Thrashers

By Mike Knobler

July 3, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

The Kamloops Daily News reports that Kamloops native Mark Recchi told them Tuesday night he was close to signing a contract with an NHL team. I can’t find a link, but here is the key content:

“Recchi, who turned 40 on Feb. 1, split last season between the Pittsburgh Penguins, who waived him after 19 games, and the Atlanta Thrashers, totaling 48 points in 72 games. With Atlanta, he had 40 points, including 12 goals, in 53 games.

“Recchi earned $1.75 million last season, down from $2.28 million in each of the two previous seasons. Asked if there was any chance he would return to Atlanta, Recchi replied: ‘Uhhh … no.’ “

By Alan

July 3, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this

As an aside, the link code you used is broken. This should help.

I’m optimistic that we can make some sort of deal, though. Ottawa needs cap space, and we need immediate help. My concern is: At what cost?

By russian

July 3, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

Intresting news!? What Ottawa will ask for those two Players???

By Sara

July 3, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this

Wow, you know you’re headed in the right direction when even the almost-washed-up-has-beens are turning your club down. Ouch.

I went on a rant the other day about poaching RFAs which IIRC Brendan tried to talk me out of. He made valid points - you don’t want to give away a bunch of future draft picks for a quick fix now that might not even end up being a fix. At the same time, Don is under a LOT of pressure to make something happen (especially after the initial bust of free agency). While to those of us more knowledgable fans, poaching RFAs seems like a questionable idea, to a more casual observer, landing some high-profile young stud may make the difference between ST and no ST.

There are some intriguing players available at the moment (Bouwmeester for one). BUT, even with RFA, the player has to actually ACCEPT the offer to put it in play. While a young player confident his team really wants to keep him may accept our offer in order to force his club to pay him more than they originally planned, a player with a team more on the fence might not want to press their luck. If I were Vermette, I’d probably rather take my chances negotiating with Ottawa than risk having to come to Atlanta (cause you just know all the wonderful things Heater’s had to say about us).

At this point, I’m just praying this court case gets settled and we get sold to someone who gives a crap, is financially solvent, and can come in, clean house, and start all over. I don’t think even Karl Rove could put a positive spin on this bunch down here.

By B. Thenet

July 3, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this

If we end up signing a RFA and giving away a 1st rounder, I will go off like a NASCAR Dave or Sage of Blueland around here.

However, there should be some values out there via RFA. Especially if we poach teams in cap hell right now.

I think there is enough out there for Don Waddell to not have to go the RFA route…yet. If we miss out on some of the remaining UFA’s that can help us out, Waddell might not have a choice.

By Bri

July 3, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

http://gdrinnan.blogspot.com/

The link to a blog about Rex leaving. I am sad to see him go, but if he goes to the Flyers my husband will pee his pants.

By GaVaHokie

July 3, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this

We’d probably be looking at a $3 million offer to a free agent (2nd round draft pick compensation)… the one’s I see to fit that bill would be Filppula, Vermette and Bouchard. I’d expect their teams to match that.

I think Demitra (C/RW) or a trade is the best avenue for a Center.

By Mike Knobler

July 3, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

Thanks, Alan. I have fixed my original link.

Thanks, Bri. That’s the full story.

By Bri

July 3, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

http://gdrinnan.blogspot.com/2008/07/recchi-on-verge-of-finding-new-home.html

the specific part of the blog. Sorry.

By Bob

July 3, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

Asked if there was any chance he would return to Atlanta, Recchi replied: “Uhhh … no.” A deal could have been done, he added, but “I’m a little bit picky at this point, too.” “At some point,” Recchi continued, “there would probably be more teams but I don’t want to be on a bad team again. I know what my role is now and I want to be on a good team that has a chance. I want to help out leadership-wise.”

Is this some kind of a bad joke? Uh, no?!?! Recchi won’t even sign here? He was talking last year about how he loved it here and appreciated the chance. What in the H E double hockey sticks is going on around here? Have we entered some kind of alternate universe? Even I didn’t think it was this bad, what the heck?

By Alan

July 3, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

Awesome, Mike!

As much as I liked Recchi, if he really wants to go, then show him the door. He was a stand up guy while he was here, but he’s also 40. We should strive to go younger here. Furthermore, I honestly can’t see him getting the same TOI or being on the first or second line anywhere else like he was here.

By Bri

July 3, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this

I read somewhere that Rex and McCrimmon were buddies, maybe that has something to do with it?

By Russ

July 3, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

Rather than an offer sheet, trade Pavelec and a second round pick for Vermette and Meszaros. Then get them both signed long term. Ottawa doesn’t look real good on this deal, but they could use a good young goalie and it’s better than losing them to an offer sheet or having to match and be in salary cap hell the next few years. If the Thrashers could pull off a deal like this they might be pushing for top 10 in the Eastern Conference.

By Ryan

July 3, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

Kovy’s bags have been packed since Hossa made it to the finals. All other Thrashers players don’t want to be here. Look for this team to move to Oklahoma City with the B-Ballers.

By Alan

July 3, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

Congratulations, Ryan, for the “Baseless Speculative Post of the Day” award!

By Jim

July 3, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this

Someone help me understand not signing anyone! Sorry, 1 d-man. How, looking at this roster can you sign not a single forward? I am really curious to see someone but a spin on this that makes any sense. The NHL has a floor that all teams have to spend and we are 15mill under! I am really confused.

By Bob

July 3, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

I think the first two sentences of Ryan’s post is a lot closer to reality than you think, Alan.

The last sentence just plain ain’t gonna happen, but don’t think it just didn’t kill Kovy to sit there and watch what Hoss has done in the past few months (almost got the Cup and now got himself on the Wings).

Crap, if Campbell, Rolston, Recchi, and who knows who all else don’t want to be here, what makes you think Kovy will want to stay?

By Bob

July 3, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

Someone help me understand not signing anyone!

They tried. They had a plan, like they said they did, the problem is they left the wrong guy in charge of executing it. They tried to sign Campbell, they tried to sign Rolston. The owners bucked up for the two top guys we could use, but both thumbed their noses at us. Then they went to Plan B, C, and wound up with Hainsey at Plan D on defense. Now they’re onto Plan E, F, and who knows what trying to get a forward to sign here. I have hopes for Morrison, that will help a little.

I am really curious to see someone but a spin on this that makes any sense.

Oh, you just wait, Waddell will be doing his waltz as usual pretty soon and the clueless ones will lap it up.

By Alan

July 3, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

Bob - Until we see what kind of season we have, his whole post is baseless speculation at this point.

By jeff

July 3, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

Wow. As much as I love this sport I am scared to see what this year is going to turn out like

By Corey

July 3, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this

I can’t even imagine this team without Kovy… that sounds scary…

By Kansas City, Kansas City Here We Come!

July 3, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

Hokie

You can’t offer more than $2.6 million to keep the compensation for a RFA to a second-round pick. Anything above that up to $3.9 million means you sacrifice a first rounder and a third rounder.

By Tony C.

July 3, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

I dunno Alan, if I’m #17, I’m pretty sure I’m looking up the road at saaaay Montreal-they play an O-ffensive game, they know what it is to win…and they’ve gotten over their Europhobia. It’s got to look pretty attractive when compared to a team where even shot-out veterans are like:

“there would probably be more teams but I don’t want to be on a bad team again”

Especially when THAT was your best opposite winger last season’s opinion.

By Ryan

July 3, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this

I guess you have not been watching the Thrash over the years Alan. But I will gladly accept this award for all of those ticked off season ticket holders. It is safe to say that the “Until we see what kind of season we have first” is getting old. You could or ,more importantly, should know exactly how the season is going to go.
Were you at the All-Star game? The GM of this team got a very loud BOO. When that is going on and nothing is being done about it only a mater time before this team ships off to some other city.

By Ryan

July 3, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this

Also Alan, sarcasm is not understood by many people.

I like pancakes!

By Mike Knobler

July 3, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this

Guys, we’ll have a story posted sometime today updating the Nikulin situation. His agent is optimistic Ilya will be playing in Atlanta this season.

Also, I had the opportunity to speak with Ron Hainsey for awhile today by phone. I’m saving it for a time when I can do a feature on him, but I will share a little of what he said.

He just got married in his home state of Connecticut on June 21 to a woman named Hayley, so it’s safe to say this has been one heck of a good two-week stretch for him. He is excited about being able to play for John Anderson, whose system he saw firsthand when Anderson was a minor league coach and Hainsey was with Hamilton in the Canadiens’ system.

By kracker

July 3, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this

WRT acquiring RFAs, is an option per the CBA for the owning team to negotiate a sign and trade with the RFA? We just can’t be sending away any significant draft picks.

By kracker

July 3, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

FYI - RFA Compensation per TSN

Salary Range Compensation

Below $863,156 No Compensation

$863,156-$1,307,812 Third-round pick

$1,307,812-$2,615,625 Second-round pick

$2,615,625-$3,923,437 First- and third-round picks

$3,923,437-$5,231,249 First-, second and third-round picks

$5,231,249-$6,539,062 Two first-rounders, a second-round pick and a third-round pick.

$6,539,062 or more Four first-round picks

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=241735

By Wheatfield Blade

July 3, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

I hate to enlighten you but we saw a listing of contracts offered and Atlanta never offered anything to Recchi, so he never turned you guys down.

By Thrasher_Ed

July 3, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this

Ok, if Don Waddell were to pull off a trade for Dan Boyle today, how many folks would like the deal? Of course depends on what we give up, but if you could add Dan Boyle would Thrashers fans be happy?

