AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > June > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.US‘Big part of our future’ now part of team’s past
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m new to covering an NHL team, and I’m learning. One lesson: Asking the right question and reporting the response accurately doesn’t always shed light on the subject.
On June 16, I asked Thrashers general manager Don Waddell about the team’s plans for Alexei Zhitnik. Specifically, would the Thrashers buy out the final year of his contract. Here’s what appeared in the June 17 Journal-Constitution:
“Waddell rejected speculation the team might buy out the final year of Zhitnik’s contract. ‘That’s never been talked about,’ Waddell said. ‘We think he’ll be a big part of our future. We expect him to come back and be part of our team.’”
Two weeks to the day after he said that to me, Waddell bought out the final year of Zhitnik’s contract.
I asked him about the apparent contradiction. “That was prior to the draft,” he said Monday. “If we don’t get that player [Zach Bogosian], he could still be a big part of our team.”
It was no secret the Tampa Bay Lightning would choose Steven Stamkos with the No. 1 pick and that one of two excellent defensemen, Bogosian or Drew Doughty, would be available when the Thrashers picked at No. 3.
I talked about some of this with my brother, Danny Knobler, who covers baseball for CBSSports.com. His advice: Don’t get caught up in worrying about when there’s a gap between what somebody says is going to happen and what happens. Hey, it happens. (This is a family blog.
Meanwhile, I’ll keep asking the questions, reporting the answers and hoping, more often than not, I might shed a little light more often than I add to the darkness.
A few updates from a Monday conversation with Thrashers coach John Anderson:
—If you know of anyone looking to buy a house in Chicago, point them Anderson’s way. Unfortunately, the house in in mid-renovation. “It’s a little tough to sell when there’s no roof on it,” he said.
—Don’t be in too big a hurry for Anderson to announce a staff. With free agency this week and the rookie camp the next week, it is likely to be the second half of July before the Thrashers make any announcement.
—Three of the seven players the Thrashers drafted are planning to play college hockey next season, but they are still expected to be in the rookie camp. It’s OK with the NCAA as long as the players pay their own expenses, including travel.
—Anderson has been busy. He said Sunday night was the first he had spent in Chicago since his hiring. He had a quick swing through Atlanta for TV and public appearances, including a night as honorary captain for the Braves, and he was in London, Ont., at the end of the week for a hockey camp aimed at players ages 15-17 about to choose between college and major junior hockey. He will be back in Atlanta on Saturday and stay through July 15, when he returns to Chicago to get his things in order.
A topic for discussion: Which player do you want to see the Thrashers get most in free agency, and why, and which player do you think might actually sign to come to Atlanta? Brian Campbell? John-Michael Liles? Mike Commodore? Brooks Orpik? Mark Streit? Michal Rozsival? A 2008 Cup winner, such as Brad Stuart or Andreas Lilja?
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Comments
By Bob
June 30, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this
So Mike, do you feel like Waddell just used you to throw misinformation out there to try to trick some other GM into thinking Zhitnik was valuable?
I’m assuming yes, so the second question is, do you agree with me that is very lame of him to do that? I mean, it’s not like the other teams don’t have professional scouting departments that told them that Zhitnik was on his last legs and of no use anymore.
Lame.
To answer your question, I hope for Campbell or Redden, but I fear that Waddell will sign Rozsival or Streit and call that a coup.
By Thrasher_Ed
June 30, 2008 8:51 PM | Link to this
Mike, Welcome back! Hope we get lots of action tomorrow and Wednesday for you to report on! I’d like Campbell and Rozsival to be Thrashers by tomorrow night. Streit would be Ok too. We also need help up front at the forward position. Michael Ryder may be a good option and we still don’t have a good centerman, so try Morrison from Vancouver. Maybe even make some trades, but we must keep up with Tampa after all they did over the weekend.
By kbatch26
June 30, 2008 9:04 PM | Link to this
Hey Knobs… hope the vacation went well… If I’m not mistaken, both Lilja and Liles are off the market. The team needs to make a splash and make a real effort to get Campbell. Yes they will have to overpay… and yes there is a point where salary could be too much for even us to swallow. All the numbers I have seen thrown around seem to indicate around 5 years at 8 mil. I’m just curious if he would bite on 8.5 for 3. He gets rediculous money, and has an opportunity for another big money contract while in his prime. Curious on everyone’s thoughts…
By Mike Knobler
June 30, 2008 9:07 PM | Link to this
Bob
I agree with you that it is unlikely any NHL team would have been fooled into thinking Zhitnik was a better player than he is.
