Thrashers

By Alan

January 6, 2009 1:02 PM | Link to this

Great story! I never would have expected his stick to head to the HHOF though — what an honor!

Tavaras and Esposito have some pretty good chemistry, so if we end up drafting Tavaras, it will be interesting to see what those two can do here.

By Russian

January 6, 2009 1:05 PM | Link to this

It is great news about Espo. What is about game today? Who is going to play? Any rumors about trades?

By Cindy Crotchby

January 6, 2009 1:29 PM | Link to this

Boris get your jewels ready.

By the 409ers

January 6, 2009 1:51 PM | Link to this

kari n goal Litts wont play army to 2nd line perrin takes army spot on 3rd line

trade rumors are heating up but remember that they are rumors not fact but it looks like Kari to LA for Pat O’Sullivan. a legit number 1 center and he is only 24ish with 3 years on his contract. If it happens kovy has his center but he still wont resign hear anyway.

time will tell what happens.

By stendec

January 6, 2009 2:02 PM | Link to this

Hi Mike. Hope all is well. I am not some dunderhead who knows zilch about this great sport. No one wants to see team succeed more than I. That said…Kari Letemin is a total liability. If he ever had any potential it will it ever be achieved. Warned Falcon fans about Keith “Out Of Position Again” Brooking for years. He was finally painfully exposed in playoffs! How much more do folks need to see I am right about goalie? Oh well. Ilya “Bags Are Packed” Kovalchuk may not be complete liability but his effort and production levels are abysmal this season. Stars have slumps. What we have now is not a slump. The only way to get butts in the Loseland seats is totally fresh blood. Swap Toiletlids for Wolves. Will they lose? Maybe. Will current group lose? Certainly. The young guys will play with grit, fire and determination. They will like taste of big stage and want to stay. They will at least listen to the coach and play with pride. Coaching schemes do not mean a damn thing if players refuse to execute them! Sorry coach. Inside information provided to me confirms I was wrong about you and your approach to players. Mutiny is not your fault. Again, my sincere apologies Mr John Anderson. I pray one day you have athletes who will listen to you. Who is in net? If it is KL I will hope for another blowout! Photo of guy with blue hair (priceless) is in HubPages. God bless us every one. Amen.

By Spud Webb

January 6, 2009 2:08 PM | Link to this

I can’t WAIT to see Tavaras & Espisito here next year. We just need to go ahead & trade Kovy for a boatload of talent now. Trade Kari, Shnieds, & Havled, get all we can and lets try this again. GEEZ, none of this will happen with that idiot DW running things, but you can hope!!! Thank you for making us the laughing stock of the league Don & the &ss Clown owners. LOSERS.

By Alan

January 6, 2009 2:14 PM | Link to this

it looks like Kari to LA for Pat O’Sullivan.

…What? Come again?

Oh, you must mean that blurb from Edmonton.

“Atlanta’s Kari Lehtonen, who’s fallen out of favour with the Thrashers, could possibly be traded for a forward like Patrick O’Sullivan.”

Key words in bold.

By the 409ers

January 6, 2009 2:29 PM | Link to this

hay dumbass first i said rumor plus their have been several sources outside of edmonton. i love when people patrol these sites waiting to correct the whole world when infact they dont know s*. do your parents a favor and move out of their basement.

By Smoothie

January 6, 2009 2:53 PM | Link to this

text to be linked

See bottom of the write-up for the snippet about Mathieu Schneider being moved to Ottawa. Not the first time it’s been rumoured, but yesterday Ben on atlantathrashers.com said Schneidy left the ice early after 5 mins of practice. Perhaps the deal is close to being consummated and they don’t want his old a$$ tweaking his hip or hammy playing tiddly-winks with his Thrashers teammates.

Mike — any word on Schneidy getting the scratch in favor of a Lehman, Kulda or even Bogosian tonite?

By Tony C.

January 6, 2009 3:01 PM | Link to this

What a great story for Angelo Esposito!

Here’s a guy that got stuck (rightly or wrongly) with the tag of “all wheels and skill, no heart” when he first went out for the national team. He was portrayed as a “me-first” type of guy, prone to extremly selfish behavior and play.

Now, that reputation may have been well-earned at the time, or (and I believe this is most likely) it is something that was true of a 16-year-old Esposito, and was something that he recognized was a deficency(spl?) within himself and worked hard to correct it.

He went out for the national team two times more where he apparently couldn’t live down that first impression-maybe the poor attitude was still on display? The bad reputation followed him to the NHL draft, where you saw a kid who was touted to be as skilled and fast as any other skater in his draft class, but plummetted down the draft chart.

