Former Atlanta Thrashers coach Craig Ramsay lets loose on Winnipeg Jets management
Everyone wondered how Craig Ramsay gave up on the coaching position for the new Winnipeg Jets' franchise so easily, but now as he let loose on the group which purchased Atlanta Thrashers and relocated it to Canada, True North Sports and Entertainment, the
picture became a little clearer.
“I never got a phone call from the Winnipeg people when they apparently bought the team”, said Ramsay, who lost out on the Winnipeg job when Claude Noel was hired. “None of us did. There are always three choices: ‘We want you; we don’t want you or we really
don’t know at this point because we don’t have a general manager in place.’ At least then the communication is open and you’ve spoken to the (new owners) and that didn’t happen. It’s disappointing”.
Ramsay, the former coach of Atlanta felt left out and thought about the whole process as inconsiderate.
He also regarded the management as undermining him and underestimated the time he had put into the team to help bring it up.
At first, when the candidates were shortlisted, only three remained on the list for future consideration.
It was a tough decision between Ramsay, assistant coach of Chicago Blackhawks, Mike Haviland, and Manitoba Moose's head coach, Claude Noel.
There were strong speculations that Haviland would be given the opportunity since newly appointed general manager, Kevin Cheveldayoff, was also a former assistant GM of Chicago.
Despite the speculations, Claude Noel was chosen to lead the new NHL franchise in Winnipeg, which obviously created problems for Ramsay and put him on a blame-game course.
At the time, Ramsay respected how Cheveldayoff was handling the process, but now has pointed out that it was very demoralising how the owning group had hanged everyone in the duration of initial events.
According to Ramsay, many jobs were lost in the whole procedure, which would eventually hurt the team in getting together, and figuring out each and everyone’s responsibilities.
It would have been much better if they were to take along the management and gradually phase out to a new one.
Winnipeg has made a number of crucial decisions during the past few days regarding player signing and drafting.
More updates on the new NHL team are expected throughout the offseason.
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