By Alan

July 3, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this

Ryan - I’ve been watching since day one, thanks for asking.

You also seem to have me pegged as a fan of Waddell, based on your bringing him up. Failure on your part. You know what they say about assumptions, right? It seems to be one thing you are strikingly good at today thus far.

Lastly, at this point, we have no idea how this season is going to go. You can assume (there’s that word again!) that we will be in the dumps, but we won’t know that until after the season starts.

Tony - I call what Recchi said “b******,” simply put. He’s right, we stunk this past season. But he also seems to think he is in a position to call the shots. Waiver-boy seems to have forgotten what landed him here in the first place. Atlanta took a chance on him, and he had a good year here. A fine year, playing as Kovalchuk’s wing. And I’m betting he thinks he can improve upon his numbers with another franchise?

We’ll see.

As far as Kovalchuk is concerned, it is too early to tell whether he is looking to leave or not. He wants the team to improve, because he’s here for at least another year and a half (as he can easily get dumped at Trade Deadline 2010, if it really comes down to it). He wants to win. And since he’s here, he wants this team to win. This is how it is, and how it will be until he is either traded or re-signed.

But my point stands: It’s too early to tell, so all the baseless speculation is just that.

By Fred

July 3, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this

My partial season ticket package will not be renewed. I’d be ashamed to wear my Hossa jersey to games this year and won’t spring another $100+ for one. The team has given me NOTHING to get excited about.

I’ve lived my whole life in Atlanta and I don’t think I’ve ever seen things so bad across the board.

A horrible hockey team has added a rookie blue liner and one that is a minus whatever lower lever free agent while losing several frontliners. When the biggest thumbs up in the off season is “Thrashers re-sign Moose” - I’m not impressed.

The horrible basketball team (save 3 playoff games) is hoping to be able to put the same group out there again this year. WHAT??? Success for a 37-45 team is to have the same top 6 players on the team with the same cement head coaching them? Again, I’m not impressed.

The Falcons are being picked to be 1-15. Hardly reason for optimism, but I will note that when I’m in Vegas in a few weeks, if the over/under for Falcons wins is 1.5, I’ll take the over.

The Braves are beat up for sure, but they have not done anything for 3 years and their 2 best hitters are either always hurt (Chipper) or doing their thing till they become a FA (Teixeira). Again, wake me up when it’s all over.

I guess since I’m not a Bulldogs fan, I’m just $OL for a few more years!

By russian

July 3, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this

to Mike Wow…. This is a Great news for Thrasher and Fans. I hope Nikulin will come here. Kovalchuk and Nikulin (both Ilia)are good friends. They played together in Kazan. Hope it is happend.

By kracker

July 3, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this

That is great to hear about Nikulin, Mike! Can he bring a RW lol?

By J(Z)

July 3, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this

and how exactly do you see a listing of contracts offered? Seriously, I’d love to see that.

I think most of us weren’t wanting Recchi back, so for him to say “uhhhh, no” makes him look bad. I’ve never liked him anyways and don’t think he’s the right veteran guy leading the group of Wolves we’re throwing to the Wolves next year

By J(Z)

July 3, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this

Thrasher_Ed - no thanks to Boyle

By Thrasher_Ed

July 3, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this

Wheatfield Blade, Since you have access?? Who did we offer a contract too, HMMMMMM?

By kracker

July 3, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this

EK: The Wild have signed Miettinen to a 3year/7 Million deal.

By Alan

July 3, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this

His agent is optimistic Ilya will be playing in Atlanta this season.

WOO-Freakin-HOO! That’s the best news I’ve heard all day! I really hope they can make it happen, and that we can finally see Nikulin here this season!

By B. Thenet

July 3, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this

2 Ilya’s are better than 1

I would be very excited if Nikulin comes over. He certainly isn’t someone I would expect the average fan to get that excited about right now, but wait til you see him on the ice. He is a major upgrade, probably would be the best overall defenseman on the team at the end of the year.

By Sara

July 3, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this

I guarantee Recchi’s leaving has something to do with McCrimmon. Because before all of that went down, Recchi was all about wanting to play one more year here and help this young group develop, blah blah blah. But now suddenly, when his recommendation for coach doesn’t get the job, he’s outta here?? Umkay.

As for Nikulin - YAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY!!!!!!! As far as I’m concerned, Don should just forget any other FA D signings at this point. I know some of you will think I’m nuts but why sign on someone else before we see exactly what we have (will have) in Enstrom, Nikulin, Valabik, Bogosian, Kulda, possibly Oystrick. That’s 6 younguns RIGHT THERE with Hainsey #7. Folks, brace yourselves, but in a couple of years, I think we might have D overload. Wouldn’t that be something new and different.

In light of that real possibility, Don might want to take a swipe at Vermette for now, or a young center (who’s left unprotected at the moment??). Focus on getting scoring up (without compromising any more of it by trading away the Little’s of the world).

Well, that made me a little more optimistic than I was yesterday. I might not have to slit my wrists after all.

By kracker

July 3, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this

Mike’s Nikulin story:

Nikulin close to signing with Thrashers

By Jim

July 3, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this

Why has it taken 8 years to get Nikulin to come to the states?

By Ryan

July 3, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this

Come on now Alan, speculation is fun and it keeps me mind workin’. You are right about assumptions. I think they are fun too. But you’ve never made an assumption in your life so I’m wrong.

It will be hard to compete in the SE Division with these shenannigans going on.

Bacon is good!

By Sara

July 3, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this

Jim my understanding is that a lot of the sticking point in the past is that Nikulin made a lot more money in Russia than he could make here in the US where he’s bound by taxes and rookie salary caps.

If the only thing standing in the way of Nikulin signing on the dotted line is a guaranteed slot on the team, I will personally string Waddell up and force him to watch the first three seasons of Thrasher hockey 24/7 until he cracks (yes I know - so cruel and unusual - although I could make him watch our playoff attempt - that was even more depressing). This guy has GOT to be better than Klee AND X and probably Valabik and Hainsey and even Bogosian (at least for the time being - Nikulin’s got better experience - honestly don’t know if he has better raw talent). There is NO EXCUSE for this particular deal to get done. Our D is solidified for at least next season if not years to come by this deal.

To quote NascarDave GIT ER DONE

OK, suddenly I feel the need to shower.

By JLH

July 3, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this

Sara - Even though we are jumping the gun, I’m right there with you about the defense. Does this mean that Waddell’s draft score might have risen to “okay” from “crap”. Enstrom, Bogosian, Valabik, Kulda, Nikulin, Coburn… not a bad group. (I know, I know - only 2 off that list are even starters in the NHL; we don’t really know what the others might do) Boyle would be tempting, but not in lieu of a RW and C for Kovy….. What the heck, we’ve got enough cap space for all of em!

By Darren

July 3, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this

This just in. The New York Rangers have not only signed Wade Redden, Michal Rozsival, Dmitri Kalinin and Markus Naslund, but in addition, they’ve managed to sign Mats Sundin, Joe Sakic, Jaromir Jagr, Pavol Demitra, Peter Forsberg, Brendan Shanahan, Rob Blake, Sergei Federov, Brendan Morrison and Bryan Smolinski.

Not only that, but they’ve signed Tobias Enstrom and Ilya Kovalchuk a few years ahead of time, just to make sure they haven’t signed enough people.

Seriously though, I didn’t think it was possible for me to hate the New York Rangers more.

I was wrong.

By Alan

July 3, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this

Oh, come now, Ryan. Everyone makes assumptions. I just tend to more carefully evaluate the situation instead of going off the deep end like a crazed maniac who thinks the sky is falling.

But you’re right about one thing: Bacon is good.

By Smoothie

July 3, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this

Sweet, I would welcome Ilya # 2 to the Thrashers and I hope he makes the team.

I love his size at 6’3” and I reckon the pay will be very reasonable for a 26 y/o with World Cup experience on a very good Russian team. He’s not flashy or spectacular but if he is truly a reliable stay at home D-man who can block shots and take the body smartly and consistently, then we will be very pleased with the outcome. Just think, we’re going to have 6 D-men under the age of 27 if he signs! Go figure.

Now Don needs to get a deal done for a RW and / or Antoine Vermette. I’d gladly part with a 1st and 3rd rounder for a solid 3rd line C like AV. Who wouldn’t be ecstatic if we ink Demitra to a 3 yr deal to give Kovy a RW and solidify our checking line with Vermette??

By Brendan

July 3, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this

Mike, great potential news on Nikulin. Maybe it won’t be a “wasted” draft pick after all? It sure would have been nicer to have him in the lineup back in 2003, however. Bygones.

Kracker, thank you for the link. Interesting figures, no? Russ, question for ya. When DW traded for Keith Tkachuk at the 2007 trade deadline, he gave up two 1st round picks (2007 & 2008), a second round pick (2008), and a third round pick (2007). Was Keith Tkachuk’s salary $5,231,249 in 2007? I think Tkachuk re-signed with the Blues in 2007 for 2-years, $4 million. Atlanta got the 2008 “conditional” first round pick back when it didn’t re-sign Tkachuk. So, in essence, it was a “rental” for a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick. My question is … wouldn’t it have been better for Waddell to “poach” an RFA back in July 2007 than it was to “rent” Tkachuk from “late” February through April? Russ, you’re very good at analyzing all the data. I’d like to get your opinion on that. I honestly don’t remember Tkachuk’s 2007 salary. But I bet you do. You’re on top of things like that. Please post it, if you can recall it.

