AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > April > 18 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDefects exposed in quick retreat
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
New York — Imagine finally having enough money to buy a used car, and then halfway down the driveway the transmission falls out. So much for the trip to the beach. Or the market.
So much for redefining your existence.
The Thrashers made the playoffs. Five minutes later, they are out of the playoffs. Cue it, Groucho: Hello, I must be going.
The division title this season — unexpected. But this — even more so.
And, no, this should not be a time to celebrate the steps forward. The 43 wins, the playoff berth, the Southeast Division title — all worthy precedent-setting moments. But you lose four straight games to a team that you beat three out of four times during the season — where’s the room for celebration?
“It feels really empty,” Ilya Kovalchuk said.
It should. You can debate the bad goal in Game 1 and the bad bounce in Game 2 that immediately dropped the Thrashers into an 0-2 hole. But four straight losses don’t happen by accident. Four straight losses mean that as far as you have come, you have farther to go than you could have imagined.
After the final game, several Thrashers owners and executives walked around the locker room. Atlanta Spirit president and CEO Bernie Mullin shook Bobby Holik’s hand and said, “You’re division champions.”
Holik forced a smile. “It’s a start,” he said. But he shook his head as he walked away. The man is used to more. He played on two Stanley Cup teams in New Jersey.
Division championships — they don’t even get you down the driveway.
“Personally, I don’t think we were even close to being competitive in the playoffs,” he said. “There’s a long, long way to go here. I don’t think there should be any sense of accomplishment whatsoever.
“It’s not like we need any more parts. We didn’t have what it takes. We have what it takes physically, but that’s a very small part of hockey.”
Bang on the cranium. They made too many mistakes.
Bang on the chest. They started slowly in Game 1 at home and tanked it in Game 3.
The stars underachieved. The starting goalie struggled.
“I want a Stanley Cup — and now we’re done,” said Keith Tkachuk, who cost the Thrashers three draft picks in trade and almost certainly won’t be back. “Obviously I’ll always cherish playing with a great bunch of guys. But we felt really good about our chances to win a Stanley Cup, and we got beat by a better team.”
They made the playoffs. They hit the lottery. And they won — a scratch-off ticket, which lost. They won four of their last five games of the regular season to clinch the division. Then they flopped.
Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. Didn’t they do this all season?
“We would lose five, win five, lose five, win five,” Greg de Vries said. “Now we lose four.”
Until Wednesday, they never had a lead in any game in the series. They led twice in this game, 1-0 and 2-1. So much for small victories. Two minutes into the third, Matt Cullen rifled a shot over Johan Hedberg and under the crossbar. Fans screamed goal. But it wasn’t until after a subsequent review that the Rangers were awarded the goal (the puck clearly dropping down over the goal line before bouncing out).
The Thrashers lost one game on a 60-foot dump-in off the glass. You expect them to win a review?
Criticism will follow. It should. General manager Don Waddell shouldn’t be hammered for making the pre-deadline deals for Tkachuk and Alexei Zhitnik because that got the team to the playoffs. But there are holes all over the place, particularly at center and on defense. The Rangers exposed just how slow this team is.
Coach Bob Hartley will be criticized and should. The Rangers’ Tom Renney was a step ahead the entire series. But those calling for Hartley’s firing are short-sighted. He got the team to the playoffs, and his record has improved every season. He’ll get a new contract.
Hartley understands why there is heat, and he’s not running from it.
“We all come in the league with a big target on our back,” he said earlier Wednesday. “I guess that’s the ransom for the glory.”
Glory is still being held hostage.
Permalink | Comments (74) | Post your comment | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Thrashers / NHL
Comments
By wouldacoulda
April 19, 2007 12:15 AM | Link to this
Paging Hossa,Tkachuk,Kovalchuk,Lehtonen, Kozlov. Baby steps are made in regular season. Big boys play when it counts!
By JSS
April 19, 2007 12:20 AM | Link to this
After laying a Dear Friend to her final rest over the last two weeks. Rest well my trailblazing friend…
So now to Brad Clontz’s terror, I am BACK!!!
It is official, Jeff Schultz is the bad luck charm hovering over this city like the goat curse hanging over the Cubs…
We sure didn’t have to worry about Jeffy winning a Pultizer like CT…
Break the curse, FIRE JEFF SCHULTZ NOW!!!
By Nasty Nester 4 Life
April 19, 2007 12:33 AM | Link to this
MAN! I was lookin forward to drinking a lot of beer, saying bad words out loud, being as rude and classless as possible and bullying families with small children who get offended while we were rockin the Nest Friday night. Oh well. We can still go back to ruining Thrashers games for other fans at Philips next season. Peace!
By random reader
April 19, 2007 12:37 AM | Link to this
Dude, I hate you. I have never read any article of yours that I like (heck, I’ve never read one where it sounds like you know what the heck you’re talking about).
If you wanna bash the team (like you do in all of your dadgum articles) do it elsewhere on the internet. Better yet, write it on toilet paper and flush it down the toilet, because that is about all your writing is worth.
