Paul Kelly wants more Canadian franchises

From TSN:

NHLPA Executive Director Paul Kelly weighed in on the side of NHL expansion into Canada and increased revenue sharing on Team 1040 radio in Vancouver on Thursday.

"We're very supportive of the Canadian franchises, not only because of the history and tradition, but also because of the results," Kelly explained on the TEAM 1040.

"I mean the Canadian fans are like no others," he continued. "They're passionate, they come out and support it, they buy the merchandise, and they're knowledgeable about the sport. And it seems to us a no-brainer that if you're going to expand or you're going to relocate, that you first and foremost have to consider some of the major hubs here in Canada. You know, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Quebec City, perhaps Halifax if they had an arena that could sustain an NHL team. But I think there are locations in Canada that would strongly support the NHL game."

Read the entire article here.

I couldn't agree more with Kelly. The game needs to move back to its roots and where it matters most. There are many successful American NHL franchises, but the ones in the south that have been struggling for some time are the most likely candidates for any franchise relocation.

Coyotes to face Flames in Winnipeg

From TSN:

The Calgary Flames will play a pre-season game in Winnipeg in September. The Flames announced their seven game pre-season schedule on Tuesday and their second contest will be against the Phoenix Coyotes at the MTS Centre.

Read the short report here.

Two things:

1. This game will make more money now that it is being played in Winnipeg than it would have in Phoenix.

2. The NHL needs to stop teasing Winnipeg hockey fans.

A Look at NHL Attendance Numbers in 2008 (and what it could possibly mean for a return of the NHL to Winnipeg)

As a Winnipeg Jets fan, whenever I read any hockey-related news, the first filter the information goes through is "How does this relate to the Jets?" For instance, when I come across a story like the firing of John Paddock (former Jets coach), or the return of Teemu Selanne, my thoughts naturally turn to their connection to Winnipeg. Normally, this process is just a momentary knee-jerk reaction that soon subsides and lets me then look at the info in its present context. But in the case of NHL attendance figures, I spend a little more time thinking about what it all means. You can guess where I'm going with this.

According to NHL attendance numbers through the first 70 games of this season, 10 of the league's 30 teams are averaging at or under 16,000 fans a game. They are, in descending order of emptiness: Chicago, Atlanta, New Jersey, Boston, Washington, Florida, Nashville, Columbus, THE PHOENIX COYOTES (caps intended, Jets fans), and the New York Hockey Islanders, who are averaging just over 13,500 per home game.

On the bright side, there are no teams averaging under 13,000 fans a game like last season, when the Isles, Hawks, and Blues were the Molson Cup Three Stars of attendance futility. [My guess for the jump in these cities, respectively: DiPietro using some of that 40 year contract money to buy tickets for friends, the end of the Bill Wirtz era in the Chi, and a strong management team coupled with a better on ice product in St. Louis where the Blues are drawing over 17,000 a game].

The attendance figures, which can be viewed online courtesy of ESPN at http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2008, break down the numbers into a number of categories, including home and road attendance, percentage of capacity, and total fans in attendance on the season. Though not specifically relevant to our Jets-related analysis, some of the notable facts that emerge include:

1. The Habs lead the league in home attendance, drawing a full house of 21,273 every night. The figures are the same as last year, when the team missed the playoffs. This year at least, the on-ice product justifies the attendance.
2. The Pens, Wings, and Rangers are the three most popular roadshows. Considering the Wings play divisional games against hockey apathetic Chicago and Columbus, this number shows how popular the Original Six stalwart remains.
3. Eleven teams are at over 100% capacity for home games. [either standing room figures count, or the math is being done by the guys in charge of accounting at Societe General bank in Paris.]

But the thing that grabs my attention the most is the low figures that prevail in the bottom third of league teams, because this has the most import to any analysis regarding the feasibility of bringing a franchise back to Winnipeg. And without going into a full-blown analysis of what pegs need to be put in place (pun intended) before this dream can become a quasi-reality --and let's not kid ourselves, there's a lot that would need to be right -- the NHL attendance figures are telling. Despite a rise in average attendance that has been consistent over the past decade, with the median team now drawing around 17,000 fans per game, a number of teams are failing to cash in on the league's increased popularity. And with these low-hanging fruit ripe for the picking (ie: relocation!), let us now turn ourselves to the Winnipeg question.

