AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > May > 20 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USLever would love a return to Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You know, for a town that isn’t exactly a hockey hotbed, I’m finding a surprising number of coaching candidates who have connections to Atlanta. The latest? Hamilton Bulldogs coach Don Lever. I spoke with Don yesterday, he was kind enough to take a few minutes out of a Canadian holiday to talk some Thrashers.
First some nuts and bolts. Lever hasn’t officially been contacted by the Thrashers other than some cursory e-mails between his agent and the team. He has one year left on his contract with Hamilton, but would be allowed to leave for an NHL head job. He’s very interested in this job and not just because he’s ready to be an NHL coach.
He played in Atlanta during the last season the Flames were in town and he said he has vivid memories of then-Flames GM Cliff Fletcher gathering the team before the playoffs that last year and making it clear to the team that something drastic needed to happen if the NHL was to stay in Atlanta.
“It was put very plain to us that if we were going to save the franchise, we’d have to go far in the playoffs,” Lever said.
You know how that story ends, but Lever said he still keeps in touch with the Flames in the area like Tim Ecclestone and Eric Vail. Speaking of which, who is up for watching some Stanley Cup finals at Tim’s sports bar TJ’s in Alpharetta?
The connection doesn’t stop there. Lever’s daughter Caitlin played college softball at Georgia Tech and will be playing on the Canadian Olympic team. She’ll be finishing up her management degree at Tech this fall.
So what are Lever’s qualifications to be the next Thrashers coach? He led Hamilton to a Calder Cup Championship in 2007 and has a ton of NHL experience as an assistant. He was an assistant in St. Louis for two years (the Blues went 80-54-22-8 in that span) and spent 12 years coaching in the Buffalo organization.
One of the knocks I occasionally hear about the Thrashers is that there aren’t enough former NHL players in the organization. Lever would bring that to the table. He played in 1,020 NHL games, scoring over 300 goals in that span.
Here’s how he describes his coaching style: “My style is to adapt to what you have. If you have someone like Ilya Kovalchuk, you have to let him go loose. You don’t want him to be trapping. You have to be sound in your own end, I think it’s all about the type of team you have. I’d love to have an offensive-type team but you’re still not going to win if you don’t play in your own end.”
Around the league: Had this New York Times story sent to my e-mail, and thought it was pretty interesting. With Detroit set to take on Pittsburgh in the Finals, this story wonders: Is Hockey Fixed? It does seem to be an ideal matchup for the league, but I laughed at one of the comments that suggested that the NHL wasn’t capable of such a conspiracy.
I know we’re late to the party on this one, but I haven’t blogged since the Hurricanes announced that Peter Laviolette is coming back as head coach. I know there were people close to the Thrashers who thought Laviolette was the favorite to be the next head coach if Carolina didn’t bring him back. At least that’s one person we can cross off the list. Interesting sidenote: Carolina raised ticket prices ten percent despite not making the playoffs for the second consecutive season. I wonder if the season ticket holders there are as angry as they were in Atlanta when that happened here?
Steve Schrader at the Detroit Free Press points out that Penguins are the natural enemy of octopi. I had no idea. Yahoo’s Ross McKeon suggests that this Red Wings team is just as good as the Detroit teams from the late 1990s. That’s a pretty bold statement considering those teams were loaded with Hall of Famers.
Darren Eliot weighed in on Marian Hossa’s fine playoff performance. Eliot said Hoss and Sidney Crosby are perfectly suited to play together and that Marian is having a great time during Pittsburgh’s run. “Winning always makes things easier,” Hossa told Eliot and SI.com. A baby on the way means I won’t be able to leave town for the Finals since my wife would kill me if I was in Pittsburgh when the baby arrived, but I’m hoping to catch up with Marian and Pascal Dupuis this week on the phone for a story. I’m really looking forward to it. Sounds like they’re having a great time.
Pierre LeBrun breaks down how the Penguins went from one of the worst teams to one of the best.
Responding to your comments from last blog: Good active discussion late in the week, nice work.
Draft dandy: I stand corrected. I said Pavelec was the first Thrashers second-rounder to make it to the NHL. DD points out that Luke Sellars beat Pavelec to the punch. Thanks for keeping me honest.
Mark: I hear everything you’re saying about Filatov. The Thrashers need defensemen, and there are some good ones at the top of the draft. Taking Filatov would be a HUGE risk, and there is a lot on the line this draft for the Thrashers. But if they did take Filatov, that would mean they are absolutely convinced he’s a difference-maker. And that would also mean they did their homework on how tough it will be to bring him over. I still think it’s a longshot.
Brendan: I think this Finals matchup will be good for ratings, at least as far as hockey goes. The Conference Finals ratings were up 14 percent over last season. Although, I have no idea if that’s good. I guess it’s better than lower ratings.
Falconer: I think you and I are on the same page regarding the Thrashers drafts. Average. I’d love to do a good concrete analysis of their free agent signings, any suggestions on how to quantify success or failure in terms of money spent?
Comments
By Buzilla Baby Blue
May 20, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this
first?
By Thrasher_Ed
May 20, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
Craig, Great stuff as usual. Looking forward to a great Stanley Cup final, I’ll take Detroit in 7. I like most of you all am anxious to see the next HC of the Thrashers will be. Then we can move on to the draft and free agency.
By GaVaHokie
May 20, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
Okay, I’ve snooped around on Don Lever… this is a tricky one.
Here’s a guy that has only made the playoffs once in three years using Montreal’s prospects… including Halak, Price and Yann Danis in net. At first glance, I’d say there’s no excuse not to make the playoffs every year.
