Thrashers

By ES

January 16, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the update Craig!! Please pass on to Hossa that the fans really want him to stay! He’s a Thrasher!

By Sara

January 16, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this

Oh please please please please please let him sign…….unless it’s gonna be for $9M a year and he’s gonna keep having these “average” seasons. I hate to screw our cap space (since Kovy’s big raise isn’t far behind). But I’m not sure we could find a center available worth that kind of money so I guess it might as well go to Hoss.

By GaVaHokie

January 16, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this

You mean you actually asked Hossa directly instead of asking “several people close to the situation?” What kind of journalist are you Craig? :)

By Bill

January 16, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this

Locking up Hossa long term (and hopefully Kovy, too, in coming years) will make other quality players want to come to ATL. Get it done, Donny Waddell!!!!!

By ranallo10

January 16, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this

GVH — Sources say that friends of his brothers road game roommate’s ex girlfriend heard that Hossa hates Atlanta, but loves Georgia. (r7)—that’s 7 different sources, who have direct or indirect connections to a team related to sports, said something along the lines of what I just mentioned and/or thought at one point during the past week.

Craig — I’d be content with sending out Doell, Kozlov, Stuart, etc, on the PK so long as Hossa can stay fresh legged during PP and ES ice time.

By Smoothie

January 16, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

CC — “beast” of an article on McCrimmon! Nice work.

Remind Hossa that the off-season “talent” is better here in the ATL than any city that might boast a Cup contender!! Perhaps that will be the “pro” that tips the scale away from the “cons”.

By Craig Custance

January 16, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this

ranallo10 - An r7? That’s strong.

By GaVaHokie

January 16, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this

It’s snowing outside… run for your lives!!!

By GaVaHokie

January 16, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this

McKenzie and Dreger are fanatical douchebags… however, I do love hearsay! It’s much more entertaining than the truth. :)

By Bob

January 16, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this

Craig, did you ask Hoss about the report from McKenzie? McKenzie’s probably one of the top respected journalists in the NHL, this ain’t like the Eklund goof spouting garbage. What’s your opinion of McKenzie, Craig?

Sorry, but as you yourself reported an Ottawa Senator said off the record when they were in town “what’s Hossa supposed to say?”.

Why don’t you use your journalist connections and get on the horn with McKenzie and see what’s up?

By RS

January 16, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this

“I hope I can stay”?

1. pull thumb out of butt.

2. lift pen

3. sign name

There Marian, you can stay!

By Bob

January 16, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

McKenzie and Dreger are fanatical douchebags

lol. I don’t know much about Dreger, but McKenzie’s one of the top guys around the game and not a rumor mongerer by any means. Who’s that goof, Garrioch I think his name is, that’s the guy that writes that crazy off the wall rumors.

Seriously, with it coming from McKenzie, I put a lot of credence in it. Think about it, just like one of the Sens told Craig when they were in town, “what’s Hossa supposed to say”. You think he’s going to tell the team beat reporter that he’s out of here? lol.

By Red Light

January 16, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

Well, what do you think he is going to say. He’s a Thrasher right now and don’t think you’re going to hear…

“There is no way I am considering staying in Atlanta. We plan to ask for $7.5 million per year and we know the Thrashers aren’t going to pay that kind of money to keep me, particularly since Ilya is making that amount next year, too.”

Don is going to have to be very creative with the deal. If you pay both players a total of $15 million, that is 30 percent of a $50 million cap. Five defensemen and other forward contract commitments add up to about $18 million.

Lehtonen is restricted and needs to be re-signed. Hedberg is unrestricted, too, as are four other regular forwards (Holik, Dupuis, Boulton, Recchi) on this team.

So, DW is left with $17 million for two goalies, four forwards and one defenseman, or an average of $2.43 million per player.

That’s not such an easy task. If he can get Hossa to accept less money in the first two years of his next contract with an escalator in Year 3 and Year 4, then you have a chance. But in that scenario, Kovy is scheduled to be unrestricted in Year 3.

