AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > June > 09 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USAJC chooses me; who should Thrashers choose?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Succeeding Craig Custance on the Thrashers beat must be a little bit like succeeding Scotty Bowman behind the bench for the Canadiens, with at least one slight difference: I have scored 393 fewer NHL goals than the late Boom Boom Geoffrion did. Craig has set the bar high; I will be stretching just to touch it with my fingertips.
I’ve been at the AJC for six years, two as deputy sports editor, four covering Georgia Tech football. I didn’t grow up near Hockeytown, as Craig did, but I’m no hockey neophyte. I’ve covered the game in the ECAC and the ECHL and the AWHL, with bylines from Hamilton and Ithaca and Troy, N.Y., to Jackson and Biloxi and Tupelo, Miss. I’ve worn my old Atlanta Knights “Knightmare on Peachtree Street” T-shirt so much it’s no longer fit for public display.
So I am thrilled at the opportunity to cover the Thrashers. I hope to be able to answer your questions about the team, in my stories and in this blog. Please be patient with me at first; I’m jumping in and trying to get up to speed as quickly as I can.
The news isn’t waiting for me to get comfortable on the beat. Don Waddell will begin interviewing three or four coaching candidates later this week. Two of those candidates are Chicago Wolves coach John Anderson and Thrashers associate coach Brad McCrimmon. Waddell also plans to speak with Detroit Red Wings assistant Todd McLellan. A story in Tuesday’s paper gives a bit of background on them and some other possible candidates.
There are far more good names than I could list, and some, like Don Lever and Mike Sullivan, were on my list at one time. Waddell shared this: He was recently speaking to another GM, one who doesn’t have an opening, and that GM said the field of available candidates was as strong as he could remember it being at this time of year.
Given that some of the best training for being a head coach in the NHL is having been a head coach in the NHL, something the three known candidates haven’t done, Waddell might round out his list of candidates with one of the coaches who worked in the league last season. John Tortorella, for example, appears to have many of the same qualities that Waddell found in his last hire, Bob Hartley. Paul Maurice, who didn’t do great things in Toronto, took Carolina to the Stanley Cup finals. Joel Quenneville’s teams have won a lot more than they’ve lost.
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Comments
By Bob
June 9, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this
Welcome! I choose McLellan, I think he’s the guy that could teach this club a system that would win.
By Rawhide (Ice Man)
June 9, 2008 9:11 PM | Link to this
MIKE - Welcome and congrats to the frozen side of the sports pond!!!
I look forward to reading your reports on the team!!!!!
By Iceman
June 9, 2008 9:27 PM | Link to this
I will first have to admit that I will miss CC for a long time. Having said that, I would like to welcome Mr. Knobler to the craziness that is the Thrashers blog. My choices in very particular order
McLellan Anderson McCrimmon Maurice/Tortorella (tie)
I honestly just want to feel good about the Thrashers again. It’s been difficult watching this horror movie called “DW and the ASG”.
By B. Thenet
June 9, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
Hamilton, Ithaca, and Troy….that is Golden Anniversary, Utica Club, and Matt’s country right there.
Welcome aboard Mike!
I am not pleased that Brad McCrimmon is still in the mix. I don’t feel his performance or his attitude last year merits even an interview for the position.
By Mike Knobler
June 9, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this
Thanks, guys. I’m looking forward to some of the Thrashers craziness I’ve witnessed from afar.
From what I’ve seen at Philips Arena, in Craig’s blog and in Ice Man’s blog, and on MARTA before and after games, the hockey fans in this city are passionate about their team and their sport. That’s great for a reporter.
This ought to be fun.
By Mike Knobler
June 9, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this
B.
Thanks.
Like I said, I’m the new guy, so I sometimes will have more questions than answers. I’m curious about your last paragraph. I’m guessing you’re measuring McCrimmon’s performance by the team’s on-ice play and results, and you’ve made any allowances you think appropriate for the unique situation the Thrashers were in after the season’s sixth game. What did you see in McCrimmon’s attitude that you didn’t like? Is there something he said that ticked you off, or were you reading body language?
By GSU-Lee
June 9, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this
What’s up Mike? Congrats on the gig, looking forward to your coverage.
By GSU-Lee
June 9, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this
What’s up Mike? Congrats on the gig, looking forward to your coverage.