However, are we looking at a team that stresses player developement over wins/losses? Because they’ve certainly churned out some players in the last three years.
Price, Halak, Danis, Cote, Matheiu Biron, Andrei Kostitsyn, Maxim Lapierre, Mikhail Grabovski, Kyle Chipchura and Ryan O’Byrne.
All those guys are system players.
By Buzilla Baby Blue
May 20, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
The First Curse…
So if Pitt wins do you think Hossa will take a discount to stay with the team he won a cup with? His value has obviously gone up since the knock on him was that he doesn’t produce in the playoffs. I think that was a bit overblown. His numbers weren’t eye popping before this years playoffs but not horrible. 34 pts in 51 games.
Anyway, he could get a huge payday. Does he stay or go?
By NASCAR Dave
May 20, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
I got Pittsburgh in 7 Games…
GO HOSSA!!!
BBB - Hossa will take the most $$$, from a team that is always in the Playoff mix, i.e. Detroit… But he definitely will NOT be coming back to Atlanta… Not this year, and not EVER AGAIN.
And we all know who’s fault that is, right???
By Ilya Kolvachuk
May 20, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
Like my winning goal against them Canucks. Now, trade me the heck out of this traffic smashing, construction site, waffle house, boy with boy town. HiYa Gavs.
By Buzilla Baby Blue
May 20, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this
His agents?
By Buzilla Baby Blue
May 20, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
Ooops. I forgot. Not his agent. It was Waddell right? Waddell is responsible for all of the ills in the world. He was responsible for New Coke, the movie Waterworld, and the sinking of the Titanic.
I agree we need change, but jeez, get a new line
By Buzilla Baby Blue
May 20, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this
Gavs, dont fight it, and I would do ANYTHING for a pair.
By Bob
May 20, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
Seeing how the Thrashers haven’t interviewed anyone, I fear that there’s fire at the root of the smoke coming out of the rumor about the junior coach, DeBeers or whoever. Heaven help us, that move would reek of cost efficiency
Man, Derwood writes another article that’s spot on, I am beginning to like his analysis during the games as well, is he working the Finals?
He’s spot on when he wrote: His playoff production in meaningful games seems to be just fine, thank you, rendering his choker reputation a thing of the past and maybe even an exaggeration by an Ottawa market that was frustrated and in need of a scapegoat. (Hossa scored 16 points for the Sens in 18 playoff games in 2002-03, and had 10 in 12 postseason contests in 2001-02.)
Hoss has jelled with Sid the Kid quite well, and I have this feeling that they are going to just go off this series. And when they do, they’re going to have to send Lidstrom to shadow them each shift opening up ice for Malkin. This could be a classic Finals, I can’t wait for it to start.
Why waste your time researching Waddell’s success in signing free agents. That’d be like embarking upon an expedition to prove the Titanic sank, everyone already knows it, even if you didn’t see it yourself. Ah wait, I know, you need to keep yourself busy for when The Boss clamors “time for a diaper change, Craig!” Good thinkin
By NASCAR Dave
May 20, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
BBB - You forgot Clear Pepsi. That was probably somehow his fault, too…
By B. Thenet
May 20, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this
I don’t know much about Lever’s coaching style, but he sure has done wonders with those young kids in the Montreal system. I would like to see what he can do with the pretty decent crop of kids we have coming up in the Thrashers pipeline.
However, I am a little leery of bringing in a guy who has been a player on not one, but two teams that have relocated while he was with them…the Flames and the Rockies/Devils.
By GaVaHokie
May 20, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this
Bob… I still think the underground discussions are with Wilson, Quinneville and the like… to have those coaches publicly refuse to come to Atlanta would be devastating for us going into free agency. Best to keep the discussions quiet so noone knows who was offered what.
By Buzilla Baby Blue
May 20, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this
Correction B. Thenet
KC Scouts/Colorado Rockies/NJ Devils
By R. Stroz
May 20, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this
Craig - The ticket price increase is a two fold issue.
First issue, the product.
Second issue, the discounting of tickets to one half the season ticket price. Did Carolina sell their seats for half price last year after the season ticket holders only received a 5% discount?
By Bob
May 20, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
Did anyone goe to Donna,s party on Saturday? It was at Tech at Hopkins Hall, and wound up at a Tennis Center, Moore Hall or something. She was on me like Chelios on Crosby.
By Nascar Dave
May 20, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
Forgits Donna, me and Gavs wound ups behinds the tennis court, and boy did wez do a courting. He told me about the construction going on where he lives at Peidmont and Ponce de Leon. Now wez is Stubb Buddies fer life.
By Tony C.
May 20, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
Hokie-I think you’re right vis-a-vis “media perception”…but I think that the “old boy network’ is just as effective if not moreso than the newswire within the NHL-coaching community.
I also believe that CC is very much on point with his comments regarding the lack of former NHL players in our hockey ops department.
As far as going to watch the Finals @ TJ’s-count me in I live right down the road (and the place is hands-down the best hockey bar in the metro area).
If yall’re down hit me up @
hispeedtest@hotmail.com
also, for those that’ve been asking about Centre Ice HD-here’s what the bigwigs in Philly have decreed regarding Comcast’s delivery of the Centre Ice signal (I’m paraphrasing here):
”* Due to bandwidth restrictions, many league-pass products have only had certain games available in HD. because of increased capacity by the league(s) as well as the migration to digital broadcasting (effective 17 feb 2009), we will be offering even more HD-content for our digital broadcast tiers and sports packages. Individual blackout and territorial restrictions will still apply.*”
Which basically means, we (Comcast) will have more bandwidth to play with after the new year and that the sports packages that are delivered in HD will be able to be sent out to our customers at a high rate of fidelity. So good news, just need the individual arenas to install HD rigs. VS. and NBC and HD bring their own HD rigs when they do their game of the week broadcasts. If the local carrier does not provide HD broadcast, Centre Ice (and therefore Comcast) cannot provide an HD signal.
