Thrashers

By Legion of thrash

May 21, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this

Okay, what GM wouldn’t pick Heatley, Kovy, and Kari, those are obvious picks. Whoever this dolt is defending Wadell should look at all the teams in the conference finals and that dolt would see that they are all primarily built on draft picks. Don Wadell is the joke of the NHL as far as GM’s are concerned. Brilliant GM my @ss. Is it because of his brilliance that at the trade deadline he had to renconstruct a team he failed to get right at the beginning of the season. 4 trades to win a division, not a cup, or at least make a strong run at the cup, a division. Only team to not win a game in the playoffs.

By Bob

May 21, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this

Talk about a crock. lol. Make sure you don’t name, this “un-named source”, Craig. Cause he/she just lost all credibility offering up picks made at the #1 overall, and 2 x #2 overall spots as proof of Waddell’s brilliant drafting prowess. My Aunt Bertha could’ve made those picks and she couldn’t tell you the difference between a goalie and a zamboni.

That could be the dumbest thing I’ve ever read in this blog. And there’s been some real doozies around here over the years. Mabye I got lost and clicked on The Onion, not The AJC.

Too bad about Little, I almost was sippin’ some of that Koolaid about him contributing here next year. So much for that.

By Sage of Bluesland

May 21, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this

Please stop with the sheer comedy, Mr. Custance!!!…Were you, by chance, speaking with a ‘high-up’ of a division foe? That is the only plausible scenario that I can see where someone said our former port-a-potty salesman is “brilliant”—and actually meant it in a positive way…

By Mark

May 21, 2007 4:50 PM | Link to this

Pointing a Heatley, Kovulchuk, and Lehtonen and saying that is proof that Waddell is a good GM is beyond retarded. Tell me what had he done to build a play-off caliber defense? Tell me what players in our system are going to make the team and contribute that weren’t first our second round players? Do you know when Henrik Zetterberg was drafted? In the 7th round. Pavel Datsyuk? 6th round? Are there any Atlanta picks from later rounds that have made an impact. Exelby was a late round pick (8th round I think) but that’s it. Expansion teams are built through the draft and besides the can’t misses, all Waddell has done is miss.

By Sage of Bluesland

May 21, 2007 4:53 PM | Link to this

I sincerely hope Mr. Custance is attempting to be funny…Brilliance is making picks which AREN’T consensus top-five guys and them turning into stars (Brendan did an analysis of Ottawa’s team and how it was built mainly through the draft). As has been stated many times before—but I guess some just can’t get the real point—ANY one of us could read the paper on draft-day and select the highest rated prospect when picking in the top ten. Yep, Heatley and Kovalchuk were complete unknowns!!!

Our former port-a-potty salesman is more renowned for his blustering about ‘Five-Year Plans’ and ‘Building through the draft, like Ottawa’…Too bad his actions don’t back up his bluster, eh Craig?

The only plausible explanation for this mystery fan of Don’s is that it is a rival team’s executive…I would love to compete against Don’s sheer brilliance year in and out, too…

Oh, I know, I know—we’ve had consistent growth and been more successful every year…I guess I’ll have to be happy with holding leads in portions of TWO playoff games next year…

Accountability is NOT a bad word or concept, people…It usually leads to better results…

By R. Stroz

May 21, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this

Craig - Where you talking to DW’s brother, sister, wife or children?

By Tony C.

May 21, 2007 5:14 PM | Link to this

Pavlec is for-real I give DW props on him…also, Nikulin is by all accounts NHL ready-I am just upset about our constant (until this past season) goalie-with-groin-injury. Seriously. I think until this past season EVERY one of our #1’s have been out for AT LEAST one week’s worth of games with a groin injury. Now THAT is something a GM can directly control. You know, putting it in the contract of goalies that they must pass certain physical evauations…getting strength/conditioning coach(es) to pay special attention to preventative exercise for goalie’s groins…hey once or twice for two to three different guys-I understand. But for THE SAME injury to occur to DIFFERENT players EVERY YEAR??? As a GM, (hey even a veteran player who’s got the “credit” to speak out) I would think you just might look into that over a 5-6 year span. As far as drafting goes, I look at it as a defeciency in scouting as well as DW’s inclinations. Bad info in=bad result out more often than not. However I would expect more than two picks made after the 1st round to have played 50+ games with the team by now. I’m not asking for much there I think.

Craig - As far as Sterling goes-does he seem to be able to bring his “style” of game to the NHL? I understand the guy’s tough and all, but he just seems to be small to be posting up in front of the net in the NHL-even if it is the East.

GO WOLVES!!!

By Aaron

May 21, 2007 6:35 PM | Link to this

I once compiled a list of ten great reasons why Waddell should no longer have a job, but that was a couple years ago, I have since lost it. Since then, he hasn’t gotten any better.

By Brendan

May 21, 2007 6:43 PM | Link to this

Allright, I’m gonna chill on the UFA signings, Craig. But I reserve the right to scream like a banshee if the GM winds up overpaying for bargain basement players he could have locked up for less. Or any player he could have locked up for less. For me, the bottom line is that he gets it done, especially “responsibly.” And if he can do that in June or July or August … then grrreat.

We all wondered when Don was going to make a trade deadline deal. It came at the 11th hour. But he got it done. So, I’m perfectly willing to wait, so long as the result is there.

As for DW’s Draft Day accumen, we could do a whole blog on that. And we have. Time and time again. Uhh, I just hope that some of these kids really can crack the starting lineup. I’d be happy to see it. That’s, after all, why they were drafted.

But I do want to point something out. Not to be negative. No. But the “net return” on Patrik Stefan, 1st overall, 1999, was nothing. He was traded to Dallas, with Modry, for Niko Kapanen. Kapanen was placed on waivers and claimed by another team. I think it was Phoenix, but I won’t swear to it.

Ifffff Marian Hossa isn’t re-signed next Summer or traded at some point between now and July 1, 2008 (next Summer), the net gain for the 2nd overall pick, in 2000, will be nothing. In short, the most critical point in our franchise history was our 1st two years of drafting, when we enjoyed such favorable position in the draft. To come away with a “net gain” of nothing … is extremely depressing to think about. Formative years are just that.

