Thrashers

By Sara

September 5, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

Go Mikey - three blogs in three days! Nice.

By Tony C.

September 5, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

Nice work Knobes, any word from the vets (especially Havelid, SlavaMatic) on what they’re looking forward to, or what they expect from working with Coach Anderson?

By Mike Knobler

September 5, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this

Tony C. I spoke with Havelid, Klee and Boulton (I’m probably forgetting someone) a couple of weeks ago and Perrin, Thorburn, Christensen and Boulton today, and the consistent word is they’re excited about working with the new coach but really haven’t spoken with him much. When I spoke with Anderson a couple of weeks ago, he had talked one-on-one with Kari but not with anyone else. Players who haven’t played for Anderson say they’ve heard good things about him. Players who have played for him say good things about him.

By Bob

September 5, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

Nice to see Esposito here

By Tony C.

September 5, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this

Yeah Bob, I agree. Everything I’ve read about this kid says he has all the talent in the world, but motivation/work ethic has been questioned and apparently he got a big head a few years back. I think being dissed and then traded by PGH and winding up in the “backwater” that is Le Thrash has really lit a fire in this kid.

Which is good. I think that sometimes guys get painted with a broad brush early in their careers and even though that person may change dramatically, that perception may never change.

Just think about how many Canadian writers still call #17 a “prima-donna brat”. Even though those of us who have watched him grow (especially over the last season and a half) would be quick to contest that.

I hope Esposito does make it very hard to send him back to Juniors, and in fact makes himself an attractive call-up option. But I don’t think he’s quite ready for prime-time.

I’d love for him to prove otherwise and be a productive player at the NHL level all year, but let’s be real-the kid’s 18 or 19 right? He’s obviously had some problems with his approach to the game so i think a season of Juniors in front of his home-town family/friends/fans will do him good.

But I think it speaks volumes about his re-dedication that he’s here and working with the big boys. That sort of action flies in the face of the bad press we see attached to him after his Team Canada snub.

You know Russia has never invited Slava back to their nat’l team even after the end of the USSR. Weird how politics and personal feelings sometimes get in the way of putting your best lineup out there huh?

By UpperDeck4Life

September 5, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this

Mike, were you surprised to see Esposito down here working with the players instead of up home in Montreal? I was wondering if you could ask him why next time your out there as well? Thanks

By Tom

September 6, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

Be a part of the Thrashers as Thrash assistant. Position also enables candidates to tryout out for Right Wing on 3rd and 4th line…

http://hockeyjobs.nhl.com/teamwork/r.cfm?i=20373

By Bob

September 6, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this

Use energy and personality to interact and excite large crowds for duration of home games

Large?

By sisu

September 6, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this

what large crowds! :)

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 7, 2008 5:39 AM | Link to this

Yeah…and how often does the crowd stay for the duration?

By LAC

September 7, 2008 7:27 AM | Link to this

Another season looms, and the people in the Canada markets are all over us yet again.

Move the team to Quebec, move to Winnipeg, move to here there and anywhere in Canada.

Then DUMBA$$ e.j.hadrak of espn, says Ilya needs to be with another team, We have NO offense, I do agree there, but just why in the HELL is everyone calling for our demise ?

These idiot owners are doing a fine job of looking like FOOLS and waddell would have been fired years ago with a franchise that really WANTS TO WIN !

But these canada bumbs need to get over it. Go form your own Canada Hockey League and leave us alone !

I laugh when I see them say NOBODY goes to games in Atlanta, BS !!!!!!

How about those New Jersey Devils, about LAST in league attendence, they drew better in Kansas City than NJ, and the Island, always plenty of empty seats there and how about Boston ? What 26th in attendence ? But nobody rags on Tampa or Carolina or Dallas, but us and Nashville catch ALL the flack.

I just wish the ownwers here would quit lying, they promised changes for this upcoming season and what did we get ? NOTHING except more LIES.

I hope Bilken wins, at least having an OWNER is better than these clowns we are stuck with now…

By Tony C.

September 7, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this

It’s because those writers have their beach houses on the carolina shore or down in clearwater.

If we were on the coast it’d be all Nashville.

By GaVaHokie

September 8, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

The state of Georgia should have sued the makers of “Deliverance” a long time ago… i think it’s a pretty solid northern mentality that this state is full of inbred hicks.

By Alan

September 8, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

Hokie: i think it’s a pretty solid northern mentality that this state is full of inbred hicks.