GO BLUE !!!
By The Falconer
May 20, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
re: Sellers. The truth is the Luke only played that one game because the Chicago Wolves were in Manitoba or Salt Lake City (I forget which now)and they couldn’t get a flight for a AHL player in time for the Thrasher game.
Sellars was playing in the ECHL just up the road in Greenville and thus they called him up to dress for one game. I think he only played three shifts or something like that.
CC: valuing free agents. The simplest thing to do is divide their salary by some measure of their value. You could use points but that doesn’t really help with defensemen or goalies.
Personally, I like to use Tom Awad’s GVT (Goals Versus Threshold) which basically attempts to place a value on each player’s contribution above replacement level. It uses scoring and goals against part of plus/minus to assign credit for goals scored and goals allowed to every player on the roster.
He has all the data for free over at the Hockey Analytics Groups (HAG) on yahoo groups. Free to sign up. It is a pretty awesome dataset with every single NHL players stats for every single season going back to 1950.
By Donna
May 20, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
Where,s Bob?
By Thrashers27
May 20, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this
You can still have an HD broadcast without HD camera equipment. It’s not true 1080 resolution, but an upconverted standard definition signal is still better than regular SD.
By Donna
May 20, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
You can find me here…
By moo
May 20, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this
HEY CRAIG… Ask Hossa if he’s ruled out coming back to Atlanta. In the back of my head, there’s this little whisper that MAYBE he gets his Stanley Cup and then gets all the money and half ownership of the Aquarium and comes back to Atlanta with a new crop of D-men. He and Kovy are driven by championships and they kick a* on the new chemistry including John Anderson as coach.
By Bruno- Donnas BF
May 20, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
wHERE DO YA, ALL LIVE, AND WHATS WITH THEMS TWO BOYZ sATURDAY NITE BEHINDS THE TENNIS COURTS DOING THE HERKY JERKY?
By Ranallo10
May 20, 2008 6:20 PM | Link to this
Talk about an injustice, just came back from visiting HIO, and guess what? Bob Gainey has won “Exectutive of the Year” award from the Sporting News. Damn. Talk about an unfair vote, as Paul Holmgren took a last place overall team, and almost went to the finals.
By Tony C.
May 20, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this
27-True. However, I can tell you that in the interest of saving bandwidth, most arenas are not going to waste the horsepower on a SD signal. As a carrier, if you were to receive an uncompressed SD signal on the HD circuit, you would broadcast it as such.
By Buzilla Baby Blue
May 21, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
That is great news Tony. Now we just need to get HD camera’s in Phillips. Wait, I think they already do. The Hawks games are in HD right? Different channel but they have to be around right?
If you raise ticket prices you better create a better product…part of that is getting with the program and go HDeisel…
NUFF SAID…
By Jarndyce
May 21, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
Falconer: Thanks for the dataset tip. That just earned you a free beer…
As for judging free agent signings, I’d think that you’d need three basic values for a good comparison:
1) Annual salaries for all available free agents signed during the same period.
2) Contributory value of the free agents to the team’s for which they signed (here, you could use a stat similar to that noted by Falconer above, or some other decent proxy).
3) Average contribution for a league player at a similar position (i.e., 1st line forward, 3-4 defenseman, etc.; minutes played would likely work to evaluate this) and the average salaries.
You could then look at the contributory value (value pts/pay) of the signed free agent to the team, against similar contributory value of an alternative free agent, and then against what using an average league player would have given you (in other words, the minutes taken away from a player that could have been added from another source instead of through free agency).
So, for a hypothetical example, let’s say the Thrahsers signed Peter Forsberg for $10M/yr to be the 1st line center, and Florida signed Marc Savard for $7M/yr to be their first line center.
Forsberg contributed some value that we’ll call a score of 145, and Savard contributed a score of 120. The league average for a 1st line center is a good round 100, with an average salary of $6M/yr.
Who’s the better signing? Savard, all else being equal. He would have contributed a score of just over 17 per million. Meanwhile, the Thrashers overpaid Forsberg, who produced a score of 14.5/$M while the league average contributed 16.6/$M.
By Bob
May 21, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
I got a novel idea, how bout you just take a look at the win-loss record over the years? I think you’ll figure out pretty quickly how successful he’s been at signing free agents and drafting players that help us win.
lol.
After you stat geeks get done trying to figure out if Waddell has done a good job signing free agents that help this team win, can you go prove to me that the Holocaust happened? That Amadinutjob over in Iran says it didn’t, so mabye he’s right?
By kracker
May 21, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
Speaking of drafting woes, check out this 20-20 hindsight list by Howard Berger of the All-Stars-to-be that the Leafs scouts passed on drafting since their last Cup 41 years ago. It seems that DW and his band of merry scouts has good company in the Leafs organization.
Penguins’ Tale Humbling For Leafs
By robert
May 22, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this
i hope they win next year
By GaVaHokie
May 22, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
Speaking of drafting woes, check out this 20-20 hindsight list by Howard Berger of the All-Stars-to-be that the Leafs scouts passed on drafting since their last Cup 41 years ago. It seems that DW and his band of merry scouts has good company in the Leafs organization.