By kracker
June 9, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this
Welcome, Mike.
I give Anderson the nod because of his familiarity with our younger players. They can perhaps play for him without being scared into mental immobility by fearing to make an error, as was the case with BH. I firmly believe that relationship cost us Braydon Coburn. Well, that and Don Waddell feeling he had to do smoe sort of trade. But had Coburn been allowed just a bit more development time with the Thrashers, that trade may not have been necessary.
By B. Thenet
June 9, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this
For one I did not like the performance of all defenseman not named Havelid and Enstrom last year, as a former defenseman I feel McCrimmon has to take a good share of the responsibility for the teams poor play at that position since he has been there.
In addition, there were some times during slumps when McCrimmon showed some traits I found disturbing. Once when asked about someones ice time or something like that he said “that is a question above my pay grade” or something along those lines….he avoided taking any kind of responsibility for the teams performance.
I know this sounds silly, but after such a dreadful season, I also don’t like the fact that almost every player(even Hossa) wants him to be the coach. If he was so great, how come they didn’t play well under him as an assistant coach last year?
By Russ
June 9, 2008 10:53 PM | Link to this
Congratulations on the new gig, Mike. I think Anderson should be the next coach. He has been successful at every stop so far and when I have seen him coach he puts the best players on the ice regardless of experience (not somethig that could be said for Hartley).
By Robert
June 9, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this
I really don’t want to see Maurice here. That guy had one good season in 2002, the rest of his teams have all been lousy. I don’t know if that is all his fault, but the Thrashers really need a miracle worker to get into the playoffs this year.
By Smoothie
June 9, 2008 11:24 PM | Link to this
Welcome to Thrasherville Mike! I’m sure you’ll do a bang-up job on the beat as well as the blog. You’ve got a steady contingent of regulars on here who not only contribute to a very good discussion about hockey, but also unearth many interesting nuggets, links and tidbits you wouldn’t normally find on the other ajc sports blogs.
Anyway, I hail from upstate NY and I hate that you had to spend any length of time in Troy, NY! But I’m sure Ithaca was “gorgeous”! ;-) Does that mean you had the privilege of covering the RPI Engineers? I’ll never forget how well Puppa, Carter and Oates played in the Natl Championship year of 1985…good times, good times indeed!!
Again, heartfelt welcome and best of luck to you in your new job!
J-smooth (the white one)
By PJ
June 9, 2008 11:29 PM | Link to this
* Welcome Mike* Congratulations on your new assignment. To give a quick reader’s digest version of why “the Beast” is not our first choice is quite simple. The Thrashers weakest element on the ice this past season was their defence, or lack there of. The Beast’s strength was supposed to be defence. Of course, Brendan will blog and give a 10 paragraph synopsis like no other on this subject, I pale in comparison you’ll soon find out, but that’s the quick version.
Over and above that, there was an interview with Waddell after the Thrashers season ended where he said that his primary candidates were involved in the playoffs. (That pretty much eliminates the Beast from the running in my book.) I wish I could find the article, it was in the ajc. What I want to know is why is McCrimmon still around? NO doubt the new hire will want to clean house. Please dear gawd, I hope Waddell isn’t planning on telling the new Coach who he can and can’t hire to assist him. That’s just not the way to be “heading in the right direction”.
By Alan
June 9, 2008 11:58 PM | Link to this
Welcome, Mike!
Expounding slightly on what B. Thenet said, I didn’t like McCrimmon’s childish temper tantrums during a couple of practices last season. At least one of which resulted in McCrimmon pulling the team off the ice altogether. Now why, praytell, would you pull the team OFF the ice, when you’re playing a first place team the next day, and you’re in the midst of a losing streak?
He seems to show no sense of logic, and while he does show some firey attitude, it’s obviously the wrong kind of firey attitude.
Though given the choice between Torts and McCrimmon, I would have to choose McCrimmon. Torts is a cornucopia of locker room poisons.
By LAC
June 10, 2008 12:56 AM | Link to this
Hello Mike, Love the Finger Lakes Area, a Great place !
Problem is, dumb don waddell has no clue, never has and never will.
We are doomed until we get a REAL GM who knows the NHL. He has a number of good ones out there, but will likely go the cheap route, which is his MO and the way these idiot owners want it, so just more of the same will come from Blueland…. Losing that is , damn shame too, we should be much better.
