AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 02 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFree agency, Day 2
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So, Marian Hossa is now with the Red Wings, and Bobby Holik is now with the Devils, and Orpik and Hainsey are still out there, unsigned and presumably being pursued by the Thrashers.
The only good news if you are an Atlanta fan is that the prices for good players appear to be high enough that eventually some of the other teams will run out of cap room or budget room and will need to unload some salary in trade or be unable to bid for whatever is left in free agency.
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Comments
By The Other J.B.
July 2, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
Mike,
Can we assume this means you haven’t had the pleasure of speaking with DW yet? Any rumors about who we’re talking to?
…This sucks.
PS - First!
By gtcorey
July 2, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
This is an embarrassment…
By gtcorey
July 2, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
This is an embarrassment…
By Stan Drulia
July 2, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
Man.. I miss Craig.
By gtcorey
July 2, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
This is an embarrassment…
By j nes
July 2, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this
Ha—Mike, I appreciate your optimism. Still waiting on that interview Waddel promised you. Funny, I am still waiting on that big free agent move he promised me.
By Big Bill
July 2, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
At this point, I wish Waddell would get hit by a truck and we would not have to ever put up with his BS again.
Harsh way to put it, but there is no other way to get rid of this BUM !
By Thrashers27
July 2, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this
Completely disappointing! I have held out hope for Don’s abilities for a long time, but whether he’s capable, or not his time here has come and gone.
The Hossa departure sealed it! Why would anybody in their right mind want to come here for any amount of money when it’s terribly and painfully obvious that Hossa wanted out at any cost.
Heatley leaving I can understand, even Savard, but if the Don had been doing his job all along, there is no reason that Hossa would have left and put the spotlight on the Thrashers organization’s shortcomings.
I may just be feeling extra negative today since I’ve seen no action whatsoever from Don, but I simply can’t see how this team can turn it around and be successful without replacing Don.
Bring in Cheveldayoff and let he and Anderson continue their winning ways here in Atlanta, together.
By Robert
July 2, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this
I guess Waddell gave up on UFA’s, and is waiting for all the teams to spend over the cap, so he can pick up all their garbage salary dumps.
By Buzilla in CT
July 2, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
“Teflon” Don Waddell better get be on the horn getting some trades together…
This is making me ill
By Tony C.
July 2, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
Ok, so the “Fire Waddell” Safety-orange T Shirts will soon be available.
LAC, you and Sage get B.O.G.O.
I’m serious yall. I expect to be part of a very visible “orange block” on opening night. I also expect that this time, it won’t be just R.Stroz and myself chanting “Fi-re Don-ny”!
By Larry
July 2, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
Can’t wait for the new Schultz column on this one ! This is going to be FUNNY !
:)
By Tom
July 2, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
Rumor that Donny Waddell is vacationing in Jamaica today.
It is reported that he worked to hard on the Campbell deal and needs some R&R.
By Mike Knobler
July 2, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this
The Other J.B.
I expect to be talking with Don Waddell sometime today.
By Rusty
July 2, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
Thrashers27…good analysis. But keep in mind that the only justification for keeping Waddell is a tacit admission by the ownership that the current state of affairs is their fault. Without question, the unstable situation, uncertan future and lack of a game plan for the future has agents advising top tier clients to avoid Atlanta.
By ranallo10
July 2, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
Tony C. — If more than 5 people wear the orange t-shirts, please take a photo for me. I’d love to see that!
Buzilla — Any specific trades you’d be WELCOME to?
Thrashers27 — I don’t disagree with you about Cheveldayoff, but I think he’d have to also bring Don Levin & Buddy Meyers to repeat his Chicago successes in Atlanta. Did you just ask who they were? They’re the Chicago Wolves owners!
But yeah, first things first, I would welcome new blood (Cheveldayoff) or experienced blood (Nonis) any time. I don’t think they’ll have much better success until the ASG realizes how much of a hindrance they truly are to any GM.
So unless they fire Waddell, perhaps they can change their business model for, I don’t know, the next 10 years or so.
By Waddell
July 2, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
Calm down fans. We will be fine. Larsen and White and Boulton and Recchi are going to play a “Big Part”
By J(Z)
July 2, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
please ask Waddell if he’s aware that free agency has begun
By sammy
July 2, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
Good news
DW just extended Todd White’s contract 5 years/ 20M. This will allow Todd to be here till he is 40 and DW will be in his 18th year as GM. Also Todd’s cap hit will be a reasonable 3.63M per year.
Just kidding, thank god for small favors.
By sammy
July 2, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
Possible quote by DW
We offered a large contract to Campbell and he choose not to take it. We knew he wouldn’t accept so we were not scared to offer the contract and be forced to honor it. We don’t want to increase payroll. Our hope was that the fan base would think that we tried and renew their season tickets. I didn’t offer contracts to other free agents because what if they accepted. Payroll would have increased. I can’t keep my job if the payroll increases.
By Tony C.
July 2, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
ranallo-
You know this.
Also, are you going to be over there in the fall?
By Michael Shapiro
July 2, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
Day 2. 25 teams have made deals (including sPittsburg re-inking Malkin to a 5 year deal) and still we wait for D-Wad to wake up. This is beyond pathetic. Can’t expect TSG to fire Don since they gave Woodson (with the worst record in the Hawks history…and that’s saying SOMETHING) a two year deal. At this rate, D-Wad will get a five year bonaza.
By R. Stroz
July 2, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this
Mike - Please, please, please ask Waddell if he thinks we are moving in the right direction, whether he expects incremental progress next season, and if he is willing to make any playoff guarantees.
I triple dog dare you(think A Christmas Story). I really want to hear DW stick his tongue on the flag pole.
By Smoothie
July 2, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
Mike — I’ve read on the faceoffcircle.net that Orpik is close to giving his decision to Pittsburgh. Sounds like he is going back there now that there is money to spend since Hossa chose DET. Or do you have it on any authority that we’re truly in the running for this guy? He’s one D-man I would like to pay $3.5 - 4 M / yr to lock up.
And are we being mentioned at all with respect to Hainsey, Huselius, Demitra or Straka?
By Ryan
July 2, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
Mike, when you meet with DW you should only ask one question. Do you know you suck?
