Thrashers

By Brian

March 7, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this

Craig - great stat on the ice time. Even though many were hoping that Sutton would get traded, the trickle effect of him getting moved down has been great.

By Ryan

March 7, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this

Craig, watched the Canucks game on-line last night and the crowd started a Cowan! Cowan chant after his second goal, and then some lady threw her Bra on the ice. The commentators said it was like being at a Rock concert. Thanks Cowan! Interesting about the PP. Darren Elliot said it was two different PP units. Much like what Buffalo did last season. Didn’t seem like it to me as you mentioned the oppositions 10 pen. Maybe worth looking into.

By Brendan

March 7, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this

Craig, did Hartley tell any of the guys on the ice that the practice was “optional” again? ‘Cuz I think that would have been hilarious. Next time Hartley does that, please … please try to capture it on video. There are TV shows based EXCLUSIVELY on this very premise! I think that video’s got a shot at the $15,000 grand prize.

By Thrasher_Ed

March 7, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this

I think that the most interesting number was Andy Suttons ice time. I think we all feel like Sutton was playing too many minutes and perhaps playing out of place on the top line. I am concerned with Havelids minutes personally and really can’t fathom why Bob Hartley is not dressing and playing Steve McCarthy more on the Power Play. He has shown when healthy what he is capable of doing there. I think it would be wise of Hartley to play Mac some more in up coming games and rest Havelid, DeVries, and Big Andy. Sutton may have rushed it a little trying to get back after his injury. Overall, I think we all have to be please with the effort and performance of the Thrashers the last 2 weeks. Thank You Jeff Cowan, guess Old Thrashers like playing the Dolts from Tampa? Keep pushing Thrashers we need as many points as possible. Guess I’ll be a radio only guy till next week. I can’t stand the fact that games this time of year aren’t televised! And I can’t afford Center Ice for 1 month, but I guess that covers some of the playoffs?

By kracker

March 7, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this

Craig, Did BH have the remaining guys at practice do any on-ce PP work? Or maybe some wipe-board diagraming?

By kracker

March 7, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this

PS - Why didn’t Havelid skip practice and rest. He looks worn out.

By BG33Brown

March 7, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this

CC, while I am certainly in favor of seeing Sutton’s ice time way down. In the last week he has certainly looked better than Havelid. It just seems to be that Hartley is to slow to change his defensmen PT. I am interested to know how Havelid’s mintues have changed (if at all) since the new pairings.

By Craig Custance

March 7, 2007 3:34 PM | Link to this

BG33 - Havelid is logging just as much ice time now as he did before the trades — about 25 minutes a game.

By Craig Custance

March 7, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this

kracker - It was an optional practice — including the head coach, who never made it out there. The assistants ran the show today, while Bob met with his buddy from CCM.

By Craig Custance

March 7, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this

Ryan — How was the online feed for that game, I’ve never tried to watch a live hockey game online before?

By Boss Hawg

March 7, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this

CC, has Hartley said anything about Havelids play recently? He looked a little better last night, but still seems questionable to be logging so many minutes. To me XLB has been the most consistent game after game. Hartley is the one who said he would not play favorites, but it seems as though he is. Also has he mentioned anything about maybe going with a regular rotation with Kari and the Moose( moose every 6th game)

By Brian

March 7, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this

Craig - it can get choppy if you don’t have a decent connection. I can’t imagine trying to do it dial up, but even with high speed I had to reconnect once or twice, it only takes a few seconds though for “buffering”. Overall, outstanding considering it’s for free.

Here’s a link for it that I posted on the other blog

Limted selection of games though until the playoffs. But that’s what CenterIce will get you.

By Lee

March 7, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this

CC, do you think Hossa will practice tomorrow….?

By Ryan

March 7, 2007 3:57 PM | Link to this

Craig, it was pretty good, had trouble with it at 700k. I changed it to 1200k which is the highest they offer and it was fine. Not bad considering I don’t have center-ice. I will do it again, I was very pleased with the feed. Happy to watch a great hockey game on-line. It sure beats listening to possibly the worst singers in the world.

By Ryan

March 7, 2007 4:00 PM | Link to this

Also Craig, I watched the game through Yahoo sports website. Just giving you a little more info.

By ranallo10

March 7, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this

I’d love to see McCarthy play sometime soon.

Custance, if you’re not able to tell us WHEN he might play, could you at least speculate as to who might be sat upon his return, and if it’ll happen before the playoffs?

By Craig Custance

March 7, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this

Boss: It’s probably more an issue of me not pressing the issue, but Bob hasn’t addressed Havelid’s play recently, good or bad. Maybe I’ll tackle that issue after Thursday’s morning skate.

By Craig Custance

March 7, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this

Ryan — Worst singers in the world? Where? Do any of you guys know a way to send a feed from my computer to my television? I’d be much more inclined to watch things online if I could get it on my regular TV, rather than sitting in my home office.

By sisu

March 7, 2007 4:31 PM | Link to this

How about no complaining about the lack of tv…come out to the games already! What will it take to get you to go to Blueland???

By Craig Custance

March 7, 2007 4:32 PM | Link to this

ranallo — If somebody is banged up — say a de Vries or Exelby, and I’m just speculating those two because I didn’t see them on the ice this morning, we could see McCarthy as soon as Thursday. It’s tougher with defensemen than with forwards as far as getting guys in the lineup, I think in McCarthy’s case it’ll be more likely that he’ll return to the lineup because of an injury rather than something performance-based.

By Craig Custance

March 7, 2007 4:34 PM | Link to this

Lee — Yes.

By Brian

March 7, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this

Craig - for years there has been a “TV tuner card” which your computer can get. It’s great if you do things like editing and clips. I actually had one before the days of TiVo and my computer recorded everything for me. Trust me though, it’s not worth the hassle, especially if this is the only thing you are going to use it for.

