NHL back in Winnipeg...

[cbrooks]

It sounds like the Thrashers or Coyotes are being pursued by Winnipeg. That city hasn't had a NHL team in the last 15 years when they were the Jets and left for Phoenix. Here's Winnipegs special section in the paper. You can click on the articles below to read.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/nhl/

another HSOforum trying to put together support for a team in Winnipeg

http://www.jetsowner.com/

[OnAFly]

Nothing will happen while the Coyotes are in the playoffs.

I don't know why they moved to Phoenix. In the 15 seasons they've had a team, how many games have they sold out compared to how many were 1/4 full? There's no reason for a team to be there.

Move Atlanta to Quebec and get it over with. The Atlanta and Phoenix experiments have failed. Move the teams to places where hockey is a respected sport, not to another place where it's set up to fail.

(NOW FOR THE OBLIGATORY RANT: Thank you Norm Green for sending my North Stars to Dallas where they enjoy a 1/2 full rink every night. There are no words to express the hate I have for that man)

[cbrooks]

I second your rant...Norm Green Sucks. I used to be a huge North star fan. I remember the Stanley cup run that was in 1990 against the Penguins. John Casey stood on his head in those playoffs. Since the Stars move south I haven't taken a interest in the Wild. I don't know why. I think the North Stars had a good fanbase in the surrounding communities that the Wild hasn't been able to gain. Kind of sad.

What was the reasoning for moving the Stars? It couldn't be ticket sales.

[JimBuck]

I agree with the NG rant as well. The guy will always suck. It's incredibly frustrating watching the Wild on the road in cities like Nashville, Carolina, Atlanta and Dallas and seeing the stands at 1/2 capacity.

I really, really hope Winnipeg gets a team again. They are long overdue. I've always had a hard time with cities like Quebec and Winnipeg not having teams but Nashville and Atlanta get a team with little support. I'm sure it's all about money but I would assume they could rake in more revenue in cities that actually give a rip about Hockey.

[Bear55]

It is hard getting connected to the Wild, about the time the NStars left is when I fell hard for college hockey and never looked back. I do keep an eye on them but nearly on the level of college hockey.

Winnipeg deserves a team again, I hope they get one.

[yakfisher]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Moving the Chiefs to Fla. was a joke. I cannot for the life of me understand why the NHL took Slap Shot seriously and based its future expansion on comic relief. I guess the joke is on us.

How about we see if someone can get a Big Ten hockey league going. That should be good for the sport too, maybe even entice the SEC or PAC 10 to get going too.

Oh well, good luck to Winnepeg and Norm Green sucks!

[OnAFly]

Half the problem for the Wild is the name. Seriously, the Wild. Sounds like a fourth grader came up with it...oh wait, that's exactly what happened.

At least the Coyotes were named after something. We're an adjective, great . Also, red and green for colors? Come on. Don't give me that iron range red and forest green carp either. We look like Christmas trees out there. Who cares if we copy someone elses colors. Almost anything is better than red/green. Besides, almost no team has unique colors. Color patterns have been copied for a reason.

I really do love NHL hockey, especially Minnesota hockey, but this franchise made mistakes in the beginning.

EDIT: Can you tell I'm leaving work at 3 and have checked out mentally for the day?

[cbrooks]

I like how yakfisher worked "Slapshot" into this. Its funny because its kind of true also.

What the Wild need is for Reggie Dunlop to rise from the dead and take this team to the playoffs. getting the Hanson brothers wouldn't hurt either.

[scsavre]

Norm green said there was too much hockey in mn and a pro team couldn't survive any more.

I went to all but a handfull of wild games this year and most of it is just a show. A bunch of people cheering or booing about a game and players they don't even know.

I kind of compare it to sioux fans. Minus the passion of coarse. You are cheering for players who are not from your area. The players have no loyalty or ties to the city and they will all be gone in just a few years. At least with sioux fans its a small enough area and fans can make attempts to learn about the players. With the wild I bet 90% of the fans couldn't identify more then 5 players out there. What am I cheeering on team finland and canada....who cares. Sell my tickets I'm cheering on the home grown maroon and gold. Skin in the game.

Also, I'm glad madano didn't come back. He was a big basher of stp when he left.

[jellio]

Norm Green = scum of the earth.

