Thrashers

By Ryan

December 15, 2005 04:14 PM | Link to this

John, I am not as knowleded as some who post but I am a hockey fan. And everyone has their opinion. I just have a question. The Devils are struggling and so are the Thrashers. Would there be something to gain bringing in a struggling player to an already struggling team? Do you think a deal would shake things up for the Thrashers? If that is the reason than I can see a gain. The Thrashers are underachieving. We all know that. A shake up would be interesting. Sorry, that was 2 questions.

By Bob

December 15, 2005 04:24 PM | Link to this

I don’t see any possibility of a Thrashers-Devils deal. Both teams have Cap problems.

The Devils will dump a player or players to someone in the West like the Wild who have plenty of Cap room

By Mick

December 15, 2005 04:27 PM | Link to this

Now this is a fresh Blog. These are fun, nice work Jeff! Brylin is a solid choice, probably a replacement for a 3rd or 4th liner. He is a pretty solid 2-way player, and would be nice on the PK.

Parise would be a nice addition, but the likelyhood of Jersey giving him up is pretty minimal.

Langenbrunner would be a nice addition for either the 3rd or 4th lines. He’s got a good defensive mind and has his share of streaks. Would be nice to get him in place of possiblt Aubin…but for $1.6mil, its pushing his value.

Kozlov I would consider in place of Holik. Kozlov has some speed and a scoring touch, though he doesn’t have as much body as Holik, but he moves his feet, something Holik is missing.

Matvichuk I’d stay away from because he is reaching his peak, and I don’t think would add anymore to the team than Modry or DeVries have already.

Malakhov is too expensive for what he offers. We have a better version of him in Exelby, and we really don’t need anymore penalty drawers.

In the end, I think Langenbrunner or Brylin would be the top choices, to add a little more something to the 3rd and 4th lines. They would add a whole lot more than Aubin or Boulton. You could even send down Vigier or Larsen to Chicago (who need a good veteren). But looking at the state of things in the front office, I doubt Waddell will make any of these moves, as he’s probably looking more towards his Team USA. Its not been common of the team to make BIG mid-season trades.

Again though, awsome Blog Jeff, hope we get more of these soon.

By Brendan

December 15, 2005 04:28 PM | Link to this

The only player worth pursuing and within our price range would be Zach Parise, who was acquired by Devils GM Lou Lamoriello on a brilliant draft day move where the Devils traded up to get a gifted young player.

Imagine that? Moving UP instead of DOWN in a draft. I doubt Lou will part with him. He’s young and cheap. That’s not the player to deal. But it’s the player to STEAL, if you’re the Thrashers.

In any event, the Devils were definitely hit hard by the cap.

I don’t know that the Devils will find a suitor for Richard Matvichuk, who hasn’t lived up to expectations in recent years.

Vlady Malakhov is overpaid.

Hmmn, sounds like Don Waddell’s kind of acquisition.

Sergei Brylin wouldn’t be too bad. But we have too many Europeans as it is. That goes for Viktor Kozlov, too.

Jamie Langenbrunner could be a great acquisition, but I don’t think we have the money. There will be murmurs that Jamie isn’t what he used to be. But at $1.655 million, that’s not really overpaying him.

He was part of the 1999 Cup Champion Dallas Stars, I think. As well as the 2003 Devils, who won the Cup.

I just don’t think the Thrashers can add anyone at this point. Unless … they can move a bunch of players out of town or to the minors, paying them the minor league salary.

By Mick

December 15, 2005 04:29 PM | Link to this

Yet another name mix-up, sorry John. I’m so used to Jeff’s Blogs.

By Brendan

December 15, 2005 04:37 PM | Link to this

Note: There’s no wayyy, and I mean no wayyy, Don Waddell is gonna fleece Lou Lamoriello. Lou’s not gonna look to Atlanta, or any other Eastern Conference teams, to make castoffs. He’ll find someone, like Minnesota, who has cap room, in the Western Conference.

If there is a Devils-Thrashers deal, we’ll probably come up on the short end.

Though, Zach Parise would be a steal. If we got him, it would probably be at the expense of Marc Savard. Who is “presummed” to be “too expensive” for us to sign next season.

Hey, Lou can’t afford to sign him, either. But if Savvy got the Devil’s into the playoffs, it’d be worth it.

Does anyone really want to see Marc Savard leave town?????

By Mick

December 15, 2005 05:32 PM | Link to this

You have a good point there Brendan, Lou probably won’t be looking to any Eastern teams, let alone teams who are contending against his for a playoff birth.

