The Ongoing Coyotes Sale Thread

[Bluzman]

I don't know about the rest of you but if someone was willing to pay me 3 million bucks a year to play a game, well, I'd pretty much go anywhere.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Bluzman

I don't know about the rest of you but if someone was willing to pay me 3 million bucks a year to play a game, well, I'd pretty much go anywhere.

If you could make that same $3 million a year in any one of the 30 different cities across North America that have NHL teams, would Winnipeg be at the top of your list?

That's the real choice NHL players have to make. It's not "3 million in Winnipeg or nothing", it's "3 million in Winnipeg or 3 million in one of these other cities".


Sure, there will be entry-level guys who have no choice where they play and they'll be happy just to be in the NHL.

There will also be guys who have the choice between being a League-minimum player in Winnipeg or an AHL player in the Rangers organization who would gladly pick Winnipeg over "New York".

To attract top-level UFAs, Winnipeg may have to give out the infamous Edmonton "bad-town bonus".

Right now, the Coyotes have 8 roster players who will be UFAs in July - including both their goalies - and only 3 players on their current roster signed for 2012. If the move happens, we'll see how attractive a market Winnipeg is pretty quickly.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by getbak

Right now, the Coyotes have 8 roster players who will be UFAs in July - including both their goalies - and only 3 players on their current roster signed for 2012. If the move happens, we'll see how attractive a market Winnipeg is pretty quickly.

There are only so many jobs to go around. How many teams can add more than a couple of UFAs?

[tjinaz]

Bryzgalov will have trouble finding a new place to play?

It is not the number of the players, it is the quality. A good player will always have options. Those on the bubble do not.

But then again your team will suck without good experienced players.

[Bluzman]

Originally Posted by getbak

To attract top-level UFAs, Winnipeg may have to give out the infamous Edmonton "bad-town bonus".

I can't imagine what Green Bay's "bad-town bonus" must be then.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by troutman

There are only so many jobs to go around. How many teams can add more than a couple of UFAs?

There's also only so many quality UFAs every year. Sure, you'll end up with someone to fill the holes in the roster, but will they be the same quality as the guys who are signing elsewhere?

That's the challenge. We've seen it in Edmonton over the last few years, but at least Winnipeg shouldn't be as poorly run as the Oilers.

Also, the Coyotes have been decent over the last couple of years without really making a big splash in free agency, so even if they do lose their UFAs this summer, it won't be a mortal wound or anything.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by getbak

If you could make that same $3 million a year in any one of the 30 different cities across North America that have NHL teams, would Winnipeg be at the top of your list?

That's the real choice NHL players have to make. It's not "3 million in Winnipeg or nothing", it's "3 million in Winnipeg or 3 million in one of these other cities".


Sure, there will be entry-level guys who have no choice where they play and they'll be happy just to be in the NHL.

There will also be guys who have the choice between being a League-minimum player in Winnipeg or an AHL player in the Rangers organization who would gladly pick Winnipeg over "New York".

To attract top-level UFAs, Winnipeg may have to give out the infamous Edmonton "bad-town bonus".

Right now, the Coyotes have 8 roster players who will be UFAs in July - including both their goalies - and only 3 players on their current roster signed for 2012. If the move happens, we'll see how attractive a market Winnipeg is pretty quickly.

Wow what a mind boggling post....

Last time I checked NHL was in Winnipeg before.... they had Star players.

Only reason to avoid Winnipeg is the tax issues... that goes for the other Canadian Cities...

[sevenarms]

Originally Posted by flambers

Wow what a mind boggling post....

Last time I checked NHL was in Winnipeg before.... they had Star players.

and they had to trade pretty much all of them.

[PegCityFlamesFan]

Because teams like Toronto, Dallas, NY, etc... could spend money like they printed it.

[Jordan!]

Originally Posted by PegCityFlamesFan

Because teams like Toronto, Dallas, NY, etc... could spend money like they printed it.

Edmonton has a rich owner.. great squad they've built huh?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

Edmonton has a rich owner.. great squad they've built huh?

He is talking about pre-salary cap - before 2004.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by sevenarms

and they had to trade pretty much all of them.

Kinda like the Flames? (i.e. Vernon, MacInnis, Suter, Gilmour, etc............).

[getbak]

Originally Posted by flambers

Wow what a mind boggling post....

Last time I checked NHL was in Winnipeg before.... they had Star players.

Only reason to avoid Winnipeg is the tax issues... that goes for the other Canadian Cities...

Last time I checked, the NHL left Winnipeg because it wasn't a financially viable market.

How many of those star players chose to play in Winnipeg as Unrestricted Free Agents? Drafting and trading for talent is one thing, attracting talent is the question.



I've re-read my post and I don't know what I said that's so mind-boggling.

Do you honestly think that there aren't players who would want nothing to do with playing in Winnipeg? There's a quote on this page from a player who says he doesn't want to play in Winnipeg.