For Atlanta to have a guy who has skill to burn, and who has shown that he “gets it”, puts his head down and works to be the best he can be? Awesome. I watched team Canada quite closely during the games that were televised on NHLTV, and was consistently impressed with Esposito’s hustle-one shift in particular against the Czechs he & his linemates had a 45-second clinic on forechecking and zone-possesion-I was impressed if this kid keeps THIS up, he’s going to make us (Atlanta fans) pretty happy I said to myself.

So for him to get out of the collective chateau bow-wow of an ENTIRE COUNTRY, and then score the game-winner? Awesome. I’m super-pleased for this guy and hope that the winning ways continue once he’s in ThrasherBleu

By dhj_1962

January 6, 2009 3:08 PM | Link to this

lmao at 409ers!!!
stendec the blow hard is at it again, what about matty ices’s 2 ints??? mt and matty ice’s fumble, right gaurd and tackle 8 mile wide split that allowed the dt to be in the backfield BEFORE the handoff was made?? What about LM’s bad angle on the 2nd touchdown? or his lack of jumping skills on the first touchdown, along with EC biting on the fake run/pitch back to KW??? you blame Brooking only?? your a putz, win as a team, lose as a team.

By truehockeyfan

January 6, 2009 3:22 PM | Link to this

As much as we bash DW. angelo Esposito is a thrasher because DW got the most he could for Marion ( I only want a cup ) Hossa. Kari was tagged as a can’t miss goalie by all the scouts at draft time. Kari’s problem is that he has no fire in his belly. Is very immature and soft.He was the hottest player coming into that draft. DW thought he had it all. Heatley, Kovalchuck and a Goalie. The schneider thing set this team back farther and harder than we all want to admit.How about a line of Tavares, Esposito and Kovy.

By Alan

January 6, 2009 3:23 PM | Link to this

Oh boy! A response!

hay dumbass

Hay is for horses! Dumbass!

first i said rumor plus their have been several sources outside of edmonton

First, you got this “rumor” wrong. I just posted above exactly how wrong you got it. Secondly, while there have been “sources outside Edmonton,” They all have their roots from that one source inside Edmonton. Lastly, you used the wrong “their.” This makes your post extremely difficult to read.

i love when people patrol these sites waiting to correct the whole world when infact they dont know s.

First of all, I don’t “patrol these sites.” Secondly, I only corrected you. You turned a “could possibly” into a rumor. That’s not what the statement that is being repeated said. The blurb is merely giving an example of what kind of return could be expected for a netminder like Lehtonen.

With as many errors as you’ve made thus far - both grammatically and in judgment - do you really want to continue to claim I “don’t know” anything? Your post is an eyesore, so maybe you should clean it up a bit, perhaps repeat the third grade, and get back to me when you can hold a conversation without looking like a dumbass.

By Brendan

January 6, 2009 3:52 PM | Link to this

Kari Lehtonen will not be traded. Not by Waddell. Would a different GM trade Kari?? Shrugs. Maybe. In the BIGGER PICTURE, why would BOTH of our 2nd overall picks, Heatley and Lehtonen, be gone within the first 10 seasons of play? Those are foundation pieces of a franchise. Heatley’s situation was a bit different. Even I’d say that there were “mitigating factors” at play. We can argue ‘til the cows come home if Hossa and DeVries were the best return on Heatley, compared to other players, or even a slew of draft picks, who would, by now, be players on our roster, in theory.

Someone has to answer for the decisions made by the franchise. If Esposito, Christensen, Armstrong, and Leveille aren’t or weren’t a good return for Heatley, via Hossa and deVries, then who orchestrated that deal? Which ENTITY of the Thrashers organization is responsible for oversight and direction?

Sometimes, choices help. (A) the ushers, (B) the Ice Girls, (C) the Zamboni driver, (D) Beau Turner or (E) the General Manager.

Who drafted Kari Lehtonen? Answer: Don Waddell. Is there any indication, by Waddell, that he is dissatisfied with Lehtonen? True or False: Waddell preached, “Just you wait ‘til Kari gets here! He’s a series stealer! He’ll be our strongest horse to get us over the hill, come playoff-time.”

By Spud Webb

January 6, 2009 4:13 PM | Link to this

truehockeyfan I disagree, he thought he had Heatly and Kovy & then a goalie. The fact is there has been a HUGE hole on our blueline in all 9 years of existance. DW had the chance then to put a stud on our team. Old news though. Brendon good points as usual. I again have to disagree, I think we have to trade Kari. At this point in his career he should be our leader, toughing out games and winning some (not all) on his own. No fire, no passion. Just a disappointment all the way around. Sad situation for this franchise and big changes are needed.