It would make no sense to give away Savvy for any amount offered. He is part of the glue barely keeping the team alive. He’s even said it himself that he’s been the happiest here in Atlanta. Hes been given a chance, and hes proved himself time and again. You can’t judge a player of his caliber to be “too expensive”. Now you look at our teams highest paid players and their performance. Savard, Kovalchuk, Hossa, are all earning their pay. While guys like Holik, Modry…are the ones truely “too expensive”.

To call a top-rated offensive producer “too expensive”, proves that someone (whom shall remain nameless), doesn’t know the state of hockey.

By LAC

December 15, 2005 10:17 PM | Link to this

Hey Brenden… We looked like the team We SHOULD have been all season. Savard scored the winner !!!! BEST GAME OF THE YEAR !!!

But waddell STILL has TO GO ! He is our biggest problem. Even Holick looked good tonight, All Around Great Effort !!!!!!

By Brendan

December 15, 2005 11:22 PM | Link to this

I want to send “well-wishes” the “respect” out to Martin Brodeur, who endured a massive collision with Marian Hossa in the overtime. Then stopped him on a penalty shot, immediately thereafter.

Back to Marc Savard, I reiterate, does anyone really want to see him leave??

Is he not one of the “faces of the franchise?” I think he’s more of a “face” than Hossa is, or has been.

Here’s what I think the “truth” is. Substitute the name Donald Audette for Marc Savard and substitute the name Pete Babcock for Don Waddell.

Am I way offbase? I sure hope so!!!!

Years ago, Donald Audette was one of the few things “functioning” on the Thrashers. He was let go because he wanted his “fair market value.”

Well, Marc Savard will want his “fair market value.” I think that’s reasonable. I think Savvy should be a “cornerstone” in the Thrashers foundation. He’s only 28. He’s not “yesteryear’s all-star” just yet.

I’d say $20 million over five years, guaranteed, would be “showin’ Savvy the LOVE.” I know that’s only $4 million-a-year for a guy outscoring Hossa and Kovy, but who ELSE will give Savard a 5-year deal??? I doubt someone else will offer $15 million over three years. And three years may be what Savard looks for. He might see offers of 3-years $13 million. Why not take five years, $20M? Answer: What if the Thrashers never materialize into a winner? For the owners, the question becomes, “What if Marc gets hurt? He’s been hurt before. And this is his “contract year.” Five-years for a team that’s overdrawn on payroll might send the owners into cardiac arrest.

But an “assessment” is needed. Is Marc Savard worth paying? Is he a “cornerstone” of the Thrashers’ future? If the GM thinks, “yes,” then Waddell has to make some changes.

Hey, guess what? The Flyers were thought to have irreconsilable “salary cap” issues. Guess what GM Bobby Clarke did? Yeah, he made major changes. He dumped a lot of dead weight and overpriced stars from yesteryear. He brought in Hatcher, Rathje, Therien, Brian Savage, and Peter Forsberg. All while signing Simon Gagne, Radivojevic, and Robert Esche. And they have the rookie, Richards. Gone were Tony Amonte, Sean Burke, John Leclair, Jeremy Roenick, Vladimir Malakhov, and Alexei Zhamnov.

See?? See what was “impossible?” Aye, aye, aye, a good GM can weave “magic.” A good GM makes it all happen.

By the way, great ROAD game tonight. Atlanta totally deserved to win, with all the goal posts and crossbars they hit tonight. Thank god there was no shootout. We were within five seconds on that reality.

That’s seven outta eight possible points in the past four games. It sounds like a “streak.”

Up next? Divisional games, always important, vs. Florida and Washington.

On the horizon? The return of Kari Lehtonen.

Does it mean Don Waddell is off the hook? Heck no. There’s still too much wrong with this team. The team he “hand-picked.”

Anyone still think the problem is goaltending? The problem is inconsistency and penalties. Even tonight, they gave up six power plays and five shots on those powerplays. They got away with it, because the Devils failed to convert any of them.

The good news from tonight was outshooting the Devils 33-26, out chancing them 29-24, and getting the lone powerplay goal of the game, in the overtime. We lost the faceoff battle, 28-20.

Maybe Atlanta can keep it going?

By Jim

December 16, 2005 06:43 AM | Link to this

An interesting blob about cap room problems. The same ones that we will face next year. Any unloading will be done out west. The Devils are not about to strenghten an Eastern Division team battling them for the playoffs. Parise is an “untouchable” for the Devils. He’s a future star in the NHL. Great win. Good all around performance- especially Holik’s line. Keep it goin!