Thrasher_Ed
Thanks. I think there’s a good chance something happens fast, with the amount of money the Thrashers have to spend and the urgency they feel to get something done. They’re also in a position where one good signing would make the second one slightly easier, as each good addition increases the perception that ownership might be interested in winning and invest enough to make that happen.
A team in Atlanta’s position is doubly challenged. Not only does it have to draw players to a non-traditional hockey city, but it has to convince those players there’s a future here in which the Thrashers might actually win a playoff game.
By JB
June 30, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this
Hey Mike, welcome back.
I posted this in Rawhide’s blog but its worth a post here too:
I’m paraphrasing here but this is what Bob McKenzie says:
Alot of teams have interest in Brian Campbell; the Senators have interest but due to monetary funds or lack thereof they may be out of the race. Campbell like Hossa will be looking for the longest term and money he can get on the open market. One team to keep an eye on in all of this and be sure not to overlook is the Atlanta Thrashers. Campbell wants the money and the Thrashers are probably the team that is willing to throw the most money and length of contract at Campbell. The only concern from a Thrasher standpoint is if Campbell want to play for a rebuilding team; also New York and New Jersey have interest as well.
Its from a UFA video on the TSN home page.
By LAC
June 30, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
I really do not know what to think about waddell, first Anderson is NOT hired, then he is.
zit a BIG part of the future and now bought out.
Just more and more reason this SOB needs to be FIRED, he has about covered all the bases and now is a outright LIAR, who would want to be a part of anything don waddell is connected with, it is a shame these owners cannot see a liar when he works right under their noses.
In most ALL other businesses, a guy like waddell would be shown the door and FAST, but with asg… GOD help us ALL !
By kbatch26
June 30, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
Well… just read that Campbell is looking for term and lootcakes… so much for my idea! Still think we need him… would like to see Orpik, but I think Rozsival is more likely, since we may get a break because of the injury situation. I’d love to see a trade happen for a center, but don’t see it happening… looks like we’ll be cutting it close on Kovy’s request and the end of his contract…
By polskidawg
June 30, 2008 9:20 PM | Link to this
Come on, Mike - didn’t you cover GT when O’Leary was the coach?? You should be used to double-talk and creative “truth” by now….sorry Jackets, that was too easy.
I don’t think there is a NHL GM that fully understands what being honest is. They all would be great double agents. DW is no exception.
UFAs I’d like is far from what will happen, but how about Hainsey and Campbell? Or, Orpik and Hainsey as a option.
Likely, it will be Kalinin and Commodore….
By R. Skeen
June 30, 2008 9:21 PM | Link to this
i would like for the thrashers to go after Valtteri Filppula and lets hope waddell can lure Campbell here maybe if we get Campbell then Redden may want to come play down here
but honestly who knows what waddell might do
By Mike Knobler
June 30, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
Polskidog
O’Leary predates my hiring at the AJC by a couple of months. I did get some creative “truth” at times when I was in Mississippi covering Jackie Sherrill.
kbatch26
Yes, Liles was signed today, and Lilja was signed this evening. I should have checked the latest. My only excuse is that I have been busy writing about a Tech football player accused of rape and writing about the Thrashers’ plans for tomorrow. (Not a very good excuse, actually, but it’s the only one I’ve got.)
By Knob Polisher
June 30, 2008 9:43 PM | Link to this
Knobs,
1st, I know you were on vaction, but J.M. Liles has been off the market for more thank 24hrs. if you look on TSN. 2nd, do you think that Don was actually telling the truth in his “big part” comment perhaps because he was shopping him last weekend (probably in conjunctionf with somebody/some pick else) for something of value?
By UpperDeck4Life
June 30, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this
Mike to answer your question, Jason Smith the defenseman from the flyers. He is a defensive defenseman, and has some very good leadership skills and would come reasonably priced I believe. I would have said Liles and Smith until Liles signed his 4 yr. 16 mil contract with the Avs today. There is also a rumor coming out of the Ottawa Sun today that the Thrashers could pay Campbell 40+million over 5 yrs. talk about over payment.
By kbatch26
June 30, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this
What’s the latest on the Russian, Nikulin? I seem to recall quite a bit of hype surrounding him being a solid, stay at home dman. If we can lure Campbell in around the projected 8.4 mil for 5 years, and bring in Nikulin on a rookie contract, we COULD still land a solid RW (lord knows we need one) as well as a center (either via trade or RFA re: Fillpula) without completely screwing up our future cap #’s.
