Towel Power comes back to Winnipeg

by Brandt Corbin

            The real white towel power is coming back. In 1996 the Winnipeg Jets picked up and moved their franchise to Phoenix. Now 15 years later, the Atlanta Thrashers are packing up and moving back to Winnipeg. Will the results of the Thrashers team be different compared to the old Jets or the team based in Atlanta. One would have to lean towards nothing but success.

            Over the past few years, the players when going to play at Phillips Arena (Atlanta) had not much to be excited about. More often than not they played in front of a half empty building; and it would get tiresome after awhile to hear the PA announcer say offside, icing... pointing out what’s happening on the ice for beginner fans. Instead now the team will be going to the MTS center, playing in front a full building of fans who craved NHL hockey for over a decade and a half.

New team in Winnipeg much different than 1996 Jets

            In 1996, the Jets exhausted all of their resources, regarding players. In total then Jet coach Terry Simpson dressed 41 players (including five goalies), during the 1996 season, 33 of those players played 15 or more games. Back then the Jets had one of the best lines in hockey with Teemu Selanne (only played 51 games), Keith Thachuk and Alexei Zhamnov (58 games played). After that it was a big drop off from lines two to four. The number one line accounted for 34% of the Jets offense; despite missing a combined 61 games due to injury.

                Now the 2010-11 Thrashers are not overly loaded up front, allot less potent than the Jets old top line, but have a much better second line than the 96 Jets. Another advantage going into next season, the team only has seven forwards guaranteed of a spot next year. The team defense in 1996 scored 32 goals all season, the 2011 Thrashers scored 45 goals from the back end. Their top two de-men, Dustin Byfuglien and Tobias Enstrom had 31 goals between the two, totalling up 104 points.

                  The goaltending is very similiar compared to the old days. Nikolai Khabibulin was a young netminder which back then didn’t reach his potential. Nowadays Ondrej Pavelic the current goalie has had loads of international success with the Czech Republic, but has been inconsistent with Atlanta. The backups are almost the same now compared to then. Then it was Tim Cheveldae, now its Chris Mason.

                       The old Jets had a few promising back then. When it was all said and done, Jason Doig and Chad Kilger never panned out as good NHLers. Without question Shane Doan has gone onto the most promising career. Fot the new Jets, Evander Kane is showing the most promise, followed up by Bryan Little, Alexander Burminstrov, the future looks somewhat promising.

Off ice staff

                Sounds pretty safe that general manager Rick Dudley will be leading the team into Winnipeg. The main reason why he’s returning is because he had four years remaining on his current contract. Same goes with head coach Craig Ramsey, he as well is under contract. One possible change is Craig Heisinger the current general manager of the Manitoba Moose, appears to be staying on as Assistant General manager of the team based in Winnipeg.