Actually, the use of phrases like “GIT R DUN” doesn’t really help change the way people feel about the south in general. But I digress.

LAC: I laugh when I see them say NOBODY goes to games in Atlanta, BS !!!!!!

If Atlanta showed to be more consistent in the wins column, the perception would change. They also pick on Florida, Phoenix, and even Los Angeles… but not so much on Tampa Bay or Carolina.

We are below the 40th parallel, and that means Canadians who are still bitter about Quebec City and Winnipeg will direct their ire in the collective direction of teams that aren’t doing well and are below the 40th.

You make some good points, though, and I agree with you on most of them. The problem is, we catch hell because we’re a mediocre (or worse) team in a non-traditional market. If we made it to the playoffs on a more consistent basis, even going deep a few times, then the naysayers will be forced to eat their crow. And believe me, they’ve got piles of it they should be forced to consume.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 8, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

Alan — Nashville wins and is consistently competitive, but can’t draw 15000 on average and because of that continues to get beat on by traditionalist hockey fans (especially Canadians).

Winning wont shut everyone up…some people like to complain just to because they can.

By GaVaHokie

September 8, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this

Back to hockey news… the Chicago Wolves signed Jeff Hamilton. Good stuff.

Andy Strickland also says we’re still seeking a veteran D-man.

By Alan

September 8, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

ranallo - Nashville is also a city very much entrenched in college sports. While Atlanta is much the same way, Atlanta also has roughly four million more people. Thusly, we can out-draw Nashville, even with our mediocrity, because there are enough people here who want to see some hockey.

Nashville will get their fans, sooner or later. They need to appeal more to the population. With Atlanta, it’s a combination of having a less than stellar team and the fact that the Thrashers marketing department is inept.

By GaVaHokie

September 8, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

Mike… can you check on the Jeff Hamilton signing by the Wolves. Since the Wolves are independently owned, is he restricted to Chicago? Is it a two-way deal? etc?

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 8, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

Alan — I’m not comparing the two cities and their potential fan base/draw. I’m saying that Nashville, for example, is a solid team that has strung together several playoff appearances, and has challenged for the President’s trophy several times. Due to their lack of draw (for whatever reason you want to pick from the multitude of reasons), Canadians and hockey traditionalists latch onto the game attendance aspect and claim that the Predators should be moved.

My point is merely that someone will always find something negative to complain about, when they’re speaking about something they’re already jaded towards. Canadian fans are jaded towards most southern hockey teams, or non-traditional markets, thus they will always find a reason to complain about the teams being in that location. Winning, drawing fans, etc…in my opinion that wont keep people from b*** and moaning.

Kinda like some of the people around here.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 8, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

Hokie — It’s an AHL contract per the Wolves website. Thus any team is able to sign him to an NHL contract if they care to.

By Sara

September 8, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

Ranallo the biggest problem in the Nashville market has been a lack of corporate sponsors and the big revenue that follows from it. Casual fan/STH sales have gone pretty well there. Whereas here we’ve had mostly the opposite problem - it’s a great corporate market, but crappy for “average joe attendance.”

Unfortunately corporations don’t want to support “losers” unless there is still a high marketability factor. Poor attendance isn’t going to encourage Aaron’s or whomever to want to re-up - they could probably spend just as much for more TV or print advertising and reach more people (as long as the commercials don’t air during Thrasher games). On top of that is how much corporations might cut down on such things during an economic downturn. Hard to know but I would imagine advertising/sponsorships through the Thrashers isn’t as high on the marketing priority list as other things. Nor Thrasher season tickets/boxes as a company entertainment/perk tool.

It’s amazing how complicated this hockey business gets the more you start really thinking about all the angles involved.

And oh yeah - inept is way too kind of an adjective for that marketing department. They did oust the guy in charge of Marketing - dePaoli or something like that. So we’ll see perhaps what a new director might do next season. I’d like to see them vamp up the intro more - it used to be a lot cooler in the beginning. And better marketing in the community. Personally I think they blew it last year for the All-Star game, not doing nearly enough to promote the event and capitalize on it as a marketing tool. I’ve often wondered how many Atlantans never even realized the ASG was here.

By Alan

September 8, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

My point is merely that someone will always find something negative to complain about, when they’re speaking about something they’re already jaded towards.