There is a S-video type chord, but most are only 4 feet in length so unless you have a laptop you have to put your desktop right next to your TV.

By Bob

March 7, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this

Thrasher Ed, just so you’re correctly informed, CenterIce shows you every game that is not shown on VS or the broadcast channel, including the playoffs.

This is especially useful in the 1st round when you may have 4 games on at once, and VS is only showing you one of them. CenterIce will be showing you the feeds of the other 3 games that are on at the same time.

That right there is worth it, you do not want to miss the odd triple OT game if VS isn’t covering it.

By ranallo10

March 7, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this

Sisu, I want to attach a question to your statement:

Bob and others have previously stated their discontent with the start time of games. I’m curious what the problem is with 7pm games? What time would they rather the game start??

I personally work in the Roswell area, and find enough time out of my work day to leave in time for any game I feel like attending. Does it really matter that I’m only there 15-30 minutes early instead of 45? Am I that lucky where I only get 45 minutes to an hour of traffic as opposed to the implied 4 hours of stop-and-stop traffic?

If the games were put on at 8pm, nobody would get home until midnight. That’s ridiculous. Let the NHL continue to choose when they want to have the game…at least they’re not doing weekday 1pm games like the MLB does.

By Bob

March 7, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this

sisu, for me during the week, it’d be moving the start times back to 7:30. Those 7pm weekday start times in Atlanta traffic are brutal.

Craig, please ask Hartley when (not if) he’s going to work Moose back in for a couple more starts before the end of the year (so he doesn’t burn out Kari, again)?

By Chris

March 7, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this

There seems to be a spot tailor made for Mac: Hnidy’s. Limited minutes combined with 2nd unit PP duty. Hnidy seems to have tailed off some from his early and mid season play - though all in all I think he has been a real asset this season - and I think it would make sense to at least give Mac a shot there a few times down the stretch.

By Bob

March 7, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this

ranallo, just so know, the NHL does not choose the times of the games. Each club decides on their own. The Rangers do a 7pm start time weekdays. Smart of them. They keep businessmen in town after work and get them to the game. In Atlanta, where everyone is disbursed, they’ve shot themselves in the foot by moving to the 7pm start.

45 minutes from Roswell to your seat in weekday rush hour traffic? I call bs. That’s a 30 to 40 minute trip on a Sunday afternoon.

I think 12,000 last night (announced, so probably more like 9 or 10k actually there) attendance to a team trying to take over the lead in the division, while weekend games get 16,000 plus shows the problem most people have with the 7pm start. I understood when the team stunk and we only drew 10k to weekday Panther games, but for a first place club?

The Thrashers moved the Friday start times back to 7:30 after having them at 7pm last year, I expect they’ll move all the games back to 7:30 pm after shooting themselves in the foot with this decision and winding up with 10k in the house for a pivotal games late in the year.

By Ryan

March 7, 2007 5:30 PM | Link to this

Craig, It was in reference to American Idol.

Also, was listening to “in the slot” w/ Espisito(sp) on XM, a comment made was how there was only 12k and change at the game last night. I really wanted to call up and tell them about how there may be more fans if the start time was a half hour later, however I was driving and well you know how that can be. But it got me thinking, Tampa has 7:30 start time and they have much less traffic then we do hear….hmmmmm?

By Craig Custance

March 7, 2007 5:36 PM | Link to this

Bob: Yeah but the 7 p.m. starts are great for my deadlines. I think they should bump them to 6 p.m., then I could really write. Also, the announced attendance was 12,566, which is brutal.

By Craig Custance

March 7, 2007 5:40 PM | Link to this

Ryan — Honestly, I’m not being smart here, do you really think 30 minutes would make that big a difference?

By Brian

March 7, 2007 5:44 PM | Link to this

Craig - when they announce those numbers, is that actual attendance or paid attendance?

By Craig Custance

March 7, 2007 5:55 PM | Link to this

Brian — I think to get the actual attendance, you and I would have to go and count heads.

By michael

March 7, 2007 6:05 PM | Link to this

Thats paid attendance, I go to every game and last night was the least amount of attendance I have seen. Looked like 9,000.

By ted

March 7, 2007 6:26 PM | Link to this

Can you tell me..is Tkachuk playing on LW or is he playing at Centre…is he taking any of Kozlov’s ice time?

By Brian

March 7, 2007 7:11 PM | Link to this

Craig - correct me if I’m wrong, but can’t you just take an automated count from the ticket scanners when you enter the door? Even in the old days of the “turnstiles” you can add each of them together. No different than Publix being able to tell you how many cans of soup were sold today or any other perpetual inventory system using scanners. I think they just report the higher number and the one that counts, what did you earn in revenue.

It would be interesting to see the difference between the two numbers and it has to be available even if it isn’t reported.

ted - Kozzy-Belanger-Hossa is one line, Tkachuk centers for Kovvy so he isn’t taking time away from Kozzy unless it happens on the PP.

By JayBird

March 7, 2007 7:41 PM | Link to this

Brian, you are exactly right, it has to be easy to figure out the attendance numbers. Last night was absolutely embarassing. No energy in the house at all. I sat in Sec 318 and there were only about 8 of us in the second row. Pretty lame.

As for the starting time, I can see both sides of the issue. I personally like the 7pm starting time because it allows me to get home at a decent time. I have to fight some traffic getting to Philips but I have a few different routes I can take. Maybe I’m naive but most of the traffic is heading away from the city, so it can’t be that bad.

By Bob

March 7, 2007 8:03 PM | Link to this

They’ll never announce actual attendance, it would be too much bad (worse) PR. Also, they announce tickets “distributed”, not sold (because they give away/comp a lot of tickets, not so much anymore on the weekend games this year, but in the early years they gave away a lot to keep their numbers up).