Sara, I don’t think you’re the slightest bit “nuts.” The team does need to evaluate what it’s got on its blueline right now. Besides, I really don’t think this team is trying to make a playoff dash this year. I think we’re really, truly “rebuilding” right now. And with that in mind, it’s not really the time to go on some SPENDING SPREE. With regards to RFA’s, the DRAFT PICKS are Atlanta’s ticket out of this mess. They must use lottery draft picks and high 2nd and 3rd round picks to rebuild.

Stop. If we go TRADING for RFA players who didn’t choose our market, we’ll wind up with Hossas and Zhitniks and Vishnevskis. They all want out, because they never chose to come here. Plus, any RFA we trade for, still has to be signed. There could be a long “hold out” situation. Or the player could opt not to play in the NHL until they hit UFA status. Or, RFA player could demand a trade. Now, in the case of an RFA offersheet, that’s different. If the player signs it, it’s binding. He’s agreed to play in Atlanta, assuming the rights holding team doesn’t match the offer. It’s a game of chicken for a player who doesn’t really want to come here; he just wants his current team to pay him what Atlanta is willing to pay him.

Really, truly … I think Atlanta will only get out of this mess by using its future draft picks to get better. With Waddell in charge, Tier I UFA’s won’t come. We’ve seen that. Oh, we might find someone just willing to play just for money. But we’ll get a “demoralized” effort out of said player. The key is longterm building with Bogosian, Valabik, Enstrom, now Hainsey, and the remaining years of Havelid and Exelby. Maybe even Nikulin. Who knows?

By Tim

July 3, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this

The good thing about Nikulin taking his time to come over here is that he will come with a bagage of experience. He would be a rookie but at the same time, not really one. We all know that defenceman take longer to develop, well that part is behind him now and all he need is just to fine tune to adjust to the NHL and he would be one heck of a player to have. Plus hes a buddy to Kovy right? incentive for Kovy to resign with us??? :D

I think we should all thank to Ilya to convince Ilya if he really come as per the report. There is no doubt that winning the gold medal in last world championship (playing against NHL players) might have been enough to convince him to come over here.

By Hockey Biltong

July 3, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this

I think Boyle would be good for the Thrash. Bring on Nikulin and poach for a center and winger. Perhaps we could interupt Mats’ ‘Aquavit’ binge to get him to play here if we all smuggled some of it back to Atlanta…

By MB

July 3, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this

Brendan, just out of curiousity, how would you handle our current situation of being well below the cap floor?

By Sage of Bluesland

July 3, 2008 6:19 PM | Link to this

Best news I’ve heard ALL week (on Nikulin)…The bumbler did good on that, if it comes to pass!

By scottbravesfan

July 3, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this

You know the team is crap when you offer players more money and they say no, no, no and sign for less somewhere else.

By Tony C.

July 3, 2008 7:36 PM | Link to this

I’m still ordering the Safety Orange T-shirts…

By Marty

July 3, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this

Craig Custance reported that ASG/Waddell didn’t offer more money to Campbell. I’m starting to think Tier 1 players don’t avoid the Thrashers the way everyone here says they do. Hossa was intent on playing in Detroit, Campbell had a higher offer from the Blackhawks. Rolston had offers from 10 teams so it wasn’t like he was just avoiding Atlanta.

By Waffleboy

July 3, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this

If Nikulin does sign, he’s a far better deal than blowing six mil a year at Campbell. How did this guy get that kind of money. Who would put him as one of the top 5 d-men in the league? Me, I take Phaneuf, Chara, Lidstrom, Pronger and Niedermayer just to start before I’m giving that kind of money to Campbell. Nikulin could be this year’s Enstrom. A guy who matured overseas before bringing his “A” game across the Atlantic. Now we did to relieve some teams of their bloated cap space and get Ilya Kovalchuk the center he deserves.

By Buzzard

July 3, 2008 9:05 PM | Link to this

I have been traveling a lot and have just caught up with the latest in feeling “Blue”land. As long as Waddell is GM, it really does not matter who we sign. Donny is the problem folks, he is the common thread of poor performance.

Anderson could be a good coach. Too bad we did not sign the Wolves GM along with him, maybe we would have a legit Thrasher System evolve in a year or two.

We know what the Waddell System is - sign the occassional decent player, waste draft picks, trade good players, bring up and down perenial AHL’ers - and then keep saying “we’re a young team”. That is so much B.S.. The ASG has no gonads.

This will remain one of the most frustrating franchises until we get a capable GM. Sorry.

By LAC

July 3, 2008 9:11 PM | Link to this

Good news on Nikulin, now if we could get Vermette & Mazaros WOW !!!!

We have SOME trade bait like todd white or jim slater or ken klee and of course brad larsen. Who else, Exelby ???????

We need more scoring folks, the defense from the three mentioned players, draft pick, UFA and Russian make us better.

But we still need more scoring.

VERY disappointing we did not get in the trades this week… really need to move white & slater for something ASAP !

By Jpuck

July 3, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this

Look at the 5 mil San Jose paid Blake for one year - Hainsey looks much better and we have him for multiple years. I wonder if this takes them out of the running for Boyle that would put them at almost 12 mil for both of these guys for next year.

By Sean

July 3, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this

I wasn’t so much worried about players rejecting the ATL as I was about:

1) The lack of activity especially a backup plan on the blue line

2) the total inactivity

Don the wad has finally made a move, but it’s just one move. I am waiting to see if any of the possible remaining UFA signings or RFA offers or trades or the bringing over of Nikulin materialize. If none of that happens, I will be right back here b*** about DW and the ASG. If we make some moves, I will wait and see how the roster comes together. I do feel good about the release of Zhitty and Holik and the Anderson hiring overall, but let’s give the man a team to work with. Remember, the first 7 games last year couldn’t just be pinned on Hartley. I think we have some good pieces, but we sure as hell ain’t THERE. Please, no more re-treads just to spend $! I know any team needs vets, but please no more guys who are my age! I am really hoping that the ASG really has some $ to spend and that DW can pull something off here. I hope like hell that next year I am apologizing for all the bad things I said this past year and demanding props for old DW! I b*** a lot, but I love the Thrashers just like I loved the Flames and the Knights. C’mon DW…let’s get there. Can we drop the I believe in Blueland BS though? Let’s just do our talking on the ice!

By Thrashy Thrashy

July 3, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this

If Waddell signs Nikulin, I think he’s done adding to the defense.

This team needs some forwards that can score some. Vermette would seem to fit that bill.

By Smoothie

July 3, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this

Here’s an idea:

Make a trade with Philly (not for Coburn!) for Mike Knuble to play RW with Kovalchuk. The Flyers are $4 M over the cap right now and Knuble is a UFA in ‘09/10 who currently makes $2.9 per year. Since he’s only under contract for one year, it might be worth taking on the risk that comes with an aging veteran like Knuble.

DWad could unload Sterling and some conditional draft picks (a # 1 in 2010, if Knuble reaches certain performance goals, along with a 2nd rounder in 2009) in return for Knuble and Sami Kapanen (more RW help) who makes $1.25 M per to make the numbers work.

Philly gets a solid prospect (again) to develop in the AHL and a couple picks (and cap relief) in return for two UFA’s to be, which we could always sell at the trade deadline if we are out of the playoff race (likely scenario anyway).

It’s temp help for Kovy and sures up our 3rd line (just think Stuart or LaVallee with Perrin and Sami…scrappy & quick!) and gives us a legit 2nd scoring option on the 1st line. With a space eater like Knuble drawing attention away from Kovy, Little will have room to maneuver behind the net and in corners to center passes for MK and one timers to IK.

This also gets us very close to the salary floor and sets us up to really make a mark in FA next year while the scenario of a futility-driven chance to win the Tavares sweepstakes is still very much in play.

What do y’all think about having Knuble in the fold for 1 year to complement Kovy and accelerate the development of B Little? I’d say it’s certainly worth considering.

By Tony C.

July 3, 2008 10:53 PM | Link to this

Can we drop the I believe in Blueland BS though? Let’s just do our talking on the ice!

Amen.

Although I’m not against “Blueland”… It is a good name for ThrasherNation (once/if it develops), but the “let’s do our talking on the ice” is a much better ideal for the boys to aspire to.

By Smoothie

July 3, 2008 10:54 PM | Link to this

Post Script — if we were to make the trade outlined above, our lines would look something like this:

Kovy — Little — Knuble

Slava — EC — Army (Perrin)

Stuart / LaVallee — Perrin (White) — Kappy (Army)

Boults / Lars — White — Slater

Assumng Knuble can pot 20-25 goals and Little can rack up 50-60 pts, this team might actually make a run at the 8 seed.

I like the way the D is shaping up with Ilya N more likely to join the show:

Nic & Toby // Hainsey & Nikulin // Klee & XLB (Bogo as the spare D man)

Anyone still reading this blog tonite?! lol

By Tim

July 3, 2008 10:57 PM | Link to this

Smoothie, not a bad idea but it really depends on the price to pay. Klee or Exelbu stright up for Knuble, I wont say no. But if you involve picks or someone younger (Sterling), then its a defenitive no in my book. This is just a temps solution hoping that next season UFA for center and wing will be deeper (stragely Hossa is UFA next season again).

