Afternoon Delight

AHN:  Can Winnipeg win?  Chris Mason thinks Jets goaltending can be strong point.  We are hoping that Mason is correct in his quasi self-assessment of Jets goaltending tandem of which he is a part.

Arctic Ice Hockey:  Comparables – Kane and Wheeler.  Using the Snepsts system, the guys over at Arctic Ice look back in history in an attempt to project these Jets possible futures.

Yahoo Sports:  Who is the most efficient GM in the NHL.  Interesting to note that the Jets (as the Thrashers) were Top 5 in the league last year based on this system.

Around the NHL:

Kansas City Star:  The hardest thing to do in sports is move a team.  A really good interview with Luc Robitaille discussing the prospects of the NHL heading to K.C. to play in their first class facility.

Edmonton Journal:  Financial conditions aren’t in place for Canada’s smaller cities.  Staples makes a point that many in Winnipeg could understand:

 If we refuse to invest in the kinds of amenities that will make Edmonton a more vital and attractive city, many people will refuse to invest their lives in this city.

More after the jump including the Sabres as a big-budget team and the Wings could teach lessons on work ethic.

Sportsnet:  Big-budget club.  I’m with Brophy.  Count me as someone who has always been a fan of the Buffalo Sabres and I will be quite interested to see how this new “big dog” (in terms of spending) in the East performs.  Of course the Sabres were part of one of the most memorable (and controversial) Cup Finals ever.

MLive.com:  Several Red Wings start skating informally.  It is work ethic like Lidstrom’s that is part of the reason the Wings have made the playoffs for the last 20 straight seasons.