There was supposed to be an announcement today regarding the Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg. That announcement never happened, and though negotiations are still in the works between Winnipeg’s True North Sports and Entertainment and the Atlanta Spirit Group, I figured I’d give you the rundown of some of the “true but not true” rumours still going on regarding the move.
The first is that the remaining prospective Atlanta buyer has dropped out of the bid to keep the team in their city. The deal expired and the buyer didn’t step up to the plate.
If the Jets do make a comeback they will stay in the Southeast Division for the 2011-2012 season. That will give the NHL another year to figure out how to realign the league to better include the possible Winnipeg team. That would mean the Jets main rivals would be the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Florida Panthers, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Washington Capitals.
Winnipeg mayor Sam Kurtz expects an announcement on the Thrashers/Jets move to be made before the week is out, though nothing official has been set. The mayor is still adamant that the name “Jets” won’t be making a comeback if the team do.
One question that remains on a lot of fans minds is what will happen to the Manitoba Moose, the Vancouver Canucks’ current farm team that plays out of Winnipeg’s MTS Centre. One possibility is for them to move to St John’s, Newfoundland. Former premier Danny Williams has come forward to state that the city is very close to closing a deal to take the Moose out east.
Until an official announcement is made, fans of the Winnipeg Jets will just have to keep waiting on pins and needles to see if their beloved team comes home.