7:30 start time would make a huge difference. The majority of the fan base is up in Gwinnett, N. Fulton, and Cobb. Trying to get home from work, go get the wife and/or kids, and back down to the game by 7pm is ridiculous in Atlanta traffic. They have to move it back to 7:30 (7:40 would be puck drop, that’s doable). Only cities that make sense to have a 7pm start are the big urban ones that have an arena downtown and most workers are downtown.

By Brian

March 7, 2007 8:09 PM | Link to this

Jay Bird - thanks, but let’s be fair, is it the start time that is killing it or the fact that it is a weekday? I don’t think anyone here believes that General Cinema earns just as much $$ on Tues as they do on Fri/Sat. Would a 7:30pm start time fix that?

By Bob

March 7, 2007 8:32 PM | Link to this

They show the same movie every night, Tuesday, Weds, Friday, Saturday, you can go see the same movie, pick your time, pick your night, matinee, midnight show, whatever. You can’t make it on Tuesday, go see the same movie on Saturday.

Each game is only at one time on one day.

Apples and hand grenades.

By Hanson Brothers

March 7, 2007 8:46 PM | Link to this

So Brendan, did you buy the suite? I know there was a Georgia winner, might have been you. If we never see another blog from you then we know you were the winner….or dead.

By Lango

March 7, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this

Note to Coach: Please give Moose a start every fifth game or so. It is good for the team, good for Kari and good for Moose.

By Tony C.

March 7, 2007 9:05 PM | Link to this

Speaking from experience, getting out of work @5pm or so (which by the way is litterally right off the on/off ramp to I85, meeting up with everyone (friends or family), and getting to The Flatscreen by 7pm is really a feat. I’m not saying it can’t be done, just that it is a mission.

I thought the idea was to grow the game/brand to casual/neophyte fans…well having to GO!-GO!-GO! like we’re trying to save someone’s life doesn’t really engender a good feeling. Then you get there and the game’s already started, or they’re singing the anthem (which I’m sorry I do stop-it’s the right thing to do) and you feel like a jerk for being in such a hurry to be late anyway.

I do think that a 7:15 or 7:30 start time would give everyone plenty of time to get there, and make it a lot easier of a sell to drag along the casual fan.

At my office I’ve tried this-here’s a sample of that conversation:

“hey yall want to go to the game tonight?”

“What game??”

“Thrashers”

“Sure-what time does it start?”

“Seven”

“Oh no way dude, I still have to get home and (walk dog, pick up kids, etc)”

Just my observation.

I pulled the yahoo sports feed down no problem…it took a moment to buffer, but afterwards it was great.

LET’S GO BLUE !!!

By Brian

March 7, 2007 9:22 PM | Link to this

Bob - The point I was trying to make is that when we do sellout, it contains a lot of non-traditional fans who won’t make the effort on a weeknight. How many times has this blog referred to the weekend “date night” games? Those dates aren’t going to happen on a Tues night game even if you do move the start time to 7:30pm, they will still happen on the weekend though.

I’m not saying a 7:30pm start won’t help, I’m just throwing it out there if moving the start time gets a Tues night game from 12,000 to 18,000 like we get on the weekend? Or do we just have too many fans coming right now who are doing something social on the weekend?

Of course, winning will cure all these problems. 4 games after the big trades isn’t enough time to convert the masses. It will probably take a combination of both, develop your core base but get them coming when it works for the most.

By Bob

March 7, 2007 10:35 PM | Link to this

I see your point. I think the Thrashers (Spirit and Waddell) are going after those casual fans here by making this move to not only get in, but make a playoff run. This town will get excited and garner some new season tix holders, or partial package holders for next year.

I think they can do better even with the casual fans, by moving the start time to 7:30.

Tony’s description above of what happens when you say “want to go to Tuesday’s game” is exactly the response you get with the casual fan. I think if you let people get home, get settled, and on the road at 6:30 pm, when the traffic jam is settling down a little, you’re a lot more apt to get people there on a weeknight.

If everyone worked downtown, then it’s a no brainer. 7pm start for sure, you want to keep them down there before they head home.

By Brendan

March 7, 2007 10:57 PM | Link to this

Hanson Brothers, the winning ticket was up in Dalton. The guy who won only get $80 million cash. That doesn’t seem right. The jackpot was $336M annuitized over 26 years. I thought the rule was … whatever the jackpot is … divide by 3 and that’s what you get with the “cash option.” If so, that should be more than $80 million. Hey, $80 million is more than enough for anyone. Well, unless you’re a pro athlete. Then your agent holds out for more. Allegedly, because the money is needed to feed the athlete’s family. Because, ya know, five or six million dollars is not enough to buy bread, milk, cheese, chicken and fish. Not at Publix or Kroger prices. And gasoline is just … through the roof! I mean, if you’re not clearing $8-$9 million, annually, you’re not keeping up with the cost of inflation (Sarcasm).

Okayyyy!! I get it. The market sets the value. And why should anyone take less than what they’re worth? Irrespective of whether the athlete or his agent actually need the money. Sheesh. Forget I said anything.

Hanson Brothers, the guy who won is 52, and is a truck driver. At least for two more days, he says. He plans to spend his windfall of cash on … “bait.” I had no idea bait was that expensive!! He intends to go fishing. I know that if I wanted to go fishing, I’d better play the POWER BALL to accomplish that. Mercy.

In any event, I did not win. So, the purchase of the luxury suite is still on hold.

By Bob

March 7, 2007 11:12 PM | Link to this

Ranger just went out with a knee injury for Tampa. He ate a lot of minutes for them. Let’s go, Oil.

By Brendan

March 7, 2007 11:48 PM | Link to this

2-0, Lightning, after 2 periods. Not looking good for help from Edmonton.

By dj

March 8, 2007 12:46 AM | Link to this

Since I sit with Ranallo (which by the way is just a way for me to store up my treasures in heaven), I know he leaves work every home game from Roswell at 5. Maybe what helps make it quicker is I leave my apartment around 530-600ish which is in buckhead and i kinda give him a heads up on how the roads are looking. Also, we both know downtown like how Bob doesn’t know hockey (or at least seeing JPVJ is horrible on PK). All I am saying is yes, leaving at 5 and getting to the game before the puck drops is very “doable” from Roswell, maybe even Duluth area. Keep 7 and all you guys move back into the city, i promise it is almost safe now.