Nothing is being done. They will get some player that we know nothing about. And then we will all receive e-mails about how wonderful this is and that there will be ticket packages.
I will want an orange shirt as well. Size large and what will be the cost?
By Andrew
July 2, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
As inept as Waddell has been at times, I’m finding it hard to believe that he will just rest at around $15 million less than last year.
By Jim
July 2, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
Cap room + No players + idiot G.M. + poor owners= Top pick in the draft and no Kovy next year. What are they doing?????? How far is it to Carolina and Tampa to see a real game?
By Mark
July 2, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
Andrew, he can’t rest with the payroll as it is. There is a $40.7M Cap Floor that each team must be above. The problem isn’t that we aren’t willing to spend money right now. The problem is that no UFA with an option to play somewhere else wants to play here. And can you blame them. As some have said, we will either overpay for some UFA running out of options or we will be forced to pick up overpaid players from other teams looking to make a salary dump.
Well done Waddell, you have officially ruined the reputation of the team to the point that no one wants to play here. Lets all look forward to Kovy leaving when his deal is up.
It sure is great to be a Thrashers fan. Well, at least I will be able to save the thousands of dollars I was planning on spending at Thrashers games this coming season.
By nfieldr
July 2, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this
At least we didn’t sign Avery ;-)
By The Other J.B.
July 2, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
From Faceoffcircle.net…
Thrasher fans rejoice…Ron Hainsey has signed with Atlanta for $4.5 million per season over 5 years, good deal for a guy really coming into his own.
By Hip Czech
July 2, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
Hainsey signed..4.5M for 5 years…
By Jpuck
July 2, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
From TSN - THRASHERS INK HAINSEY TO FIVE-YEAR, $22.5 MILLION DEAL http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242276&lid=sublink04&lpos=headlines_nhl
By Jpuck
July 2, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
From TSN THRASHERS INK HAINSEY TO FIVE-YEAR, $22.5 MILLION DEAL
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242276&lid=sublink04&lpos=headlines_nhl
By Bob
July 2, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
I’m serious yall. I expect to be part of a very visible “orange block” on opening night. I also expect that this time, it won’t be just R.Stroz and myself chanting “Fi-re Don-ny”!
2XL for me, please. Count me in, I will buy a single game ticket to opening night if that will help wake up the owners to save this club.
I can’t wait to hear Mike’s interview with Waddell, these quotes should be priceless. Where’s Schultz when you need him, mabye even he feels bad for Waddell now.
I didn’t even think Waddell was this inept.
By Sara
July 2, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
Wow - hell froze over whaddya know.
By polskidawg
July 2, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
Now Orpik.
Then sign Kari for 4/3+mil
Then trade Pav & 3rd round for Howard & Filppula
Then sign Bert for 2/2.5mil
That would be a start.
By John 43
July 2, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
This is what Hockey News had to say look close at how much they said he is worth And ZDon got him for only 4.5 Million 9. Ron Hainsey Proved he can be a top-four defender, albeit on one of the NHL’s weakest teams. Good mobility and can create offense, but doesn’t play as big as his size. AGENT Matt Keator
PROJECTED SALARY $1.8 million KEY INFO All eight of Hainsey’s goals this year came on the power play.
By T-Bone
July 2, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
I kinda feel sorry for Hainsey getting himself wrapped up in this mess of an organization. He should sue his agent.
By Mike Knobler
July 2, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
Hainsey should be a boost to the Thrashers. A 27-year-old who has averaged more than 22 minutes a game the past two years, he’s an offensive defenseman who should fit John Anderson’s style of play.
By David
July 2, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
Amen, this is a great deal. Look at how much Chicago paid for campbell, then look at this deal. And for 5 years. So for the prime of this guy’s career. Good stuff.
By ranallo10
July 2, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
T-Bone — He’s coming from Columbus, I’m sure he’s familiar with organizations lacking vision and a solid plan for execution.
By Jim
July 2, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this
How about a center now so we might convince Kovy to stay. There are still a few guys left that can help.
By GaVaHokie
July 2, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this
He is a Campbell-esque player, and is suitable for Anderson’s offense.
Mike… can you ask Waddell about Hainsey’s recent injuries? (Head Injury, Concussion and back injury)… perhaps why Columbus let him walk.
By ranallo10
July 2, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
Knobler — Would you please try to squeeze in a question about Nikulin when talking to Waddell? Any sort of information about the possibility of him making it to Atlanta would be much appreciated.
By Vitamin Z
July 2, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
“What I want to do now is to be in a place that has a legitimate chance of contending.” Bobby Holik on his return to NJ.
Well-well…I heard this one before!
By TNT
July 2, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
Projected at 1.8 mil a year, and D-Wad gives him 4.5 mil a year. That makes alot of sense.
By GaVaHokie
July 2, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
“What I want to do now is to be in a place that has a legitimate chance of contending.” Bobby Holik on his return to NJ.
Hey Bobby… weren’t you Captain of the team? …What line did you play on again?
By Smoothie
July 2, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
If we can lure Demitra or Huselius into the fold to play RW with Kovalchuk at $4.5 - $5.5 M / yr, then I’ll be pretty happy. We’ll still have money next year to re-up EC, Army, Toby and Perrin as well as give Kovy a nice big fat raise.
Eventually, we may need to pull off a trade for a big-name C who is about to become a UFA in ‘09/’10. But then again, we prolly won’t be contenders at the trade deadline and likely won’t be buyers. Who knows? Perhaps we’ll end up dumping Havelid and Kozlov at the deadline to contenders in order to free-up more salary for FA in 2009…joy, happy! ;-)
By GaVaHokie
July 2, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this
Hainsey has a 100 mph slapshot?
By Mike Knobler
July 2, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this
John 43
FWIW, the $4.5 million is EXACTLY the salary The Columbus Dispatch projected for Hainsey before free agency, and you’ll note that guys have been getting more than most people expected.
The Columbus writer, who had a lot of opportunity to see what Hainsey could do, described him this way: “Mobile skater and a fair puck-mover, so the No. 2 pair works; struggles to create offense at even strength.”
