NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 28, 2024

by | Feb 28, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 28, 2024

The Golden Knights set an NHL record, Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar sets a franchise record, league commissioner Gary Bettman assures Jets fans their team won’t be moved, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Vegas Golden Knights became the fastest franchise in league history to reach 300 wins (514 games) by beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-2, snapping the latter’s seven-game win streak. Jonathan Marchessault had two goals and an assist for the 33-19-7 Golden Knights as they ended a three-game losing skid and hold second place in the Pacific Division with 73 points. With 74 points, the Leafs (33-17-8) sit in third place in the Atlantic Division.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images).

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar collected an assist to become the highest-scoring blueliner in franchise history (308 points) in a 5-1 win over the Dallas Stars. Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist to extend his season-opening home points streak to 29 games for the Avalanche (36-19-5) as they sit third in the Central Division with 77 points. Rookie Logan Stankoven scored his NHL goal for the 35-17-9 Stars as they slipped to second place in the Central with 79 points.

The Florida Panthers held off the Buffalo Sabres by a score of 3-2. Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and an assist for the 39-16-4 Panthers (82 points) as they sit first in the Eastern Conference and second in the overall standings. The Sabres slipped to 27-28-4.

An overtime goal by Erik Karlsson lifted the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Sidney Crosby had two assists and reached his 1,000th career even-strength point for the 27-21-8 Penguins as they’ve won three straight games. J.T. Miller netted his 30th goal of the season for the Canucks (38-16-7) as they remain first overall with 83 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Penguins announced that winger Bryan Rust is sidelined week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

A five-goal third period carried the Philadelphia Flyers over the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2. Travis Sanheim and Noah Cates each had a goal and an assist for the Flyers (31-22-7) as they sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 69 points. The 32-24-5 Lightning hold the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 69 points, four ahead of the New Jersey Devils.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Flyers announced defensemen Jamie Drysdale and Rasmus Ristolainen are week-to-week with upper-body injuries. Winger Travis Konecny (upper body) is listed as day-to-day.

Speaking of the Devils, they cruised to a 7-2 drubbing of the San Jose Sharks. Nico Hischier had a goal and three assists while Jack Hughes had a goal and two assists for the 30-25-4 Devils while San Jose sank to 15-37-5. They also lost goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood as he left the game with an injury in the first period.

Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane collected two assists to extend his points streak to nine games as his club trounced the Washington Capitals 8-3. Shayne Gostisbehere tallied twice for the surging Red Wings (33-20-6) as they picked up their sixth straight win and hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 72 points.

The Calgary Flames kept their playoff hopes alive by doubling up the Los Angeles Kings 4-2 to pick up their fourth straight win. Yegor Sharangovich snapped a 2-2 tie in the third period for the 29-25-5 Flames (63 points) as they sit five points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot. Kevin Fiala had a goal and an assist for the Kings (29-19-10) as they cling to the first Western wild-card spot with 68 points

Meanwhile, the Nashville Predators maintained their hold on that final Western wild-card berth by defeating the Ottawa Senators 4-1. Roman Josi and Gustav Nyquist each had three points for the 33-25-2 Predators (68 points) as they picked up their sixth straight win. The Senators dropped to 25-29-3 while center Josh Norris left the game with an apparent shoulder injury in the second period.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: According to NHL.com, the Senators were outshot 19-0 in the third period.

Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal had a goal and an assist to lead his club to a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild. The Hurricanes improved to 35-18-6 and sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 76 points. The Wild slipped to 28-15-6 and are six points out of the final Western wild-card berth.

The Montreal Canadiens handed the Arizona Coyotes their 13th straight defeat (0-11-2) by a score of 4-2. Sam Montembeault stopped 36 shots while Joel Armia and Jordan Harris had a goal and an assist for the 23-28-8 Canadiens as they ended a five-game losing skid. The Coyotes dropped to 23-30-5.