Oh, indeed. I’m just trying to rationalize why Nashville has an attendance problem worse than Atlanta’s. What I stated above, coupled with the fact that Nashville is a consistent first round dropout in the playoffs (Nashville has never been to the conference semifinals), is probably reason enough for the whinier of Canadians to justify moving the team to Saskatoon MB, Red Deer AB, Sault Ste Marie ON, Yellowknife NT, or whatever other city they want to have a team.

By Sara

September 8, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

Sorry, I guess my above post was directed more toward Alan than Ranallo. Eh, either way I suppose.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 8, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

Sara — I too thought the same thing about Atlanta’s knowledge that the All-Star Game was in the city. The basketball ASG got far more publicity, where as the hockey ASG got back page news and barely any recognition on the radio. In fact, Kincaide basically boycotted talking about the game simply because the NHL decided to use a different radio station than 680 The Fan (which I think Kincaide was being a complete baby about the whole thing, and I can’t believe I took the time to read the complaint he wrote about it on 680 website).

Nashville is definitely a different beast than Atlanta when it comes to drawing fans and continued attendance/financial support from the city. Just like in Atlanta, there is no doubt that the hardcore fans love their team, but the problem is both corporations/casual fans attending games. I think your worry about the economy affecting the corporations decision to invest in the team also affects the hardcore/casual fans decisions to attend the games as well. While 2000 unsold individual game tickets doesn’t impact the bottom line as much as a lost sponsor, I think both are something that any team in a non-traditional market should be cognizant of, and any marketing group worth a lick should figure out plans to entice those people to spend the disposable income on hockey (and not big screen TVs or comfy couches to watch the game from home on).

Personally, I’ve never attended a game in Nashville because I don’t care much for the city…it offers little to entice me to visit the city and watch a hockey game at the same time. I’m sure there are plenty of people that think the same way, as I would not waste a trip to a city I care little about just to be able to say I’ve seen a hockey game there. Some people would (not that there’s anything wrong with doing that), but personally I don’t care to put a notch in my bedpost to visit a city that has nothing for me outside of a 2-3 hour hockey game (which they play country music during…yuck).

By Alan

September 8, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

Sara - Perhaps I was being too kind, but I also hadn’t (and still haven’t) had enough coffee. It’s painful to walk around the city and only see a Thrashers advert on the odd random MARTA bus and in front of Philips.

Those of us regular posters who attended the draft party will remember that I bought a couple Thrashers hats. The new “draft” style. I wear one regularly now (in place of my Red Wings hat, which I’ve retired due to it having collected five years of dirty city air and sweat) and am asked every so often on the bus or train what the logo on my hat means.

I recall mentioning it last year and someone essentially telling me I was nuts for it, but I think the Thrashers should really do more advertising with MARTA. First and foremost, there’s a station entrance right at the doors of Philips. Secondly, the more people know about the Thrashers, the more people will be curious about them.

Tampa Bay has billboards all across the city heralding the arrival of Steven Stamkos. Atlanta has … nothing. Absolutely nothing. Nothing about the arrival of Bogosian, nothing about Kovalchuk, just… nothing. Nothing except for the odd sign that reads “Atlanta Thrashers” on the side of a small number of MARTA buses. That’s really going to interest people. The Atlanta Dream adverts, which appear in and around MARTA as well as on several billboards across the city, are far more detailed than that.

Nashville’s problem may be more corporate, but Atlanta’s might have a solution in better marketing of the team. I hope the new guy does more to spur interest, because this team really needs more casual fans to come more in support of the Thrashers, and not their old home team.

-steps off Brendan’s soapbox-

By Bob

September 8, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

If Atlanta showed to be more consistent in the wins column, the perception would change

Yep, if this team was competitive, the place would sell out every night. Look at the buzz that was generated and all the casual fans that showed up leading up to and during the 2 playoff games. This town is pretty simple that way, due to the many transplants that have their real “home” team, they hold out until a local team gets hot and then jumps on the bandwagon.

It’s pretty simple to market a club in this town, Just win, baby

By Sara

September 8, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

ranallo Nashville is actually a GREAT place to go watch a game. I’ve been there on several occasions and always had a blast! The arena is wonderful (and personally IMO better than Philips), the staff are competent, and the fans are welcoming and passionate. Even during game 6 of the play-offs, an elimination game for the home team, and me walking around their arena in enemy regalia, the fans were all supercool, all trash talk was good-natured, and most were very receptive to talking about their club and hockey in general. And they do not actually play country music the entire game. ;P

So it is very unfortunate that the franchise has done a great job of putting together a great facility and in-game experience and a winning team and yet they cannot get all the financial support they need.

