Coyotes Win, Coyotes Win !!!!

[centrehice]

Congrats to Shane Doan, the original and only remaining Winnipeg Jet. His first playoff series win in his career.

Very well played. Mike Smith, unbelievable goaltending.


To quote the famous line;

"Sooner or later, the sun shines on every dog's arse"

[Hockeydude94]

I'm happy that Shane Doan and the Coyotes finally won a playoff series, and I'm especially happy for the Phoenix fans. They've been through so much with that franchise over the past few years, and as a former Hartford Whalers fan I know what it's like to root for a team in limbo. I felt bad when Winnipeg and Quebec lost their teams as well as Hartford, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. It really irks me how some people in Canada (Winnipeg especially) are so vindictive to the fans down in the desert. The ownership debacle is not their fault, and neither is the fact that the Jets moved. I can't stand the Carolina Hurricanes, for one reason only--Peter Karmanos. Not Eric Staal or Cam Ward or the 'Caniacs'. They didn't take my Whalers away.

When 'non-traditional' markets are successful it can only be a good thing. It means that people who were not familiar with the great game of hockey are exposed to it and enjoying it.

And Winnipeg has another team now. Quebec will get one again soon, though I hope it's an expansion team (along with Seattle?) Let Phoenix enjoy theirs for as long as they have it, which hopefully will be a long time. Go Coyotes!

[xelloss1012]

Gotta wonder what happens when the Coyotes come to the MTS Center? It's also interesting to look at the notable players and management that were involved with the Whalers in the 1990's.

I read about the story on the Hartford Whalers and bad GM decisions by Eddie Johnston screwed up the franchise's future. Karmanos did not help matters by only offering only full season passes only, probably hinting he was wanting to move at earliest convenience to him. Governor Rowland of Connecticut was not wanting to splurge tax dollars for a new arena too much and Karmanos might have deliberately sabotaged the negotiations by asking for more money.

The one mistake was probably trading Chris Pronger for Brendan Shanahan, along with trading away Ron Francis.

I don't know if a team in Seattle will work out since they could not keep an NBA franchise and Vancouver is not that far away from them.

From what I last heard, the Quebec provincial government has earmarked 400 million for a new arena. The current Winnipeg Jets in their first season back in the NHL are actually giving money to the revenue sharing instead of being the receivers.

Also, from what I read about the Coyotes financial situation, the only reason they are still there is that the NHL is paying 25 million to the City of Glendale and they still do not have a buyer that would be approved by Glendale. Also, the Coyotes do not have strong attendance numbers during the regular season, which will continuous endanger their existence. It's lucky for them they made it to the playoffs again this season. The next season they fail to make the playoffs could potentially be the their last one unless their average regular season attendance rises to at least 15,000 on average to keep their finances more stable.

[centrehice]

Gotta wonder what happens when the Coyotes come to the MTS Center? It's also interesting to look at the notable players and management that were involved with the Whalers in the 1990's.

I read about the story on the Hartford Whalers and bad GM decisions by Eddie Johnston screwed up the franchise's future. Karmanos did not help matters by only offering only full season passes only, probably hinting he was wanting to move at earliest convenience to him. Governor Rowland of Connecticut was not wanting to splurge tax dollars for a new arena too much and Karmanos might have deliberately sabotaged the negotiations by asking for more money.

The one mistake was probably trading Chris Pronger for Brendan Shanahan, along with trading away Ron Francis.

I don't know if a team in Seattle will work out since they could not keep an NBA franchise and Vancouver is not that far away from them.

From what I last heard, the Quebec provincial government has earmarked 400 million for a new arena. The current Winnipeg Jets in their first season back in the NHL are actually giving money to the revenue sharing instead of being the receivers.

Also, from what I read about the Coyotes financial situation, the only reason they are still there is that the NHL is paying 25 million to the City of Glendale and they still do not have a buyer that would be approved by Glendale. Also, the Coyotes do not have strong attendance numbers during the regular season, which will continuous endanger their existence. It's lucky for them they made it to the playoffs again this season. The next season they fail to make the playoffs could potentially be the their last one unless their average regular season attendance rises to at least 15,000 on average to keep their finances more stable.

Shanahan was the missing piece for the Red Wings. Red Wing management made the statement that they would never trade Keith Primeau, but I was happy to let Primeau go as Shanny had hands, and could finish, Primeau, not a finisher.

Pronger went to St. Louis where he had a stick-hacking mistake-filled career and was owned by the Red Wings. Pronger is overrated and made of glass.

[Hockeydude94]

Gotta wonder what happens when the Coyotes come to the MTS Center? It's also interesting to look at the notable players and management that were involved with the Whalers in the 1990's.

I read about the story on the Hartford Whalers and bad GM decisions by Eddie Johnston screwed up the franchise's future. Karmanos did not help matters by only offering only full season passes only, probably hinting he was wanting to move at earliest convenience to him. Governor Rowland of Connecticut was not wanting to splurge tax dollars for a new arena too much and Karmanos might have deliberately sabotaged the negotiations by asking for more money.

