[QUOTE=getbak;3040266]Everything is relative. Every other city in the NHL is over a million, so Winnipeg is a small city by comparison.[/quebec]
So is Green Bay (metro population 282,599), but they manage to do pretty well in the NFL.
Raleigh-Cary,NC metro area only has 1,130,490
Buffalo-Niagara Falls,NY metro area had dropped to 1,137,520
So technically, Edmonton is the 3rd smallest market.
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When the Flames moved to Calgary, Dan Bouchard asked for a trade almost immediately, and a lot of others players weren't overly happy about the relocation -- especially those who were married to women from Atlanta who had never seen snow.
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It may happen. Thomas Steen decided to retire, rather than move to Phoenix. However, you would be looking at only a couple of players most likely, not a whole team. Additionally, the Canadian dollar is now worth more than the American dollar if it means anything. The economy of Winnipeg is much stronger than most places in the US right now as well
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In the early 80s, the players had a lot less control over where they played than they do now. Right now, the Coyotes only have 6 forwards signed for next season (and none for the seasons beyond), and both their goalies with be UFAs in July. It will be an interesting summer in Manitoba if the team does end up moving. I can't imagine what the Flames would have looked like in 1980 if free agency had existed like it does now.
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Well, by 1996, players had much control over where they wanted to play. In Winnipeg, nobody ever refused to play here, and the only holdout, if I can recall, was Keith Tkachuk, and that was over money. Sure there will be some wary NHLers, but at the end of the day Winnipeg will win them over. With the exception of Dieter Brock, we always do.