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Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > May > 21 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USIt’s hard to keep track of Spirit roster
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In the mazy world of the Atlanta Spirit, you can’t tell the players even with a scorecard. Three of the five main jobs are open, and the other two could be in flux. In that, ahem, spirit, we offer this guide to who could be coming, who could be going, and who’s making the calls.
Position: Hawks general manager • Nuts and bolts: The job opened when Billy Knight resigned 16 days ago. Michael Gearon Jr., one of the many Spirit owners, is heading the search for a replacement. “I’m running that process, with help from my partners,” he said Wednesday. There’s now a short list of candidates, and it includes both seasoned NBA executives and what Gearon called “the next generation.” (He declined to name names.) • Likely suspects: The Hawks are believed to be high on Chris Grant, who was Knight’s assistant here and who’s now the assistant GM in Cleveland, and Tom Sheppard, who’s an assistant to Ernie Grunfeld with Washington. • Unlikely suspect: Dennis Lindsey, the assistant GM in San Antonio, withdrew his name from consideration Tuesday after being identified by ESPN.com as the front-runner. The Hawks, however, might not have been nearly so enthralled. • Hiring timetable: Probably not long after Memorial Day. • Prediction: Chris Grant
Position: Thrashers coach • Nuts and bolts: The job opened Oct. 17, 2007, when Bob Hartley was fired. GM Don Waddell coached the rest of the season, associate coach Brad McCrimmon declining an offer to become head coach after the All-Star break. Waddell will hire the new coach — “that’s 100 percent,” he said Wednesday, speaking from Toronto, where he’s following the Chicago Wolves, the Thrashers’ minor-league affiliate, in the Calder Cup playoffs. He hasn’t interviewed anyone or asked permission to interview anyone. “I’ve been recognizing all the potential candidates and doing research,” Waddell said. • Likely suspects: John Anderson, who coaches the Chicago Wolves; Paul Maurice, who was fired by the Maple Leafs; and McCrimmon. • Unlikely suspects: Ron Wilson, who was fired by San Jose, and Peter DeBoer, who coaches the minor league Kitchener Rangers. DeBoer could be headed for the Maple Leafs and, with six NHL teams looking for coaches, Wilson could see other jobs as more inviting. • Hiring timetable: Early June, according to Waddell. • Prediction: Paul Maurice
Position: Hawks coach • Nuts and bolts: Mike Woodson has been in place since 2003 and has a career record of 106-222. His contract expires on July 1. Gearon said two weeks ago, “Mike deserves an opportunity to see what he can do with this team.” But no extension has been announced, and there’s a chance the new GM will want his own man. • Prediction: Even if the new GM isn’t crazy about Woodson, he’ll be overruled by ownership.
Position: Thrashers general manager • Nuts and bolts: Waddell said last month, “I’m going to continue as GM,” but a subsequent ESPN.com report held that he “has been asked … to give up his duties and accept another management position.” Gearon denied the report but hasn’t yet given Waddell a long-term blessing. (Said Gearon on Wednesday: “Don will continue to be GM,” without specifying for how long.) • Prediction: Waddell will hire the coach and run the June draft and keep his title as general manager but will be augmented by a director of hockey operations, to be hired later in the summer.
Position: Hawks and Thrashers president • Nuts and bolts: Bernie Mullin technically resigned in January, after which Gearon suggested the vacancy wouldn’t be filled. Mullin’s job description was to run the business side of the Spirit and to act as liaison between the teams’ general managers and the owners. It has been speculated that Waddell will replace Mullin after being nudged aside as Thrashers GM. • Prediction: The Spirit will indeed hire a new president, but it won’t be Waddell. The job will be smaller in scope — the GMs will no longer report to the president — and will be tailored strictly to the business side.
Permalink | Comments (31) | Post your comment | Categories: Hawks/NBA, Thrashers/NHL
Comments
By frosgrim
May 21, 2008 8:51 PM | Link to this
Hard to argue with those insights. Looks like the Spirit will hire puppets and Gearon and Leavenson will be the GMs of the Hawks and Thrashers respectively. Every day I loose more respect for this ownership group. They are truly clueless.