By jen
June 30, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this
I really want to see DW go after Streit or Orpik. I don’t want to be hamstrung by an 8.5 million dollar FA who was the best available player during a year where we don’t need a game breaker. Is the acquisition of Campbell, a puck moving d-man when most casual fans don;t know what a puck moving d-man does, for 8.5 a year going to put derrieres in the seats? Probably not, because we aren’t looking at an instant fix. A pickup like Streit, Kalinin or Hainsey does about the same thing for 2/3 the price and leaves room to maneuver and maybe pick up an impact forward. Teams are trying to clear cap space, and while I don’t want someone’s leftovers, there are pickings to be had (looks in Anaheim’s general direction where Schnieder or Beauchamain are options)
By Smoothie
June 30, 2008 10:26 PM | Link to this
Jen, there are a lot of hockey-savvy fans in this town who are waiting for something to happen and signing a guy like Campbell, in my opinion, might swing a lot of them in favor or renewing or buying a few season tkts or mini-plans. Also, do you realize that there are a ton of transplants in this town who are quite familiar with the exploits of a “puck moving” D-man like BC? And on top of that, such a move by the ASG, right or wrong, would signal to the fans, even casual fans, that they are serious about trying to bring a winning climate to the city of Atlanta…something that is rather hard to come by in pro sports in this town lately.
Knobs, welcome back! Try to get your sleep as you will surely need to be sharp in order to keep up with the fast and frenzy action of the Free Agent signing bonanza that is about to ensue at high noon tomorrow!!
By Jason
June 30, 2008 10:44 PM | Link to this
All I can say is i’m sick of this team year after year signing the Holiks, Todd Whites, and Scott Mellanbys of the FA market, and calling those moves major ones. I’m not saying every team doesn’t need guys like that, but they are a helluva lot easier to find and sign every year than a legit top two dman or forward.
I don’t know if Campbell or Redden, or one of the RFA forwards are worth the money that’s being rumored. But it is time we find a way to bring in one or two, at the least, allstar caliber players. Show other players out there we’re ready to step up and play with the big boys, or at least try ;)
We are well below the cap. Kari is our only RFA that may cost a few mil, if we resign him. I agree with * kbatch26* on the Nikulin idea. Won’t cost us much if we can find a way to finally get him here. That would be two new and more legit dmen on the roster. Resign Pops for reasonable if Anderson really wants him. Package Ex, and a couple others(maybe draft picks instead) later in the summer for a better option at center.
So in the end it’s up to the player if they are willing to come here. All DWad can do is offer Campbell or others the moon made of money and see what they say.
All that being said, I will be extreamly suprised if Campbell signs with us.
By polskidawg
June 30, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this
Mike - Jackie Sherrill!!!! I’ll bet you needed a shower after interviewing him!
UpperDeck4Life - Smith would be a great additional, if the plan is to have Bogosian make the team. There couldn’t be too many better guys for him to learn from.
Otherwise, I’d rather not go that route (35+ years old) at this time - mostly becuase it would probably take 3mil and 2-3 years.
By David
June 30, 2008 11:01 PM | Link to this
Campbell and Morrison are the two i want.
By R. Stroz
June 30, 2008 11:05 PM | Link to this
Mike - Welcome back, can you tell that hockey fans, including myself, tend to be little intense?
The double speak thing with DW is common. I think he listened to too many George Orwell books on tape.
By UpperDeck4Life
June 30, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this
polskidawg I agree about getting younger and not signing guys on the wrong side of their 30’s, Smith is one of two guys I think the Thrashers could realistically sign that I would make that exception for, the other is Brunette.
By jen
June 30, 2008 11:23 PM | Link to this
Smoothie - Yes signing a guy like Campbell sends a message that maybe Atlanta Spirit is willing to write a check or two, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t solve the larger issues this team has, given that he’s not especially responsible in his own end, and if they write a big check for one guy, given their history, I would not expect the wallet to remain open (and yes this is an open challenge to prove me wrong). Look, I think that hockey fans are probably the most commited of sports fans as a general rule (outside of maybe college football) - there’s just not that many of us. We are going to watch hockey no matter how bad it gets. Getting NEW casual fans in the building, which the AS has to do in order to maintain revenue sharing (you have to show an overall increase in attendance to qualify) is not going to happen by signing Brian Campbell…Its just not a marquee signing that will have visible results to the casual observer, as a power forward or top flight center would . Dmen (outside of Lidstrom, Pronger or Phaneuf) are just not that big of a marketing draw. No one is paying cash to see Toby Enstrom tee it up from the blue line…their buying Kovalchuk’s one timer. Yes, you may get some of the renewal fence sitters to recommit, but annoucning the gigantic overpayment of a free agent defensemen (and Campbell would have to be grossly overpaid to even consider coming here), unless he’s the second coming of Borque and Bobby Orr, is not going to generate NEW interest in Thrashers hockey. Transplants are going to come out to see their hometown teams no matter who we sign. Bottom line is that if a guy made 1.75 mill last year, what makes him worth more than Nick Lidstrom, who is hands down the BEST dman in the game right now, this year? Was he even nominated for the Norris?