We’re a long, long way from that reality. I’d hate to answer the question, “What’d we get for Heatley?” with … Hossa and deVries, neither of which play here anymore, or were traded for anyone. Sorry for even mentioning that.

By Craig Custance

May 21, 2007 6:59 PM | Link to this

Fellas, I was just quoting something somebody said. Don’t pile on the messenger. I just thought it was interesting - especially the conviction.

By Sage of Bluesland

May 21, 2007 6:59 PM | Link to this

“…I was chatting today with somebody outside the organization who knows Waddell pretty well…”

Knows our brilliant Donny ‘pretty well’, eh Craig? Thus, he must be EMOTIONALLY close to our former port-a-potty salesman to even respond with the limited acumen in which he/she did…ALL he/she could come up with was Heatley, Kovalchuk, and ‘that goalie’…

Nice attempted snow-job, Craig…For some reason, I expected better of you…Now I’ll expect nothing less than pathetic excuses out of you concerning our blustering GM as I recognize a “tool” when I see one…

By Jeff

May 21, 2007 7:33 PM | Link to this

Thanks Craig, I appreciate your weblog updates.

BTW Craig, Valabik’s injury apparently came about at the end of the Iowa series. Because he took a two hand baseball bat type swing slash to the back of his lower leg area. And I noticed right away that he seemed hurt, then when he got up it seemed he was limping quite a bit.

By raindawg722

May 22, 2007 8:50 AM | Link to this

Brendan, I usually absolutely agree with everything you say, but just because Hossa might walk away from the team, that doesn’t mean the net gain to the team was nothing. You have to factor in the contributions made to the Thrashers by Hossa while he was on the team and also the available cap space his departure would free up. After all, if the Heatley trade had never been made, and Heatley became too expensive or impossible for the team to resign, would the net gain be nothing? No, they would have had all the contributions made by Heatley while he was still on the team. In a sense, marquis players such as Hossa and Heatley often contribute so much to their teams that they price themselves out of the team’s budget because some other team is willing to overpay for them, but that doesn’t mean the net gain was nothing. I’d say that DW got plenty of value for the Heatley pick.

By What

May 22, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

Who cares? NHL ain’t going to make it in Atlanta anyway.

By Craig Custance

May 22, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this

Tony C - Honestly, I don’t know about Sterling. The game I saw him, he scored but it was a goal you or I could have knocked in. But then again, people point out that he has a knack for finding the opening on the ice to score - something has to be said for that. And size isn’t as important as it used to be in the NHL. When you talk about Sterling, people immediately start bringing up smaller player successful scorers in the NHL. I think he could be effective on the right line in the NHL. Of everybody fighting for a job in training camp, I’ll be really interested in watching Sterling.

Brendan — I agree that the Marian Hossa situation on the horizon is absolutely critical for this organization. Bottom line, if he leaves as a free agent next summer, that would be a disaster.

Sage — Why don’t you tell me what you really think?

By Craig Custance

May 22, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this

Also - I’m in the middle of my NHL draft prep and wanted to pass along the Thrashers picks in the upcoming draft because things get kind of cloudy because of trades. Here you go:

Edmonton’s 3rd Round Selection (From Minnesota) – Nummelin Trade NY Rangers’ 3rd Round Selection – Bourret/Dupuis Trade Atlanta’s 4th Round Selection Atlanta’s 6th Round Selection Atlanta’s 7th Round Selection

By Bob

May 22, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this

Oh goodness, no 1st or 2nd round pick? No need to pay attention to this draft. It’s not that big a deal, our current regime obviously can’t draft worth a hoot if they don’t have the overall #1 or #2 pick, so who cares.

However, I would not be suprised to see a draft day trade moving Hossa out for somebody’s #1 and a couple of roster players, preferably a legit top line center to play with Kovy. Or just move him out for a #1 and a decent forward and then go snag Drury or Briere with the cash saved on Hossa’s salary (can you tell I didn’t much care for Hossa’s disappearing act at the end of the year and in our feeble playoff run).

By sisu

May 22, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this

I think ATL is ready for our version of the midget (St. Louis) in Sterling, after all he is a part of the Big 3 in Tampa.

As to changes in this team, we have seen many but to trade Hossa would be a mistake. Sign him prior to the free agency next season.

By Brian

May 22, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this

Craig - all you have to do with these DW haters is ask them who the top ten picks should be in the draft, then ask them for their hidden gems in the low rounds. Their lack of response will be telling as to how much they really know. Some might think they are ahead of the curve simply because they list the Hockey News scouting reports as if they were their own picks…

By Bob

May 22, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this

and there again rearing it’s ugly head is the previous dumbest comment ever on this blog, usurped only by the recent offering up of a #1 overall and 2 x #2 overall picks as proof of Waddell’s drafting acumen.

Uh, Brian, Waddell get’s paid $100’s of thousands to make those decisions, and has a budget of more $100’s of thousands to hire a competent scouting staff to get on planes, trains, and automobiles to go scout these kids. Last I checked, they’re not paying goofballs like me to fly all over the world scouting these kids. It’s part of being a fan to demand the best for your team’s mgt and compare and contrast your team’s mgt to other team’s mgt., not take the past p** poor performance as the best there is.

The status quo has resulted in us finishing our 7th year who exactly 1 playoff appearance resulting in 0 wins and an offseason that has us saddled with $29m in Cap tied up in 8 guys and little to no help on the horizon, other than this year’s crop of Coburns et al drafted by Waddell.

So, you may be satisfied with the status quo. Not me, I prefer to demand that my club strives for the best, not accept more of the same ‘ol

By Brian

May 22, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this

Bob - that doesn’t stop all of the “fans” like you from saying he should’ve done this, he should’ve done that… If you and all the rest here are going to complain about all the moves made after they are made as if it is so easy to decide then you will get called out. If you are going to accuse Craig of putting in a bad quote because some other NHL insider thinks Don is doing a good job, why is it the bloggers here feel they are qualified then to even make those statements since you are not getting “paid $100’s of thousands” and you are not going all over the world scouting players? You admit you don’t know as much as Don and his staff do so just watch the games then.