By Joey

December 16, 2005 08:26 AM | Link to this

Once again Modry takes a hooking penalty at a crucial point in the game. I think it was tied with under 4 minutes to go in the third period. When will it end, when, when, when. Mabye when Hartley sits him out a few games. Even Holik has gotten better with his hooks and holds. Nothing is impossible.

I’d love it if the Devils were dumb enough to let Parise go. That won’t happen though, not without high draft picks.

Great all around effort last night. Hopefully it keeps on going through the holidays and then maybe we can really pick up some playoff ground.

By BB

December 16, 2005 08:50 AM | Link to this

dump/trade Modry before the end of the season. The salary cap is rumored to be going up $10 million (to $49 mil) next year so we can sign Savard. He is the heart and soul of this team on the ice at the very least.

By caillou

December 16, 2005 10:37 AM | Link to this

Brendan,

There is no way we would get Parise for Savard because they need to dump salary and his for one is tiny and for two Savard already makes 2.2 mil a season. Remember it is a Salary DUMP they need, not a new cap problem.

Second the Audette move was one of Don’s best moves ever, have you seen Audette’s numbers since he was “let go”. PUTRID.

By the way Modry is +8 since being split from DeVries, he is only a -5 for the season and has 15 pts.

Also 5 shots on 7 power plays is amazing penalty killing. We were not lucky to escape if it was 15+ on 7 I would say lucky.

By Bob

December 16, 2005 10:55 AM | Link to this

caillou,

Audette was one of Don’s standard moves looking at dollars instead of using his assets properly. Audette had his frigin’ shooting hand about severed from his wrist when it got skated over in a playoff game, that would tend to ruin your career, no? The problem with that deal wasn’t if Audette was a good player after, but that he scored here, had value, and Waddell washed it down the drain over dollars. Typical Waddell nonsense. From that era of playes, Waddell p** away Audette, Staios, Kaberle, Brunette. Got nothing in return for any one of them. That’s pitiful.

By caillou

December 16, 2005 11:27 AM | Link to this

Audette was traded for a prospect that was highly rated but didn’t pan out Kamil Piros, and as I stated before Audette did nothing after we traded him. Staios is no better than any defenseman that we have had here look at his numbers here in 2000-2001 the year he was “let go” he had 22 pts and was -23, by contrast Chris Tamer had 17 pts and was a -1. I would have let him go also, and so would you. Kaberle I will agree was questionable, but he was replaced with Nick Havelid which I feel is an upgrade. Instead of Brunette we inserted for his ice time, a couple of guys who were cheaper at the time maybe you heard of them Dany Heatley and Ilya Kovalchuk. Also if this is your thinking and you feel this way then zip it about Heatley for Hossa and DeVries, that in turn brought us Bondra. Why you ask? Because Heatley would have signed a one year deal with us went UFA next year and bolted us for NOTHING, oh yeah then who would be whining, BOB, Brendan, LAC.

By Bob

December 16, 2005 11:38 AM | Link to this

zip it? LOL. You’re quite interesting. Not too knowledgeable about hockey, but interesting comeback. Zip it. LOL.

Staios is no better than any defenseman we have had here? You don’t watch much hockey do you? Do yourself a favor and buy yourself Centre Ice and watch how real GM’s put together talented teams.

Heatley couldn’t have been a UFA next year, caillou. Keep typing, your ignorance is enlightening on how someone could think Waddell is doing ok.

By caillou

December 16, 2005 12:28 PM | Link to this

Bob, sorry you are right would have been, the year after that. I apologize for the error, so we get two years out of Heater then he goes the way of the dodo. Maybe he has a great season here and we get more? Maybe Joe Thorton, if that was the case that sucks, but I don’t think Milbury would trade to a team in the East. I don’t think Staios is any better he was abyssmal the year we let him go, -23. Come on. I watch plenty of hockey by the way, I just don’t do that well with math.

By stc

December 16, 2005 02:15 PM | Link to this

Forwards we got. Defense we need! We still need a “true” #1 defenseman, i.e. Bryan McCabe, Brian Leetch, Nik Lidstrom, Zdeno Chara. We can score, we just can’t stop the other team. I know the goalie situation will get better, but they still need help. We can wait and see, for now. We may have to trade for a #1 defenseman later.

