Thrashers

By RomansFriendBill

December 9, 2005 04:30 PM | Link to this

As a long time Ranger fan I know a little about Bobby Holik. The Rangers got rid of Bobby Holik and they are now in first place. Coincidence? I think not. I have been calling Radio Stations, John Kincaid, asking newspaper columnists demanding to know what tangible return are we getting for the 4.25 million investment this year in Bobby Holik? I’m told he’s a proven veteran. A stabilizing force in the locker room. All I see when he’s on the ice is a lazy third line center who’s seen his best days 5 years ago.

We could get rid of Coach Hartley. He’s got a hand in the selection of players, right?

We can’t let Mr. Waddell trade Kovalchuk next. I’m sure Kovi’s ready to get the heck out of Atlanta. He’s probably reading about Heatley having so much fun in Ottawa that it’s driving him mad. I could tell from his facial expressions during interviews he’s not happy.

Also, I have a hunch that Ottawa put the bug in Heatley’s ear about needing a change of scenery. I agree it was a special circumstance but we didn’t have to jump as fast as we did.

Bernie Mullen talks the talk on “Breakfast with Bernie” on 680 the Fan, why not let him be GM. On second thought Bernie really doesn’t know Hockey. He knows soccer and tries to fit hockey into his soccer frame of mind.

That is all.

By JB

December 9, 2005 04:30 PM | Link to this

Walt Poddubny……Oh my god John……

I will give DW the season to get the ship righted.

The best move ever made was: Hiring Bob Hartley as coach. That was the first move since the franchise`s inception that gave the organization major league credibility.

What I have started to research are the moves that set the building blocks in 1998 and 1999. Look at Nashvilles front office,GM, assistant GM and scouting dept. They set that franchise on solid ground with great scouting and personel people.The likes of Poile and Shero are top notch. Great bloodlines also. This has to be in place before any part of the team could be built....I feel like Don may not have the pieces under him to make solid organizational decisions. I think Waddell should look at the people under him and look for some answers......Well Im off to the game…..Go Thrashers

By RomansFriendBill

December 9, 2005 04:35 PM | Link to this

Sorry about the rant. I meant every word except i realize it’s the wrong forum.

John, i can’t let you put Coach Hartley in the best moves column for Waddell. Coach Hartley has NOT accomplished anything with his players. This is his year to earn kudos. Coach Hartley is failing. Sorry John, not a good hire..yet.

By RomansFriendBill

December 9, 2005 04:45 PM | Link to this

See..people like Johm and JB are the problem. Just because someone had success in the past and they also have “credibility” they are good moves. The game is won by scoring more goals then the other team. You don’t win games with “credibility” or “experience.” Let’s trade for Steve Yzerman. He’s got plenty of “class”, “experience”, “credibilty” but he’s lost a step or two, He knows he’s not the player he once was. JB go admire Holik’s experience and street Cred.

By Russ

December 9, 2005 04:53 PM | Link to this

I definitely don’t think it would be meaningless to fire him in the middle of the season. This would allow ownership to start searching for a new GM behind the scenes (if they haven’t already). It would also show that there is definitely an opening and maybe some well qualified candidates would come out of the woodwork to throw their hat in the ring. I know that they can’t sign someone that is already under contract with another team, but I’m sure discussions go on all the time behind the scenes. If they could reach an “unannounced” agreement with someone before the season ended, this person could start preparing for the draft. I think an argument could be made that it would be more meaningless, or at least more inefficient, to fire him after the season, then hire a new GM with no time to prepare for the draft.

By caillou

December 9, 2005 05:25 PM | Link to this

These guys who bash Waddell never give a good alternative, in the last six years who has drafted better players than Heatley and Kovalchuk, nobody. If Heatley had signed this year it would have been his qualifing offer and we would have lost him to free agency next year for …….NOTHING. Don is not some hockey moron. In Stefan’s draft class the only player at the start of the year with more points was Havlat, maybe Comrie, and the Sedin twins were close that is it. What I ask is, who is better? Nashville, huh? Legwand/ Hartnell/ Upshall/ Hamhuis, Nashville would have given us all of them for Heatley and laughed in our face for ripping us off.

By erock

December 9, 2005 06:25 PM | Link to this

holik..modry..mellanby..jpvj..aubin..petrovicky..boulton…patty…sutton…larsen..devries..ALL OF THESE PLAYERS EITHER OVERPAID OR TOO SLOW OR NO GRIT…WHEN IS THE LAST TIME WE HAD A FIGHTING MAJOR IN A GAME?? OTHER THAN EXELBY THER HAS BEEN NO GRIT..NO TUFFNESS..CALL UP THESE DRAFT PICKS THAT WADDELL HAS DRAFTED AND SEE WHAT YOU GOT!!!!!!

