The Unknown Poster

Here's what I don't get. Why would DC have a TV show about The Flash when they are going to make movies with a different Flash?

Tough getting a break.

It will be very interesting. Buffs agent will go to Chevy with comps and demand top dollar. Chevy will counter that this is our budget. And Buff will have to decide if he, at his age, wants to get every last cent possible regardless where he plays and chances of winning or does he like it here, being close to home with a young talented team. I think the pundits were saying $7 million/year cap hit would likely get him. What about a six year deal that slides. Something like 9, 9, 8, 6, 5, 4.5. Pay him top dollar in the years he's still in his prime. $6.9 million cap hit bit in the last three years, its manageable cash. $41.5 million total over six years.

On the flip side, wasnt Hammond dreadful in the A? Look at him...

5700 seems pretty small compared to what that franchise has drawn in the past but I assume they have done market research to determine what Thunder Bay can produce.

WINNIPEG – True North Sports and Entertainment, the owner of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets, has plans on the drawing board to move its American Hockey League farm team to Thunder Bay, Ont. The Ice Caps currently play in St. John’s, N.L., but could move as part of a potential deal announced Tuesday to build a new arena in the northwestern Ontario city. “This is a real preliminary step,” True North owner Mark Chipman said Tuesday on Jets TV from Anaheim, Calif., answering questions about the potential move of his AHL team. “We’ve been in contact with our partners in St. John’s from the moment this became a possibility, and it’s something that we’re going to explore.” An artist’s drawing of proposed event centre/arena in Thunder Bay that could become the home of True North Entertainment’s AHL franchise. Handout The City of Thunder Bay announced in a news release Tuesday it found a “potential partner” to develop its event centre to include a 5,700-seat arena. “As part of its submission, Thunder Bay LIVE proposes to bring an American Hockey League franchise to the city along with the Lakehead University Thunderwolves as anchor tenants,” the news release says. Thunder Bay LIVE! includes Stadium Consultants International, Global Spectrum Facility Management, True North Sports and Entertainment and others. The St. John’s Ice Caps currently play in the 7,000-seat Mile One Centre in the Newfoundland capital. The AHL team is the former Manitoba Moose franchise, which moved to St. John’s in fall 2011 when the new Jets franchise began playing in Winnipeg. The AHL club is used by the Jets to develop new talent; players are frequently called up from St. John’s to fill the roster in Winnipeg if the Jets have a vacancy due to injuries or for other reasons. Chipman says True North is committed to keeping the team there through next season.

I agree but I think we're buyers this year to a degree. Not in getting a rental like Buff to put us over the top. I think True North wants to create a team where we are in the playoffs every year and some years we will be top 8 contenders and some years bottom 8. To me, if they announced on July 1st that Buff signed a 7 year deal, I'd be thrilled. I wouldnt even really care about the money to be honest. But if they announced they traded him for a very good haul, I'd be okay with that too. Because we are a young team. Let's be honest, if the Jets win the cup, will the first two guys to hoist it be Ladd and Buff or Trouba and Scheif?

Not lame, perm move. Just forget ThunBay. Well they've got a vote on money for the development by the end of this month I think. So it might be time for Plan B. But obviously True North sees the Tbay development as an investment. If I recall it was going to be like a mini-MTSC deal where they would have developed properties around the arena and end up owning half of Tbay. Good for TN.

If they are still planning to move to Tbay, they likely can't put the team in a lame duck town. I know when there was talk of Tbay, there was a lot of chatter of people in Winnipeg saying they'd love to go see some games. I think the Jets prospects, especially with the team having more of OUR picks, will be a big draw.

I think you trade or sign him this summer. The last thing you want is to be in the same position now, next deadline and have Buff hanging over your head. Frolik is one thing. Buff is something altogether different. I have wondered if the Jets as a playoff team increases the internal budget at all. The playoffs mean several million dollars more into True North's pocket so would they look at the team and say "okay, all things being equal we can project making the playoffs more years than not, so we have an extra $5 million/year to spend" And as you said, there are variables. Trading Buff might not bother the young core but what does it say to Andrew Ladd? At what point do you say we are turning the page from Ladd and Buff to Trouba and Scheif?