By Peter
April 19, 2007 12:44 AM | Link to this
In playoff hockey poor special teams play will kill you. The last two minutes epitomize the season. Up two men and they almost literally give the puck away for an empty netter. Then with a man advantage UNDER a minute to play and they’re passing the puck around in the Rangers zone like “hey the seasons over so why bother?”
Even the Rangers fans were yelling for them to shoot the puck! Hossa was to be kind, chippy. Totally out of his game. Thrashers have an odd man rush into the Rangers zone and he passes it back to a defenseman. Are you kidding me?
Before this series the Rangers called the Thrashers out. Hell they were happy to play Atlanta and now we see why.
Straka and Nylander and yes even Avery out worked the entire Atlanta team. Atlanta has seen it’s share of poor play in the postseason but tonight has to be right at the top. Terrible play, terrible.
By rockdr99
April 19, 2007 1:32 AM | Link to this
Jeff — It is not your place to write such an article — You bebop in once a month and throw out your uninformed negativity and ask for comment — Comment on what, other than you should stay away from our hockey team — It is painful enough without having to read your drivel —
DON’T THESE FEW LIMITED BLOG RESPONSES TO YOUR REQUEST FOR FEEDBACK TELL YOU ANYTHING?
GO AWAY ——-
By rockdr99
April 19, 2007 1:45 AM | Link to this
I read your article again very carefully to pick out the quotes from your sarcasm — It is interesting to see how you intersperse your garbage with quotes trying to make your garbage seem so legit — I can picture your obnoxious presence in players’ faces at their worst to embelish their upset, all for the sake of an article than no one has responded to, except to bash you —-
You represent the worst in obnoxious journalism —
We got our butts kicked — Why can’t you just leave it at that —-
By Thrashy Thrashy
April 19, 2007 2:23 AM | Link to this
Nothing wrong with pointing out the obvious flaws in this team, folks. Jeff’s just doing his post-mortem. Bobby Holik isn’t sugarcoating anything, is he? Holik was the best forward in the series for the Thrashers because he has the guts to win in the playoffs. There just wasn’t enough grit and determination on this team. They were so inconsistent that you never knew what team would show up. All of these things are accurate. The Thrashers were lucky to make the playoffs, but they made them and won a division. It’s the first time something good has come out of a season for this team, so I suppose we can take a little solace in that. Beyond that, we have to look to next year and hope that the men in charge can make this team younger, faster and more determined not to wilt under pressure.
By rockdr99
April 19, 2007 2:34 AM | Link to this
I repeat, this was not Jeff’s article to write — Any post mortem’s should be written by Craig — He covered the team with skill and determination on a daily basis and he has earned the right to write a closure on the season, if one is necessary — Any knowledgeable hockey fan knows what we saw and it wasn’t pretty — We don’t need a hack like Jeff stating the obvious —-
By Dana
April 19, 2007 4:03 AM | Link to this
Schultz is NOT a hack. Perhaps the best sports columnist at the AJC next to the stuck-in-the-past Furman Bisher and “I can’t go a week without injecting race in an article of mine” Terence Moore. The article is dead on and a good piece of work. Kudos, Jeff.
By Dana
April 19, 2007 4:07 AM | Link to this
You guys bashing Jeff are idiots. Jeff is dead on in this article. Schultz is the best and most gifted columnist on the AJC sports staff, especially when compared to those who are stuck in the past like Bisher and those who like to pull the race card at least once a week like Terence Moore.
By Weary of it all
April 19, 2007 5:17 AM | Link to this
These blogs, since the charge to read them was dropped have become a waste of time.
These guys have been successful at other “big city” papers and are recognized as such every place except Atlanta.
Their job is to give their opinions, not to root for the home team. TMoore could write “the sky is blue” and people would jump up and say “Oh you left out that the clouds are white” His article today was a perfect example. Not one word in there about race until…the comments.
Don’t like them then stop reading them. They don’t care, nor should they care, if you like them or not. They still get their jack. Get a web page, post YOUR opinions on it and invite like minded people to come on over and post. If not leave the rest of the sports fans alone. You won’t be missed.
By harleyman
April 19, 2007 5:22 AM | Link to this
Jeff Schultz is neck and neck or is that necking with Terrance Moore. Other than Furman Bishor, all the feature columnists for AJC suck.
By Dunwoody_Joe
April 19, 2007 6:39 AM | Link to this
We need to ask again whether the Tkachuk trade was worth the price:
Tkachuk cost: ‘07 1st round and 3rd round pick, ‘08 2nd round pick and Metro.
Tkachuk return: 18 regular season games, 7 goals, 8 assists. Division champs 4 playoff games, 1 goal, 3 assists. Playoff debacle
The “no Kool-Aid” analysis: Major overpayment!
By JSS
April 19, 2007 6:42 AM | Link to this
Walks like a HACK, talks like a HACK, and writes like a HACK!!! I won’t make it personal against the two FRIENDS OF THE CURSE!!! No one minds reading constructive, well-thought out, and most important OBSERVANT critiques on teams or issues… Nevertheless, Jeff Schultz has shown none of those skills.
