by Chris Billowsin Jets Flight Control0 commentstags: Atlanta Thrashers Relocation, Jets Goalie Stats
On May 31, 2011 the Atlanta Thrashers were sold to True North Sports & Entertainment. Within weeks a new management structure was hired and developed a plan to build a competitive team. The Atlanta Thrashers were a mediocre hockey team. From 1999-2000 to 2010-2011, they accumulated a winning % of 0.379 (342 wins out of 902 games), made the Stanley Cup playoffs only once, and were dispatched during those playoffs in the first round not even winning a single game. Games Played Wins Losses Ties OT Losses 902 342 437 45 78 The new Winnipeg Jets 2.0 would be built on a hockey team that did not have much to be proud of. True North acquired a team that were just one step above an expansion franchise. Winnipeg and Manitoba adopted the team enthusiastically despite the team’s past performance. For the sake of posterity and to begin analyzing how Jets Management has attended to the team here is a list of the Atlanta Thrashers skaters (ranked by point totals) and goalies (ranked by games played) for the 2010-11 season. NS Player Pos GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW OT Shots 1 X Andrew Ladd L 81 29 […]
by Chris Billowsin Jets Flight Control0 commentstags: Atlanta Thrashers Relocation
Welcome to my personal dedication to the Winnipeg Jets. I love hockey and I love sports statistics. I am combining the two in my blog that looks at insightful new ways of seeing how the Management of the Jets (Mark Chipman & Co.) are doing with advancing to the Stanley Cup. I firmly believe that a sports franchise is only as good as its Ownership and Management. When Mark Chipman & David Thompson purchased the Atlanta Thrashers, they inherited some building blocks but the franchise was disorganized and listless. They have spent the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons evaluating the team all the while trying to put a competitive team on the ice. This blog will look at different aspects of the Winnipeg Jets from its drafting record, its player performances, and how the team compares to when it operated as the Atlanta Thrashers. Thanks for checking this site out.
by Chris Billowsin Jets Flight Control0 commentstags: Jets Logo
So, the Jets have finally returned… they played their first regular season game yesterday vs the oldest and most successful NHL franchise, the Montreal Canadiens. It was fifteen years of planning and waiting. While the Jets lost, it was still excellent hockey and an enjoyable game. Well, I have come around to accepting the Jets name since True North did not pick the Mosquitoes name like I wanted them to. But the biggest reason why I like Jets 2.0 is because of the new logo and what is symbolizes. I really like it because it is very classic era. It borrows from the same kind of assumed imagery as the Red Wings, Canadiens, Bruins, and Blackhawks. All of these logos do not have their city name pasted on them. The symbol is expected to say it all just as you know that the Red Wings symbol stood for Detroit. It implies knowledge. The Jets 2.0 logo follows that tradition and I commend it. This means it stays away from the recent NHL cartoon logos that have been fun, but have lowered the cache and majesty of the NHL in the past two decades such as the Panthers, Lightning, Blue Jackets, […]
by Chris Billowsin Jets Flight Control0 commentstags: Humor
I grew up being a Winnipeg NHL hockey fan. I ceased to be one when the Winnipeg Jets left in 1996. I never became a fan of the Manitoba Moose, just because I never found the level of hockey to be too exciting and cheering for a team that had its best players called up to the majors did not appeal to me. So, I am pleased that Winnipeg and Manitoba is getting the Atlanta Thrashers franchise. The fact that season tickets sold out and a wait list was created really demonstrates that Manitoba is pretty hungry for NHL hockey. There is lots of opinion that they will be called the Jets, possibly the Manitoba Jets to create a separation from the old franchise. Personally, I say let the Jets name go. I was a Winnipeg NHL fan, but thought that the Jets stunk. From 1979 to 1996 they posted a pathetic 0.378 winning record. While they had some exciting players, they were haunted by a culture of mediocrity. It continues to this day with the team in Phoenix. So, I say we rename the team to something fresh and unique. Something that captures some defining element of Manitoba, namely […]
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