And you know who was part of their scouting team from 1989-1995?… Dan Marr, Head Scout of the Atlanta Thrashers.
By Buzilla Baby Blue
May 22, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
When is the draft? Is it going to be aired on the NHL network?
By GaVaHokie
May 22, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
June 20th and 21st in Ottawa. Not sure about the broadcast. Most likely Versus.
By GaVaHokie
May 22, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
Actually, I just checked the Versus listings, and it’s not scheduled… hopefully someone clues in and makes the change. I’ll be upset if the Draft isn’t carried in the States.
By Sasquach
May 22, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
Any thoughts on Team Russia’s coach, Vyacheslav Bykov? According to NHL.com, he’s better than most European coaches when it comes to dealing with NHL players. Plus, there’s this: “On the ice, Bykov’s players say he puts their talents to the best possible use. He demands that setbacks be met with resolve and resiliency, rather than finger-pointing and pouting.” Might this be a guy the Thrashers would consider? A little outside the box, but sometimes that can be a good thing.
By Tony C.
May 22, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this
20th & 21st on NHLTV
By Buzilla Baby Blue
May 22, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
is NHLTV the NHL network?
By Tony C.
May 22, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
yes it is ‘zilla
By Bob
May 22, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this
GaVaHokie, please do that strip for us you did at HABS INSIDE/OUT last night when you won the trivia contest. Thats right, wear that Habs jersey, take that jock off real slow, you go boy. Hee Haw. Shake that money maker, off with it all, turn and show us that pink stink. Whoopieeee. Gavs at Peidmont Saturdays 8pm as Habsguy.
By GaVaHokie
May 22, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
Here’s something pretty bizarre. Do you think they’ll ever adopt this in the NHL? Iceless Ice skating rinks.
By robert
May 22, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
Hey Buzilla, dont you post at HABS INSIDE/OUT as The Teacher. You have the same name as a friend of mine there. The NHL Draft wont be seen on American Propiganda Television, TSN and Habs inside/out WILL HAVE A PICK BY PICK BROADCAST BOTH DAYS. cANADA DOES HOCKEY RIGHT.
By Buzilla Baby Blue
May 22, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this
Too bad they has sh*t beer…
By Buzilla Baby Blue
May 22, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
and fugly women
By Tony C.
May 22, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
I dunno dude, some of their girls are cute and handy
By R. Stroz
May 22, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this
Always avoid women with sharp teeth.
By GaVaHokie
May 22, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
I prefer my American beer openers, personally. Tall and blonde in bikinis, not short and chunky with chimpmunk cheeks and ugly sweaters.
By GaVaHokie
May 22, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
Thrashers extended contracts with Arturs Kulda and Rylan Kaip today. Rylan Kaip is the team Captain of U. of North Dakota. Here’s a nice goal by him.
He also fights and is a good penalty killer.
If you haven’t noticed, Kulda is playing with the Wolves in the playoffs right now. He was paired with Zach Bogosian in Peterborough this past season.
By Tony C
May 22, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this
Gavs, there,s a two for one at Mistys ManWhorehouse at Spring and Peidmont. They actually wash the men toight, and are showing a rerun of the Thrashers playoff wins, OOps, Falcons Super BOW…OOps, Hawks WI..OOps, i KNOW the Braves won something..once..fifteen or so pennants, they just had to win something, mrds, MRDS, Gavs, get off that legdddddde, OOPS. aTLANTA MEANS Loser in Native Hee Haw.
By B. Thenet
May 22, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
Kulda was playing with Bogosian this year? Very interesting.
When you have a junior defenseman step into an AHL lineup at the end of the season, it is a good sign.
This was an inevitiable signing, but I am glad it is finally done.
By Tony C.
May 22, 2008 7:48 PM | Link to this
I dunno. I thought about including the american beer-opener to contrast the two styles….but the whole boobie-as-bottle-opener just disturbed me.
Overall aesthetics though I think the american wins.
I would like to see Anderson as the new hire-I just watched some footage of the Western Finals, and I like how he appears on the bench: fired up but calm…almost like he’s ready to take a shift himself. As far as “hockey advisor” I keep praying for Fletcher.
By Buzilla Baby Blue
May 22, 2008 8:55 PM | Link to this
Hokie and Colordes hanging in a tree.. H-A-N-G-I-N-G. First comes Gavs, then comes Tony, after we are done, its Chits with Provolone. Atlanta teams stink, all very phony, after they lose, its full of bologny. Michael Vick an abuser, and ya, all is a loser. Your messages are a bore, Gavs is a male w*******, time to book fast, time for Hee Haw.
By Buzilla Baby Blue
May 23, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this
I can post under false names too
By Red Light
May 23, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
“One of the knocks I occasionally hear about the Thrashers is that there aren’t enough former NHL players in the organization. Lever would bring that to the table. He played in 1,020 NHL games, scoring over 300 goals in that span.”
Other than the assistant coaches and pro scout Peter Mahovolich, the total NHL experience of the entire franchise equals the one NHL game played by Waddell.
Of course, on-ice experience has nothing to do with success, but I damned sure rather go to war with someone who had been shot at in the past than a replacement fresh from boot camp.
Kevin Dineen, Don Lever and Scott Arniel the AHL coaches, besides Anderson, that should be under consideration if they want to go in that direction. I personally believe Dineen to be the optimal choice.
Hiring a coach like Maurice or Wilson for that matter doesn’t make sense. The Thrashers don’t need someone who couldn’t make it work in another NHL city no matter his qualifications. Re-treads rarely work long term in any sport. Yes, there are examples like Bellichick, Bowman and Torre to the contrary, but there are tons of other examples of guys who couldn’t make it work the second, third and fourth time around (Ken Hitchcock for one).