By Brendan

September 8, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

Bob, in this regard, I think Atlanta has the potential for accountability. That is, if fans abstain in losing years it sends a message to the ownership that they’d better improve, or face the likelihood of more empty seats in the future.

Sage of Bluesland would call this “voting with your wallet.” He’d advocate, “Stop subsidizing the incompetence. You’re just enabling more of the same with every ticket purchase.”

It is problematic. Most Thrashers fans probably do want to support the team, financially. This would allow them (ownership/GM) to have a better shot at signing higher tiered free agents during the offseason. But then, look at Toronto and Los Angeles, which I’m told, do very well, attendance-wise, in losing seasons. So, where’s the incentive to change? If the Leafs sellout the arena 41-times with a 22-win season, the ownership got its money. What are the consequences for doing absolutely nothing to remedy the win/loss situation?

I’d bet there are Leafs fans who are mad that the team sells out its games in such seasons. They want accountability. They want consequences for poor performance.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 8, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

Sara — I don’t doubt the arena is great, nor do I doubt it’s an enjoyable experience to watch a game there…the problem for me is that before and after the game, what’s there to do in Nashville? Personally I’m not one for the history of country music, so scratch that off the list. Then what’s left? I’ve been to the airport, so that’s another exciting attraction…anything else?

Like I said, I’m not into going to a city just to see a hockey game, unless there’s more for me to do in that city than just drop a couple hundred on tickets and then go home.

By Bob

September 8, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this

I’d bet there are Leafs fans who are mad that the team sells out its games in such seasons. They want accountability. They want consequences for poor performance

Oh, they do. The “real” fans constantly bemoan all the suits that show up late and leave early. I don’t know for sure, but I’d guess that they’re one of the most expensive tickets in hockey, as well. However, I don’t doubt their management is doing their best to win, shoot, they’re tanking this year just to wait and get the best GM in hockey on board. That says a lot.

By Alan

September 8, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

I’d bet there are Leafs fans who are mad that the team sells out its games in such seasons. They want accountability. They want consequences for poor performance.

…And as I advocated fans in Atlanta do, Leaf fans go to the games and voice their displeasure instead of sitting on their wallets. That’s why JFJ was fired last season. And let’s not forget the fans in Washington who screamed for the head of coach Hanlon. Remember the screaming, guys? The Thrashers were there that night. The game was televised. I heardthe screaming loud and clear during the second period. Remember what happened the very next day? Exactly.

An arena full (or even half full) of fans screaming for the head of the man responsible of their teams ills will be heard loud and clear over the television, and will cause the people in charge to re-evaluate the situation.

Sitting on your wallets is all fine and good, but it’s not the only way to solve this problem, nor should it be the only way to solve this problem. Some people choose to cause change in a passive way, while others choose to do so actively. And the one thing I don’t do is sit around and wait for something to happen.

By Thrashers27

September 8, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

Alan,

Your post brings back fond memories of the days when Thrashers fans would chant “fire Fraser!!!”

By GaVaHokie

September 8, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this

Your post brings back fond memories of the days when Thrashers fans would chant “fire Fraser!!!”

I recall the same thing for Dan Reeves at the Georgia Dome.

I’m not sure fans got Fraser fired though… he got way more time than most coaches would. Of course, ownership was only spending $28 million in those days… pre-salary cap… when Toronto and NYR were spending $70 million. Fraser was set up to fail.

By Gregg49

September 8, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this

Fraser was set up to fail.

Kinda like Hartley last year? Yep. That’s Don 4 you.

By Bob

September 8, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

Some people choose to cause change in a passive way, while others choose to do so actively

Ok, I got a win/win for ya here. I will be sitting at home on my wallet watching the games in HD! but I will yell at the TV for them to Fire Waddell. You go to the games and yell Fire Waddell, but don’t spend any money on concessions (hint, they won’t check your boots if you just so happen to have a flask of whiskey in there).

Win/Win, Baby

By Marty

September 8, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this

An arena full (or even half full) of fans screaming for the head of the man responsible of their teams ills will be heard loud and clear over the television, and will cause the people in charge to re-evaluate the situation.

So will not spending any money on the sub-par product consistently peddled at you. And you don’t spend a dime. That’s the best option, no doubt about it.

By LAC

September 8, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this

Well Alan is correct… These clowns who own the team are so cheap they will NOT promote the product.