By ranallo10

January 16, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this

Sorry Craig, I’m just trying to generate hits for this website. I bring out the strong “leads” every so often and mention a few important teams…it’s called “revenue generation”.

You’re such an amateur to story breaking!

GVH — Solid. I guarantee all local Publix and Kroger’s are sold out of bread and milk (don’t ask me why milk, it’s a weird thing down here).

By Craig Custance

January 16, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this

Just a heads up for you guys: Jim Slater was sent to Chicago for a conditioning stint with the Wolves.

By DB

January 16, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this

The “snow” is a sign from God that Hossa should stay. Didn’t CC report that Hossa would like some more snow? :)

By Bob

January 16, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this

By RS: “I hope I can stay”? pull thumb out of butt. lift pen sign name There Marian, you can stay!

Yep, good to see someone that’s not completely naive and dealing with reality here. The writing has been on the wall for months. They’ve been trying to get him to sign here for months. They offered him 5 years $35m and he wouldn’t sign. If he wanted to stay here, he would’ve pulled that pen out and signed months ago.

The only question left, in my view, is where he winds up and what we get in return. The only thing I could see changing that is if the Spirit goes butt nuts in a fit of desperation and says “here’s 7 years, $9m per year” but they can’t do that, they have Kovy to re-sign eventually and you can’t tie up that much cap money in two forwards.

By Craig Custance

January 16, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this

Bob — I certainly respect Bob’s stuff, and that’s one of the reasons I made five phone calls the moment I read it. What I can report to you guys is the stuff I get on the record, and that is properly sourced.

By Tony C.

January 16, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this

Liked the McCrimmon article, CC-I wonder what his honest take on the Hoss Soap-Opera is??

If he really wanted to stay, he would’ve signed by now, don’t you think?

If he wants to see more top-flight talent-he needs to stay and help DW massage the numbers…if that is what is taking so long, then I can dig it. But at this point, I think all the facts point to Hossa paying lip-service to the idea of staying here.

By BlueSpark

January 16, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this

Melrose thinks the Sabres will trade Brian Campbell if they can’t sign him. Discuss.

By ranallo10

January 16, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this

“What I can report to you guys is the stuff I get on the record, and that is properly sourced.”

I prefer to make things up.

Seriously though, Hossa’s PC responses are getting rather aggravating, his actions do not coincide with his words by any stretch of the imagination.

By J.K. Sockey

January 16, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this

He was greedy in Ottumwa. He held out there and was sent packing. I expect him to do the same here.

By ThrashFan

January 16, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this

of course he is gone, what’s he supposed to do, thumb his nose at the fans and tell them he already told Don and the SPIRIT to cram it? Get a clue, he’s gone, he’s just got class and doesn’t want to overtake Heatley for Public Enemy #1 at The Bulb.

By ThrashFan

January 16, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this

of course he is gone, what’s he supposed to do, thumb his nose at the fans and tell them he already told Don and the SPIRIT to cram it? Get a clue, he’s gone, he’s just got class and doesn’t want to overtake Heatley for Public Enemy #1 at The Bulb.

By LAC

January 16, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this

Red Light…Rucchin a regular forward ????? NO WAY, He is TOAST and should never have been signed in the first place.

Just another waddell over the hill retread nobody else wants, but OLE don did !!! Should show what direction we are headed…

By ranallo10

January 16, 2008 6:14 PM | Link to this

LAC — He said Recchi…

By Tim

January 16, 2008 6:23 PM | Link to this

I think Hossa will be sign at around 7-7.5 mil a season. This is based on the fact that AO sign for 9 mil and that Crosby is at 8.7 mil. Both are better player then Hossa and it would take a .. layer to convince any GM that he worth more then any of them. Now at 7 to 7.5 mil, I think Atlanta could affort it. I believe that’s what he is being paid this season anyway.

By David

January 16, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this

I’m sure this won’t be a popular opinion, BUT…if it looks like even a remote possibility at the trade deadline that he won’t sign, I trade him in a heartbeat. This is a business and in a trade you have the ability to KNOW exactly what you’re getting. There’s no uncertain future of whether or not you’ll have to go shopping in the offseason. Yeah, he’s a great player, but there are lots of great players in the league. Just my opinion.

