be good for an NHL team I think. They already have a dub team and my friend who plays for them says they sell out pretty much every game and people love the game down there.

whats the book called, would have been nice to have something in this province, oh yeah i forgot... go riders! :lol:

[morty 0]

I'm really not too sure on the name of the book, and since I am in Mexico right now for the first few weeks I won't really be able to tell you for a while. If you really care you could PM me in a few weeks and I will be able to find it all. Can't forget about the Dub teams that Sask. has. When i lived in Regina we had Pats season tickets, the best was when they had the Memorial Cup there. Riders are an all time fav though. I live in Edmonton and still have a Riders license plate and bumper sticker on the back of my car.

[predshockey17 0]

Kc is going to the United Hockey League.