Craig Ramsay, current assistant in Tampa, has never been given the full opportunity to succeed as a head coach, and Doug Jarvis, assistant to Carbonneau in MTL, should be a consideration for any team looking for a new coach. You’ll remember he won four straight Cups with the Habs from 1976-1979, was an assistant when Dallas won, and was an assistant when the North Stars lost to Pitt in 1991. Why he hasn’t been hired by someone boggles the mind, unless the Habs won’t release him, or he doesn’t want to leave them?
By Buzilla Baby Blue
May 23, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
SEE, the last post written by Red Light was really written by me. I can say I met and am in love with Gavs, as we are sitting together right now. Nascar Dave is our “Mentor” at the Peidmont manhouse we rent. Canada still sucks and the women there are icy.Iam still a virgin.
By Buzilla Baby Blue
May 23, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this
I have been edited
By Donna
May 23, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this
Whats “Up” boys? Hear Kovalchuk may be shopped around. Any news yet?
By GaVaHokie
May 23, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
Bong Time. Behind Bill Moore Tennis Courts, dig.
By Alan
May 23, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this
Donna - I don’t think there’s a snowball’s chance in hell of that happening anytime soon. Sorry.
By GaVaHokie
May 23, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this
My Donna, She probably is some kind of Canadian hag from Habs inside/out, a trool with a bra, if he/she can afford one.
By scottbravesfan
May 23, 2008 11:46 PM | Link to this
Thrashers need to make a big splash this offseason their foothold in this town is next to none which is sad. They had a lot of momentum going into this last season and they blew it all.
By Brendan
May 24, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this
Red Light, I posted a few blogs back how any combination of Don Luce and Craig Ramsay could be excellent for this Thrashers club. They were checking line specialists in their day, and could certainly devise a “system” for Atlanta.
It could only improve! Goals Against, since the Inaugural season, have been a glaring deficiency for this team. I still say, even in the “new” NHL, that defense wins Championships. Luce and Ramsay could also be decent scouts.
Just once, I’d like to go into a June Draft with the concept of drafting players who “fit our system.” But we don’t have a system. We just draft the best avaiable talent, as determined by Don Waddell, in concert with his scouting staff. It’s not the WORST strategy I’ve ever heard. Other teams use this strategy. Other teams, like the Devils and Red Wings, draft players who fit their system. They seem to find players who contribute even beyond the 4th round.
By GaVaHokie
May 24, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
Brendan, praytell, WHAT system does a player have to fit into to have the “Priviledge” of playing for us.
By Alan
May 24, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
Brendan - To be fair, we’ve found a few players who can contribute beyond the 4th round. Enström bring the brightest example of this thus far. Kulda is another good example. Kaip and Oystrick are debatable at this point. Nurminen was a 6th round pick, too.
“A few,” while better than “none,” still isn’t good enough. But we can’t all have scouts from the Red Wings.
By Alan
May 24, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this
Gavs, we find decent players that just cant make it here for one reason or another, possibly the history of this loser city scares good players away. Maybe a decent football player with a nice a* would take a chance here, but as for hockey players? Fergitsabuut it. Party at Tech tonight, bring your man.
By Brendan
May 24, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this
That’s a good one, Hokie. I’ve yet to meet a draftee who picked his team. Actually, I want to withdraw that. It wouldn’t be exactly shocking to hear that selectors and selectees have “mingled” and arrived certain agreements prior to the draft.
I’ve heard rumblings about Doughty and L.A., too. We’ll find out if they’re true or not in less than a month.
Alan, after I made the post above, I tried to hit “stop” so that I could add the word consistently after the words “4th round.” But once it was gone, I figured, “pfft, who’s gonna take me to task over the word consistently?,” How wrong I was. Well done. I thought that no one could catch it.
Of course, Nurminen, Exelby and Enstrom are latter round picks who have played capably for Atlanta. I still hold out some hope for Brett Sterling. And others, as well.
The players “in the hopper” of hope are Grant Lewis at #40, Pavelec #41, Riley Holzapfel at #43, Chad Denny at #49, Jordan LaVallee at #116, Guillaume Desbiens at #116, Colin Stuart at #135, Brett Sterling at #145, and Nathan Oystrick at #198. I’d like these players to at least get a “shot” at playing in the NHL. Braydon Coburn didn’t get a boat load of minutes, and he was an 8th overall selection.
I couldn’t recall where Kaip and Kulda were in the Thrashers overall selections. But I’m I guessing that they’re past #198. If they come in and play three years in the NHL, then we’d have to give the scouts some credit.
The best “shot in the dark” I can point to is Simon Gamache. To the best of my knowledge, he was the farthest draft pick EVER made by the Thrashers and I think he actually plays SOMEWHERE in the league. I want to say Columbus or Phoenix or Nashville. I saw him on Center Ice last season. He was the 290th overall pick by Waddell in 2000. Darcy Hordichuk came out of that draft. I think he’s in Phoenix? I forgot how we lost him? Did we trade him or waive him? I can’t remember anymore. Achieving an NHL player with the 290th overall pick is an achievement. There’s no denying that. But are the Hordichuks and Gamaches of the league “impact players?” Look, I realize that you shouldn’t be finding “impact players” at #290 overall. Yes, I understand that. But isn’t it a bit frustrating that the Red Wings find guys like Datsyuk at 171st overall and Zetterberg, a candidate for the Conn Smythe, at #210? They got Johan Franzen at #97, Jiri Hudler at #58, Valterri Filppula #95. And truthfully, it goes on and on. Tomas Holmstrom at #257 overall. The perennial Norris Trophy candidate Nic Lidstrom was a 53rd overall selection.