By Mark
July 2, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
What does Campbell-esque player mean? Campbell played in all situations, power-play, PK, and even strength, and was also a good open ice hitter. He is a true first pairing d-man. Hainsey is not a 1st pairing d-man as he does not play on the PK much and he’s soft. Columbus fans call him a power play specialist and the numbers bear that out. Of his 32 points, 22 (all of his goals) came on the powerplay. This is a good signing for the Thrashers but let’s not call him something he isn’t. In the end he is a big upgrade over McCarthy and should help the puck movement but he will be third on our depth chart behind Enstrom and Havelid.
By B. Thenet
July 2, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
Hainsey is a good pickup. When you think of what the Thrashers are looking for, perhaps the 2nd best option after Campbell.
He is about to head into his prime years, so sure the money seems high. However, that is the New NHL thinking. Get a young guy you think has talent and sign him long term.
By Russ
July 2, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
TNT - I had said on an earlier blog that the Thrashers are going to have to severely overpay a few free agents to get to the cap floor. I also suggested that they all should be brought in on one year contracts to not be paying an inflated salary beyond this season. Oh well, Hainsey is a decent d-man, but nowhere near worth that money. Like I said previously if the Thrashers sign the more highley sought after players that are remaining they might go from a 60 point team to a 70 point team…Woohoo!!!!!
By Bob
July 2, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
Projected at 1.8 mil a year, and D-Wad gives him 4.5 mil a year. That makes alot of sense.
I know what you mean from our point of view, the value isn’t there but Waddell was being held over a barrel by now and everyone (and Hainsey’s agent) knew it. Hainsey was the last guy available that at least sort of fit our needs.
Campbell at $7.1m is much better value than Hainsey at $4.5m if you want to win, if you just want to fill out a roster, than they saved some money by being rejected by Campbell.
Why did Columbus let him go? It’s not like they’re stocked with defense.
So what’s our d pairings now? Enstrom-Havelid top pair. 2nd pair of Hainsey-Exelby. Third pair of Bogosian-Klee? If Bogosian takes off his first year, mabye he could pair up with Hainsey on the 2nd pairing?
By Mark
July 2, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this
Ohh, I should also add that if we can add Orpik as well I will say we did a decent job of upgrading the defense. A top 6 of the following will certainly experience growing pains but will be much better than what we threw out there last season:
Havelid-Enstrom Hainsey-Orpik Exelby-Bogosian
By GaVaHokie
July 2, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this
If he was worth $1.8 million, he’d still be in Columbus.
By Alan
July 2, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
Mike - I concur with ranallo about Ilya Nikulin. I don’t normally request questions to be asked, but this is a big question that a lot of Thrashers fans who pay attention to international hockey really want to know (myself included, obviously).
By Denny
July 2, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
* Give Credit* Hainsey (only 27) at $4.5 million is better than: - Reddin at $6.05 for 6 years or - Dtreit at $4.1 for 5 years or - Rozsival at $5.0 at 4 years.
ESPECALLY given all the above reasons NOT to sign with Atlanta. So for Hainsey it should be better than Columbus and for us fans lets hope he can STAY HEALTHY and get better under Anderson!
By Jpuck
July 2, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
Scott Burnside’s instant analysis: Hainsey has terrific upside because of his size (6-foot-3, 209 pounds) and his puck-handling ability. He may not have matured defensively (he was a combined minus-26 the past two seasons in Columbus), but he’s only 27; he has plenty of time to round out his game. Hainsey will be expected to log big minutes and help out a power play that was 23rd in the league in 2007-08.
No mention from Burnside that we paid too much. I’m glad to get the ball rolling at any price. A body in motion tends to stay in motion - let’s see who is the next to sign.
By funcused
July 2, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
I really try to be rational and level headed when I look things like this. I was hoping for some good movement. Here is what it boils down to: everyone knew we had $$$$$$$ to spend and yet … in the age of players looking to jump teams just for bucks, this really is embarrasing. Every team in our division, especially Tampa and Carolina have upgraded. It seems like other teams are committed to winning.
We are just committed to whining.
By hockeyfan
July 2, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
Mike when (or if) you get to talk to Don ask him 1) how does it feel that Campbell didnt come here because he said Chicago had a better chance of winning? 2) why didnt we make a bid for Streit? 3) since the media reports were all lies about hiring Anderson, when are we hiring a coach? 4) Is Hainsey being paired with Zhitnik, the important part of our Defensive corps?
By kracker
July 2, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this
Woohoo! Donnie gets his man! Well, maybe Hainsey is the 2nd choice but we are on the board finally. So we swapped the Franken Captain for a good young puck mover with a shot. Sweet.
By funcused
July 2, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
Penguins Sign Orpik 6year $22.5
By kracker
July 2, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this
Oh, I heard the news of the Hainsey signing on the way home on the Thrashers flagship [chuckle] station, 680thefan. Kincaid just mentioned the signing then went back to talking about the Joshs shopping themselves around. After the next commercial break or two, he mentioned that Hossa had signed with the team he lost on the finals, the Wings. Then they went back to talking about the Hawks.
Sigh
By Mike Knobler
July 2, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this
ranallo10 Nothing new on Nikulin. Don Waddell said there’s a chance Nikulin might make it to Atlanta this year, but that that was true a year ago, too.
By R. Stroz
July 2, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this
The only way left to further upgrade the defense is to get Nikulin to cross the pond.
By kracker
July 2, 2008 5:37 PM | Link to this
funcused Not trying to start a fight but as I see it, there are a lot of posters on here that are committed to whining. Not that some criticizing isn’t warranted and this is what blogs are for, of course, but this was a pretty good signing. I feel good about it. It is a bit pricey at first glance but a couple of years from now the price will probably seem not so bad. Same for White’s contract.
Anyway, sometimes the glass is half full.
By kracker
July 2, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this
Mike With the Hossa signing, the Wings may not be able to resign Filppula. Any movement from Waddell to either offer a RFA sheet or trade for Filppula if that is still possible to do.
By MB
July 2, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this
kracker, I’m with you on the Hainsey signing. Having another dman besides Enstrom who can actually move the puck out of the zone is big for this team.
Would love to know how many shots/goals were created after we lost it in our own zone.