By nfieldr
June 10, 2008 1:47 AM | Link to this
Mike, I’ll add my welcome and congrats to those already posted. As a huge Thrashers fan currently exiled to that hockey wasteland, Albuquerque, New Mexico, I rely on this blog, Ben’s Blueland blog, and of course ajc.com for my insider Thrash news. I look forward to reading your insights!
By Tony C.
June 10, 2008 2:15 AM | Link to this
Hi! Congratulations on the gig, Mike!
As far as why many of us are sour on McCrimmon-aside from him being officially tasked as “Associate Coach-Defense” and our team finishing the season dead last in shots allowed (which really what more do you need? The guy was in charge of the one portion of the team that was consistently lacking-embarrassingly so), GAA yet have one one of the top-10 goalies in save percentage who faced more than 1500 SA? 29th out of 30 in GA/G?
These are stats that are supposed to engender confidence in the guy in charge of defense being given even more say-so over the team?
Really?
GO BLUE !!!
Stats from NHL.com
By Jarndyce
June 10, 2008 8:01 AM | Link to this
Welcome, Mike, and congratulations on the new hockey gig.
My feelings on the coaching spot: I’ve watched this team struggle for years to make any headway on special teams. For one season, the powerplay was fun to watch until the Canadiens showed the league how to shut them down.
I want a coach who can bring some fluidity to the powerplay, and aggression to the pk. I don’t think McCrimmon is that guy, simply because I saw nothing of the sort last season.
By truehockeyfan
June 10, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this
First of all, welcome to thrasher hockey. I believe in paying your dues, saying that , I vote for Anderson. He deserves the chance to coach these players in the NHL. who knows them better.
By GaVaHokie
June 10, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this
Welcome Mike!
I’ll take the guy who’s fresh, has NHL experience, who is part of a winning program and who’s direct contributions (Special teams, offense) can be easily pointed to… McLellan it is.
If I could look at the Wolves score sheets and not see Krog, Haydar and Kwiatkowski over and over again, I might have more faith in Anderson. But, for now, he’s in 2nd place.
I’ll put Quennville 3rd… this team needs to consistently make the playoffs, when we do that, then will start judging him on not being able to win Stanley Cups… we’ll call it the “Chargers-Marty Schottenheimer” problem.
By Sam
June 10, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this
Yes, you do have BIG shoes to fill. CC was very good. You don’t get the luck of Rawhide who replaced a guy who was a bad joke. Rawhide would have made anyone look bad though as Thrashers fans couldn’t ask for anyone better. As for the coach I am the only Thrashers fan apparently that wants to see Torterella clean up the Thrashers, get a monstrous forecheck installed, and get this team to the playoffs annually as he did in Tampa Bay until GM Feaster stopped supplying goalies after the Cup win in ‘04. He even succeeded then until finally last year when he was stuck with AHL material. Even Scotty Bowman could not have brought that club to the playoffs last year. Good luck with your new position here and I’m glad you have a background in the sport!
By Buzilla in CT
June 10, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this
Congrats on the promotion Mike?
Does this mean you now get to write little pieces for the Hockey News and other things that Craig used to do?
By Tom
June 10, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this
Time to come out of my hibernation to welcome Mike to the fold.
If they hire McCrimmons they will have made a mistake in my books. The players may like him but he has the taint of the past.
Anderson could come over, but that raises the question why not earlier in the season. Of course, that could speak to the relationship between the Wolves and Waddell, which would make him look bad again. Donny does not like that.
So my bet is that we will get a retread coming in to spin the wheels until the job they really want come open.
Of course there is a solution to this, fire Waddell and get a real GM for the team. But that will not happen as ownerships ego’s are far more important than the success of the team.
Sucks, doesn’t it…
And now back to my summers sleep and off to a youth inline tourney in Raleigh this weekend.
By Chad
June 10, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
Mike!!!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome to the world of the Thrash, I will have to say it can get fairly entertaining on the Blogs here but its all in good fun and love for the Thrashers.
Out of the list that we have before us I’d choose Todd McLellan, he seems like the best candidate possible. 1) He runs Detroits PP unit and was the guy responsible for its success all season, plus he coaches the Wings forwards as well. I don’t know if a lot of people noticed, but the Red Wings have some of the most definsively sound forwards in the game……………and 2) He has had success at the AHL level as well coaching the Houston Aero’s and leading them to a Calder Cup back in ‘03.
