There is “plenty of worry right now when it comes to the future of the Jets," but the circumstances “are much, much different than they were" when the Jets left Winnipeg in 1996, according to Mike McIntyre of the WINNIPEG FREE PRESS. The Jets’ attendance has “taken a nose-dive this season,” which is “raising alarm bells within the league’s head office.” Speculation and consternation are “running wild in a market that has already lost the Jets once before only to get a second chance,” and a visit from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman today is “only adding to the anxiety.” However, Jets co-owner & Chair Mark Chipman “fought hard to get the NHL back,” and it is “hard to imagine him waving the white flag and allowing hockey history to repeat itself here without a significant fight.” The Jets are currently 36-15-5, second in the Central Division, third in the Western Conference, which “should help the cause.” The team and the league are “trying to strike while the iron is hot,” as it would be a “much harder sell if the Jets were struggling on the ice.” Shoring up the organizational foundation "now, rather than waiting for the team’s fortunes to take a turn, makes sense.” The team “absolutely is being treated differently than the Coyotes,” as Bettman and the league will “clearly fight tooth and nail to hold on to" the Phoenix market. Winnipeg “doesn’t get the same luxury.” The Jets have played 11 home games since Christmas and drawn an average of 14,320 fans, so they “appear to be trending in the right direction” (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 2/26).
ONE MORE CHANCE: In Toronto, Steve Simmons wrote if the NHL “can’t sustain itself in Winnipeg,” then Bettman will “have no choice but to move the team to one of the many American cities that could.” The Jets have the “wealthiest owner in the NHL.” But losing money and trending in the wrong direction “isn’t the way to go.” While Bettman has “fought for Edmonton and Calgary before,” fans are “not sure he has it in him to do it one more time in Canada” (TORONTO STAR, 2/25).
