The Jets huh?
Oh, sorry, ok, I'm better now. Sorry, that should read bitter
Prior to leaving, they were on the verge of being an amazing team, especially when you could get Zhamnov playing. Probably the critical element you forgot Scott is Nikolai Khabibulin who started his career in Winterpeg. They were all too young at the same time, but had they been kept together, they would have been frightening. I still say they made a mistake when they traded Selanne rather than Zhamnov or Tkachuk.
Selanne is still my favorite player. Just an all around classy guy. 3 years into his career, his and Tkachuk's contracts came up at the same time. Tkachuck stayed home in what appeared to be the early years of a perpetual snit. Selanne showed up at training camp without a contract. Stupid in the sense of injury and end of career, but utterly and completely classy. He just wanted to play hockey and do so for the people in Winnipeg. There are rumours that the chase piece in the McFarlane series NHL6 will have Selanne in a Jets jersey. I guarantee you, no matter the price, I will win the first one offered on ebay.
Prior to that though, there was a year in which the Oilers, Jets and Flames, all in the same division, finished 1-2-3 in the league. Jets beat the Flames in the quarters (IIRC) and then the Oilers, Cup champs that year (again) beat the Jets in the divisional final. Tragic.
Winnipeg Arena was a horrible place but it was beyond a shadow of a doubt the loudest arena in the NHL come playoff time. The whiteout originated there and nobody did it better.
I'm guessing an Ottawa-Detroit final as well, with the Wings winning (unfortunately). Jersey and Dallas should have a good shot too with Colorado on the outside, though they played extremely well to end the season. Dallas-Edmonchuk should be a bloody brawl. No offense to the battle of Alberta, but that is where a true playoff rivalry exists now.
This should be a pretty spectacular playoff season.
I'm gonna go get a beer, put on my Jets jersey and cry now. *sniff* thanks for da memories boys.
