Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
I think this could serve to underscore what is fundamentally wrong with NHL hockey in Winnipeg: they can never really become competitive under the current restraints of operating in that marker, and they can never be successful under a different model.
The Jets are predictably becoming a "feeder" for NHL teams. How long Jets fans continue to throw their support behind this fact is anyone's guess, but I am willing to venture that it won't be for much longer.
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What that team needs is an experienced gm. If you have reputable hockey men like Maurice willing to go there, I don't think it's a problem attracting players due to the perception that no one wants to play or work there. Rather it's an organizational problem. Like the article notes, Chevy is only accountable to a businessman which was like the Flames before Burke and we know how well that worked. Problem is the owner, who is a good businessman but doesn't appear to have much knowledge of hockey.
Chevy has complained about the team that he's inherited and the need for a culture change but all he's done is re-sign the core, who only made the playoffs once in their history. That speaks to his lack of talent analysis as any reasonable gm would recognize that's a problem. He seems scared or in over his head to make a trade, even though that may improve the atmosphere around the dressing room when you have malcontents like Kane.
As long as Chipman remains loyal to a fault and fans keep buying tickets, the Jets are doomed to mediocrity which is too bad as those fans deserve so much better.