By Smoothie

July 3, 2008 11:08 PM | Link to this

That’s why I suggested the trade Tim. Because we can take on salary that Philly will need to dump. They’re more likely to dump a guy who’s 35 than a younger guy like Lupul or Coburn of course. I’m fine with trading Klee or XLB, but Philly can’t take them on…they’re already over the cap by 4 mill. While I certainly think we need to continue to build through the draft, it is no secret that that is a 4-5 yr process. Fans of this team are not going to wait patiently while DWad embarks on another 5 yr plan!

By Sara

July 3, 2008 11:27 PM | Link to this

I’m seeing a lot of “trade Sterling” comments and I think those are very premature. The kid has skills…whether those skills will really work in the NHL remains to be seen but in all fairness the kid’s never really been given the chance. With Anderson coming on board, Sterling will finally get an opportunity to really play in the bigs. If Anderson’s system translates to the NHL the way it plays out in the AHL, Sterling will likely prove to be a valuable asset.

By Tony C.

July 3, 2008 11:59 PM | Link to this

Knuble?

Why don’t we just re-sign Rucchin. At least you know he ain’t gonna lace ‘em up.

Knube will give us 15 games of the funk. Then his back/hip/coxix will break or his acl/mcl/wrist tendon will tear…. and we traded away the kid who’s our best (signed) option to fill the gap.

By Brendan

July 4, 2008 12:09 AM | Link to this

MB, how close are the Thrashers to the floor? I’ve seen varying accounts for this.

If totally stuck, there is a (right or wrong) perception that some Russian players tend to play just for the money. If un-signed in August, see what Federov wants. It’s no longterm solution, but throwing blind money at him for a 1-year deal could bridge the gap to the floor of the cap. You can always “rent” him at the trade deadline for some pick or other. When the season is over, don’t re-sign him. Kari Lehtonen is unsigned. If he’s still unsigned in September, throwing a little extra moolah his way could also help bridge the gap to the $40.7 million floor.

I absolutely love Dan Boyle. Tampa Bay might not have won that Cup in 2004 without him. (2G, 10A, for 10-points, while logging 21:27 in average TOI in the 2004 playoffs.) In 2006-07, Boyle put up career-best numbers. In 2007, Boyle scored 20G, 43A, for 63-points, including 10 PPG’s, while logging 27:03 in TOI. Woah! In the 2007 playoffs, Boyle logged 28:03 (!) versus New Jersey. I think his deal is 6-years/$40 million (6.667 cap hit). He is a Tier I defenseman. Trouble is, he’ll be 32 on July 12th. And this deal pays him until he’s roughly 38. There’s no way Tampa would trade him to Atlanta. So, it’d have to be some 3-way deal. And I don’t know how to make that work without giving up something “good” in the return to the non-Tampa team. As I’ve said, our draft picks are the way out of this mess. I don’t want to give up any draft picks or core nucleus players in the years while we’re still rebuilding. We need John Tavares. Or some other high-end draft pick, in 2009. And there it is. “Quick-fix” solutions are what got us into this quagmire. I’m sorry to say that it’ll take a slow, steady build to get this team back on track. But there it is, with no “sugar-coating.”

By J (Z)

July 4, 2008 12:09 AM | Link to this

Hey thats not a bad idea! Lets go resign Rucchin and maybe a veteren presence…ummm Eric Lindros. We’ve gotta get to the cap floor somehow!!!! :P

By MB

July 4, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

In all honesty, Brendan, I was counting on you to know how close we are to the floor. But I guess if Donnie said we were around $33+/- (and I believe he factored in re-signings, such as Kari), and Hainsey is at $4.5, that leaves us around $3-4 to get there, right?

Right now I’m torn about what to do…though I couldn’t agree more that we need to hold onto our draft picks. The harsh reality is that in all likelihood we will struggle again this season.

There are still a few FAs out there that are at least moderately desireable, each with his own baggage (which is partly why they’re still available). I don’t mind the idea of bringing in a more veteran player for a year or two to help show the young guys the ropes (along the lines of your Federov idea, which could be a good one for the two Ilyas).

I also don’t mind the idea of bringing in a “not ready for prime time” player, such as a Jason Williams, who’s not a first liner, but increases the competition on the other lines…because I’d rather not see, for instance, Slater and Larsen skating regularly with the Thrashers in two years (unless something changes dramatically).

Option 3, I guess, is that we go into the season under the cap floor, which means the young guys would certainly get their chances to hang with the big club and, possibly/hopefully, would be seen as a big failure for DW and enough to relieve him of his duties. Again, it would lead to a tough, tough season…but it would give Anderson plenty of time to assess the talent and leave us with plenty of $$$ to address specific needs this time next year.

By Sam

July 4, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this

I agree with Brendan completely about Boyle. What a great pickup he would be, BUT what would the Thrashers have to give up?? Boyle should be completely healed up and rested after last year’s wasted year trying to come back too early. Never a great defensive player but not many better in the whole league on the PP and that first pass out of the zone. We’ll see. The Thrashers sure have the money for him.

By Alan

July 4, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this

Sam and others - If we pick up Boyle, I just want to know who we have to ship out. We’ve got defenders coming out of our a* at the moment. Bogosian has most likely leveled past the OHL (sending him back will stunt his development), Valabik looks poised to make a run for a roster spot this year in camp. Oystrick may very well nail a spot, too. Then we have the Dynamic Duo. Not to mention our newest acquisition of Hainsey. That leaves Klee, Exelby, and McCarthy. As it stands, two of ‘em are going to get cut. So if we get Boyle… where does Klee, Ex, and McCarthy go?

Yeah, this is worst-case scenario. I’m not counting on Valabik or Oystrick to make the team, but those kids may very well surprise us in camp. Bogosian will be running hard for a roster spot, too.

And I didn’t even address the situation if we manage to add Nikulin to the fold.

By Thrasher_Ed

July 4, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

Alan, Steve McCarthy is gone!. He is a UFA that is on the market now. So is Mark Popovic!

By JLH

July 4, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

Thrashers are $8.5 below the floor. This currently does not include Kari.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-central/team.php?team=ATL

I’m backtracking on Boyle. He was -29 in 37 games last year?!?! Holy Zhitnik! We don’t need that kind of player in front of Kari.

By Sam

July 4, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

Alan, who cares about some of these d/men you mention? Are they Stanley Cup material? Have they been there, done that? Are they potential All-Stars? The goal of the club is to make the playoffs and hopefully, by some miracle, go deep, not watch more rebuilding and potential projects. Atlanta fans are tired of that. Boyle can do most everything as he has proven in the past. I’m stunned the Bolts are even moving him. The big key, as we BOTH stated, is what is the loss going to be from our roster? It can’t be too bad or it wouldn’t be worth it.

By Midfield

July 4, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

Why does this AJC page feature Hossa’s picture for a week now? How is he relevant to the team at present? Just curious. I for one would rather see the guy who sharpens skates for the Thrashers.

By Alan

July 4, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

Ed - Thanks, that part slipped my mind. Hopefully they find what they’re looking for elsewhere, because our roster is going to be full. :D

Sam - Think outside the box, then get back to me. My point is we have a ton of D-men. Instead of trying to refute it, you wasted a paragraph essentially berating me for thinking about the future of those other guys. Congratulations on the irrelevancy, but now how about you try to refute my point. Or agree with it. I don’t care.

By Smoothie

July 4, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

To you naysayers who think Knuble’s too old or washed up (a la Ruchhin…what a dumb comparison by the way), do you realize he’s played a full season 3 of the last 4 years since the lockout and in those seasons has averaged 27 goals / yr. Are you telling me that a combo of Sterling, LaVallee and Slater are going to do that much better? I doubt that trio scores 27 goals combined!!

Y’all might want to re-think your view on Knuble…the guy is a gamer. Admittedly, he’s not a long-term solution, but where did I mention him being a LT solution?

By JLH

July 4, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

Omsk told espn that they signed jager

By MB

July 4, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

And apparently Boyle is headed to San Jose.

By Alan

July 4, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

Omsk did sign Jagr, yes.

Speaking of transactions for today, it looks like Boyle is a Shark.

Not sure how the Flyers could have been a team “in the running” for him, when they’re over the cap by a pretty hefty margin. But there you have it.

By Tim

July 4, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

I wonder how this whole Boyle saga will affect the players who play for Tampa and who just recently sign a contract (and I was thinking about Malone and Lecavalier).

By HookyBob

July 4, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

Ideally (key word) a team becomes a contender primarily by building through the draft, especially when a salary cap is in effect. Trades and FA signings are also critical components that (help fill the gaps / put the team over the top, etc and) bring home the cup. While the Wings are really strong at drafting,..you can look at recent Cup winning teams and identify all three pieces.

Building through the draft, however, presupposes two things,…1)Wise player selections; and 2)Effective player development. IMHO the Thrashers are dismal in both of those areas. (It all points back to the GM,..doesn’t it?) Interestingly,..should Nikulin play here and be a success,..you may argue our best development is overseas, where we have no influence.

Consistent with what other bloggers have opined…it may not be an overstatement to say that “it is our drafting (and development) that have put us in this mess”. It would then be unreasonable to expect it to pull us out of this mess without meaningful change in drafting and development. “No meaningful change will occur until meaningful changes are made.” (Apologies if I butchered your quote Bob)

If building with draftees is not your strong suit,..then trading and signing FAs become much more important pieces (A presupposition here is that the owners want a contender.) Our low level of activity during this FA signing is troubling.

