Thrashers

By R. Stroz

February 25, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

Last night, Metro was signing autographs before the game. Only the Thrashers would have fans spend money on merchandise to sign, stand in line for autographs, and deal the player away the next day. Couldn’t the Thrashers have disposed of Kapanen with the draft picks instead of Metro?

By Thrashersfan33

February 25, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this

I can’t believe they gave up Metro.I would rather have him than Niko. Hopefully Metro comes back to us in the offseason as I think he was only signed for this year (I am not 100% certain about that). Hopefully the new additions will spark these guys, but it may take a few games as they get used to their new linemates. As long as it happens soon enough to get them into the playoffs, I will be happy.

By Thrashersfan33

February 25, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this

By the way, does anyone else feel that DW has upped the ante in the trade market? Doesn’t make sense to me as the Carter trade had seemed to bring it to a reasonable level.

By roh

February 25, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this

You can’t give up players teams don’t want. Metro proved himself in the sporadic amounts of TOI he got. Kapanen has yet to do that, no one would take him.

I hate to lose Metro, I really do. I wish him all the best and am looking forward to seeing what KT brings to the team.

By Brendan

February 25, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this

Wait. Atlanta just gave up a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick, plus Metro, for the aging Tkachuk, a “rental” player? Didn’t Don just hold a press conference last night saying that he wouldn’t move top prospects for a rental? And now we’ve lost a pick that could be as high as #14, overall, and a 2nd rounder, that could be as low as in the “30’s” in 2008? How OLD is Tkachuk?

How is this not “mortgaging the future?” Especially, just for a “playoff berth?” Something that roughly 55% of the league’s teams experience annually.

Are the Thrashers in a Stanley Cup winning season? Was this the time to “go for broke?” Then again, I hardly know all the details of this trade. Maybe something more than Tkachuk is headed to Atlanta.

By Thrashersfan33

February 25, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this

I know that no one would really want Niko, but I can dream, right? I think DW gave up a little too much for a rental. Like I said, hopefully Metro only becomes a rental for St. Louis and comes back next year.

By Brendan

February 25, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this

Wait! This blog was just updated to “confirmed,” and now there’s even ANOTHER 1st round pick involved in this deal? Two 1st round picks (!!), plus a 2nd in ‘08, and and 3rd rounder this Summer.

Okay, who thinks the portly Tkachuk was worth all that? What needed to happen … was for these existing players to play like they did in October, November and December. I think we now have to define, exactly, how much is an isolated playoff berth really worth?

If the Thrashers falter, miss the playoffs, and Don is fired. With what draft picks does a “new GM” have to rebuild this aging team? With Zhitnik and Tkachuk, this team, whose average age is above 30, just got even older.

With all these picks, the Blues will be in the playoffs next year. They’re about .500 now, after finishing DEAD LAST in the previous season. The Blues get their potential “lottery draft” pick, plus Atlanta’s 1st and 3rd, and a 2nd rounder next year, and maybe … just maybe, Atlanta’s 1st rounder next year.

What are the odds we re-sign Tkachuk this Summer? I think they just got up and left. Okay. Okay. If the Thrashers win the Stanley Cup and Tkachuk wins the Conn Smythe (Playoff MVP), then yes. Re-sign him.

By Darren

February 25, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this

Wait, doesn’t everybody criticize Waddell on his poor drafting?

Coburn being selected right before Phaneuf a perfect case-in-point?

I don’t see how Atlanta’s mid-round 1st and mid-round 3rd pick vaults the Blues instantly into the playoffs next year, either.

Atlanta is putting the pressure on their prospects to step it up in case guys like Kozlov and Tkachuk aren’t coming back.

Everyone wanted a puck-moving defenseman. Well, Atlanta got one, but he’s not perfect. He’s far too expensive, and is going to make some big defensive mistakes.

Everyone wanted a center or a top-six forward. Well, Atlanta got one, but it’s not a perfect situation. He most likely won’t be back, although it’s hard to believe Waddell would pay such a price if he didn’t think he at least had a chance at re-signing him.

I think the adage here is be careful what you wish for…

By Thrashersfan33

February 25, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

CC….any chance we can get DW to comment on the fans feelings that we gave up too much or that we feel he is mortgaging the future of the franchise on a year where we need more than one piece to win the Cup? I know the chances are slim that he will comment but it would be nice for us season ticket holders to hear from him as we contemplate whether or not to renew our tickets.

By Darren

February 25, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this

Waddell was in a complete lose-lose situation as well.

