Quote:
Hextall: It’s interesting to me you speak of Gary being open and transparent and positive about Winnipeg because there seems to be a narrative in Winnipeg there was resistance by the NHL to bring a team back. Is that a misconception?
Chipman: Very much so. From 2007 on, they were the ones that invited us to go make the presentation. They were serious about it. Gary frequently pointed out to me through the process he was hopeful it would materialize because he felt that they could right a wrong. It was unfortunate the team ever left here in the first place but it just didn’t work in 1996. They didn’t have a building; the economics of the league were dramatically different and in the wrong way.
I had a good look at it in 1996 and it was nobody’s fault. Everybody was looking for someone to pin this on but there was no blame to be had in 1996. It wasn’t Barry Shenkarow’s fault; it wasn’t the city of Winnipeg’s fault; it wasn’t the NHL’s fault. You just couldn’t bring those interests together in a way that worked back then. It was probably a good thing for our city that we sat it out awhile and let things correct themselves.
|
Not that this will make Bettman any less of a villain. He is fun to boo, after all.