By Brendan

January 6, 2009 4:29 PM | Link to this

Spud Webb, if we have to trade Kari, what is the primary compelling reason to do so? (1) His “present-day” trade value (worth more now, than later on), (2) his “future” value, after the trade (you expect diminishing play out of him, in a steady decline in performance, and continued injury), (3) the “return” that will net the organization from his trade, (4) the emergence of Ondrej Pavelec in goal, (5) the reliability of Johan Hedberg or (6) that he is, arguably, Atlanta’s #1 goalie?

By Joshgekko

January 6, 2009 4:30 PM | Link to this

Brendan While Im def on the fire waddell bandwagon at this point, I think your assessment of Kari is out of line. I would def say he is a huge disappointment so far, but its not like anyone saw it coming. If you just look at all the articles written in ‘02 they all say pretty much the same thing. Ex:

“Kari Lehtonen, of course, represents the cream of the crop. He joins Jay Bouwmeester to form the very top tier of talent in this draft, and in Red Line’s opinion is the top goaltender to come out since Roberto Luongo was selected fourth overall in 1997. His long list of attributes includes his size, flexibility, great reflexes and anticipation. Most impressive is his ability to elevate his game when the outcome is on the line — really proved himself as a money goalie in the last two World Junior Championships.” -USA Today

As far as Heatley/Hossa. I dont know, that one is hard to swallow. The players mentioned very well may end up being great players, but unless Espo or Leveille become superstars in the near future we’ll still be left with that void for a true #2 player like we had with hossa.

By Nikita

January 6, 2009 4:38 PM | Link to this

There is no reason to trade Kari. He’s worth more right now as raw salary, which we’ll get back if we just allow him to expire.

By Brendan

January 6, 2009 4:47 PM | Link to this

Joshgekko, and what was my assessment of Kari?

By Joshgekko

January 6, 2009 5:29 PM | Link to this

Brendan My apologies, you alluded to the fact that the drafting of Kari was a mistake made by DW. I carried it a step further. What is your assessment of Kari? Do you believe that DW made a mistake when drafting him? I think he’s made an absolute boat load of mistakes, I just don’t happen to think that was one of them. For me that one goes in almost the same boat as Patrik Stefan. Everyone thought he was going to be huge. I do tend to lean more towards letting other teams draft “franchise” goalies and jumping on them from there though(as was the case with Luongo).

By sisu

January 6, 2009 5:58 PM | Link to this

One thing that hurt this franchise more than anything was the untimely career ending injury to Pasi Nurminen. He was going to be the mentor with Kari and that never happened. Then Hi Bob screwed with the young goalies head by benching him after only one playoff start only to return to him in the third game…

Hind sight is always 20/20 so just another point to the many made.

Espo could be brought in sooner than later if the team tanks any further and there is a panic to bring in the “future” to try to get fans into the building. I hope not.

By Mike Knobler

January 6, 2009 6:02 PM | Link to this

I arrived in Pittsburgh after the skate. The update I got from those who were there: Kari in net, as expected, Little not playing, as expected.

By Brendan

January 6, 2009 6:24 PM | Link to this

Joshgekko, my stance on drafting Kari is as follows. “It wouldn’t have been my decision.” I know I’ve covered it a few times. But I’m always open to discussing it. In 2002, the Thrashers needed EVERYTHING. Even a goalie? Sure. But it’s my philosophy, personally, that a draft is used to build the team in front of the goalie, while paying through the nose to acquire a proven netminder from FREE AGENCY. The philosophy is routed the conservation of time.

Between 2002-2004, these FREE AGENT goalies became available on the open market: Nicholai Khabibulin, Miikka Kiprusoff, Arthurs Irbe, Dominek Hasek, Curtis Joseph, and Ed Belfour. Would any of them signed with Atlanta?? I don’t know. I know this much. Curtis Joseph was outright waived by the Red Wings when Hasek “unretired.” Meaning?

Well, Cujo would have cost the Thrashers nothing but his then $8.0 million salary, and would have been under contract for two more seasons, at that price.

Okay, back to the 2002 draft. Atlanta picks 2nd overall. Jay Bouwmeester is the “Consensus 1st overall pick.” Florida owned the 1st overall pick. It was assumed they would select Bouwmeester. And they did select Bouwmeester, after a trade with Columbus, at 3rd overall. Florida wouldn’t have made the trade with Columbus, which brought Rick Nash to the BlueJackets as the #1 overall pick, had Atlanta not ACQUIESCED to not selecting Jay Bouwmeester 2nd overall, in favor of acquiring pick #30 overall (Jim Slater) as inducement.