Blame him all you wish for not getting a better team before the season, and you’re probably right, but when he was standing pat and waiting for the team to come back around, Atlanta dropped in the standings.

What happened? Every fan and his mother cried for him to do something.

He was forced to either pay the market price or get nothing. Remember, five first-round picks were traded before Atlanta did their deal, and the Ducks and the Lightning got far less in return for their first-rounders.

My only real criticism will be if Florida starts a fire sale in the next day or two and Stumpel goes somewhere for a fourth-round pick. I also think Berard could have been had for Coburn or a middling draft pick.

By Corn

February 25, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this

“Thrashersfan”

DW will not be commenting on your feelings.

So toss your renewal form and tell your ticket rep your no longer a STH.

I’m going to pull for my team.

By Beau Vighn

February 25, 2007 01:43 PM | Link to this

I believe Waddell is in panic mode. He senses his job is on the line and it should be. Tell me one team he has been the architect of that has been successful. I gave up on him when he traded my favorite Thrasher of all time Darcy Hordichuk.

By Brendan

February 25, 2007 02:22 PM | Link to this

Well, we don’t know what will happen. If this team starts on a tear and winds up with 99-100 points, you’ll hear nothing but “Don Waddell is a genius!” all over the Thrashers message boards. But if this doesn’t work, I think a lot of season ticket holders will uhhh, let their wallets do the talking.

Let’s just hope this all works out. Zhitnik may be 34 and Tkachuk 35, come March, but if they get the job done, I suspect people will be happy about it. It’s not as if Don is thought to be a master draft day guru. I hear the murmur of fans yelling, “he wound have wasted them anyway, so this way, at least we get some proven players.”

By Brian

February 25, 2007 03:40 PM | Link to this

What is wrong with you people?!?!?!? You cry and cry and cry for DW to do something, you claim he WON’T do anything, then he finally does something and you cry like little babies. Shut up and watch your new team make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

Let’s talk about something worth talking about now. What do you think the new lineup will look like? Tkachuk with Kovvy? Does Slater center those 2? Belanger with Hoss & Kozzy?

What are the D pairings going to look like?

By John

February 25, 2007 03:49 PM | Link to this

Brendan,

No matter what this team does, I’m quite certain you will not have to worry about hearing anyone say “Don Waddell is a genius!”

By Bob

February 25, 2007 03:52 PM | Link to this

Zhitnik moves the puck well and Tkachuk is still a guy that goes to the net well. Both are shadows of their former selves, but still improvements for us.

Coburn is fine, he was years away from helping us, we needed the help now. Good job, Waddell.

Tkachuk was very expensive and it’s clear that Waddell is in full on “save my job” mode and had a mandate from the owners to get in the playoffs, at any cost of draft picks.

I like both moves, we’ll make the playoffs now and win a round, mabye two. Good job.

Brian, I’m totally with you on that. You have to give, to get. We’re finally in a postion, as Waddell said last night, to say “the future is now”. Win now. Coburn didn’t impress me much anyway and Waddell can’t draft worth a lick, so it didn’t cost us too much.

Our PP is going to reap the benefit of Zhitnik on the point QB’ing and Tkachuk in front of the net creating havoc. He’ll create a lot of space for Kovy.

Here’s what no one is paying attention to also, I’ve been saying all year we can get a new GM in here and turn it around quick as we have many UFA’s this summer and we can rebuild. Well, Zhitnik is signed for two more years, there’s step one in improving the d.

The d also just got a lot better by the mere fact that Sutton now goes to the 2nd pairing, he’ll be more effective there. Zhitnik and Havelid can eat a lot of minutes and they’ll be a great pairing to get the puck up ice, something we need desperately.

By Bob

February 25, 2007 03:55 PM | Link to this

Brian, Tkachuk will center Kovy until Rucchin’s foot is healed. Sim on the other wing. Then, when Rucchin is back healthy, we see him center Tkachuk and Kovy, Belanger sticks with Hossa and Kozlov. Slater back to the 4th line, Kapanen back to the press box.

The d pairings will be more interesting, I’d guess Havelid-Zhitnik, Sutton-DeVries, Exelby-McCarthy

By Thrasher_Ed

February 25, 2007 04:05 PM | Link to this

Does anyone believe we may still be looking for a Center? That’s my only question with this move. We needed a Center for Kovy’s line. Plus I think we gave up way to much. Metro may have been needed simply as a Cap related move so Waddellsworth can make an additional move(s)? Metro was a solid player, maybe he comes back as a free agent next year?