It is not too late to sign FA or make trades to strengthen this team. I’m thinking we may have shored up our D (even if I didn’t,…there isn’t much left out there to go after). So, I like the idea of pursuing Vermette, Dimetra, or even O’Sullivan from LA. M Knuble is OK with me as he seems to have been pretty effective against us. Right now, looking at our forward lines (Rawhide gave us this an excellent exercise in this a week or so ago) kinda makes you feel sorry for an offensive minded coach.

Here’s something to chew on,…What single player (UFA, RFA, or reasonably potential trade acquisition) out there would best fit Kovy’s needs? Or, what single acquistion will most help an offensive minded coach move this team forward?

By Smoothie

July 4, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this

Good post Hooky Bob! Couldn’t agree with your more. That’s why I contend we need to re-tool through FA and potentially a trade with a cap-strapped team. We’ll still be mediocre enough to be eligible for the Tavares sweepstakes. But who knows, if you sign Demitra, trade for Vermette and Bogosian and Nikulin are the reald deal, you make the playoffs and voila, you become even more attractive to UFA’s the next year.

By Sam

July 4, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this

Never mind. So much for wishful thinking. We’ll go far with what we have and what Alan will think will bring us a Cup. Yeah, right!

By Alan

July 4, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this

There’s no way we’re going on a cup run this year, Sam, but thanks for playing.

By Brendan

July 5, 2008 1:38 AM | Link to this

I’m starting to wonder how Jay Feaster was ever the GM who led a team to a cup. Since the lockout, he severely jumped the gun on a then league MAX contract for Brad Richards, 5-years @ $7.8 million, he let Khabibulin go, something for which they still haven’t recovered, and let depth and role players walk out the door or be traded. Depth guys like R. Fedotenko, B. Clymer, A. Roy, J. Cullimore, C. Dingman, P. Kubina, B. Lukowich, F. Modin, C. Sarich, D. Sydor, Cory Stillman, and even our own Eric Perrin. No one can blame Feaster for Andreychuck’s retirement.

Feaster kept Brad Richards, thinking that Khabibulin’s inflated $7 million-a-year contract too excessive for the then $39 million cap in 2005. He’s rued the day he let Khabulin go, and he’s even wound up moving Richards at last year’s trade deadline. And the contract he’s just given Lecavalier, 9-years/$77 million, cap hit over $8.5 million, will keep him around until he’s 38/39.

But now, he’s gone and traded the very soul of his blueline, Dan Boyle. Jay Feaster, Buddy, why’d ya just give the guy a six-year deal, if you were going to trade him?? Is the answer is really?, “So I could make this deal with San Jose!” I know. I know. The Bolts have been busy this offseason, while we’ve done something close to standing still. But nothing can bite a team faster that the costly route of re-tooling via Free Agency. Anytime a GM overhauls a roster in this fashion, it’s going to take time for the new players to gel. Time will tell how the Bolts “team chemistry” all comes together.

By Tim

July 5, 2008 1:56 AM | Link to this

Brendan Not to defend Feaster, he is in the same class as our beloved DW, I dont think he have control of his team now, just like the Snow/Wang relationship. If rumors are true, on draft day, there were actually GM that called Feaster about potential trade started by TB new owners. See any similarity with how Islanders are mnaged? :)

By Tim

July 5, 2008 1:58 AM | Link to this

Anyone read K Lowe replay to B Burke? Hillarious. Here is the link:

http://www.tsn.ca/story/?id=242532

By Brendan

July 5, 2008 2:13 AM | Link to this

My goodness, folks. I cannot stand before you and profess Don Waddell to be some Draft Day Guru. He isn’t. But can’t it be said that Waddell’s ridiculous AARP free agent signings have done the MOST damage?? I think the correct answer is, “YES!” Don’t make me go through them all. You know who they are/were.

Patrik Stefan was the poster child for a weak draft year. I don’t blame Waddell for him. Nor do I congratulate him on “consensus” picks like Heatley and Kovalchuk. Ilya Nikulin was a high-end Second Round Pick from 2000, who has never played a minute for us. If he signs here, and plays well for us, then it wasn’t necessarily a wasted draft pick.

Is Braydon Coburn a bust? Isn’t the answer: Only while he was here. Coburn wasn’t given time to properly develop in Bob Hartley’s system. Is Valabik, necessarily, a bust? How ‘bout we give the guy a chance to actually develop? Novel concept, huh?

What about some second rounders, like Ondrej Pavelec and Chad Denny? Same deal, there. They need time to develop. Let’s give a look-see to Nathan Oystrick, Grant Lewis, Jordan LaVallee, Colin Stuart, Brett Sterling, etc. If we actually gave prospects the chance to develop, instead of signing the Uwe Krupp’s, T. Reardons, R. Smeliks, K.Klees, Y. Tremblays, D. Tjarnvists, P. Svartvadeks, T. Hrkacs, C. Tamers, H. Domenicellis, and A. Karlssons of league, lo these many years, how much better off might we be today?

Now, I hear you. What was that Alex Bourret pick all about? I couldn’t rightly tell you. Personally, I’d never move from #8 to #16 in a draft year. I could not run the risk of players #8-15 turning into major stars (Kopitar, Staal), knowing that they could have been mine. But that’s how we got Pavelec in the second round, and Denny.

As long as Waddell takes a Zach Bogosian with his lottery draft picks, in the coming years, he should be okay. (And not trade down!!) For all we know, this pick of Leveille, at #29, could be a decent-enough player. I’d have prefered Deschamps, O’Dell, or McRae at the Center position, but I’m not a scout. Or a GM. We also don’t know what might come from those latter round picks, particularly, Lasu, from Sweden.

Waddell’s “shots in the dark” have produced Exelby and Enstrom. No one could have expected that from the 8th round. Nor should they. And more is expected from a player like Jim Slater, a 1st round pick, selected 30th overall, from 2002. And yes, it can be argued that Kari Lehtonen has let this team down, given the pressure that comes from being the 2nd overall pick in a draft.

But at the same time … let’s be fair. Since 1999, no team has surrendered more goals than the Thrashers. Is this because our goaltending has been just that darned atrocious? (Rhodes, Maracle, Cassivi, Fankhouser, Hnilicka, Dafoe, Shields, Garnett, Berkhoel, Dunham, Hedberg, Lehtonen) Or, has the more likely culprit that Waddell’s coaching staffs have never come up with a defensive system better than “whack-a-mole?” (TM, Poster Sara, all rights reserved.) If you stop and think about it, you’ll realize that Patrick Roy couldn’t have saved this club. Kari Lehtonen doesn’t need “therapy” so much as he needs a quality of core defensemen and some sort of “back-checking system” in place for the forwards.

By Brendan

July 5, 2008 2:42 AM | Link to this

Tim, je crois que t’as raison. Jay Feaster very well may be a “puppet GM,” like Garth Snow. When Davidson ran the team, Feaster and his decision seemed vastly different from what we are seeing now. Quel dommage pour lui. There were even rumors regarding Feaster being let go this offseason.

Waddell’s situation is different. Waddell won’t get fired, even if his team finishes 30th. Those high-end draft picks and low payroll help make the team even more attractive for re-sale. The part the owners don’t want … is empty seats. But, they need a P.R. campaign that suggests the team is “but a player or two away” from that playoff berth, otherwise people won’t fork over the moolah for season tickets. Luckily for these owners, there are enough Flyer fans, Bruin fans, and Ranger fans, to pack the house when these clubs come-a-callin’ to Philips Arena. Any time the Leafs, Habs or Sens come, or ANY CANADIAN TEAM, the able-bodied fans from the Great White North will invade Philips Arena. All the money’s GREEN, right? Who cares if the arena “boos” Thrasher goals, from the ownership’s perspective. Even when Carolina, Tampa and Washington come, there are enough hardcore hockey fans who just want to see Eric Staal and Brind’Amour, Vinncy Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos, and Ovechkin, Semin and Backstrom. There is enough corporate sponsorship, like Coca-Cola and Home Depot, to keep seats and luxury suites operating. This is, ostensibly, the plan now.

By R. Stroz

July 5, 2008 3:30 AM | Link to this

Brendan - While I understand your premise concerning other team’s fans filling the seats, I also remember why tickets were discounted last season.

The reason, the NHL required a certain number of seats to be sold to partake in some kind of revenue sharing arrangement. I don’t think the other team’s fans filling the seats will achieve the NHL seats sold requirement.

Thus, this offseason, FUBAS realized they needed to pony up and get some real players. However, due to their prior ineptitude, only one player took the money bait. The players sought probably believed FUBAS was only willing to throw money at the problem when FUBAS had no other choice in order to sell tickets. As a result, Campbell and Rolston didn’t want to become part of a two or three player dog and pony show team.

By ThrashDawg

July 5, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this

I agree with Brendan in that improving the team through the draft and developing young talent is the key to the Thrashers long term success. I do not believe that DW has done an awful job in drafting young talent. It does seem like the issue is more of the developing of this talent at the NHL level, this is why I believe with the hiring of JA we will see this change. I believe DW has learned his lesson in regard to this matter. Could it be the previous coaching staff was not a big fan of relying on young talent and would rather have DW bring in veteran players? In regards to the ASG having a plan to keep the team sellable. I doubt that is the case, but more like a change in direction in regards to how to get to long term success, ie. bring in JA and improve the team long term through young players. I do not see this team going after over age 32 players any longer. Just my two cents worth.

By ThrashDawg

July 5, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this

Let me restate the last comment about signing over age 32 players. I should have stated I do not beleive the Thrashers will bring in an over age 32 year old player except on a short term 1-2 year contract. I do not expect anymore Bobby Holik deals.