Moreover, one of the main problems in this nation at present is that people never hear, see, or think about issues or individuals who do not think, write, or act just alike… It creates a “clone think.” Jeff Schultz’s columns and supporters are ripe with such thought. The city of Atlanta is a lot like that. It is why national media outlets, the federal government, and social commentators have the “Georgia exception” in their observations about the region. If you only hang around, read, or listen to people exactly like you, that is a shortcoming. Clearly, the person who won’t be missed is Jeff Schultz. Oh, I certainly miss columnist who made you think like Dave Kindred when he worked at the AJC. Some of us remember when Furman had the best line-up of “columnist” in America sitting in the newsroom.
Let’s see, what will Jeff write a “countdown” column now? My bet it will be another “opinion” on the state of someone’s character…
By Marc
April 19, 2007 7:29 AM | Link to this
Schultz is spot on! Glaring team weaknesses on defense,center ice, and lack of speed caught up to this team. They were “one and out” before they got to game 1. Guys like Exelby and DeVries have become liabilities, and Slater is still not NHL material. Fairways and greesn this summer boys!
By JeffIsTheBest
April 19, 2007 7:42 AM | Link to this
IMO Jeff Schultz is the best columnist and writer at AJC, and its sports section is one of the best in country. Wooo Hooo! The Thrashers are the only team to be swept in NHL playoffs. Keep defending if you want, but the team needs a lot work to be champions.
By Hockey Fan
April 19, 2007 7:44 AM | Link to this
The Atlanta hockey team is incredibly full of talent and energy, but unless that energy is directed to playing hockey and not into headhunting, the Stanley Cup will forever be out of their reach.
By Matthew At The SLC
April 19, 2007 8:19 AM | Link to this
Hey Jeff, why don’t you take a stand against the Braves and their idiot fans for crowing about all of their meaningless division “titles,” too? I am in total agreement. Winning your division is meaningless unless you win the Cup. I don’t like Bernie Mullin. He spins worse than Bill Clinton. He’s always on 680theFan spinning reasons about why they can’t start games at 7:30pm, all of which, like him, are full of crap. If the Braves and their fans have no problem with a 7:30pm start time with a game that doesn’t have a set end time, how come the Thrashers can’t start at 7:30 when they have a game, even if it goes into overtime and then shootouts, is guaranteed to end in about 2 1/2 hours?
I’m proud of the small steps this team has taken this year. I expected more, but I will be getting a season ticket package next year. Playoff hockey cannot be topped, and I am happy that I got to see 2 games with 2 amazing sold-out crowds. The Thrashers will be better next year. Kari will be better. Remember, Lundqvist, the Ranger’s hero goalie, was swept out of the playoffs last year. Patrick Roy wasn’t PATRICK ROY in his first couple of series. Give the kid time to mature. He’ll ge there. I trust Bob Hartley. I sort of trust Don Waddell. Things will be better, if only because Waddell’s job is depending on it.
Here’s to NEXT YEAR!!!
By Paul
April 19, 2007 8:24 AM | Link to this
Poor Thrashers fans getting SWEEP out of the playoffs. Too bad your team doesn’t know how to play hockey. They do know how to headhunt but. I would say now you can watch the loser hawks play, but they are out of the playoffs too. Now all you fans can now watch the loser Braves get their a* kick and not make the playoffs either.
LET’S GO RANGERS
By B. Thenet
April 19, 2007 8:26 AM | Link to this
DW will likely sign a older veteran to replace Mellanby.
And Hartley will then play this old slow player with Ilya every night just because he is a veteran.
One thing that should be noted…Hartley played Mellanby with Ilya and Tkachuk all series…and the only time either of them scored a goal was during the few times Mellanby was not on the ice with them.
The media in Atlanta needs to hold Hartley accountable:
Accountable for never being able to build a decent PP with two of the best shooters in the NHL
Accountable for being unable to get the team to play well consistently all season…Win 5…Lose 5…Win 4…Lose 4
Accountable for playing one of the fastest players in the NHL with a veteran captain who showed heart and toughness all season…with the skillset of a 3rd or 4th line grinder this late in his career.
Accountable for matching up our worst defenseman since the All Star break..Havelid..with the Rangers top line almost all series.
By Tom
April 19, 2007 8:40 AM | Link to this
Hey Jeffsthebest
I hate to be rude, but if you think that Jeff Schultz is one of the best columnists in the country, or the AJC sports section is, you need to get out of Atlanta more. Of the major market papers that I have read, the sports section has to be one of the worst and the columnists are some of the snarkiest.
The attitude that permeates the editorial arm of the sports section is a collection of writers that would love to be writing in New York and be on the sports reporters on ESPN, but lack the depth and insight to even get near those plateaus.
They all think that writing a denigrating and snarky column equates with quality prose and insight. As if a pile of negatives could ever turn into a positive.