By harleyman1903

February 25, 2007 04:05 PM | Link to this

Damned if Don do, damned if Don don’t. Teams can build for the future all they want. But in reality,with today’s salary cap, most of the successful teams these days wheel and deal for the moment. Besides, with the ownership problems and lack of trade bait, Don surely is trying to muster up something for nothing. Draft picks are all he has to work with. I, more than anything, certainly hate to see Metro go. But as said above, what’s the alternative? Who in the hell wants Kapanen? I say try to win now. This ain’t no 401-K plan. Now, maybe Kovy can move toward the net more instead of hanging out at the blue line all the time. I see good things happening and who said tomorrow is guaranteed anyway? Thrashers rock on!

By Tony C.

February 25, 2007 04:07 PM | Link to this

Wow.

2 first-round picks??? seems damn high to me. However, we haven’t seen Tkachuk on a team with a legitiamte shot in a few years-hopefully the new location and a shot at The Cup reawakens pre-lockout Kieth Tkachuk.

I believe that if we can re-sign Tkachuk (or similar power-forward type) and Metro in the offseason, then this is a good move. I do hope we can get some decent UFA’s this summer as we obviously lost all decent draft position.

This does send a serious message to the room though. It seemed Metro was pretty well-liked guy, so seeing him shipped for a “name” player does let the guys kn ow that dealin’ Don may actually be serious.

Zhitnik can be good. I think that you put him with Havelid, leave X and DeVo as a pair (X says he prefers playing with him-they know each other’s tendencies) Then ship Sutton and whatever else we’ve got on the draft board for Smolinski. keep Hnidy and McCarthy together.

Forwards:

1) Hoss, Belanger & Slava-Matic

2)#17, Slates and Tkachuk or Mell

3)Holik line

4)Doghouse line: Kappanen, Sim & Rucchin/Mell/Tkachuk

To me, the big question is the personnel on PK and PP.

Where do you slot Tkachuk in? I think you leave Mell on 1st PP with Hoss and Slava, put Zhitnik on the point to bomb instead of #17, put Havelid on opposite point

2nd PP would have Tkachuk in front of the net, #17 in the slot/high circle area, Belanger with McCarthy and X at the points.

I have no idea on how to fix the PK via personnel moves, other than to perhaps remind the guys that it works better if you get in the other guys’ face, rather than let them set up.

LET’S GO BLUE !!!

By j nes

February 25, 2007 04:09 PM | Link to this

The Coburn trade was a good one. I recently got to see Coburn play vs. Toronto (AHL) and he was not impressive. Besides, my last memory of him in a Thrashers sweater is when he got his @$$ whipped before he even threw a punch. In my opinion Valabik has more potential and I’m glad DW held on to him. It it wasn’t for Zhitnik’s inflated salary, I would say we got something for nothing.

Even though Tkachuk is old, I think his aquisition is a decent move by Wadell. Tkachuk knows that his playing days are limited and he is playing for a contract for next year (with or without Atlanta). He should at least be a motivated addition to a struggling team. I can’t wait to see how the lines shape up now. Maybe when (if?) Ruccin comes back we can finaly say goodbye to Kappanen.

It sucks to lose Metro. I thought he was a great story and I think his game has really improved since he became a Thrasher. I hope he succeeds in St. Louis.

Wadell did not pick up the players I had hoped he would (Smolinski and Berard), but I do give him credit for trying to improve on both defensive and offense. After reading all the above comments, I wouldn’t want Wadell’s job. Atlanta fans seem too hard to please.

By mb

February 25, 2007 04:13 PM | Link to this

Amen, Brian, re: all the wingeing on this blog about DW needing to make a move, and then even more wailing once he does. Bob, good to see that you didn’t backtrack. LAC, how about you?

Yes, DW gave up too much. Every GM in the league knew they had him over the barrel…team in a downward spiral, last year’s playoff guarantee, few truly marketable resources. Plus there’s not much to choose from out there, so it’s a seller’s market. They were grinning like Cheshire cats whenever they saw (404) on their caller ID.

Now we keep our fingers crossed, cheer like mad, and hope it all works out.

By Tom

February 25, 2007 04:19 PM | Link to this

Tkachuk should strengthen us up the middle in front of the net. Put him on the first pp and mel on the second and we will have the chance to get rebounds.

That is, if we figure out that shooting on the net during the PP is a good idea.

The other intangible that is out there is will Zhitnik and Tkachuk bring leadership and toughness to this team?

Will they stand up for our players that get knocked a* over tea kettle instead of the typical “thrasher shrug”?

