Winnipeg Set To Regain Old Team Name

Looks like the old Winnipeg Jets are back in town, as if nothing had happened.

However, a lot HAS happened.  In 1996, the franchise that was the Winnipeg Jets packed up and left the country, moving to Phoenix and renaming themselves the Coyotes.

Prior to that, Winnipeg found it difficult to support an NHL franchise in a time when NHL's operating costs were skyrocketing.  Expansion in the United States drove up player salaries and the exchange rate put Canada at a disadvantage.  They had to pay American salaries, but collect revenue in Canadian money (when the exchange rate was $1.40 Canadian for every American dollar). Winnipeg was also the second smallest market in the NHL at the time.

The financial situation is much different now for Winnipeg.  First of all, the last collective bargaining agreement in the NHL established a salary cap, with salaries based on league revenues to keep costs under control.  And, perhaps more importantly, the American Dollar is now less valuable than the Canadian (roughly 1 American Dollar for every 0.94 Canadian).

Winnipeg was able to name their team the Jets because the NHL owns the rights to the Phoenix Coyotes and the Jets name itself.  They've made it known that they'd have no objection to Winnipeg taking the name back.

Welcome back to the NHL, Winnipeg Jets!!