Thrashers

By beau vighn

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

First….I know I can hardly contain my enthusiasm with these signings. And think, we are almost at the league minimum in salary. Should be a great season.

By Bob

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

Knobler, I saw that Anderson’s asst. coach from Chicago was there working with the prospects, what other coaches are there?

By B. Thenet

July 9, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this

Mike, these other three guys are purely depth signings I assume. Chicago bound unless they go nutty in the preseason camp…right?

By Marty

July 9, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this

Mike: more importantly, what’s up with Nikulin? Is he coming or no?

By The Other J.B.

July 9, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this

Never heard of ‘em. Looks like Stevenson had a decent stint with the Sharks and may be of some value. Reading about Bogo’s performance in camp this week, especially on the Thrashers site, has gotten me pretty excited about the upcoming season regardless of the disappointing off-season thus far though. Any news on Nikulin, Mike? When can we expect to hear the good news from Russia?

By Smoothie

July 9, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

Mike — have you had a chance to ask Donnie boy if he’s picked up the phone to call Paul Holmgren about the possibility of taking Mike Knuble off their salary-strapped hands so Kovy will have a legit scoring threat to his right. If nothing else, it’s a stop-gap measure that takes some pressure off Kovy with the potential for Knuble to really flourish a la Keith Tkachuk when he was here for 2 mos in 2007. Also, his salary of $2.9 M is pretty good value for a guy with the potential to score 25-35 goals.

Or is our esteemed GM giving you the constant double-speak run-around? Perhaps he’s not even answering his cell.

By Krust

July 9, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

This is really sad, we are doing nothing. Those free agent signings do nothing for us. This season is over before it gets started.

By Brad

July 9, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this

The Flyers do not need to move Knuble to get under the cap. They will put Derian Hatcher on LTIR.

By Anthony

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

Bogo has me totally excited about the coming season. I can’t wait to see how he looks in his first game at Philips Arena.

By Smoothie

July 9, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this

Brad, didn’t Hatcher play some down the stretch this past season with Coburn?? Also, why would Hatcher not count against the cap even if he is on LT IR…Rucchin counted against our cap and I thought LT IR only gave you relief for 1/2 his salary. They’d still be over the cap if that’s the case as Hatcher makes $3.5 M.

By Mike Knobler

July 9, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this

Some answers, until I get a new blog posted in the next half-hour or so:

�Nikulin situation is ongoing. Signs still positive, but there are no guarantees.

�The free agent signings other than Boulton are to add organizational depth. That doesn’t mean they might not all play in Atlanta by season’s end, but they’re not Plan A.

�Yes, there is a Plan A. Look for some kind of trade from a team that’s in cap trouble to a Thrashers team that can absorb some salary and needs some players. No, I don’t have specific trade rumors, although you guys seem to have no trouble producing those without my help.

�Todd Nelson is here, as is Wendell Young. John Anderson’s eldest son was helping out today, too. Longtime Thrashers assistant Steve Weeks was in the stands.

�If your question was really about who the Thrashers will hire as assistant coaches … At least one of Anderson’s coaches will be someone with recent NHL experience; you can count on that. Waddell said he and Anderson are both conducting the search, that they agree on names, and that candidates are coming from both inside and outside the organization.

By Mark

July 9, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this

Hatcher failed his post season physical due to chronic knee problems and if the season were to start today he would go on the LTIR because he would not be cleared to play. Rathje is also going to be placed on LTIR prior to the season. With those two moves the Flyers are about $2M under the Cap. If Hatcher comes off LTIR, his full salary counts against the Cap and the Flyers are about $1.5M over, thru my calculations and NHLnumbers.com. Someone would have to be moved if Hatcher is going to play this coming season. That is still in doubt at this point as the last I heard he was trying to get a 2nd opinion on his knee.

By Alan

July 9, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this

At least one of Anderson’s coaches will be someone with recent NHL experience; you can count on that.

This is interesting. I’m intrigued at what names are being thrown around, and what our coaching staff will look like by the time things really start to pick up as we head towards the start of the season.

By LAC

July 9, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this

More of the same crap, career minor leaguers, nobody ever heard of outside Des Moines and Boulton, which is next to nothing.

Where are these Great Promises of STAR players, Top Center etc…

Just more asg & waddell GARBAGE, they have ZERO intention of fielding a winning team here and they loth the fans who want a winner so badly.

I’m afraid it’s time to choose another NHL team to support, the Thrashers are what everyone acknowledges The Joke of the NHL.

Until waddell is sent packing and new owners… Who Will NOT LIE, we have no chance of winning, get your fill of #17 the next two seasons, he is as good as gone, and WHY NOT with these FOOLS running this club who would want to stay here ??????????????????????????????????

By ranallo10

July 9, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this

I would like to see Sullivan hired for PK/Special Teams, McCudden (skating and skills coach) and Nelson (assistant coach) promoted from within, and Bear (strength and conditioning coach) retained. Kevin Weekes and Wendell Young are 6 of one, half-dozen of the other, so I don’t mind seeing either of them retained/promoted, but I would hope Hedberg has that job locked up in about 2-3 seasons.

By 12345

July 9, 2008 6:19 PM | Link to this

Hey Mike… Please ask Waddell when, for the good of the team, he is resigning ?

That would be the best news ever for this team, to have that nut out of here, then we could see what winning is like, no more losing aka Waddell….

By Tom

July 9, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this

Again, for this upcoming year,this team will be too small.Most NHL teams have gone for size via the free agent mode or trades.These small guys will not cut it this year again. Poor Kovy.We need the Colburns,etc. to make us competitve.

By Jethro = Stroz

July 9, 2008 6:37 PM | Link to this

So is it also common knowledge that LAC is 12345 or is that also part of Stroz’s comedic relief?

By ranallo10

July 9, 2008 6:54 PM | Link to this

Yes

By Sage of Bluesland

July 9, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this

Whoever subsidizes this utter incompetence is a…a…a…

(well, you know what you are)

By Krust

July 9, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this

Everyone remember the 1973-1974 Washinton Capitals, I think this thrashers team might be that bad. If Waddell doies not get a few good players in the next two weeks this team is going to be the door mat of the league. Waddell beg Bondra out of retirement. Maybe Patricia’s hip has healed.

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July 21, 2008 9:30 PM | Link to this

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