Okay. What if Atlanta said “no?” We’re taking Bouwmeester, if you don’t. Well, it’s my opinion that Florida would simply pick the player they coveted, Bouwmeester. I don’t think that’s unreasonable to assume. That leaves Atlanta free to pick whomever they choose at #2 overall. The choices are Rick Nash or Kari Lehtonen. Knowing that goalies take YEARS and YEARS and YEARS to develop, and sizing up the non-traditional Atlanta market, needing to get better in a hurry to grow a fanbase, I opt for Rick Nash, a power forward, to join Heatley and Kovalchuk.

What if Columbus offered their 1st round pick in ‘03 as inducment to pass on Nash? Well, that changes things some. I might say “yes” to that, select Lehtonen, and take Thomas Vanek with Columbus’ 4th overall pick in 2003. Vanek was ACTUALLY SELECTED 5th overall, in 2003, by Buffalo. Now I have Lehtonen and Vanek, instead of Lehtonen and Jim Slater. None of this is hindsight. We can look back at the 2002 AJC.com blogs to verify my position, which has never waivered. Some of you have heard this for the umteenth time now. My apologies. And thank you for suffering through it.

With all that said, I’d still keep Kari Lehtonen. He’s what? 25? He STILL reflects value as a backup goalie or a “tandem” goalie, in a regular rotation. He costs $3.0 million, with a save percentage consistently over .900. He once won 34 games, even in front of a pourous Thrasher defense. I don’t think Kari brings forth a high trade value. That said, I’d at least listen to what teams were offering. If I heard a deal that leaped off the page, I’d probably take it. But, I feel that scenario is unlikely. And I don’t want to surrender Lehtonen for inferior value, compared to keeping him, for “peanuts.” Especially when the team is $10+ million under the cap, without salary being a modicum of concern (payroll is close to the floor of the cap). Even with a pending, potential Kovalchuk deal in the works.

I like Ondrej Pavelec. I think he is capable of being Atlanta’s #1 goalie, in the future. He was selected in the 40’s (high 2nd round pick,) which is a sensible place to find a goalie, considering that … that is already the “crapshoot” area of the draft.

Can top notch goalies be found in the Top 5 overall picks of a draft? Sure. But they take TIME to develop. PRECIOUS TIME. Time Atlanta didn’t have. Time that Waddell bought for himself. Pretty smart of him, I’d say!! Right Sage?

By the time Heatley demands a trade, in 2005, I’ve still got Nash and Kovalchuk, and can move Heater for help along the blueline. (My Bouwmeester-equivalent that never materialed, if you want to think of it that way.) Or, I’ve still got Thomas Vanek and Kovalchuk, if I accept the Columbus offer to pass on Nash at the 2002 Draft. Either way, I can still move Heatley for a blueliner, instead of substitute offense.

I do not think Kari Lehtonen is untalented. I do believe he is Finnish, by birth. And I believe he is a capable goalie, when healthy. If someone “wows me” with a trade offer, I’d consider it. If not, I’d keep ‘im. He’s 25. His career is not over. J.S. Giguere didn’t do anything until he was 27 or so. Lehtonen’s annual injuries make him difficult to trade for maximum return value. Let’s face another fact. It looks bad to keep moving high-end 1st round picks. Stefan (whom I don’t blame Waddell for) was traded. Heatley/Hossa was traded. Kovalchuk may wind up traded. And (hypothetically) Lehtonen, too?? Why? What’s the point of drafting these guys, only to trade them away?? What’s the goal of a “Top 5 pick,” if not to retain them, develop them, and re-sign them as foundation pieces for the coming years. And if the GM has seriously miscalculated in his selections, there ought to be consequences and accountability for that. And in most NHL cities, there is. Just not here. Just not in Atlanta.

By Old Time Hockey

January 6, 2009 6:49 PM | Link to this

Lehtonen’s injuries are all based on improper conditioning. Don’t know if it’s the trainer’s fault, or he’s just lazy, but being in proper condition to play goal is hard work and it doesn’t seem like Kari puts in the time. If he’s not committed to doing the best he can, cut him loose and get what you can for him. The one thing that can not happen is to go into next year annointing him as our goalie again only to have him show up poorly conditioned and miss half the season again. What’s Damian Rhodes doing these days (besides icing his groin)? If you are cleaning house and looking to the future, Get what you can for him and go with Pavelec.

By MB

January 6, 2009 7:31 PM | Link to this

Considering our opposition tonight, it’s interesting to note a somewhat similar situation experienced by both.

