AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March > 06 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWaddell addresses some of the issues
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sorry for the late blog today. I’ve been working on a story trying to pinpoint the Thrashers collapse during this losing streak, and containing that to the space I’m allowed was certainly a challenge. I mean really, how do you explain the fact that teams spend three-quarters of the game in the Thrashers zone in only two paragraphs? Ultimately, the four problem areas I highlighted were: 1. Lack of accountability, 2. No bang from your big contracts like Holik, Kozlov and Zhitnik, 3. Not enough core players and 4. Defense. Which one do you think is the biggest issue and what do you think I left out?
If you’re looking for insight about the game against the Wild, I don’t have much. My reporting today was more big-picture, trying to get at the root of some of the problems. I had two interviews end abruptly when Ilya Kovalchuk and Don Waddell both walked away in mid-interview. I was trying to get answers from Waddell about Brad McCrimmon and that didn’t go particularly well. “It’s not an issue,” was all Waddell said before ending the conversation. And I didn’t even get to ask why Todd White didn’t practice. Oh well, what are you going to do?
I’d heard that Kovalchuk told Russian reporters that he thought some teammates left early for summer vacation. He denied that he said that, and then hit the showers before I could ask other questions. Some of the other Thrashers were a little more forthcoming in discussing the issues. Garnet Exelby was really good and honest. He said this about his play this year: “It’s been up and down. I’m certainly not happy with where I am and how things are going.”
Bobby Holik and I got into a philosophical discussion because I’m contending that yes, he does raise his play with the magnitude of the game - but the opposite is also true. His play declines as the importance of the game declines. I’m not suggesting he’s mailing it in or tanking it, just that his level of play reflects the importance of the situation. And if the Thrashers games are now meaningless… He disagreed. But it was an interesting discussion regardless.
Before bailing after the McCrimmon questioning, Waddell was really good about addressing everything else. He said that the trade deadline was a huge distraction for the team, which now raises the question - did he hurt this year’s team by waiting so long to trade Marian Hossa?
Waddell on the distraction: “There’s no doubt in my mind the trade deadline was a big factor for a week to ten days. It’s a poor excuse, these guys are all paid professional athletes to perform.”
Naturally, since I asked him on multiple occasions before the deadline if it was a distraction and he denied it, I wondered why the story changed.
“I’m not giving these guys excuses, we dealt with it at times. I addressed it with the team because I knew it was a distraction. There was no reason for it to be a distraction, that was the problem,” he answered.
I asked about the underachieving big contracts, like Zhitnik, Holik and Kozlov - to which Waddell responded: “I don’t single out guys - to me it doesn’t matter if they make $4 million or $500,000, you expect the same thing when they come to the rink,” he said. “Saying that, there are definitely guys that we expected more from. We got it at times, we got it in doses but no solid dose. That’s a concern. That’s a big reason why we’re in the spot we’re in right now.”
Since he wouldn’t do it, I singled out Kozlov and Waddell responded with: “The frustrating part is that in Kozzy’s case, he knows he can be better. It’s not like we’re asking a fourth line guy to contribute to us, we’re asking a guy we believe can. We’re aware of it, we’ve talked about it, talked to [Kozlov] and certainly we’re not giving up on him.”
I think accountability is an issue, but Waddell said it’s more of a respect issue on the team. He said there isn’t enough respect among the Thrashers players. “If a guy is having a bad night, you have to pick him up instead of hammering him further into the ice. You can say whatever you want about coaches doing this or coaches doing that, but the end result is if you look at good teams and look at the respect factor they have for each other… that’s something that is a factor here that I’m aware of. We’re aware of.”
And on the lack of a strong, core of homegrown talent? “We made a little bit of a philosophy change a few years ago to sign some of the older players and obviously that’s going to take away the opportunity for some of those things to happen. But I also think we’re at a good juncture of the franchise where a lot of the young kids, in their RFA days, now have an opportunity to grow together.”
Pretty good candid stuff. That is until inquired about why McCrimmon isn’t the head coach. “It’s not an issue,” he said. “I’m done talking about it.”
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Comments
By Brendan
March 6, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this
First order of business is for Waddell to admit failure. Admitting you have a problem is Step #1 to addressing it. An apology and a resignation should follow.
Next order of business is for the new GM to address the blueline. It has to start there. It just has to.
By jason
March 6, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this
Hmm…sounds like a good first question to ask then tomorrow night at the STH town hall meeting!
By R. Stroz
March 6, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this
Someone please let me know if I missed it, but, did DW take any responsibilty what so ever for this mess?
By Nikita
March 6, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this
Good questions, Craig.
If Holik weren’t so expensive, I doubt he’d be subjected to so much scrutiny. He is one of our most consistently physical players, and unfortunately until someone else learns to fill that role he is invaluable. The problem is, as with Zhitnik and Koz, that we signed older players to expensive, long-term contracts and now have our hands tied when their production falls.
The accountability response was pretty interesting. I understand that you don’t hammer guys who have been in the NHL for 17 years like you hammer guys who have been in it for 6 months — but can’t you bench or waive someone who fails to produce for months on end?
Other than that, Craig, I’d like to know who you and Waddell see as developing among the UFAs. Where will we see the greatest growth?
By Craig Custance
March 6, 2008 6:08 PM | Link to this
jason - Let me know if you have better luck than I do.
By Wintirwolf
March 6, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this
Isn’t it amazing how easy interviews are until you hit that sensitive spot. Why get defensive over a question that in all reality “IS an issue!” It’s well past time that the Thrashers have a leadership change across the board. Full house cleaning for GM and coach, and new direction that signals to those players that did come to play this year (ie: Kovalchuk, Enstrom and a handful of others) that the Thrashers can and will do what it takes to be a competitive team for next year. Because if you don’t do something now, we’ll have another Hossa-type situation and then it’ll be with a player named Kovalchuk and his desire to play for a winning team.
Hopefully the ASG can get their collective crap together and do the right thing for the team, not for the almighty dollar. Because if you take care of the team, the bottom line will improve because Atlanta is a sports fan market that definately loves a winner and becomes willing to spend money when you win.
By Thrasher Ryan
March 6, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this
Nice work CC. Sounds like Waddell wants to “skate” around the issues.
I would like to echo what Brendan just said too.
Waddell is the problem.
By Terry in Dahlonega
March 6, 2008 6:13 PM | Link to this
Keep up the pressure Custance! Atlanta fans deserve better than this!
By truehockeyfan
March 6, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
Holik should give his “C” to kovalchuck for the rest of the year. I think Kovy will be a geat captain not just in games but practises also. This is His TEAM.He wants to win so bad, you see it everynight. He will not accept the mediocrity that alot of these players have shown this year. What is sad. We have seen how good this team can play.What is really sad. We have seen how bad this team can play.
