Time to stow smug attitude, Winnipeg

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/04/2012 (5154 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The tweets, texts and emails started flying in shortly after the start of the Florida Panthers/New Jersey Devils game Friday night with Winnipeggers lamenting the fact there were empty seats in Sunrise, Fla.

OK, I get it. Winnipeg is a better market. We’ve known that for years here in our Prairie town and it was galling to have our noses pressed up against the glass while other less deserving markets were in between the ropes.

But now that we have what we want, why not stow the smug attitude? It doesn’t look good on us and it also suggests a little revisionist history on our part. Jets 2.0 may have been a sellout in its first year but Jets 1.0 couldn’t always say the same.

CACTUS PHIL: While we are on the subject of other markets and smug attitudes (yes, I know I have been very smug when writing about Glendale and its city council), let’s turn our attention to the Phoenix Coyotes for a moment. Word broke this week that Glendale councillor Phil Lieberman doesn’t like the deal city council may broker with potential Coyotes buyer Greg Jamison.

“I need all of your help at a council meeting in the very near future,” Lieberman told tea party members. “The city is close to making a deal with Jamison to buy the Coyotes.

“Jamison wants a large fortune from the city and unbelievably four or more of the council members are willing to give him that money because they are in a mad protection of the arena and Westgate.”

Lieberman contends the city would hand over “hundreds of millions” over a 21-year period disguised as a management fee. Paging Darcy Olsen of Goldwater fame. Sorry, that sounds smug doesn’t it?

WEBER OR GIROUX: If I was building an NHL team tomorrow and could have any player in the world to begin, it would be tough to choose between Shea Weber and Claude Giroux. What about Sid? His health makes him a sketchy pick, although I reserve the right to change this call in a year. Right now, however, it’s either Weber or Giroux. Weber is the game’s most dominant all-around blue-liner and Giroux can do it all, as his six points Friday night confirmed. Gotta pick? Weber.

YOU BE THE SCOUT: The Jets passed on Sean Couturier last summer — taking Mark Scheifele instead with the seventh pick in the first round of the entry draft — and there’s been debate about the move ever since. Couturier had 13 goals and 14 assists in 77 regular-season games with the Philadelphia Flyers and picked up three goals in Friday night’s 8-5 shocker over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Scheifele, meanwhile, stuck with the Jets for seven games, scoring one goal before being sent back to junior where he picked up 23 goals and 40 assists for the Barrie Colts. Those willing to rush to judgement will say Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff made the wrong pick, but he didn’t select the player he thought would be NHL ready first. Cheveldayoff’s first move with the Jets typifies what he’s all about and that’s the long-term plan. Couturier may still end up being the better player but one won’t be able to make a fair assessment for some time, likely four or five years.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @garylawless