NHL: Thrashers sold, Moving to Winnipeg?

[ItsCyence]

NHL's Atlanta Thrashers sold, will move to Winnipeg, report says - The Denver Post

Now this report has been shot down by the NHL but apparently there is a sale in the works.

 

[Cy's Taxi]

I know it hurts revenue and tv ratings and all, but the NHL needs more canadian hockey teams. There's no reason there should be hockey teams in places like Arizona or Atlanta...

 

[drmwevr08]

I'm surprised that Winnipeg was the first place to go back to.

 

[CycloneNorth]

I heard it confirmed on Sportscenter. I'm pretty happy about this, I've never been a fan of places like San Jose, Tampa, and Atlanta having teams while their are still some great hockey cities without teams.

 

[drednot57]

Are the Thrashers being renamed the Jets I wonder? I believe that was the franchise nickname before the first team left. Nice to see the NHL return to its roots in Canada.

 

[Broodwich]

I would say after two failures with the Flames and the Thrashers that hockey is done in Atlanta.

I think this is a great move. Winnipeg has had the strongest numbers in AHL attendance since the Jets left, and it will provide a great rivalry with the Wild.

I was really hoping that the Coyotes would be the team to move because I think that would have helped DM get an AHL team back. The Thrasher's AHL affiliate is in Chicago and I don't see them moving it.

 

[CyBroncos]

To me, hockey in Winnipeg sounds like way more of a natural fit than Atlanta

 

[ItsCyence]

Now we need the Quebec Nordiques so Pheonix should go there. Someone needs to move to Hartford.

 

[Al_4_State]

Hockey has taken off pretty well in San Jose. The Sharks have a solid fan base. Dallas, LA (2 squads) and Nashville do as well, so its not like hockey in warm weather places has been a total fail.

Atlanta and Phoenix have been major fails though.

I'm skeptical of Winnipeg's ability to support a team. Its about the same size as Omaha, and there's barely over a million people in all of Manitoba.

 

[Al_4_State]

FWIW, I'd like to see Milwaukee get a team. UW's hockey team has a massive following. After Winnipeg, its probably the NHL's most egregious absence in a city.

 

[Boxerdaddy]

Hockey has taken off pretty well in San Jose. The Sharks have a solid fan base. Dallas, LA (2 squads) and Nashville do as well, so its not like hockey in warm weather places has been a total fail.

Atlanta and Phoenix have been major fails though.

I'm skeptical of Winnipeg's ability to support a team. Its about the same size as Omaha, and there's barely over a million people in all of Manitoba.

Green Bay's Population is just over 100,000. Just saying when you have the right fan base it will work. And those Canadians do love their hockey.

 

[Broodwich]

I'm skeptical of Winnipeg's ability to support a team. Its about the same size as Omaha, and there's barely over a million people in all of Manitoba.

It is bigger than Green Bay though.

 

[Al_4_State]

Green Bay has a team because of Milwaukee. If Green Bay was the largest city in Wisconsin, there would be no team.

 

[hurdleisu24]

Sounds like Winnipeg will go to the western conference and either, Nashville, Detroit or Columbus will go to the East. I have also read that dallas would then move to the Central and winnipeg will go in the northwest divison with the Wild

 

[ItsCyence]

Minnesota and Winnipeg can be a big rivalry.

 

[hurdleisu24]

Minnesota and Winnipeg can be a big rivalry.

Which is why they would move to that divison

 

[bowlfan912]

here's my take on this-
1. This is great for hockey even though Bettman is probably ticked at this.
2. We may see the coyotes and islanders move which would likely put a team in Hamilton because they have the highest ahl attendance and perhaps one in hartford.
3. This would bring back the old norris division(except the blue jackets) as nashville would move south, Winnipeg to the west and minnesota would move to the north

 

[hurdleisu24]

IT would make the most sense for Nashville to move to the south but since when does pro sports management do anything that makes sense?