How does ANYONE get excited about anything if they are not aware ?

Granted the changes have been less than stellar to say the very least, but Gee Whiz, promote what you have, try to create SOME excitement… Just proves this asg crowd is the worst ownership group in ALL professional sports.

If they would field a consistant winner then these canada people would find another patsy to rag on… but with them & waddell is charge, well no hope.

By HookyBob

September 8, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this

I like the idea of fans chanting for change (sort of like today’s politics,…eh?).

Despite my disappointment, I renewed my season tickets. My thoughts were that poor NHL hockey was better than no NHL hockey.

So, the fan’s chant (along with some signs and Stroze’s bullhorn), combined with minimal concession purchases, may send a message while keeping the team in town.

Perhaps the owners will realize they really need good fans, not just a ticket sale.

As Rawhide noted, Atlanta has many fans looking for a winner. A winning professional Atlanta sports team will get strong following.

By R. Stroz

September 8, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this

31 days and counting. Cleaning the BULLHORN, preparing to serenade Waddell, and wondering when we should start a “where’s the beef” chant.

By Brendan

September 8, 2008 11:42 PM | Link to this

In Knobler’s last blog he had a link on former Thrasher Darcy Hordichuk. It got me to thinking about how … “only time will tell if this trade was a good one” type talk. Well, a substantial amount of time has passed. Let’s evaluate it. This is what transpired.

Atlanta drafted Hordichuck in the 6th round, 180th overall, in 2000. At the 2002 Entry draft, Atlanta traded Hordichuk to Phoenix, along with Atlanta’s 4th round pick in 2002 (Phoenix selected Lance Monych, 97th overall) and Atlanta’s 5th round pick in 2002 (Phoenix selected John Zeiler, 132nd overall). If you’re thinkin’ “Who?,” you’re not alone.

Who/What did Atlanta get for Hordichuk? Answer: Kirill Safronov, Ruslan Zainullin, and Phoenix’s 4th round pick in 2002, who turned out to be Patrick Dwyer, selected 116th overall.

Okay, analyze!

I’ll nudge a bit, in Paul Harvey-like fashion. Kirill Safronov was Phoenix’s former 1st round pick, selected 19th overall, in the 1999 draft. Safranov’s last season in the NHL was in 2003. He played 73 games for the Chicago Wolves in the AHL. He finished the 2004 season in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals. Then he bolted for Russia and never returned. His total NHL tenure spanned two seasons and 35 games, 34 of which were played in Atlanta. Safranov scored two goals and two assists for four career points, 16 PIMS, and was a -15.

Safranov was later traded, with Simon Gamache, Atlanta’s 290th overall pick, in the 9th round, in 2000, to Nashville on December 2, 2003. Nashville sent Ben Simon and Tomas Kloucek to Atlanta in the deal. Gamache left Nashville when he was claimed off waivers by St. Louis. In the 2007 offseason, he was signed by Toronto as a Free Agent. I forgot what happened after that.

Ben Simon left Atlanta as a Free Agent and was signed by Columbus in the 2005 offseason. Tomas Kloucek also signed with Columbus, one year later in the 2006 offseason, after leaving Atlanta as a Free Agent. Kloucek played 38 games with Atlanta, with no goals, no assists, and no points, while being a -8. Kloucek was the Rangers’ 131st overall selection in the 1998 Entry Draft. Ben Simon was selected 110th overall in the 1997 Draft by Chicago. Simon played 68 games with Atlanta, scoring 3 goals and 1 assist, for 4-points, while being a -9. He only played 13 games for Columbus in 2005-06.

But, rubbin’ hands together, y’all don’t want to talk about that … because you’re dying to let the cat out of the bag. Too late. The “silver lining” of the Hordichuk trade was acquisition of Ruslan Zainullin. Why? You’ve never heard of him. That’s because he never set foot in the NHL. But he was traded to Calgary on November 15, 2002 … For Marc Savard, in what was arguably one of the greatest trades in Thrashers franchise history. Marc Savard left Atlanta as a Free Agent, in 2006, opting to play for the Boston Bruins on a 4-year/$20 million contract on July 1, 2006.

I have wholly forgotten what, if anything, Patrick Dwyer contributed to the Thrashers.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 9, 2008 4:41 AM | Link to this

No offense intended towards Hordichuk, but I don’t think the Thrashers lost that trade even without the Savard trade afterwards.