By JB
June 10, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this
Also Mike, if you had to pick a coach that the Thrashers were leaning toward over another who would it be?
By Andy S
June 10, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this
Congrats Mike, looking forward to your coverage. Good to know that you have a lot to live up to with the bar set by CC!
I agree with everyone’s opinion on Anderson. He deserves a shot after his success in Chicago, although that may be more due to the business arrangement more than his skill. He is unshackled as far as following an NHL-team system, but whatever system he’s using seems to be working and I’d like to see it have a chance at the NHL level. And I’m sure the kids on the team would know his system well. Wait, do we even have any AHL rookies left?
By The Other J.B.
June 10, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this
Welcome to the blog Mike. Great to have you.
I don’t see how you can go wrong hiring McLellan. He seems to be talented, knowledgable, well-liked, experienced, and the guy JUST hoisted the Cup last week. Can’t really find anything bad about the guy. If anyone does have any negatives, let me know; I’m curios. Otherwise, get that man a contract before San Jose steals him away.
Unfortunately, I think promoting McCrimmon would set us up to have the exact same season we had this past year considering he was acting as coach for all intensive purposes. From what I read, DW was often scouting or tending to GM duties while Brad handled the coaching until game time.
Alot of people like the idea of Anderson from Chicago. He does deserve a shot based on what he’s done with the wolves, but the idea of hiring one of the Red Wing coaches still seems more likely to result in repeat playoff appearances and hockey-god willing, hoisting the Cup under flaming bird heads in the seasons to come.
By Chad
June 10, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
Andy, our rookies in the AHL right now are Sterling, Little, Valabik, Stuart and LaVallee. Kulda may have a chance to make the Thrashers right out of camp this year if he keeps up the good work.
However, I do not think Anderson deserves this job. Anderson plays an entertaining style of hockey to be sure, but in that process the defensive side of things gets neglected a whole lot. That means leading to numerous 3 on 1’s or 3 on 2’s that lead to scoring chances and break-aways. I don’t know about you guys, but I got waaaaaaaaaaaay to much of that crap last year to keep me satisfied for the rest of my life. And in that type of style of play you get an offensive heavy squad that leads to career AHL’ers like Jason Krog having 30+ goals a year.
If you guys want to check the Wolves out for yourselves they are playing Game 6 of the Calder Finals tonight on NHL Network at 8.
By Rawhide (Ice Man)
June 10, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
Mike - Dude,…seriously. You gotta talk to the guys at the AJC and have them hook you up with the nice bold blue letters for your name.
You’re SOMEBODY now!!!!
By J(Z)
June 10, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this
lol Rawhide!
Welcome aboard Mike. Should be an interesting first couple of weeks for you, some incredibly important decisions to be made over the next 10 days! I’d rank em: McLellan, Anderson, Torts. I don’t want Beast, we need someone from the outside. On Anderson, I do wonder why we always have guys like Krog, Haydar, Kiwi who can clean house in the AHL but then come to the NHL and do absolutely nothing. Very very strange, but maybe it’s our (lack of a) system. Hopefully whoever gets hired will change things around here
By GaVaHokie
June 10, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
Riddle me this? Why don’t we hear of other teams wanting to talk to Anderson for their coaching positions?… think about it.
On another note, VERSUS is televising the Draft next weekend… looks like it’s finally listed on their site. So, hopefully that will lead to a Thrashers draft party at Gillian’s or TJ’s.
By Sara
June 10, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this
Hey Mike and welcome to the loony bin. No worries though - I’m sure within a couple of months you’ll have sorted out who is who. (Psst Professor Rawhide dontcha gotta cheat sheet he could borrow??)
Anyway, that’s the extent of my comments. I’m going back to my vacation now, but folks, I’ll be home on Saturday - I expect this coaching nonsense to be worked out by then.
By Maury
June 10, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
Wolves are headed into their 6th. game after a 3 game lead. After a 3 game lead, with all 4 lines contributing to the 3rd. win,the line up was changed and the Wolves lost two in a row. What coach changes the line up in a winning streak to insert recoverying injured players, who have not been in the line up for the series?
