Report: Winnipeg wants the Penguins

[Forum Ghost]

REPORT: WINNIPEG WANTS THE PENGUINS

TSN.ca Staff with files

1/2/2004

Seven years after losing the Jets to Phoenix, it appears the city of Winnipeg wants the National Hockey League back.

The Winnipeg Sun reported Thursday that the city's deputy mayor Coun. Dan Vandal penned a letter to Penguins owner Mario Lemieux on Dec. 9 to consider moving his team to Manitoba.

In his message sent to Lemieux, Vandal pointed out that the league is facing 'difficult decisions' with an imminent labour shutdown, and said Winnipeg was ready to welcome the struggling club if it can't make things work in Pittsburgh.

"We have to be cognizant of the changing issues in the NHL, and position ourselves to capitalize on those changes," Vandal told The Sun in explaining his inquiry to Lemieux, which is dated Dec. 9.

"The quality of the fan here is second-to-none -- so consider us."

Neither Lemieux nor anyone from the team has responded to the letter, and Penguins general manager Craig Patrick told reporters earlier this week that a rumour saying Lemieux would sell without a new arena deal by the time a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is reached is false.

Vandal's letter - not considered to be an official city query - is the first public declaration of another city wanting to house the Penguins.

Many expect the league to suffer a shutdown due to a strike or lockout when the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL and its players expires next September, and that some teams may not survive a potential work stoppage.


www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=66385

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Now that's interesting, FG. I'd love to see a franchise not only back in Winnipeg, but in Quebec City as well.

Yet, I think the league will want to review each city rather closely. God love the Winnipeg fans, but the team just couldn't compete with the way the game was financially progressing. They couldn't get coperate support, investors, what have you. I was very sad for the fans of Winnipeg when the Jets left, but it was ecomonics all the way.

However, I've often felt hockey should never have left Quebec City. From what I understand, the club was purchased for CDN $12 million and sold for more than US $75 million (someone could probably give me more exact figures; I'm only citing off the top of my head). Anyone in his right mind would have done the same thing.

But, there's history behind that franchise as well. I remember Marc Tardiff stirring the pot when he publicly stated that he wanted to see an all-Francophone club iced in Quebec. That didn't go over well in some parts of the country, but when Maurice Richard reiterated those sentimients, people took it seriously.

Nowadays, there's a lobby started in Quebec City in order to gather support for entry into the re-emerging WHA.

www.gonordiques.net/english/index_e.html

It might work, but I would like to see both franchises back in the NHL and as soon as possible. The only thing that might facilitate that is comes out of the next CB agreements.

If the NHLPA gets their way, it's going to be tough for Canadian teams period.

Cheers.

[Forum Ghost]

I'd also like to see both franchises back in the NHL.

It really peeves me off when I hear that the New Jersey Devils couldn't sellout Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals and cities like Winnipeg are left to watch AHL hockey.

Having NHL hockey back in Winnipeg and Quebec City would be amazing. I don't know if we'll ever see both cities in the NHL again. If I had to pick one of the two I would prefer Winnipeg. Quebec atleast has a team to represent it, the fine province of Manitoba does not.

Having said that, I would be thrilled if this deal with the Penguins comes true. With the rising Canadian dollar and a potential salary cap in the near future, Winnipeg's mayor must be feeling optimistic about his city being ready to return to the NHL.

Well if it does happen, Winnipeg fans will have a young superstar netminder in Fleury, and possibly a young superstar forward in Ovechkin.

[roke]

I wonder of the thought of having a team here in Winnipeg, although I don't know if the new arena is big enough. With only 15,200 seats even if it does sell out every game the team may not be able to bring enough revenue in. Curse the people who planned the arena, way too big for an AHL team but too small for an NHL team, unless something drastic happens.

The thought of seeing Fleury, Ovechkin (if they don't lose the lottery) and... well.... Fleury and Ovechkin play, in the NHL, against NHL teams would be great, especially against the Habs.

However, I think it's nothing but a pipe dream unless the NHL decides to send some drinks to the NHLPA the night before the negotiating begins.

[Deleted]

I think Mario may consider if Winnipeg builds a new arena. However, once the team moves, Mario himself will no longer be playing.