By kl

December 16, 2005 03:22 PM | Link to this

Seems to me caillou has a point, 2 years and nothing. I prefer Hossa and Devries, and as a consequence Bondra.

By caillou

December 16, 2005 03:34 PM | Link to this

Hey Bob at least we can agree on the fact that the next two are must wins. I think the owners stated at the end of this year no play-offs = new blood. So maybe we should all talk more hockey and less Waddell anyway. How about we all abstain from the Waddell talk until after New Year?

By Brendan

December 16, 2005 04:23 PM | Link to this

I was thinking Zach Parise and some overprice player for Savard, such that the Devils payroll was lower as a result of having made the trade.

By caillou

December 16, 2005 04:37 PM | Link to this

Sorry, didn’t get that from previous, anyway we could get a ton more for Savvy out west, also I wouldn’t trade him for anything shy of a huge superstar. The guys from the Calgary Sun having been getting some medicinal MJ if they think those guys they are offering are trade bait. With the cap going up I doubt we would trade him regardless.

By sodapants

December 16, 2005 04:43 PM | Link to this

There’s a common theme on here, mostly spouted by the people who like to tell other people they don’t know anything about hockey…. you know who you are.

That theme is that Don Waddell is bad and should go. Maybe it’s ‘you’ folks who don’t know anything about hockey because the only thing Don Waddell did was do what his fans pined for,….for years. Go get the names, Don!

Well, he did. And the only thing Don Waddell does is pay ‘em. He doesn’t play. He doesn’t coach. He recruits and pays. You turds are all screaming for Don’s head seem to magicall bypass the person who’s actual job it is to take “the names” and make them play as a team. Bob Hartley.

And ignoring injuries to the most important position on the ice is just laughable. You might glaze over the goalie situation with something luke warm like, “ya.. I guess the injuries hurt to, but… ” FIRE DON!

Pure idiocy.

By Brendan

December 16, 2005 04:45 PM | Link to this

All I’ve heard about the cap was that it wasn’t going to DECREASE. What I heard was that it would remain at $39 million.

But truthfully, no one can know this until the season concludes and the NHL finds out how “well” they did. If revenues did, indeed, go up, then so should the cap. If revenues stayed the same, then it should remain at $39 million.

If they lost money, it will shrink.

By Brendan

December 16, 2005 04:51 PM | Link to this

I’m not sure about Dany Heatley. Don’t the rules on unrestricted free agency say that he must either be 27-years old or have seven years of NHL tenure?

Wouldn’t that have meant THREE (3) more years? And by then, who knows where the Thrashers are. On the verge of a Cup?

Dammit Don, TRADE ME!!

I don’t know. Maybe.

That, or ask Heatley how he feels about St. Louis. Then ask him how he still feels about Atlanta. If the answer is still, “Trade me, Don.” Well, then trade him.

But DO MAKE SURE the deal benefits the Thrashers.

By Brendan

December 16, 2005 04:57 PM | Link to this

I do not believe that Bob Hartley is blameless. Neither do I believe he is the problem. There have been “mitigating factors” all throughout this season.

You can check the record, I’ve never demanded that anyone be fired.

The closest I came to it was stating that “if someone must be fired, it should be Waddell before it is Hartley.”

I do not believe Hartley is blameless for this season. But I’d be livid if someone gets fired, and it turns out to be Bob.

By sodapants

December 16, 2005 05:06 PM | Link to this

you’re a mind boggler, Brenden. How in the hell do you put the GM on the block before the coach??

Explain how Hartley’s performance demands he stays while Don’s demands he’s fired? There is zero perspective in a poistion like that. You are excusing the only one who’d really responsible for coaching the team in a system. It’s HIS JOB!?

I don’t get it….sigh…

By Bob

December 16, 2005 05:07 PM | Link to this

sodapants, ok, you’re a hockey knowledgeable person, right? But you say all Waddell does is pay them? lol.

Waddell does not pay them. The owners pay them.

What Waddell does is to pick the players, the owners pay them, the coach, picked by Waddell, coaches them. The players are the guys in the sweaters passing the puck around. See how it works?

By Brendan

December 16, 2005 05:08 PM | Link to this

Maybe Caillou has a point about squelching the Waddell talk until 2006. Even I’m sick of listening to myself criticize him.

I have stated, on numerous occasions, that “I don’t think Don is the WORST GM in the league.”

But I’ve also never said, “I think Don is leading us towards a Stanley Cup.”

