Bill Daly discusses Coyotes, Thrashers, Winnipeg

[WJG]

illegalcurve.com/2010/11/27/illegal-curve-hockey-show-1127-part-1/

7:28 – Interview with NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly (Coyotes ownership, Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg as a potential NHL destination, suspension duration, CBA discussions, Olympics & World Cup)

Recap:
Coyotes - Hulsizer is in the final stages (Daly hopes) of completing a lease agreement with the City of Glendale. He hopes the deal can be completed by the end of the calender year.
Thrashers - Building location not ideal, but the building is obviously not moving. NHL needs to look at the long term prospects and viability of the franchise - if determined that it cannot be successful, then "something will have to be done".
Winnipeg - Believes Winnipeg may be an NHL-ready market. MTSC, CBA and Canadian dollar all working in our favor.

[DKehler]

Not a whole lot new here. In fact, I didn't get the warm and fuzzies from Daly about Winnipeg being a NHL market "right now". "We would have to look at it, but we believe it could be."

And I was disappointed that I Winnipeg-based show would ask only one softball question about Winnipeg's NHL prospects.

[wpgmikos]

Nov 27, 2010 18:54:13 GMT -5 DKehler said:

And I was disappointed that a Winnipeg-based show would ask only one softball question about Winnipeg's NHL prospects.

The issue is that you are really limited in what sort of questions you can ask. Sure you can ask "hard ball" questions but Daly isn't a neophyte, he knows how to skillfully deflect those types of questions.

I did think that his comment about the Thrashers was interesting;

When asked on today’s show about the market potential of the city of Atlanta:

“I would acknowledge that Atlanta historically has been a difficult sports market, and I can’t exactly put my finger on it as to why that’s been the case. You make good points when you point to the fact that the Atlanta Braves make the playoffs 13 consecutive years in baseball, where it is a little more difficult to make the playoffs. And they are having difficulty selling out their home playoff games, which, you would think in most markets is unheard of. So, Atlanta has proven to be a very difficult market.”

“Again, it might be a situation where the building location isn’t ideal in that market, and if it was built in a different location within the Atlanta Metropolitan location, it might be drawing better. But those are all issues that are important issues, obviously the building is not moving. We’re going to have to look at the long term prospects of that franchise, and if the determination is made that it can’t make it there, and can’t be successful there, then something will have to be done.”

illegalcurve.com/2010/11/27/illegal-curve-hockey-show-1127-part-1/

While I know most Peggers' would be happiest if the Yotes' came back to the Peg', what are the feelings about the Thrashers?

[Domi]

Yeah, he didn't seem to really give Atlanta much of a chance of surviving (at least not in the language I would have expected). He certainly opened the door to Atlanta being relocated.

Even his defense of Phoenix was fairly weak. He just repeated the same things we've heard, and everything had the word "hope" in front of it.

But of course Daly out-right lied when he said that Phoenix sold-out every night for the first 4 years in phoenix. I'm sick of that lie. The seating capacity of the US Airway Center for hockey is 18,000, it was reduced to 16,200 after the first season because of poor sight lines. But Phoenix never averaged that in "announced" crowds. The average attendance in those years peaked at 15,604, but dropped to 14,991. No sell-out years EVER. OK, rant over.

[pegger5]

That was the most negative thing I have heard about Atlanta from Daly. This bodes well if Yotes fall through.

[DKehler]

Nov 27, 2010 19:37:28 GMT -5 wpgmikos said:

Nov 27, 2010 18:54:13 GMT -5 DKehler said:

And I was disappointed that a Winnipeg-based show would ask only one softball question about Winnipeg's NHL prospects.

The issue is that you are really limited in what sort of questions you can ask. Sure you can ask "hard ball" questions but Daly isn't a neophyte, he knows how to skillfully deflect those types of questions.

I did think that his comment about the Thrashers was interesting;

When asked on today’s show about the market potential of the city of Atlanta:

“I would acknowledge that Atlanta historically has been a difficult sports market, and I can’t exactly put my finger on it as to why that’s been the case. You make good points when you point to the fact that the Atlanta Braves make the playoffs 13 consecutive years in baseball, where it is a little more difficult to make the playoffs. And they are having difficulty selling out their home playoff games, which, you would think in most markets is unheard of. So, Atlanta has proven to be a very difficult market.”

“Again, it might be a situation where the building location isn’t ideal in that market, and if it was built in a different location within the Atlanta Metropolitan location, it might be drawing better. But those are all issues that are important issues, obviously the building is not moving. We’re going to have to look at the long term prospects of that franchise, and if the determination is made that it can’t make it there, and can’t be successful there, then something will have to be done.”

illegalcurve.com/2010/11/27/illegal-curve-hockey-show-1127-part-1/

While I know most Peggers' would be happiest if the Yotes' came back to the Peg', what are the feelings about the Thrashers?

I realize that you need to be diplomatic if you want to ever talk to guys like Daly again. Are you saying that he told you in advance what kind of questions he would answer, or are you saying that you "self-limited" based on your own judgment? For example, it would have been nice if somebody had said something along the lines of, "Mr. Daly, you have been quoted that if you were a Winnipegger hoping for the return of the NHL, you would remain hopeful and you advised patience. However, you have also said that expansion is not on the NHL's agenda in the short to medium term. So where does that leave things in terms of when Winnipeggers might expect to have a team of their own again?"

The Atlanta comments were interesting, yes, but certainly are ambiguous enough to not excite me. "Something might have to be done" certainly doesn't give any sort of timeframe as to when that may happen or what that might entail.