By Craig Custance

January 16, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this

David: Would you trade him for prospects and draft picks if the Thrashers are still in first at the deadline?

By Thrasher Dave

January 16, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this

HOSSA!HOSSA!HOSSA!HOSSA

By Russian

January 16, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this

Rumors Rumors and Rumors. I just read Russian Sport newspaper. They said that Hossa is going to Pittsburgh and Atlanta will get Staal. I do know if it is true or not just drop the information.

By Toby

January 16, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this

Don is too much in love with Kovy to offer his future money. I agree that if Hoss wanted to sign, he would of months ago. Ship him to San Jose and lets get on with the season and hopefully the playoffs

By Toby

January 16, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this

Don is too much in love with Kovy to offer his future money. I agree that if Hoss wanted to sign, he would of months ago. Ship him to San Jose and lets get on with the season and hopefully the playoffs

By Toby

January 16, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this

Don is too much in love with Kovy to offer his future money. I agree that if Hoss wanted to sign, he would of months ago. Ship him to San Jose and lets get on with the season and hopefully the playoffs

By five_hole

January 16, 2008 7:01 PM | Link to this

Like most of the fans here, I hope Hossa can be resigned. However, I don’t really want to break the bank doing it. I’m hoping that he can give us the infamous “home town discount”.

I like Hoss, I really do. I’ve been a defender of his here. There are maybe a couple of players I’ve seen in my lifetime that can control the puck the way he does. But we have to be realistic about how we dole out the dough.

Instead of Ovechkin money, would he be willing to sign for a little less?

By Walter_Sobcheck

January 16, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this

Trade Hossa, Zhitnik and second rounder (second rounder is for the hassle of then having to move Zhitnik) to Toronto for Kaberle (who is rumored to want out of Toronto and Antropov. Hossa has no say in where he goes. It puts a marque player in the Big six uniform in a hockey crazy town. He can play winger for Sundin. This makes us stronger defensively and a very good puck handling defenseman who is signed for 3 more yaers at 4.3M/year. Antropov is huge and can work the corners.
Offseason moves and currently available UFA’sry to sign Huselius, Langkow or Legwand or combination thereof and try to sign Gaustad from Buffalo to replace Holik as the big checking line center and use him in front of the net on the power play.

Then defensively go after Barret Jackman (strong tough stay at home defenseman)to play with Toby.

By doing this we free up 18M by losing Holik,Hossa,Zhitnik,Ruchin, White: we added 6.5M in Antropov/Kaberle Huselius 4.5M/3 years Legwand 3.5M/4Years Gaustad 2.5M/5 years Total: 16M added total

Lines: Kovy - Huselius - Recchi Kozzie - LegwandorLangkow - Antropov Stuart - Gaustad - Perrin Boulton - Slater - Thorburn

D-Pairs: Jackman - Enstrom Klee - Havelid Popovic - Exelby Valabik rotated in for extra toughness some games against bigger teams This way we get younger stronger and bigger Little gets a few years to hone his craft then when he is ready we can move other centers for pieces we have at center who are aging.

I do not believe this is unreasonable.

By kracker

January 16, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this

What I can report to you guys is the stuff I get on the record, and that is properly sourced.

Yeah, well, Craig, what’s your code for when what you are saying on the record isn’t really what you mean? You know, like a wink-wink or some such? We won’t tell any one. (wink-wink)

By kracker

January 16, 2008 7:49 PM | Link to this

Russian Hossa to Pens for Staal was what Eklund was reporting a couple of days ago.

By kracker

January 16, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this

Walter_Sobcheck That sounds sweet when you read thru it. I don’t know if you can get the first piece though. Kaberle will be tough to get from TO, D-men don’t come easily and TO is pretty much out of it this year. Plus they won’t want to move him to an Eastern team. But who can say?