By Jameson

March 8, 2007 2:02 AM | Link to this

Speaking of defensive pairings, how would you guys feel about seeing something like Zhitnik-Hnidy, Sutton-Havelid and Exelby-McCarthy? Historically, I’ve never been a big Hnidy fan, but he really stepped up earlier this year when Nic was out. This would put two of our guys who are apparently doing well with the fatigue issue at the moment on the top pairing, and time could be distributed pretty evenly among the other four. Plus we wouldn’t have to watch DeVo for at least one game. I kinda get the impression that the Sutton-Havelid pairing would preform much better as a second pairing, anyway.

By ranallo10

March 8, 2007 2:05 AM | Link to this

You’re right Bob, if there is an overturned bus somewhere on the connector it can take a maximum of 1 hour 15 for me. Maybe I just drive faster than most?

By Joey

March 8, 2007 7:47 AM | Link to this

I leave my house in Duluth about 5:15 to 5:30 most weekday games and I’m usually able to get down there between 6:15 and 6:30. What a lot of people may not realize is that typically Atlanta crowds are late arriving. How many times do you go to a braves game and people are still showing up well into the 3rd and 4th innings. Their games start at 7:40. I do remember when the thrashers started at 7:30 and it was exactly the same then as it is now with people showing up halfway through the first period or later. Face it, Atlanta fans show up late, no matter what time the games start.

By Bob

March 8, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this

Wait, your buddy dj just said above that you leave work at 5pm for a 7pm game? Do you head straight down? That’s 2 hours before game time, 2:10 really as they don’t drop the puck till 10 after, usually. so you get there at 5:45 pm for a 7:10 puck drop? Come on.

If I could leave work at 5pm and head straight to the game without having to go home first, then sure, it’s easily doable. But when you can’t leave the office till 5:30 or 6pm, then have to head home first, then have to head back downtown, 7pm is just not manageable.

The 9 or 10k empty seats at Philips on Tuesday night would seem to show that other people have the same problem, no?

Color me jealous, I remember being single (sounds like you don’t have family to go pick up after work?) and be able to scoot down to Knights games straight from work. Of course there wasn’t nearly the traffic then as now.

So, dj and ranallo, how do you guys like Dupuis? I ‘m thinking you couldn’t see the forest for that big old tree JPVJ (and really, guys, I couldn’t care less about him, my point to ranallo was that it’s silly for you to focus your ire on one checking line forward, who played decent on the PK and the PK imploded when he was out, when the problem was much bigger than him). The bigger problem to me was no center for Kovy and Sutton on the top pairing. Tkachuk and Zhitnik fixed that. Belanger and Dupuis are helping also.

An issue we haven’t talked about. How much has it helped just having Rucchin out of the lineup? He just never fit in, sounds like he probably won’t be back.

By Jennifer

March 8, 2007 9:22 AM | Link to this

Craig, 30 minutes would make a huge difference in getting people to weeknight games. If you live or work in someplace like Alpharetta the traffic congestion going into the city just lightens up a lot around 6:45-7:00. You could make it to a game without so much risk of missing the face off-or the entire 1st period. When I go to games I can choose between leaving work at 4:30 and getting to the arena at 5:30 or leaving work at 5 and possibly missing the opening face-off because of traffic.

By Hip Czech

March 8, 2007 9:29 AM | Link to this

“Andy Sutton, who on the night the Thrashers traded for Zhitnik was on the ice for 22:14, saw that number drop to 7:18”

Coincidence that the goals against have been 2, 2, 1, and 2? Me thinks not. Now if only Sutton’s time dropped to zero and McCarthy got the 7 minutes of ice time.

Will tonight’s game also be available via the yahoo site?

By Brian

March 8, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this

Hip Czech - the online games are very limited, no Thrashers tonight. Only option are the bulb, centerice or a sportsbar.

By Bob

March 8, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this

Jennifer, same here. When it was the 7:30 starts, we could leave the house at 6:40pm, come in at the end of traffic, and be in our seats for the drop of the puck at 7:40. When they went to the 7pm, we’d have to leave the house at 5:30 to make the 7:10 puck drop. Which also meant fighting 1 1/2 hours of nightmare traffic and leaving work at 4:45pm to get home by 5:30, which just can’t be done on a regular basis.

By Bob

March 8, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this

Yep, that was the big key, getting Sutton off the top pair and bringing Zhitnik in. It also gave Kari more confidence back there. A goalie’s confidence is key, if he’s always worried about how Sutton was going to goof up, he’s not settled. Kari was quoted saying how impressed he is with Zhitnik.

I’d also like to see McCarthy in there. He could take Havelid’s minutes on the PP which would help settle Havelid down and get him back to playing more solid, I think.

By Thrasher_Ed

March 8, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this

Question for all those talking about the start times. Do you drive and park at Phillips or ride the Marta trains? I generally don’t have any problem making the games and I live in Athens. Generally leave after work (4PM) and get there in time riding the train.

By Brian

March 8, 2007 9:54 AM | Link to this

Thrasher_Ed - kudos for mentioning Marta, it definitely works out great. Problem with that is it takes me just as long to drive to a Marta station as it does to drive downtown. I would save time on the front end but at the end of the night not only do I have to ride the train, then I have to drive home just as far from the station.

By Hip Czech

March 8, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this

I agree with pushing weekday game starts to 7:30. I still wonder how they get away with 7:00 starting times in Toronto and NY?

Traffic in the ATL is bad, but not as bad as those two places. So, either there are enough workers downtown to make the 7 PM start work, or because of the mass transit systems it works, or they just deal with it.

