Thrashers

[Jammer]

So while I am happy to see a team go back to Canada let's look at the logic here.

Winnipeg loses their team.
Atlanta gets an expansion team (putting them in an already failed NHL city and a horrible sports city in general).
Winnipeg gains a team again.

[lotus]

Wasn't Phoenix moving back to Winnipeg?

Maybe Atlanta can move to Quebec this time, a la the Flames.

Columbus is also a team sort of on the tipping point. I can tell you that there are still usually as many visiting fans as home fans there, and despite how amazing the building is, I understand that the lease is a very bad deal for the team and city. Would not be surprised to see them gone in the next five years.

Columbus has but one sport and team.

[Jammer]

Yeah no offense to the town of Columbus but I could never figure out how they thought it was a viable spot for a team.

[lotus]

I'd be sad to see them go. There is a huge entertainment district that has sprung up around the arena and it's first rate facility in every way. City has done a ton to make the team viable, but I think they've lost money in each of the ten years they've been there. That's just not sustainable in a town where OSU makes money like crazy and has huge attendance for nearly every sport.

[sabresrule30]

gary Bettman is AIDS

[lotus]

gary Bettman is AIDS

Yeah, but next to DeMaurice Smith he looks like a fucking genius.

[Falling Man]

Good for Winnipeg but I'm more interested in how this will change the divisions around.

[sabresrule30]

J
E
T
S

[Falling Man]

congratswinnipegrules30?

[sabresrule30]

tkachuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuukrules30

[lotus]

Silent "T" FTW!!

[RivalJJH]

It's been a while since I lived in Columbus, but I did have season tickets for the first few years of the team Blue Jackets' existence. Crowds were always good when I was there, but that's when the team was still a novelty. Non-traditional markets need teams to win for fans to stay around. Although, the Jackets do need something to help with their awful lease agreement.

I am curious as to what will happen to the realignment of the league if/when the Thrashers move to Winnipeg.

[houdinisangel]

Good for Winnipeg but I'm more interested in how this will change the divisions around.

This

[RivalJJH]

Good for Winnipeg but I'm more interested in how this will change the divisions around.

This

What I've read is that Winnipeg would play this upcoming season in the Southeast Division, making the Panther play some shitty division road trips. After that, we're looking at three teams that could move into the Eastern Conference: Detroit, Columbus and Nashville.

The Red Wings have the clout to get themselves moved, but the Blue Jackets make more sense as far as geography goes. If the NHL wants a natural fit to go into the Southeast Division. Winnipeg appears tailor made to move into the Northwest Division, pushing the Wild into the Central.

[Jammer]

Looks like a done deal now as the Winnipeg group has a press conference scheduled for today.