By Walter_Sobcheck

January 16, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this

d pairing should have been Kaberle - Havelid not Ken Klee

By Brian

January 16, 2008 8:24 PM | Link to this

Russian & Kracker - I already posted this that debunked the whole Staal for Hossa trade

By Brian

January 16, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this

Craig - I wouldn’t mind future picks/prospects if we then took those and turned them around and traded them to someone else for a player. Say we trade Hossa for a bunch of picks/prospects, but then trade those picks/prospects to get player X from team Y? I have to think there is going to be more than 1 trade at the deadline anyway…

By kracker

January 16, 2008 8:30 PM | Link to this

Brian Yea, I know…but it prob had 10% truth like most any rumor…hockey is just so GREAT near the trade deadline! It can be nerve wracking though.

By Jameson

January 16, 2008 9:25 PM | Link to this

DB- Looks like Teflon Don really pulled one outta his @ss with this snow thing, huh?

By Alan

January 16, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this

It seems Bob put out a revised blog on the whole Hossa deal.

By LAC

January 16, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this

Thrashers right wing Marian Hossa scored the first three goals of Tuesday’s game. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Hossa’s only the second NHL player ever to score the first three goals of a game against Detroit. The other player to do that was Boston’s Dutch Gainor on March 14, 1929, when the Detroit franchise was known by its original nickname, the Cougars.

Interesting bit of info !!!!!

By Gsu-Lee

January 16, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this

Craig, in terms of trading Hossa at the deadline, I say no way if the team is still in first place because odds are if they are atop the southeast, they will owe some of that to him. If you make a trade for one decent player and some draft picks, say bye bye to this year.

By Tony C.

January 17, 2008 5:09 AM | Link to this

I’d be fine with with trading him at the deadline-we could “rent” someone else…betcha there will be a high 2nd tier winger available and provided we get a package that is close to true value for Hoss, it might work out even better….I still think DW, Hoss and the deadwings have a handshake deal already done….

Nice to see Bob’s retraction, but c’mon don’t ya get the feeling that Winter is just doing his job? Of course he doesn’t want somebody who saw his cards to tell everyone in the room what he’s holding!

GO BLUE !!!

By Sara

January 17, 2008 5:18 AM | Link to this

Alan that’s interesting…very interesting. First time I can ever remember seeing an agent react that way to a story like that.

I wonder how Hossa potentially turning down a contract offer of 5/$35 makes him look bad? I thik it is well documented that Hossa’s sole issue has been with the direction of the team in the future and not about money (which is incredible really in today’s sport market).

I really truly believe that Hossa wants to stay here, a least in general terms. There is a lot to offer here. There’s a fan base that absolutely loves this guy yet he can still go about his private busines living in ATL in relative anonymity (including from the media relative to other hockey markets). He can also make money here.

The issue becomes can he win a Cup here. My concern is that if we pay Hoss and Kovy too much (not that they aren’t deserving), we handicap ourselves in terms of a very elite center or d-man. No team’s payroll can really handle that many high-paid players. Little has potential to be a top-line center that will be affordable for a few years to come, but the issue is also going to be when he will be ready. Next year? The year after? And what do we do to upgrade the D? Zhit and Klee still each have another year on their contracts. They aren’t likely to move either (why people assume someone else wants our bad players when we don’t astounds me). So we’re definitely a year and a half away from major upgrades to our blueline.

If by some miracle Don can get Hoss and Kovy to settle for a bit less money to give him more room to work with, then we might have a shot here for other major upgrades. But if we start pushing both Hoss and Kovy up and over the $8 M mark, what we’ve got now won’t improve too much.

But then again, with a solid head coach that can get these guys working as hard as they did against Detroit every game, we might not need too much more. Learn to clear their zone effectively and fix that PP, and this team could be in serious business.

By ThrashFan

January 17, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this

of course he is gone, what’s he supposed to do, thumb his nose at the fans and tell them he already told Don and the SPIRIT to cram it? Get a clue, he’s gone, he’s just got class and doesn’t want to overtake Heatley for Public Enemy #1 at The Bulb.

By Thorpe

January 17, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this

Let him go.

Go BC!