By erock
May 21, 2008 9:06 PM | Link to this
Alot of the other teams in the NHL have signed some of their players to extensions or signed them before they reach free agency. Why havent the THRASHERS signed any of their own already ? Do we not have any that meet the criteria ? Waddell needs to stay HOME and get something done with the THRASHERS instead of watching a real team play…..THE WOLVES !!
By Najeh Davenpoop
May 21, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
Yeah, great idea… let’s fire Billy Knight and hire his former assistant, who then went to Cleveland and got to learn under the even more inept Danny Ferry.
Not knocking this article… it wouldn’t surprise me if it turned out exactly like this. I’m just knocking the D.A.S.G. in their full stupidity.
Also is there any reason why y’all closed Sekou Smith’s blog, the only blog on this website that’s not overpopulated with racists?
By A.S
May 21, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this
Lots of speculation but a solid article. I wouldn’t mind seeing the Thrash hire the former Sharks coach. He has been the winningest coach in the NHL the past 3 years.
By LAC
May 21, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this
Paul Maurice… NO Thanks !
The fans and players see what a dysfunctional mess these owners are, why can they not see themselves that way too ?
They have about as much business running a pro sports team as they do having their finger on nuclear weapons… They should a hundred million miles away from both !!!!!
Just what is their COLLECTIVE problem ? They look as STUPID as STUPID gets! Not a single NHL team owner would tolorate a GM like waddell for one second following the last game, he would have been fired on the spot, even before the uniforms were off the players backs.
No team would accept the job waddell has done. But these clowns say waddell is “so respected” in the NHL… I’ve heard otherwise, they respect him… OK then you enjoy LOSING and that is exactly what waddell has given Thrasher fans year after year.
Just what effect does this never ending lawsuit have on things ? Why has it not been concluded, what is the endless delay ? What REALLY IS the status of the lawsuit ? What is the projection if Bilken wins ?
The NHL and Gery Bettman need to step in and run this team, real hockey people, before the whole franchise emplodes…
When will we hear Mr.Potty Mouth blast STH’s again and make a complete fool of himself as always ?
This thing has to end and end soon, with a complete new direction… Qualified GM’s and coaches are out there waiting, ready and far better positioned to rebuild this franchise than more of that THING waddell.
With asg & waddell losing and lying will continue to grow in Atlanta and we the paying fan will pay the price, when $4.00 a gallon gas arrives, where will you spend your hard earned money ? I bet it will not be watching a bunch of retreads and ECHL players in NHL uniforms trying to pass themselves off as pro’s like last season.
Thanks asg & waddell for taking the FUN and buzz outof our team, we are sick of your LIES and sick of waddell, watch those empty seats grow next season, but by then it may be too late !
By MannyT
May 21, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this
Nice breakdown of the swiss cheese org chart.
Najeh, it looks like they put Sekou’s blog back on 1st shift only status. Oddly, there are no posting restrictions on the ever popular, recently retired Hawks Hack.
Go figure.
I’d call it AJC PAIN.
By B. Thenet
May 21, 2008 11:10 PM | Link to this
While Paul Maurice got a raw deal in Toronto, there are dozens of people who I would pick to coach the Thrashers over him.
By Remie
May 22, 2008 1:05 AM | Link to this
“LAC” - are you “STUPID” or just inarticulate????
By Tony C.
May 22, 2008 6:17 AM | Link to this
Please no Paul Maurice
By Tony C.
May 22, 2008 6:18 AM | Link to this
Please no Paul Maurice pick this guy first.
By Tony C.
May 22, 2008 6:18 AM | Link to this
Please no Paul Maurice pick this guy first.
By 1+2
May 22, 2008 7:23 AM | Link to this
I never knew an Atlanta sports ownership would sink to the depths of utter stupidity. Heck, we thought the Smith’s were bad… excuse me, they actually were. But at least they didn’t look as inept… excuse me, they actually did. Well, with the Smith’s, they knew when to give up… a little too late but at least they got the he!! out town.