Spend a couple of weeks reading the New York or Chicago papers and see how their editorialist will call a team out when needed but also bring to light the positives. You never see that here except out of Bisher.
Schultz sits in the corner and snarks, Moore is forever in search of his Pulitzer exposing the great racial conspiracy in the sporting world, while Bradley cowers and shoots arrows from behind his barricade.
There is the occasional quality column out of those 3, but rarely do they come back to back.
So go out and read the writing around the country and see what real quality is. You will thank me.
By Allen
April 19, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this
Explain to me why this entire mess is not Don Waddell’s fault? He loaded up to make the post season and save his job, and he morgaged the Thrasher’s future. Zhitnik was a good pick up, because there’s a chance he’ll be back, but Tkachuk…Maybe Waddell is trying to interview for the Blues GM. And if you think this team will be better next year, you’re drinking something. They capitalized on a weak year in the division, and they got shown the door.
Schultz must be on Waddell’s paylist too, if he’s not calling for that man’s job. Fire Don Waddell now. Get someone who can find a defensemen from a hole in his a*.
By LAC
April 19, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this
Time to review those who SHOULD NOT BE BACK in 2007-08.
Sutton/Devries/Havilid/Slater/Larsen/ JPV/Mellenby/Holik/Rucchin/Sim.
Back at LOW cost… Koslov/Belenger.
Back period Exleby.
Back at right price Dupies.
Traded Kovy for something… he is a ONE man band out there with little or NO team approach.
Give Hartley ONE MORE SEASON…
Bob… Get the HELL off this “veterens” CRAP, they cost you and if you play it again… it should run you out of town.
We have AHL Rookie of The Year Bret Sterling in Chicago this season, and a couple more HIGH SCORING YOUNG players, BRING THEM IN NEXT SEASON, Hell Buffalo has GREAT young players, no more of this over 35 crowd BOB !!!
Lastly, I have said this for a LOOOOOONG time…don waddell HAS TO BE FIRED. What are these IDIOTS who own the team waiting for now ?????
They are THE WORST SPORTS OWNERS IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS and refuse to address a PROBLEM… waddell HAS TO BE FIRED.
I did not buy my companies 4 season tickets this year because of waddell and will NOT again this comingseason because of don waddell. He stinks… Until HE IS GONE… we will remain in playoff HELL !
By Bob
April 19, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this
You can break out the debacle word now, AJC. This series was a debacle. But much of was due to poor coaching. There needs to be accountability.
If Waddell won’t fire Hartley, then Waddell needs to go also. A lot of this is one him, he’s had 8 years, and we have nothing to show for it, and little in the pipeline. This club should be stocked with prospects that he’s drafted, we have nothing beyond Kovy and Lehtonen. And Lehtonen has shown to be all hype and no go, he’s been injured every year except for this one, and this one he broke down mentally a couple of times (earlier in the year he turned into a headcase also and Moose had to come in for a while). So, we have Kovy and he’s not proven that he’s a guy to build a club around. Guys from his draft class are pushing their clubs to playoff victories.
It’s a big mess and if the Spirit has the balls, they need to hold these guys accountable. Otherwise, we can expect more of the same.
Past performance is a good indicator of future performance. Somethings gotta change.
By joanne
April 19, 2007 9:09 AM | Link to this
For all of you singing the praises of Jeff Schultz, do yourself a favor and read Mitch Albom’s column in in the Detroit Free Press (www.freep.com) He’s honest without being nasty, he’s insightful without just stating the obvious, and he actually knows something about the sports he covers.
I can’t help but think the reason this town is known for its fickle fans is because the media does nothing but snipe, criticize, and shove sarcasm down our throats in the guise of sports commentary.
By Braves Fan 79
April 19, 2007 9:11 AM | Link to this
the thrashers played stupid and took 2 many dumb penalties….they didnt deserve to win this series. At least the Braves are back to dominance like i knew thed be. Go Braves! World Series here we come!!
By Ric
April 19, 2007 9:21 AM | Link to this
The Thrashers are a good team and I am excited that they made the playoffs however the same problems they have had all season surfaced in these four games.
First, They struggle to break out of their own end. Other than Exelby they have a group of finesse defensemen who are not very physical. Teams all year would just cycle around and our defensemen would chase them. The reason the Rangers had more time of possession is they controlled the puck for so long in the Thrashers end.
Second, It is hard to score goals from your end of the rink.
Third, Other than Holik we had no physical presence at center to help down low in the Thrashers zone. So we had defensemen and centers just chasing guys around the zone. Tkachuck was supposed to help with this but that did not work out in the playoffs.
Fourth, The Power play was terrible all year. The system used by the Thrashers never puts any pressure in front of the net. The puck is sent around the perimeter untill Kovalchuck can get set for a one timer.
Fifth, The passive forecheck system employed by the Thrashers allowed the other team to break out of their zone quickly and easily. Thrashers consistently send one guy to forecheck with little support. Thus sending it right back to the Thrashers zone where they could not break out.
This was a fun year but there are some issues that need to be reviewed in the offseason including personnel and system.