By five_hole

July 5, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

Brendan The only part of your diatribe that I disagreed with was Patrik Stefan was the poster child for a weak draft year. I don’t blame Waddell for him. I believe the Sedin twins went 2 & 3 immediately after Captain Concussion.

Kari was brought up too early, out of necessity, due to the career ending injury to Pasi Nurmanen. I don’t think he was given the time he should have had to mature as a goaltender in the minor leagues. Instead he had to do it at the NHL level.

BTW, Alex Bourret is languishing in the Phoenix Coyotees organization. Probably still too early to label him as a bust but I think they’re mixing the plaster for him.

By kracker

July 5, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

I think we mixed the plaster (funny!) for Bourret by the time he hit Traverse City.

By Brendan

July 5, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

By and large, Five_hole, wasn’t 1999 the weakest draft year of the past decade? That’s the “spirit” of that comment. Yes, the Sedin Twins did go 2 & 3 that year. But they were a “package” deal. Could Waddell have pulled off landing BOTH of them? And what would have cost to do that? Vancouver GM Mike Gillis hinted that, perhaps, the Sedins were NOT all they were cracked up to be. Generally speaking, the top pick of the 1999 draft has been thought to be Martin Havlat, who went 26th overall, to Ottawa.

Tim Connolly went 5th overall. Kris Beech, now well travelled, went 7th overall. Not a franchise player there. Pavel Brendl went 4th overall. At #11, Oleg Saprykin was taken by Calgary. You might remember that name as the guy who scored the OT winner in Game Five of the 2004 Cup Finals. It gave Calgary the chance to clinch the Cup on home ice.

Taylor Pyatt went 8th overall. Jeff Jillson went 14th overall. He’s mostly been in the minors. David Tanabe, also well traveled now, went at #16. He has not set the world on fire. At #17, was former “Rookie of the Year” Barrett Jackman. Let’s see what he does. Kirill Safranov (remember him?) went at #19. At #21, Nick Boynton was selected by Boston. He’s just been traded, again. At #23 Steve McCarthy was selected by Chicago.

The latter round selections of note were Mike Commodore, #42, Nick Hagman, #70, Frank Kaberleat #76, Nic Havelid at #83, Mike Comrie at #91, Ryan Malone at #115, Martin Erat at #191, Henrik Zetterberg at #210, Radim Vrbata at #212, and Mikko Eloranta at #247.

A lot of those latter round selections sound better than the 1st round picks.

By Jpuck

July 5, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

Link to NHL attendance statistics - http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?sort=home_pct&year=2008

You can rank by different factors - the only one that matters is PCT of total attendance - Atlanta has been 22 in the league the last two years (their highest ranking. It is interesting to notice the Teams that trail the Thrash. We do get a significant bump from hockey transplants - but it shows a deeper fan base than that. The potential attendance for winning would easily put us in the top 15.

By Kansas City, Kansas City Here We Come!

July 5, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

Brendan:

Jay Feaster hasn’t been involved in any of the Lightning deals. All of the announcements of trades and signings have come from the “nouveau riche” owners Koules and Barrie. Feaster hasn’t made one comment about signings, trades, etc. since the draft.

This smacks of Melrose and Brian Lawton orchestrating everything, with Koules and Barrie trying to take the credit for the moves.

Ironic, no telling, that in the 2000 Entry Draft, Nikulin and Usturnul (0 NHL games) were selected 31st and 42nd overall. Andreas Lilja, Paul Martin, Kurt Sauer, Niclas Wallin, Lubomir Visnovsky and John-Michael Liles came after them, and some much later.

There is no question that there are tons of misses in the draft and all teams look guilty at times. The problem is that if you don’t utilize the “free” picks wisely, you end up costing your team assets. Once you cost your team an asset, you have to be more desperate to acquire assets through other means. That, in short, has been a recurring theme here since inception.

By Brendan

July 5, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

That’s a very interesting and compelling post, Kansas City. I rather enjoyed reading that. “Meddling owners” tend to do more HARM than GOOD.

So, Brendan, What’s the BEST kind of owner/ownership? Answer: “The kind that writes checks and then GETS OUT OF THE WAY of the GM in whom they have complete and ‘legitimate trust.’”

Ya know, I’m going to be BEATEN UNMERCIFULLY for this, but I don’t think the ASG has confidence in Waddell leading the Thrashers back to the playoffs this year. Quite on the contrary, I think they do intend to sell the Thrashers to a local interest within the next three years. And I further think they find Waddell “useful” in achieving their objectives of stockpiling the team with high-end draft picks, while keeping payroll low, making the team VERY ATTRACTIVE for re-sale.

To REJECT such a notion means that you BELIEVE that the ASG is an assembly of MORONS, barely having the good sense to be able to walk and chew gum at the same. Or find their way out of the rain.

I don’t think the ASG is stupid. I think know EXACTLY what they’re doing. And in 2011, they’ll sell the Thrashers for $211 million, after having paid $131 million for privilege. And the yield, at that point, for eight (8) “caretaker” years of stewardship, will be an average yield of $10 million-a-year. Do the math. $80 million profit, divided by eight equals WHAT? There ya go. That’s what it’s all about.

If the Atlanta Spirit Group, LLC, ACTUALLY gave a DARN about the Thrashers, Waddell would have been shown the door after the Rangers swept us out of the 2007 playoffs. None of those trade deadline acquisitions, Dupuis, Belanger, Zhitnik, or Tkachuk, are still here. Belanger is in the midst of a 3-year deal in Minnesota. Zhitnik has been bought out. Dupuis was traded to Pittsburgh and re-signed, for 3-years. And Keith Tkachuk is on the back end of a 2-year with St. Louis, paying him $4.0 million.

Now. If YOU were the ownership, what would YOU do, in light of this factual data? You are in possession of eight season’s worth of Waddell Administration data. But you don’t think you should fire him. Please do EXPLAIN it, other than … for the belief that you are CONFIDENT that Waddell CAN and WILL lead your team back into the lottery draft, so that you can sell a team stocked with high-end draft picks to new ownership?

By five_hole

July 5, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

By and large Brendan I agree with you that 99 was a weak draft overall; however, I still maintain that with the 1st pick of the ‘99 draft, DW could have / should have taken one (or the other) of the Sedin twins and I would have been thrilled. I wouldn’t have expected Waddell to be able to get both. As I recall, Stephan was already considered damaged goods by virtue of multiple concussions by the age of 18.

Gillis may have dissing the Sedins because they’re coming up for contract negotiations. They are both UFA’s next year and based on what some got this year, will be very pricy next year.

I don’t expect every 8th rounder to be a hall-of-famer, however, when you draft in the top 10, I do expect a quality starter; either a top-6 lineman or a top-4 defenseman. While I think Valabik (8th overall) has potential, I don’t think many people ever expect him to be a top-4 guy. Stephan certainly was a bust. Kari hasn’t lived up to expectations, but he was rushed prematurely and has never had the defensive help he should. He may still pan out. Kovalchuk, Heatley & Coburn have lived up to their billing, so in top-10 picks, Waddell is only 50%.

By Brendan

July 5, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this

And that’s good clarification, five_hole. Nicely done. I do think one of the Sedins would have been nice. But I’m not sure they didn’t make it clear that they were a “package” deal. As “strange” as that sounds.

I try to imagine if Kovalchuk had an identical twin, if there would have been some way to get both of them? I kinda doubt it. I’m pretty sure the team picking 2nd overall in 2001 would say, “I want the OTHER Kovalchuk.”

By five_hole

July 5, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

Brendan I’m not sure Hockey draft picks have the kind of leverage to go as “packages”. Vancouver wheeled & dealt to be in the position to pick 2 & 3, but that was unusual. I know that it has happened in Football; John Elway said no when Indianapolis drafted him and Eli Manning told San Diego not to draft him (they did anyway).

If Kovalchuk had an identical twin, other than a center, you might not need the other 16 players (I’d still want a goalie). But point taken.

I do find it interesting going to blogs of other teams; the Canucks and Blue Jackets, the Islanders and Panthers are at least as vocal as we are about their “horrible” GM, awful drafting, etc. Puts things in perspective. By the way, does anyone know what a “Blue Jacket” refers to?

By Jpuck

July 5, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

From Wikipedia - Team name See also: Ohio in the American Civil War The name “Blue Jackets” was chosen to celebrate “patriotism, pride, and the rich Civil War history in the state of Ohio and city of Columbus.”[55] When President Abraham Lincoln requested that Ohio raise ten regiments at the outbreak of the Civil War, the state responded by raising a total of 23 volunteer infantry regiments for three months of service. Ohio also produced a number of great Civil War figures, including William Tecumseh Sherman, Ulysses S. Grant, Philip Sheridan, and George Custer. Columbus itself was host to large military bases, Camp Chase and Camp Thomas, which saw hundreds of thousands of Union soldiers and thousands of Confederate prisoners during the Civil War

By Chris M

July 5, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this

I stumbled upon a great blog about this past season with some interesting ideas and insite, just want to share.

http://anonymousthrashersblog.blogspot.com/

By five_hole

July 5, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this

Thanks Jpuck. So they’re just a bunch of Yankees, throwing it in our faces? Just kidding; I was born north of the Mason-Dixon line myself. It was very interesting reading.

By Josh

July 5, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this

I’d trade Lehtonen before I’d trade Pavelec. WTF! The Thrashers whether agreed or not are on their way to a place called ‘dire straits’….. This coming from a longtime Thrashers fan.

