AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 29
Monday, October 29, 2007
Waddell working the phones
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You know, I miss two games and you would have thought I skipped all of October. I was greeted with comments like “Who’s the new guy?” and “I thought you traveled with the team.” Guess what? When I’m making seven figures, I’ll do an entire 82 game schedule. Until then, forget it. But it’s good to be back, and the team was in pretty good spirits today after practice. Bryan Little (hip) didn’t practice, but I got the sense that if it was up to him, he would have been out there.
Pascal Dupuis (hip also) said he’s feeling better. Don Waddell noticed that his hip was bothering him in the Nashville game and Dupuis sat against Chicago. I’ve got to say, I listened to the Chicago game on the radio while I painted the walls of my living room, and Dan Kamal can call a game. He made everything sound exciting, and I know the truth. I’m at all the other games, and it’s not THAT exciting. But it was an entertaining call, it was fun to get a different perspective. Same goes for the TV broadcast of the Nashville game. The best part was being able to Tivo and watch plays over and over again. You can really pick up some subtleties.
The team is hitting the home stretch of its road trip. The way Ottawa is playing right now, they’d better get two points in Montreal. No pressure. Don Waddell said he liked the physical presence guys like Boulton and Thorburn have been providing, but he said his lineup won’t be finalized until a conversation with his coaching staff tonight.
Waddell’s been busy. He said he’s had conversations with nine general managers in the last three days. Some he talked to about the coaching search, others about improving his roster. He’s not ruling out a trade in the midst of the coaching search. Obviously this team could use help defensively and at center. It’s a matter of getting the right pieces to fall into place for both teams. I’ll keep you posted. But Waddell wasn’t at practice today and wasn’t flying into Montreal until tonight. Only he and Delta knows where he is right now.
Waddell has also been in touch with Marian Hossa’s new agent, Ritch Winter. If Hossa is convinced this team is headed in the right direction, I think he’ll sign. If he doesn’t, he won’t. It’s that simple. Waddell remains optimistic that something can get done.
I know there were rumors of a John Anderson interview, but that hasn’t happened. Waddell said he and Anderson met in Chicago, but it was a conversation and not an interview. He said he used the meeting as much to talk to Anderson about the job opening as to pick his brain about the players in Chicago. The usual players are doing well - Oystrick, Valabik, Stuart and LaVallee, although none are on the verge of being called up to Atlanta.
Alright, it’s off to Montreal, my favorite trip on the schedule. I’ll get to some of your comments when I land.
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