Re: sports talk radio, I’m amazed they were even talking about sports. I tuned in today and heard discussions about “bridal” showers for the groom and a debate on who is the greatest rapper. Nothing about sports.
Oh wait, I did hear those clowns from ESPN rag on hockey a bit, with one challenging the other to name 5 hockey FAs, and neither of them could. Yet they work for the “worldwide leader in sports.” More like the worldwide leader in self-promotion and narcissism.
Man, where did all of that come from?
By ranallo10
July 2, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this
Knobler — Thanks, I’m hoping to hear some news regarding him after his self proclaimed two-week vacation from hockey discussions. I’d like to see him as a true possibility on this franchise, instead of a hopeful.
kracker — What’s disappointing about that is how Kincaide claims to be a hockey fan, specifically an Atlanta hockey fan. I give him credit though, as I’m sure that was the only breaths uttered about the Thrashers on any Atlanta radio station.
Anyways, he is the reason I no longer listen to 680. I stopped listening around the All-Star game because he had a little hissy-fit about the NHL using 790 instead of 680. It was childish at best, and I lost any bit of respect I had for him as a journalist.
Anyways, sorry for the tangent, but I can definitely echo your sigh.
By Alan
July 2, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
MB - If you’re a hockey fan, you’ve learned to not take ESPN seriously. It’s too bad we can’t get a TSN-hosted radio show here.
By R. Stroz
July 2, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
We are still well below the salary floor.
By kracker
July 2, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this
Alan There was some thinking that ESPN would buy back into the NHL this season, perhaps concurrently with VS. Heard anything? The more, the better I say.
By ranallo10
July 2, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this
Alan — It’s too bad we can’t get the TSN feed on TV down here. ESPN Canada (aka TSN) is by far better with their hockey coverage, but that shouldn’t be a surprise.
By volgrad1985
July 2, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this
I’m not an apologist, but I do tend to go with the glass half full mentality. Like everyone else, I was disappointed in yesterday’s zero signings, but I am pleased with getting Hainsey. Even though I know the Thrashers will not likely break up the Enstrom-Havelid pairings since they had good chemistry last year, I disagree that Hainsey is automatically our third best defenseman now. Don’t get me wrong, I like Havelid alot, but Hainsey is a more complete player at the position on both sides of the ice. However, like I said, I still think the top pairing stays as is, and Hainsey pairs with Exelby in the beginning, then either Valabik or Bogosian as the season, and their learning curve, progresses.
It seems all indications are that Huselius will sign with Minnesota. Too bad, he would have been a good one to pick up. We still need some offensive punch, so I wouldn’t mind still trying to pry him away from the Wild, or even paying a reasonable price for any combination of Satan or Demitra at RW, Morrison at C, Kalinin at D, or Filpula at C (RFA).
I’m sorry to tell all the naysayers (…and there are plenty who blog here, and we all know who you are so I won’t mention names this time…), but I like this team. I like a good many of the players. I like that they are mostly young and eager guys that want to taste success. I like the new head coach. I like being at the games. I don’t pay to watch or root for Waddell, I pay to see the players perform. I, for one, am giving them a chance. I will be there, once again, for all the games…not to see if Waddell screwed up, or to bring everyone down.
I still think the division is up for grabs. Who is to say if Mullet can even coach this group of guys to mesh together as a team? Who knows if Carolina will bounce back? Who even plays on Florida anymore? Who will stop the puck in Washington?
Come on, it’s not all gloom and doom. Most agreed that we were really just an offensive and defensive system away from being a competitive team last year, in first place as late as the end of Jan in a mediocre division. Why not just cut the crap and support a team for once, and let’s see what we have and whether Anderson can rally the troops to a successful season?
By Tony C.
July 2, 2008 7:10 PM | Link to this
Looks like Morrison is still out there…let me know if I’m wrong.
By Mike Knobler
July 2, 2008 7:13 PM | Link to this
My full story on Hainsey should be posted soon. Here are some outtakes:
—Don Waddell characterized him as the kind of player who fits the modern NHL. “The biggest thing in this new NHL is having a defenseman who can carry the puck out of your zone.”
—Waddell is still in the free agent market, but he’s talking trades, too.
—The Thrashers were one of the last teams to sign a free agent, and they were one of the teams that needed free agents most. You would think that after going after Campbell and Rolston (and I’m sure a few others) and losing out, Waddell must have been frustrated at the end of Day 1. Unsurprisingly, he said he wasn’t. Instead, he said he was satisfied. “We gave it our best shot. We didn’t overpay anybody,” he said. “July 1st, 12 o’clock, some of the worst deals are made.”
By Tony C.
July 2, 2008 7:31 PM | Link to this
I think that with one or two more proper FA signings (I would like to see Morrison-please!)
By ranallo10
July 2, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this
Danke schoen.
By Tony C.
July 2, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this
Say what you want, but quotes like this make feel immensely better about DW:
“[The Thrashers] made a real good effort at it,” said his [Rolston’s] agent, Stephen Bartlett. “They were one of the more aggressive suitors.”
By R. Stroz
July 2, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
July 1st, 12 o’clock, some of the worst deals are made.
Is Waddell talking about the signing of Todd White as our number 1 center last year?
By Paul
July 2, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this
What’s hilarious is that this team keeps losing and losing, ends up picking in the top 5 again, will lose Kovy and you guys keep saying “It’s great! Now all we need to do is trade our crap for some All-Stars and we’ll win the Stanley cup”
What a cow town!
By polskidawg
July 2, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this
I’d like to revise my earlier post, seeing that Orpik is gone:
Now get Kalinin for 2/3.0mil. He’s a bit risky, due to injury problems, but a solid player if healthy, Havelid like with slightly more physical play.
Then sign Kari for 4/3+mil
Then trade Pav & 3rd round for Howard & Filppula
Then sign Bert for 2/2.5mil
That would finish the UFA season.
By Denny
July 2, 2008 9:02 PM | Link to this
Volgrad1985 ….Right On - I too am tired of the complainers, naysayers and whiners”. Some of the bloggers give interesting insight and excellent analysis of the team, management and owners - the best being *The Falconer and especially his website.