The Jets: A Historical Perspective

In three of the last four seasons before leaving for Phoenix (1992-'94), the Jets averaged a little over 13,500 fans per game. I leave out 1995 from this analysis (when the team drew a paltry 11,000 per game) since the numbers that season are justifiably skewered by the knowledge that the team was leaving at year's end.

During the three years cited, NHL average attendance hovered around the 14,000 mark. In the 1992 season, the average NHL team drew just over 500 more fans per game than did the Jets, making them hardly uncompetitive in this regard. And before one rushes to conclusions to point out that 13,500 fans would be on par with the league-worst Islanders, the following three factors, all of which are present today, are worth considering. Taken together, they help establish a promising case that a team in Winnipeg under the current conditions could consistently draw large enough crowds to –other factors being equal – make the team a viable enterprise and a worthwhile investment for the NHL as a whole.

A Better League:

The NHL average attendance this season is about 17,000 fans. Now one might be inclined to think that the rising number points to the inability for Winnipeg to compete given its small population and historically low attendance numbers. From another vantage point, however, one can make a strong case that this trend actually points towards an increased ability of the city to host a viable franchise. Presumably, attendance growth is partly attributable to an overall better product. When a league as a whole is in disarray (see MLB, or NHL post-strike figures) attendance plummets across the board. Conversely, when a league experiences a popularity boom, all franchises benefit. Which is to say, in the new NHL, where TV numbers and attendance numbers are way up in recent years, Winnipeg should be able to be carried along to higher figures than in the early 90's, irrespective of the attendance woes still experienced by some of the league's clubs today.

A Better Team:

Assuming Winnipeg fans are not indifferent to the competitiveness of their teams, and, like St. Louis Blues fans, will come to the gate in droves so long as the team is worth watching (unlike Toronto Maple Leaf fans, who would fill the ACC even if the Marlies suited up instead…..then again, this might make the on-ice product better!) a competitive team in a salary-cap, parity driven league, would presumably draw more fans than the often lackluster clubs that graced the city in the past. The attendance figures for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Canadian Football team, which rise and fall with the team's on-field success, is suggestive of such a disposition amongst Winnipeg sports fans. Which is to say, if a quasi-decent team were to relocate to Winnipeg (are you listening, Nashville?) one could certainly expect the fans to come out in droves for years to come.

A Better Arena:

To say the Winnipeg Arena was an outdated, ugly facility would be like saying Britney Spears and Chris Simon would have a crazy, messed up child. That is, it's an understatement. With a new arena, like the recently built MTS Center (capacity: 15,000, with potential to expand if required) centrally located in the city's downtown district, an NHL club in Winnipeg should fare well attendance-wise in comparison to how the Jets fared in the old barn (note: the arena issue was a major reason the team was sold in the first place).

The recent experience of the New Jersey Devils is instructive on this point. Last year, at the Meadowlands, the Devils averaged 14,100 fans per game (5000 if you subtract those put to sleep by the trap before the first intermission). This year, after relocating to Newark, the team is drawing nearly 15,500 a night, a substantial increase! Since the team is the same, the fans are notoriously apathetic, and the local economy hasn't changed (an important factor, as the Detroit experience shows), it looks like the jump can be attributed to the new arena rather than other factors.

Conclusion

This analysis could go on forever, but for the purposes of our task today we will leave it where it stands. I have simply attempted to establish grounds for belief that, given current attendance trends throughout the NHL today, along with the circumstances on the ground in Winnipeg, it does not seem entirely implausible that a franchise in the city could not be a viable enterprise under the right conditions.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Steve Werier.

Cold Hard Rants

September 19, 2007

In the course of my daily jaunt through the local broadsheet, I noticed in an otherwise uneventful article by the Canadian Press’s Pierre LeBrun, this comment,

“…Owners will also hear from the league on possible expansion today, with Winnipeg, Las Vegas, Kansas City and Seattle among the cities on the radar.”

Now, as some of the throng of fans I have accumulated know very well, I used to work for a Member of Parliament. (For those readers who are confused as to what that is, or for those people who need a TV character to use as a frame of reference, think of my role as that of a Toby Ziegler or Joshua Lyman from the West Wing—only less irritating, and more well rounded.) Press releases, speech writing, mudslinging, and character assassination (kidding!) were all part of my job—in short I was a Communications Director. As part of the role of a communications director, you are responsible for ensuring that your message is being disseminated to the public, and is at the same time well received by the public you are targeting.

