FP: Will you be a cap team now?
MC: It's certainly far more conceivable now. We won't be this year as our contracts are all in place. But this summer when we go into free agency we won't have the same restrictions we had placed on ourselves. I say that all with the understanding that this isn't all about spending money. What the new CBA does is give us an opportunity to invest in the augmentation of our team when it makes the most amount of sense. The objective is still to build out of the draft. The teams that have succeeded and won Stanley Cups, look at the Kings, that team was drafted and developed and then they added some important pieces to the puzzle like Mike Richards to push them through. I wouldn't want people to thing just because we're in a better place that it's like we got a bonus cheque and are now going to go out and buy a new car or new wardrobe. We'll invest in the building and fan experience and all those things.
FP: How did you feel when you were invited by commissioner Gary Bettman to get involved in negotiations?
MC: Humbled. Curious as to why. It was more a reflection of how the league views our organization and our community. The league was really taken by how Winnipeg supported the NHL. Our market, our city and our organization is looked upon as something that matters. They are happy they are back in Winnipeg.
FP: Last year Zach Parise was on the market. Did you make a pitch? This summer, if there's a top free agent on the market will the Jets make an offer?
MC: No, we didn't make a bid on that player. We knew where that one was going to land and it didn't fit our model. Will we participate? Yes but it will depend on who that player is and what our needs are. If there are guys that can get us to the next level, absolutely we'll be involved.
Weird. Chevy had actually stated they had made a run at Parise, but the reply was simply, "thanks, but no thanks."
Weird. Chevy had actually stated they had made a run at Parise, but the reply was simply, "thanks, but no thanks."
FP: Some people say if the Canadian dollar plummets to 80 cents the Jets will be in financial trouble.
MC: That's not true. The whole revenue share model mitigates the vast majority of a swing in currency for us. That's one thing we studied very carefully.
Awesome interview.
Had a nice discussion with a Flames fan on my flight from Calgary -> Winnipeg two days ago.
He wagered we'd always be a bottom 6 team, people never wanting to play in Wpg etc...
Had to school him on our organization a bit.
Awesome interview.
Had a nice discussion with a Flames fan on my flight from Calgary -> Winnipeg two days ago.
He wagered we'd always be a bottom 6 team, people never wanting to play in Wpg etc...
Had to school him on our organization a bit.
This is no surprise to me. Calgarians tend to feel superior to Winnipeggers. I've live with this for almost 12 years now. Luckily, that is no longer the case, especially when it comes to both hockey teams
I get a kick out of guys like this. they mean well but they are working with old information and by that I mean both on Winnipeg and the NHL. It's the new cap era and players are going to go where they are drafted first, eventually where they can get paid, and finally where they can win if they can be that picky. "if" we have the formula right in Winnipeg we can win a championship just as easily as the Rangers, the leafs, and certainly the guys team on the plane with the cowboy boots carrying the big pot while calling the kettle black. right daffy like UFA's are crawling over themselves to live in cowtown with its big city culture to play for the flames
Awesome interview.
Had a nice discussion with a Flames fan on my flight from Calgary -> Winnipeg two days ago.
He wagered we'd always be a bottom 6 team, people never wanting to play in Wpg etc...
Had to school him on our organization a bit.
This is no surprise to me. Calgarians tend to feel superior to Winnipeggers. I've live with this for almost 12 years now. Luckily, that is no longer the case, especially when it comes to both hockey teams
I get a kick out of guys like this. they mean well but they are working with old information and by that I mean both on Winnipeg and the NHL. It's the new cap era and players are going to go where they are drafted first, eventually where they can get paid, and finally where they can win if they can be that picky. "if" we have the formula right in Winnipeg we can win a championship just as easily as the Rangers, the leafs, and certainly the guys team on the plane with the cowboy boots carrying the big pot while calling the kettle black. right daffy like UFA's are crawling over themselves to live in cowtown with its big city culture to play for the flames