A lot of people argue just that; it's a new team. And so with that should go a new name, a new identity, a new history. I totally understand that argument. Especially since the history and performance records of the Winnipeg Jets now belong to the Phoenix Coyotes. However, and this goes to my point of why they should be named the Jets, and really, nothing else will have fans taking the name to heart more. There's really no need to prove it because if you've been paying attention to the Atlanta/Winnipeg move news at all lately, you might have noticed the people in the streets shouting "Go Jets Go" wearing both Jets jerseys from the 80s and 90s. Some are even lucky enough to have WHA replica jerseys. On a personal note, I had a chance to have one of those back in the early 80s when I was offered a trade for it in exchange for an old guitar. Actually it was the shell of a guitar that a friend of mine at the time wanted to rebuild and then smash on stage (when he finally got his band together)
At any rate, I traded the guitar for a stack of old wrestling magazines (D'OH!)
Actually I don't really regret that exchange, but I sure wish I had that jersey today.
But back to the topic at hand. Another argument is that if the Jets name is reborn it will affect merchandise sales as every Jets fan already have jerseys and hats and scarves and toques, etc. and won't buy any new Jets items. Hogwash! It's very simple. You keep the name and change the colours and tweak the logo. True North Sports and Entertainment will still make a killing on simply re-packaging the Jets name. Not doing away with it. This is the name that Winnipeg hockey fans remember, honor and love to this day as witnessed by the outpouring of emotion and joy related to the Jets name when the official announcement of the Thrashers purchase was made. I and many, many Winnipeggers grew up with the Jets. We bled with the name through all their mediocre seasons and near-impossible playoff runs against the mighty Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier-led Edmonton Oilers.
Another concern is that, as stated, the Winnipeg Jets history now lies with the Phoenix Coyotes and has since the Jets relocated to Arizona in 1996. The Yotes even have banners honoring former Jets players hanging in Jobing.com Arena in Glendale. Although I respect and appreciate the Coyotes organization for recognizing the achievements of these former Jets players, that's also the problem; only one of the names hanging in Glendale actually played for the Coyotes. That would be Teppo Numminen (#27) The rest, Thomas Steen (#25), Bobby Hull (#9) and Dale Hawerchuck (#10) never played a single game for the Phoenix Coyotes. And even Numminen played longer in Winnipeg than in Phoenix (eight years to seven) but he did spend enough time in Phoenix and holds records for a defenceman for that franchise since 1996, so that honor by Phoenix is at least warranted and understandable. But as for the rest, what the hell are they doing there?
When Dale Hawerchuck's number was retired by the Coyotes in 2007, he appeared, proudly, in his Winnipeg Jets jersey and talked very lovingly and favorably about the Jets, the city of Winnipeg and the fans. He kept talking about "the emblem on the front of the jersey" as if they told him not to mention the Jets too much. But as far as ceremonies go, it was pathetic. It should have been done in Winnipeg where it belonged. The Coyotes fans were asleep and I doubt if even less than half of them even knew who they were honoring.
Man, was it great to see him in a Jets jersey again. God bless Ducky, he deserved a better night where he started his career and where he will always be remembered, appreciated and loved. The Jets jersey said it all.
They even hung his jersey in Phoenix colours. WTF!? Shame on the Jets organization for not doing it themselves when he retired, although they did raise a banner celebrating his number of games played and total points tallied in a Jets sweater; but why not make that an official "Dale Hawerchuck #10 Retirement Night?"
As far as that goes, before the puck drops in Winnipeg for the start of the 2011-12 season, the new team should re-retire Hawerchuck's number, this time doing it right in front of Winnipeg fans. The people that deserve to see it. Get the banners back from Phoenix (and the AVCO Cup banners out of storage as well) and hang them where they rightfully should be.
I mean, how would Oilers fans feel if Wayne Gretzky's number was only retired in Los Angeles and not in Edmonton at all? Of course Gretzky's number 99 was retired league-wide, but imagine the disappointment and rage if that happened.
As a commenter said in a post following the video, "I look forward to a much better, more energized and more relevant Dale Hawerchuk Night during the 2011-2012 season."
Damn straight! Wait and see how loud the MTS Centre will be when Hawerchuck walks out onto the ice to set things right.
while they're at it,they can retire the numbers of Paul MacLean or Anders Hedberg (#15) , Ulf Nilsson (#14), Morris Lukowich (#12), Randy Carlyle (#8) and Teemu Selanne (#13)
Another point towards my argument is that even on the Phoenix Coyotes website, they separate the history and stats of career and single-season records of the Coyotes and Jets like they were two different teams. (Just click on the "stats" pull-down menu and click on "all-time stats engine." Then click on the "team" pull-down menu and see how the teams stats-team single-season and career-leaders) Well, that's because they are. They may be the same "franchise," but they are definitely not the same team. Which brings me to an idea. I don't think it's all that crazy either.
If Mark Chipman and True North asked permission from the NHL and the Phoenix Coyotes to retain (or to have back) just the records and stats from the Winnipeg Jets from 1979-1996, then the Jets and Coyotes could have their own records and history and everyone's happy. Especially me. It's not unheard of. It may be precedent-setting in the NHL, but the National Football League did it when the Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore to become the Ravens. The name, colours and records remained with Cleveland and were waiting for them when they returned two years later. Regardless of what happens with the records and history being in Phoenix and Winnipeg being forced to adhere to the NHL edict of not being allowed to reclaim their lost past, I won't consider the Thrashers records as Jets records. That's right, I'm still going to consider Dale Hawerchuck as the Jets all-time points leader (which most likely would have become Teemu Selanne's if he and the Jets didn't part ways) I'm still going to consider Thomas Steen as the all-time games played leader and I'm still going to consider Selanne as the Jets contribution as the NHL rookie goal and points leader in one season.
That's all I'm asking. Anything other than the Jets would be a crime. But of course, all this being said, I will support, love and bleed with the team whatever the new owners see fit to name them. But for the love of God, please don't let it be the Polar Bears, Moose, Blizzard, Gold or whatever other ridiculous name ideas that have been floating around. And I sure hope it's the Winnipeg "somethings." To name them the Manitoba "somethings" although understandable, just wouldn't be right either.
But I'm just happy (ecstatic actually) to get my team back. Oh, and for all those that said Winnipeg would never get an NHL team back...YOU WERE WRONG! EAT IT!!
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