I admit that I am blessed in that I work from home a vast majority of the time, so 7 or 7:30 makes no difference to me personally. But, I feel for those people who have to get home to the northern suburbs and then back downtown. No way you can do that.

It’s also too bad people point out a Tuesday night game against Florida and deem that to be the state of hockey in Atlanta. They don’t mention the attendance the previous 6 games, which was:

18,622 17,881 16,032 18,744 16,190 17,783

Which, I speculate, is far better than a fair amount of teams in the NHL.

By Brian*

March 8, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this

According to the Thrashers (yes I have asked our rep) they polled the season ticket holders and the split was about 50/50 about starting the games at 7pm or 7:30pm. I personally would prefer a 7:30 or even 8pm start. In my opinion most of the fans do not live within a 20 minute drive of the arena. For me that means getting home no later than 5pm from work (which is hard anyway) and I don’t work in the city. I then have to leave the house by 5:30 for the hour drive (with traffic) to be able to get to the game hopefully before 6:45.

If games were started later I think that at the very least the traffic would be better.

In the season ticket holder survey we always say the complaints we have are 1) start time is too early, 2)food and drink prices are way too high since we can’t bring our own in, 3) traffic, and 4)seat hoppers (you know the people who are sitting in someone else’s seats and have to get up and move 3-4 time a game when the seat holder gets there. I say kick them out.

By Russian

March 8, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this

People!!! Stop crying about 7:00 PM game. It is perfect. I left my office at 6:00 PM and get in Arena at 7:00. My office is around Clairmont Rd. Get your asses and take Marta. You pay only $3.50 for Round trip and no traffic. I always took Marta and works perfect for me. :-)

By Brian

March 8, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this

Brian* - Am I reading this correctly that 50% say they want a 7pm start time or do they just prefer a 7pm start time? I don’t have a stake in this one way or another, but from a business perspective if this is your #1 complaint you receive, wouldn’t you fix it? If you move the start time to 7:30pm I doubt your #1 complaint would be “the games start too late”.

Like I say, I don’t have a stake in this either way, it just seems common sense to fix your customers biggest complaint. Would the 50% who voted for 7pm be as offended by a 7:30pm start time as say the 50% who voted for the 7:30pm who aren’t getting there in time?

By michael

March 8, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this

why would you go to a sports bar when you can get a ticket for $10 or if you have a 99x freeloader card for $14.

By Brendan

March 8, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this

I’d like to shift gears a bit from “start times” to the next five games. Truthfully, they’re against teams that are currently OUTSIDE the playoff picture. A win vs. Montreal is like a 4-point gain on our playoff berth. Next up is Florida, who we’re owned all year. Then the Capitals come to town. We’ve done well vs. Ovechkin and crew. Then the Icebirds travel to Philly, a team that has sort of owned us this year, mysteriously. It’s a chance for Braydon Coburn to show his wares vs. his former team. Then the Icebirds come home for a game vs. the NY Rangers, who will hopefully be all but out of it by then.

Though, c’mon. No team should be taken lightly at this point. The playoffs have ALREADY STARTED. Every point is critical. But if the Thrashers took all ten (10) points off of Montreal, Florida, Washington, Philly, and the Rangers, they’d be at 90, with eight (8) games left to play. I suspect they’d only need five (5) more points to SECURE the playoff berth. With Florida, Washington and Boston still left on the schedule. There’s six (6) more points. That’d be 96-points on the season, a new franchise best. And it might just be enough to win the division, too.

Your thoughts?

By Bob

March 8, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this

The 7pm start time work perfect in NY and Toronto, because people work downtown there, you want to get them to the game instead of having them head home. Next time there’s a game there, look at the crowd and see how many people are there in suits. It makes sense in those cities.

In Atlanta, very few work downtown, so it doesn’t make sense.

Marta doesn’t come by us (or the majority of the metro area), so it’s not an option for us.

I think it boils down to this, the people that can get off of work at 4pm or 5pm, can make a 7pm start and prefer it. But those of us that have to work until 5:30 or 6pm and have to head home before going to the game, a 7pm start blocks us out from being able to go. If you get off work at 4 or 5pm, a 7:30pm start wouldn’t be your preference, but it doesn’t block you from going to the game.

I hope they change it next year, they made a smart step this year changing the Friday starts to 7:30pm, we’ve made quite a few Friday games this year as a result.

By Brian

March 8, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this

Brendan - I saw that Philly game and I wasn’t even thinking about Coburn. Thanks for pointing that out.

By Hip Czech

March 8, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this

I’ve maintained 95 points is the number to get in. We’re now down to needing 15 points in 14 games. I don’t care who those points come against, just as long as they come.

Tonight’s game is a chance to pretty much bury Les Habs, as is the game against the Rangers a chance to nail their coffin.

The #3 seed is what we want…if it comes down to the last game of the year versus the Bolts how great would that be? Of course, having a playoff spot locked up heading into that last game would definitely be a whole lot less stressful.

By ted

March 8, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this

Can you tell me if Tkachuk is playing on the wing or center, and is his arrival affecting the ice time of Kozlov?

By Brendan

March 8, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this

Zhitnik wasn’t in Philly all that long, but he might want to really twist the knife a bit in his return. Scottie Upshall seems to be doing well there in Philly. We’ve got to bank points against these teams OUTSIDE the playoff bubble. It helps us to win the division while knocking these other teams out.

By Hip Czech

March 8, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this

Ted, sounds like you have some fantasy team concerns there…

Tkachuk is playing center. He is not affecting Kozlov’s playing time at all, unless possibly PP time. The Thrashers now have almost 2 legit PP units.

The thing about Thrashers forwards (from a fantasy perspective) is that Bob Hartley probably mixes lines up during the course of a game more than any other coach. But, Kozlov/Hossa are pretty much ALWAYS out together.

Belanger is a nice pickup if you can get him…centering Kozzy and Hossa helps out BIG time.