By GE
April 19, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this
What is wrong with bashing a team who just got swept by a team that they should have beat. I am not much of a hockey fan, but if you get beat 7 to zip in a playoff game,someone needs to question the reason why. Most people do not attend professional sporting events and pay high prices to see players smell up the arena. I wonder how many of the Thrasher players will be back next year.
By Curse of Kincade
April 19, 2007 9:24 AM | Link to this
This city is under the curse of John Kincade. He predicted the Falcons would win the division last year which turned into a sub .500 season. Kincade then predicted the Thrashers would leave Atlanta with a 2-0 series lead and would win in 6. We all know what happened there. QUIT MAKING PREDICTIONS, KINCADE!!
By JSS
April 19, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this
Yeah, they were swept S-W-E-P-T, but as I said when this made their first draft pick, the ill-advised Patrik Stefan, you buid with defense unless it’s the second coming of Gretsky… Ask Pittsburgh, they picked well and in two years turnaround a mess…
Look, the days of the one way star are waning unless you have solid lines surrounding them… This team needs to shure up the protection in front of Kari and Moose… The forecheckers must learn how to make center a contested without picking up silly interference calls… Go and look at the number of rushes NYR had in the series, no defense or keeper in the world is going to hold up to that mess…
Keith T is not the problem, without him we are home again without even a banner… The core of this team as it opened the season is the problem… Tuesday night showed that clearly and in HD…
Love him or hate him, we are stuck with Don. This league is devoid of real talent judges presently… But, this is not a pat on the back for what he’s done, he must do better… He has many moves that he will have to make this off-season… For heaven sake, make the right ones this time…
OH, Jeff Schultz is **STILL A NO TALENT HACK!!!”
By Chris
April 19, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this
The team was never as good as its record - look at all the OT wins - so this outcome isn’t completely shocking I guess.
As a whole the season did represent progress - and the bar now needs to be raised for next season - let’s make the playoffs AND win a round (at least a game maybe)
At least after it was over we could flip to the Braves and watch a winner come through - who needs Hossa - we’ve got Kelly Johnson!
By Norm Maracle
April 19, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
Who is the captain next year? Holik?
By ROB
April 19, 2007 9:54 AM | Link to this
It would not be wise to fire Waddell or Hartley
I think the Thrashers goal was to get IN the playoffs and they accomplished thier goal. Not acceptable. They were not mentally prepared to win. (Ex. Getting your hair color to celebrate)
Jeff Schultz is entertaining and witty and pretty light hearted which is nice.
John Kincade is usually right but is too harsh in his delivery. Anyway…who is gonna get to throw the first stone?
JC 32 lives are gone…just like that…reality is harsh
By JM
April 19, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this
Hossa went down and to the locker room in game 1, during the 1st period as I recall. I wonder if he played hurt the whole time. The boys hit the Rangers hard in games 1 & 2, almost to the point of distraction. A few of the Ranger goals were directly attributable to paying more attention to the body and ignoring the puck. The defense seem confused by the Ranger attack. Kovy could still get around folks, but the rest seemed like they were skating in cement. And let’s face it, the Rangers had a hot goalie, and Kari showed his inexperience. Hedberg did better, but not by much. It’ll be interesting to see how far the Rangers go. Perhaps they are much better than we knew. I’m just going to wait and see if someone mugs Avery and/or Shannahan. That would be appropriate.
By JM
April 19, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this
One thing I should have mentioned: IMHO there were just 2 folks on the team that come out of this debacle looking good — Holik and Exelby. Everyone else should look at those two performances and compare themselves to how Bobby and Ex performed. Belanger, Hnidy, Tkachuk, and Dupuis would form the next layer. After that, desolation.
By Mark
April 19, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this
Whoever criticized Tkachuk’s play in the post season is an idiot. He had 3 points in 4 play-off games and was +2. Once again, +2. He was one of the few forwards who looked like he had a clue, with the exception of the game 3 debacle where no one had a clue. If you want to criticize someones play in the post season, you need to look no further than our top forward line and our top pairing.
Hossa 1A -6 Kozlov 0pts -6 Belanger 1G -6 Havelid 2A -5 Zhitnik 0pts -4
That says it all. The bottom line is that the Rangers best players were WAY better than our best players. That can’t happen in the play-offs. If it does, you get swept.
By J
April 19, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this
Jeff—good column. In my opinion, you are quite right that the Thrashers, as a money-losing organization, were looking to the playoffs as an opportunity to “redefine” the team and, specifically, to expand the fan base. Unlikely that the Thrashers added many fans with this performance.
By Marty
April 19, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this
The NHL is a two tier season. Until this year, we have never even seen what the second tier looked like. As for the first tier, Congrats! You know what it takes to win a division and make it to the playoffs. As for the second tier, more work needs to be done and you can believe that management and players will be focused on that all summer.
I’m a little blue right now but it’s still true blue. Congrats to the only 2006 Atlanta team to make the playoffs or win a division title this season!