By TonyC

December 9, 2005 06:31 PM | Link to this

Hartley is not the problem. Or maybe he is??? I find it hard to believe that a guy who went to the conference finals 4 times in 5-6 years (Also winning the Cup a couple of times!) is a bad coach. Bill Parcells’ Cowboys haven’t exactly lit the NFL on fire but is he regarded as a bad coach? I think not. Larry Brown is vilified for being a mercenary, but never for his coaching prowess. These may seem like apples and oranges when compared with Hartley, but I believe the comparison is good, because when given the talent these coaches all WIN (most often the championship, at the LEAST a division title). Also, Parcells and Brown both take a year or two on average to get their squads ready - I believe that this is the case here, Hartley has had 1.5 seasons before the 05-06 campaign and the last season obviously was marred by the Snyder tragedy. I think that the GM bashing has merit. I am not so much exasperated(spl?) with DW for his drafting as I am for his free agent signings. Prime example #1: Modry. Just watch his game, he is too slow for the “new NHL” and still makes the moves of a 90s era D-man. Eample #2 Hurme. ( I don’t think I need to expound). Example #3 The contract he gave Rhodes. Obviously no one is pleased with the direction the season has taken, and it must be debilitating to play in front of AHL rookies now shake-n-baked into NHL rookies….This is the area to blame Hartley, the team should be reminded that they are PROFESSIONALS. That means do your job regardless if I start between the pipes! Holik has been dissapointing, but most specifically, the D has been horrible. Andy Sutton is just now learning that he’s huge and can hit? I feel that Sutton has been a big dissapointment, I know that he has all the talent in the world, but surrounding him with European D-men to learn from is showing. Who made the move to get this guy????? Oh yeah, DW. Who got all the aforementioned Euros?? I don’t know, I’m sure I couldn’t do a better job, but hey man for $80 for a almost-good seat, the team I pay for should be better

By Larry

December 9, 2005 06:34 PM | Link to this

Heatley left because his dad did not get along with Waddell from day one. Period. His dad did not respect DW as a GM. As far a Hartley goes, he was handed that ‘already successful’ Stanley Cup team, he did not develop it. Don’t forget, he was also fired from that team. He also needs to be held accountable for this mess.

By LAC

December 9, 2005 11:24 PM | Link to this

Everyone gets some right. But looking at the waddell tenute, it is a 70% BAD and 30% Good.

But overall, most notably the past three seasons, exception Savard, his deals have been quite poor.

The holick deal is a complete mess, Watched the game tonight and he IS directly responsible for CBJ goal one.

He lost the puck 7 times in the game, won a few faceoffs, but was Uneffective as usual. He HAS to GO.

But this team really played against a BAD team tonight. Second worst in the NHL, we did not look that good. Garrnett played VERY WELL in the game, and it was a pleasure to see. The defense was for the most part played better than in recent games, but Geez Modry is SLOW.

But this teams needs a SHOCK, to get going. don waddell is NO LONGER the man for the job. He is completly out of touch with the team and it’s needs. I realize the cap, but at least five players need to go.

The worst is these “owners” need to get off their hands. They have NO idea how to run a sports team, and have a Complete Idiot bernie mullin running the show.

don waddell may have made some good movies, but like Brenden and JB point out… 5 years of waddell is ENOUGH and this team needs a SHAKE UP… and the spotlight shines on slick hair don… But with these WIMP owners… Who Knows… Happy Holidays !

By Bob

December 9, 2005 11:32 PM | Link to this

Blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while as the ones you list above show. Waddell’s bad moves far outnumber his poor ones. The man has no clue outside a #1 or #2 overall pick.

By Brendan

December 9, 2005 11:41 PM | Link to this

This is an excellent topic, and a timely one. I’d like to thank John Manasso for addressing this issue so seriously. You bloggers asked him to turn up the heat. Here’s your (our) opportunity.

I’m going to try my level best. Feel free to ridicule me and say I’m horribly offbase. But here goes.

Kovalchuk - An excellent pick. Credit Waddell for not accepting Montreal’s five-player deal in exchange for him on the morning of the draft. Flip side of the argument? I asked my Aunt Bertha, who’s never seen a hockey game, what the Thrashers should do on Draft Day 2001. She opened the newspaper and read the scouting report. Then she said, “Seems like they should draft Kovalchuk.” Well done, Auntie. That’s what they did. She’s a genius, isn’t she?

Marc Savard - In my opinion, Waddell’s BEST MOVE EVER. Marc simply fell out of favor in Calgary. He was a steal. Watch out, though. He’ll come looking for the big $$ next season, so Waddell might move him at the trade deadline, saying he’s too expensive to sign anyways. Ouch. I’d keep Savard, unless an offer “too good to be true” falls into my lap. Isn’t he our leading scorer? Or close to it? This is the inherent danger of leaving Waddell in charge. Do you believe Marc Savard is a “short timer” no matter what? It’s a fair question.