I remember when Doer was a goofball too. He seemed like a guy who could never win because he just didnt seem like a Premier. He certainly grew into the job. Pallister might too. Let's hope so. The NDP didnt screw up - the problems in Manitoba are exactly what they intended. This is their idea of socialism. The last thing they want is a robust, wealthy province. When the government truly believes they have a God-given right to govern and know what you and I need better than we do, you're going to have problems. Look at this mess at Osborn House for a perfect, specific example of their arrogance and lies and desire for revenge and the fact they will do what they think is best even when it isnt, women and children at risk be damned.

No discussion yet on Gary's article last week about Chevy's impending opportunity/decision on trading Buff this summer? Heard the Big Show guys talk about it too. Some interesting points made. I wish Capgeek was still around so I could pull numbers easily because Im far too lazy to fully investigate the details. But Lawless' position was basically that Chevy will have a HUGE decision to make. Buff will want something like $7-$8 million a year for 7 years. Will the Jets be willing to allot that kind of money to a player of Buff's age for that lone? Also take into account the amount of money and ice-time the RIGHT side of the D will need. My opinion, Myers contract is cap-heavy but cash-positive and thus they COULD allocate that kind of money to the right side. I dont know about making all three guys (Buff, Myers, Trouba) happy with ice-time. It would be nice if one of them could switch to LEFT side. Lawless further stated the starting price for Buff would be number one pick, prospect, roster player. If you're Chevy, what do you do? I started this season advocating for trading him and then came around to the idea that Buff should be a lifer here. But the Myers trade maybe changes something. And knowing the future of this team is the "young core" not the "current" core, getting a great return on trading Buff....I dont know, I'd listen to offers maybe.

This is exactly my point. The AHL team now means something whereas it meant nothing before, unless you were a diehard Vancouver fan. And I know a lot of NHL fans rejected the Moose for several reasons. Either because they wanted NHL or nothing or because the idea of seeing "tomorrow's stars today" was offensive to a fanbase that lost the major league franchise. It was always a different crowd at Moose games then Jets games. The one Moose game I went to, I could not believe how quiet it was. I could have had a conversation with someone seated on the opposite side of the arena. This will be very different. Without lifting a finger, True North has direct marketing to thousands and thousands and thousands of hockey fans. Surely they will give current season ticket holders dibs, then waiting list members. That will serve to ramp up anticipation and demand like it did for the Jets. Sure, not to the same extent, but it will to a degree. The players you mentioned will be players fans will WANT to see. There are so many hockey fans in this city. There will be some cross-over of Jets tickets holders buying Moose tickets but even taking into account the many fans who can barely afford their Jets tickets, there is a huge segment of hockey fans who cant afford Jets tickets at all that will be happy to watch a talented, young team. They will do fine. And the local coverage will be a lot better too.

If the Tbay deal goes ahead in not sure Hamilton would want a lame duck team.

That's an interesting point.

I'm sure I heard the opposite. I could be wrong but I thought their market research was positive and they have been actively trying to buy a WHL team since. I remember there were rumours of them buying Regina I think it was and I heard on the radio people say it's no secret that every team that comes up for potential sale, TN talks to.

@CraigJButton: Hey @NHLJets fans in @QMJHL action @HFXMooseheads @NikolajEhlers24 with Hat Trick ½ way through game. More to come? Stay tuned. #GetExcited

The uncertainty of the AHL might have contributed to the lack of W here right now. Need to settle this long term.

ISO think about it. Cheap alternative. Cross marketing. Players that matter. Baby jets. They will sell 10,000 plus

Absolutely they will draw more than before. I think they will likely keep the upper deck closed other than for special occasions but 12,000 a game isn't out of the question. They will do a lot of marketing to get tickets out there there. Those games will actually mean something and I think you will see a lot of the wait list people snap them up plus I'd assume they will offer a discount to jets season ticket holders.