By David
June 30, 2008 11:54 PM | Link to this
Anybody know if any action is likely to happen tonight, or not until the morning.
By Sara
July 1, 2008 12:08 AM | Link to this
I’m still on the fence about Campbell because he’s going to cost so much. But if all he’s looking for is the $$$, I imagine he’s going to be trading teal for powder blue tomorrow.
Btw, jen is the second person I’ve seen comparing Campbell’s possible contract to Lidstrom’s. It’s often a bad idea to compare salaries to Detroit salaries - especially the lifers. Those guys have a habit of taking less than market value to help the team free up money for other players. If Lidstrom hit the open market, he’d get league-max no question.
As for who DW will sign…I know some of you guys hate his previous FA signings but I think this might really be the year Don gets to go shopping for real. He’s HAD to make due with the Holik’s and White’s. He knows they aren’t the top guys (even though he’s billed them as such but that’s PR what can you expect). He’s going to go after recognizable names in their prime. No guarantees we don’t end up with 2nd or 3rd tier players but if we do, it’ll be because the other guys wouldn’t sign here, not because Don didn’t ask. AS may have finally learned their lesson (altho like jen I have concerns that the open pocketbook won’t continue - which will be disastrous but we’ll worry about that after they actually sign a big contract with someone not named Kovalchuk).
By Sara
July 1, 2008 12:23 AM | Link to this
David I expect it will be fairly quiet until noon tomorrow…although one never knows. The only thing I thought might go down tonight was a Dan Boyle trade since his NTC didn’t kick in until the 1st. But that’s also assuming the rumors about him were even true. I still find it hard to believe TB would trade away their best defenseman.
By NASCAR Dave
July 1, 2008 12:27 AM | Link to this
WELL,WELL,WELL,… They ACTUALLY do something smart!?! They finally got rid of ZHITHEAD!!! What an awful trade that was!!! LOL, Bygones…
What ELSE happens??? The CAP goes up? That’s EXCELLENT news for us, because NOW we HAVE to spend money!!! So SPEND it ALL!!! OK, spend to 50,500,000…
Now they MUST get CAMPBELL!!! They have the MONEY to spend! You MUST OVERPAY!!! 8.5/Per x 5 Years??? Do ANYTHING!!!
I see we lost out on LILES, too… Time to grab MONTADOR/CAMPBELL/ORPIK… BUH-BYE to KLEE, EXELBY…
T. WHITE on 3rd or 4th line might be ok… Maybe TRADE him at the DEADLINE next year???
Time’s up for SLATER, BUH-BYE… He’ll stick around, though, watch… And WHY is THAT??? It’s sure isn’t those numbers he’s puttin up, now IS IT??? LMAO…
We also Need a #1 CENTER!!! ENOUGH is ENOUGH!!! KOVY ain’t playin around here, boys!!! It’s time to STEP UP and SPEND…
But we NEED AT LEAST 2 MORE Scorers!!! — Ina ddition to the #1 CENTER… You got that, DONNIE???
2 D-MEN
1 TOP-LINE CENTER
2 RW
NO!, NO!, NO!, to the following players: BERTUZZI, TUCKER, AVERY… No need for any of those CLASSLESS bums!!!
NO to MORRISON, too. ROSIVAL, NO!!!
DONNIE better NOT SCREW THIS one up, TOO!!! THIS is the time of year that KILLS us every year, when Donnie brings in these tired stars of yesteryear… END IT!!!
TIME to STEP UP and SPEND… YOU PROMISED. Remember??? TIME to PUT UP or SHUT UP!!! Got It??? GOOD!!!
NUFF SAID.
By volgrad1985
July 1, 2008 4:04 AM | Link to this
Ok, so we are getting down to Judgement Day. I don’t envision us coming out of Free Agency with more than 3 new signees, so I’ve made my final lists. In my opinion, I would be happy with any one from the list of defensemen, and any two from the list of forwards below, each list of players in order of preference:
Defenseman Campbell Green (RFA) Redden Hainsey Rozsival Orpik Kalinin Mara
Forwards Hossa Ryder Vrbata Rolston Huselius Demitra Morrison
Again, signing any one defenseman and two forwards from my list would make me happy and instantly make us a competitive team in the SE Division. I will check back tomorrow for comments and the team’s report card for the big day.