Bob Hartley - A fantastic find. Yes, Hartley inherited an “already successful team” under Coach Marc Crawford. But he didn’t mess things up, that’s for sure. I don’t know that Hartley is the best coach in the league, but I see no reason to let him go. Since Hartley left Colorado, the Aves haven’t done all that much. They blew a 3-1 series lead vs. Minnesota in 2003. In 2004, the Aves beat Dallas, 4-1, but then lost to San Jose, 4-2. At one point, the Aves trailed that series 3-0. Tony Granato didn’t do any better as Head Coach of the Aves. In short, Hartley wasn’t the problem in Colorado.

Kozlov - All things considered, a very successful deal. But is Kozlov a player who Atlanta must build around in the coming years? Especially at his age? Could he be dangled at the trade dealine for picks or top prospects in the minors?

Havelid for Foster is a good deal. But is Havelid one of the best defensemen in the league? Or merely the best one that we’ve got? That’s a topic for discussion.

Andy Sutton for Dominichelli - Uhh, pretty good move. But is Sutton an upper echelon defensemen in the NHL? Are other teams clamoring for his services? If so, let’s hear the offers.

8th round pick, Garnet Exelby - One of Waddell best two “later round” draft picks.

There’s two other Waddell moves I’ll give him credit for.

1) Pasi Nurminen, 6th round pick, 2001 2) Peter Bondra signing, for the paltry sum of $505,000, plus some bonuses.

I loved the Bondra acquisition for the money. Bondra has scored some amazing goals in the NHL. I’m glad he’s here, and not being overpaid.

Waddell has drafted some other players who are or were in the NHL. In 2000, he drafted Darcy Hordichuk, 180th. Also in 2000, he drafted Simon Gamache, 290th. I saw Gamache score a goal in the earlier game on OLN before the Thrashers-Sharks game. According to my research, on December 2, 2003, Gamache and Kirill Safronov were traded to Nashville for Ben Simon and Tomas Kloucek. How would you rate that deal? It doesn’t seem to be “dynamic” either way to me.

What’s the “skinny” on Hordichuk? On March 19, 2002, Hordichuk was traded by Atlanta to Phoenix with the Thrashers’ 4th round pick (Lance Monych) and 5th round pick (John Zeiler) for Kirill Safronov and the rights to Ruslan Zainullin and the Coyotes’ 4th round pick (Patrick Dwyer).

Considering that the “rights to” Ruslan Zainullin ultimately brought Marc Savard to town, I’ll say this was a successful trade. Kirill Safronov ultimately brough Ben Simon and Tomas Kloucek to town. Jury’s still out on that one.

Earlier in Kloucek’s career, he was traded to the Rangers in exchange for Mike Dunham, Decembe 12, 2002. Today Dunham is a Thrasher. No word on whether Kloucek will be a starter with the Thrashers. I do not know if Safronov is still in the NHL. In 2003-04, he split the year with the Chicago Wolves and Milwaukee Admirals, of the AHL.

Last, but not least, Russ brought up the point that a new GM needs time to assess the Thrashers’ situation. The sooner this can be done, the better. I doubt many people expect a new GM to “waltz in the door” and make immediate, sweeping reforms. That’s unrealistic.

But the benefit to making an “in season” change would be that Don would no longer control the direction of the team.

Well, that’s true. Isn’t it? Judging by most of the posts here over the last several weeks, the “mood” is that Don doesn’t know how to evaluate talent. And the sooner he can be removed, the better it will be.

I don’t completely agree. It’s more important to bring in someone capable than it is to remove Don. Don’s replacement could be WORSE. Hey, that’s possible. It really is.

Let me ask the bloggers this: Do you trust this ownership to pick a suitable replacement for Waddell? Do you think that the Atlanta Spirit Group (Levensen, Mullin, Seydel, Gearon, etc.) really knows what it’s doing? I’m really curious as to what the bloggers think.

Is the biggest obstacle the ownership?

Before you say “Yes,” emphatically, they did agree to let the GM spend the cap. I think that’s a good thing. It shows a real commitment towards winning. But that doesn’t mean that the ownership knows how to select a suitable replacement for Waddell. Who’s really out there to fill the post?

Unfortunately, I’ve yet to read this comment at any of the hockey websites: “I tell you, Ron McLean, there’s only one GM job in the league that could ever bring me out of retirement. But the Atlanta Thrashers just aren’t returning my phone calls.” — Scotty Bowman

By budman

December 10, 2005 08:00 AM | Link to this

Waddell did a fantastic job building this team…for the OLD NHL. We have big, slow defensman, a moody superstar and a coach who kills development of young players. Hartley is constantly sitting players and rotating guys. Ronald Petrovicky sat for 6 games, and we lost how many in that stretch?