When the Flames moved to Calgary, there were players who didn't want to make the move, but they didn't have anywhere close to the freedom that players today have. Their employer moved from a southern US city with a population of 2.5 million to a small prairie city of barely half a million. Can you blame them for not being happy?

If a team moves to Winnipeg, there will be a few years of transition as they'll have to change the culture of the team. Some players - and more importantly some players' families - won't want to be a part of that. The challenge is finding the people who do.


Will Winnipeg be able to sign UFAs? Of course they will, there's only so much money to go around to so many players.

Will Winnipeg have to offer larger contracts to UFAs to encourage them to sign in Winnipeg? I'll guess we'll find out.

Will Winnipeg be the first choice for some UFAs? I'm sure it will. Everyone has different criteria.

Will some players want to have absolutely nothing to do with playing in Winnipeg? Of course. I'm sure there are a good number of players who would never want to play for the Flames, just as there are some who wouldn't like playing in a place like Miami or Phoenix.

I can't imagine what Green Bay's "bad-town bonus" must be then.

As we all know, the NFL and NHL are completely identical organizations.

I didn't make up the term "bad town bonus", that was one of the sports writers who was commenting on Edmonton's poor history with signing UFAs (I believe in reference to Souray's contract) as the opposite of a "home town discount".

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Eric Fehr responds to Belanger on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/#!/EricFehr16/status/53938091500642304

@EricFehr16: I wonder what province Belanger is from? http://tinyurl.com/3jjghpp I'll be a homer too and say I'd like to see them in Winnipeg!

Dustin Byfuglien also said (unprompted) in a recent interview that he would choose Winnipeg over Quebec:

http://www.fan590.com/media.jsp?cont...16_122804_2392

[Jordan!]

Rumor has it that Darcy Olsen has stepped down at GWI for a job in DC. April fools?

[Bluzman]

Originally Posted by getbak

As we all know, the NFL and NHL are completely identical organizations.

It is the same in that Green Bay competes against so-called glamor destinations under a salary cap and field a very competitive team. (see Super Bowl)

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Bluzman

It is the same in that Green Bay competes against so-called glamor destinations under a salary cap and field a very competitive team. (see Super Bowl)

Right, because one of the most iconic organizations in all of football and an also ran team in Winnipeg living on the edge financially are oh so comparable.

[calgaryred]

Originally Posted by getbak

If you could make that same $3 million a year in any one of the 30 different cities across North America that have NHL teams, would Winnipeg be at the top of your list?

That's the real choice NHL players have to make. It's not "3 million in Winnipeg or nothing", it's "3 million in Winnipeg or 3 million in one of these other cities".


Sure, there will be entry-level guys who have no choice where they play and they'll be happy just to be in the NHL.

There will also be guys who have the choice between being a League-minimum player in Winnipeg or an AHL player in the Rangers organization who would gladly pick Winnipeg over "New York".

To attract top-level UFAs, Winnipeg may have to give out the infamous Edmonton "bad-town bonus".

Right now, the Coyotes have 8 roster players who will be UFAs in July - including both their goalies - and only 3 players on their current roster signed for 2012. If the move happens, we'll see how attractive a market Winnipeg is pretty quickly.

If the money is right, or the team has a good culture players would play for that team whether it be Atlanta, Winnipeg or Toronto

Honestly with the 30 cities in the NHL if it was all about cities I don't think Edmonton or Calgary would be at the top of the list. Calgary isn't exactly Los Angeles or New York City

if I was a UFA and were to choose the franchise for the city I want to live in Edmonton and Calgary would be sitting at the basement with Buffalo.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Bluzman

It is the same in that Green Bay competes against so-called glamor destinations under a salary cap and field a very competitive team. (see Super Bowl)

Seriously, how does this comparison even get made?

Again:

Originally Posted by Joborule

Green Bay and Winnipeg are so different it's not even worth comparing. Green Bay Packers is enriched with tradition and history as well as a large national fanbase. Plus the NFL kinda makes over +9 billion in revenue each year, so they have all the money in the world to help out smaller markets if need be.

Maybe if the NHL made that much money, then it wouldn't be that much of an issue business wise to give Winnipeg a club again. But shoot, I doubt the NFL would even bother giving a team to Green Bay in this day and age if they didn't have one already. Packers are a fairly unique franchise in the North American landscape.

It's not as easy as monkey see, monkey do. I'm absolutely certain that if Green Bay didn't have a team already, it wouldn't get one now. Besides, the Green Bay faithful do a terrific job supporting the club financially with having a large season tickets waiting list. (At least I assume)

[getbak]

Originally Posted by calgaryred

If the money is right, or the team has a good culture players would play for that team whether it be Atlanta, Winnipeg or Toronto

Honestly with the 30 cities in the NHL if it was all about cities I don't think Edmonton or Calgary would be at the top of the list. Calgary isn't exactly Los Angeles or New York City

if I was a UFA and were to choose the franchise for the city I want to live in Edmonton and Calgary would be sitting at the basement with Buffalo.

Yes.