By Scroggy

January 17, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

It is crazy to me that this is not done,yet. The price is going up with every Ovechkin deal, with every hat trick. It is going to take 7 years at $8-$8.5M per.In 4 years that will be a bargin for a top ten player in the league. Why are we worrying about a salary cap that increases every year? Let’s worry about a GM that can’t manage a salary cap. Trade Hossa for picks ??? This is a team that’s picked Coburn (over Pheanuf), Bourett, Blatney, Usternl, etc,etc,etc. This list could go on and on endlessly. Not great evaluators of young talent. Trade him before the deadline ??? We are buyers (should be) not sellers. By doing that your telling the rest of the clubhouse to make their vacation plans for April because there no drive to repeat the division or go to the playoffs for years to come. You think Kovy’s play and attitude will continue to mature if this happens ??? I think not. I see him holding out for Ovechkin money which would lead to him being traded for the said picks/prospects. Let’s worry about those things and not the salary cap in 2010 !!!

By GaVaHokie

January 17, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this

bluespark … regarding Campbell, it seems he or Kaberle might get sent to Chicago for Cam Barker.

I’m thinking Chicago would rather have Kaberle, seeing that he’s under contract.

I’d say Chicago has some pretty good leverage if they’re offering up Cam Barker.

Hossa for Campbell at this point is a wash… both going to UFA and both commanding $7+ million.

By Stephanie

January 17, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

Same old, same old with the Hoss. Body Language for the intermission interview and everything aside, most of us are praying for the Hoss to stay with Atlanta. No telling if we could go to the play-offs and make it all the way to the finals. It seems statistically unlikely, but Stranger things have happened. Besides, who are we going to get for Hossa? And I dare one person to say “First line center”. Last time I checked, we had one named Todd White.

By Bob

January 17, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

What an overreaction from Winter! Like Rawhide says in his new blog, where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Hokie, I told you McKenzie is one the top respected guys around, if it was Garrioch or some dipstick like that, Winter wouldn’t have his panties in a wad that Hossa’s intentions got leaked out by one of the top most respected journalists around the NHL.

Hoss just doesn’t want to look bad to the fans and the owners and Waddell probably pushed Winter to help make them look good to us fans like they really tried to sign him, which I’m sure they did. Winter has to deal with Atlanta for his other clients, he doesn’t want to burn that bridge.

Like has been said many times by those of us that can see what’s really happening here, if Hoss was going to sign, it would’ve been done long ago.

I hope Hoss and his agent understand that now Hoss does look like a jerk. It’s easy to see if he wanted to sign, it’d be done by now. Now it just looks like he’s snowing us fans while waiting to get out.

I hope they can get a good deal for him and here’s another guy we can welcome back to Booland in the future.

By Jon

January 17, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

If i were Waddel’s and i’m contemplating Hossa for Staal, id seriously have to ask for a little more in return. Staal and say Erik Christiansen, or a Brooks Orpik (but hes an UFA after 07/08). Colby Armstrong is untouchable unfortunatley. However Staal’s got a great game, he’s just, he doesnt have that experience thats needed, and if anything we’d trade for him, keep him in the minors until we lose Holik (which might be at the end of the season [can we keep a damn captian on this team?]), Staal would replace Holik on the checking line and would play his natural Center position, however this leaves us with a bit of a gap at winger and a surplus of centers. If we do this move, id go out and try to pry away a young winger (Nikoli Zherdev from Columbus Blue Jackets is an example, silky smooth handling skills) (Phil Kessel too of the Bruins) and really develop a competitive young future for the Thrashers. Maybe signing a Coach would be good too.

By Sara

January 17, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

Bob why should Hossa care what the fans or organization think? Plenty of players have been in his position in the past and made no bones about the fact they wanted to test the FA market. Why should now be any different for Hossa? As for Winter burning bridges, he’s done plenty of that in the past, encouraging players to hold out, etc. But he still seems to be doing fine. If you rep players that teams want, you’ll get the calls.

I really think the situation is what it is…Hossa wants to know that this franchise is going in the right direction. He’s neither conceded the point or written them off yet. Bottom line is we’ll all have to wait and see. I’m at least encouraged they’re willing to talk a short-term deal at this point - maybe he’ll at least give the team a couple more seasons to work it out.