Hartley allows for no continuity/chemistry to be built among his players.

The Thrashers have no hope of making the playoffs.

By BarryJ

December 10, 2005 09:33 AM | Link to this

John, You haven’t ceased to astound me with some of your choices of topics and, umm, ‘acumen’ (for lack of a better word) the past couple of years. How you can type some of your thoughts with a clear conscience?…Again, never ceases to amaze me…

That pathetically paltry list of ‘positives’ (hey, that was some kind of Literature event just then—completely inadvertent I assure you) doesn’t even warrant a real response.

How about this thought, which I believe ‘trumps’ them all: Look at our RECORD, for Heaven’s sake!

I can see John’s in the proverbial kitchen getting ready to cook up some new (old?) excuses for good ol’ Donny…

The most disturbing statement in your blog, John, was that Donny-boy has the support of ownership—with an inference the fans’ better get used to it. Well, good sir, that is something I will not accept. Ownership will LOSE the support of myself and anyone I can convince to stop subsidizing incompetence.

Then again, I doubt I’ll have to do too much ‘crusading’ being that the appropriate and wonderful MARKET forces seem to be well in effect at Philips Arena…

Welcome to Blueland!!!

By JB

December 10, 2005 09:54 AM | Link to this

I tell you, Ron McLean, there’s only one GM job in the league that could ever bring me out of retirement. But the Atlanta Thrashers just aren’t returning my phone calls.� — Scotty Bowman

Brendan………Is this true?….are you joking?……I never heard this until now

Romans Friend Bill......If winning junior titles with The Cornwall Aces and Livan Titans, a Calder Cup with the Hershey Bears , 4 trips to the Western finals and winning Lord Stanley with the Avs isnt credibility, then I dont know what is. The man has won at every level and every stop. Lets fire him and bring in a Curt Fraser type that is unproven at any level. I`ll take Bob any day over almost anybody….well …except Scotty.

By Bob

December 10, 2005 10:06 AM | Link to this

John,

Ok, here’s a pro/con list for what comes to mind now:

Pro: Traded Emerson and Buchberger for Kaberle and Audette

Con:

Let Kaberle go for nothing because Waddell thought he wasn’t worth the money. But Modry is? Let Audette go for something in return but can’t remember what, so it couldn’t have been good. Let him go over money too. So, took a good deal and p** it away over money.

Pro: Drafted Kovalchuk and Heatley

Con: Both picks were no brainers, any of us would have made them. And lost Heatley to a demand out of town that my gut tells me was more then just about the Snyder death. I don’t think Heatley felt this club was going anywhere, Waddell had us floundering for 5 years, couldn’t blame Heatley for wanting out.

Pro: The Savard trade, have no Con to that, that was good. Let’s see him be smart and proactive and sign Savard to an extension this year, before he goes to market this summer. That’s what good GM’s do, be proactive and sign the guys they want to keep. Are we going to see Waddell waffle around and dicker dollars again, this time with Savard?

By the way, that’s another reason to get Waddell out of here now, midseason. Makes a statement to the players that ownership knows where the problem is and the owners are going to fix it. New GM can come in and start making good decisions, guys like Savard will want to stay.

Pro:
Signing Bondra.

Con: Word is that the official announced salary of $500k is really much more when his bonuses factor in, and he will make the bonuses, I think he gets paid $2.5m with bonuses.

And Bondra is old, he’s hurt now, Mellanby old and hurt.

Pro: don’t have any more.

Con: that’s a Con in itself that in all this time those are the only decent moves he’s made, and the Kovalchuk, Heatley picks only happened because Waddell has been so ineffective leading to crap records and high draft picks.

List of more cons: Rhodes Maracle Dafoe Any goalie Waddell has brought in is either a sieve or injury prone. Don’t say Nurminen was a plus, if you remember, Waddell drafted Nurminen as an overage Euro and the reason nobody took Nurminen was his knee trouble earlier in his career, well it blew up didn’t it?

All the free agent defensemen Waddell signs to turn things around, they all blow up in his face, Havelid is the only guy that has ever been brought in who’s decent. We still have no #1 defenseman, after all this time! That’s pitiful, Adam Burt, Reirdon, the list is endless of pitiful defensemen Waddell brings in. He’s got no eye for talent.

Waddell’s drafting stinks. Look at all the defensemen he’s drafted, who’s worked out besides Exelby? Like I said, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. All the rags are talking about all these great rookie defensemen making an impact this year, every time I watch Phaenuf I want to just puke thinking we’re stuck with a GM and his scouts who can’t make the right picks.

Letting Staios go for nothing in return, Waddell thought he wasn’t worth the money.

Let Brunette go for nothing in return, Waddell thought he wasn’t worth the money.

I’m beginning to think the owners need to take the Waddell approach and think about letting Waddell go, because Waddell wasn’t worth the money.