Winnipeg Jets center Sean Monahan had a goal and an assist in a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Josh Morrissey and Nikolaj Ehlers each collected two assists as the Jets (37-15-5) moved into first place in the Central Division with 79 points. With a record of 30-26-2, the Blues (62 points) are six points behind the Predators for that final Western wild-card spot.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Jets, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was in Winnipeg on Tuesday. He dismissed the notion that the club could relocate after team owner Mark Chipman last week expressed concern over their declining season-ticket sales.

The Jets have the second-lowest average attendance this season (13,306), drawing 87.4 percent of Canada Life Centre’s 15, 225 capacity.

At the time, Chipman said the Jets had to get back to a season-ticket base of 13,000 each year after sales dropped to 9,500 for 2023-24. “This place we find ourselves in right now, it’s not going to work over the long haul. It just isn’t,” he said.

Bettman suggested Chipman was referring to the club’s ability to compete and win the Stanley Cup rather than the viability of remaining in Winnipeg. He believes Winnipeg is a strong hockey market and cited the financial commitments that ownership has made to the team, its arena and the downtown area.

“If the team is going to have the resources and the ability to compete at the highest level, and to spend at the cap, as they have, it’s important for the building to be full,” said Bettman. He felt their current difficulties are simply part of the growing pains clubs occasionally endure and is confident that they will adjust.

WINNIPEG SUN: Paul Friesen noted that Chipman walked back his comments from last week that generated so much emotion and concern over the Jets’ future. The Jets owner acknowledged the club screwed up with its rigid policies, admitting it must win back the fans’ trust.

Friesen also included a sampling of the fans’ complaints, most of which centered on the perception that ownership was out of touch with the fans and took them for granted. High prices for parking and concessions, indifferent customer service from the arena staff and sales department, and last spring’s season-ticket ad campaign referencing the original Jets that came across as a veiled threat were among the issues raised.

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: Before Bettman’s journey to Winnipeg, Mike McIntyre did a detailed examination of how things reached this point for the Jets. He felt there was no reason to panic about the team relocating but pointed out that economics was behind this situation.

McIntyre noted the decline in the Jets season-ticket sales, including a waitlist of reportedly 8,000 that has dried up. He cites many of the same factors as Friesen, as well as the rising cost of living, economic downturn, and the club’s erratic performance in recent years.

He also pointed out the Jets lack corporate support, with just 15 percent accounting for their season-ticket sales. That’s well below the other six Canadian markets, where businesses make up between 45 and 85 percent of the base.

THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates examined ways the Jets can win back their fans. He believes they must generate more substantial corporate support and prioritize individuals, families and friends of groups that buy tickets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ve noted all this because Chipman’s remarks last week raised concerns about the Jets’ future, not just in Winnipeg but around the league. It also drew plenty of comments last Saturday when I reposted my 2011 Soapbox article expressing concerns for the franchise following its relocation.

While the club isn’t in danger of moving to a new city, there’s no question that the attendance issue garnered attention at NHL headquarters. Hence the commissioner’s attempt to reassure the fans while also meeting with the club’s corporate sponsors to drum up more support.

Bettman’s comments about the requirement for a full arena are no different from those he made in 2011 when the Jets relocated to Winnipeg from Atlanta. For a decade, that wasn’t an issue. It’s become a problem now, one that the team’s owner took public and the league commissioner had to address.

Playing in the NHL’s smallest market and the second-smallest arena, the Jets continue to face more challenges than other Canadian franchises. Over time, it could prove difficult for individual fans or families to keep up with the increasing fan cost index especially if the cost of living continues to rise. Improved corporate support will be crucial going forward.

Jets fans are passionate about their team. If the issues they raised are suitably addressed by the club’s ownership, the season-ticket sales should improve and the Jets should regularly sell out their arena once again.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 24, 2024

by | Feb 24, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 24, 2024

Recaps of Friday’s game, concern over the declining attendance at Jets games, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Kyle Connor gave the Winnipeg Jets a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Jets took the lead on two goals by Nikolaj Ehlers but the Blackhawks forced the extra frame on goals by Colin Blackwell and Tyler Johnson. Josh Morrissey collected three assists while Connor Hellebucyk made 33 saves for the 35-15-5 Jets, who sit second in the Central Division with 75 points. Petr Mrazek stopped 28 shots for the 15-39-4 Blackhawks.