By Midfield

January 17, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this

Just as Hossa may not care what the fans think, some fans - who don’t like to be suckers - don’t care what Hossa “feels”. The team is going just where its players and coaching staff are taking it. If Hossa is planning to be a passenger on a luxury boat, good luck. He might find himself overboard before too long.

By Bob

January 17, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

Bob why should Hossa care what the fans or organization think?

Because some players have class. Others don’t. It’s that simple. Hoss is a class guy, he’s handled it all year in a classy way when asked about it. I don’t think his effort in game, or lack thereof, has been a classy way for him to handle it, but he’s been very careful in his quotes, which is why Winter totally is going overboard now in his reaction, it’s obviously important to his client how he is perceived.

Other players don’t care. Don’t group all players together, they are individuals and some are dicks, others have class.

As the unnamed Sens player said that Craig quoted when they were in town, “what’s he supposed to say?”

By Gsu-Lee

January 17, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

Here is the thing, if Hossa is so concerned with looking bad he needs to get over it. Because it does not matter when he leaves town, whether it’s February or July, he WILL overtake Heatley as public enemy number one at Philips. He would be better off just coming out and saying that he wants to test the free agent market, because at least then you know what his intentions are and it is always easier to forgive honesty

By Midfield

January 17, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

Bob, here I disagree with you. I prefer when players speak their mind. It does not do anyone any good when a player says all the right words while sabotaging the team and the fans. It’s not class. It’s rot.

By GaVaHokie

January 17, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

Because some players have class. Others don’t. It’s that simple.

Not to mention how the Heatley ordeal blew up in our face when he started spurting off how he was “glad to be in a hockey town”… this team has a bruised ego, and it gets harder and harder to attract free agents when people like Heatley and Hossa want out.

I just wish it wouldn’t turn into a Soap Opera…Hossa has no reason to sign an extension before this summer… it’s nothing personal at all, just good business. I don’t sense any ill-will.

By Sara

January 17, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

Gotta go with the guys on this one. Hossa is doing more to harm his image by pretending interest and making a big deal out of McKenzie’s story than if he just came out and said he wants to go somewhere else. He is already “on the record” with one difficult contract negotiation.

Course, the flipside of that is, it’s not like there’s much competition on the market this year. He’s the top UFA as of right now.

By Gsu-Lee

January 17, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

Craig, straight up, if you had to put money on it, is Hossa going or staying?

By Bob

January 17, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

Hossa is doing more to harm his image by pretending interest and making a big deal out of McKenzie’s story than if he just came out and said he wants to go somewhere else

Bob, here I disagree with you. I prefer when players speak their mind. It does not do anyone any good when a player says all the right words while sabotaging the team and the fans. It’s not class. It’s rot

He would be better off just coming out and saying that he wants to test the free agent market, because at least then you know what his intentions are and it is always easier to forgive honesty

I completely agree with all 3 of you. Don’t misinterpret me to think I approve of what’s he’s doing. I don’t. I was just trying to answer to Sara’s question about why would he care what we think. I think he’s trying to act with class. But not succeeding. Honesty is always the best policy. If people think they’re being snowed, they won’t forgive that.

I also would much prefer he just came out and said “look, I don’t believe in Blueland, and I’m out of here” rather than do this PR dance trying to appease us. He’s trying to act with class, but he’d be better off just being honest.

Not to mention how the Heatley ordeal blew up in our face when he started spurting off how he was “glad to be in a hockey town”… this team has a bruised ego, and it gets harder and harder to attract free agents when people like Heatley and Hossa want out

I agree with this also. Perception tends to become reality, and the perception is that guys don’t want to be here, unless it’s a Recchi type on the downside of the career.

That ain’t good and reflects badly on what Waddell has “built” here. All those early years of Waddell fighting with and dissing the few early decent players we had over money started this perception (Brunette, Staios, Audette, etc.). You reap what you sow, and Waddell sowed that early by being cheap and dogging the few guys we had that were decent who wanted a pay day. It’s coming home to roost with him. The perception is this club won’t do whatever it takes to build a Cup winner. It has management backed into a corner now, do they overpay and throw the farm at Hoss making it impossible to turn down a contract (but screwing us Cap wise in the process)? They’re between a rock and a hard place now.