By B. Thenet
June 10, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
If you want a laugh, Jim Balsillie’s lawyer compared his attempt to purchase a hockey team to that of MLK Jr. fighting segregation in the US.
Probably not the right way to get the ball rolling on purchasing an NHL franchise, IMO.
“Well, it’s not unlike in the 60s, when some (politicians) said,We will segregate in our own good time. We don’t like to be pushed’,” Rodier said. “If not for people like Martin Luther King, there would still be drinking fountains for whites and coloureds.”
What makes it worse, the lawyer used segregate instead of desegregate when discussing it.
By Brendan
June 10, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
Congratulations Mike. Welcome to the scene. Craig speaks highly of you. So, I know you’ll do a good job.
My feeling on the coaching situation is this: There’s been an awful lot of procrastination for the choice not to be John Anderson. While I don’t think that’s some horrible choice, is it the choice that’s better than a coach who has over 500 NHL wins to his credit, like Ron Wilson. All I’ve heard is that Wilson is “close” to signing a deal with Toronto. I don’t think the Thrashers organ-I-zation pursued him near rigorously enough. In a previous AJC poll, Ron Wilson ran away with it. In the current poll, Ron Wilson and John Anderson are running neck-n-neck.
Welcome again. And many Congrats on landing the beat blog. I feel we’re in good hands.
By Mike Knobler
June 10, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
Thanks for all the feedback. Looks like if Blueland were a democracy it would soon be headed by Todd McLellan or John Anderson. I wonder if Don Waddell reads this blog?
I do need to get my name in blue, don’t I? Will talk to our techies about that.
Yes, it looks like I’m going to be contributing to Hockey News.
I appreciate the answers to my questions about what B. Thenet wrote about McCrimmon. Not sure I buy the objection to him throwing the whole team out of practice. If you’re trying to get your team’s attention and make a point, that would appear to be a dramatic way of doing it. Yes, it’s a gimmick, but if they’re not overused gimmicks have their place.
I don’t think I’m in position to say which way the Thrashers are leaning. If I knew it, I’d write it. I don’t like to guess. We’ve got other guys on staff who are paid to make predictions and give their opinions; I’m generally going to shy away from that. (The paragraph immediately above this one is about as far as I’ll go.)
Smoothie, you hit the era on the head. Adam Oates was phenomenal, Darren Puppa stood on his head and the controversially-deposed Mike Addesa could be counted on to say something interesting. My ECAC travels through upstate New York were while I was covering another ECAC team — Harvard, with Hobey Baker winners Mark and Scott Fusco and Lane MacDonald. Lynah Rink at Cornell was my favorite arena, other than the old Boston Garden, where I saw Cleon Daskalakis star for BU in the Beanpot. Best name for an arena might be Snively at UNH.
Back to the Thrash. We should learn a lot about where this franchise is going in the next three-plus weeks, with the coach hire, the draft and free agency. Based on Waddell’s history, there could be a trade or two in there somewhere.
By Alan
June 10, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
If you’re trying to get your team’s attention and make a point, that would appear to be a dramatic way of doing it.
There are a plethora of other ways to make a point though, Mike. Denying the team ice time for practice is one of those “shoot yourself in the foot” things. You could have made the team do drills or skate laps instead… you know, something mundane. Then get the team back to practicing whatever they were practicing.
If it was a gimmick that McCrimmon was going for, it was short-sighted and, I feel, damaging to the team.
Not knocking you for saying so, just sort of giving an alternative view, at least from how I perceived it.
By polskidawg
June 10, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
Congratulations Mike - the comparison to Bowman is accurate, but I’m sure you’ll do great after you get rolling.
I like McLellan first for the reason already given by others, Sullivan second due to his first coaching experience (with a dysfunctional organization like here), and Anderson third.
By NASCAR Dave
June 10, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this
Hi MIKE KNOBLER. Welcome…
I bet you’re glad to get away from the Ga Tech NERD blogs… this is a much better place, and I will go easy on you, even though I am a DAWG fan…
I agree with LAC… The problem here is DON WADDELL… It does not matter WHAT coach you bring in here… They ALL will FAIL with the rosters Waddell creates!!!
NASCAR Dave chooses JOHN ANDERSON for Coach.
For our New GM, I choose either Dave Nonis, Pat Quinn, or Cliff Fletcher.