Many sports franchise have realized that good coaching can take you over the top. Sometimes it doesn’t do you justice to have a talented roster and a joke for a coach. This is the only management group that can give a vote of confidence to a coach that has had 4 losing seasons (and no where near close to being .500). Forget the current playoff series against the Celtics. We had a coach that couldn’t get his team up for a GAME 7 and potentially the biggest upset in league history!!!!! As a matter of fact, you go down in defeat harder than you did the previous 3 games in Boston. If that isn’t a joke for a coach, then what is? This is the main reason I refused to renew my season tickets - because this ownership group has shown a disdain for wanting to put the best product on the court. And yes, I include the coach as part of that package.
By oldtimerhawk
May 22, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
Bradley-
I hope you’re pulling these picks out of the tool shed in your backyard, because if any legitamite souces fed you these whipping boys as favorites, the Spirit need to just pack on up and ship out.
Chris Grant!?!?!?!?! I worked around this guy years ago at the Hawks, and he’s about as qualified to be the next GM as Bob Weiss or you or me. Somehow overhyped, right place-right time type of yes-man guy. He’s not the answer. There are plenty of seasoned executives and former players out there who would be smarter choices at this point. The Hawks don’t need to stall what respectible momentum they have recently created, for the first time in over 10 years!
And I will absolutly loose the rest of my hair if Paul Maurice is the choice. What a underwhelming and selfdepricating candidate with a less than steller coaching career. Not the person you want coming into the Thrashers when there is no room left for errors, unless ultimate medeocrity is the goal. I’m done if that’s the case.
I’m not sure who the best choices will ultimately be, but the two I spoke of above need to be crossed off the list.
By Al
May 22, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this
What is the status of the law suit Belkin vs. rest of bunch of clueless owners? Wadell blew it. Because of the mess in the top Wadell is below the radar, he created mess: firing Bob. Bob is one of the best coaches. Instead of Bob, Wadell should have steped down.
By LAC
May 22, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
Hey remie… A lot smarter than a loser like yourself… Who is your boss at asg anyhow ???
By iawtbajs
May 22, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
Doug Collins for GM.
By P. Babcock
May 22, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
See, I wasn’t so bad. Pete Babcock
By Remie
May 22, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
I don’t understand why they don’t just fire Don Waddell. There is a better GM available, Dave Nonis, formerly of Vancouver.
Waddell has AHL abilities only… he cannot hang in the NHL.
By Crazy Diamond
May 22, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
Your predictions may all come true, sadly. The ASG is utterly clueless but it is their money. Except Belkin - who contributes no money but exercises his influence whenever decisions are made. What a mess.
Chris Grant? Please no. Gotta agree with oldtimer hawk.
Keep Woodson even if new GM wants a change? ASG wont hire a GM who wants a change. Two mistakes for the price of one. It’s a Catch-22: any GM who would work for ASG is a bad decision maker. We lose no matter what.
Waddell to hire the new Thrashers coach? Another mistake twofer. Get a new GM who will then hire the new coach. How many times has this idea been suggested by so many fans in these blogs?
ASG President? Should have kept Bernie if they need to keep the position filled. If the ownership wants to be hands on, let’em assume Bernie’s tasks and truly run the place with the Hawks GM, Thrashers GM and Philips Arena president reporting to the ASG ownership committee.
By Mark Bradley
May 22, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this
The Belkin suit is due to come to trial in Maryland in February 2009. Yes, that’s nearly four full years after this whole thing blew up over the Joe Johnson trade.
And then, colleague Tim Tucker informs me, whatever verdict is reached will almost surely be appealed. Which means this thing could linger into 2010 or beyond. Unbelievable, isn’t it?
I will say this, though: I’m not sure Belkin has any influence at all now. He has one vote at the executive level; Michael Gearon Jr. has a vote, and the Bruce Levenson/Ed Peskowitz tandem has a single vote. Majority rules. Belkin gets outvoted 2-1.