The owners have got to be aware of it. You had a Friday night game last night, college football season is over, and the place was half empty because this town won’t support a loser. Owners can’t let that continue.

By LAC

December 10, 2005 11:46 AM | Link to this

Brenden… I vote YOU as new GM. Your insight was EXCELLENT and you covered ALL the bases.

Audette was sent to Buffalo for a draft pick as I recall and who knows what THAT was spent on or sent off.

Then there is Ivan Myjesky, now with Washington, playing regular, hitting hard. Got him for a number 2 pick and “Just Let Him Go” Heck, at least he is far better than Modry.

Yes…waddell has NO CUE to the aspects of forming a solid team. The defense we havd and have had, is and never has been , solid. Look at out GAA this year.We are at the top of the league in goals allowed.

I watch the other teams play and most have one or two TOUGH guys and a couple who can handle the puck and the others muckers who do the job without fanfare.

But I have to question these “owners”.

They look like a bunch of kids who bought a toy and have no idea how to play with it, But GEE WHIZ it sure looks cool…

If they ARE businessmen.. then act like it. I can only assume that the email’s, letter and announcements of “WE OWN A SPORTS TEAM” have not yet all been sent out.

I again say this… Owners, start acting like owners. Your actions so far STINK at the VERY least. You have NO clue as to the management of this operation, Both clubs and instead of moving forward… We are heading slightly backwards with Hockey and a plane crash with basketball.

There are a number of EXCELLENT men out there who would be Heads and Shoulders above this waddell… But you guys must still be comparing masters degree’s or PHD’s or something, or on vacation to NOT see what waddell is and continues to NOT do for this team.

Best advice, Fire waddell now and save some face, send that idiot mullin off for some crumpets as well, get someone in here who can do the job. If NOT… Sell the complete operation and get out of the sports ownership business. I, for ONE , am sick and tried of you clowns doing nothing and allowing us to be the laughing stock of the NHL/NBA… it has not gotten better… It is FAR worse.

Take off the training DIAPERS boys, fire waddell and statr sending a message of WHO IS IN CHARGE. If you guys worked for me you’d be GONE…right after waddell!!!!!!!!!

By dj

December 10, 2005 11:56 AM | Link to this

What everyone doesn’t realize that this is the first off-season and regular season that Waddell has had the full support of ownership. During the last season, Exelby went down with a knee injury I think and was out for six weeks about. Our team went through the longest losing streak of the season, our penalty kill went to crap, and we were left out of the playoff race. I was made Waddell didn’t do anything until I realize he couldn’t. TimeWarner wouldn’t give him the money. Look at what he did without money. He got Kovy, Heatley, Kozlov, Exelby, Sutton, Lehtonen, Nurminen, Bob Hartley, and then He got some role players in Petrovicky. Stefan had been a bust but no one in that draft class has been really that awesome. Now with ownership, he gets a rid of a player that didn’t want to be here and gets a two solid players. He signs Kovy to the world’s most jacked up contract(making less money over the next two years then this year). He signs Bondra and Shields to min. amounts. And, Holick brings more to the table then goals. He wins faceoffs and if you have the puck then you will score. To all the Waddell haters, open your eyes and realize it’s hockey. Players will blossom in other systems then in ours (Staios and Burnette). That happens. Waddell has my support.

By Mick

December 10, 2005 01:05 PM | Link to this

While I’ve tried to give credit to Waddell over the past few years, he is losing my confidence. I agree, he has chosen a perfect team, for yesterday’s NHL. Todays NHL is made for the faster, high talented, playmakers etc…and for a guy who was on the rules commity and voted them in, I would think Waddell would have had an upper hand in the know how of whom to keep/trade.

Now I do admit, his draft picks were good, up until this year. Kovy, Heater, Lehts, Ex, Slate, all no-brainers really, but never the less, we got em. Then he brings in Hartley, Savvy, Kozlov, Petro, all good moves aswell.

However, it seems Waddell was panicing or something this season, bringing in all these veterans. The best move he made this season was Bondra, and he managed to get him for so cheap is because Bondra WANTED to come here, so he got lucky. But with Holik, Mellanby, Modry, Shields, Dunham etc…they’re all reaching (or have reached) their peaks. If you look at last season, without all these vets, the team was only a few points shy of the playoffs (we would have made it if Savvy and Ex could stay healthy). And now this season, we’re on pace for a worse record.

Early in the season, people were blaming our goalies, Lehts for being out of shape, Dunham, Shields for being too old, Garnett/Berkhoel for being too inexperienced. Then they start to blame Hartley for ‘not putting chemistry into the team’ and what not. Then they start to blame some players they hate. Finally they start hitting the real point; Waddell. Hartley can only do so much with the players. He can coach his a$$ off, but its still up to the players to get the job done. And just because you bring in these highly credited veterans, it doesn’t meen your youngens will improve.