But in the end, it is what it is, and you have to trust DW and the owners want to win as much as the fans. And even when we don’t believe they did the right thing, remember we are not privy to their basis for decision making.
So if you hate the owners…fine, hate DW … OK, detest some players … Hey we all so at times! But the fans who suffer through the tough times without the venom will appreciate the good times even more when they come … And I trust good times will come to the Thrashers and maybe even Lord Stanley’s Cup.
By Sage of Bluesland
July 2, 2008 9:18 PM | Link to this
Hainsey? Who?
Oh well, Donny is a ‘nice’ guy. Let’s get him signed up for ten more years.
You will all have to pardon me if I don’t get that ticker-tape parade ready for Peachtree Street…
(Hainsey? Who? Puhleeze. I guess it truly is back to the proverbial square-one with this franchise—well, once Kovy leaves, that is…)
Whoever paints this as ‘moving in the right direction’, I have but one word for you:
(Sheep)
By Jpuck
July 2, 2008 9:35 PM | Link to this
Sage - the point is it was a move and you have to start to move forward. I have had 1-1/2 awful days at work until this move. Know I’m feeling better and those that work for me aren’t as scared to walk past my office.
Now we need another move and another and the snowball will start to grow. Hey it’s all we got.
BAA
By Andrew
July 2, 2008 9:47 PM | Link to this
Sage, are you serious? “Who?”
I hope you’re being sarcastic because I wouldn’t trust the opinion of anyone who didn’t lift their head out of the Southeast Division long enough to know anything about Hainsey.
Hey, did you know that there is an NHL team in Columbus, Ohio? Yeah, seriously!
By Waffleboy
July 2, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this
Any thoughts on signing Demitra or Huselius? Huselius is only 28 and would make a nice bookend for Kovy on our number one line. Demitra’s value should drop after an off year and he can play RW or C.
By Waffleboy
July 2, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this
Sorry, just saw Huselius signed 4-year deal with Blue Jackets.
By Sage of Bluesland
July 2, 2008 10:00 PM | Link to this
People, wake up for Heaven’s sake…”Raiding” the juggernaut Blue Jackets is NOT the key to building anything…well, except more of the same in Bwuewand…
Unfortunately, free-agency is the least effective means of constructing a contender. First and foremost is the draft. Second is trades. The cherry on top is free-agency.
Whoever is hanging their hopes on free-agency—especially run by Donny Waddell—hasn’t been paying any attention for, ohh, the last ten years…
Until our bumbling GM is no longer making decisions for this franchise will be the FIRST step in the right direction. Period.
(Hainsey?! Good Heavens…)
By David
July 2, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this
For all the people that are saying DW is stupid….He hasn’t done anything stupid in free agency. He picked up one of the top 5 defenseman available in free agency for probably the BEST deal of any of them. It’s a fair contract in today’s NHL, ESPECIALLY with such a thing D-man UFA selection. So stop whining.
We HAVEN’T overpayed anybody…which gives us cap room…which makes it possible to make good decisions. Yes, I’d like to see a few more players added, but I think they will be.
Todd White wasn’t a bad decision. He was one of our most solid players last year. If you watched games, you’d know how solid he was.
We have unloaded Zhitnik, Holik, and Hossa this year, all players i’m happy to see go. The first two were old and slow, and Hossa just needed to go. He handled the entire season badly. Good riddance.
Atlanta needs two things now. A good, doesn’t have to be great, center. Somebody who can win faceoffs is important to me. I’d also like to see some more leadership added. I’d like recci back and possibly somebody like Satan as well.
By Thrasher_Ed
July 2, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this
Can you believe Columbus, Ohio instead of Atlanta for Huselius? He only got 4.75 Million over the 4 years. We must not have offerd him?
By Thrasher_Ed
July 2, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this
Correction from previous post Huselius got 4 years at 19 Million or 4.75 per season. Sorry bout that.
By R. Stroz
July 2, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this
David
Todd White wasn’t a bad decision. He was one of our most solid players last year. If you watched games, you’d know how solid he was.
Are you kidding? White is a whimp. He will not go into the corners, spends more time on his @$$ than Slater, and gets pushed around like a pinball.
Now, on the other hand, Perrin, who costs less than White, was an unexpected pleasant surprise.
The fans were promised two top tier d-men and some help for Kovy on the 1st line.
The promise wasn’t kept.
The only way left to further upgrade the defense is to get Nikulin to cross the pond.
By Sage of Bluesland
July 2, 2008 10:52 PM | Link to this
In the immortal words of one Ronald Reagan for the benefit of “David” (who I believe is related to our bumbling GM Donny Waddell):
THERE YOU GO AGAIN! [with your spin and pitiful propaganda]
To hear “David” tell it, Donny hasn’t made a bad decision yet!
Even some of the biggest sheep can’t say that with a straight face.
Yep, “David”, Donny’s done such a good job that we are back at square-one after his near TEN years on the job—and we haven’t even won a playoff game yet…
Just what does Donny have on you, “David”? What a sell-out…In the end, the ONLY thing that will influence the decision-making of the ownership is MONEY…Thus, STOP SUBSIDIZING THE INCOMPETENCE OF THIS ORGANIZATION!!!
By Brendan
July 2, 2008 11:03 PM | Link to this
Ya know, for all the “vitriol,” Sage has raised a very serious point. The best way to build a team is through the draft. The next best option is through trades. And the final option, which is the costliest, is via free agency.
The purpose of free agency is not to overhaul a roster, but rather, to “tweak” it. Hear me out, please. If we are going to use the expression, “moving in the right direction,” then moving in the right direction is loading up this team with high-end draft picks, while saving the money for a rainy day, when it can and will be BETTER SPENT.
Is NOW the time to spend???? C’mon now. Think, people. THINK HARDER. Throwing away millions of dollars at free agents who don’t really want to be here is not a prudent course of action. You know this to be true. This team isn’t close to winning the Cup. Now is not the CORRECT time to pursue that action. What’s the difference between a 60-point season and a 70-point season? Answer: “Picking 8th, instead of 1st overall.”
Is that what you want? Is it, really??