By Anders
April 19, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this
Jeff- I agree that Hartley will get a new contract, but I would keep him on a short leash. I’ma Rangers fan so take this for what it’s worth, but you guys finished ahead of us, beat us 3 out of 4 games this season and had home ice for the series but they let the Rangers dictate how it would be played. The Thrashers never established their game, which by the way I still have no idea what that is? It wasn’t until last night when they started to play hockey and stopped chasing Avery around that they were competitive. This falls on Hartley and the Vets. they should have known better than to let the Rangers sucker them out of their game. I’m sure whoever plays the Rangers next will ignore Avery in the hopes he takes a stupid penalty, which is likely, and instaed they’ll focus on Jagr and Nylander where it belongs. The rangers need to get their PP going to counter this. Besides getting outcoached you better hope Hartley didn’t damage both goalies psyche beyond repair. What a mess he made of that!
By Marty
April 19, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this
“Congrats to the only 2006 Atlanta team to make the playoffs or win a division title this season! “
…or even have a winning season.
By YankeeKiller
April 19, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
I love the Thrashers and am sorry the season is over but at least my brother and I won’t have to listen to those rude & obscene idiots in THE JERRY SPRINGER SECTION @ ‘The Phil’ anymore this year. We pay too much for our tickets to have sit in the same arena with that walking garbage. Visiting Flyers, Rangers & Sabres fans all have more respect for Thrashers fans than those morons. ….. ….. Talk About “Exposed DEFECTS!”
By thrasherfromtoccoa
April 19, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
congrats to a great year…division champs this year, 2nd or 3rd round of playoffs in 2008 and 2009 will raise the STANLEY CUP IN pip arena!!!!!!!!
By Pete
April 19, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this
Speaking of the awful Kincade…Anyone else notice the guy had the same ugly, baby blue suit jacket on for both games in NY!
How can a “professional” sports announcer on TV not have two different suits?
By Harlan
April 19, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this
Yep, they’re an Atlanta team alright. Good regular season and then the Houdini act in the playoffs. We’ve seen this act before…too many times. Stanley Cup in 2008 and 2009? Keep dreaming.
By ThrasherFanatic
April 19, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this
This is embarrassing—-the division champion, getting swept by a mediocre NY Rangers team. Unbelievable!! Both Hartley and Waddell should be fired—-they need to find a coach and GM that know that the @#%# they are doing.
By a Canuck
April 19, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this
The Russians and the Czech had their golf clubs in the trunk since xmas….
By Cho Seung-Hui
April 19, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this
Hockey sucks. Football and baseball rules. You shouldn’t have gotten your hopes up. Thrashers will never win. Its hopeless for you. Stick to southern sports.
By Ed
April 19, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
As a Ranger fan, I’ve been through what Thrashers fans are going through now.
First, get younger, get faster.
Two, don’t let Sean Avery bother you. When your best players are worried about Sean Avery, they’re not scoring.
Three, play the hot goalie, always.
Four, don’t take stupid penalties.
Five, play golf.
By Dave
April 19, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
anyone mention the fact that Hossa had only one assist all series? He stunk up the series, just like he did in Ottawa in years prior.
Exelby is overrated as a defenseman. That being said, he’ll return next year with Hnidy and hopefully McCarthy and Zhitnik. Get rid of Havelid, Sutton, and De Vries.
Speaking of overrated, Kari Lehtonen…
This team had the offensive skill all season long and probably would have had more in the playoffs if so much time wasn’t spent in the defensive zone.
Wadell needs to get some better defenseman and a few more talented forwards this offseason or he will be gone soon. Give him one more year.
Hartley has to go.
By marcel the better hossa
April 19, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this
“This is embarrassing—-the division champion, getting swept by a mediocre NY Rangers team. Unbelievable!! Both Hartley and Waddell should be fired—-they need to find a coach and GM that know that the @#%# they are doing”
your division was a joke this year. you had 3 more pts then the rangers buddy, quit thinking you were the favorite in this series. you have no defense, no goalie, p** poor PP and PK and it was all exposed….yea that will get you far in the playoffs.
By mike scott
April 19, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this
anyone mention the fact that Hossa had only one assist all series? He stunk up the series, just like he did in Ottawa in years prior.
tkachuk is brutal in the playoffs as well. they are both regular season warriors. they are not proven winners.
By Ilya k
April 19, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
r d sux r d sux r d sux r d sux r d sux r d sux
By rangerrooter
April 19, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this
All you Hartley bashers should remember this: Before this year, a Hartley coached team had never been eliminated prior to the conference finals. The guy is a good coach and will have the Thrashers competetive for years to come. Yeah, getting swept has to hurt but I see the Thrashers making noise in the playoffs in the seasons to come.
By Bobbo
April 19, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this
I just gotta wonder how a guy like LAC can “own” a company. Dude, you can’t even spell and you call others “idiots”?
By Yearning for the Flames
April 19, 2007 12:59 PM | Link to this
* OVERPAID FOR TKACHUK - NAW, YA THINK?*
What brain was behind that franchise killer, George Dubbya??