By Alan
March 6, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this
Wonderful blog, Craig
By R. Stroz
March 6, 2008 6:42 PM | Link to this
Craig - Would you tell us the specific questions you asked DW concerning McCrimmon.
Someone on Rawhide’s blog has been claiming McCrimmon turned down a multi-year contract to coach the team after the All-Star break and the Wolves would not allow John Anderson to interview with the Thrashers.
Most of us have summarily rejected these assertions, but, it would be interesting to know if you have any information concerning these issues.
By ranallo10
March 6, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this
Okay, not to sound like a psychologist or anything (because I’m not one), but does anyone else raise an eyebrow when they read/hear Waddell say “we” in situations where he should be saying “I”?
We made a little bit of a philosophy change a few years ago to sign some of the older players and obviously that’s going to take away the opportunity for some of those things to happen.
Um, shouldn’t that be “[I] made a little bit of a philosophy change…”?
It could just be a team mentality when he says “we”, but it could also be Waddell giving cues that perhaps not all of these decisions (playing youth or playing veterans) are his FINAL decision, but rather coming from someplace higher.
I could see the ASG saying “we need immediate results, go sign some proven players and try not to rely on youth”, and Waddell seems to be the GM that would say “okay, you got it boss(es)”.
But good work Custance, glad to see they’re taking out their frustrations on you now, not just the plexiglass.
By NASCAR Dave
March 6, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this
THESE PATHETIC PUKES MAKE ME SICK!!!
THIS SORRY EXCUSE OF A TEAM DWAD CREATED IS MISERABLE! WADDELL MUST BE FIRED! NOW! FIRE MCCRIMMON WITH HIM. THEY BOTH SUCK!!!
I AM TIRED OF WATCHING THIS TEAM GET OUTSKATED, OUTSHOT, OUTHIT, AND OUTCOACHED EVERY DAMN NIGHT!!!
A BUNCH OF WIMPS! PANTY WEARING WIMPS! YEAH I’M TALKIN TO YOU TRASHERS. AND I’D SAY IT TO YOUR FACE TOO.
ATLANTA TRASHERS ARE **F%$##ING BABIES!!! TOTAL GUTLESS COWARDS! AND WHAT IS THE COMMON THREAD? WADDELL.
FIRE WADDELL NOW!
I AM BOYCOTTING THIS TEAM UNTIL WADDELL IS GONE.
NUFF SAID.
By R. Stroz
March 6, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this
ranallo10 - Does this mean you are “crossing over on DW?”
By Tony C.
March 6, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this
CC-
Nice interview yourself the other night w/Odgers!
Did you get the impression that #17 was walking off before he said something damaging, or that he was just done with talking about how crappy the season has been???
I want to say thank you for all the great work you’ve done this season Craig, it’s nice to have a really involved writer on this beat.
OPERATION: Believe In Tankland IS GO!
P.S. Did you ask if #17 would rather get Doughty or Stamkos???
By Jason
March 6, 2008 7:14 PM | Link to this
Who cares what load DW is going to spew tomorrow night. Will it make any difference to any of you? I think any of the STH who are going tomorrow’s meeting and are voicing their concerns should let DW know that we don’t care what he has to say anymore and don’t want to waste breath talking to him. Who everyone there needs to demand is to talk to and gather responces from the Atlanta Spirit ownership. If the owners had any respect for the STH base that’s still left, they would stand next to DW and share in the meeting and dialog.
I don’t see too many press conferences for the Falcons where Arthur Blank refuses to stand in support and answer questions next to his coaches/GMs. Don’t think I am suggesting they are the model franchise, but you see my point.
By Sasquach
March 6, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this
HA! Is there a twelve step program for GMs in denial?
By ranallo10
March 6, 2008 7:30 PM | Link to this
Stroz — I’ve never been anti- or pro-Waddell, but rather I’ve been content with Waddell because I believe he hasn’t been given a fair shake. I’ll defend him at times, but that doesn’t mean I support his every decision (because I definitely don’t…Steve F’n Rucchin!?).
Do I care if he’s fired today? Not really. Would it bother me immensely if he wasn’t fired? Nope. If I were staying in the country I’d likely downgrade my full season tickets to the 6 game plan, and purchase individual tickets on a per-game basis. Looking back, I could have saved over $500 this season had I opted for that route. I would’ve lost my FREE yearbook AND media guide, so it would’ve been a tough decision.
Anyways, in my mind the ASG is the root of all that is wrong with this team. However, the only way for them to change my opinion is by firing Waddell (showing that a different GM could be successful under their watch)…so be it. I would love to be proven wrong that the ASG isn’t the problem, but rather Waddell is. However, I have no faith that they can prove it (without changing their current business model).
The most telling fact about who the problem is would be the overall performances of both the Hawks and the Thrashers. Both franchises are owned and operated by the ASG, yet both continue to fail. Is it their fault, or the GMs under them? In my opinion it makes more sense that the ASG is the immediate problem. If you feel it’s the GM, then I ask of you “who hired him?”. Sure, it could be both the GM and the ownership group at fault here, but the ownership group is the highest you can go on the totem pole.
By Nate
March 6, 2008 7:30 PM | Link to this
Wow! What a mess…
By moo
March 6, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this
Hey Don, Why haven’t the Thrashers followed the lead of other teams by participating in “Team Building” activities during the pre-season? It was pretty obvious to me that this team was lacking unity when you had to make the panic trade of Coburn for waiver-wire garbage. Why haven’t the Thrashers invited the fathers to go on a road trip with the boys like other teams? The image of this franchise keeps sucking down the toilet with each passing day. Don’t go down with the ship, leave NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By GSU-Lee
March 6, 2008 7:42 PM | Link to this
Craig, hey, fantastic questions. I think that those are all questions that need to be answered. I have a question about Kovy, what is up with him? Does he just hate the media? It seems like, even on a good night, he doesn’t have anything to say, and if he thinks you are coming his way he just kind of looks at you like he is saying ‘don’t even think about it.’ What is his relationship with guys on the team? Does he hang out with any of the guys or have anybody he seems to really get along with? Just curious, because sometimes he seems like a loner.
I think that could also be a perfect example of someone who was drafted by this organization and doesn’t have anyone around him who has been in this with him from the beginning.
By R. Stroz
March 6, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this
Sure, it could be both the GM and the ownership group at fault here, but the ownership group is the highest you can go on the totem pole.
ranalo10 - Who are the GM and owners for $2000.00 (Jeopardy, second round). I’ll take both, however, the ASG have srewed up both the Thrashers and Hawks. It’s always important to be consistent in business.
By GSU-Lee
March 6, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this
Anyways, in my mind the ASG is the root of all that is wrong with this team.
You hit the nail on the head, my friend.