By Alan

January 17, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

I personally want to see Hossa make McKenzie and everyone else sputtering out rumors look like asses.

I think we still have a fairly good chance at signing Hossa. He just needs to step up his game a little, as well as everyone else. Being on a team isn’t about sitting back and observing what everyone else can do for you. It’s about working together to accomplish a common goal. Atlanta deep fried my other team the other night because they all worked together as a team to shut Detroit down. Hossa made those top notch Detroit defenders look like Zhitnik. And if they work together as a team tonight, they can shut the Habs down as well. I think Hossa realizes that now.

By PW

January 17, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

Thanks, Craig. Hossa does not seem to change from what we heard last summer. It is nice to hear it from him after all the rumors and time it has taken.

If anyone can make management make the right moves, it is Hossa at this point. He wants his name on the cup as he should. I applaud him for trying to make it happen here in Atlanta instead of leaving like Sutton did and making remarks later. He has an opportunity to really make a difference here in Atlanta and seems to be trying to do so. I hope it works.

By Craig Custance

January 17, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

GSU-Lee — I’m just going to report everything I hear, I don’t want my opinion to get in the way. So sorry, no predictions from me on Hossa.

Everybody else: Don and Marian confirmed again this morning that talks are ongoing. Carroll will blog about it later, but Don also said he thinks the team has the assets to be buyers at the deadline if things continue to go well.

By Craig Custance

January 17, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this

Also, give McKenzie credit for clearing things up today in his blog, saying: “I clearly erred in saying Hossa has told the Thrashers he will ‘in no uncertain terms’ go to free agency.” Like I said earlier, I chased that rumor hard because I have respect for McKenzie and that continues with how he handled his clarification.

By R. Stroz

January 17, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

After reading the article on Brad McCrimmon with emphasis on the following comment:

A team, like his farm, is built around trust, respect, discipline, accountability and individual sacrifice.

I wondered what McCrimmon thinks about Hossa’s intermittent performance this season.

Hossa’s overall performance this season doesn’t match McCrimmon’s ideals as a person or a player.

From McCrimmon’s perspective, if McCrimmon does go on to become the head coach, does McCrimmon want Hossa on the team?

By Gsu-Lee

January 17, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

Craig, typical writer with your ethics and such…you not covering the game tonight?

By GaVaHokie

January 17, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this

*All those early years of Waddell fighting with and dissing the few early decent players we had over money started this perception (Brunette, Staios, Audette, etc.). *

I’d have to say on most of those occasions, Waddell was right… Audette, Staios, Sutton, Sim, F. Kaberle… Brunette is still a great player, but what was he asking for at the time? It wasn’t Waddell being cheap, it was AOL with the self-imposed $28 million cap.

We couldn’t pay ANYBODY in those days… hockey was a novelty. Merely a gateway to get guys like Lemeiux, Jagr, Modano and Yzerman through town. When hockey started in this town, it was nothing more than an opportunity to see big name stars come in and whip up on the Thrashers.

Think about how far the fanbase has come since Day 1… that’s what justifies how much money is spent.

By Buzilla Baby Blues

January 17, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

Craig:

Is Tim Tucker (guy who wrote article about all-star tickets being sold out) any relation to Tom Tucker, the newscaster on Family Guy?

By Craig Custance

January 17, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

GSU - Nope, I went to the morning skate to make sure nothing crazy happened with Hossa and the Montreal media. But Carroll is doing the game tonight and I’m heading to Buffalo.

By tony318

January 17, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

R. Stroz I didn’t read the McCrimmon article, but I did hear an interview he gave on XM 204 about 2 weeks ago. While, I can’t recall exactly the words he used, He spoke of Hossa with great admiration in his voice and refered to Hoss as our best player from baseline to baseline. His tone led me to the conclusion that he is extremely happy with Hossa.