By Sage of Bluesland

May 22, 2007 2:36 PM | Link to this

Well said, Bob—Waddell family members and other such geniuses like to come out and bluster, “Well WHO would YOU take?!”—and then self-righteously snicker when no answer comes forth to their liking…

However, Bri, I can most definately assure you that IF I were an NHL GM being paid a very generous salary, I would certainly pick players in all rounds…I would most certainly field a team…

And here’s the part which must grind the Waddellites: I couldn’t POSSIBLY do much worse than your hero has done here. Instead, we’ve been treated to a minor-league performance in the major leagues.

By Legion of thrash

May 22, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this

Brian, what has your dearly beloved Wadell done that is so great?

If he was the gm for any other franchise they would have fired his @SS long ago.

By Brian

May 22, 2007 4:21 PM | Link to this

Sage - Minor league? Earth to Sage, we won the division title. Ditto to legion…

I’ll go now so the rest of you can keep playing Monday Morning Quarterback while you tell everyone how a dynasty really needs to be built…

By Legion of thrash

May 22, 2007 5:35 PM | Link to this

A d@mn division title is that the best you can come up with? A division title doesn’t mean crap! We barely won the division. The brilliant Wadell had to make 4 trades to win that division title, because he put together a team that fell apart in the 2nd half of the season. Name me another GM that makes 4 trades to win a division title. When you can come up with some real facts as to why he is a great GM post them. That was a horrible answer. A division title, Ha!

By Tony C.

May 22, 2007 5:46 PM | Link to this

Listen, I’m going to continue to believe that the “new, improved Donny” of the 2k6-2k7 vintage is still the DW come draft day. I think that it is very possible/probable that we can get decent value for our lower-round picks (i.e. it’ll be a HUGE surprise if ONE of them makes it to a cup of coffee with the NHL team), this year’s draft doesn’t seem as talent-heavy as some of the more recent ones. I really feel that the keys to a successful offseason for Le Thrash are (A) Get Rucchin wiaved as an injury-whatever Cheap Lou in NJ did with Malakhov to dodge his salary (B) re-invest that money into our defense. it would be nice to hope that there’s money left over for a decent pivot. I hear rumors that Scott Gomez wants in up in Ottowa-if that’s the case, I don’t see them re-signing Comrie-who although he and #17 had that tussle, would seem to be the type of guy #17 needs to flourish. The shoe waiting to drop is: Will Slava-Matic take less to continue playing for ATL (and with Hoss & #17)??? If so, SUPERSWEET. I think the reformation of the HBK line is a no-brainer. I then would like #17 CentremanToBeNamedLater and Jonny Sim (just remember the Bell fight-tell me your boy ain’t got some stones) Then the Holik line (with Dupuis-our most effective line in the NYR series) 4th line ??? Jimmy Slater??? JPVJ??? LaVallee?? Personally, the more I hear about this Lavallee guy, the more I’m think he might be the guy to ride shotgun for Hoss & Belly if Slava-Matic is not retained.

Our defence….well, let’s just say that there certainly is a lot of room for improvement. I think this is the area where DW is going to do the most conspicuous(spl?) “youth movement” Enstrom is by all accounts what we had hoped DeVo would be, and I think everyone agrees that Popovic will do nicely as a 3rd pairing-guy.

So under my proposed line-up: 1st pair: Nik & Zhitnik 2nd pair: X & Enstrom 3rd pair: Hnidy & Popovic

Yes I am high on Msr. Hnidy -the guy was presented a challenge by the coaching staff to either “shape up or shi out” and he certainly rose to the occasion. Now there were some noteable gaffes and mistakes (sailing the puck over the OTHER side of the rink’s glass comes to mind), but I think he really stepped things up when Sutton went down. In fact, I kind of like he and Nik as a pairing-I don’t know that Coach would go for it, but there were a cuple of weekes there in January where those two looked good together. Anyway, point being that I doubt Sutton would be re-signed, and I do think that continuity is vastly underrated when people start looking at tinkering and “improving” rosters.

apologies for the novella-but hey what else are going to do on your coffee break?

By Brendan

May 22, 2007 6:16 PM | Link to this

Since I don’t see Scotty Bowman in here, someone qualified enough to Monday morning quarterback Don Waddell’s performance, it looks as if the blog is closing down. Forever.

Settle down. That’s a joke. Honestly, where is this disdain for dissenting viewpoints coming from? I love to hear what my fellow Thrashers fans think and feel about the roster, prospective draft, and previous drafts.

What is wrong, honestly, with reviewing the Hockey News, USAToday prospect reviews, and online draft evaluation sources from around the globe, to develop an opinion about what you hope Don Waddell does with them??

Bueller? Bueller?? Bueller???

Was the answer really, “You’re not the GM, so you don’t have a right to formulate any opinions?”

I mean, c’mon. Aren’t fans who support the Thrashers product entitled to their opinions about the direction of the team? Whether that’s to get younger or faster … or better on the powerplay … or just to have better looking uniforms. Or a desire to hold raffles of some sort?

Fans must have plenty of thoughts and opinions on these matters, up to and including whether a player is a “new NHL” kind of player, at 6’7” tall.

When did fans lose this right, I do wonder?

I don’t think anyone’s rooting against Don Waddell. On the contrary, I think they want to see Don get better and continue to improve, and have success, as he has … since the lockout ended.

I remember a few years back, I was high on a kid named Guillaume Latendresse for a 2nd round pick. He wound up drafted by Montreal and Atlanta took Ondrej Pavelec instead. And it might turn out FABULOUSLY for the Thrashers. I hope it does.

But I don’t see how or when I lost my right to be hopeful that Don might draft him. Obviously, Don’s gonna do what he’s gonna do, and I hope it turns out okay. What other options do I have?

Well, I hear ya, Sage. “Quit subsidizing incompetence.” I have, thus far, chosen not to do that. I do go to games, buy merchandize, and invest my personal time in Waddell’s product. Theoretically, I guess I’m at fault, too because I didn’t abandon the team.