The one mistake was probably trading Chris Pronger for Brendan Shanahan, along with trading away Ron Francis.

I don't know if a team in Seattle will work out since they could not keep an NBA franchise and Vancouver is not that far away from them.

From what I last heard, the Quebec provincial government has earmarked 400 million for a new arena. The current Winnipeg Jets in their first season back in the NHL are actually giving money to the revenue sharing instead of being the receivers.

Also, from what I read about the Coyotes financial situation, the only reason they are still there is that the NHL is paying 25 million to the City of Glendale and they still do not have a buyer that would be approved by Glendale. Also, the Coyotes do not have strong attendance numbers during the regular season, which will continuous endanger their existence. It's lucky for them they made it to the playoffs again this season. The next season they fail to make the playoffs could potentially be the their last one unless their average regular season attendance rises to at least 15,000 on average to keep their finances more stable.

The Whalers were a poorly-run team in a small market, and the Civic Center has always been a dump. Rowland is not without blame for their leaving CT; he didn't want to fund a new arena but three years later tried to lure the NE Patriots with promises of a new stadium instead of trying to keep the team he did have. But let's face it, Karmanos had no plans to stay, no ties to the area, and his demands prove that. If I remember right, he set a minimum of like 13,000 *season* tickets to be sold in a short time (a month maybe? or the team would move--and they didn't miss by much. Rowland is long gone, as is Eddie Johnston. Jim Rutherford did the best he could with the lame-duck franchise and has made some good moves in Carolina, but the Cup win probably bought him more time than he deserved.

Pronger for Shanny was a good trade at the time--Hartford had depth on the blueline, Prongs was young (think Erik Johnson) and Shanny was the 50-goal scorer their offense desperately needed. But unlike Shane Doan, Shanny decided to be a spoiled brat and bail at the first sign of trouble. Maybe he wouldn't have saved the franchise, but taking the easy way out and forcing a trade to a loaded Red Wings team was a punk move. Paul Coffey pulled the same thing; Keith Primeau didn't.

As for Seattle, they're a major US market with a decent hockey history (and a WHL team) but their current arena was built for basketball and has to be replaced. However, they're just as focused on reclaiming an NBA team as Quebec is on the NHL, so a new arena is inevitable. If there's an owner out there willing to buy in to the NHL you'll see a team there in 5-6 years. Sea-Van would be a great rivalry because of the proximity--like Philly/NJ, NYR/NYI, Tor/Buf, etc etc

[Wickabee]

As I understand the situation with Seattle, it has been said that a new arena will be built IF they can secure an NHL franchise AND an NBA franchise. I don't see Vancouver having a problem with a team on the north-west coast of the US (Seattle or Portland). Vancouver draws from all of BC. Every home game there's a good chunk of fans from around the province that wouldn't go to Seattle. As for fans coming up from Seattle, they may lose a few, but I think the Mariners would be more worried about baseball in Vancouver than the Canucks would with hockey in Seattle. Simply put, they don't need the American fans to fill the arena, they don't even need the provincial fans to do so. They can sustain on their own. Quite frankly, I think they would welcome a franchise in Seattle, as it would likely cut down their travel over a season.

I think the NHL is quite open to Seattle. The big fight there is NBA. With both Seattle and Vancouver wanting a second chance at an NBA franchise, I think that is going to be more of a point of contention than the NHL moving to Seattle.

[xelloss1012]

I did recall Seattle having a pro hockey team a better part of a century ago when I read about early Stanley Cup playoffs from 1910-1925.

If Seattle was not on the other side of the border and being more than a couple hours away, there could have been a slight encroachment dispute as this was brought up with Hamilton (being a short jump from Buffalo and Toronto). The good thing is that Seattle at least is not a city in the sunbelt, where it seems that regular season attendances tend to be lower than most other places.

I wouldn't believe what a politician says about funding until it is truly enacted and a signed deal to start full-fledged construction as getting an NHL + NBA franchise into a city simultaneously is not easy for most places.

[Wickabee]

I did recall Seattle having a pro hockey team a better part of a century ago when I read about early Stanley Cup playoffs from 1910-1925.

If Seattle was not on the other side of the border and being more than a couple hours away, there could have been a slight encroachment dispute as this was brought up with Hamilton (being a short jump from Buffalo and Toronto). The good thing is that Seattle at least is not a city in the sunbelt, where it seems that regular season attendances tend to be lower than most other places.

I wouldn't believe what a politician says about funding until it is truly enacted and a signed deal to start full-fledged construction as getting an NHL + NBA franchise into a city simultaneously is not easy for most places.

In Seattle it's actually a private group looking to build. I was just doing some reading and they want to put the arena in the same area as their baseball and football/soccer stadiums. Apparently the Mariners are against this for reasons of scheduling, traffic, etc.
The guy who wants to build the arena seems much, much more concerned with an NBA team than NHL, but wants 2 tenants.