By JayBird

March 8, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this

It really sucks to live in a city with horrible public transportation. In a real city, all of us should be able to hop on Marta and get to the games but of course, most hockey fans don’t live in the areas Marta goes. I really don’t care what time the games start as long as we fill the arena.

As for tonight, I think we will see what this “new” team is made of. In the past, we haven’t handled prosperity very well. But I think we will play well and win 3-0 for Kari’s first shutout in forever.

By ted

March 8, 2007 12:06 PM | Link to this

BRian and Hip Czech

You are right..this was a fantasy team question with a neck and neck race to the end..thanks for the info…I will see if I can slide in Belanger…

By Matt H

March 8, 2007 12:24 PM | Link to this

I live in Athens, so a 7:30 start time would be Mcfine with me. Then again, so would more reasonable ticket prices. Right now I’m much more inclined to spend the kind of money a night out at a game would cost on things like Center Ice, a new TV, a Thrashers jersey, etc. But my job pays oh-so-little, anyways. Good insurance package, though. Hoping to make it to the Sabres game on the 18th.

By Brian

March 8, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

ted - check how your fantasy works, even though Tkachuk is playing C, he may still be listed as a LW and only qualify as that. That’s how my league used to work. That can help you or hurt you depending on if you need a C or LW…

By Bob

March 8, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this

Brendan, my thoughts are on the division title. We have a game in hand on the Bolts and need to bank at least one point tonight. I’m sticking with my 4-1 Thrashers prediction and get us 2 pts up on the Bay again and then they have Cal-gary, which will be a tough game for them. Any word out of Tampa on Ranger’s knee? That will hurt them if he’s out an extended time. Tamps is still playing like crap, the Oil has totally folded camp, has 6 guys out on injury and lost 2 more during the game last night. And Tampa still didn’t look that good.

All I want is the divison. I want to raise a banner at next year’s opener, at least a divisional banner, Conference would be nicer, but division is fine.

I don’t want to sneak in 7th or 8th spot if Tampa beats us out on a divison, that means Buffablow or NJ in the 1st round, I want to avoid both of them until the Conference Finals.

It could all come down to the final game on April 7th at Philips vs. the Bolts. That would be a ticket to have.

By Sisu

March 8, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this

I have season tickets and I drive from Cobb…I can leave as late as 6:15 and still make the introductions. I think it is all about how bad you want to see the team play?

You can make any excuse you want but if you went to many games you would learn how to avoid traffic.

I think it is just that most people don’t care enough to go to the games and that is why they complain about lack of tv or what ever…

By Hip Czech

March 8, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this

Ted, no problem…now if you can tell me what to do with Kopitar ;-)

Our playoff lineups need to be set by tonight…do I bank on Kopitar coming back, or do I cut him loose and pick up someone else. I also have Vishnovsky who hasn’t played the last couple of games. I am seriously thinking about cutting both of them loose seeing the Kings aren’t going to do anything and the ol’ +/- may take a hit with them anyways.

I’m in danger of becoming the Red Wings of our league…dominate the regular season both last year and this year. Last year I got knocked out the first playoff week. Hopefully I can avoid that again.

By Bob

March 8, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this

Sisu, can’t speak for anyone else, but what you say is not true for us. We had season tickets for 5 years, we had to give them up after they moved to 7:00 pm weekdays, since we couldn’t make it down there in time, and I love going to games.

By Thrasher_Ed

March 8, 2007 1:11 PM | Link to this

Still can’t believe Hartley isn’t giving Havelid, Sutton, or DeVries a night off here and there in order to play McCarthy. It would only make sense to do so. Craig C., can you ask Bob Hartley that question and see why he has not done that? It would rest some players and get Steve Mc. in somes games at the same time.

By Brendan

March 8, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this

Bob, if we can get 9-10 points in these next five (5) games against the teams that are currently OUTSIDE of the playoff picture, then I do believe the Thrashers can have the division title this year. Maybe even lock it up before the season finale vs. Tampa. Which may just serve as the “preamble” to the playoff series with the Bolts.

The way I feel about the best of seven series now is … win 2/4 at home and 2/3 on the road, to win in seven. Optimistic as I am, I don’t really believe that Atlanta could win all four (4) home games in an opening round series, from the #3 slot. So, I think it’s gonna have to be a “every game is a new game” type mentality, irrespective of WHERE the game is being played. The way the team has struggled in front of sellouts at Blueland, they might need to win three (3) playoff games on the road to a take a series.

By ranallo10

March 8, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this

I think Brian (without the asterisk) has made the best point in regards to start time thus far:

If (as reported) 50% of the season ticket holders are merely content with the start time of the games, why not change the time back that 30 minutes to appease those people?

Somebody (sorry, I didn’t want to scroll in order to properly cite you) mentioned that it doesn’t seem to matter for Braves games, which is true but slightly different. The majority of fans that the Braves are attempting to rope in with 7:40 game times are the ones coming from outside of the suburbs, or from the border states. Where is the nearest MLB baseball team geographically? So people from Alabama, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and even northern Florida have to drive to Atlanta in order to see a MLB game in person. It’s a slightly different beast.

However, I agree that no matter the start time, attendance is paltry (at best) in the first period, and near advertised sales near the end of the second. People are complacent in all cities, Atlanta just seems to have a smaller core base of fans to counter those complacent (late) fans. I really don’t think the 30 minutes matters (as Craig, stated) because no matter what, people will STILL be late and complain about start time.

Think of it this way…imagine the Thrashers push the start time to 8pm. People in turn would complain that they don’t have time to go home, eat, shower, do laundry, pay bills, walk the dog, wash the car, mow the lawn, AND have time to brave “traffic” (read: more than 2 cars on the connector making it more difficult to change lanes) to make the unison yelling of “Knights!”.