By jen
July 1, 2008 7:24 AM | Link to this
Sara you bring up a good point about Lidstrom, and I agree the situation in Detroit, and it being completely different than what we are dealing with. Let me submit for your comparison the following: Chara - 7.5 Boyle (lifer on last year’s last place team) 6.67 on his new contract that kicked in at midnight Phaneuf - 7 Jovanovski - 7 Timmonen - 8 (these are actual salaries, as pulled from nhlnumbers.com, NOT cap hits). Timmonen has a front loaded deal. Last year of his contract,he’s only making 3 million. Cap was managed by front loading the contracts….avg. cap hit seems to be 6.5 ish. So Timmonen is the highest paid defensement under contract right now and is Campbell better than he is?
By BG33Brown
July 1, 2008 7:30 AM | Link to this
I slept last night about as well as a kid on chirstmas eve. Hopefully we have a good day.
I know whoever we get we will have to overpay b/c we have to send a message to every player, coach, media outlet that we want to win. And I hope what DW said was true. 2 to 3 players-top tier. No more role players-we have those in spades.
By Hip Czech
July 1, 2008 7:39 AM | Link to this
A comment from the CBS site:
In theory, the Thrashers are in a great position because they have nearly $30 million in cap space and plenty of contracts they could afford to buy out. It’s a recipe for a quick rebuild if it lands the Thrashers a playmaking center for Ilya Kovalchuk and some depth at the blue line. But Atlanta is still a money losing franchise that doesn’t throw big contracts at free agents. And even if it did, Atlanta’s losing stigma isn’t something that attracts players with other options.
Ouch…let’s hope we change that image a little today.
It will be interesting to see what happens between Columbus and the Thrashers…2 similar needs, with 2 similar budgets.
By GaVaHokie
July 1, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this
I’ll predict our first signee will be Mike Commodore.
We’ll grab him as insurance (or possibly gravy) as we wait out the Brian Campbell sweepstakes.
UpperDeck… I got no problem with grabbing Jason Smith.
By Tim
July 1, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
Jen it is also bad to compare salary between player who sign on different year.
I believe when Chara sign, the salary cap was 42 million hence the max he could get was 8.4 million approx. Remember that at any time, no player can get more then 20% of the cap. So Chara 7.5 million would be at 0.89% of the max he could get when he sign his contract.
This season, the max a player can get is 11.34 million based on a cap of 56.7 millions. Should Campbell get the 8.5 projected, that 75% ratio when comparing what he got and the max he can get.
Based on ratio alone, Chara still have the highest. I have a feeling this is a point where NHLPA would like to discuss when the current CBA end. Maybe agen will start negociating contract based on cap ratio instead of number figures.
Now what I dont know is if the cap decrease and a player made more then 20% of the cap, what would happened?
By Steve
July 1, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
Well, forget John Michael Liles, Andreas Lilja, and Brad Stuart. All 3 have been resigned by Colorado and Detroit. Brad Stuart was reportedly signed around 12 noon. Lilja and Liles, last night.
By Brendan
July 1, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
Welcome back, Mike. Enjoy the FRENZY!
By DWTOO
July 1, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
As far as the Zhit quotes from DW - doubt that any GM would throw a player under the bus in the media. I would expect that answer from anyone. Just poor taste to “yeah, Alexi’s out the door on his butt”. Know the question had to be asked, but, why is anyone surprised at the answer.
Now lets’ go get the D-Man we need. Campbell, Oprik, Rosival. Think Ralston would be a good choice at center - we have Little, Esposito, and couple of others developeing and they would be ready at the time Ralston would looking to retire.
By UpperDeck4Life
July 1, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
Mike anything going on out there? Thrashers making any moves today?
By ranallo10
July 1, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
chc4 — And Stuart re-signs with Detroit. That should show you the reliability of Eklund predictions and “sources”.
By T-Bone
July 1, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
Bolts at it again with a 3-yr $9mm deal with Radim Vrbata. Adding some scoring to go with Stamkos. Meanwhile, all quiet at Thrasher HQ.
By Thrasher_Ed
July 1, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
Great news Guys! Thrashers ZERO signings, meanwhile in Tampa the Lightning have just signed everybody who can play worth a darn! Tampa also rumored to be close to signing olie Lolzig to a 1 yr deal. They get their goaltending straight they will win the division! Don Waddell, Paging Don WAddell! Wake up Don! We need to get in the game and BIG TIME!!
By Brendan
July 1, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
Andrew Brunette is once again a member of the Minnesota Wild. I’m surprised Colorado didn’t keep him.