Will these new players convince the team that winning is an attitude and teach their new teammates not to nut up like they did last night?

The team has the skills now to win, the big question is do they have the cajones?

By LAC

February 25, 2007 06:00 PM | Link to this

Hey mb, These moves were needed. If nothing more than to shake the troops up… and show some ownership commitment to WINNING !

I see the trades this way…

Colburn good to see him go, however I feel we should have garnered a second or third round pick for him…along with Zit. Remember Zit was traded for a former Thrasher who waddell just let go. Grade C.

We gave St.L too any draft picks… Should have been one/three, period. No more I feel, if so St.L should have thrown in a minor league player to fill out the trade. Metro was a decent player, I would rather seen kappanan go for sure or holik, who is worthless the past two months, or sutton & da Vries.

Grade C-.

I believe, like several here, That this is a save my job effort by waddell, plain and simple.

This goes back to the start of the season… or end of last season. We HAD a SUPER center, who fit our team WELL, Savard. Cost was high, granted, but with him we were at or near the top in PP last season, look he has as many points as Hossa. But ALWAYS on the cheap waddell never even offered him a contract and simply gave up. IF… IF, he had bellied up and paid Savard and kept Bondra, we would NOT be in the position we are now, we would be at about the same point total as Buffalo. But he did not and we, while playing good for the first half, have looked really bad this month for sure.

I feel this way, as I believe most on this blog do, this is waddell’s last stand. The 5 year plan is at 8, minus the lockout year, so 8 -1 =7.

If the team does not respond and make the playoffs, the heat is on waddell, and if NO playoffs, he MUST be let go no questions asked, his time is up.

Then a new GM can reconstruct the team, no playoffs next year and heat is on Hartley plain & simple.

These so called owners MUST take blame as well, Like Jeff said… They are in WAY, WAY, WAY over their heads and simply do not know hope to manage a professional franchise… We Will See, But let’s hope MORE deals take place before tuesday… Cheers !

By mb

February 25, 2007 07:24 PM | Link to this

Glad to see that’s your response, LAC. I think you’re right that after 8 seasons DW is finally feeling the heat.

Several weeks ago I was still holding on to the apparently naive hope that BH and the boys could right the ship themselves, but you’re right that moves had to be made.

Speaking of the Savard situation, I was one who felt at the time that the price was too high, that he had overachieved last year, and that he was more likely to return to his career averages this year in Boston. Crow doesn’t taste so bad with the right bbq sauce, though.

By Brendan

February 25, 2007 11:09 PM | Link to this

Well, I’ve been asking myself, in “black and white” terms, “Is this team better NOW than it was before?” I think the answer has to be “yes.” I’m not exactly thrilled with the age of this club, but it is BETTER now. But, I shouldn’t say anything until 3:01 p.m., Tuesday.

By David

February 26, 2007 01:30 AM | Link to this

Good trade. Metro was a good player for us, but nothing more than consistent in my book, and we really need more then that right now. Hopefully, we get that out of KT. Biggest thing I’m curious about is what happens with the power play and also line combinations.

BTW - anybody else think that Mellanby has been non existent of late?

By Big Al

February 26, 2007 08:58 AM | Link to this

What a bunch of whiners!

DW - Great Job! These were needed moves and will probably be the spark or as Slava says cold shower needed to wake up the rest of the team.

Our biggest problem right now - that most of you seem to have lost sight of - is that Kari can’t stop a basketball!

A few open ice hits by Zit and some battling in front of the other net by the KT and he will step up as well.

Zhitnik for 3.5 instead of Sutton at 2.0 - HELL YA! Bye Bye Andy!

By mb

February 26, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this

Yes, David, I agree with you about Mellanby. I think he gets something of a pass around here because he’s Cap’n Rat and he seems to put forth the effort, but I question his efficacy as a captain when his play on the ice can’t back up his words in the locker room.

I hope to see Tkachuk on the Hossa PP line…maybe he won’t wiff every time he gets that cross-crease pass from Hoss.

By Brendan

February 26, 2007 02:09 PM | Link to this

I know some will consider this “blasphemy,” but I’d like to see Sutton moved NOW, if possible, for draft picks. I loved Brian’s idea! Recoup at least some of the picks we just lost for a guy (UFA) we (probably) can’t keep this Summer anyway!

We’ve got depth along the blueline. Zhitnik, Havelid, Exelby, McCarthy, Hnidy and DeVries. Plus Popovic, if need be. I agree with Brian. Let’s move a guy that will “allegedly, supposedly” be sought after by other teams in FREE AGENCY this summer.