The time to have done something about where we find ourselves now was April of 2007. Rather than firing Hartley, and Waddell, we chose “inaction.” And “inaction” has just as many consequences as “action” does, sometimes. We even still had a glimmer of hope to turn this all around in April 2008, by bringing in new blood at the GM position, and sending an announcement to the players, sports agents, and fans, that “status quo” wasn’t going to cut it anymore. That ship has sailed. Bygones.
Since the decision has been made to keep Waddell, whom I “believe” has a 3-year contract in his pocket, the correct course of action, now, is rebuilding PROPERLY this time. That means stockpiling high-end picks in each and every round of the draft next year. In 2009, perhaps the team can be sold to someone who CARES about hockey? If the lawsuit is still pending, which is likely, keep on going with the “slow build” plan. If Atlanta keeps a league-minimum payroll, it makes the team VERY ATTRACTIVE for re-sale.
When the team is eventually sold, with bare-bones payroll, loaded to the gills with high-end draft picks, the next owners can and will fire Waddell, and bring in someone capable of taking the franchise to the next level. Waddell is pretty good at one thing: Positioning the team for the lottery draft. While there’s no guarantees in life, if the GM just takes a “consensus” pick at his draft position, (Like Bogosian at #3,) he’s bound to improve his club, for the future. And if he’s wrong, so was EVERYONE ELSE who had that player ranked so highly. As “bottom-feeders,” Atlanta also gets first crack at waiver claims, like Coyotes were when they landed Bryzgalov and Atlanta did, when they claimed Mark Recchi. “Stay the course.” In time, 2-3 years from now, the team will be repositioned to go SPEND, SPEND, SPEND to add the “missing piece” or “pieces” in free agency. And those players will CALL US, instead of the other way around. Until then, all we serve to do is DRIVE UP THE COST of marquee players for other markets in free agency. Don’t be upset. Sports agents get paid to do that. That’s their job. They’d be “bad” at their job, if they didn’t. Atlanta’s interest in their clients is “useful” to them. Perhaps Brian Campbell’s agent will remember the favor Don Waddell did for him when it comes time to cut Don a break on a lesser quality client of his, down the road.
This is not meant as a negative post. It shouldn’t viewed as a negative post. It is meant as a “positive” post. If you really think about it, longterm rebuilding makes a lot of sense right now. Waddell isn’t getting fired, anytime soon. Trying to chase the Cup from 28th position might do more HARM than good. “Quick-fix” solutions generally don’t work. I think Don Waddell has learned that lesson.
By Jameson
July 3, 2008 12:57 AM | Link to this
So according to the Fourth Period here are the remaining top 30 UFAs: Mats Sundin, Joe Sakic, Jaromir Jagr, Pavol Demitra, Peter Forsberg, Markus Naslund, Brendan Shanahan, Miroslav Satan, Rob Blake, Sergei Fedorov and Brendan Morrison.
Who do you guys think we should realistically go after in that group? I think we really need to go after Jagr or Demitra. I don’t see how we go far with Kozlov being our second leading scorer, unless we resign Recchi (who was actually the second leading scorer on our team at the end of the season)? I think for the second line RW, we should sign Shanahan, Satan or Recchi. Recchi being my preference if we can get him to do the types of deals that others were interested in getting out of him.
As for our issues at center and on defense, I think our best bet is either to stand pat, and hope Nikulin comes over, or raid Philly since they are looking to be desperate to dump salary. Chicago and possibly Anaheim will also be looking to do some trimming. Do you think there’s any chance we grab someone good from either of them?
By Smoothie
July 3, 2008 3:19 AM | Link to this
Jameson — although I prefer Kentucky burboun, I must agree with you in the sense that we should try to negotiate with Philly since they have succeeded in exceeding the cap with great aplomb. They surely must be desperate to dump some salary some how, some way. Perhaps we can entice them into trading Coburn in return for our 1st round pick in 2010! Ha!
Here are my FA preferences at this point:
1)Demitra (cuz he can play C and he still has some serious wheels despite his age) AND Recchi (at this point, what can it hurt? give him first line mins till he proves he can’t handle it and then waive his a$$ if he can’t produce)
2) Forsberg (simply cuz we need some help at C and he can give us some big name notoriety for now — 1 year deal only!!)
3) Shanahan (we need a RW so why not as long as it is a 1 yr deal; why wouldn’t he blush at the oppty to play alongside Kovalchuk?)
4) Naslund
5) Morrison
6) Fedorov…as long as he brings Kournikova to play it up to the Kiss Cam with a random stranger at Center Ice at every home game
By Tony C.
July 3, 2008 3:40 AM | Link to this
Dude.
I’d rather see Forsberg limp around the ice in some other guys’ sweater.
Demitra is intriguing…. but I’d like to see us go after Morrison.
oh and Sage; no Hainsey ain’t Bobby Orr Jr., but then again niether is Campbell-who knows, he’s got all the tools he might just blossom. Besides, you got a better idea? You and I both know I’m no Waddell supporter, but seriously Hainsey’s not a bad move. Paying what we were offering Campbell would’ve been a bad move.
By volgrad1985
July 3, 2008 4:02 AM | Link to this
My remaining FA preferences:
1.Demitra or Morrison (or a Filpula RFA offer) to fill the 1st line Center slot 2.Satan for 1st line RW (plus, the inevitable ‘Devil Went Down to Georgia’ references could be funny) 3.Kalinin or Mara to pair with, oh, I don’t know who…let Anderson figure it out.
Give me 2 out of those 6 names and I will be satisfied.
By Smoothie
July 3, 2008 4:32 AM | Link to this
Tony, my friend. I’m fine with the acquisition of Ron Hainsey. If nothing else, we may have the semblance of a Top 4 on our blueline if Bogo develops quickly or Exelby returns to form / potential.
Not sure why I would rather have Foppa over Morrison, but I’m just not feeling the idea of Morrison as Kovy’s pivot. Put Thorburn out there with Foppa and Kovy, and Peter might just have enough real estate to feed Kovy pucks-a-plenty in the slot…if the man can stand on his skates, he can still deliver the puck.
What pray tell has Morrison really done over the last few years? I’m not being a smartass, I’m just too lazy and drunk to look it up before posting. Wow, how did I avoid any typos…honest, I’m hammered.