I think we’ll be lucky to keep guys like Kovy, Savvy etc..next season. Honestly, at this rate, Waddell will either think they are ‘not worth the money’ (just look at the squabble in early season trying to get Kovy to sign), or they will want out because they’re talent is being wasted. I feel sorry for guys like them, who have huge talent, give it their all (ALMOST) every night, and at the end of the season, are rewarded with another lost playoff shot.

Now, Jon you’re right, don’t kick Waddell out now. Leave him in and let the ownership see what kind of a team record they get out of him at the end of the season, then make your decision upon that. Which would give you plenty of time to begin your search for another possible GM.

Now if only we had realized this a couple seasons ago, we coulda nabbed Darryl Sutter :)

By Brendan

December 10, 2005 01:48 PM | Link to this

Yes, I was kidding, JB. Scotty Bowman has no interest in the Atlanta Thrashers. At least so far as I am aware. I’d be “delighted” to be wrong about that.

By Brendan

December 10, 2005 02:30 PM | Link to this

I didn’t realize it was time to address the “con” side. I left that part completely off. I only evaluated the “pro” side that Manasso put forth. I wouldn’t know where to begin addressing the con. There’s just so much. (Okay Brendan, just talk about the MOST EGREGIOUS and leave it at that.) Fine. Damian Rhodes blew it with Ottawa. Basically, Damian Rhodes parlayed “one achievement” into a 3-year, $10 million hoodwinking of the Atlanta Thrashers. Back in 1998, Ottawa was the #8 seed. New Jersey was #1. Rhodes led the Sens to a six-game victory. They were later ousted by eventualy Eastern Conference Champs, Washington, 4-1. By the time 1999 rolled around, Ottawa was a real contender, and #2 seed. They were SWEPT by Buffalo. And let me tell you, the Sabres don’t sweep too many teams in the playoffs. So, what did Ottawa do? They said “adios” to Damian. Well, I can never fully prove this, but I think the Senators knew Rhodes was injured. So they traded him to Atlanta for “future considerations.” I don’t know EXACTLY what those future considerations were. But Damian Rhodes played only 81-games over three years, while collecting $10 million.

If Ottawa was so “pleased” with Rhodes, why did they let him go for … uhhh … “future considerations?” I don’t know. They either believed he was on the downward slide. Or, they knew he was injured. I believe the technical term was “sports hernia.”

Fine. I knew “right then” that we shouldn’t ever trade with Ottawa AGAIN. But we sure did!! We then took Shawn McEachern and his $3.1 million annual salary off their hands for Brian Pothier and Ottawa’s sixth (6th) round choice, who turned out to be Dan Turple, on June 29, 2002. I don’t know much about Turple. I can only hope he turns into something. Brian Pothier still plays for Ottawa, a teams whose roster is arguably the best in the league.

Oh, but we’re not done with Ottawa just yet! They fleece us out of Dany Heatley, 2nd overall pick from 2000, for Greg deVries and Marian Hossa. Now, Hossa is a “proven commodity.” He is doing precisely as well as had been projected for him. The problem with Hossa is his salary. If Hossa made $2.9 to $3.6 million, I think we’d all be pretty happy with the returns. That’s, uhh, not his salary, however. He’s getting $5 million this year, $6 million NEXT year, and $7 million in the 3rd year. Great player? Yes. Overpaid? You bet. What about deVries? He’s been a casualty of the “new rules,” but a decent player who bring offense to the table. Overpaid at $2.28 million? I think so. Combined, Hossa and deVries are about what Heatley is doing.

But let’s be honest. Hossa can change the outcome of a game. Heatley can change the outcome of a season. Heatley’s won at every conceivable level, just like Bob Hartley.

Don’s a humanitarian first, and a GM second. If there were a “for sale” sign on your neighbor’s house, you should root for Don to move in. Seems like a “nice guy.” I bet he’d loan you his lawnmower AND a cup of sugar, and throw in some T-shirts, too.

There are plenty more “cons” I could get into. But I preferred to rant on trades with Ottawa, and how the Senators have benefitted from having Atlanta as an NHL expansion team.

There are tons of trades and drafts I could have looked at, and things that flew utterly under the radar, that are of no consequence. Like Kamil Piros traded to Florida for Kyle Rossiter, on March 8, 2004. Who cares? Thought Piros might still be playing for the Panthers.

Before I finish, I wanted to point out one last thing. It’s “tiny,” but I wanted to mention it. Mea culpa. When Pascal Rheaume was traded to New Jersey for “future considerations” and those considerations were returned to the Devils without explanation, I got to thinking about the draft. I don’t care that it was 3rd, 4th or 5th round pick what was being bandied about. I took a look at the 1999 Draft.

And guess what I found?