By Brendan
March 6, 2008 7:46 PM | Link to this
Ya know what ELSE, folks? I think Don Waddell wants the players to like him. I do. Why ELSE is he such a player’s Coach and a player’s GM? What ELSE could it possibly be??? C’mon now. Supply some answers. Waddell wants to be supportive. Waddell wants to be their bud. Maybe Waddell even wants to be their “father figure.” I don’t know. He did draft some of the guys here, so I’m sure he feels responsible for them in some way. And waiving them or trading them is a bit of an admission of failure. Which is something he also seems to shy away from.
Beeeee honest about something, will ya? Imagine the following scenario, fellow Thrasher fans, and tell me that it wouldn’t do your heart of a bit of good to know it happened. Ready? Here we go!
Waddell: “Slava, can you come here a minute? I need to talk to you.”
Kozlov: “Sure Don (and not sayyy “Coach,”). What’s up?”
Waddell: “Leave your gear in the lockerroom. You’re up in the pressbox tonight.”
Kozlov: “What? Are you kidding me? Is this some sort of ‘joke?’”
Waddell: “No. Dump your gear and head upstairs. You’re sitting tonight.” Then Waddell starts to walk away.
Kozlov: “So you’re BENCHING ME???”
Waddell pauses … looks back over his shoulder and says: “Did I stutter?”
Kozlov: “Why? Why are you benching me?”
Waddell: “Because, ‘Professor,’ when you took a trip to Dallas (Visiting the Stars) to ‘extort’ an extra year out of me, with a ‘no trade clause,’ which I honored, I didn’t authorize a ‘sabbatical,’ which you clearly took. Now, for the last time, leave your gear in the lockerroom, and get up to the pressbox.”
And Waddell walks away while Kozlov’s face miraculously changes to an even “ghostlier” shade of white.
By Hockeyfan
March 6, 2008 7:52 PM | Link to this
Craig not sure if the Spirit will let you in to the Townhall meeting tomorrow or not but you should try to be there in person or maybe in memorex… If you have the chance, ask Lemaire if he knows what the offer for Holik was
Thanks for the story and the blog. I still say we should have dumped Zhitnik to some sucker (there were offers) so that we wouldnt have to have his salary hit for the next 2 years and give us room to bring in a quality D-man for next year. We need to upgrade the D but how can we do that if we already have 5 of them under contract for next year?
By xfanatl
March 6, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this
Will reiterate what I said last night, having had a day to calm down after that pathetic performance last night. I believe the majority of the players playing don’t have their heart in it any more.
There are exceptions: Kovy, Moose certainly showed he cared last night . not sure if any of you saw it, but as he was skating off the ice after the debacle, someone, either White or Thornburn came up to him and slapped his pads with his stick as in “good job” and it looked like Moose got in his face and then stormed down the tunnel.
Craig did anyone else see that or comment on it?
It is time to make some changes and that just might mean an entire new front office and coaching staff. The course has run and the result was subpar.
By Bob
March 6, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this
Good job, Craig. I have felt for a while that Holik is not respected by the guys on the team, and that he doesn’t give the other players respect.
If you recall, when Holik left the Rangers, the Rangers players threw him under the bus and said good riddance. They were sick of him riding them. Kovy’s comments yesterday of “ask the coach, ask the captain”.
I think the players don’t respect Waddell, that’s why Hossa is gone. And I think they don’t respect Holik.
I agree that this is Kovy’s club now, give him the C, guys like him lead by example. Let him have it next year.
By Plenty Of Empty Seats
March 6, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this
Craig,
Honestly, what answer did you expect regarding the McCrimmon question? Addressing the matter would lead to other questions - which might lead to the core issues - big issues which will never be discussed opening in public.
You were asking one of the architects of this nightmare to awaken from a professionally induced coma and then come forward with an indictment of himself, his supervisors and his subordinates, etc… And that sort of thing happens everyday in corporate America - come on.
As evidenced by the situation, my guess is that some of core problems aren’t even discussed behind closed doors.
With so much on the line last night, the performance, on any number of levels, was pathetic and sad, but perfectly synonomous with the situation.
Nothing short of a complete regime change will rectify the situation.
By Don
March 6, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
Craig, the owners must be told the (remaining) fan base wants a “house-cleaning” starting with the incompetent GM through the coaching staff, and the stick boy if necessary!
By LAC
March 6, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this
What a brush off…
Tell us Craig, do you think waddell is even aware of the firestorm about HIS abilities ?
Does he not see the blogs and wonder, Am I the problem ?
What the Hell is up with this person?
He sounds VERY Confused, to the point of, well who knows…
Can HE not understand HE IS THE PROBLEM here ?
I just wish you’d nail him with some questions about what WE are saying about him and get a response…
Give it a Try Craig… We Will be watching.
Sage Right AGAIN !
By Barry
March 6, 2008 8:41 PM | Link to this
Is it true that 5 of the current Thrashers dmen are under contract for next year? YEAOUCH! We are gonna suck again next year if that is the case unless the ownership decides to waive players like Zhitnik and XLB and eat that salary.
By GSU-Lee
March 6, 2008 8:59 PM | Link to this
I know Exelby is not the greatest player on the ice at any time and is under heavy scrutiny from a lot of people, but I think he should stay. He is honest, never blames anyone but himself for his mistakes and that kind of honesty is not too prevelant in this locker room, but it should be. I like XLB, and want him to get better, but I honestly do not think he is the reason the defense is so bad.
By Sam
March 6, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this
You know, I have to wonder if there’s another aspect to the “respect” issue. Can a player like say, Kozlov with 2 or 3 Stanley Cup rings, respect a coach who has played only 1 NHL game and has minimal coaching experience…none on an NHL level?
Personally, I have higher expectations of Kozlov than Holik…they’re at totally different skill levels. Bobby wins 60% of his faceoffs and adds some muscle…he’s doing his job, IMO. Zhitnik..fat and lazy in camp, fat and lazy PIM leader all season. Waivers anyone?
Looking forward to that article, Craig. Sound like a good one. I’d add one more…the lack of continuity in leadership. May actually contribute to the lack of accountability, respect and bang for your buck with the big contracts. I think it had the potential to add to the pre-trade “insecurities” and distractions, as well (insecurity being Hedberg’s word during a recent game interview with Darren Eliot).
But the biggest: lack of core players, ie talent. We’ve got a plethora of 3rd and 4th line players: forwards and D. Where is the true #1 center? Where is a true 2nd line? (Kozlov could be that, but he isn’t this season) Where’s the defensive depth?
By ranallo10
March 6, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
Barry — Popovic is a RFA and will likely be re-signed. So, it’s possible we’ll see 6 of the 8 defenders on the roster (Kwiatkowski included) return next season.
Assuming the current salaries (in dollar value) will be redistributed in 2008/2009, $9.697M will be available to upgrade this team. This number does not include Hossa’s $4.684M spent this season, but does include Rucchin’s $2.4M spent despite his injury.