By GaVaHokie
July 3, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this
I’m sorry to tell all the naysayers (…and there are plenty who blog here, and we all know who you are so I won’t mention names this time…), but I like this team.
Don’t be sorry.
By kracker
July 3, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this
The Wings still need to sign or move Valtteri Filppula. He can play C or RW. I hope Waddell is going for him hard. Does anyone know if he can still be traded for? Or is an RFA offer sheet the only way to acquire him. He would probably cost us a 1st and a 3rd as compensation for a $2 mil - $3 mil RFA signing, so it would take doing a sign and trade with Detroit to make it work. Do it, DW.
By B. Thenet
July 3, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this
I take it I am not the only one amused at the fact that the resident know-it-all “Sage” did not know who of one of the top offensive defenseman available via UFA this offseason, and that one of the biggest beefs he has with him is that he played for Columbus.
Funny how most of the non-Atlanta based media reports seems quite impressed with the move, I guess they are all “sheep” as well.
Baa Baa Baa
By HockeyFan
July 3, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
The past two days confirm my decision to become a hockey fan, instead of a Thrasher fan. I have Center Ice, and in the 2nd half of the season, I watched A LOT of hockey, and little of it involved the Thrashers. The few times I did watch Thrasher hockey, I came away wondering why the Thrashers look so much less inspired than, say, …pretty much anyone else.
If I had to play for this Mickey Mouse organization, I’d lack inspiration as well. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that Kovy is gone after this season - why wouldn’t he take the money he will be sure to command and play for a real hockey team?
Having said all that, I will be happy to give Anderson, and Hainsey, their fair chance. As far as Waddell goes - I have NEVER encountered incompetence at this level - EVER.
By Bob
July 3, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
“[The Thrashers] made a real good effort at it,” said his [Rolston’s] agent, Stephen Bartlett. “They were one of the more aggressive suitors.”
Tony, that info did make me feel heartened, but not about Waddell, it made me feel better about the owners as they also ponied up for Rolston, the most sought after forward this offseason (Hoss was most valuable, but most couldn’t afford him). It made me shake my head again though at Waddell, as he couldn’t get it done. All the owners can do is green light the cash flow, and they have done that, it’s Waddell’s job to get it done, and he couldn’t get Rolston (although that ain’t a fair fight, think about Rolston, “let me see here, I got Don Waddell on line 1 and Sweet Lou on Line 2…hmmm, let me see who’s call I’m gonna take”). All the players respect Sweet Lou as a GM, Waddell is like the ugly buck toothed girl at the dance on side and Sweet Lou is like Selma Hayek on the other side of the room, who ya think he’s gonna dance with?
The fans were promised two top tier d-men and some help for Kovy on the 1st line.
stroz, you’ve been looking at Waddell with that same frown I have for a while, you should know his double talk by now. He’s going to come out and say “we got Bogosian and Hainsey” and he’s right with his Waddell Speak …I know, not the intent that we assumed (we gonna get Campbell and Rozsival!), but two new defenseman are now on the team and they will both play in our top 6.
As for center, he pretty much has to sign Morrison now, just has to get that done. And that would be a good job if he can do it, question is, does Morrison give us the same yeah right! that we’re getting from everyone else worthwhile?
I had the exact same reaction to Waddell’s quote about the worst deals being the first ones made, he’s trying to spin his embarrassment of being shut down by everybody and having to take sloppy fifths, but in the process just dogged himself for the first overall UFA signing made last summer.
Does Hainsey = this year’s Klee/Smehlik/Krupp/Burt/andonandonandon? Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself here and that it’s not true that Past Performance is indicative of future success
By GaVaHokie
July 3, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this
What does Campbell-esque player mean? Campbell played in all situations, power-play, PK, and even strength, and was also a good open ice hitter.
Sorry, I meant for what we were looking for, not that he’s comparable to Campbell… puck moving offensive defenseman who can be counted on to play Anderson’s system.
Orpik would not be Campbell-esque.
By Jpuck
July 3, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
Anderson teams are going to be different so the pieces may come slowly. But I believe they will be put in place over the next two years. See further comments comments on Hainsey from Scott Burnside at ESPN.com below:
• Thrashers sign defenseman Ron Hainsey to six-year, $6.5 million deal The Thrashers are a long way from being a playoff team, let alone a contender. But faced with correcting years of mistakes, small steps are in order, and GM Don Waddell took one toward making his team better Wednesday.
After watching Brian Campbell take less money than the Thrashers offered to go to Chicago on Tuesday, Waddell regrouped and locked in former Columbus rear guard Ron Hainsey, who is one of the more interesting defensemen on the market. Although he doesn’t have the star power of Campbell or Wade Redden (he went to the Rangers in a six-year, $6.5 million deal), Hainsey has lots of upside. The five-year term is about right for the length of time it’s going to take to turn this crippled franchise around, but it’s not too long to make it unworkable down the road. The cap hit is perfectly acceptable given the spending patterns of the last couple of days, and if the cap continues to go up, Hainsey could look like a bargain in a year or two.
Hainsey is not as physical as his 6-foot-3, 209-pound frame would suggest, but he is mobile and his style should dovetail nicely with the up-tempo attack style new coach John Anderson hopes to implement. Whether Anderson will have the tools to make it work is another question, but with Hainsey, he has one more option than he did a day earlier.
By TSNReader
July 3, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
Hainsey did not rank in the top 10 blue liners available, as ranked by TSN. Jeff Finger was in front of him - ‘nuff said.
By Sara
July 3, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
Rolston reportedly turned down 9 other offers to take the NJ deal (he received 10) so does that mean the other 8 teams suck too??
I understand you guys are upset, but would you try using good logic instead of faulty logic?? You praise the owners because for once they opened up the wallet? So they can turn around and do something different in one off-season and suddenly it’s kudos to them…yet Don has to take the fall still when 10 years of cheap owners bites us in the butt once again? Where was all this money LAST YEAR when there were 3 TOP CENTERS on the market?? Too little too damn late IMO.
By MB
July 3, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this
That’s strange, TSNreader, because I saw here that Hainsey was included in their top Dmen, but saw no mention of Finger.
Where is the list that you saw?
