If the NHL moves a franchise back to Winnipeg, the team won’t be readopting the name of the Jets.
According to SportsLogos.net, citing a “reliable source within True North Sports and Entertainment,” if the NHL does decide to move a franchise back to Winnipeg, the team will be named the Manitoba Moose, not the Winnipeg Jets.
TSN’s Bob McKenzie recently reported that, while it’s still a pretty big “if,” there is a chance that the NHL would look into moving a franchise back to Winnipeg as early as next season.
The Jets, of course, moved to Phoenix in 1996 and became the Coyotes. McKenzie speculated that it may be the Coyotes who end up moving back to Winnipeg, if the league does relocate a franchise.
However, those hoping for a return to the red, white and blue of the Jets will be disappointed as officials are insistent that the Manitoba Moose, a current AHL franchise, remains Winnipeg’s hockey allegiance.
“True North has spent considerable time and money promoting the Moose brand, switching away from that would be like essentially flushing money down the toilet,” the source told the website.
True North Sports and Entertainment owns the MTS Centre, Winnipeg’s current hockey venue which houses the Manitoba Moose, the current AHL affiliate for the Vancouver Canucks. The report also indicated that the team would keep the same color and uniforms if an NHL team were to move back to Winnipeg.