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Winnipeg and the Colorado Avalanche have the same amount of points but the Jets have three games in hand.

The Minnesota Wild doubled up the Edmonton Oilers 4-2. Matt Boldy scored twice while Filip Gustavsson kicked out 41 shots (including 23 in the third period) as the Wild improved to 27-24-6 (60 points) to sit two points behind the St. Louis Blues for the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Oilers captain Connor McDavid picked up two assists to extend his home points streak to 21 games. With a record of 33-19-2, the Oilers sit third in the Pacific Division with 68 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild played without defenseman Zach Bogosian as he’s out for at least a week with an upper-body injury.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Connor Clifton’s first goal of the season was the game-winner in a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Zemgus Girgensons also scored while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 25 shots for the 26-27-4 Sabres. Daniil Tarasov made 35 saves while Dmitri Voronkov tallied for the 18-28-10 Blue Jackets.

HEADLINES

THE ATHLETIC: Winnipeg Jets owner Mark Chipman sounded the alarm over his club’s declining attendance, pointing out their season-ticket base is under 9,500 after being at 13,000 three years ago.

Chipman stressed the urgency of returning to 13,000. “This place we find ourselves in right now, it’s not going to work over the long haul. It just isn’t.”

The club’s average attendance this season is 13,306. That’s 87.4 percent capacity of the 15,225-season Canada Life Centre. That’s the third-lowest in the league this season, with just four sellouts thus far.

Chipman said the Jets are trying to win back its fans. He admitted that their “Forever Winnipeg” market campaign last year upset people by raising concerns over the club’s future. “Because of the history, it’s a bit of a tinderbox,” he said, referring to the relocation of the original Jets to Arizona in 1996.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The situation has become so serious that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is traveling to Winnipeg next week to stump for more corporate support for the Jets.

Chipman’s remarks have some observers concerned for the Jets’ future in Winnipeg while others remain steadfast that this city won’t lose its club a second time. Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Murat Ates believes the franchise not only needs to do a better job attracting corporate support but also that of individual fans who’ve felt the club has taken their goodwill for granted.

I raised concerns about these issues and more facing the Jets back when they relocated to Winnipeg from Atlanta in 2011. I’ve reposted that article in the Soapbox section as I believe most of the points I brought up remain valid today.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Speaking of the original Jets, the president and CEO of the Arizona Coyotes insists the team will not be sold. As the club continues to seek a new location in the Phoenix area for a new arena, Xavier Gutierrez said team owner Alex Meruelo has no plans to sell the team.

“We are committed to being here, and every action we have taken has shown that”, said Gutierrez.

ARIZONA SPORTS: While on the topic of the Coyotes, they placed forward Adam Ruzicka on unconditional waivers on Friday for the purpose of terminating his contract. This move arose after Ruzicka posted a video to Instagram showing a white substance that appeared to be cocaine on a plate beside a credit card. He also showed off a vial of the substance.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Here’s hoping Ruzicka makes use of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program to get the help that he needs.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: On Thursday, the Blue Jackets traded Emil Bemstrom to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for minor-league forward Alex Nylander and a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Washington Capitals placed center Nic Dowd on injured reserve and called up forward Hendrix Lapierre.

Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils placed forward Nathan Bastian on injured reserve.

CBS SPORTS: Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (upper body) is also on IR.

TSN: Former NHL defenseman Jean-Guy Talbot passed away at age 91. He spent 17 seasons in the league with the Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota North Stars and Buffalo Sabres from 1954-55 to 1970-71.

Talbot spent 13 seasons with the Canadiens, winning seven Stanley Cups, including five in a row from 1955-56 to 1959-60. He had 43 goals and 285 points in 1,056 career regular-season games and 30 points in 150 playoff contests.