Things have gotten better through the years. We did just win a division title. We got swept by a very good team in the Rangers. I honestly believe that had the Thrashers drawn Tampa Bay as a 1st round opponent, Atlanta would have advanced to the second round. And who knows how we’d have fared against the Devils? (Who would have played the Rangers in the opening round.) It might have been a sweep, just like against the Rangers. Or we may have defeated NJ, and reached the Conference Finals, where an utterly “human” looking Sabres team theoretically would be waiting there for us.

I know. I know. Here I am again, playing “what if” scenarios when many of you are thinking, “Just say we got swept out and leave it at that. That was the result of our play.”

It’s very interesting to see the dynamics of how Thrashers fans see this team. At least, for me, it is. Some of you think it’s, “hopeless, hopeless, utterly hopeless.” And others of you think we’re a player or two, and tweak here and there, away from competing for the Cup. That’s a pretty wide range of thought, when we’re talking about the SAME TEAM.

So, my feeling is … iffffff you think this is that championship caliber team, why wouldn’t you want to start re-signing those UFA’s to maintain continuity, before the prices go up?

Ifffff you think it’s time to “blow up” the team and start over, I can see why you’d think bringing back players from last season isn’t important. In fact, that’s the LAST THING you’d want to see.

So … where you are in this? Are we on the right path?? Or farther away than ever??? Discuss.

By Brendan

May 22, 2007 6:48 PM | Link to this

Raindawg722, I didn’t mean to ignore you. You wrote, “After all, if the Heatley trade had never been made, and Heatley became too expensive or impossible for the team to resign, would the net gain be nothing? No, they would have had all the contributions made by Heatley while he was still on the team.”“

And, that’s exactly right. As well as the fact that if Hossa walks, the Thrashers would reclaim $6.0 million in cap room, too.

But I think an assessment of the tangible results that Heatley/Hossa/deVries brought … is the answer to “What was the ‘net gain’ of the 2nd overall pick from 2000?”

Did it bring a Stanley Cup victory? Did it bring a berth in the Cup Finals? Did it bring a trip or two to the Conference Finals? Did it contribute to a slew of division titles? Did it lead to several 100-point seasons for the team? Did it bring a President’s Trophy? Did it bring, say three (3) to four (4) playoff berths between the years 2000-2007?

And then … there’s other factors to consider. Such as? Well, that 2nd overall pick from 2000 reflects the contributions of just one player. It doesn’t reflect the team, as a whole. So, you have to look at the player who was actually drafted, his contributions while here, and the contributions made by any player(s) that he was traded for. For example, how many 40-50 goal campaigns the player had. How many 100-point seasons, if any. What kind of contribution to the PP unit? Should the player be a blueliner or goalie, you have to look different criteria. How many minutes does the guy log on the backline? What’s his plus-minus look like? If it’s a goalie, how many 30-win seasons, save percentages up over .925-ish. How many shutouts. Minutes played. Goals Against Average, etc.

If someone took the time and effort to look into all that … then we’d have a truer snapshot of what the net gain(s) really were for the selection. If Hossa is re-signed, as one poster suggested, for 7 years/$56M, then that 2nd overall pick from 2000 is contributing over a long period of years. If Hoss actually got that deal, he’d be under contract through June 30, 2015, and would hit the open market on July 1, 2015.

That’s a pretty good investment of a 2nd overall pick, provided that the player continues to perform at acceptable levels throughout the course of those years.

That now said, I can’t begin to imagine how I’d placate a hardcore Thrashers fan with the news that Marian Hossa had been lost to free agency, unless the organization replaced him with equal or superior value. Some might say, “How ‘bout Drury?” Or, “How ‘bout Gomez?” Something along these lines. Obviously, for the Summer of 2008, in the case of Hossa being lost to free agency. He’s under contract for next season. The only way to get Gomez or Drury this offseason would be to free up a sizeable quantity of cap room. And that would mean trading Hossa, Holik, or Kovalchuk, or some combination thereof. And again, the team would be taking on a hefty sum in Gomez ($6M) or Drury ($7M).

Did this help any, Raindawg?

By R. Stroz

May 23, 2007 3:00 AM | Link to this

NEWS FLASH - Ducks win and P&S has started hidding in his toilet for the next four months. Life is Good!

By Russ

May 23, 2007 7:52 AM | Link to this

Well, I guess the one good thing about Ottawa being in the Final as a Thrasher fan is that we can root for the Ducks against Heatley. I would have watched the games regardless, but it will be a little more entertaining being able to pick a side to get behind. I don’t think any other team that was in the playoffs I would of had a strong feeling for or against to win the cup, but believe me, the last thing I want to see is Heatley hoisting the cup. GO DUCKS!!!!!

Unfortunately, that being said I am predicting Ottawa in 7.

By Thrasher Ryan

May 23, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this

2 For 2—Sweet!

*It’s OK, ol’ PuckSnot’s Red Wings have no chance against Anaheim.

Anaheim in 7 games.

Ottawa in 7 games. Like I said before round 2, Dany Heatley is a huge factor.*

Give me a few days to pick my Stanley Cup Winner.

By Hip Czech

May 23, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this

As far as where we are, whether it is time to clean house or whether we are just a tweak or three away from the cup I would suggest financially we have to take the tweaking approach for this year.

By my public school math, we have 30.71 in salary for 12 players (well, 10 actually, seeing that one is Rucchin and the other Brathwaite). That’s the bad news.

The good news is, right now, committed for the ‘08-‘09 season is only 13.9.

So basically for this year there is somewhere around 15-18 million available for 9-10 players. Obviously that doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room for a high-priced FA. If we can eliminate Rucchin’s 2.4 mil that would certainly help.

But I think realistically we are looking at maybe one mid-range type FA to be signed and then try and sign our FAs as cheap as possible. I’m OK with that…Dupuis, Belanger, X, Hnidy, even Sim and McCarthy would be serviceable.

If you really want to clean house, sign any FAs to one year deals this summer and then the sky is literally the limit next year. Next year looks to be the cleaning house year.

Things would change drastically if a couple of players are moved, specifically Hossa and/or Holik. If you move one or both this summer then the cleaning house begins this year. That would allow maybe 3 decent FA signings this year.

What FAs will be available next year I have no idea…but assuming there will be big names available, the Thrashers could be big players next year.