Get use to some pretty medicore hockey in Atlanta because the “braintrust” just fleeced the future.
By Jeff
April 19, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this
It’s hard to blame Hartley, I never saw the guy lace on a skate and take the ice.
By StingerSplash
April 19, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this
In 35 years of watching the NHL, I’ve never seen a team so scared of even breathing hard upon another team as the Thrashers were of the Rangers. Ugly Betty gets hit on more than the Rangers forwards did for that series. All those veterans - Mellanby, Kozlov, Hossa and especially Holik - couldn’t one of them have stood up and said, let’s knock one of these guys on their a$$? It looked like a free skate program. I was waiting for the East German judge to give Nylander and Jagr 6.8s.
By Mark
April 19, 2007 1:51 PM | Link to this
Mentioning that Hartley never coached a team in the play-offs that didn’t make it to at least the conference finals is irrelevant. He was coaching at Colorado and had Sakic and Forsberg and Patrick Roy. He didn’t have to do anything other than sign the line-up card and they were going to make it deep into the play-offs.
By marcel the better hossa
April 19, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this
stingersplash….
thrashers out hit the rangers by a 2-1 margin. it wasnt their lack of hitting that made them lose. it was their inability to force ranger turnovers with those hits. everytime they dumped a ranger they had already moved the puck and you had a thrasher caught out of position. rangers did a fantastic job of taking hits to make plays.
By Brendan
April 19, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this
Jeff Schultz, I expect we’ll see some shift in strategy this Summer. Hopefully DW will target younger free agents. And, maybe, some of this “pipeline talent” can actually make the roster. That’s another way to get younger, inexpensively.
One wonders what sort of windfall a Hossa trade might bring? Hossa is arguably one of the best players in the league. He may or may not have been playing with an undisclosed injury down the stretch and into the playoffs, but Hossa was a playoff no-show. And he’s had a bit of history in that regard. When Hossa hits the open market in the Summer of 2008, he’ll be able to command the league maximum. He’s only a $6 million hit right now. If Hossa walks for nothing, ask yourself these questions. Was it worth holding on to him for one (1) season? Or would it have been better to get a slew of young, fast, talented players, establish true “depth,” so that the Thrashers could start to roll four (4) lines, while opening up a “window of opportunity?” I love Hossa. If it were a perfect world, we’d keep him forever. It’s not a perfect world and economic realities of this game are what they are. Managers manage, if ya know what I mean.
By Bob
April 19, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this
My Aunt Martha could’ve coached the Avs to the Conference Finals each year. Crap, ranallo could make personnel decisions on that team and made the Finals. Colorado had an owner with deep pockets and a GM who knew how to spend it. Each year at the deadline they’d bring in a Rob Blake, a Ray Bourque. Crap, they had Roy in goal, Forsberg, Sakic. They had multiple Hall of Famers on that team every year. Adam Foote in his prime, Hejduk, Drury. Jeepers.
You can tell the strength and character of a man now when times are good (read here coaching All Star teams in Colorado), you can tell when times get tough. Times got tough here this year and Hartley folded (those goalie decisions!) and the players quit listening to him. He’s developed no young players.
We got guys like Slater, and had guys like Bourett and Coburn that a good coach could mold into an NHLer. Hartley’s old school, built for the old NHL. Not the new Cap world NHL.
Time to move on, if Waddell won’t fire him, then Waddell needs to go also.
By Anders
April 19, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this
Bob - I know what you mean as a NY fan. Give me Smoltz, Glavine, Maddux and the two Jones boys and I’d win a some division titles too. Keep in mind you can’t pick your spots with your logic.
By roh
April 19, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this
it didn’t take them 5 minutes to get eliminated from the playoffs.
it took 240 minutes over a span of 7 days. i wish it COULD have taken 5 minutes…rip it off like a bandaid. stings for a while then is ok.
this just sucks.
By R. Stroz
April 19, 2007 3:19 PM | Link to this
I’m surprised Moore hasn’t written an article claiming the Thrashers lost because of a lack of diversity on the ice.
By LAC
April 19, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this
Ok… Who IS Available…
Defense… Sheldon Souray/Dan Boyle. If we COULD Get those two… WATCHOUT !
Paul Kryia/Jason Blake/Ryan Smyth for starters.
We need a REAL TOUGH GUY TOO… AKA Brashears or Laraque ???? Why NOT !!!
Better young players, Sterling.Hydar etc… Brian Little could he make an impact next season ?
Note to Kari… WAKE UP Please… Another lackluster season like this past one and your contract is UP next season, maybe good bye.
Why did we not go after Belfour last season ? We have NO picks this season so…
But the defense must be rebuilt FAST, Look for Boris here next season for sure… Let’s see big mouth avery go after him… Note to avery… Get ready for ICU pal !
