kickingfrog Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 (edited) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/atlanta-thrashers-moving-to-winnipeg/article2029179/ Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg STEPHEN BRUNT Globe and Mail Update Published Thursday, May. 19, 2011 8:57PM EDT Last updated Thursday, May. 19, 2011 9:07PM EDT An agreement to sell the National Hockey League’s Atlanta Thrashers to a Winnipeg group which plans to relocate the franchise to the Manitoba capital is done. Sources confirmed tonight that preparations are being made for an announcement Tuesday, confirming the sale and transfer of the Thrashers to True North Sports and Entertainment, which owns and operates the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League and the MTS Centre arena, which would become the NHL team’s new home. MORE RELATED TO THIS STORY AHL has a Plan B if NHL team returns to Winnipeg Thrashers fans plan rally to try to save team Alberta government won't commit to funding new Oilers arena Gary Bettman, the commissioner of the National Hockey League, is expected to travel to Winnipeg to make the news official. The announcement would end months of speculation about whether one of the NHL’s financially-troubled American sunbelt teams might move north, filling the void left when the Winnipeg Jets packed up and left for Phoenix in 1996, where they became the Coyotes. Much of the talk this spring had centred on that failing franchise, which was bought by the league after being placed in bankruptcy by its former owner Jerry Moyes in 2009. But sources in Winnipeg suggest that the Thrashers had in fact been the primary target of potential owners Mark Chipman and David Thomson all along, and that some months back, the NHL board of governors quietly approved the sale and transfer of the team, pending the negotiation of a purchase agreement between Atlanta Spirit LLC, the Thrashers’ owners, and True North. In the meantime, no potential owner materialized who was prepared to keep the team in Georgia, and local governments there showed no interest in propping up the Thrashers. “There seems to be a consensus there is going to be a team in Winnpeg,” former major league pitcher Tom Glavine, who had tried unsuccessfully to find new ownership for the hockey team in Atlanta, acknowledged last week. ““The question is who, and unfortunately the bullseye seems to be on the Thrashers’ back.” When it appeared this spring that the Coyotes might also be in play, after a deal to sell the team to Matthew Hulsizer underwritten by a municipal bond issue fell apart in the face of political opposition from the Goldwater Institute, the Winnipeg group sought to take advantage of what suddenly seemed a buyers’ market, with two teams available and no other potential owners or relocations sites on the horizon. After the City of Glendale agreed to cover $25-million of the Coyotes losses for the 2011-2012 season, and the NHL opted to operate the club in Arizona for at least one more year, True North’s full focus returned to Atlanta, and a deal was hammered out this week. Even before those final negotiations took place, the potential Winnipeg owners concluded an agreement with the Manitoba government which will allow revenues from a sports bar with slot machine to be used for improvements to the arena, and to be used towards the debt service on the building. That’s consistent with what Manitoba premier Greg Sellinger told reporters earlier this week, when he said that the provincial government had no interest in subsidizing an NHL team, but that the province had financially supported the renovation of the MTS Centre in the past, and would continue to be willing to do so. Edited May 20, 2011 by kickingfrog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Caster Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Great!!! As a former Jets fan, and current Coyotes fan, I'm in a real bind. Do I stay with the franchise, or stay with the Jets? The two reasons I stayed Phoenix were because I couldn't find a better option (what am I gonna be a leafs fan? ha) and because I figured they'd be the next team to return to Canada. Watch out Oilers, Flames and Canucks. there's a new kid in town. This will make for some great rivalries! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bow slayer Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Dreger and McKenzie on TSN say this is not a done deal yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjgraham Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 (edited) Woooo! Congrats Winnipeg. What do you guys think about the divisions? You think there will be some shuffling or will Atlanta(Winnipeg) stay in the southeast Edited May 20, 2011 by cjgraham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kickingfrog Posted May 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 (edited) Logic would dictate the Blue jackets or wings would move to the eastern conference. Very little logic has been used by any of the people involved in this league for the last 20 years however. Edited May 20, 2011 by kickingfrog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimace Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Dreger and McKenzie on TSN say this is not a done deal yet. With all due respect, if Stephen Brunt is reporting it, it is done. Lots of gossip queens out there but Brunt is a reporter first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimace Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Logic would dictate the Blue jackets or wings would move to the eastern conference. Very little logic has been used by any of the people involve in this league for the last 20 years however. Detroit wants it bad but NHL could give it to Columbus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muskymike Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 (edited) Detroit wants it bad but NHL could give it to Columbus. The NHL put a statement out in the first round (I think) that Detroit will not move to the East. And no, this deal is not done yet, but should be in the coming days. Edited May 20, 2011 by MuskyMike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjgraham Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 That means we'll never see a Leaf/Wings Stanley Cup! Oh who am I kidding...