At this point, you may be thinking to yourself, “what is the point to this, I could be reading Perez Hilton.” But bare with me, as I am coming to the point, which, simply is, Gary Bettman, the Tiny Perfect Commissioner, heretofore known as the TPC™, has simply changed his communications strategy as it relates to the concept of the NHL returning to the city of Winnipeg.

For years, after deliberately sabotaging every effort the city of Winnipeg put forth to save our beloved Jets, the TPC refused to even listen to arguments advocating for the return of the NHL to Winnipeg. Rather then humor the people of Winnipeg with a couple of nice platitudes about Winnipeg’s strong legacy as a hockey city, or even a polite brush off, the TPC would go off on a rant against Winnipeg. Based on his comments, it was easy to see that for whatever reason, it was a personal vendetta he had against the NHL being in Winnipeg.

Fast-forward ten years (or so), and we have today an expansion into the American Deep South that has failed as poorly as the CFL’s did (see: Barracudas, Birmingham, Mad-Dogs, Memphis etc.). Yet, there still is no team in Winnipeg. However, what we have now, as evidenced by the aforementioned Pierre LeBrun article, is a communications director who has changed the talking points used by the commissioner.

Let me explain. A government, when defending a policy, or deflecting attention away from a scandal creates talking points for their spokespeople to use. They stick to these talking points, come hell, high water, or media ridicule. The TPC, for all his imperfections (I am aware of the irony), is smart enough to realize that his expansion has failed miserably, and he cannot continue to use the same talking points he has relied on for so many years, as it relates to the NHL returning to Winnipeg. Much like a government creating new talking points to defend a policy after the shelf life of the initial talking points has expired, the NHL is simply doing likewise.

Although he has softened his language in his new talking points, making it seem like a return to Winnipeg is plausible, his actions in the Balsillie-Nashville Predators debacle should be evidence to both the public and the media, that he has no interest now, or ever, in returning the NHL to Canada, let alone Winnipeg. All he has done is changed his tune ever so slightly and by seeming to be more amenable to the idea of the NHL in Winnipeg, he has kept the media wolves at bay, who are now willing to overlook the colossal error that is Bettman’s tenure, and instead focus on the remote possibility of seeing the NHL return to Winnipeg/Canadian markets, an idea planted by Bettman himself. Why no one in the media has commented to this effect, instead of swallowing the gruel served up by the TPC as it relates to Canadian expansion/a return to Winnipeg, I do not know, but I for one, will not believe anything coming out of the mouth of Gary Bettman. The NHL will return to Winnipeg when the TPC is no longer the Commissioner, and someone in the NHL realizes how catastrophic of a failure Commissioner Bettman was. His legacy won’t be that of a trailblazer, but rather as a commissioner who scorched the earth of NHL hockey in traditional hockey markets.

Here is all you need to know about Commissioner Bettman and his reign of terror in the NHL:

2004-05 Stanley Cup Champion: No Information Available

Thanks to him it will be a long time and Commissioner Bettman will be long gone before this is ever seen again: Winnipeg Wins the Cup!

For Illegal Curve, I’m Andrew M

About the writer: Formerly a speech writer for a Canadian Federal Politician, Andrew will be bringing his unique take on the hockey world to the illegal curve blog once a week, or more often if the rage needs to be released in a manner other than clobbering a referee over the head with a whiskey bottle. Mainly because he doesn’t have enough empty whiskey bottles at his disposal.

Prospect Pulse

The Rangers' Alex Bourret might be one of the best examples of a highly touted prospect flying under the radar. Originally drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Bourret continued to improve his play after his draft year, posting a nearly 30 point improvement in the 2005-2006 QMJHL season. Injured early in his first pro campaign, Bourret bounced back and was producing nicely for the Chicago Wolves when he was traded to the Hartford Wolfpack, the Rangers AHL affiliate.

He posted 18 points in the final 23 games with Hartford while skating on the top line with Nigel Dawes and Jarko Immonen. Bourret stepped up his game in the playoffs, going 3-8-11 in 7 games. The improved performance at crunch time may be Bourret's calling card, as he has produced at least a point per game in all the playoff series' in which he has been involved.