The more time goes by, the more BS pickups we make (HAINSEY IS OUR ANSWER ON D? Woooow), the less serious any potential FAs will take us.

Hell Recchi won’t even come back here and he pretty much resurrected his season here.

It’s not the players. It’s the management, or lack thereof.

The sooner DW is relieved of his duties and an established GM is put in place, the better. There’s several options out there, ownership is either oblivious to them or blind to the fact this ship is headed in the wrong direction.

By Quantrill

July 5, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this

Hey Jpuck. You forgot to mention me, William Clarke Quantrill. You may also want to research Custer a little more as he didn’t do so hot in the war unless he had Sheridan with him. Finishing last in his class at West Point sure showed at Little Big Horn. I’ll give you Grant, he was decent. Sherman? Only regret now is where is he when you really need him. Have you seen Atlanta lately?

By Marty

July 5, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this

I like the Hainsey pickup. Yeah I wanted Campbell, but he was offered more money in Chicago (Custance gave the numbers). You can’t say Recchi wouldn’t come back here because he has yet to be offered a contract to come back here. Let’s see if we actually get Nikulin and another RW before the start of the new season before we slit our wrists.

By Brendan

July 5, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this

Marty, as best I can tell, Waddell offered Campbell $60.3 million over nine (9) years. That’s a cap hit of $6.7 million. The actual figure Campbell accepted was $56.8 million, for a cap hit of $7.1 million.

Before we even address the mathematical difference between $60.3 million and $56.8 million, I plead to your sense of reason to consider the following.

If Brian Campbell really wanted to sign in Atlanta, he would have. It’s his choice. He’s UNRESTRICTED. He chooses his next team. If he wanted to play in Atlanta, he would have signed here almost irrespective of the money. Now, I realize … that some players can and do take the “highest bidder” approach. We call them Russians. Bah dum pum. I tease. I kid. In total seriousness, there are plenty of Russians who care about winning the Cup and sign with the teams they think are best positioned to do just that.

Hockey contracts are guaranteed. Waddell did technically offer more money. But in the end, if you really think about it, almost ALL Tier I free agents pretty much choose their next team. (Think Hossa, and the Red Wings! In the end, even Detroit acquiesced to Hossa’s demands to be there. Even if it only turns out to be one season.) These Tier I unrestricted free agents put a lot of thought into it, Marty. And their agents, having discussed such matters with their clients indepthly, use other team’s offers to drive up the cost. If these sports agents didn’t do this, they’d be “bad” at their jobs. They’d be leaving money on the table, not only for their clients, but also themselves, in the form of commissions. (And ohhh, we can’t have that!! They’ve got to bleed these teams DRY!) Don Waddell’s offers were “useful” to the Campbell camp. In the end, Chicago had to pay more than they otherwise would have, had Atlanta not been such an aggressive suitor. If Campbell really, truly wanted to play in Atlanta, he could have, and would have, accepted Atlanta’s nine (9) year deal, for a guaranteed $3.5 million more than what Chicago offered.

That’s the truth.

By Hockey belongs up north

July 5, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this

Brendan if your going to plead with someone plead with yourself to look at contracts in relative terms and not just absolute terms. But that’s ok keep going on thinking the hockey boogieman is under your bed and no one wants to come to your pathetic city with your pathetic fans. Blame everyone else and keep spending all your time blaming your GM while the real problem that they won’t spend money has nothing to do with the owners but the fact that your pathetic town already lost one NHL team and it’s about to lose another. Even your own fans sign on with names like “Kansas City here we come”.

By David

July 5, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this

Hockey belongs up north? umm right, that’s why Quebec moved to Denver. That’s why Winnipeg moved to Phoenix. Get over yourself.

By Tim

July 5, 2008 10:41 PM | Link to this

FYI, The Sedins made it very clear that they will play for they same team or stay in Sweden. It was their choice as long as a contract was not sign.

By The Other Bob

July 5, 2008 10:57 PM | Link to this

Uh, actually… only DUMB-@$$ES belong up north.

By Alan

July 6, 2008 4:04 AM | Link to this

Thanks, Other Bob, but no thanks. Send them to Florida instead.

But he does have a point. I get bored and tired of reading yet another Brendan Cynic Special day after day. It’s the same s** over and over again. Yes, we get it. You think the owners are only out to spend just enough to make the team look marketable, then sell it to someone else. That’s all well and good if that’s what you think. But it’s been posted over and over again since before I became a regular poster here on these blogs.

I stated back in Feb and Mar that I got bored and tired of the other guys saying the same crap over and over again. This is no different. We get it already! Now if you don’t mind, try posting something new once in a while.

Lastly, hockey doesn’t just “belong up north.” There are plenty of hockey fans all across the world, many of them in climates that people would say “can’t support hockey.” They’ve got teams, though. This is a football market here. The Falcons sucked worse than ever (the jury is still out on whether they will continue to suck this year), but they still manage to sell out a stadium. There’s a huge lack of marketing when it comes to hockey in this town, and that is the only real thing that bothers me. There are very few billboards, practically nothing on the side of city buses, absolutely no advertising on the subway, and the only radio and TV spots appear on 640AM and SportSouth. Un-good.

People don’t come to hockey games because they don’t know the sport exists in this town.

And no, this team isn’t moving anywhere, unless the owners sell out to Balsillie. And I can’t see them doing that unless a certain someone wins his court case.

By Big Jon

July 6, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

I found some highlights of our boy Nikulin!! Well hopefully our boy. He looks pretty solid to me, man I hope he pans out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hTnc8rXWSQ

By BigAl

July 6, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this

Brendan Now, I realize … that some players can and do take the “highest bidder” approach. We call them Russians. Bah dum pum You are a MORON

We have 2 Russian players under contract right now.

KOVY; who signed a 5 year 32 million contract (when he could’ve gotten another 3 mil plus easy by holding out for MORE MONEY) and who is your BIG star (personally I think he’s selfish and useless and the team will NEVER succeed until he truly becomes a TEAM player)

and

KOZZIE: who turned down an extra 2 million (offered by Dallas) to stay here and play for an experienced proven COACH

I’m not sure where you get your info from “regarding the Russians” you so quickly slander but I’m pretty sure you must be talking about either another team or another “foreign coutnry”. Which makes you a BIGOT

Maybe you (like DW) would like to stock the roster with great American players only?! Maybe the Hainsey, Stuart, Slater and Klees of the world have lots of great talented family that we could have our very own KLAN down here in the South?!

At any rate; YOU ARE A MORON and A JACKA$$ !!

By Sage of Bluesland

July 6, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

I agree, Alan—your incessant defense of the indefensible is rather tiring…

Please, I beg of you, come up with substantive data to support your sheep’s desire of defending your Donny…

Be proactive for once in your blog-life. You might like it. We would be appreciative, I can assure you…

By HookyBob

July 6, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

Brendon I, and I suspect many other bloggers at this site,.. value your posts. They are chaulk full of relavant facts, situations, insights, and scenarios directly related to “how to improve this franchise.”

After 9 years of Thrasher mediocrity this remains the most critical discussion. It is unfortunate that until certian changes are made,… the debate will continually circle around and point to the same problem(s).

I salute you for maintaining a high level of decorum through the blog debates. Now,..there have been days when I haven’t had the attention span for your posts. Not a problem though,..the down arrow is ready when I am. :)

By Brendan

July 6, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this

Thank you, HookyBob. I appreciate your support. Of course, you might wind up a “bigot” by association. So be advised. In total seriousness, that’s not gonna happen. :)

So, how ‘bout these Sabres moves, moving Bernier for picks and giving up two to get Rivet?

By Ted Roberts

July 6, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

What?

That’s it?

Ron F-ing Hainsey and that’s it?

BWAH HAH HA!

Get to work you incompetent a-holes!

By choppy

July 6, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

is the k. lehtinen trade true?

By David

July 6, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

what trade?

By Hockey belongs up north

July 6, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

Don’t blame me for repeating what you are saying already. Go read Sir Brendans post again. And many others. You poor people create excuse after excuse why good players don’t want to play in your town. Believe it or not, your GM has a good reputation around the league. It is the residents of Atlanta, Georgia who say that you are not a place that hockey players want to be at. You are the same bandwagon fans who won’t support the Braves during the playoffs. Unless your Thrashers are in the semifinals, you bash your city as being a place no one wants to come to. Even when players turn down Atlanta for more money in Chicago ($7.1/year > $6.7/year), you put the blame on someone else as an excuse not to buy tickets. That’s all your looking for, an excuse not to buy tickets the way you don’t support the Braves.

By David

July 6, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

and BigAl is just stupid

By kracker

July 6, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

BigAl, Come on, there is no need to be so insulting while trying to make whatever your points were. You just come off sounding like a nut. I don’t generally even read the posts with a lot of bold and caps and italics. Overusing the emphasis tools renders them meaningless. The reader will decide what is worthwile in your words. You’re sort of a newer poster (at least to me) so I have read you a few times but I don’t think I need to see anymore. You can, of course, feel free to ignore me as well.

By Thrashers27

July 6, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

“Hockey belongs up north”,

Do you have nothing better to do with your time then pester people you don’t know in a town that you may, or may not have ever been to? I would gather that you are probably a big fan of the sport, so why don’t you just appreciate fans anywhere you can find them. There are too few true fans as it is and the sport needs all the support it can muster to compete with other professional sports.

By Thrashers27

July 6, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Big Al, I’m sorry I must say that it is you who is a moron. Lighten up, Francis! They guy made a joke!