I have a feeling that no matter what time the game starts, people will complain. So, if you don’t like 7pm start times, complain (if you have the forum to do so CONSTRUCTIVELY) and stop attending games until they do so.

But the bottom line is that it’s a Tuesday game against a pitiful and unpopular opponent. If it was Philadelphia instead of Florida, the game would’ve sold 2000+ more tickets.

By ranallo10

March 8, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this

And Bob, don’t act as if you now don’t care about Vigier. I hate to hold onto things, but I can’t let you flipflop on this issue.

Your statements about the greatness and usefulness of “THE JPVJ” is the reason I came back to blogging on this board in general. You’re inane remarks began with the PK being better with Vigier (they were ranked 24th in the league at this point). Now you want to say that the PK fell apart upon his departure, and since improved since his return????

I attempt to be civil sometimes, but you can’t continue to be hypocritical. Vigier is a piece in the puzzle, and that’s the biggest complaint I could muster about this Thrashers team. I stated earlier that I felt the Thrashers could make the playoffs if they stood pat. Belanger was then traded for and you complained about him being a 3/4 center and “useless to this current team”. Your complaints vary consistently. Now you love the addition of Belanger and appreciate the hustle he brings to the game. We’ve heard Waddell needs to be fired, Waddell needs to trade for Forsberg, Waddell needs to get Brad Stuart, Waddell needs to get “Veeshnovski”, Waddell needs to get {insert unreasonable name here). Then when nothing happens prior to the deadline, Waddell’s head needs to be on a doorstep and Brian Burke needs to be the GM. BRIAN BURKE!!! He was fired from Vancouver for not getting it done, though he had the weapons consistently. BRIAN BURKE!!!!! The GM/Thug who complains to the NHL about fight instigator penalties while his team leads the NHL in penalty minutes and fighting majors. BRIAN BURKE!? Next thing you’re going to tell me that the Thrashers need Lindey Ruff as coach because he knows how to train a “hardnosed team that can win”.

As I’ve said before, you’re a conundrum. Don’t placate to me by saying I interject hockey knowledge occasionally. Don’t attempt to assume you know anything about me or my personal life based on the fact I can attend a home game and arrive before the puck drop. Go back to unabashedly throwing around your sophomoric insults about me, Brian, and anybody else who disagrees with you. You’re more successful doing that then attempting to sound intelligent in hockey discussions.

By Bob

March 8, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this

ranallo, I shouldn’t bother with you, but this is just too rich. Nice to see you back in form.

Dude, your chain was getting yanked the whole time about VJ because you looked like a complete goof blaming our problems on JPVJ, when he was the tree blocking your myopic view from the real forest of a problem this club had.

I can picture you sitting there at a game yelling at JPVJ when he can’t complete a breakaway. It’s not his job.

I am not backpedaling, I could care less about JPVJ. I called your foolishness out (and apparently you’re still stinging from it) for your silly ranting about JPVJ when the problems we had were caused by no center for Kovy and Sutton on the top pairing.

When JP went out, by the way, our PK went from 24th in the league, to 30th, dead last When he came back, it improved again and continues to improve. The biggest help, was getting Sutton off of the PK. You should be pleased tonight, you get to rant about his play on the 4th line as he’s back in. If we lose, be sure to blame him.

I complained for weeks about Waddell fiddling while this club obviously needed help, yet you think we were fine if he stood pat. He needed to make the moves he made and when he finally made them, look at the results. You still want to claim that you were right and I was wrong about that? Really? And you want to call me out about a hockey discussion? Really?

We would not have made the playoffs if Waddell had stood pat, we were in a free fall and it was beyond obvious to anyone with just a little bit of hockey knowledge that moves needed to be made. Even the guys in the room admit that and say the moves were necessary to turn it around.

You think we would have made the playoffs if he stood pat. That says it all right there.

Brian Burke is twice the GM Waddell is, I’d take him today in a heart beat. Look at what he’s doing in Anaheim. Why does it not suprise me that you don’t like him, either.

Let’s keep talking hockey, ranallo. I look forward to seeing more similar “intelligence” out of you.

By ranallo10

March 8, 2007 3:59 PM | Link to this

What has Brian Burke done that Waddell has not done? How about you answer me that. The only answer you can give is “made it to the playoffs”, and that’ll be proven incorrect this season. What ELSE has Burke done to prove his enormous talent compared to Waddell?? With far superior teams Burke has proved little in regards to his abilities as a successful GM. It takes some talent to continue to have successful teams, but even successful GMs get fired when they can’t get it done. Maybe Waddell will fall into that catagory one day, but Burke is not a drastic improvement.

How about this, can you honestly say that without the acquisitions the team would NOT have come back from the slump (mind you, we’re only 4 games out of said slump, so don’t think that we’re OUT just yet)? The same team you b*** and moaned about in January and February is the team that played into first place in early OCTOBER and kept them there through most of February. But you think they had URGENT issues that NEEDED to be fixed in order to compete?? In my opinion, the failings of a successful team doesn’t fall upon the players during a slump, it falls upon the coaching staff. Vigier and his failings are just the tip of it…Hartley’s apparent allegiance to Vigier is the big picture. But you claim it’s because of that lacking “scoring” center. Did the Thrashers pick that “scoring” center up that I didn’t notice? Belanger is a grinder, who’s had a good run with putting points on the board. He’s a complimentary piece to Kozlov and Hossa’s abilities…but he was greeted by you with negativity and pestering of Waddell to acquire a true scoring center.

It’s amazing how you forget the things you say when they come back to bite you.

Now you like Dupuis?? It’s amazing that you latch onto the players who play well and claim you “always” liked them. You followed him in Minnesota?? I call B.S. on that. If you had, then you possibly would’ve remembered he was traded to NY earlier in February and was touted for his tenacity and PK effectiveness by all who chimed in on the trade. Yet he comes to the team and you claim you always liked “his wheels” and PK abilities. How convenient.