Hordichuk is a one-dimensional player, and that dimension doesn’t help when a losing team is on the ice. His enforcer skills are better used for a team that wins, not a team that is losing.

But yeah, that Savard trade was pretty damn sweet.

By Sara

September 9, 2008 7:21 AM | Link to this

Brendan as always, I like the way you think. Just like in economics, you have evaluate both the micro and the macro. It’s like Heatley - we no longer have our 1st round draft pick, which is a shame, but Heatley + Bouret has turned into Christensen, Armstrong, Leveille, and Esposito. While the jury is absolutely still out on the last two, and somewhat out for the first two (not even a full season played here for us yet), it isn’t a horrible return on investment, especially given the unusual circumstances of having to move Heatley in the first place. Certainly Armstrong or Christensen individually is better than Bouret, hands downs. And early indications do not suggest any of those players individually will be as good as Heatley (or Hossa), although Espo has at least at one point been considered to have solid potential. But in total, it may end up being a very good thing for the Thrashers, depending on how things play out.

By Bob

September 9, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this

The team getting the star player usually wins the trade, losing Heatley then Hossa really set this club back light years.

Marc Savard left Atlanta as a Free Agent, in 2006, opting to play for the Boston Bruins on a 4-year/$20 million contract on July 1, 2006

What a huge mistake letting him go. Didn’t Waddell tell us he wasn’t worth that kind of money? Hmm, where have I heard that before (Brunette, Kaberle, and on and on)

By Alan

September 9, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

Marty - My point is, being thoroughly embarrassed on television will do far more to cause change than not. Now, you and others might say that seeing an empty arena would be embarrassing in and of itself, and that’s fine. But there’s nothing quite like having the fans that are in the stands, yelling and screaming for change. It’s far more embarrassing for the ownership to see and hear that kind of thing going on.

Like I said, you’re welcome to sit ant home and sit on your wallet while watching the game, the debates, or even reruns of Diff’rent Strokes on television. Passive protest is a protest too. However, there are also people like me, Stroz, and others who might want to vent our frustrations by screaming them out - sometimes through a bullhorn (though, let’s admit it guys, Stroz doesn’t exactly need a bullhorn).

There’s an oft-used phrase in hip-hop, and it’s this: Don’t just talk about it, be about it. We’re all sitting here now, talking about forcing the ownership to make a change. Whether you’re in for season tickets, the NHL Center Ice package, or anything in between, you’ve got to make the most of it. And if this team lays some elephant-sized turds on the ice in the opening games, I fully expect people here who have talked the talk, to walk the walk.

You may not agree with me, and may say I’m “subsidizing the incompetence” … but really, what I intend on doing is more along the lines of paying for the privilege of making the ASG look and feel like the complete morons they are on local and/or national television.

By Josh

September 9, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this

But there’s nothing quite like having the fans that are in the stands, yelling and screaming for change. It’s far more embarrassing for the ownership to see and hear that kind of thing going on.

And you really think Sport South would televise that? lol. No way dude, they would cut to a commercial, after the announcers would ridicule the fans that do that. It’s called Damage Control, ASG pays them to do that, thats why Elliot won’t ever say what he REALLY thinks. Who are you kidding, Alan? Laughable, haha.

By GaVaHokie

September 9, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this

And you really think Sport South would televise that? lol

Ummm… i don’t think he was talking about it being televised… he was talking about being in the stadium (you know, where the owners and GM are?) yelling and screaming for change.

By Alan

September 9, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this

And you really think Sport South would televise that?

And you really think Sport South provides the feed to, say, FSN Detroit or MSG or even Versus? Those stations have their own announcers, and you would be hard pressed to force them - people who aren’t paid by the ASG - to do “damage control” for a team they have no vested interest in.

It’s moot if it appears on TV anyway, so long as we as fans eventually get the point across. You know it has to be pretty unsettling to the teams on the ice to hear even 1000 fans shouting for the head of the coach or GM. And with Stroz in the stands with the trusty bullhorn, the task of voicing displeasure becomes a little bit easier.

By Brendan

September 9, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this

Sara, imagine a break in the action at Philips Arena and over the PA comes this announcement. “Fans, your attention please. Sitting in Section 119, is former Thrasher property, Ruslan Zainullin.”

The response would be confusion and perhaps some mild applause. The PA announcement continues, “Who was traded for Marc Savard,” as the place ERUPTS in yelps, whistles and clapping.