We are now entering Year 10 of our Franchise, Mike Knobler. And we are back where we started in 1999 — with a Lottery Pick. What does this tell you Mike???
What is the Problem???
NUFF SAID.
By GaVaHokie
June 10, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
In high school, I had a coach throw the entire team out of practice… once… and that’s all it took. We worked our asses off after that. It works.
You can’t always beat it into their skulls… sometimes they need to go home and “think about what they’ve done.” Any player with a strong work ethic and morale character should come back ready for work.
By Bob
June 10, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
We should learn a lot about where this franchise is going in the next three-plus weeks, with the coach hire, the draft and free agency. Based on Waddell’s history, there could be a trade or two in there somewhere
Yes, this is the big time of year for us coming up. Historically, this is where Waddell screws the pooch at the draft and signing the wrong UFAs. His strong point (or should I call it his least weak point) if making trades, so let’s all pray for divine intervention this year and someone to guide him to finally make some good decisions on the coach, draft, and UFA signings, as well as the trades.
By Remie
June 10, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
NASCAR DAVE is what is wrong with this blog! You just repeat yourself over and over again - get something worthwhile to say! I can just picture you and it isn’t pretty.
By ronald
June 10, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
you know Don Waddell will make a big mistake in choicing their next coach i don’t why they the owner let him make the decision on the hiring of a coach you don’t bring in a ECAC coach you need someone with NHL experican that know how to get it together you don’t need on the job training for someone who is going to be taking on big responderability like what their need are and more
By Jason
June 10, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
Welcome aboard Mike!
I agree with some of the others about leaning torward McLellan of the current choices. That is based on not much more than what we all have heard/read about him over the past few weeks.
Mike, have you been able to find out the latest about the AS’s plan to possibly promote DW into a Bernie Mullin type role or such? That was publically hinted at last month several times by Levenson and Gearon Jr. Have not heard much since. DW needs to be relieved of his current duties if this team is going to have any type of direction going forward. I think Nonis is still the best option.
By NASCAR Dave
June 10, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
By Remie
June 10, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
NASCAR DAVE is what is wrong with this blog! You just repeat yourself over and over again - get something worthwhile to say! I can just picture you and it isn’t pretty.
REMIE - When have you EVER posted anything on here hockey related???
I only see you on here trying to bash LAC and NASCAR Dave.
And I’m sensing a lot of jealous hostility in your posts… Perhaps you could elaborate on this???
By NASCAR Dave
June 10, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
RON WILSON signs with TORONTO… per AJC.COM
By Smoothie
June 10, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this
Mike, that was a great time to cover the ECAC eh? Seems like the axis of power in college hockey has shifted more to the midwest recently save for BC, Northeastern and BU. Even Harvard seems to be down these days.
But then again, I don’t follow it like I used to as a kid growing up in Albany. I actually didn’t even realize that Addessa had been deposed in controversial fashion…must’ve been right about the time I left for college.
Anyway, it doesn’t matter who we on the blog WANT as our coach. We’re going to get John Anderson, better or for worse. There is no way the ASG will shell out the $$ money necessary to get a coach with NHL experience, let alone a Ron Wilson type…personally, I’d love to have Torts as it would be nice to be on the other end of that relentless forecheck that can be impossible to penetrate at times. However, without a good blueline, that would be a recipe for disaster like it was in Tampa last year.
By NASCAR Dave
June 10, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
REMIE - Who is your choice for Coach??? How about for GM??? What players should we bring back??? What Free Agents should we sign???
You do understand hockey, don’t ya’ boy???
LMAO
By GaVaHokie
June 10, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
REMIE - Who is your choice for Coach??? How about for GM??? What players should we bring back??? What Free Agents should we sign???
HAHA… Nascar is asking someone else this? It’s frustrating when people make attacks at you and don’t back it up with their own suggestions, isn’t it?
By Tony C.
June 10, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
Wow, you been waiting a minute to say that huh hokie???
Heheheh
spot on.
Why is Pat Burns name on the poll but not on the list that comes out of DW’s mouth? I mean he is an established “name” guy, but I wouldn’t think he’d be prohibitively priced….
By Russ
June 10, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
Mike - The Hockey News still owes me a Thrashers cap from when I first subscribed several years ago…Do you think you’ll have enough pull to help me out there?