You could conceivably move Hossa for a boat load of picks and Holik for another pick or two as the basis for the ‘future’ and build a team around Free Agency starting with the 08-09 season. Of course, boat load of picks + DW = scary thought.

By Brendan

May 23, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this

It’s amazing that we have to wait until Monday for the Finals to start. What the heck? We can’t start Friday night or Saturday afternoon, or even Sunday afternoon?

I’m a whopping 7-7 in my picks. You get rich by doing the “opposite” of what I say. I’m taking the Ducks in seven.

Teemu Selanne, the other Niedermayer, Pronger, Giggy and Bryzgalov, get their rings. The Ducks have been close. Lost Game Seven of the 2003 Finals. Got to the Conference Finals last year. Anaheim was the consensus preseason pick. Until Pronger got injured, they were 25-2-3 in December.

Now, Ottawa’s a great team and certainly could win, also. They’re been BETTER than Anaheim since 2001. Ray Emery hasn’t faultered yet, but has he really been tested? Ottawa’s defense has been so good, that he hasn’t had to be the “story” for Ottawa in these playoffs. With three (3) five-game series, the Sens really haven’t faced any serious adversity in these playoffs, where they were staring plainly at elimination.

Anaheim is 12-4. Ottawa is 12-3. Anaheim entered the league in 1993. The Senators in 1992. One of these teams is going to bring it home. Tampa Bay, 1992, already got their Cup. And Florida, 1993, went to a Finals in 1996. It’s nice to see that all of these teams have now reached the Finals at least once.

By Pucks n Snot

May 23, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this

Unlike you shytheads, I am proud of my team and thier efforts this year. I won’t rip the GM, I won’t bash the defensmen, I won’t bludgeon the scorers, I won’t scold the goalie, I won’t demand the firing of the coach. Why? Because I know I am a fan of a great hockey franchise in a great hockey town. And I know we will be right there competing EVERY year, unlike that disaster you have down there. You can all try your best again next year to look and sound like hockey fans, but the rest of us know what you can’t seem to fathom…….that the NHL will not survive in Atlanta and that the Thrashers will be skating in Portland, KC or somewhere in Canada within 2-4 years. What were you doing in Atlanta while we were playing in the conference finals? Answer: blogging about your latest insignifigant AHL “hopefuls” who will have no impact on your NHL squad because your coaches don’t know how to develop hockey talent. The Wings will be back next year after they add more great players from both their system and free agency (because EVERYONE whos ANYONE wants to play for a legendary NHL squad), and the Thrashers will be back in last place in the southleast division with their moron GM, their tuned out coach, their punk azz childish Kovalchuk, their overrated doughboy finnish goalie, their “get me out of here and back to a real hockey city” Hossa, and once AGAIN - NO FUGGIN’ DEFENSE!!!! One last thing…..how absolutely and completely foolish you make yourselves look when you rip on Dany Heatley and say you’ll be rooting against him in the finals. Any true hockey fan is elated for this guy that he escaped a town where hockey has no business being for one where hockey is breathed like the cold crisp air, and because he is thriving in that enviornment with a real team. Face it Shytlanta: you lost one of the leagues greatest players……and you’ll be losing the guy you traded him for after this year, if not before the trade deadline. Heatley is going to be hoisting the Cup in a matter of days…..I only hope during his initial post Cup interview he takes the time to thank the city of Shytlanta for setting him free! A HA HA HA HA HA!!!! SCREW YOU ALL!!! LETS GO RED WINGS! LETS GO RED WINGS!! LETS GO RED WINGS!!!

By Craig Custance

May 23, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this

Pretty good debate in here, especially considering we’re just in May. Nice work.

So with the Stanley Cup Finals settled, any predictions? (Besides NBC cutting out of an overtime Ducks/Sens thriller to show some horse racing pregame)

By LAC

May 23, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this

waddell Brilliant… GIVE ME A BREAK… Brenden would do a better job by far than waddell, who is ALWAYS A STEP behind, look at how the Savard FA was not handled, gee at least make offers before the cost goes UP 7/1.

Really believe several from Chicago will make it next season, I look for a faster/younger defense, no more 7/25 to slow us down, so let’s hope the make an impact in camp.

CC… When does the NHL release the 2007/2008 schedule ?

Guess the FLAMES will be back home next season, will have the White jersey’s too… wouldn’t be neat to see the BIG A on them that evening !!!!

Lets get Gomez… a real winner, or Blake, if for nothing else he KILLS us !!! Cheers!!

By Bob

May 23, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this

Ducks in 6. I will be performing voodoo on my Heatley bobble head to ensure their demise.

I heard a rumor that we’re going back to wearing the white sweaters at home next year, is that true? No more Blueland?

By Brian

May 23, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this

How funny that it might be 3 years in a row that a Southern NHL team can beat a team from Canada in the NHL finals (true Southern or Southern Cal which represents the same thing in most ways).

Bob - the white sweaters at home is part of the new uniforms being released from the league. I don’t know why they associate one with the other, but it was all part of the same decision. I don’t like those blue ones with only one arm stripe anyway.

By Brendan

May 23, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this

Craig, I didn’t see a prediction in the Finals yet from you? As a Red Wings fan, will you be pulling for Anaheim, since this way you can take some comfort in knowing your team lost to the eventual champions? Or, is it just the opposite approach. The Ducks beat my team, so screw them, Go Sens!!?

I’m going with Anaheim in seven. I think it should be a great series. We’ve been spoiled lately, with all these seven game series in the finals. In 2001, Colorado and NJ went the distance. In 2003, the Ducks and Devils went the distance. And last year, the Oilers rallied to force Game Seven. Prior to that, the next 7th game was Vancouver vs. the NY Rangers and before that, the great performance by Conn Smythe winner Ron Hextall, of Philadelphia, vs. the Edmonton Oilers, in 1987.

There are only two things missing from Dany Heatley’s resume: The Conn Smythe Trophy and the Stanley Cup. I think he’s got everything else, right? NCAA National title, Hobey Baker, MVP of the All-Star game, “Rookie of the Year,” Gold medal in the Olympics. Wait, does he have a World Title for Team Canada? Did he ever win that?