That’s where I’m gonna leave my portion of discussions of Don Waddell until 2006.

Caillou’s request seemed “reasonable enough.”

By sodapants

December 16, 2005 05:13 PM | Link to this

Excellent work, Bob. Really. You now are a ‘total’ idiot. Way to make a point about something so obscure and useless! Just confirms your own half-@ssed knowledge about this. Don decides who “gets paid”… seee how that works??

Go cry somemore.

By Brendan

December 16, 2005 05:33 PM | Link to this

Uggh! I just saw Soda posted right after I posted that I wouldn’t comment on Waddell for a few weeks.

I turn myself into a liar if I respond to the GM question.

But if I don’t, I’ll be accused of “ducking the question.”

I might be able to briefly summarize.

Don Waddell was hired in 1998. He’s been the only GM here. He’s made all the draft picks and trades. He controls the roster.

There has never been a .500 season to show for it, much less a playoff berth.

Hartley arrived when? January 2003?

The team, with a healthy Savard, was en route to the playoffs in 2004, with Hartley at the helm.

And this was AFTER the Snyder accident.

In short, Hartley kept the team focused.

Then came the lockout. Waddell never bothered to lock up Heatley or Kovalchuk, longterm, in 2004. And then, he did nothing to sign them LONGTERM, beginning July 22, 2005, after the CBA was ratified, but before the August 1, 2005 Free Agent Frenzy began.

Is that Hartley’s fault?

Hartley doesn’t sign players. Waddell does. And the owners pay them. The players are all there because Waddell “hand picked” them, either via trade or by drafting them, or evaluating “walk-ons” during training camp.

I think it’s Hartley’s job to make the most out of what Waddell brought home from the grocery store when it comes time to cooking dinner.

But had Waddell, on July 22, 2005, started dangling contracts in front of Heatley and Kovalchuk, he could have signed them for LESS and HAD THEM IN TRAINING CAMP!!!!

And yyyyyeah. I think that woulda been better.

Plus, there’s no “confusion” over who takes PRIORITY on this team. Heatley and Kovy were high 1st round picks. They are the “foundation” and “roof” of your figurative house. They’re the very first things Don, the Architect, should focus on.

Instead, we signed Holik first. And Kovalchuk LAST. Was it Bob Hartley’s idea to do that?

I don’t think Hartley was clamoring for Bobby Holik. He was clamoring for getting Kovy in the lineup, as soon as possible.

By waiting to sign him, Kovy’s agent was effectively able to outmaneuver Waddell, and EXTORTED a higher salary for his client.

Decisions, decisions. “Oh, there was no rush, right? Restricted free agent, and all.”

It’s my belief that you don’t furnish a house before you secure the “foundation” and the “roof.”

And NNNNOW can we stop with the Waddell banter until 2006?

By Bob

December 16, 2005 05:59 PM | Link to this

Brendan,

I’m anxious to see how they perform after Lehtonen gets back, we can table the Waddell talk until then. The owners know what’s up, they’ve already stated Waddell is responsible.

It’s best to leave well enough alone with the Waddell basing it has been over the top and this sodapants’ tack is to insult, not deal with reality. Hope he’s not an owner. lol.

By sodapants

December 16, 2005 06:05 PM | Link to this

hmmm,.. all that “stuff” up there is just what you ‘think’ happened. Good for you.. But unless you talked to Hartley and Don personally, it’s all about as useful as Bob. That’s not a lot.

I suppose Heatley is just a robot who could be bought off regardless of his own feelings, because apparently he doesn’t have any, eh?

And since you’re taking a shot at Don’s drafting.. it’s been really good! Don didn’t drive Heatley’s car. PLease remember that. Then Savard comes along… who brought him in? Was it Hartley? Nah…

If Hartley “kept the team focused”, and did such a bang-up job, why didn’t they make the playoffs?

You guys blame the wrong people, as usual. It’s either Hartley or the players themselves that are responsible for underachieving. Don should be the farthest from this. He’s done everything possible to put a pro team together. Perhaps ‘ol bob just can’t coach ‘em effectively.

By sodapants

December 16, 2005 06:08 PM | Link to this

I believe it was ‘you’, Bob who first started the insulting. Regardless,…bl0w me. You’re a pinhead anyway.

You are the typical novice who has no idea how anything really works. You whine and stomp your feet for immediate success without considering any of the circumstances. All you know is that “baby wants candy”… and will cry for it no matter what happens.

Here’s a hankie, you poor b00b…