Talbot also served as a head coach with the Blues from 1972 to 1974 and with the New York Rangers in 1977-78.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Talbot’s family, friends and former teammates.










Revisiting My Concerns Regarding The Winnipeg Jets’ Future

by | Feb 24, 2024

Revisiting My Concerns Regarding The Winnipeg Jets’ Future

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The following was written on May 31, 2011, following the rebirth of the Winnipeg Jets following the sale and relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers. I felt it worthwhile to revisit this piece after Jets owner Mark Chipman raised concerns earlier this week about the club’s declining attendance.

I didn’t foresee a pandemic and the resulting inflation that would affect the Jets’ ticket sales. Nevertheless, most of the issues I mentioned remain relevant.

I’m not trying to say “I told you so” and I’m not taking any kind of victory lap here. I wanted this incarnation of the Jets to succeed and I still do. However, my worries then (and now) are genuine and relevant because of Winnipeg’s place as the NHL’s smallest market.

I’m interested in what you think about this situation. Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section below.

Winnipeg Jets owner Mark Chipman (NHL Images).

The sale of the Atlanta Thrashers to True North Sports and Entertainment and the relocation of the team to Winnipeg, Manitoba, resulted in euphoria in a city that was getting back NHL hockey fifteen years after their beloved Jets were sold and relocated to Phoenix in 1996

Since then, hockey fans in that city and province dreamed of the day when an NHL franchise might return. What at one time seemed a mere pipe dream finally became reality, and they have every right to enjoy the moment.

Long-time readers of my work – either on this blog, my website, or my Foxsports.com column – know I have expressed serious doubts over the long-term viability of an NHL franchise in Winnipeg.

I know how much Manitobans in general, and Winnipeggers in particular, love hockey, and remember well how much heartbreak there was when the beloved Jets were sold and moved to Phoenix.

It’s been said an NHL franchise in Winnipeg would enjoy considerable fan and corporate support, that it would do so much better than any struggling southern U.S. team, and this time would buck the odds and silence doubters like me.

I don’t wish any ill will toward Winnipeg or Manitoba, and genuinely hope they’ll beat the odds this time around that the league will never abandon Winnipeg again. I am happy for everyone in Manitoba that you’re getting back an NHL franchise and wish them and their team the very best of luck

I’m not trying to rain on the parade, folks, but the questions I’ve raised over the years remain unanswered.

Can a city whose current metropolitan population (just over 764,000) accounts for over half the total population of the province (just over 1.2 million) – making it the smallest market in the league by a wide margin – sustain an NHL franchise for a prolonged period?

Can it continue to do so if that population grows by the same level (just over 70K) over the next fifteen years as it did over the last fifteen?

What proof is there Winnipeg fans will support their new franchise if it continues to struggle through the same level of mediocrity it did in Atlanta? It’s one thing for fans to say it, it’s another to put your money where your mouth is.

The high cost of attending games should be a serious concern for Winnipeg hockey fans.

The average fan cost index (FCI) for a family of four to attend an NHL game this season was $313.68. The lowest for a Canadian team was $328.92 (Ottawa), while the cost in the smallest market (Edmonton), with the smallest venue, was $346.46.

True North Sports and Entertainment chairman Mark Chipman has said the size of the MTS Centre means they’ll have to charge higher-than-average ticket prices for NHL games. TSN reports ticket prices for the franchise’s first season will be between $39 – $129 per game, with the average ticket price next season being $82.00, the third highest in the NHL, which could push the total FCI up toward $370.00 per game.

Over time, that expensive cost of attending NHL games could adversely affect attendance, especially season ticket sales – the lifeblood of NHL franchises – regardless of the team’s performance.

Just how prepared are Winnipeg and Manitoba hockey fans for that sticker shock?

How willing could fans be to pay higher than the league average consistently?

Are they willing to keep pace with the ever-increasing costs of attending NHL games? Can they afford it over the long term?

And don’t expect those prices to remain stagnant, or to make only tiny increases in the coming years. They’re only going to go higher, pushing the FCI up with it.