What can ya say?? Other than, “Well, good for them!”
By Chuck
May 24, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this
Montreal Florida and the Thrashers just completed a three way trade, Kovalchuk and Jokinen go to Montreal, we get Horton, Higgins and three prospects. Its being announced right now.
By Tony C.
May 24, 2008 7:48 PM | Link to this
Do not blaspheme Chuck.
By Alan
May 24, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
Kulda was #200 in the 2006 draft. Kaip was #269 in the 2003 draft. See here for more Thrashers draft history.
By Bob
May 25, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this
Here’s my virtual hat on the ice for the hat trick x the many good men that have fought and died defending our countries (Canadian Rangers and our boys) that allow us to live free, enjoy hockey, life, and even allow misfits like this snow farmer Hab troll that’s infected us. VivaLeSnowFarmerHabitants, ya hump.
God Bless those many brave men whose souls have laid the path upon which we tread forward.
By Tony C
May 26, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this
I love a man in a uniform, and stop badgering Habs troll, its been quiet here lately. As far as what today commemorates, war and killing, while our boys come home to a system that wont give them their benefits after they serve us. My grandfather lost a leg in WW11, and fought the govt 11 years to get his benefits.
By Donna
May 26, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
PEACE…and lets also remember those lost to terrorism, like the slaves we kidded,and acts such as 911. Sincere condolunces to all the victims and fighting people of ALL wars. Thanks to Canadian citizens and their government for providing shelter to our citizens as well as safe landing places for our many planes during those attacks. The third sentence should read killed the slaves. Lets live in Peace, if for but one day. Imagine.
By Bob
May 26, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this
The last two posts are why I am proud to be an American. Our diversity is our strength, our differecnces make us whole, we are all Gods children, in perfect harmony. Canada, we are neighbors, though we fear your elegance and strength as a nation of peace.
By Tony C.
May 26, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this
You cannot convince me that Canadians are in a word, as a people, “elegant”.
I’ve been to Sasketchewan.
By stendec
May 26, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this
Hi fellow Thrasher fans. I first deemed to root against the Red Wings on principle. However, the thought of Maryann Hossa hoisting the Stanley Cup above his head after dogging (sorry Falcon watchers) it in Atlanta this season torpedoed that notion. It is now 3-0 Octopussies and Maryann and cohorts appear headed for 120 consecutive minutes without a goal. My heart breaks. NOT! My disgust of Maryann knows no bounds. Even to the (unrealistic) dream that perhaps the Pens will not score at all in this series. Then maybe Maryann would get a small task of the anguish Thrasher faithful were forced to digest all season long. So, so, so, GO WINGS! Hurts to type that. Good night friends. Just over three minutes left. Still 3-0.
By Hab troll
May 26, 2008 11:52 PM | Link to this
Tony C, I said it once before, you are my favorite Hotlanta poster, as I am the trool, Donna and several others. When I was to leave, Gavs and a couple of masty people made very unelegantremarks about me and my country, so I revisited. YOU are alright by me, what are you wearing at the moment.
By ranallo10
May 27, 2008 1:41 AM | Link to this
Brendan — Gamache played a few NHL games for Toronto this season before being waived, clearing waivers, and subsequently sent down to the Marlies.
By Tony C.
May 27, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
Stendec-
I have never in my life pulled for the Redwings, but your argument carries a lot of truthiness for me. I may even cheer when they win.
Seriously though, I wonder if even the 2000 Avalanche could beat this year’s wings team-it looks like men against boys out there.
By Gary
May 27, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this
I’m still waiting on some details and confirmations, but Hawks/Thrashers fans - keep these names in mind for the next 10-15 days: John Anderson, Dave Nonis, Chris Grant, Steve Smith.
Gary (Secret Squirrel)
By Tony C.
May 27, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this
Dude.
That’d be sweet. I hope you and Morroco Mole don’t get in hot water from HQ
By MB
May 28, 2008 4:01 AM | Link to this
I’m sticking with the Pens, though it’s a daunting task, to say the least. And I still cheer for Hoss and Dupuis, whose inability to finish is becoming almost comical (his one shot that was actually on net Monday only got there because it hit a stick and was redirected).
Despite accolades to the contrary from announcers, Fleury has looked very shaky and unsure of himself. Notice how many times he’s looking around to find the puck…just not tracking it cleanly, and how frequently he’s late responding and not ready when his D turns over the puck. Coming into the series he needed to be stellar to give the Pens a chance, and that’s just not happening.
Not helping matters on the backend are the multiple mistakes made by the likes of Letang, who has very much looked like the youngster overwhelmed by being on the Cup stage.
Of course, the fact that the Pens aren’t potting any goals doesn’t help matters. Kudos to the Wings for playing their system beautifully and not giving them any room to maneuver.
Looking back, it’s hard to imagine just how our Thrashers whipped up on the Wings 5-1 just a couple of months ago. Well, one thing we did is take advantage of our power play opportunities. I believe 3 of the 5 were on the man advantage. The other thing in our favor was Kari playing lights out with something like 45 saves.
I’ll be interested to see what Therrien and the Pens can muster at home…who knows, maybe this series will end up like the Hawks v. Celtics. Let’s hope it gets at least a little competitive.