By TSNReader
July 3, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
Good point-my bit of info is under Darren Dreger’s column - 2nd item under previous columns.
By Jpuck
July 3, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
TSN Reader - TSN put Hainsey on their 2008 All Free Agent Team.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?id=11300&lid=sublink03&lpos=topRelated_nhl
Nuff said
By MB
July 3, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
Ah, I hadn’t read that one before. Hainsey’s mentioned in the Dreger column as well.
I think he’ll be good for us, especially with his ability to move the puck out of our zone.
Is he the answer to all of our problems? Not by a long shot. But he should certainly be an upgrade to our blueline.
By joyaman
July 3, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this
Brendan:
Like you, I have to take the long-term view. It’s the only way I can preserve my passion for this team. I’ll give the “Fire Waddell” refrain a rest for this blog entry and hoist a glass of frothy brown ale to the rafters and offer up a toast to the Atlanta Thrashers of the future - whenever that might turn out to be.
-joyaman
By Brendan
July 3, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
I’m with ya, joyaman. I understand what the term “rebuilding” means. It’s not a popular option. But what choice do they really have? They won’t fire Waddell. No Tier I guys will sign here, at ANY price. Why not do the slow build, stockpiling picks, and when Waddell’s contract is up in 2011, the team should really have a lot of quality young players in the pipeline.
By Bob
July 3, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
Rolston reportedly turned down 9 other offers to take the NJ deal (he received 10) so does that mean the other 8 teams suck too??
I heard he had 17 offers, but I hear what you’re saying, that’s why I paraphrased it like Waddell as the ugly duckling and Sweet Lou was Salma Hayek. In between the two of them were some other competent GMs that would be like Christie Brinkleys, not quite as attractive to him as Salma, but not the ugly duckling Waddell who had the least chance.
You praise the owners because for once they opened up the wallet? So they can turn around and do something different in one off-season and suddenly it’s kudos to them
I know you hate the owners, but remember the reality and what has happened and perhaps use some sound logic in deducing the cause. This is not “for once” that they opened their wallets. The first year coming out of the lockout which was also the first year the Spirit was in charge on July 1st, they gave Waddell the green light to spend max cap. And Waddell did spend max cap. And where did it get them? Nowhere, no playoffs.
So, put yourself in the owners shoes. You’ve got Waddell saying “give me max cap and I’ll get you playoffs” and they did, and Waddell didn’t deliver. So, the next year they cut his budget. I’d do the same thing if I had a manager who brought me a game plan and I went along with it, but he couldn’t deliver. I’d cut his budget as well as I saw other teams not spending max cap yet make the playoffs.
I do not like the owners per se, their complete inability to manage their own internal buyout of Belkin is incomprehensible. But I don’t blame them for being the #1 reason for this club not succeeding. They gave Waddell max cap, and he went bust. Now, they again gave me the green light to go get Campbell and Rolston, and he couldn’t get either done. All we have is Hainsey.
That’s the reality and that’s sound logic. Perhaps you should take your blinders off of your hate for the owners (is it the Levenson condescending Chalk Talk that has you so irked?) and look at the real reason for the 10 years of futility here that has us in the state that this club wallows in.
Waddell has been greenlighted by the owners to spend the cash, he ain’t getting the job done.
The owners share their part of the blame, it’s mind boggling that they can’t settle the Belkin mess and it’s mind boggling that they’d keep Waddell around. They, and we unfortunately, are reaping what they’ve sown with the decision to keep Waddell. No one wants to sign with him.
By Brendan
July 3, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
The decision to retain Waddell makes sense only insofaras a future sale of the team is concerned, with low overhead. Waddell has shown a propensity to adhere to a budget. Even showing the dredded, “incremental progress,” that too many people like to spout. If his marching orders are, “keeping spending at the floor” (of the cap) and “make sure we get Tavares” next year, then DW is doing exactly what they asked him to do. And if he doesn’t like it, he could always quit.
But no matter HOW TERRIBLE they make Waddell’s working conditions, he smiles and says, “Thank you, sir. May I have another.” So, there’s little chance Waddell will tender his resignation. Deep down in his soul, I do believe that Waddell feels awful about the way things have gone through eight completed seasons. And that he feels he should be responsible for fixing what broke.
If any of us got a candid moment with the GM, he’d probably rub his temples while breathing a heavy sigh, then say, “You don’t know the HALF of it.” Okay. I don’t. All I can do is “guess” about the things that have happened.
I’ve always said that I would really like to hear Waddell’s side of things, especially as it relates to Audette, Brunette, Staios, Rhodes, Buzek, Savard and Hossa. And dealing with Ted Turner, AOL-Time-Warner, and the Spirit Group.
That said, I still blame Waddell, at least 65%, for what has happened. The ownership must bear at least 35% of the blame. It was their internal squabbling that led to the hundreds of thousands of dollars, perhaps millions, in attorney fees, to simply buy out a partner. How HARD could that be, honestly?
Ya know, I proposed a solution for this over a year ago. Get three appraisers to value the teams and Philips Arena. Then take the “average” of that, and pay out Belkin at the PRECISE PERCENTAGE for which he initially invested. And voila! C’est fini!! Done. Over. Kaputso. Hasta “forever.”
I guess such “avant guarde” thinking escapes the Atlanta Spirit Group, LLC. So, we’ve got what we do. But so much MORE than that, Bruce Levenson, M. Gearon, R. Seydel, and Ed Peskowicz LEFT WADDELL IN CHARGE!! I’m sorry. That decision, ALONE, merits 35% of the blame. It is, simply put, an INDEFENSIBLE SPORTS DECISION to leave Waddell in charge. So, either the Spirit Group are abject morons. Or, only slightly more likely, they are planning a sale between now and 2011, where they stand to reap a monster payday, selling a league-minimum payroll team to new investors that is chock full of some of the most promising young talent in the NHL’s pipeline between 2008-2011. If that’s the plan, WHO ELSE but Waddell would AGREE to it??
Stop. Digest that one, yet? You cannot ask someone hoping to make their “reputation” to work for owners committed to league minimum payrolls, for a future sale. Give the candidates and applicants some CREDIT, will ya? They’ve done their homehome. They know what ‘train wreck’ this ownership is.