By GM

January 17, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

Trade him. I hear he liked it in Ottawa, maybe that’s a good place for him to go. Get Vermette and a first rounder for him, not too shabby.

Ha, I’m a sens fan, obviously, and I’d love to see him back in Ottawa. I know from his years here that he’s a stand up guy, though, so if he says publicly that he wants to stay, I’m inclined to believe him. That said, he won’t come cheap.

Good luck signing him, but if it doesn’t work out, how bout giving him a chance to win that cup where he started?

By R. Stroz

January 17, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

tony318 - Thanks for the info.

By Bob

January 17, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this

Hey GM, what about the word that Hossa is a playoff disappearing act? Is that your opinion or is that just a fairy tale and he was scapegoat hung out to dry for all the early playoff exits? Why would you want him back if he just disappears in the playoffs?

Personally, I remember him skating hard and being awfully dangerous for the Sens in the playoffs.

By Gsu-Lee

January 17, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

Craig, just skating by as usual eh?….just kidding. and back to what you said abaout the Thrashers being buyers at the deadline, what does that mean to you? Who would you rate as expendable and who would you see as a reasonable target for the team? Thanks, and enjoy the weather in Buffalo…

By GaVaHokie

January 17, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

GM… I’m hoping we get Vermette this summer… without trading. ;)

By Brian

January 17, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

Personally, I remember him skating hard and being awfully dangerous for the Sens in the playoffs.

Bob - do you also remember him scoring just 9 points in 25 games in 5 trips to the playoffs? Granted he had 2 trips in which he had 26 points in 30 games, but the whole Senators team was playing well then, which is why they had so many games those two years. But that is only 2 out of his 7 trips to the postseason. In the other 5 trips he has 9 points in 25 games. How is 9 points in 25 games “awfully dangerous”?

By chickenhawk

January 17, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

Glad to see Samsonov doing well in Carolina. We had a chance to snag him, but declined. Our GM has more “confidence” in guys like Slater and Larsen, with a grand total of 1 goal. How pathetic.

By Brian

January 17, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

chickenhawk - come back and see where Samsonov is after 1/2 a season. If you think he will be just as focused, you better consult people from Boston, Edmonton, Montreal, Chicago, etc…

By chickenhawk

January 17, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this

Brian I’ll bet you whatever you want that after half a season he’ll STILL have more goals AND points than Slater & Larsen combined. Deal? And i’ll even throw K. Doell in there too.

By ranallo10

January 17, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this

chickenhawk — You’d rather Sergei Samsonov on this roster in a position he’s not needed (second or third line left wing) than role players who are far less expensive?

Samsonov — 1.763M after re-entry waivers.

Slater/Larsen/Doell — 1.546M

I think you’re the first person I’ve seen that WANTED Samsonov on their favorite club.

By GaVaHokie

January 17, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this

chickenhawk… how is Samsonov doing compared to Kozlov and Kovalchuk, our top two LW’s… you know the position Samsonov plays, and why we didn’t need him? ;)

Samsonov doesn’t play PK, so he’s not exactly equal to Larsen in team needs. So, now we’re talking Thorburn. Who do you think would win in a fight?

By Nate

January 17, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this

Will it finally happen tonight? Two games over .500 for the first time this season? What do you guys think? Are the Habs toast?

By Bob

January 17, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

Will it finally happen tonight? Two games over .500 for the first time this season? What do you guys think? Are the Habs toast?

We have to bust that cherry eventually if we’re going anywhere. The Snow Farmers have been hot lately, and they’re going to feel right at home with Les Habitant Snow Farmer Blizzard 2008 that we had last night, could be a tough one.

I think Lehtonen has another strong outing, Kovy is due, what’s it been, like 4 periods since he’s scored, so 3-2 good guys.

By David

January 17, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

CRAIG That’s a tricky situation, of course (trading him at the deadline if we’re in first). I don’t think i’d trade him for draft picks in that case. But, I’d look at teams who in the west looking to trade and see if you can make a good deal. But that’s me. And you never really know how much he wants to stay anyways. If he’s willing to be a part of a deal, that makes things alot easier.