As for a team, my preference would be to get our old franchise back, but I will take what I can get.

[dhildeb1]

Lebrun said on after 40 that the Board of Governors will NOT vote on Hulsizer at the next meeting.

[wagner3]

Nov 27, 2010 19:48:41 GMT -5 Domi said:

Yeah, he didn't seem to really give Atlanta much of a chance of surviving (at least not in the language I would have expected). He certainly opened the door to Atlanta being relocated.

Even his defense of Phoenix was fairly weak. He just repeated the same things we've heard, and everything had the word "hope" in front of it.

But of course Daly out-right lied when he said that Phoenix sold-out every night for the first 4 years in phoenix. I'm sick of that lie. The seating capacity of the US Airway Center for hockey is 18,000, it was reduced to 16,200 after the first season because of poor sight lines. But Phoenix never averaged that in "announced" crowds. The average attendance in those years peaked at 15,604, but dropped to 14,991. No sell-out years EVER. OK, rant over.

that's "announced attendance"...actual attendance and paid tickets has been about 12K for all years on average...

[wagner3]

strong statement re thrashers...so it looks like coyotes or thrashers hopefully in 2011...i'd prefer the coyotes and prefer the name Winnipeg Jets, but any nhl team would be great!

thrashers aren't just going to move...usually the pr ground has to be set a little first...is this the first of it...a hint by the nhl that all is not well in atlanta...

[Domi]

Another very positive from the interview was how Daly absolutely supported the Winnipeg hockey market. Absolutely nothing but praise. I still can't believe I'm hearing the NHL discuss Winnipeg so often and so positively. Boy how times have changed!

[selanne405]

If it is Atlanta I dont know if its realistic to expect them here for 2011 unless we start hearing something more real soon.

[DKehler]

Nov 27, 2010 21:46:01 GMT -5 Domi said:

Another very positive from the interview was how Daly absolutely supported the Winnipeg hockey market. Absolutely nothing but praise. I still can't believe I'm hearing the NHL discuss Winnipeg so often and so positively. Boy how times have changed!

Honestly, it wasn't that much of an endorsement. Sure, it's better than "it will never happen", but it's pretty far from "yes, there will definitely be a team in Winnipeg soon".

[rainmanrh]

Nov 27, 2010 22:01:02 GMT -5 selanne405 said:

If it is Atlanta I dont know if its realistic to expect them here for 2011 unless we start hearing something more real soon.

The NHL will not throw the existing owner under the bus. The deal can done months before it's announced. I wouldn't expect it to be announced until ATL is finished for the season (or close to it if they are unlikely to make the playoffs).

[Douggy-D]

Nov 27, 2010 21:34:42 GMT -5 @wagner3 said:

Nov 27, 2010 19:48:41 GMT -5 Domi said:

Yeah, he didn't seem to really give Atlanta much of a chance of surviving (at least not in the language I would have expected). He certainly opened the door to Atlanta being relocated.

Even his defense of Phoenix was fairly weak. He just repeated the same things we've heard, and everything had the word "hope" in front of it.

But of course Daly out-right lied when he said that Phoenix sold-out every night for the first 4 years in phoenix. I'm sick of that lie. The seating capacity of the US Airway Center for hockey is 18,000, it was reduced to 16,200 after the first season because of poor sight lines. But Phoenix never averaged that in "announced" crowds. The average attendance in those years peaked at 15,604, but dropped to 14,991. No sell-out years EVER. OK, rant over.

that's "announced attendance"...actual attendance and paid tickets has been about 12K for all years on average...

Exactly, actual attendance on average through the years is 2500 lower than their announced crowd, so the Coyotes could well have averaged 13,000 asses in the seats at AWA.

[jetsfan88]

I have said it before and I will say it again. It was initially Atlanta. Then the NHL needed us for Phoenix. If MH buys the yotes Atlanta it will be. Bank on it.

[dhildeb1]

I'm wondering: Is it unusual for Daly to talk to media in non-NHL cities?

[WJG]

Nov 27, 2010 22:45:59 GMT -5 dhildeb1 said:

I'm wondering: Is it unusual for Daly to talk to media in non-NHL cities?

I was kind of wondering this as well.

Not taking anything away from the Illegal Curve radio show, but I was a bit surprised that Bill Daly agreed to be on a small time (no offense) sports radio show in Winnipeg.

In any case, it's quite the accomplishment.

[ray9733]

Maybe mh should buy atlanta and move em to quebec when they have new arena that would be better buisness deal for him

[ray9733]

It would also be a better for nhl if winnipeg was to get coyotes all they would have to do is swap colorado and winnpieg in divisions and later on atlanta would evently move to quebec and i am pretty sure they would end up in montreal , leafs , sens division not quite sure who would move out of that division maybe boston?

[wpgmikos]

Nov 27, 2010 20:02:50 GMT -5 DKehler said:

I realize that you need to be diplomatic if you want to ever talk to guys like Daly again. Are you saying that he told you in advance what kind of questions he would answer, or are you saying that you "self-limited" based on your own judgment?

I primarily wrote articles for the site. (although when I'm in-town I'm occasionally on the show). I can ask the guys your questions though. (or you're welcome to post them on IC).

Nov 27, 2010 22:45:59 GMT -5 dhildeb1 said:

I'm wondering: Is it unusual for Daly to talk to media in non-NHL cities?

I don't think it is. He did an interview with Winnipeg Sun's Ted Wynan a few weeks back.