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjgraham Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Detroit wants it bad but NHL could give it to Columbus. That means we'll never see a Leafs/Wings Stanley Cup final! oh who am i kidding..........but as always Go Leafs Go!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danc Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 This would be good news for me as Winnipeg would be the closest Canadian NHL team. Minneapolis is still closer though. I guess I'll have to win some sort of contest and get inside the Winnipeg Thrashers dressing room and meet the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lostchild Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 (edited) They say the Thrashers/Winnipeg will play in the east, taking on the Thrasher's 2011/2012 schedule...apparently already made up for this up coming season. Edited May 20, 2011 by Lostchild Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimace Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 (edited) The NHL put a statement out in the first round (I think) that Detroit will not move to the East. And no, this deal is not done yet, but should be in the coming days. Brunt knows the story is legit or he would not report it. The jock sniffer reporters are jealous, which is sad. Edited May 20, 2011 by Grimace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimace Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 They say the Thrashers/Winnipeg will play in the east, taking on the Thrasher's 2011/2012 schedule...apparently already made up for this up coming season. For one year as this deal is happening too late to make a new schedule. The season long fight to join the east is imminent between Detroit - Columbus - Nashville. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutchy Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Dreger and McKenzie on TSN say this is not a done deal yet. They missed the scoop. Even now they are back tracking and saying "it could happen". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lunkerbasshunter Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 until i hear it out of bettmans mouth i wont believe it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twocoda Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Its only fitting Winnipeg should have a team...the Jets never should have left in my opinion ....Winnipeg is Canada's latest BOOMTOWN...the fans and city deserve it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kickingfrog Posted May 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 until i hear it out of bettmans mouth i wont believe it. NEVER believe anything from him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blaque Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Ya i keep hearing bettman is denying it. Drives me nuts. When did sports become this big secret society! Like hes gotta be the one to announce it officially in front of the camera. Blah!! These sports owners are worse than politicians sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunker777 Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 They say the Thrashers/Winnipeg will play in the east, taking on the Thrasher's 2011/2012 schedule...apparently already made up for this up coming season. The NHL has comprised TWO schedules in anticipation of this happening. Or at least thats what I heard. I hope the wings move to the east. That would be awesome. I would love to walk over the leafs 3-4 times a season, as opposed to once every 2 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimace Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 They are saving for three ten team divisions. East - Central - West. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carp Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Canada could probably support a few NHL teams. Definitely more fans coming out to games than the southern U.S. I'd love to see more Canadian teams in the NHL. The best thing for the NHL would be to get rid of Bettman and put a Canuck in charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bow slayer Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 (edited) Brunt knows the story is legit or he would not report it. The jock sniffer reporters are jealous, which is sad. [/quote seems Brunt was the one jumping the gun. A week later and still not a done deal. Hopefully soon though. Edited May 31, 2011 by bowslayer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimace Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 It certainly looks that way doesn't it? I wonder what happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bow slayer Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 I'm thinking Brunt badly wanted to be the one who broke the story seeing that there was very little talk about Atlanta moving to Winnipeg. His sources told him it would be done by the Tuesday and ran with it. It does not matter to me or most who breaks the story as long as they move to Winnipeg,but I am sure it matters to them.Hopefully sometime this week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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