A combination of impressive skill and physical tenacity, Bourret does not shy away from the corners or traffic and can make plays in both of these areas. He will stick up for teammates and is not afraid to intimidate opponents with his size. The knock on Bourret is his consistency, but this can be said about any young player, so I don't know why scouts even bother anymore. Like other young players, Bourret will make bad decisions with and without the puck from time to time.

Bourret noted that his slow start in the AHL was partially due to the fact that he spoke no English and had trouble adjusting to life in Chicago. Wolves Coach John Anderson took the right approach, pairing him with a French teammate and giving him the odd game in the press box with an assignment to watch what players do in certain situations.

The Rangers expect Bourret to be a solid two way player who grows into his offensive game. If he can build on his impressive first year of pro hockey, he will be a legitimate top line forward who can score from anywhere. Currently playing well at Rangers' camp, Bourret may get an extended look from the Rangers thanks to his physical play and offensive prowess.

A video interview with Bourret can be found here.

UPDATE: Alex Bourret was sent back to Hartford by the Rangers.

News You Can Use in the Late Morning:

-Avs' prospect and Michigan alum TJ Hensick hopes to make the team out of camp.

-A look at the Rangers' top prospects from Hockey's Future.

-The Coyotes have their own MySpace page. Oh Phoenix, the rest of the world, including Illegal Curve, is on Facebook. Only pedophiles and Marc Hoe are left on MySpace.

-RDS reporting that the Sharks may be interested in Halak. If Price plays well in camp, Halak may be expendable.

-Martin Gerber stops 52 shots for a shutout in London, Ontario. This might help Ottawa move him, if thats what their intentions are.

-Oilers tough guy? Zach Stortini fighting for a job.

-The Sabres' Larry Quinn still mad at Edmonton for the Vanek offer sheet, won't consult Edmonton in preparation for the Ice Bowl. Also news in Buffalo, Quinn misses nap time, throws tantrum, gets sent to bed without supper.

-Former Prospect Pulse feature Marco Insam cut by the Regina Pats. May be headed to the USHL or Italian pro hockey.

-Top Ten Stories to watch in the OHL.

-Live-blogging from Capitals' camp.

-The WHL roundup from Taking Note.

-Interesting insight from the Bruins' Andrew Alberts.

-Jonathan Toews gives Chicago fans a taste of his talent. Also note that the Blackhaws returned Akim Aliu to junior.

-North Bay impresses. Maybe Jim Balsillie can move a team here?

-Kip Brennan takes down Zdeno Chara in a fight. Do the B's really want Chara fighting in the pre-season?

-Greg Wyshynski weighs in on expansion over at Fanhouse. Also note the Senators preview below main story.

-Offside looks at Dominik Hasek.

-The Wild look to start the year with clearly defined roles in net.

-Capitals pin their hopes on Nylander.

-A preview of the OHL.

-A Buffalo Sabres preview.

-The WHL Top Ten list.

-Voice of the Jets howling mad over his treatment by the Coyotes.

-An update on the Rob Ramage situation.

-Nick Foligno adjusting to the pro game.

-Wes Goldstein analyzes goalie competitions in the NHL.

-Tampa Bay still experimenting with line combinations.

-Lightning camp exhausting for players.

-Results from the minors and juniors.

-NHL Board of Governors agree to schedule changes.

-Naslund told to shoot more if he wants to increase production. I am labelling this one as obvious.

-Vokoun not concerned about poor outing in Edmonton.

-Coyotes hope a road trip will produce a clear cut #1 goalie.

-News and notes from Stan Fischler. Note that the NHL is moving its HQ in New York and will be opening a hockey store.

-Oilers and Leafs talk in the Six-pack.

-Team by team checklists from the Score. Note that the Blues have invited Mike Johnson to training camp.

Note: For our returning readers, we at Illegal Curve would be more than pleased if you had any comments on our articles or news stories. We have a plethora of writers who would love to discuss the topics and enlighten you with our always accurate opinions.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Kyle Kosior

Expansion? The Return of The Jets to Winnipeg?

This quote appeared in Pierre Lebruns article for the Globe and Mail on Tuesday:

"As it relates to hockey, it's one of the great hockey markets in North America," said Pat LaForge, president and CEO of the Edmonton Oilers. " The next proposal-if there ever is one- for expansion, it has to be a great hockey market. And Winnipeg passes the great hockey market test."

