Could The Jets Return Next Year?

[duwal]

Finally! FINALLY! Someone sees the light! But please don't blame Bettman. Remember, he is only a puppet. Gary Bettman works for the Board of Governors. It is the NHL THEMSELVES that are keeping teams for relocating to Canada.

good, someone else gets it. I love how uninformed some people are on here with blaming Bettman or making cheap jabs at him. He has virtually nothing to do with this. The owners of the other NHL teams are the ones that need to accept a prospective buyers bid. And EVERY single owner doesn't want another team to be in Canada. There is more blame to be put on whatever team you root for than Bettman in stopping any kind of expansion to Canada

[thesnake87]

A team in Seattle would be a good fit though, big city that hasn't seen a hockey team since before the NHL was formed. They won the Cup a couple times I believe too...

Kansas City or Seattle are my 2 picks. But I think depending on which team moves, they are going to probably try and move them to a city within their current conference. IMO

[dtab316]

A team in Seattle would be a good fit though, big city that hasn't seen a hockey team since before the NHL was formed. They won the Cup a couple times I believe too...

Kansas City or Seattle are my 2 picks. But I think depending on which team moves, they are going to probably try and move them to a city within their current conference. IMO

Actually, that could be quite easy.

#1. Say Atlanta moves to KC. Nashville would be the best choice to go into the Southeast division. KC replaces Nashville in the Central.

#2. Atlanta moves to Seattle. Minnesota goes to the Central. Nashville to the Southeast.

#3. Phoenix to Seattle. Colorado to the Pacific.

#4. Phoenix to KC. NOW is when it gets tricky! And I ain't figured that one out yet.

And then we have the Islanders moving. That would potentially mean moving Columbus to the Atlantic.

[centrehice]

good, someone else gets it. I love how uninformed some people are on here with blaming Bettman or making cheap jabs at him. He has virtually nothing to do with this. The owners of the other NHL teams are the ones that need to accept a prospective buyers bid. And EVERY single owner doesn't want another team to be in Canada. There is more blame to be put on whatever team you root for than Bettman in stopping any kind of expansion to Canada

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I was a part of the Jets citizens community at large that tried hard to keep the Jets.

Bettman was an integral part of the Jets leaving. He placed deadlines so that the sale could not possibly have been met locally, and really didn't give enough time for financing to be in place.

He also was not happy with the time frame for a new arena complex that would have been 21,000 seats had the Jets stayed.

I lived in that community and believe it or not, many Governors wanted the Jets to stay, Bettman sold them all on Phoenix, and pressured every one of them. The reason he pressured every other owner? As soon as Gretzky announced that he wanted to be involved, Bettman believed that anything involving The Great One could not possibly fail.

To say that Bettman was not the most integral part in the Wpg. moving to Phoenix, is folly.

[thesnake87]

Actually, that could be quite easy.

#1. Say Atlanta moves to KC. Nashville would be the best choice to go into the Southeast division. KC replaces Nashville in the Central.

#2. Atlanta moves to Seattle. Minnesota goes to the Central. Nashville to the Southeast.

#3. Phoenix to Seattle. Colorado to the Pacific.

#4. Phoenix to KC. NOW is when it gets tricky! And I ain't figured that one out yet.

And then we have the Islanders moving. That would potentially mean moving Columbus to the Atlantic.

Good point... I wasn't thinking that far lol

[marekschwarz33]

Kansas City is ready for the NHL in my opinion. Our CHL team consistently sells out games and we have the Sprint Center in need of an anchor tenant.

[centrehice]

Could a city like Portland or Seattle work?

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Portland has the Rose Garden which is relatively new, 6 1/2 years old I believe. The only concession there is the Trailblazers. Another Pro team would have to do some major butt-kissing, as the Trailblazers even hate the Winterhawks for stealing 5-6 fans away from them, I cannot imagine how much they'd freak in losing half their fan base. Lol.

The Winterhawks are in 1st place in the West in the CHL, and looking for a Mem Cup. They have a devout following, and have had for years, although they play every game but 1 or 2 next door in the old Coliseum. The only time the Winterhawks are allowed into the Rose Garden is when the Trailblazers take their long Eastern road trip, and they have to beg to get one, possible two games.

Seattle is an ideal city for an NHL Franchise, however they need a brand new building from the ground up, which was a reason for the failure of the Sonics. The city had gassed the Kingdome and built Qwest Field new for the Seachickens, then also built a new ballpark for the inept Mariners.

Now should somebody with dough from the Portland area come forward in the next year or two, then that would be a positive, however I feel that an NHL Franchise in Portland would be the end of the Winterhawks, as they would have to compete night in and night out. I'd hate to see the Winterhawks go, as they, Seattle, and Tri-Cites do their best to offer some form of Hockey entertainment, and other than the last couple of years the Western Hockey League ate everyone's lunch for over 25 years.

[sholi2000]

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I was a part of the Jets citizens community at large that tried hard to keep the Jets.

Bettman was an integral part of the Jets leaving. He placed deadlines so that the sale could not possibly have been met locally, and really didn't give enough time for financing to be in place.

He also was not happy with the time frame for a new arena complex that would have been 21,000 seats had the Jets stayed.

I lived in that community and believe it or not, many Governors wanted the Jets to stay, Bettman sold them all on Phoenix, and pressured every one of them. The reason he pressured every other owner? As soon as Gretzky announced that he wanted to be involved, Bettman believed that anything involving The Great One could not possibly fail.

To say that Bettman was not the most integral part in the Wpg. moving to Phoenix, is folly.

Whoa! I lived there too and the Jets owners hAD almost two full years to find a local buyer, but no one stepped forward.

Seems you and I ARE COMPLETELY indifferent here on the actual facts.

Gretzky??? He was still a LA King and never even got involeved with the yotes untiul after retirement. I don't ever remember hearing his name mention in the Jets movement.

Edit-typos everywhere

[centrehice]

Gretzky wanted to get involved even in Wpg before he retired. The reason? Had he not gone to Cinncinatti, Wpg. was going to draft him.

He was thrilled with the Jets because they showed interest in Gretzky when he was a 12 year old, not other team paid him attention until he turned 15.

In terms of financing Bettman wanted guarantees. Yes interest in the Jets staying from big city money was not initially apparent, however while the city of Wpg. were twiddling their thumbs, Bettman was on the hustings in Phoenix looking for owners immediately.

Had Bettman handled the Jets the way the league is now, stepping in an allowing some latitude the team would still be there. Bettman thought nothing of stepping in and taking over the Coyotes when they were in much more dire straights than the Jets were. Why? He didn't wan't egg on his face...... To late. He agreed to Phoenix and a rink halfway to Palm Springs when land could have been had at Scottsdale Junction. New rink goes up in Glendale and the Money to attend is in Scottsdale, Mesa, and Tempe, 2 hours away in traffic, and the rest is history.

The Winnipeg citizens at large wanted to own the Jets like the only 2 community owned Pro Franchises the Green Bay Packers and the Sask Roughriders. Bettman wanted no part of community ownership.

[sholi2000]

Yet another difference in stories.

I have to see facts here, all I see is what you say.

Any links to the Gretzky story, because what I heard all through time was that Winnipeg was always bitter because they PASSED on Gretzky because he was TOO small.

Regardless what we say. If the Winnipeg ever gets a team (I doubt it), I'll move back and be first in line for season tickets.

Gretzky wanted to get involved even in Wpg before he retired. The reason? Had he not gone to Cinncinatti, Wpg. was going to draft him.

Has anyone ever heard of Wayner playing in Cinni, and or drafted in the WHA? lol