Chevy did a fantastic job drastically improving the depth of this team. I mean, that's not a bad line up with two top end players out. Scheif needs to continue to play well and looking for Lowry to add a bit of offense.

National media need local people to tell them who's good. They look at stats and hits to make up their minds. little is not flashy. Though he is/was on pace for a career year, no?

The Tbay deal has a funding deadline of the end of this month. Let's hope they get it done. If so they want to be open by September 2017 so you'd be looking at the Moose playing here for two seasons. I think they will draw very well for two seasons.

Well obviously it would be temporary but what makes you think it would draw flies? Werent the Moose one of the best drawing teams in the league? And I'll be honest, I have way more interest in the Caps then I did the Moose because it's OUR players. Add in the draft picks that are "home grown" and I think the Moose playing one or two years in Winnipeg would draw very well. You now have way more interest in hockey then when the jets were gone. You have all the cross promotional opportunities. There should be significantly more AHL level fans now than before The people that can afford NHL tickets bought NHL tickets or bought portions. There is a ton of people that are priced out or can only afford a few games that could still see their two jets games and now for the same price watch six moose games (or whatever). Not to mention the 8000 waiting list that will surely be direct marketed for Moose tickets. I think they will do very well. Look at the interest level of the rookie camp every year. There is a huge interest in the "kids". I'm sure TN's desire is not to have this happen permanently because it fills up dates at mtsc. And they probably received a guarantee money from their lease agreement with Danny but this could be very profitable in the short term. And honestly I neger supported the moose. Saw one game as a work function. I felt emotionally blocked from being able to embrace them. There never was a real farewell to the moose or a thanks for how tjay franchise allowed for the return of the NHL. I think there will be some nostalgia too

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/ahl/Manitoba-Moose-20-in-the-works-295455711.html?device=mobile There's a strong chance the Winnipeg Jets will move their AHL affiliate to the MTS Centre this fall for the 2015-16 hockey season. True North Sports & Entertainment had granted the group operating the St. John’s IceCaps a one-year extension last September, taking them through the 2015-16 season in the Newfoundland and Labrador capital. The extension had been given, in part, to afford the group headed by former N.L premier Danny Williams some extra time to find another NHL affiliation agreement to take the place of the Jets-IceCaps deal. It appears that has happened. The St. John’s group is believed to have struck an arrangement with the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, who currently operate their AHL affiliate in Hamilton, Ont. The AHL’s board of governors could approve the new St. John’s deal and the shift of the IceCaps back to Winnipeg at a governors meeting later next week. It’s not known if True North would return its AHL franchise name to the Manitoba Moose, but it seems likely. The Moose were members of the AHL from 2001 to 2011. True North began operating the team, first in the IHL and then in the AHL, when the original Winnipeg Jets franchise left for Phoenix in 1996. When True North purchased the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers and relocated the team to Winnipeg in 2011, it moved its AHL affiliation to St. John’s. True North maintained ownership of the AHL franchise but leased its business operation to the St. John’s group headed by Williams, to play in the Mile One Centre. A three-year agreement was struck then, and then extended twice by one year. Last January, the Jets said that try though they did, the geography had become too problematic, especially in the case of recalling players, and they were looking for a more workable base for their AHL base. At that time, True North had also confirmed it joined forces with several groups with a proposal to build a new 5,700-seat arena in downtown Thunder Bay, Ont. True North’s part of the deal was that it had agreed to provide a full-time hockey tenant for that facility, hoping to relocate its AHL team there, much closer to home. But no ground has been broken on the Thunder Bay project and funding for the proposed $106-million arena has still not been announced. It had been reported that the project — hoping to be open in September, 2017 — had a funding deadline at the end of this month or it might die. All the way back to confirmation of its involvement in the Thunder Bay proposal, and likely earlier, True North has been exploring many options to bring its AHL affiliate into a more geographically friendly location, including Winnipeg on a temporary basis. That seemed a possibility last summer but then in September, another extension for the IceCaps in St. John’s was announced.