The article mentions that the NHL Board of Governors meeting in Chicago will include discussions about possible expansion and that Winnipeg, Las Vegas, Kansas City and Seattle are among the cities on the radar. Now, I am not going to start another controversial debate on whether Winnipeg deserves a hockey team, where an analysis of the economy and arena is discussed, bla bla bla. I feel it is important to simply point out that Winnipeg's name continues to pop up whenever expansion is mentioned. Whether the talk is being generated by the increase in league revenues, the exhibition game between the Toronto Maple Leafs/Phoenix Coyotes at the MTS Centre tomorrow or the instability among some existing franchises, the league has Winnipeg on it's mind. Now let the debate begin.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ezra Ginsburg.

Get Well Soon Teppo, You've Got a Heart of Gold!

Various sources (Globe and Mail, The Sports Network, National Hockey League) have reported that Teppo Numminen is having heart problems and will require surgery. This is not the first time that Teppo has had problems with his heart as recurring murmurs almost forced him to retire back in 2004 while playing with the Dallas Stars. Numminen has had heart problems since childhood and had previously undergone 2 separate surgeries. Numminen signed on this past summer for a third season with the Buffalo Sabres after leading the team to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2006'07.

Teppo is special to the contributors at Illegal Curve and is arguably the most Popular Winnipeg Jet of all time. Numminen spent 13 seasons with the Jets/Coyotes franchise and was a favourite in the local community. Numminen set the record for most games played by a European born player last year, passing fellow countrymen Jari Kurri. At the age of 39 years old, this may quite possibly be Numminen's last year in the National Hockey League-although Chris Chelios is defying critics everywhere by playing into his late 40's. Numminen had 29 points in 79 games last year for the Sabres and has 115 goals and 505 assists for 620 points in 1,314 career games.

We at Illegal Curve know that Teppo Numminen will be back roaming the Sabres blueline like a Prairie Bison real soon.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ezra Ginsburg.

Cold Hard Rants

The people of Winnipeg are fools. They are in a relationship, but their partner is unfaithful. Repeatedly, and unrepentantly, their lover takes their heart and steps on it with a stiletto heel. Despite the countless sleepless nights, tears shed, and promises broken, they keep coming back, fooling themselves into thinking their partner can change for the better.
The partner is none other than the National Hockey League.

Since 1996 (and one can argue since its arrival in the league 1979), the NHL, headed by the Tiny Perfect Commissioner Gary Bruce Bettman, has taken an unusual amount of pleasure in torturing the people of Winnipeg. First, the NHL forced the Jets to break up the Hull/Hedberg/Nillson triumvirate, stole the beloved team, and as we were mourning at the tombstone, kicked mud in our face, stole the flowers we planted, and munged the body (™ Mutton).

You might think that after such despicable actions the victims, the city of Winnipeg, might hold some degree of resentment towards Bettman and his NHL.

Yet, more than likely, on the 20th of this month, 15000+ masochists will settle in the MTS Centre to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs play the erstwhile Winnipeg Jets, the Phoenix Coyotes. It will be sloppy hockey played by mainly minor league players and fringe veterans. Despite the absence of a quality product, Winnipeggers will descend on the arena sponsored by a provincial telecommunications company that will not be named without first agreeing to a sponsorship deal with me, like a group of squeegee kids do to cars stuck at a red light. They will do this, while paying full price for an inferior product. You wouldn’t drink a beer served warm, or accept a half eaten burger, yet Winnipeggers feel no qualms about paying big money for a piss poor NHL product. (Granted they have been doing this every night in Toronto for the past 50 or so years, but that is a column for another day and time).

Why do Winnipeggers continue to pay hard earned money (either their own or their spouses/parents/inheritance) to witness this nothingness first hand? Beats me.

Will they continue to pay for exhibition crap so long as there is no NHL team in Winnipeg? Yup.

Does this continued flocking to the teat of the NHL embarrass me as a Winnipegger? You betcha.

Does this make Winnipeggers fools? To answer that question, I simply remind my loyal readers of the old adage, “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.”

And I end this virgin foray into the blogosphere, by simply pointing out that this isn’t the first exhibition hockey game in Winnipeg since the departure of the Jets in 1996.


About the writer: Formerly a speech writer for a Canadian Federal Politician, Andrew will be bringing his unique take on the hockey world to the illegal curve blog once a week, or more often if the rage needs to be released in a manner other than clobbering a referee over the head with a whiskey bottle. Mainly because he doesn’t have enough empty whiskey bottles at his disposal.