By GaVaHokie
May 28, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
And I still cheer for Hoss and Dupuis, whose inability to finish is becoming almost comical
He should change his name to Dupuing for the sound his shot makes when it rings off the post… “Dupuing”
By GaVaHokie
May 28, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
Did anyone see the other AJC page putting down Atlanta fans because we were cheering more for the Red Sox recently than our Braves? I have gone to several Thrashers games and cheered for a well played game by the opponent, so what. If we had decent teams to cheer for, that would be a different story, but just look at the garbage we get tossed our way as far as sports teams here.
By Tony C
May 28, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
Gavs, what are you wearing, an Antitem outfit, with holes.
By GaVaHokie
May 28, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
*Did anyone see the other AJC page putting down Atlanta fans because we were cheering more for the Red Sox recently than our Braves? I have gone to several Thrashers games and cheered for a well played game by the opponent, so what. If we had decent teams to cheer for, that would be a different story, but just look at the garbage we get tossed our way as far as sports teams here. *
Habs troll… not me
By Maury
May 28, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
YES! YES! YES! Lever outcoached Chicago last year with less talent. Atlanta REALLY needs a coach who can develop talent and knows how to coach to his teams strengths.
By ranallo10
May 28, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this
Since when did Montreal’s system contain less talent than Atlanta’s???
That’s news to me.
By SCN
May 28, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
Frame this blog … Kincade just announced on 680 that Craig C is leaving the AJC to become national hockey writer for Sporting News … hate to see you go Craig, you’ve done a great job covering mediocrity, and with this blog.
By Icebyrd
May 28, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
CC- I always knew it was an anomaly that the AJC had a “real” hockey writer and I certainly have enjoyed the ride. Guess it was just too good to last. You will be missed but I will look for your articles in the SN. Best wishes, you are very deserving!
By ranallo10
May 28, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this
SCN — Seriously? That blows (for us fans, not for Custance).
Custance — If what SCN said is true, congratulations bud. Thanks for all of your great work this season.
By Alan
May 28, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
ranallo10 - Seconded. If true, Craig, then I wish you the best of luck. I would also have a reason to actually buy Sporting News now. Not that I was actually looking for a reason to buy more stuff, but I really like your journalistic integrity and it would be worth the money.
By Jameson
May 28, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this
Hokie- Or just leave his name as Dupper - one who fools [us into thinking that after roaring end to end, past everyone else he might actually get a shot on goal].
Craig- This feels like the Hossa trade all over again. Don’t forget us struggling down in A town when you get to cover teams that are actually competing for the cup.
By Tony C.
May 28, 2008 11:02 PM | Link to this
Big-time Congratulations Craig your work here has been OUTSTANDING!
Happy for you, but I shudder to think what AJC will come with as your succesor.
Thanks for holding FUBAS as close to accountable as your position allowed, and great work bringing our (long-suffering ATL hockey fans) woes some much-needed national exposure.
Oh, and if Odgie needs a drinkin partner, or you can actually reccomend someone for the job (assuming Rawhide is spoken for), let me know. I love hockey and write legibly.
Again, congratulations! well-deserved opportunity for you!
By Bob
May 28, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this
What’s The Sporting News? Just kidding, congrats on that.
Does this mean we get Schultz back? lol
By MB
May 28, 2008 11:45 PM | Link to this
Congrats, Craig…we’ll miss you around here, but we’re proud of you.
What a game tonight…NBC must be thrilled. That 5+ minute span of non-stop play in the third was exhausting and exhilirating. Wow.
Can’t wait for Saturday.
By MB
May 29, 2008 12:37 AM | Link to this
Gavs, why did you send me an e male from Blue Boy Magaxine, thatsa fairy boy gsme. Come on, I thought you were better than that.
By Bob
May 29, 2008 12:41 AM | Link to this
Gavahokie, the Hockey News has a Letters article and someone named Gavahokie from Atlanta wrote an article titled “Atlanta hockey in trouble” Was that you, its the June 4th edition. You also say if we dont straighten things out within two years, we dont deserve hockey here. Please explain.
By GaVaHokie
May 29, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
Craig… if you want to slip us the name of the Hab Troll on your way out the door, it would be greatly appreciated. :)
By robo
May 29, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
What in the heck is Waddell doing-no hint of even a top prospect for new coach; the hawks replace a GM in less than a month and the Thrashers are doing what????? I have no confidence in this teams direction-they will never amount to anything with current leadership. Waddell you suck
By The Joker
May 29, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this
I’ll pay for the name and email address of the Habs troll.
I’m sure everyone would be willing to contribute to such a worth while cause.
By Hab Troll
May 29, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
God, it’s all my fault! What have I done? I have scared away the great Craig Custance! What will we do? Oh, the agony!
By kracker
May 29, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
I’m happy for your new opportunity, Craig and hope it’s great for you. You will be missed here.
By The Joker
May 29, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
Something tells me there are two Hab trolls, and one of YOU has taken his spot. Unless he is a Canadian from here, how does he know such intracatedetails about our city. Sherlock Holmes would have trouble with this one. Clever, very very clever. Just got wind the next outdoor game will feature Detroit and Chicago. Two New York area teams were being discussed, but one would have been left out, since they have the Rangers, Jersey and Islanders.
By kracker
May 29, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
I am totally in male love with the Troll.
By The Teacher
May 29, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
Joker, come see me at HABS INSIDE/OUT and I alone will give you his identity. He blogs for us, but was once a blogger here youguys didnt like.
By Donna
May 29, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this
Vancouver defenseman Luc Bourdon was tragically killed today in a motorcycle accident. Any thoughts and prayers can be sent from TSN site. A tragedy.