Even if the Sens don’t win the Cup, I’m not ruling out Heatley as the Conn Smythe winner. Let’s watch and see if it happens.

By Brendan

May 23, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this

Brian, I always get a kick out of Canadians whining about no Championships for Canadian teams since 1993 … when nearly half the league is filled with Canadian players.

I suppose they have a point. They think the Cup belongs in Canada, as their heritage. Initially, the Stanley Cup was a “challenge cup” to be competed for only by teams from within the Dominion (of Canada). Seattle became the first U.S. city to win the Cup when the Board of Trustees decided that American teams could also challenge for the Cup.

By Brendan

May 23, 2007 1:25 PM | Link to this

Uhh, I didn’t mean to omit the Calgary vs. Tampa Bay Finals, which also went seven games in 2004.

Mea culpa.

Craig, at least your Michigan State Spartans won the NCAA Mens Division I National title! It was a great game, too! The Spartans were down, 1-0, midway through the 3rd when Michigan State erupted for three goals to win the game.

By raindawg722

May 23, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this

Brendan, I appreciate the attention. I think that we are in agreement. There have been a lot of moves the Thrashers have made which have resulted in a disappointing overall net. I would say that has been despite the Heatley pick, which to date, has been positive (numbers-wise) for the organization. Along those lines, $6.0 million of cap space (freed by the departure of Hossa) is not inherently good or bad. As you said, the net of that extra cap space depends on what it is invested in, and that depends on the decision-making of your GM. I am not a Waddell-hater by any means. I think he could decide to spend that money wisely, but I would feel a lot more comfortable if it was John Schuerholz deciding to let a star player walk away because he knew that he had better places to spend that money. So that is probably why Thrashers fans would scream in agony if Hossa walked and why Braves fans will shrug and say, “Oh, well. Our GM is a genius,” if Andruw Jones signs with another team next year.

By Brian

May 23, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this

Here’s a great line I read just now that I love:

Brett Hull, one foot in the crease and the other lodged in his mouth, repeatedly called the Ducks “terrible” while they were defeating the Red Wings on Sunday and moving into position to win the Western Conference championship tonight at the Honda Center.

By CM

May 23, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this

I truly do not understand some of you guys..those of you bashing Heatley. He’s an absolute star and deserves every ounce of success that he and his team achieve. Go Heatley and Go Sens!

And Go Braves by golly!!

I continue to be impressed by all the knowledgeable folks we have on here, thank you for your insight, it’s fun to read.

By Craig Custance

May 23, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this

Brendan: I think Anaheim wins in 6. I really believe that the West is much better than the East this year.

Interesting to see that Anaheim had to give a first-rounder to Edmonton for reaching the conference finals as part of the Pronger deal. I’m sure they don’t mind.

By The Falconer

May 23, 2007 5:47 PM | Link to this

I did a quantiative study of the Thrashers first four drafts on my blog back in late March. I tried posting with links but it doesn’t appear to be working.

Anyway between 1999-2002 Atlanta ranked 12th our of the 30 NHL teams. DW has been middle of the pack. He has not be brilliant, nor has he been terrible.

By dbot

May 23, 2007 7:09 PM | Link to this

Just want to post my props to Craig on the Thrashers’ beat. Long, informative blog posts AND he responds on the message board! Keep up the good work.

By Brendan

May 23, 2007 7:53 PM | Link to this

Craig, I also found it interesting that Babcock was Anaheim’s head coach when the Ducks upset the Red Wings in 2003, then had to face his former team (Anaheim) led by Randy Carlyle. The Red Wings got Babcock to ensure they’d get past Anaheim, some might argue.

Truthfully, I don’t think Babcock has ANYTHING to hang his head about. The Red Wings led the series, 2-1, after a 5-0 win. Game Four got away from him, when they had Pronger out of the lineup. In Game Five, they completely outplayed Anaheim, but gave up a goal in the final minute, then lost in Overtime. And this Game Six was pretty exciting, right to the final buzzer.

(Poster) Bob has been telling this blogsite about the prowess of the Ducks’ GM, Brian Burke for some time now. Burke was one of the available GM’s when the Thrashers came into existence. Since that time, Anaheim has been to the Conference Finals three (3) times, and the Stanley Cup Finals, twice.

I fail to see why anyone wouldn’t consider Brian Burke to be a very successful GM in the NHL? Perhaps his best move was the acquisition of Pronger, even if Edmonton’s cold weather played the largest part in the deal! (Lauren, Pronger’s wife, was chilly. She seems to prefer the warmth of Anaheim. For the very moment. Stay tuned.)

Chris Pronger, if he isn’t the best defenseman in the league, is arguably the second-best. Some say Lidstrom is #1. Hard to argue. Some like Niedermayer. I’d put Tampa Bay’s Dan Boyle up there, near the top. Where would the Bolts be without him on their blueline? But I digress.

Raindawg, yes we are in agreement. Good post. Falconer, good post. I’m looking forward to reading your draft study.

For those of you who just adore John Kincade on 680TheFan, immediately after the lockout, he stated, “The Hockey News says Atlanta has the best UNDER 25 talent in the NHL. I wonder what the Hockey News says today? And how much of their 2005 assessment did they place on Dany Heatley? I’d wager … substantial amounts. Heatley is a FANTASTIC player. I knew it then. And we all know it now. I’m sorry he had to go. I certainly wish things could have been different, that Dan Snyder were still alive, and Heatley would have Atlanta into the Cup Finals. Marian Hossa still is one of the 20 best forwards in the world. The knock on the guy … is a lack of playoff production. Heatley didn’t fare all that well in his first playoffs last year. But he sure is making up for it now.

By Brendan

May 23, 2007 7:57 PM | Link to this

Raindawg, when I saw Smoltz’ new contract, my first thoughts were, “There goes Andruw Jones.” But you’re right. I shrugged it off. Since it’s Schuerholtz. You just know the guy will find a way to work some magic into the lineup.

By The Falconer

May 23, 2007 9:02 PM | Link to this

here is a link to the conclusion of the study. Look in the March archive for a review of each draft year.

http://thrasherstalons.blogspot.com/2007/03/conclusion-thrasher-drafts-in-review.html

By Craig Custance

May 24, 2007 12:07 AM | Link to this

Looks like Nashville is about to be sold to Jim Balsillie (TSN) - and speculation is that the Preds will eventually be moved to Canada.