Assuming the ASG will spend AS MUCH as they did this current season, $13.954M would be available (Hossa’s spent money included, Christensen and Armstrong removed, AHL call-ups not included).
A lot can be done with $13.945M that would significantly improve this team.
GSU-Lee — Exelby has continually been out of position, and has been guilty of trying to make “the big hit” instead of being defensively positioned to make the RIGHT play. I wouldn’t put all of the blame on Exelby, and I wouldn’t ask him to dial down his attempts at punishing players with body checks, but I think he needs to learn when to commit to a check and when to stay back on defense. He’s not the reason this defense is “so bad”, but he is a part of the reason.
In my opinion there are only two defenders that are not to blame — Havelid and Enstrom.
By Sam
March 6, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this
X is more consistent when he has a solid defensive partner. Make that move and X’s game steps back up a notch, IMO.
By GSU-Lee
March 6, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this
Rnallo10, that is pretty fair about Ex, but hey, with the right coach behind the bench perhaps he would be more disciplined and mature as a player? Just a thoughtl…and I think Klee has shown at times that he is at least a capable defender but at what point do you just trade Zhitnik for anything you could get? Hell, even a few pucks for practice would be suitable. DW should have dumped him at the deadline for whatever he could get for him.
And what about Popovic? is everyone pleased with him? I mean, is he good enough to be a mainstay on the defense for a while? I am not asking if he is better than $#!+nik, I am asking if he is solid enough, in you guys’ opinion, to be a defender for the next few years in blueland.
By dj
March 6, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this
I don’t post on here much but I would like to add my two cents. First, Wasn’t beast the coach of the defense under Hartley? Since our defense is horrific (I cry sometimes when I see Zhit and Klee out there together), why put the person in charge of that as the Head Coach? Exelby is solid but it seems like no one is telling him not to go for the hit. Which goes back to coaching which I think falls more on Beast shoulders then Dons. About Waddell, did he make some mistakes? You bet cha, did he make some good trades? Yes. People we are 8 seasons in, Anaheim wasn’t that great 8 seasons in. The wild are just starting to become successful. Nashville has been in contention but never did anything in the playoffs. Waddell in my opinion has been handcuffed. I think when ASG took over they said give the fans a product that will keep them coming back but not cost much. (IE First season after the lockout which we missed the playoffs by two points and last season.) You can fire Waddell but if the owners handcuff the next GM guess what. We are still mediocore at best. I honestly think this team needs 3 things to be a Stanley cup contender. First, a solid puck moving defenesemen (Redden, Campbell) who will cost 6 or 7 million a year. Second, A secondary Right Wing who can put about 30 goals a year (Ryder). Third, A play making center with Kovy. Last year was the year for that in the free agency, this year it will be tough to find one in free agency so we might have to go with Little or Esposito. I think if we don’t resign Holik (which he hasn’t proved his worth with leadership) the ASG has plenty of money to sign 2/3 of those things. This is a call to ASG to open the pocketbooks b/c I’m tired of opening mine 42 nights a year and feeling like I’m getting used.
By The Falconer
March 6, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this
Craig: Thanks for trying to get some answers. It will be interesting to see what is said at the STH meeting Friday. If some of the players think the media guy was unfair or too tough they ought to go read the boards or come to our little get together on Friday and see just how tough the fans are on them.
By BG33Brown
March 6, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this
CC-great article.
The respect thing doesn’t surprise me. As an ex-college athlete, I thought that was pretty obvious. This stems from one man and one man only……….BOBBY HOLIK.
Don’t agree? Well then you never had a captain who would rather “blame/call out people” instead of inspire and encourage people.
What happens when people are called out is they panic. No one plays as well when they are worried. Not HS players, not college athletes and not pro’s.
But the thing that you pointed out that I never thought of was the lack of core players. As any football, baseball, or hockey fan can tell you. Free Agency doesn’t work for core players. Ask the Yankees, Mets, Redskins, Rangers and the Thrashers.
Of course in Le Thrash’s case, we had to overcome complete incompetence in drafting and the only way to put a half competitive product out there was with FA guys-who don’t identify with the other players.
Pretty amazing stuff CC. All that tells me is we are in for a longer rebuild than I was hoping for. But to do it right, means to start now. And that starts with the GM and Coach and Captain.
By BG33Brown
March 6, 2008 10:47 PM | Link to this
How to structure next year…
Offense
Kovy-___-Recchi
Sterling-Little-Armstrong
Kozlov-Christensen-Perrin
Boulton-Slater-Thornburn
That gives you 3 Wolves and 4 Penguins and Everyone with one exception knows each other.
The real issue is what to do with White. Can we get anything for him? I would settle for a 2nd round pick just to get him out. He is a tweener. He isn’t big enough to be a checker and he isn’t a good enough passer to be a top 2 center.
Defense
Havlid-Enstrom
__-Klee
X-Popo/Valbrek/Kwiw
As it has been pointed out Zhit is a waste of space and is next years Rucchin. Waive him and pray (ala Kappenin last year) that someone does us a favor and just takes half of his contract off our hands.
The real thing to look at here is this. According to Ranallo without a pay increase we have 14 million to spend on 2 players. We need 2 impact players. Quality not Quantity.
DW’s big problem has been he is trying to fill in every hole. You can do that. This league isn’t deep anymore with talent on any squad.
So overpay for 2 good PROVEN players. 4 or 5 years for each to me is reasonable if that is what it takes. Give us a coach who has a clue and I believe we are a winner.
By Jim
March 6, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this
Unfortunately, DW’s 5 Yr. Plan (now going on 7 years) has failed miserably and the Spirit management needs to replace him. Kovy is right, a number of players have decided to mail the rest of the season in and are simply going through the motions. No emotion, no hitting, no anything. The D is pathetic- Zhitnik, Klee and Exelby are constantly out of position, can’t move anyone out from the front of the net and are terrible puck handlers. They are frustrating to watch. The Carolina effort set and all time low for the Thrash. Unless we get a change at the top and a wholesale turnover of players, I for one will not renew my season tickets and I suspect that I’m one of many, many more. Thank heaven baseball season is right around the corner. Go Braves.
By ranallo10
March 7, 2008 12:25 AM | Link to this
Open spots on the current NHL roster due to the loss of impending UFAs:
C (1), LW (1), RW (1), D (1), G (1)
I feel depth should be brought in from the minors, and I agree with BG33Brown that perhaps most of that freed salary should spent be on 2 big names like Redden ($7M max), Campbell ($7M), Morrison ($5M max), Ryder ($3M max) or Huselius ($5M max). Defense is a must in my opinion, and I could deal with two solid defensive signings (two tier II, or a tier I and tier III) in place of a free agent forward signing.
I’d also be open to a few trades, but assuming nothing happens (the likely course of action unless Waddell is fired) I anticipate call-ups and free agents are the only thing we’ll see this offseason.