If attendance suffers from a higher-than-average FCI, will True North lower prices to attract more fans? And by how much? Is it even feasible for True North to do so?

Chipman has also said the player payroll will likely be in the mid-range of the salary cap. Wouldn’t that adversely affect management’s efforts to maintain a competitive team?

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets have been near the upper range of the salary cap several times, including this season.

For how long can a Winnipeg franchise continue to remain a “mid-range” salary cap team?

Would it be able to keep up with a rising salary cap if it remains tied to revenue under the next CBA?

Doesn’t that suggest the risk of reaching the point where they could struggle to remain over the mandated salary cap minimum?

Wouldn’t that raise concerns regarding the club’s ability to retain its best players, or attract top free-agent talent?

Back in April, when it appeared the Phoenix Coyotes would be moved to Winnipeg, goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, projected as the best goalie potentially available in this summer’s free-agent market, said he’d refuse to follow the club there.

Could Winnipeg prove unattractive to NHL free agents, regardless of how well the club performs in the coming years?

Chipman has previously said the MTS Centre cannot be expanded, meaning at some point – likely ten-fifteen years from now – a new arena with more seating capacity (over 18,000) might have to be built.

How long can the MTS Centre (now Canada Life Centre) remain a suitable venue for an NHL team before True North Sports and Entertainment starts suggesting they need a bigger one?

Sure, they could build a new venue with their own money. Billionaire David Thomson, who owns True North Sports and Entertainment, is not just one of the richest men in Canada, but also in the world.

But it must be remembered the Edmonton Oilers are also owned by a billionaire. Yet, he’s not picking up the full tab for the construction of a new arena while Quebec City and the province of Quebec are fully funding the cost for a new arena so that another billionaire – Quebecor’s Pierre-Karl Peladeau – can bid for an NHL team.

How do we know True North Sports and Entertainment will build a new venue entirely with their own money?

What if they could request the municipal and/or provincial government fund part or all of the cost of a new arena? How much would that cost?

Would a majority of Winnipeg fans support the idea of their tax dollars funding that enterprise?

Finally, the most troubling question: what will happen to a Winnipeg franchise if the value of the Canadian dollar declines?

Most Winnipeg supporters love to point to the strength of the Canadian dollar as a key reason why their city can better support an NHL franchise, and why it makes more sense for the league to have a seventh franchise – or more – in Canada.

Yet whenever it is suggested the value of the “loonie” could decline within the next ten years, those same supporters either change the subject or blithely dismiss it with the audacious claim the Canadian dollar won’t significantly decline again.

It was only nine years ago the Canadian dollar was worth roughly .61 cents US. It had gotten so low that MacLean’s magazine featured a cover story suggesting Canada should adopt the American dollar as its official currency.

The “loonie” rose significantly from 2002 to 2008, topping out at one point at $1.07 US, but in the aftermath of the global economic collapse of late 2008, the value of the “loonie” plunged by March 2009 to .77 cents US.

The Canadian dollar has since recovered and as of January 2011 has been at or over par with the American dollar.

Given these fluctuations, why isn’t there more concern over an eventual decline in the value of the Canadian dollar and the potential impact on a small-market Canadian team like Winnipeg?

Granted, it could take years to fully answer those questions. Still, it would be nice to know what the contingency plans are if the value of “loonie” goes into a steep decline, if attendance suffers due to high prices and/or a mediocre product, if ownership demands government assistance in constructing a bigger arena, if the Winnipeg market struggles to keep up with its bigger market peers, and if the club cannot afford to retain their best talent or attract top caliber free agents.

As long as those questions go unanswered, I fear Winnipeg could in fifteen or twenty years face the prospect of once again losing their NHL team, and as much as it hurt the last time, the next time could be much more painful.

Perhaps the biggest question that needs to be asked is, what assurances can the NHL and True North Sports and Entertainment give the hockey fans of Winnipeg and Manitoba that they won’t face the heartbreak of losing their team again?

Until those questions are suitably answered, I intend to keep asking them.