By Bob

May 24, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this

Burke’s a real GM, he’d have had this club deep in playoffs several times by now.

Waddell is a joke. Falconer plays with the #’s, but you’re looking at the first 4 drafts. Uh, where did Waddell draft those first years? #1 overall, #2 overall, #1 overall, #2 overall. Yet you say you only have him ranked #12? Proves the point that he blows, he should be #1 or #2 since that’s where he drafted for those 4 years.

By Craig Custance

May 24, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this

Brian Leetch is officially retiring today. I guess we can finally end all the Leetch to Atlanta rumors.

By wh

May 24, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this

Burke is a quality GM - HOWEVER - you are crediting him with success in Anaheim when he was the GM in Vancouver through 2004. - counting the lockout that puts him in control of the Ducks for 2 seasons. I would argue that the Pronger deal was more good fortune then expertise. They just threw in another #1 pick in that deal as well.

I love Pronger’s game but think Lidstrom is the best. Arguably the 2/3 ever (this is conjecture but 5 Norris* would support this argument)

Boyle - I don’t know that you are going to want to hear this but I have seen rumor in a couple of places that he may be moved to NYR - Thanks Feaster for that Richards contract - For a package of Montoya,Tutin,Callahan(or other). I like Boyle’s game but am loath to see NYR trade Callahan or Tutin in the classic NYR method of youth for a vet. Montoya is obviously an expendable asset.

By The Falconer

May 24, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this

Bob:

Did you actually read my study? Top picks are supposed to turn into good players. I control for where you pick in the draft.

So no GM every makes a mistake at the top of draft? What about NYI taking DiPietro over Heatley in 2000? What about the fact that the Thrashers seriously looked at taking Pavel Brendl instead of Stefan in 1999. Stefan is not very good but Brendl is a complete wash out.

The top picks are not always a slam dunk. Remember Sam Bowie over Micheal Jordan? Tony Mandarich #1 in the NFL? Ryan Leaf? How about the Pistons taking Darko Mlicic (sp??) over a bunch of budding stars a couple of years ago.

Braydon Coburn was considered a slam dunck NHLer when he has taken—now its it such a sure thing. The fact is that you can screw up even at the top, and a GM deserves some credit for not screwing those up—because if you do pass on Michael Jordan it can be a franchise destroying kind mistake.

By wh

May 24, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

Craig - Nashville’s avg attendance was 13,815 per night. Do you know what the announced average was for ATL? I am pretty confident that a lot of nights the actual crowd was south of this #. A Nashville relocation, particularly to Canada is beneficial to keeping this team in ATL

By UpperDeck4Life

May 24, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this

I didn’t see this written anywhere else on here, but the Wolves lost again last night by one goal to go down 3-0. All 3 of their loses have been by one goal. Lavelle got the PPG last night in the 2-1 loss. The 4th game in the series is tomorrow. Looks like the wolves have a hill to climb.

By Pucks n Snot

May 24, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this

YES! Finally someone is going to start yanking these teams out of the south and putting them back where they belong. Thank God for guys like Jim Basillie that know the sport and have the clout to make this possible! YOU’RE NEXT, ATLANTA!

By Pucks n Snot

May 24, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

The NHL is never going to survive it’s attempt to spread out across the land. Get rid of Gary Bettman and make Mario Lemeiux commish. Under my NHL realignment plan, only the following U.S. teams will remain in the league: Detroit, New York Rangers, Buffalo, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Boston, St. Louis and Colorado. The Canadian teams (including the new Kitchner Predators - who’s laughing about that now, you PUTZES?)obviously stay. Send the rest into the NETHERWORLD! Let them start their own league if they want, but GIVE US THE TRUE NHL BACK!

By wh

May 24, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this

You are self titled snot and you live in Detroit - at least you know where you belong.

By Craig Custance

May 24, 2007 12:23 PM | Link to this

wh — I believe the Thrashers averaged about 16,500 a game, which wouldn’t have cracked the top 20 in the league.

UD4L - Another tough loss for the Wolves, but another strong showing for LaValle.

Pucks — If Nashville moves, I wouldn’t count out Kansas City.

By Pucks n Snot

May 24, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

No way, Craig. Free rent aside, once the novelty wears off they’d be right back in the same situation as in Nashville. Basillie is taking that team to Canada where there will be no novelty factor and no lack of support - EVER! BETTMAN BE DAMNED!

By Bob

May 24, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this

No Falconer, I didn’t bother reading your article, just your comments. Numbers can be played with in any way you want, that’s why stats bore me.

The fact is Waddell drafted at the #1 or #2 overall slot for the first 4 years. So, if you have him ranked as 12, that shows 10 guys leap frogged him, which is pitiful. You prove what I already know by ranking him that low, he just plain can’t draft.

Brendl, Stefan, who cares. They both are useless. DiPietro over Heatley? Depends on how much you value a goalie, Ricky is going to be a good one for many years.

The RIM guy is going to move them to Canada in a couple years.

By wh

May 24, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this

I guess it’s good for hockey fans that half witted self titled dried mucus will never be heard from. Here’s my realignment plan - Give Detroit to Canada for the rights to 20 lbs of seal blubber. This will benefit all Americans so we don’t have to waste tax dollars on under educated citizens who can’t find a job since they took away attaching antennas to the worst made cars on Earth. Unfortunately Canadians are probably to smart for that deal. Fortunately, I do have another plan to let Detroit earn its keep - Put a fence around this zoo and charge admission - We can rename it Darwin Park, the primary theme being that natural selection will prevail in watching the animals that live there disappear. Park maintenance costs should only be necessary for another 20 years, by then all the exhibit animals will have been “selected”.

By Pucks n Snot

May 24, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this

…..although in the real world if another couple teams move to KC and say,Houston or Portland, it would open the door for my Wings to get back into the eastern conference where they belong. Again, we can start by showing Gary Bettman the door.

