True North wouldn't own Jets' team history
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly provided a glimpse into the name game of Winnipeg’s new NHL franchise, Thursday.
Daly, in town for meetings with True North Sports and Entertainment, saw some of the possibilities for the team name, but wouldn’t divulge them.
“I know a little bit more today than I knew yesterday,” Daly said. “But I don’t think that decision’s been made, yet. Part of the presentation today was going through the team identity and the possibilities there. Mark (Chipman) still has a lot of good options in that regard.”
While the NHL owns the Jets name and is willing to give it to Chipman, the chair of True North, Daly points out the team’s competitive history, including team and individual records, belongs to the Phoenix Coyotes.
“One of his concerns about the Jets’ name and identity is that he really doesn’t own his history,” Daly explained. “The Phoenix Coyotes, if you look in their year book … their franchise records are all players who played for the Jets. And they’ll continue to have that. They maintained those rights when they relocated from market to market.
“He hasn’t indicated that pushes him away in any material way, that’s just a point of fact.”
In the same way, all Winnipeg franchise records will include the history of the Atlanta Thrashers, inglorious as it is.
http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/06/09/true-north-wouldnt-own-jets-team-history