By kev
May 22, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
What people here need to realize is that what Bradley has written is not journalism based on any serious. capable or credible investigation and/or sources. It is all just BS pulled out of his a$$. That’s why the choices he has proposed don’t make any sense. McCrimmon as a likely? Even though he already turned it down? Anderson? That ship has sailed for the Thrashers, although he will get a shot somewhere, eventually.
Mark, did you use the term ‘minor league’ for us dumb southerners or is that what you consider the Canadian Hockey League to be?
By Midfield
May 22, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
Mark, if the final ruling is not due until or beyond 2010, where does it leave the “no long contract” court order? Does it mean that Kovalchuk will automatically walks off at the end of his contract - 2 years from now?
By cp
May 22, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this
The D.A.S.G. are clowns. Why would a qualified GM accept this job to basically have no power. Why force a coach like Mr. Potato head on the new GM. Let him bring in his guy. No qualified guy is coming here with this mess. It will be a yes guy or a guy who has the title but no real power. Can Blank buy this team?.
By Mark Bradley
May 22, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this
As I understand it, the Spirit is now able to sign (or re-sign) anybody at any time for any length of time. Certainly the Hawks have every intention of keeping free agents Josh Smith and Childress, and the same would apply to hockey.
That’s not saying they’ll be able keep Kovalchuk, but they certainly be able to offer a long-term package.
By Hockeyfan
May 22, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
Wont be Maurice.
By nique
May 22, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
BK and Danny Ferry taught this guy everything he knows about being a GM, which can’t be much given the teachers. I don’t like either GM prospects, although the Wiz certainly have assembled some talent.
I realize some of them might not want the job, but is the Spirit really not even talking to any of the many established coaches out there (Avery Johnson, Fratello, Van Gundy, Hubie Brown, etc.)?
Any chance the Spirit would want to trade Bibby’s expiring contract to a team who might want to start rebuilding?
By vava74
May 22, 2008 7:23 PM | Link to this
Michael Cooper as the next Hawks’ coach!!!
By Brendan
May 22, 2008 8:33 PM | Link to this
If Don Waddell is seriously going to be permitted to the hire the next Head Coach, I think I shall take some Maalox right now to prepare. But, pretty much, no matter how I choose to brace myself for bad news, it’ll never be quite enough. Every time Waddell makes an announcement, it’s like hearing the chemo therapy didn’t quite take.
Mark Bradley, I cannot understand it. I’ve never quite seen this “phenomenon” before. Which phenomenon? Well, to be perfectly frank, the Atlanta Spirit, LLC, is DEATHLY AFRAID to fire Don Waddell. The source of their TREPIDATION?? Answer: Sheer, utter, and TOTAL INCOMPREHENSION over how to run an NHL franchise. So “hoodwinked” are they, that they CLING to a GM whose team has finished in the bottom third of the Eastern Conference for seven of the past eight (7/8) seasons, like a dangling tree branch off the side of a cliff, in a matter of life and death.
The Atlanta Spirit Group won’t fire him. They won’t do it. Don Waddell could be in a crack house, with a crack “damsel,” while doing crack, and they wouldn’t fire him. It’d have to hit the front page of every major newspaper in North America for the Spirit to be moved enough to “politely ask” Don Waddell to step down. And no, Don Waddell isn’t some crack junkie. And he’s not about to embark on any “experimentation campaign” during this offseason, no matter how much Thrashers fans might be rooting for that, at this point.
Honestly, is an ACCOUNTANT that hard to find???? Because if you give the next Thrashers GM … ohhh, I dunno, AN ACCOUNTANT, and provide budgetary instructions for the accountant, the next Thrashers GM can still succeed. Probably a whole lot better than Waddell.
Waddell’s supporters will soon arrive, armed with “lies, d#mn lies, and statistics, to show how The SS Titanic* was never properly given credit for the whiteness and starch content of the ship’s sheets. Nor were the culinary efforts of the ship’s kitchen staff ever properly documented. And well, the level of musicianship on board that vessel was simply put, “incomparable.”
