From: golchowy@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca (Gerald Olchowy)
Subject: Re: Jets ability to sign players surprises NHL (Winnipeg Free Press)
Organization: University of Toronto Chemistry Department
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 14:46:15 GMT

In article <1992Aug31.223611.27762@ccu.umanitoba.ca> kdc@ccu.umanitoba.ca () writes:
> 
>Scott Taylor's column in today's FreeP may be of interest to Jets fans and
>may (though not likely) help dispel some stereotypes that some people have...
>  
>Hockey reporter Bob McKenzie approached Winnipeg Jets general manager Mike 
>Smith in Florida recently with a problem.
> "I find it interesting, Mike, that a lot of teams can't get their players
>  signed and yet you've signed every free agent.  What's the secret?"
>  Smith laughed.
>  It seems the rest of the NHL is starting to notice something and chances
>are they don't like it.
>   "For a long time, we've played with this myth that players don't like to play
>in Winnipeg" Smith said in an interview yesterday.
> "Its still hard for us to put that notion to rest, but from my discussions
> with other gms, I think people are starting to understand that it's a
> ridiculous, absurd belief."
> For years, former GM John Ferguson, Jets' president Barry Shenkarow and Smith
>have maintained playing in Winnipeg has never been a problem enticing players.
>Money is always a problem for the Jets, but it never stood in the way when it
>comes to signing players who "deserve" the cash.  Still, nobody believed them
>Especially many of the Jets own fans.
>  But in the last 6 months, the rest of the NHL has taken notice.  While
>Edmonton failed to sign Damphousse, while New Jersey never did get Sean Burke
>signed after 18 months and while wealthy New York Rangers continue to 
>negotiate with John Vanbiesbrouck and Mike Richter, the tiny, poor Jets have
>signed every free agent and are now turning their efforts to option-year players
>

It's easy to sign players when the team hasn't had any playoff
success...just wait until you win a few playoff games...and everybody
begins thinking they are million dollar hockey players...including
the grinders, the checkers, and the 3rd and 4th defenseman.

>   Something about this doesn't compute.  Hockey players are supposed to hate
>playing in small, Canadian markets that aren't recognized as philanthropic -
>especially Winnipeg and Quebec.  At least that's what we've been told since
>1979.
>  Smith is tired of it. "This franchise is very stable. We have 13 players
>under contract for 3 years (Tabaracci, Numminen, Ulanov, Housley, Olausson,
> Bautin, Tkachuk, Shannon, Davydov, Zhamnov, Eagles, Murray and Selanne)
>and that's a good nucleus.  We have 3 more (Kerr, Steen & Kennedy) under
>contract for two.  Carlyle has signed an option year contract while Olczyk,
>Lalor, Essensa & Elynuik still have to decide whether or not they"ll play 
>out their options, go to arbitration or sign new deals.

Essensa and Olczyk should be fun...Essensa probably can demand in the
neighborhood of a million a season considering the going rate for 
goaltenders...if Paddock decides that Tabaracci is the number 1 guy,
then I figure the Jets will eventually trade Essensa...Olczyk is
another player who figures to be looking for something getting close
to a million a season.

Still, Smith is in good shape with the group he's got under long term
contracts...enjoy the three years...because Tkachuk, Zhamnov, and
Selanne are likely to be superstars in three years, and it won't
be as easy to get their names on the dotted line for a reasonable
amount of money.

Gerald