By Alan
June 10, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
Hokie - A bit of irony for a new year of blogging, eh? I laughed too :)
As for your coach, it never really worked at my high school - no matter how often the coach threw people out of practice.
What works for some may not work for others. McCrimmon snapped off at the team more than once this past season. I’m personally unconvinced, but whatever works, I suppose.
I don’t see the point of his on-ice, making-a-public-spectacle-of-himself hissy fit though. If he wanted to act like that, he could have saved it for the locker room.
By ranallo10
June 10, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
Alan — Hartley definitely had his way with the players, mind games and all, but I’ve heard through the grape vine that he was supported by his players until the very end…many of those players were completely surprised by the firing, as they felt it was typical for them to stumble out of the blocks (NHL Preseason). The players placed the blames on themselves, and it’s possible that was rightfully so.
But, what does that mean really?
In my opinion, Hartley’s time had run it’s course. His “system” was ineffective, and at times non-existant. McCrimmon was the defensive specialist for that “system”…guiding the defense to the bottom of the league in shots against and goals against every season. But, the players liked and supported both of them.
I don’t care if a coach pulls gimmicks, I care if he can produce on the ice, and if the players respect him and listen to him.
Tortorella is respected by some, and hated by others. He is infamous for his doghouse treatment of players (Perrin), and for his tirades. Personally, I’m unable to respect a player like that, but if the players like and listen to him I cannot complain.
I feel McCrimmon has proven to be ineffective as a “system” coach, but effective as a motivator to his team.
McClellan has led his offensive and PP unit to be the envy of the league, but has not been proven to have an overall “system” for which to guide a team. His forwards can defend, but does he have a potential defensive strategy or has he only picked up “let Lidstrom take care of everything, while my wingers backcheck”?
Anderson has shown he has the full knowledge and ability to not only lead a team with a successful system, but to do so consistently (one missed playoff in his time in Chicago, if I’m not mistaken).
Personally, of the coaches mentioned I prefer Anderson, then McClellan, then McCrimmon. Wilson HAD been number two, but he’s off the list officially. DeBoer would’ve ranked behind McClellan and Sullivan (TB), but he’s been scratched due to Waddell’s latest comments about hiring someone with NHL experience (Anderson being the exception).
So yeah, my short list now looks like this:
Anderson, Sullivan, NOT Quinn, NOT Tortorella (based on personality alone, though he’s still a successful coach).
By NASCAR Dave
June 10, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
For GaVaHokie, Tony C., Alan: Find me ANY post where REMIE talks about hockey, AT ALL…
Provide a link, and I will buy you a case of Cheerwine.
By Alan
June 10, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
Hey, Dave, it’s all in good fun. I’ve taken my share of crap from people here. I know Hokie sure has, as well as quite a few others.
In the end, I’d like to think we’re all hockey fans here. Even Remie who has apparently never talked about hockey at all (I refuse to go back and look it up, due to indifference).
Cheerwine might be nice, but I’d have to decline the offer anyway. I’m a diabetic, and to the best of my knowledge, there is no such animal as Diet Cheerwine. :)
By ranallo10
June 10, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this
NASCAR Dave — Are you saying you have your own personal heckler??
By Alan
June 10, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this
Congratulations to the Chicago Wolves, Calder Cup champions!
I hope Pavelec, Little, Valabik, Kulda and others learned something valuable in their quest for glory.
By Algonquin J. Calhoun
June 12, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
Mike, covering ice puckey is just below spongin’ out the toilets at the AJC. It’s good to see you’ve accepted this demotion with equanimity. On the hopeful side, up is the only way your career, such as it is, can go now. Good luck covering all the inactivity at Boohoo Land. Nobody watches ice puckey!
By Pucksdeep
June 12, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
Welcome Mike, I think we all look forward to reading your stuff. CC definitely set the standard high, but it seems you are up for the challenge. Best of luck to ya!
As far as coaching is concerned, I’ll admit I’m not versed enough in the goings on of coaching hockey to offer an educated opinion on the subject, but I will say that hiring a guy who was already in the system (and behind the rotten bench with DW) just doesn’t seem like a very good idea to me. Especially when a team has as many changes..err improvements to make as our Thrashers do, but then again how much can you blame a guy who was working alongside ‘ol Donny-boy? I’m glad it’s not up to me.
All I know is that change is good and we could definitely use a little ‘good’ around Bluesland.