Okay fine. But that ship is broken in pieces on the bottom of the North Atlantic, much like the Thrashers seasons, in bowels of the Eastern Conference since 1999. And this, after two 1st overall selections, two 2nd overall selections, two 8th overall picks, a 10th overall and a 12th overall from which to build an NHL juggernaut. Did we “miss” it??
But do you ever think that they ever get the slightest “inkling” that the problem might not be at “ice level?” No.
Because there is no problem. The ASG isn’t interested in winning Stanley Cups. They’re interested in profits, like most businessmen. And their business plan says … if we can *hover around 7th-10th spot until the trade deadline, we can bamboozle and flimflam our fan base into thinking we’re just a trade deadline move from a playoff berth. And some folks’ll buy it … hook, line and sinker. I had always hoped for better than this. Atlanta’s hockey fans deserve better than this. They sold out 38 of 41 home games in the Inaugural seaosn—a time when we didn’t know we’d just be “schedule fodder” for the other teams. Ya know, teams who are actually TRYING to win the Cup. But clearly, at this point, “the jig is up.” Sadly, every Tier I and Tier II pending FREE AGENT is well AWARE of this … as counseled by their Agents—people who study the budgets and tendencies of teams. And those agents will advise their clients not to sign with Atlanta, if the goal is anything other than taking money from the ASG. Most players want to win. And they’ll avoid Atlanta .. until Atlanta is a contender.
By Kevin Willis
May 23, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this
Maurice wont get hired here. He will want too much money and we have the CHEAPEST ownership group known to man. Plus they want a puppet, not a coach. We make Donald Sterling (Clippers) look like Mark Cuban. A couple of issues. If we want to keep Kovy we better get him signed up THIS OFFSEASON (see Hossa). If we don’t do it now, it will never happen. He will play the next two years, score 50 goals in each season and then be in Detroit. We need a new GM. Again I ask, WHAT IS THE HOLD UP FOR A COACH?? The draft is approaching fast and what a shock, we (thrashers) are NOT PREPARED. DW needs to get his head out of his arse and get moving here. The Hawks, until they fire Woody, they won’t get better. They will only have the Smiths for this season, they won’t sign here. Chills might, just because he’s a bit player and the hawks will overpay him. Do we see a trend here with both franchises? Overspend on guys we shouldnt and let the guys we should walk away. Frustrating. MORONS.
By Darrin "The Vent King"
May 23, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
If there is the belief that the Spirit group can sign ANYONE (Hawks) for ANY amount, why does the ajc keep running articles like - “Will They Keep Both Joshes” ? They are just keeping people believing that they won’t becacuse they can’t afford to. Everywhere you go, that’s what people are saying. I don’t understand that. Anyway,they NEED to keep both. It’s a no-brainer- J Smith, while having some shot selection issues and no go-to move is an athletic wonder who will only get better and is a hometown kid and you can’t even begin to measure J-Chill’s value wth stats. There were MANY games where he was the glue that kept some victories intact when everyone else would go braindead. GET’ER DONE SPIRIT!!
By ranallo10
May 27, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
Kevin Willis — The NHL CBA mandates Kovalchuk cannot be re-signed until he is in the last year of his current contract…so unfortunately the ASG/Waddell cannot present him with a contract extension until the offseason of 2009.
The draft is approaching fast and what a shock, we (thrashers) are NOT PREPARED. DW needs to get his head out of his arse and get moving here
The hiring of a head coach has no bearing upon the NHL draft. The scouts are likely doing their thing and compiling the data they have on all eligible prospects, while Waddell is doing his homework for the coaching position. Most GMs do their own scouting of players (he’s done the numerous times this past season) and rely upon their scouting staff to fill the bulk of the prospects for the upcoming draft. The draft strategy is likely in formation now, so the head coach hunt is fine as is.
Do notice that the San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and likely other franchises do not have a head coach under contract for next season, at this point. So yeah, he/they may be dragging their feet, but until the Free Agency period hits (July 1st) there should be no worries that a head coach has not been selected.