Tag Archives: Winnipeg Jets

It’s (semi-)official: The Leafs are worth big bucks!

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So says Forbes, which released its annual report on the value of NHL teams today.  As per reporter Mike Ozanian, the media-conglomerate-owned franchise is worth a cool billion dollars, putting them not-quite on par with NFL powerhouses like the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins—but ascribing them a net worth nearly 10 times higher than a handful of the Bettman circuit’s lowlier teams.  In fact, it seems that the Leafs are one of just a few teams with a lot to lose over the lockout; they reportedly made some $82-million in profits last season, making them one of just three teams, along with the Rangers and Habs, to really bring home the bacon. 

As per Forbes, “the Maple Leafs ($81.9 million), Rangers ($74 million), Canadians (sic) ($51.6 million) accounted for 83% of the league’s income, while 13 of 30 teams lost money, before non-cash expenses and interest payments.”  That includes teams like “the Carolina Hurricanes, Phoenix Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets (who) would still have trouble making money unless they went at least two rounds in the playoffs”—even with a 50-per-cent player/owner split, and increased revenue sharing.

So, how does the league get into the black?  As per the financial mag, it involves moving some teams back to Canada—notably Quebec City.  Forbes estimates that the Winnipeg Jets’ value has risen by $30-million after just one season in the ‘peg, while quoting a Montreal-based partner who thinks Quebec, Portland and Seattle would make good landing spots for some of the Sun Belt teams.  “The Sun Belt has had plenty of time to prove that the viability doesn’t work,” Drew Dorweiler, managing partner of Dartmouth Partners, says.  Too bad we can’t contract ‘em in a new CBA!

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Well, at least he wasn’t drinking and flying…

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The Associated Press is reporting that Winnipeg Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec had his driver’s license suspended 20 months for causing an accident after a few too many drinks in his native Czech Republic.  He also received a “suspended prison sentence” of six months, according to the AP.  Fortunately, there were no injuries, and with his new five-year, $19.5-million contract, I’m sure he was able to make bail.  It also helps that he’s a big star in his native country.  Meanwhile, Lamb of God singer Randy Blythe still sits in a Czech prison despite posting a bond equivalent to 200-grand.  In his case, however, there were injuries—he’s being charged with murder after pushing a rowdy fan off the stage at a concert two years ago.  Hmm, I wonder if Jaromir Jagr would get the death penalty if he shot a puck into the stands that killed someone in his home country?  Now that would be the trial of the century!

Incidentally, Pavelec’s Jets teammate Dustin Byfuglien is slated to stand trial next week in Minnesota on impaired boating charges.  At this rate, the organization might wanna keep its big free agent signing, Olli Jokinen, away from Skidoos, ATVs and recreational aircraft…

The Jets? They’re that baseball team, right?

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In a recent poll posted by the Winnipeg Free Press, a whopping 76 per cent of respondents answered the question “How are you celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Jets’ return?” with “I’m sorry, I don’t know much about baseball.”  See for yourself:

I suppose it’s a good thing their rink only holds 15-thousand people, as they might have some trouble finding new season’s-ticket holders if the current ones don’t renew…

What would you do-ooh-ooh for some Jets tickets? Let’s ask the Manitoba government…

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When the Jets came back to Winnipeg, they quickly became the hottest ticket in town, with 13,000 season’s tickets sold for a rink that seats just over 15K.  Those who didn’t call within the first 17 minutes were left scrambling to snag single-game seats—including several Manitoba cabinet ministers, who got by with a little help from their friends.

As the CBC reports, no fewer than eight members of the MB NDP cabinet accepted Jets tickets from friendly, sports-loving corporations, including the ministers of finance, justice, tourism and healthy living.  In fact, here’s Justice Minister Andrew Swan looking on from the front row in a brand new Jets jersey as Evander Kane lays out a vicious hit:

 

Suffice to say, citizens of Manitoba are quite upset, and not just because the fat cats got to see some games for free that they forked out a small fortune for.  There’s a conflict of interest inherent in a politician accepting free gifts from groups that fall under his mandate, whether it’s Tundra Oil and Gas giving up the goods to Energy Minister Dave Chomiak, Red River College edu-taining Advanced Education Minister Erin Selby, Labatt Breweries serving some up to Healthy Living Minister Jim Rondeau or Canad Inns accommodating Tourism Minister Flor Marcelino—all instances that were documented by the CBC.  Even if Rondeau ends up drinking Molson Canadian at the game, it can still be seen as a sign of favoritism—once the word gets out.

Unlike in the States, where politicians raise millions of dollars from “concerned citizens” (and corporations) and are expected to repay the favour on Capitol Hill, the Canadian political system aims to be more transparent by limiting individual donations, and even scrapping voter subsidies.  That said, it’s hard to appear uninhibited when you’re sporting a brand new jersey in a front-row seat paid for by Manitoba Public Insurance.  Maybe next time, the ministers will just hafta settle for nosebleeds…

Flames fans get an early look at the future tonite!

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Last month, when the Rick Nash trade market was open for business, I basically said there was no well in hell the Flames could get him without giving up Sven Baertschi, their first-round pick in last year’s draft.  Though he was tearing up the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks, I figured that the young Swiss sniper was still a few seasons away from the NHL.  So much for that.  With their forward lineup resembling a MASH unit–Jackman, Bouma, Cammalleri and Comeau are day-to-day, while Backlund, Jones and Stempniak are still on IR–the team made him an emergency callup on Wednesday, putting him in the lineup tonite as they play the Winnipeg Jets for the first time since 1996.

The kid’s stats in the W were nothing short of spectacular, posting 94 points in 47 games with Portland.  But that was playing against teenagers.  He’ll be the youngest player on the ice tonite, and he isn’t expected to generate much offense skating alongside Tom Kostopoulos and AHL call-up Greg Nemisz.  On that note, Flames.NHL.com is putting Matt Fucking Stajan on the first line with Tanguay and Iggy tonite.  You know you’re running low on forwards when…

Though the undermanned Flames were able to squeak out a 5-4 win against Montreal on Tuesday despite Kipper doing his best Rick Tabaracci impression, they should be in much tougher against a Jets team that’s currently tied with Washington for the last playoff spot, but only sits two back of Florida for first in the Southeast–and third in the Eastern Conference.  Like the Flames, the Jets have 72 points on the season, thus both teams will have plenty to play for in this classic Canadian matchup.  But with all the youth and inexperience in the Calgary lineup, I’d probably hafta go with Winnipeg.

If I had to take a stab at this one, I’d say that despite a goal and an assist from Theo Fleury, the Flames are stopped 40 times by Nikolai Khabibulin as the Jets come from behind on late goals by Mike Eastwood and Keith Tkachuk to win 4-3.  Wait…  Nevermind, that was the last-ever Jets national telecast on Hockey Night in Canada from Winnipeg Arena–and boy, does Tabaracci look terrible!  Mind you, I’m still gonna go with the same result tonite.  Iginla gets a goal and an assist, but Andrew Ladd and third-line centre Jim Slater score in the third as Calgary blows yet another lead.  4-3 Jets.

Of course, I’d be happy if I was wrong.  It seemed that whenever I picked against the Flames in February, they’d find a way to win, so here’s hoping…

UPDATE 11:50 PM: Like I said, whenever I pick the Flames to lose, they come out with a win, flipping the script for a 5-3 victory.  As for the kid, he had a decent chance early where he went to the net hard, and took a bad penalty late that the Flames ended up killing off.  He showed some flashes of speed, but certainly isn’t an NHL goal-scorer as of yet.