I miss the old teams from the NHL the Nordiques and the Whalers to name some...I love pro hockey but the Wild are probably the hardest team to get behind due to there up and down play the last 4 years. The whole franchise needs a rebuilding. I'll watch bits and pieces of games on tv while I"m at home but much like the Vikings there is no way in heck I'd miss a fishing outing to stay home and watch them....and to invest money to take a trip down there to see them....forget it. Of course the Twins have been hard to watch this year so far but I still have faith they will pull it together by the end of June.......Who the heck are the Timberwolves they are more of a comic relief than anything else. It's tough to be a pro sports fan in Minnesota. While I'm on my rant college hockey doesn't get a pass either.....I hate the fact that guys leave early (Justin Faulk) after one year to turn pro. Nature of the beast I know. In college hockey I like the teams not the players. I'm much more likely to cheer for a guy like Mike MOntgomery who I now will be here for 4 years. Justin Faulk was off my radar screen after the last game was over.

[cbrooks]

].

Also, I'm glad madano didn't come back. He was a big basher of stp when he left.

Not anymore of as basher than you are of Sioux fans but anyway what did Madano say about St Paul?

[scsavre]

You know what else would really help the wild and their fan support.......the old norris conference. Chicago, detroit, wild, blues, leafs and even winnepeg.

Why in the world is hockey set up in a way to deter fan travel. Honestly, colorado, vancouver, edmonton. Like I'm ever gona drive there. But st louis and chicago and winnepeg. That is a fun road trip.

By the way I don't think baseball fans can complain about the wild only selling 97% of their tickets. These ballparks have been pretty empty and its what, week 3.

[scsavre]

Brooks, what the heck am I gonna do when one of my kids says he wants to play hockey for the sioux. ....ah man. Makes me sick.

Madano had said a lot of things about the fans, said they were too hard on players. Said the city wasn't big enough, nice enough. Just comments aong those lines. Wasn't a good area for pro hockey. Thy didn't get the admiration they deserved. I guess he took it all back years later. Ah well.

[yakfisher]

]Brooks, what the heck am I gonna do when one of my kids says he wants to play hockey for the sioux. ....ah man. Makes me sick.

Sharpen his skates, and get him on the ice. He's got a long row to hoe to make that top notch program. Or, you set his sights lower and push him towards the Gophers.

[scsavre]

Yah. Ill have to send him to that d2 league called the big 10. I actually don't have any boys yet. But man if their not good enough for the maroon and gold letting them go to nd would be tough to swallow. By then they will have gone 30 years without a ncaa title.

[Muskies]

Sounds like it's a good possibiliy...it would be good for winnipeg and for the NH...hockey where it's wanted and belongs.

[brmuskie]

One of the big reasons why the Jets left was the arena. That place was an old arena and didn't make a ton of money. I used to go to a lot of Jets games - I was more of a Jets fan than a North Stars fan growing up. 18 year olds drinking beer at the games - what could go wrong?

[cbrooks]

I think if Winnipeg gets a team. Maybe I could be a fan. I could be a Wild fan if they would land some high profile Minnesota names like Zach Parise or Jordon Leopold. One thing about Minnesota is they like there local talent. Could payoff for the franchise to sign some of these guys...broader fanbase something they are lacking now.

[solbes]

I used to travel to Miami a lot for business and would see all the ads for the Panthers games. Buy 1 ticket, get 3 free! So even if the arena is 1/4 to 1/2 full, it's very possible that a lot of those tickets weren't even paid for. Pathetic. Extremely pathetic.

Like em or hate em, hockey does belong in Canada. Winnipeg is a pretty small market for a new team, but they will put butts in the seats and have plenty of passion for the game.

Stirring up all of this Norm Green stuff just makes me mad again. I don't even want to talk about it.

[scsavre]

Winnepeg has a new arean now too, dont they?

Maybe we could just blame the Lighting and Sharks for all these teams in dumb areas. I think they were the first expansion teams that were a success and led to all these others.

Im still mad about the frozen 4 being in Fla next year.

[solbes]

]

Im still mad about the frozen 4 being in Fla next year.

Seemed to draw a lot of boos when then announced it at the X. Dumb I agree.

[jellio]

Frozen four in FLA.... not sure who thought of that. Unless there counting on the snow birds....can't imagine someone born and raised in the FLA getting pumped to see mostly northern college hockey teams....how many fans do they get at the christmas tourney they have down there over the break every year.

[scsavre]

Did they booo as much as they did when Gov Dayton wanst ready to say "lets play hockey"

I just cant imagine any locals going to that one.

[yakfisher]

They booed more. Not too many people excited about springing for the tourney in Tampa during spring break, way to go UAH!

[OnAFly]

Wow, nothing says college hockey like Florida.

With Winnipeg in the mix, I think they would have to juggle the divisions a bit. Imagine being able to go see a game at a rival without flying!

Milwaukee might be a decent option for a team too. There is hockey interest over there and it would be a great fan rival for MIN and CHI.

So it's settled then. FLA goes to Milwaukee and PHO goes to Winnipeg. Sounds good to me