Some tier two and three UFA defenders I wouldn’t mind seeing in Atlanta:
II — Stuart (LAK), Rozsival (NYR), Smith (PHI), Liles (COL)
III — Commodore (OTT), Orpik (PIT), Lilja (DET), Berard (NYI), Finger (COL)
By Fanfromthestart
March 7, 2008 12:28 AM | Link to this
NO more season tickets for me. It is amazing that the team thinks they have the leverage to raise season ticket prices in this debacle. I’d turn in the rest of this seasons tickets for cash if they’d let me. Ownership does not have a clue, or any guts to make the necessary changes. Should be fun at the town hall tonight!! Sell the team to someone who cares
By Fanfromthestart
March 7, 2008 12:30 AM | Link to this
* Season ticket holders REVOLT *
By seriously?
March 7, 2008 12:44 AM | Link to this
ranallo10,
you go into the psychology of DW saying ‘we’ instead of ‘I’ and that is primarily because most of the decision are made by a group of people. The scouts, assistant GM, etc.
By ranallo10
March 7, 2008 12:51 AM | Link to this
seriously? — It’s not often you hear a GM say “we” when speaking about decisions his staff made as a collective group. But you’re probably right regarding why he actually says that word. I just find it odd.
By todd
March 7, 2008 7:21 AM | Link to this
Hey, if this were Toronto, Montreal or New York, DW wouldn’t get out alive without answering ALL the bloody questions. Forget the “No Comment” or walking away. We as the fans want answers..Do these players or management even care how hard we work to pay for our tickets??? HELLO!!! It’s not hard to give up season tix..believe me..all the games are on the boob tube!!
By enough
March 7, 2008 7:26 AM | Link to this
mccrimmon tried to hold the players accountable in practice on tuesday and teflon don undermined him by saying they ended practice early because it was bad ice and they had a great practice.
By todd
March 7, 2008 7:41 AM | Link to this
I really think we need to check with Mr. Clark Howard to get to the bottom of this mess! While I’ve got an ear, when will Sport South for the Satellite Stove League viewers go to an HD signal? The games are awesome in HD vs. the old way!! Clark Howard, give me the answers!!!
By UpperDeck4Life
March 7, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this
I think our defense is a big problem and it seems like our young defenseman are not ready yet to help, my suggetion, sign a couple of FA’s with some of the money we are getting with Hossa, Holik, and Rucchin’s deals coming off the books. The 2 I would like to see targeted, JM Liles from the Avs, and Jason Smith from the Flyers. Pair them with Havelid and Enstrom and we might actually have 2 legit pairs on defense next year.
By Big Al
March 7, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this
Brendan
Problem with your Fantasyland interview with DW and VK is that essentially Kozzy has been benched for the whole season!
Look at the numbers for TOI and look at the numbers for when Kozzy gets his points.
Did he get most of his points with Holik/Dupuis? Or the 10-15 games he played with Hoss?
Players get picked/signed because of their ability to produce. Kozzy is a producer. More specifically he is a “visionary” a “setup man”.
How would he be able to produce by playing with DUDS like FrankenBobby and StoneHandsDupuis?!
The bigger problem is that when playing LW after Kovy is on the ice and Kozzy’s linemates have been on the ice for 30 seconds before Kovy heads to the bench. I watch it game in and game out.
Kozzy is definitely NOT the problem. Give him some real Center or Winger partner to play with (you know like Savard or Hossa or even that little dude Recchi).
By the way; with Sergei Fedorov on the move on “Hoss Day ‘08”, why wasn’t he picked up by DW?
By woody
March 7, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
WADDELL PLEASE LEAVE NOW.
YOUR TIME IS UP.
BE A MAN AND ADMIT IT IS YOU AND YOUR BAD DECISIONS!
By Mary
March 7, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this
I think sometimes too much praise is given to Kovalchuk. I really like him, but he has not stepped up to the plate like a Malkin (Sid’s injury). His personality does not even come close to Alex Ovechkin. He may be shy, but I find him a little cool with the fans. He never makes eye contact during practice unlike Kari who always finds time to hand a puck to a young kid. Dan Kamel brought up his lack of rising to the challange with Hossa gone. The guys on 680 were talking about the same thing yesterday. Maybe the whole team is such a mess he is incapable of hiding his frustration.
By Eileen
March 7, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this
Can you imagine how Colby Armstrong and Erik Christenson feel walking into this mess? Sid Mania may not be so bad after all!
By Bob
March 7, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
the wild are just starting to become successful
Um, they made the Western Conference Finals in their 3rd year of existence on a shoestring budget and they’ve been much more competitive than us since Day 1. How did they do that? They have a GM with a good plan that he has executed. Waddell said he wanted to build through the draft, yet we had the oldest lineup in the league this year and there’s no core of our own players.
And they have done it spending less money. The Spirit boys are dysfunctional, but you can’t blame them for not giving Waddell enough money, they spent max cap the first 2 years and Waddell wasted it. The key to success in the new Cap era is to be able to draft well and develop your own cheap young players and to use the rest of the money wisely. The Rangers proved over a decade of ineptness that simply outspending other clubs does not equate to success.
I agree that Holik is a cancer in the room and the source of a lot of turmoil.
I also think no one is addressing Craig’s point above in the blog that Hossa should have been traded at the beginning of the season. did he hurt this year’s team by waiting so long to trade Marian Hossa?
Think about it. You’ve got your best player last year mailing it in every night and giving half a* efforts. That had to be disruptive in the room. Mabye that was Kozlov’s deal this year, remember how great he clicked with Hoss last year, this year he’s supposed to be his linemate again, yet Hoss is mailing it in, without repercussion or accountability from Waddell!!!
By Bob
March 7, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
Maybe the whole team is such a mess he is incapable of hiding his frustration
Winner winner, chicken dinner.
I was sitting close Weds. night, Kovy was out there literally rolling his eyes after some plays, he looked very frustrated.
When it’s rotten at the top, that flows down and is like a disease that trickles down through the whole organ-I-zation.
By B. Thenet
March 7, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this
I think the most glaring issues are as follows.
Lack of team toughness- This does not mean we need Georges Laraque. We lack overall toughness, not willing to fight for the puck, not willing to make the other team pay the price, an unwillingness to pay the price themselves in front of the other teams net, not willing to stand up for each other(except for a few times like McCarthy on Ruutu), not mentally strong enough when bad bounces/breaks occur.
Overall Team Defense- It would be easy to sit back and blame our defenseman for the poor defensive play, but there is a shocking lack of assistance to our defenseman…especially from the Wings. I think part of this is our defensive strategy which has our wingers stick to the top half of the defensive zone….too many times have I seen opposing teams take advantage of this “zone” type defense to skate out in front of the net while cycling.