Anyone? Anyone at all? No one came out of that draft, right? With the 210th pick, overall, the Red Wings got Henrik Zetterberg. The previous year, 1998, these same Red Wings snagged Pavel Datsyuk with the 171st overall selection. (!!!)

Do these later round picks count? Sometimes, they do. Sometimes, they change the course of your organization.

In 1999, the 1st overall pick was Patrik Stefan. The 210th pick was Henrik Zetterberg. He was probably “future considerations” of some other trade.

D’oh.

By briton

December 10, 2005 02:32 PM | Link to this

THANK YOU John for steering everyone away from “the trade.” It’s nice to see everyone debating other aspects of the team and Waddell. If this keeps up I may return to reading these on a regular basis. Good job of laying things out Brendan!

I’m not going to make excuses for Waddell but I think there are a few teams out there right now who have not lived up to the expectations that their roster indicated. Whether it was a change in the rules that made some of those big veteran signings worthless or just simple lack of ability to put a good team together, we’re not alone. There’s a few GM’s and coaches whose jobs are on the line. In that sense, and especially with no good replacement in line, I’m going to have to ease off of my earlier position and say that maybe Waddell should finish out the season.

By Brendan

December 10, 2005 04:11 PM | Link to this

I don’t think Don Waddell is the worst GM in the league. But I won’t cry if he gets fired. I’ll cry if he gets fired and isn’t replaced by someone better.

Someone’s chuckling right now, snickering about “how low the bar has been set” on that one.

Someone else is probably saying, “Brendan, you’re so optimistic! I bet you really think that a new GM can just waltz right in here and win us a Cup in 3-4 years?”

Why not? It’s happened before.

You don’t even have to look that far within the division to find an instance of a pathetic, nothin’-happenin’ team whose ship got righted in three years time.

His name is Jay Feaster, GM of the Lightning. He brought in John Tortorella to coach. Kept Vinnie Lecavalier, snared Marty St. Louis, Brad Richards, Dave Andreychuk, Cory Stillman, Ben Clymer, Andre Roy, Ruslan Fedotenko. Made sure they had a bonafide backstopper in Khabibulin, and a backup in Grahame.

The result?

They won the Stanley Cup in 2004. There were even signs of their brilliance in the previous season. They trailed the series with the Washington Capitals, 2-0, headed to Washington. Instead of folding their tents, they rallied to take the next four games and advance to the next round. Bear in mind, this Tampa franchise had only once previously EVER tasted the playoffs, and it was an entirely different organization in 1996. Had they not run into the eventual CUP CHAMPIONS, New Jersey, in the 2nd round in 2003, who knows what might have happened for the Lightning that year. I suspect they’d have made the Conference Finals. But that’s how the matchups went in 2003.

Did Tampa have any luck along the way? Sure! Sure they did! They stayed healthy. They were the #1 seed, by feasting on the SE division. That gave them favorable playoff matchups. Like how? They drew #8, the NY Islanders. Then, thanks to an upset of #2 Boston, the 7th seeded Habs rolled into Tampa. The Lightning swept them. Then they got #3 Philly in the Conference Finals. They won that one, too. And in the Cup Finals, rather than #1 Detroit, #2 San Jose, or #3 Vancouver, or even #4 Colorado or #5 Dallas, they got #6, Calgary.

But the point is, “it’s possible.” If Tampa can do it, so can Atlanta.

Call me crazy. Call me overly optimistic. But if we can just get the right GM in place, our decisions will get better. We’ve got a great coach in Hartley. We’ve got “pieces” of the Stanley Cup puzzle in Kovy, Savvy, Hossa, and Lehtonen. We’ve got checkers in Stefan and Holik. Maybe Coburn will develop into something?

We’ve got guys who can be traded for something of value, even if it’s just “picks.” A smart GM parlays picks into players who actually suit up and play!!!

Kozlov, Sutton, Havelid, even Petro, could be moved for players or picks. Aubin and Vigier are expendible. Dunham and Shields can be moved in deals that benefit Atlanta.

But there’s got to be a “master plan.” There’s got to be a “vision” for the strategy of this club. I couldn’t tell ya what ours is.

I really can’t. Someone tell me what it is, ‘cuz I’d like to know.

By JB

December 10, 2005 05:23 PM | Link to this

With a hard cap in place, there will be a smaller window for success for each team. It also allows teams to get real good fast. It is up to the GM more than ever in the new NHL.

By joe

December 10, 2005 06:01 PM | Link to this

How many teams could overcome #5 and 6 goalies on the depth chart? And who signed these guys? Several teams out there have had worse losing streaks with more talent in the pipes. Luongo? Horrible this year. How’d you like to be a Panther or Penguin fan this year?

Garnett is turning into a comfortable #2 and will be a quite cheap backup for us next year. Say we didn’t have 4 goalies go down at the start of the year, we win 4 other games, 8 more pts., right in the thick of it and everyone is optimistic.