By The Joker
May 29, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this
Habs trolls get a life and stop pretending to be everyone else.
If you don’t like who you are, go to Pakistan, get a job driving a truck, and meet your 45 male virgin prize.
By ToF
May 29, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
Supposedly the Thrashers have started discussions with Ilya Nikulin. Here is a report Its in Russian, so have fun interperting it through a translator. The gist is that he is FINALLY ready to leave Russia for NA and wants to try his game in the best league in the world.
By The Joker
May 29, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this
Whats the difference between an Italian grandma and an elephant, 50 pounds and a black dress. How does a wop get into a legitamate business, Through the roof. Just a couple of diddies in case the troll is a paisana. Gavs, Manwhorehouse at Peidmont and Spring tonight, they wash the Men on Thursdays.
By R. Stroz
May 29, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
ToF - Great news if true.
Russian - Can you translate the report?
By hockeyfan
May 29, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
Craig Other than the time you snubbed me at the All Star Game, I’m going to miss you and your coverage of the Thrashers. Maybe with your new gig you can give us a little more national coverage.
Oh can you get me some tickets for the Hawks v Wings game at Wrigley?
If you dont know what I am talking about go here http://www.nastynest.net/mbbs22/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=8212&posts=7#M84803
By GaVaHokie
May 29, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
Here’s the translation…
Ilya Nikulin: ideas фикс to leave for ocean are not present
29.05.2008 22:37Защитник modular Russia and Kazan ” Ак ” and modular Russia Ilya Nikulin has told the Leopard about the plans for the future, in particular, about possible transition to “Atlanta”:
By Tony C.
May 29, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this
Some interesting remarks/ opinions regarding the Chi. Wolves here and another blogger’s p.o.v. here.
Wow. just read the Luc Bourdon news. I can’t imagine what his family must be going through.
By Tony C.
May 29, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this
i ESPECIALLY LIKE wILLIAMS’ QUOTE IN THE MAY26 BLOGPOST:
“Fans come to see quality, winning hockey. Plain and simple.”
By Tony C.
May 29, 2008 6:12 PM | Link to this
Also, looks like Davidson got his man
By Fred
May 29, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this
no meaningful news still
By B. Thenet
May 30, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this
Craig I think we all figured you were not long for this market with your fine coverage of hockey.
Congrats, Good Luck, and we will see you on the TSN blogs.
By santa3247
June 6, 2008 3:30 AM | Link to this
Hi,I’m Seong-Ho,Yoon living in Jinhae City southkorea now.
AJC.com brave bulletin I can’t write from yesterday now.
Something fraude exist I sensed and I want to send messege to people of Atlanta Braves.
I didn’t meet and talk with any people of USA from past to now for important things.
I didn’t receive any money from people of USA. Keep in mind.
Babylon now can threathen my families and relatives freely. Keep in mind.
May the force of Messiah be with you
P.S:P.S: Below is my blog’s some article
Freemason
Theseday it is easy for you to read articles about freemason ruling whole world in the web. But, really speaking, this is trick of the most malevolent Babylonian living in korean peninsla for the purpose of imputating their sins to freemason and the original culprit are Baylonian whose language is korean.
And what is Freemason?
[18Century passport of Freemason]
The painting upper direction was in the passport of Freemason in 1785. Look presicely.
In top-most, the world Justice exist. God is Conscience and Justice sense.
In the below, Someone’s face is painted like Sun, and the middle of his forehead is wide, dark eyebrow, nose a little wider than the white, and you can find this face is something like Asian. Yeh Solomon, Osiris, Messiah,Lion’s face.
In the below again, Isis and another wife exist, and in center of both located Pheonix which means the guardian of Isis.
In the left side, Pyramid is and in right You can catch the flags of Judah’s 12tribe.
The sentence of script I can’t read for this word I don’t know well. ^*^
After all, this Freemason meant that people who didn’t forget Solomon and waited Osiris, and they were connected with Judah’s 12Kingdum. They knew so well about reality theeseday I am writting over the world.
[Article about Messiah]
And upper document someone wrote I think you need to contact, but never easily you could meet with them I think. But, they don’t know this fact “Allah is Messiah” and they would be people of Judah. The good people have to hand in hand with them, and you can’t trust people who don’t want to meet and help me, if they would avoid me they must be slave or descendant of not Judah but Israel. Person who can’t talk about Neutron and Resonance Schumann would be like witches and wizards who can’t tell “Voldmort” and you can’t trust them all and unbelievable. Originally Freemason pursuited the whole kinds of Justice about history, laws, economy, etc, and Freemason who chase Common Sense Babylon made must be slave or hyperjesus.
This Freemason was started to be fully attacked by Neutron from 1880’, so they caught the information about Neutron by intelligence office, they informed this secret to Judahs’ 12tribe’s Kingdums, World War1,2 were occurred by very this information You exactly have to know I think. Freemason informed the King of Japan and Japan invaded korean peninsla and southchina, but the insufficient information couldn’t defend themselves from implanting spy, therefore Implanted inslaved bosses of Japan attacked Hawai Island by the order from Babylonian who was living in north china and southafrica.
If Freemason would dislike the war about Babylon, that is proof of inslavery, because they were people who named Atomic Bomb to Neutron Clear Bomb. This fact the kings of Judah’s 12tribe couldn’t tell a nation for poor scientific knowledge, and they didn’t want to make nation to be horrified.
Mr.Obama is Freemason 32th degree I found article about him theseday. And he quit Jesus Religion. This fact is enormous hope to the good people in Asia around.
May The Bright Morning Star be with you Real Freemason ^*^