We’re not here for civics lessons, we’re here because we love HOCKEY!!!

By Hockey belongs up north

July 6, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

Thrrashers27 I do appreciate good hockey fans that’s why the people on this blog drive me crazy and I had to say something. You make up every reason in the world not to support your team when there are plenty of other cities that would. Since when is there a deadline for free agency? Yet you want your team to make as many deals as possible in a 24 hour timespan or will refuse to buy your season tickets. All your whining about how big stars don’t want to play for your team is just stupid. Hossa turned downed the Pittsburgh Penguins, do you here them crying how no one wants to play with Sidney Crosby? NO. If you don’t appreciate the sport go back to watching your car races and bass fishing. Don’t make up all this garbage about why you won’t buy tickets. We took the Flames, we’ll be happy to take the Thrashers too!

By Thrashers27

July 6, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this

The only question you failed to answer is “do you have nothing better to do?”

Get off of your hockey high horse and pay attention to your own affairs, hoser.

By Jonesboro

July 6, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

“Hockey belongs up north”,

I am very proud that I don’t go to Braves game at Turner Field. Last game I went to in Fulton County Stadium in 1995.

That’s right, the year they won the World Series. And until they win it again I am not giving them a penny.

I only support champions and unless brilliant Donny Fraudell wins the cup he ain’t got no chance of getting a penny from me either.

By Alan

July 6, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

I agree, Alan—your incessant defense of the indefensible is rather tiring

Defense of what, I wonder? Please, tell me exactly what I’ve been defending?

You can’t, can you? I didn’t think you could. Some Sage you are. You sit there and refer to me as a sheep, but you are the one who is blindly following.

In case you haven’t noticed over the past, oh, six months or so (at least), I have been nothing but critical of Don. Alas, I can’t expect someone as blind as you to notice. Even Dave knows where I stand on Don. So unless you have anything relevant to add, instead of repeating yourself over and over again, I ask kindly that you keep your ignorant remarks to yourself.

Thank you, and have a good day.

By Sage of Bluesland

July 6, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

Wow…a big “six months or so” and NOW he can SEE!!!

You’re laughable!

By Hockey belongs up north

July 6, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this

Thrashers27 & Jonesboro, “do you have nothing better”. It’s actually “do you have anything better”. “he ain’t got no chance”. I’ll get to that one when I stop laughing. But thank you for your bandwagon testimony. If you boys are going to debate someone above the Mason Dixon line, first learn English, then learn hockey, then we’ll have 2 things in common that we can discuss. If a hockey stick fell over in Phillips Arena would anyone be there to hear it? Not when the Thrashers relocate :)

By Thrashers27

July 6, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

Not that it’s any of your biz, Hoser, but I’m from a place that is probably further north of the Mason Dixon Line than you are…and actually both forms of that question are correct and acceptable, so take your english lessons elsewhere. I actually do that kind of thing for a living and I’m sure you see and hear my proper grammar and english everyday when you’re sitting at home watching your TV in your tighty whities.

I’m beginning to wonder if you’re another incarnation of that douchebag from Detroit.

Any way you slice it, I’m done with you, so wipe your mouth and call your Mom to come pick you up. I’m not wasting any more time with you.

By Hockey belongs up north

July 6, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this

Thrashers27, so you were born somewhere north of the Mason Dixon line (not more north of me though). But since then you have been desensitized to things among those of us who understand the finer points of hockey and now you make excuses to being a bandwagon fan. You are correct on one thing though. I do hear your English (p.s. that’s supposed to be capitalized) everyday on t.v. (you capitalized t.v. but not the word “English”?). Of course, since I don’t spend much time watching the channel TVLand, I don’t see such popular programming as The Andy Griffith Show, Mama’s Family, Hee Haw, etc. Mama’s Family, that one makes me laugh just typing it. Hehehe. Mama’s Family :)

By Alan

July 6, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

And you’re nothing more than a troll, “Sage.” Keep in mind, I’ve only been posting on these blogs since November. You’d know that, though, if you had been paying attention.

By Shoot it

July 6, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this

Wow. I hope DW does make some more moves just so you guys can stop sniping at one another. I like to read the hockey talk but these attacks on one another have got to stop.

By Bob

July 6, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this

Hey Brendan, check out this news about Boyle, he never would have agreed to come here in a trade. Check out how the new Lightning owners pressured him into waiving his no trade clause to accept the deal to San Jose, they told him they’d waive him and he’d get picked up by us if he didn’t waive it, and that forced him to accept the trade to avoid getting picked up by us on the waiver wire:

What a great job Don has done here to build us into the Official Laughing Stock of the NHL

I think we can now call this tactic The Thrashers’ Banishment Ultimatum to force a player into waiving their No Trade Clause.

Anyone have any doubts about where Kovy’s going the year after next?

Any of you still suffer under the delusion that Campbell didn’t want to be here because it’s too far from his family? Oh wait, Chicago offered more money, right? Sure, even Boyle waived his freakin no trade clause to avoid us like the plague.

By MB

July 6, 2008 7:48 PM | Link to this

Okay Bob, I’ll bite…where is Kovy going the year after next?

By Hockey belongs up north

July 6, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this

Kovy wants to play for real hockey fans! Not bandwagon fans who only buy season tickets if their team wins the championship.

By Brendan

July 6, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this

Bob, Boyle sure sounds upset. I don’t think anyone can blame him. This new ownership in Tampa Bay sure has a “way” of doing business. Another poster suggested that GM Jay Feaster isn’t even really in charge, anymore. He’s just following the new ownership’s marching orders. I can’t picture this being Feaster’s doing, exclusively.

Another thought occurs to me, Boyle could have had eight (8) chances a year to “stick it” to Tampa Bay, if he’d have come to Atlanta. But, as the article says, he didn’t want to get picked up by a team that was six years away from competing for a Cup. For the record, I can’t think Atlanta, or ANY team, is that far away. Just keep finishing LAST, and the team is bound to get a little bit better every single year, and be fully loaded down the road.

As you know, I like Dan Boyle a lot. (Down Ranallo. Down.) I consider him to be a Tier One defenseman. And his presence here would have made a dramatic change to our blueline. Enough to soften the blow of “supposedly” missing out on Brian Campbell. It’s a dubious claim to even think he was coming here.

Stop. Brian Campbell would have fired his agent if he wound in Chicago when he really wanted to be in Atlanta, for $3.5 million more, guaranteed, over the life of the contract. Think about that. Did he fire his agent? Not to my knowledge. I’m over it and ready to move on. Waddell tried his very best. The ownership tried their very best. The effort was THERE. Bygones. We’re just not at a point where we can attract Tier I players. Down the road, we will be.

But the truth is … players want to win. Players are often painted as “money driven” creatures, but when they get choice to pick a team, they put some thought into it, even compromising a bit sometimes. (How much did Hossa leave on the table, when 5-8 year offers came his way. And was $7.4 million Hossa’s “market value?” He could have gotten $9 million from someone else.)

Dan Boyle got to pick his team last February. He chose Tampa Bay. Perhaps out of loyalty. Perhaps because his family likes it there. Or perhaps because he believed the new ownership was committed to winning the Cup. As he states in the article, he expected to be a cornerstone piece of that Stanley Cup puzzle. I feel bad for him. But, he’s going to a contending team in San Jose. From the Thrashers’ perspective, I’m kind glad he’s gone from the division. I’m not sure Carle will be as good or dependable. Boyle’s departure might be GREAT NEWS for the Thrashers.

By Bob

July 6, 2008 11:01 PM | Link to this

Boyle sure sounds upset. I don’t think anyone can blame him

yep, I figured you’d find that pretty wild about Boyle.

I can’t picture this being Feaster’s doing, exclusively

You’re right, it sounds like the new owners are making some calls on their own.

By Tony C.

July 7, 2008 12:01 AM | Link to this

Feaster is only there to finish out his contract-look at all the moves Tampa’s made-bringing in Western Canada boys to round out the coaching staff, Trading away a guy Feaster made the centerpiece of their defense, Olaf Kolzig as their answer to the enormous vacuum they call “Goaltender”. Now, say what you want about feaster, he has shown that he finally understood the cap and what he had to to do to “get right” in the new landscape-now he didn’t get “max value” for Richards, but at the same time, I’m pretty sure that Feaster felt some personal loyalty to the guy and traded him to a team where Richards had a legit shot at winning. You look at these moves they’ve made the past couple of weeks and it SCREAMS “new owner-itis”. Outside of the Vrbata deal, they don’t make a lot of sense. Sure Malone is a good player, but that good? C’mon. Barry got a man-crush after seeing the guy get back out there with a broken orbital bone and said “get me that guy”. He’s not a bad move, but you’ve got to think that unless he plays on the LeCavellier line (which dicks up re-uniting Prospal with him and St. Louis), he’s not going to be getting the quality feeds he got from Crosby. I’ll bet you his numbers are significantly down this coming season.

Oh, and Up North. The only reason yall got the Flames is because Cousins made the wrong bet in real-estate market. Not because people didn’t come out to see them. Trust me, the Flames were a hot ticket. Also, even though a lot of people aren’t as educated as their counterparts in Canookia, we have pretty darn good attendence numbers given the overall sucky-ness of the product that’s been put out on the ice the past 9 years.

Doesn’t sound like Feaster’s calling the shots to me.

By Rocco

July 7, 2008 1:31 AM | Link to this

So Don signs 1 guy, right? Your freakin kidding me. Come on, fire this schmuck! 1 guy comes here? This is unacceptable.