By Brian

May 24, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this

Numbers can be played with in any way you want

Falconer - Bob has a point, you can make up a stat to prove any point you want to prove, 14% of all people know that…

By The Falconer

May 24, 2007 1:32 PM | Link to this

Brian: People who fall prey to bad stats are just ignorant about how to use statistics properly. Everyone uses stats to get through their daily life. How fast is your car driving, how much has my house appreciated, what is the tax percentage in this state, etc. Stats tell us about empirically reality, without them we all be lost. If Americans understood stats a bit better they wouldn’t be so afraid to use them.

By Craig Custance

May 24, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this

Brian — 60 percent of the time it works every time.

By Rawhide

May 24, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this

Personally, I’m with CM on the whole Heatley deal. I wish him nothing but the best up there.

Unless anyone has gone through what he has, I don’t think he can be critizised for the decision he made.

And I will not pass up this opportunity to point out again that the Snyder family is the only REAL group that can hold anymosity toward him and they have been the picture of grace, forgiveness and love from the moment it happened.

Hoss is a great player and we basically road him all year. Where-as Heatley is sitting in a line-up on a team that is a tier above where the Thrashers are right now.

That being said, I predict the Sens in 6.

By Bob

May 24, 2007 2:28 PM | Link to this

Baseball is 90% mental — the other half is physical

You give 100 percent in the first half of the game, and if that isn’t enough in the second half you give what’s left

90% of the putts that are short don’t go in

No stats in this one, but it’s my favorite Yogi-ism:

This is like deja vu all over again

By icemansucks

May 24, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this

Brian with a Simpsons quote…Let the Bears pay the bear tax, I pay the Homer tax…uh, dad, that’s the home owner tax.

By Russ

May 24, 2007 3:28 PM | Link to this

Pucks for NHL Commissioner!!! If the league ever were to contract I can see where it would make sense to get rid of a team that arguably has been the best on the ice the last 15 seasons and is getting ready to move into a new building (New Jersey) while keeping a team that regularly draws less than 10,000 in actual attendance and has been usually terrible for the last decade (Chicago). I guess he just wants Chicago to stay so Detroit can beat up on them several times a year like they do now to ensure they keep competing for the best record in the league…I’m surprised Columbus didn’t survive the cut for this very reason. Hey Pucks, here’s an idea…how about contracting the Wings…they should make it a rule that any team that can’t sell out home playoff games is automatically eliminated. According to ESPN.com’s numbers the Wings were 0 for 9 at selling out home playoff games this season. WOOHOO!!! That’s some “Hockeytown”!!!

By Rawhide

May 24, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this

Sure did look like a lot of Dead Wing fans came disguised as empty seats, LOL!!!

That would give the Thrashers TWO more playoff sellouts the Detroit….and it took us 7 less games!

LOL!!!

By Brian

May 24, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this

icemansucks - the Simpsons actually pulled that from somewhere else, that is actually a much older joke. I am surprised with this being a hockey blog that no one said you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take (Gretzky)

Bob - maybe you can verify this for me, but a Yogi-ism I heard was “sometimes the obvious is not obvious”. It was based on when a catcher (Yogi) was not quick enough to steal 2nd base so he just walked there instead of trying to run there. No one thought he was stealing since he was just walking and thus, it was so obvious that “the obvious was not obvious”. True?

By Bob

May 24, 2007 4:34 PM | Link to this

And I will not pass up this opportunity to point out again that the Snyder family is the only REAL group that can hold anymosity toward him

I love it when people try to tell others how they should feel (I thought you were a conservative, Rawhide, you sound like Shrillary telling people how and what they should think and do).

I also applaud the Snyders for not just talking the talk, but walking the walk of their Faith which calls for forgiveness, without conditions.

I, however, am not as forgiving about what Heatley said, not about what he did. The accident was just that, an accident caused by youthful indiscretions (driving too fast, we’ve all done it).

It’s been said 1000 times, but here’s 1001 just to make sure people understand why some us hold the grudge. It ain’t about the accident.

It’s about what Heatley said the freakin’ minute he landed in Ottawa and stabbed every fan in Atlanta in the back. All of us that supported him through the whole ordeal got a quote from him (and I paraphrase here) that went something like “it’s great to be finally be in a town where the fans actually know what’s going on” etc. There were a couple other gems out of him and backhanded swings at us hicks down here, but that’s why he gets booed. Not because of the accident. But for demanding to be released (did you know that? He didn’t ask to be traded, he had the balls to actually ask Waddell to outright release him so he could sign with a team of his choosing), and then for throwing it in our collective faces when he arrived in Ottawa, and not doing one second of his sentence here in Atlanta (where he was instructed to give lectures to kids about the dangers of driving), that’s why he gets booed. And probably always will. Americans are a forgiving lot, if someone asks for it. But if you go off acting pompous and making snide remarks at the people that supported you through the tough times, people have long memories.

By CM

May 24, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this

See, I didn’t know all of that about Heatley, i.e. the comments and such. I have wondered where he carried out the probationary talks to teenagers, b/c I sure thought if it had been here, we’d all have heard about it, but then again, maybe not.

Very interesting nonetheless, thanks Bob for clearing up some of the questions that I too had.

By Thrasher Ryan

May 24, 2007 6:53 PM | Link to this

Last I heard, Heatley hasn’t even finished all of the talks, community service, etc. But what gets me is why was he allowed to do the community service in Ottawa and not in A-Town? After those comments, I’d like to see him picking up trash on Philips Drive, not in Canada. Just my 2 cents.

I pick Anaheim in 7, based on better goaltending depth.

By Sara

May 24, 2007 7:10 PM | Link to this

You know, IIRC, there were a couple of Canadian cities that couldn’t hold on to their clubs either because of lack of support. Each market is unique and you can bet the NHL employs more marketing staff than any of us to determine what the support in each city might be. And since professional hockey is played indoors on sheets of ice instead of outdoors on frozen ponds, a northern geography is entirely unnecessary.

And by the way, I’d suggest refraining from dissing Red Wings fans … frankly, we could only wish Philips was even half as rockin’ as the Joe is on any given night. Half full they’d still put the “collective us” to shame. There’s a reason Ilitch could spend all that money year after year and it’s because that team has such a strong fan base, they were raking in the dough. I’d give anything to see that down here.