Continued lack of scoring production from our bottom 2 lines. I like Jim Slater, he seems like a nice guy for a Spartan. I like Brad Larsen, he is a consumate team player. Brian Little has more points than Slater, in 20 less games. Colin Stuart has more points than Larsen in 32 less games. I do not understand why Stuart and Little have not been up for the entire 2nd half, in fact I am still at a loss as to why Little was sent back to Chicago in the first place.
Look, is the team in chaos right now, of course it is. How many NHL teams don’t fall apart during an 8 game losing streak. Instead of worrying about the teams mental state right now, we need to improve the problems this team has. It starts with coaching and putting the right players in the lineup. Both of those duties are DWs for now.
By Pierre
March 7, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
What is unnaceptable is that team QUIT 3 weeks ago. And that is the responsibility of the coach. How can you give up when you are still in playoff contention ? Being outshot 49-10 vs the Islanders simply means you have not tried and that you have closed the books. Waddell has lost his grip on his players, you can tell.
By Bill Clinton
March 7, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this
Thanks for towing the party line Craig. Are you Donny’s little buddy now!
By Barry
March 7, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
I wonder just how long Kovy’s patience will hold until this franchise can get him some real talent on his line to support him. I think Little works well with Kovy and should play RW instead of center. Get Kovy a #1 center this off season is a MUST.
By hockey monkey
March 7, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this
B. Thenet - toughness and standing up for one another is absolutely the issue. Not playing like a team. they play like scared little boys most of the time.
It’s like we try to play some system that works in a non-check leaque. It doesn’t work in the NHL.
Watch tonight as a big, physical team comes in and beats them 7-1.
By Midfield
March 7, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this
Yes, Mary, give Kari all the credit for giving pucks to little kids. Let’s trade mean and gloomy Kovy for Richard Simmons and win the Cup the following year. Good thinking.
By Pierre
March 7, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
Hey Barry, Kovy had a #1 center, the best passer in the NHL year after year, but we let him go for nothing ! He’s doing his magic in Beantown…
By Nikita
March 7, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
Good points, B.
Lack of team toughness-
Look, people love bashing our overpaid old guys…but they’re the more physical players. Did you see Bobby Holik sit on Ruutu’s head Wednesday? Seriously, he was one of very few players willing to lay on the opposition, make complete checks, play solid hockey, and physically intimidate the guys who were physically intimidating us. We do have a lot of kids willing to do this, but they’re not at the point yet where they can do so on the top lines and they’re not necessarily effective enough yet. Which, again, goes back to team composition. We need a #1 center, or we need to train one up.
Overall Team Defense-
Agree 100%. I didn’t really see this until Wednesday, but you have one awesome defenseman (H), one very good but inexperienced defenseman (E), one slow but effective defenseman whose play wouldn’t be an issue if the state of D in general weren’t so poor and he were in an appropriate position (K), and a bunch of frickin’ wankers who score points against us and/or bobble any pass they get (Zhit, Ex, Mc). But…our D doesn’t have any backup. And our zone strategy is really failing. If you look at any opposing team, they’re holding a larger D zone a lot more effectively than we are holding our tiny zone — which doesn’t even seem to extend to the entire crease. Our strategy seems to be to get relatively close to the goal and hold that — and leave the forwards out at the blue line. Which is just ridiculous, because nearly everyone we play is playing a more comprehensive/whole-team defense. The other team is generally free to stand directly in front of our goalie and bully points in when they’re not tag-team beating our defense — and you won’t see other teams allow that. We do need more/better defenseman — I’d like to see the top line hold and the third line composed of Klee and whoever wants to show up on any given day and actually play appropriate defense, and that calls for 2-3 new players.
Continued lack of scoring production from our bottom 2 lines.
Huh. Are those lines actually supposed to score? I thought 4’s role was to bash the opposite team into submission, and the 3rd was to provide a rest home for semi-retired veterans.
re: Slater, the kid didn’t pan out, but he is still pretty young. Can we send him down for conditioning? Brad Larsen has probably already peaked, and it wasn’t much of a peak — he needs to be cut.
I’d like to point out, though, that when Bryan Little plays, he gets better placement than either. (Not that I’m downplaying his play — the kid looks sharp!)
By Smoothie
March 7, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
The real issue is what to do with White. Can we get anything for him? I would settle for a 2nd round pick just to get him out. He is a tweener. He isn’t big enough to be a checker and he isn’t a good enough passer to be a top 2 center.
I’ve got a suggestion on what to do with Charmin. Next time he fails to have his stick on the ice and fans on a point blank oppty created by Kovalchuk, Ilya should circle round the net and cross-check his worthless a$$ right into the glass. Then he should skate over to the bench and face rake Don Waddell like he b!tch-slapped Sean Avery last year. Oh yeah, a Ric Flair-like chop to the chest for FrankenBobby would be nice too.
By Smoothie
March 7, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
Look at the talent which keeps slipping through DWad’s fingers year after year:
Hossa Savard Hnidy Coburn Kunitz Brunette Sutton
Ha! J/k about Andrea…just wanted to see if anyone was really paying attention. What other players have left Atlanta and gone on to have success elsewhere? What does that tell you about our (mis)management?
By Geneen
March 7, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this
I hate to admit it, Brendan, but your Kozzy scenario is both funny and something I wish would happen. And I am probably one of the biggest Slava fans around.
Yes, yes, the guys he’s playing with (now) are far from superstars, but somewhere along the way he lost his mojo. The chemistry he had with with Hossa last season was gone, he seems off in general, he’s faltering in the shootouts (and you can’t blame that on bad linemates!), and he just looks, I don’t know, unhappy. (True his baseline look is somewhere between kneecap-busting Russian mobster and a person in tremendous pain, but still!)
Bottom line: He just doesn’t look like the same player we saw last year.
By R. Stroz
March 7, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
Smoothie - You forgot the:
Wooooooooo, after the slap.
By joyaman
March 7, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
Craig:
I’ll be there tonight for what will hopefully be DW’s last town hall meeting, and along with the others will do my best to get the real issues out on the table - hopefully in front of an owner or two. Confidence level is not high on getting any straight answers from the epicenter of the problems.
Please continue to turn up the heat. As a former beat writer and NHL club employee, I understand that in order to do your job you must walk a line to retain access to the coach (as if we have one)and players at practice, on the plane, at the hotel/bar and in the room.
It’s only when things come to a head (as they have now) that a beat writer can afford to start exposing the madness that I’m sure you’ve been dying to write about for some time. As season ticket holders, we will do everything in our power to ensure that this surge of momentum is sustatined until the regime is toppled.