EVERYBODY SAW THAT THE THRASHERS HAD A LACKING DEFENSE. Yes, EVERYBODY. Despite how much everyone knocks Puck N Snot, he could’ve noticed the deficient defense the Thrashers have. I’ve stated previously that our top defenseman couldn’t be a second defenseman on any other team in the NHL. Who would take Havelid as their number one? Sutton/de Vries as their number two? NOBODY. It was and is such a glaring weakness that it’s considered an UNDERSTOOD. So stop pretending you’re the only person who noticed this. You’re just wrong.

You blamed Lehtonen when we had losses, saying he was tired. You blamed Hartley for Lehtonen getting tired and overworked. Lehtonen gets a days break and you shout to high heaven that you were right, even though the coach and the player said the rest was due to a back to back game. You seem to find a diamond in a pile of s** with every statement or result close to what you predict.

As for the facts…the PK was on a decline BEFORE Vigier got injured, and that decline continued afterwards. Who is to blame? EVERYBODY. Coaching staff, players, defenders, injured players, other teams…EVERYBODY. Waddell did the appropriate thing and attempted to right that ship. Hamel was claimed and immediately helped. Belanger was acquired and he too helped. The PK since then has improved…it has NOTHING to do with Vigier getting healthy as he had been injured during those acquisitions and subsequent improvement on the PK unit.

As for my dislike in all things Vigier — I find my cycle is pick on one player throughout the season and they’ll be tossed off the team eventually…last season it was Modry, and look where he ended up. Hopefully the same will happen with Vigier.

By dj

March 8, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this

Bob, the penalty killed dropped b/c we went on that horrific road swing and b/c lehts played like crap. VJ job is not to allow the other team to score. For instance, when VJ allowed Heatley to walk in on lehts, do a triple lutz, make some coffee, book his flight back to ottawa, write a thank you note to DA Paul Howard, maybe chill with Kovy, oh yea then fire two goals in…that’s when we have a problem with VJ. Here’s the deal. You like him cuz he is hard working. Well big deal, your in the NHL, you should be hard working, why not allow a hard working younger talent in so that way we can develop some players insted of old french canadiens..by the way, I never said Ranallo made it to his seats by 545. Sometimes we go get dinner or just chill since we live near each other before games. Most of the time he has plenty of time to leave by 5 and make it to the game by 7 and do other things.

By Brian*

March 8, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this

Brian - they asked which start time we preferred and roughly 50% said 7pm the others said 7:30. I don’t think that they will change it anytime soon. I would prefer the games start at 8 myself. The post below my first one the guy was talking about coming to the game from Clairmont - that is not the majority of people going to the games! I would take Marta but it actually takes longer and to me is not as safe. I have a parking pass anyway. The only good thing about early start times is getting home by 10:30 after every game.

I wonder how the attendance will be for the Monday game that is on Versus.

By Bob

March 8, 2007 4:38 PM | Link to this

Brian Burke? For starters, he graduated Harvard Law, that’s a hell of an accomplishment for a “hockey guy”, and proves his intelligence.

He’s been a successful GM in Hartford, Vancouver (despite your off-base rant above, he built good clubs there), and now Anaheim. He made some great moves last year mid-season that turned Anaheim around and they went on a nice run. Acquired Pronger this summer, his team is currently 40-17-11 for 91 pts, has arguably the two best dmen in the game, both on his club, and has them primed for a nice playoff run this year. Brief summary. I’d take him over Waddell.

Yep, ranallo. I can honestly (and accurately) say that if Waddell did not make the moves he did, this club would not have made the playoffs. We had something like 5 regulation wins in the previous 28 games. That’s a big problem, and the moves had to be made (which is why they were made).

Yep, we needed a true scoring center to play with Kovy, even after Belanger. And Waddell went and did made the move, he brought in Tkachuk. Good move by Waddell and what I was asked for.

Uh, before Dupuis landed in Atlanta I posted on here what I’d seen from him by watching a lot of Wild games on TV and specifically called you out, ranallo, as I told you he’d displace THE JPVJ off of the PK, hey, I was happy for you. I was worried that you are your buddy dj were going to do fling yourselves off the upper deck if you had to watch THE JPVJ much more.

My buddy in Minnehaha and I have gone back and forth for years on who’s club is going to get where they need to be quicker, I watch their games all the time (their games used to put me to sleep pre-lockout before they eliminated the clutch and grab). Flew up there in 2003 and sat 2nd row glass with him when the Thrash made it up there for a game (3-2 loss if I remember and I think Dupuis even got one of the stars of the game that night, since Dupuis was his wife’s favorite player and she was p** she missed seeing her boy have a good game since I got her ticket that night).

Hartley did overwork Lehtonen earlier this year. I never blamed Lehtonen, I blamed Coach for his ridiculous (non-existant) goalie rotation. In fact, Coach needs to work Moose in here once or twice more before the end of the year so he doesn’t wear out Kari, again, and keeps him fresh for the playoffs?

You can do better than this, hopefully, as I could use some more exercise.

By ranallo10

March 8, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this

I don’t remember needing to be “called out” for the acquisition of Dupuis. My friend AG asked me about him upon his acquisition and I spouted several things, the most important being — “PK and defensive specialist that should supplant Vigier’s role in general.” Dupuis is leaps and bounds better than Vigier in the same role, and even has the ability to play more than just the one role. THAT is exactly where my dislike of Vigier was routed, and was answered immediately with one acquisition. I apologize if I didn’t flaunt that to this forum so that I could hopefully gain approval from the many people who thought the same thing at the same time, but apparently that’s what you expect people to do. You must think that, you lead by example. My hopes and correct guesses do not need to be supported by this crowd, my friends don’t even need to support me. It’s AN OPINION, so I’m entitled to it, even if it’s wrong. You’ll learn that one day.

Burke was FIRED from Vancouver. Do you really think his Harvard Law degree helped him figure out what papers to pack as he was leaving his offic