By Anders
April 19, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this
Note to Lac. Stop taunting Avery with guys who weren’t in the series. My god it took a european to finally semi-drop the gloves with him. Plus your best offensive guy was that blockhead Holik who the Rangers ran out of town with our exemption when we had the chance. He’s all talk but can’t deliver the goods.By the way, this is the NHL not Walmart so you might want to tone down your wish list a bit.
By Matt H
April 19, 2007 5:49 PM | Link to this
Brendan I think for this team to have a chance next season of making the playoffs, someone has to go this summer. Hossa, Kozlov, Kovalchuk or Lehtonen, though I don’t know how much you could get for any of them after such a sorry playoff showing. Gotta get younger and faster. Time to prioritize: system or players?
They waited too long to make that decision this season, and look what it cost them…
My biggest hope for this summer is that the Atlanta Spirit case is finally closed, one way or t’other.
By Hotrod
April 19, 2007 7:27 PM | Link to this
Tkachuk is a very large reason why we made it to the playoffs.
Worth every nickle present and future.
Thrashers are contenders here on out.
Rangers were swept last year by NJ.
This was a great season compared to where we have come from.
Already looking forward to camp.
Kari, keep those groins loose all summer. Good job this year!
By stendec
April 19, 2007 8:14 PM | Link to this
What is a professional hockey player in Atlanta? Talentless Heartless Rank Apathetic Stupid Hopeless Erratic Rotten Put em all together to spell Thrasher. Laughingstocks on ALL sports shows! Way to go quitters. Enjoy yout off time. Many of you will not be wearing blue next season. Except MAYBE Ranger blue. Squa tront.
By Me
April 19, 2007 9:13 PM | Link to this
As a hockey fan who is doesn’t really follow the Thrashers what I saw was a team that got outworked, was slow, didn’t put the puck on the net enough, and alot of poor passing and stick handling. They also let Avery totally get into their heads.
By rod
April 19, 2007 10:22 PM | Link to this
I’m a hockey fan from Tampa. The Lightning learned it several years ago that getting in the playooffs is one thing. Winning in the platoffs is something else. Mental toughness and the willingness to grind it out every single night are required. It’s a large part of why I love the game. The Atlanta players will learn from this and be much better for it next year. Look at Ottawa, they’ve had great players, and finished high in the standings for years. They have no cup. We’ll fight you for the division next year.
By Tony H
April 19, 2007 10:38 PM | Link to this
Hey, Jeff, How come the only time you stick your head into hockey is when you can write something negative. You didn’t state one thing that the average hockey fan didn’t already know. Craig did a great job writing on the Thrashers this year. He pointed out the good and the bad. He suffered with us and was happy with us as the occasion called for. Why do you have to stick your head in ONLY at the opportune time to kick a team when it is down. Quite frankly, I think you need to stick to a sport you have some working knowledge of. You obviously don’t have that with hockey since all you can do is regurgitate what a hundred other bloggers have already said. I, for one, don’t appreciate a johnny-come-lately writer coming in at the last minute to kick the team when it is down. No talent or ability required there. Do the Thrashers deserve criticism? You bet they do. But let it come from those who bled and died with them the whole year. Why don’t you and Moore go find a nice job somewhere else. Then, just maybe, we could have a writer offer constructive criticism and suggestions without the sarcasm and know-it-all attitude you display every time.
By Brendan
April 19, 2007 11:51 PM | Link to this
Matt H., from that list, the choice isn’t that difficult. It’s Kozlov. Not that I like it any. I’d prefer to keep Kozlov. But he’s 34 and not getting any younger. Hossa is one of the most complete players in the league. Kovalchuk, I think, is almost untouchable in terms of any sort of trade that isn’t abject highway robbery. Atlanta is wayyy too vested in #17 to move him. And Lehtonen, well … it’s way too premature to quit on him just yet. And what’s more, he’s under contract. Pretty affordably, too. The guy without the contract is Kozlov. And he’ll be able to command big dollars on the open market. If #13 pursues his “market value,” Atlanta cannot re-sign him. Well, not without moving Hossa or Kovalchuk to free up space. And would you really “ditch” Hossa or Kovalchuk to keep Kozlov? I wouldn’t think so. But, ya never know what Don Waddell might do. I’ve never been able to pin down his thinking.
I’ll say this, if Atlanta wanted to make some wholesale changes, the pony to bet on for a “Windfall” of talent in return on a trade … is Hossa. There’s at least a financial argument to be made for trading him. Don can only keep him one (1) more year, anyway. After that, he’s got to pony up what will be the league maximum, $9.5 million. While one might say, “Fine. Pay it. That’s his ‘value.’” Well, at that point, it’s clear what won out in the debate over “talent vs. system” as the modus operandi for the philosophical direction of the team. Clearly, DW, in that scenario, would be putting “talent” over any sort of “system.” No? You disagree? Well how do you field a “team,” in terms of “depth,” when you’ve committed $9.5 million in ONE (1) player? That’s what I’m sayin’, folks. I love Hossa. So do you. If economics weren’t at play, the GM would keep him forever. But that’s not the reality of the “new NHL.” And those who cannot adapt, will be left behind.