Sincerely,
Joyaman
By JJWANE
March 7, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
I DO KNOW HOCKEY. I BECAME A FAN WHEN WE HAD THE FLAMES. I SAW HOW THEY WERE DEVELOPED INTO A WINNER. THEY HAD A GREAT GM IN CLIFF FLETCHER. GREAT COACHES AND A HOST OF PLAYERS WHO COULD HIT AND SCORE. THEY DEVELOPED THEIR TALENT MOSTLY BECAUSE THEY DID THEIR HOMEWORK AND PUT TOGETHER A TEAM THAT PLAYED THE GAME STYLE THAT MATCHED UP WELL WITH TEAMS IN THEIR DIVISION. THE GAME HAS CHANGED INTO HIGH SCORING WITH THE REFS CALLIG PENALTIES THAT SHOULDN’T BE PENALTIES. THIS IS A ROUGH GAME AND SHOULD BE PLAYED THAT WAY. WE HAVE NO FIGHTERS. GET A NEW GM GET A NEW COACH WHO KNOWS THE GAME AND EARNS RESPECT. GET THE PLAYERS OUT OF THOSE MINOR LEAGUE INIFORMS AND TELL THEM THEY ARE GOING TO FILL A VOID. SHOW THEM SOME CONFIDENCE AND THEY WILL PRODUCE. THE THRASH HAVE TWO GUYS THAT ARE ROOKIES THAT GO ABOUT 6 FT 7 IN AND WEIGH ABOUT 250 EA. PUT THEM ON DEFENSE AND THEN SEE HOW MANY OPPOSING TEAMS PLANT GUYS IN FRONT OF YOUR NETMINDER. PUT IN A GAMEPLAN EVERY NIGHT. HELL, WE ALL KNOW KOVY IS ONE OF THE ELITE PLAYERS IN THE LEAGUE. BRING IN SOME OF THE MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS YOU’VE DRAFTED. THEY ARE GOING TO PUT FORTH MORE EFFORT THAN THESE SO CALLED PLAYERS YOU HAVE NOW. BOB HARTLEY WAS A FINE COACH. FIRE EVERYONE ELSE THEN GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH HIM AND ADMIT YOU MADE A MISTAKE. WADDELL IS A JOKE AND YOUR OWNERSHIP IS TOO. THESE GUYS HAVEN’T A CLUE ABOUT TURNING AROUND A TEAMS DIRECTION. HIRE YOU SOME REAL HOCKEY FRONT OFFICE PEOPLE. IF DETROIT LET WADDELL GO AS THEY DID, THEY WERE SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW HE WOULD NEVER REALLY RECOGNIZE GOOD TALENT. KOVY JUST FELL IN HIS LAP BECAUSE ATLANTA HAD THE FIRST PICK THAT YEAR. CALL SCOTTY BOWMAN AND ASK HIM IF HE WANTS TO BE YOUR PRESIDENT AND RUN THE TEAM. BUT FOR GOODNESS SAKE, PUT SOME CHARACTER TO YOUR PLAYERS AND CREATE AN IDENTITY THAT NO TEAM IS COMING IN TO YOUR BUILDING AND PLAN ON WINNING A GAME. PUT A LOT OF YOUR CURRENT PLAYERS ON WAIVERS OR JUST RELEASE THEM. THE REMAINING FANS WILL HAVE PATIENCE UNTIL THE YOUNGSTERS GAIN BOTH PLAYING EXPERIENCE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WHAT THE WORD PRIDE MEANS.
By Smoothie
March 7, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
Oh yeah, I forgot to include:
Frankie Kaberle (oy vay!) Steve Staios Shean Donovan Brian Pothier (ugggghh!) Randy Robitaille Vitaly Vishnevski (8 yrs younger than Zhitnik!!)
How much would you love to have Savard, Kaberle, Pothier, Kunitz and Randy Robitaille in the lineup??
Kovy — Savard — Recchi (Little)
Kozzy — Christensen — Army
Kunitz — Holik — Randy R.
Boults — Slater — Thorburn
Kaberle / Havelid
Enstrom / Pothier
Klee / Ex or Popo or Kiwi
I dare say we’d be a lot more entertaining to watch with that kind of line-up…what sux is that it really could have been our lineup.
By Smoothie
March 7, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this
Strozzy — indeeed I did! I hit “post” before I realized I forgot the perfunctory phrase to punctuate Kovy’s parting shot if you will. Sorry, trying to think on the fly as I type!
By Mark
March 7, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this
With the free agents leaving and the money coming off the books, it is just that much important to get Waddell out of here so we have someone capable of making the right decisions. Here is who I would be looking at:
For a #1 Center to play with Kovy, considering that the team will not pay #1 center money for anyone, I’d look at Vinny Prospal or Daymond Langkow. Both are great skaters and very good play-makers and would look good with Kovy and be huge upgrades on White. I wouldn’t spend anymore time or money up front unless it is a roll player because that is not where it is needed.
On defense I would try to trade Zhitnik at the draft for anything I could get. With one year left, maybe someone will take a chance on him. If not, I’d waive Zhitnik and send him to Chicago. With the money that we save with Hossa leaving and all the other free agents leaving I would go after two (2) second pairing guys. Rozsival or Liles would be nice from a puck moving standpoint and Stuart as a sold all-around 2nd pairing guy would be good. So, you’d have Havelid, Enstrom, Stuart, Rozsival or Liles, Klee, X, and Popovic. There’s your top 7 with X being a scratch when everyone is healthy.
This would probably never happen but in my mind, with the right person at the helm, it shouldn’t be too hard to remold the defense and get a capable center for Kovy in here.
By doggonegadawg
March 7, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this
I live in South Carolina and have been planning a trip to see the Thrashers skate. It is, for me, an expensive proposition. I never miss the games on Sports South and I have been a hockey fan since the Flames. Waddell fired Hartley for the 0-6 start. A bit too hasty a move since the Waddell coached team is no where as good as the team that Hartley coached. Let us not remember that this team is the defending division champion. My question is, “Who fires Waddell or holds him accountable for this debacle?” Where is the fire of a Scotty Bowman who could light a fire under underachievers and make demands on talented players? I am not saying that I am not coming to Atlanta to see some games but I do not want to give the club the impression that I am in support of what we have now. I have ticket options but they are now on hold.
By Sage of Bluesland
March 7, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
So, the “classy” Don Waddell bolts out of an interview.
He has “pulled the wool” over the sheeps’ eyes for near a decade now.
HaHa—no pun intended.
When will you wake up? Have you seen enough?
By atldave
March 7, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
Craig, I would really like to read your comments on the questions posed by GSU-Lee about Ilya. Can he be the captain?
Craig, hey, fantastic questions. I think that those are all questions that need to be answered. I have a question about Kovy, what is up with him? Does he just hate the media? It seems like, even on a good night, he doesn’t have anything to say, and if he thinks you are coming his way he just kind of looks at you like he is saying ‘don’t even think about it.’ What is his relationship with guys on the team? Does he hang out with any of the guys or have anybody he seems to really get along with? Just curious, because sometimes he seems like a loner.