Buffalo fans have wanted Lindy Ruff’s head for years. Now they are one of the premier teams in the East.

I say fire Bobby Cox. He’s the one that causes everyone to waste playoff money.

By Brendan

December 10, 2005 10:53 PM | Link to this

I like the way Joe is thinkin’ here. He’s on to somethin’.

What’s the only season that counts?

In case anyone had to wonder two seconds what the answer is, it’s the postseason.

I don’t care how many wins or points a team has. Those are only important insofaras seedings and qualifying is concerned.

The true measure of a team lies with its talent, depth and coaching. And is it “healthy?” Let’s not forget “team chemistry.”

When games can be won in a shootout, and points can still be awarded for LOSSES, provided that they occur in overtime or the shootout, I think the whole system that the NHL uses to determine its playoff field is “flawed.”

I think that’s a situation that seriously needs to be addressed. But I’m way off topic.

What I wanted to say is … the stat no team can FAKE is their “goals for” and “goals against.” It is what it is. It tells the tale! There’s no hiding from it.

Traditionally, the “blueprint” for a Stanley Cup Champion is 250 or more goals for, and less than 200 goals against, for an 82-game season.

That’s gonna change with the “new rules.” But there’s a team clearly on pace for those totals: The Ottawa Senators. They probably lead the league in both categories.

If Atlanta ever fielded a team fitting the blueprint, I wouldn’t care where they are seeded. They’d be the team to watch.

I’d say this about Bobby Cox. Owners love him. Their goal is to make money. Playoffs equal “pure profit.” In that regard, Cox was the goose that laid the golden eggs, with 15-straight division titles, dating back to when he was with the Blue Jays.

I’m about to get in a “murky” area, but I believe GMs have to build teams that are built to last. I wouldn’t want a Florida Marlins-type team, that wins the World Series every team it makes the playoffs. That’s highly unusual, as far as “results” go. I’d rather have a team that provides a “window of opportunity.”

I want to cite the Detroit Red Wings as a perfect example. From 1993 all the way ‘til 2004, the Red Wings were either the “odds on favorites” or “a top contender.” And yet, they only walked away with three (3) Cups and four (4) appearances in the Stanley Cup finals for all those years.

The lesson is: “Something usually goes wrong.” Whether it’s unfortunate officiating, bad bounces at critical moments, or just running into some 8th or 7th seeded “Cinderella” team, a lot can go wrong. So, I believe, the GM had better have built himself a team that’s going to have a half-way decent shot at winning it all, every year, in a five-year window.

That way, maybe the Thrashers walk away with two Cups.

It takes a special GM to keep tweaking the roster in a useful way. Sometimes that means jettisoning popular players for high 1st round picks. Sometimes that means letting a very good, but very high-priced player get away to another team, while positioning yourself to land a younger, faster, stronger player, who can achieve similar results at half the salary.

In 2003, when Devils GM Lou Lamoriello traded Peter Sykora ($9 million-a-year) to the Mighty Ducks for Oleg Tverdosky and Jeff Friesen, most thought the ol’ man had finally shown the onset of senility, or had gone stark-raving mad. Yep, he was crazy allright. Crazy like a Fox. Friesen delivered, at a fraction of the salary. He had two goals in the Cup clinching game vs. those very same Ducks.

This is what good GM’s do.

By LAC

December 10, 2005 11:46 PM | Link to this

One positive folks do not remember…

In the LAST NHL season in which Tampa won it all… ONLY ONE team took more points from Tampa than they gave up… ATLANTA.

We got 7 they got 6.

This season is the same we have 4 they have 4. So where do we go ???????

We must look at non-productive players and ship them out.

1.Holick, Too much of nothin from him, washed up way before the great waddell threw millions at him and he has what…3 goals ? Cannot pass, not tough and seems unmotivated.

2.Stafan, time has about run it’s course with this NUMBER 1 draft pick ! Just does not play an effective role.

1. Modry, slow , slow, slow. Takes more hooking calls than anyone in the league. Not tough in the corners and forwards can evade him with ease.

4.Viger, too reckless and does not have an offensive upside, and fails to backcheck in an effective manner.

1. Sutton… This guy HAS to step it up to notch 8. He is like a big locomotive lugging a 100 car coal train up a 2% grade, he is slowing down… Not stepping it up. He needs to do more with his size, get mean and punish the forwards coming at him.

These guys have gotten away so far, but it HAS TO STOP. We won last night, against a poor team. Chicago is a step better, our play Sunday afternoon will be interesting. Other teams are pulling away from up and we cannot afford another 5 game losing streak.

I will NEVER change my mind on waddell and mullin. Those two need to go ASAP, and these owners either need to Grow up and become REAL owners or sell out asap. Biggest problem is one owner does not majority rule to be effective !