By Nikita
March 7, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
Just curious, because sometimes he seems like a loner.
Well, his english sucks, too. Just sayin’ — it may not be personality so much as discomfort with the language.
By MV7
March 7, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
Atlanta has a hockey team??
By Sam
March 7, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
Mary, How in tehw orld can anyone say Kovy’s been praised too much? Ever lok in teh game programs at who’s doing ALL the scoring for this team? Compare that to any other team that has played teh Thrash this season. Nobody’s team is more lopsided scoring-wise. Kovy plays with a third line center (sorry, White) and a player that Pittsburgh put on waivers. Last year he played with Glen Metropolit. The guy is playing with third liners and is still scoring over 40 goals a season, plus having around 30 assists. Gimme a break. What are you measuring success by?
I respect Kamal, but I respectfully disagree with him. Kovy is playing with a similar injury that took Nik Lidstrom out of the Red Wings’ lineup for 3 weeks. Kovy missed 2 games with it.
I can get on board with the complaints about our lack of defense, lack of leadership, lack of talent, lack of consistency. But don’t start knocking Kovy. He’s one of the few guys who DIDN’T quit this season and who has really produced. Check you team scoring summary. Let’s b*tch at someone else.
By Alan
March 7, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
MV7 - Two hockey teams. The Atlanta Thrashers (NHL) and Gwinnett Gladiators (ECHL). A third one may be coming to the Henry County area sometime in the next five or six years, too.
The More You Know™
By Crazy Diamond
March 7, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
Can we get a web feed from the STH get together?
By Brendan
March 7, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
Big Al and Geneen, I like your passion for Slava Kozlov. I look forward to seeing him return to form next year, possibly with better quality linemates. Slava is under contract for two (2) more seasons. And with a “no trade clause,” he won’t be leaving anytime soon, unless the organization subjects him to a waiver claim. I wouldn’t hold my breath for that, however.
I do feel bad for Christensen and Armstrong to have walked into the “crosshairs” of this hunt. Things are going to get better. But it has to start with removing Waddell from the decision-making process, and organization entirely. The world must know … that the Czar is dead. That’s when things will begin to change.
By JM
March 7, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
I have been an Atlanta hockey fan since the Flames debuted, and after all these years, I am EMBARRASSED by the Thrashers performance this year. Waddell needs to take his head out of his butt, HIRE A REAL COACH, make Moose the #1 goalie, and get mgmt and staff that will hold the players accountable for their crappy play!! For God’s sake, it’s been 9 years of whiny excuses. Waddell and the whole mgmt cesspool need to find another line of work. Last season the Thrashers pulled wins out at the buzzer, did well on the shoot-out, and had drive. This year they can’t even put together 60 minutes of competent hockey. AS MUCH AS YOU GUYS GET PAID, YOU’D THINK SHOWING UP READY TO PLAY AND WIN WOULD CROSS YOUR MINDS!!! The fans who’ve paid their hard-earned money deserve better!
By Fan
March 7, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this
Midfield, I think Mary’s point was a little personality can go a long way. She doesn’t expect Kovy to be handing out pucks. It is stated more than once in here, he is not exactly a charmer with the press. His play speaks for itself. Even though his shots on goal are way down, it does not reflect his effort and play. A decent center might help!
By truefan
March 7, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this
If you want hockey to leave Atlanta, then boycott the games. I would rather see us fill the arena with 18,000 fans all holding pink slips with Wadell’s name on them. Anyone out there work for a printer or Kinko’s who could run a few thousand pink pieces of paper with the words “Fire Waddell” printed on them? I want hockey to thrive here in Atlanta; if there are no fans then top players will never come. But if we can stand together and show a little passion, who knows what can happen??
By MB
March 7, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
Nice job, CC, albeit it somewhat depressing, of outlining the issues facing the Thrashers. They’re tough issues to address, though not insurmountable.
Thinking about the fan’s plight in all of this, I began to wonder where the team’s most visible fan, Rabid Fan, stands. Does he plan to renew his tickets? Has he voiced his concerns, or is he happy enough with the product that he doesn’t want to upset his gravy train, as it were?
I know nothing about the guy, other than he likes his Guinness and he’s a very passionate and energetic fan.
But it struck me that if the ASG actually cared about any regular Joe or Jane fan, it’d be him. He’s the one they put on the screen every game; he’s one of the people trotted out to get a jersey at the last game of the season; and he’s the one that stood aside Rutherford Seydel for the raising of the division championship banner when, as LAC might say, that liar Seydel starting lying his lying lies about bringing the Cup to Atlanta.
Just curious what he thinks about the current state of the Thrashers.
By Midfield
March 7, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this
Fan,
you’re right about personality going a long way. We just have different priorities. Mary seems to be worried about kids getting pucks during practice, while I’m worried about the team tanking. Silly me. Just by watching games then and again, Kovy is about the only personality I see out there playing the game of hockey.
By Brendan
March 7, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this
True Fan, this team isn’t leaving. It’s going through a hiccup called, “tough love.” Any other organization would have fired Waddell by now. But this one, God Bless it, isn’t the brightest bulb in the pack. So, until they “get it” that the team’s best chance to advance is to remove Waddell, fans have no other recourse other than to effect change is the harshest way.
Obviously, the brain trust at the ASG knows that there’s hockey interest in this town, otherwise it couldn’t have soldout 38 of 41 home games in the inaugural season. What the ASG has to do now … is get fans to have “belief” in the Believe in Blueland ad campaign. Right now, that isn’t the case. We have a “crisis of faith” of epic proportion going on. All the fans who are boycotting this product right now … will be BACK … once the problems are properly addressed, and hopefully “fixed.”
When a new GM is announced, I promise you, every fan who has thus far abstained … will come back. But does the ASG realize this? That is an interesting question. For, the sooner they do realize it, the sooner they’ll get the STH money … which will then let them shop, as best they can, given their situation and circumstances, for free agents in the offseason (Tier II types). But, the ASG may not understand that … and may consequently suffer the effects of that, right in the pocketbook. You might think of it in this way. “What we’ve got here is … ‘failure to communicate.’ Some owners … you just can’t reach.”
No one really wants that. But out of options to effect a change, what recourse do the fans really have?
By Rone
March 7, 2008 9:52 PM | Link to this
Anybody listening to the game?
By Claude LaRose
March 8, 2008 10:24 PM | Link to this
Brendan, Well put. Thrashers outshot and lose. Shocking!
By Brendan
March 9, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
Well, Claude LaRose, “Je suis EtonnE!” (“I am stunned.”) And thank you. Visit often! Post more.
By Remie
March 13, 2008 6:06 AM | Link to this
NASCAR DAVE You are a sick, anger- filled hate monger who probably hits his kids, flips people off, and drinks too much.