From 1999-2003, the Thrashers drafted first, second, first, second, and eighth…Stefan, Heatley, Kovalchuk, Lehtonen, and Coburn.

From 2002-2006, the Penguins drafted fifth, first, second, first, and second…Whitney, Fleury, Malkin, Crosby, and Staal.

Each team drafted a pair of superstars. Each a d-man that took a while to develop. Each a promising, albeit enigmatic, goalie (who, interestingly, have the exact same save % going into tonight’s game). And each a center that was probably rushed into service a little early.

All five of Pittsburgh’s picks are still with the squad. Crosby wears the C, Whitney the A. Atlanta retains two of its five picks, with Kovy wearing an A.

The Penguins fell in game 6 of last year’s Stanley Cup finals to the Red Wings, just two years after picking Staal.

The Thrashers were swept by the Rangers in the first round of the playoffs, four years after picking Coburn.

Though currently struggling, the Penguins are, I believe, considered an organization on the rise, while the Thrashers are something akin to hockey purgatory.

Why the difference? The Heatley-Snyder accident certainly was a huge factor, along with the subsequent decisions stemming from it; poor development of talent in general; and poor decision making from the GM position.

Now we find ourselves in a rebuilding mode when we should be in the midst of enjoying the fruits of our early round picks. So here we sit, hoping this year’s third pick becomes a true #1 d-man and hoping we win the lottery to choose the next Next One.

Sigh.

By krust

January 6, 2009 7:46 PM | Link to this

I think Kari is toast, I really think if its possible to trade Kari to LA for Sullivan, go for it and make Pavelec your man. One thing for sure is Pavelec is mostly injury free. One thing else is you would have to also get a netminder in return, so you throw in Perrin also. Besides a trade like this is not going to get you out of last place so you still get a great shot at the #1 pick.

By stendec

January 6, 2009 8:29 PM | Link to this

Good guys are up 1-0 after a period. Knew that untalented Finn son of a betch quitter would not let me down! Thanks Letemin. Punch them between the legs again Cynthia. It will not hurt! They have nothing there to cause them any pain. Come on Pennies. One goal against a team playing out the string is totally unacceptable. I fully expected it to be at least 3-0 by now. Oh well, I am sure that clueless bestard in the Toiletlid net will whiff in a lot more over the next 40 minutes. Right Letemin? See visitors putting a goose egg on scoreboard tonight. Right Ilya “Bags Are Packed” Kovalchuk? What time are the Wolves scheduled to arrive in Atlanta? I cannot wait!

By stendec

January 6, 2009 9:12 PM | Link to this

Now that is the sorry mother (X) son of a betch Kari Letemin I know! Two whiff jobs in second period. A 1-0 deficit is now an insurmountable 3-0 chasm. Thanks Letemin. Go back to Finland you untalented gutless quitter! Piece of shet. Pennies should be ashamed. Only three goals on home ice against a group which is tanking? Pitiful. Home team may be satisfied with strictly playing defense down stretch. Do not expect Toiletlids to get lucky like they did last time out at home. Expect shutout. Unless Pennies allow them to score out of unbridled pity. Toiletlids are #1 after all. From the bottom up. Oh well. Life is good!

By B. Thenet

January 6, 2009 9:13 PM | Link to this

Knobler please ask JA this question in the post game presser

Can you talk to me about the thinking behind putting Oystrick and Schnieder, probably your worst defenseman in their own zone, together on the PK tonight?

By fatboy jr

January 6, 2009 9:22 PM | Link to this

lets quit thinking were so smart and get to the point………………………… FIRE WADELL

By B. Thenet

January 6, 2009 9:26 PM | Link to this

Forget about it Knobes

Havelid was in the box. But Christ, can’t he split those two knuckleheads up on the PK.

By fatboy jr

January 6, 2009 9:48 PM | Link to this

the real questions should be for the governor and those questions should be:

Why is Don still the GM?

Are we headed in the right direction?

How Come you stopped going to games?

Does he think Don has built a team that the city can be proud of? Why hasn’t Don built a team with an identity? Who is being held accountable? Do you care ????????

I could go on but it is time that Mike K begins to ask these questions with follow up. The city and Thrasher fans deserve these answers from the Governor. Hard earn money is going into the Thrashers……shameful

By jltmilaftw

January 6, 2009 10:03 PM | Link to this

I actually watched that World Hockey Juniors things on New Years Eve when USA played Canada. Yes I know I’m a fun and wild kinda guy watching a hockey game on New Years Eve. It was a great and fun game to watch.

John Kincade tonight on his radio show was saying the thrashers will be sold within a year. I hope they stay here.

By stendec

January 6, 2009 10:20 PM | Link to this

DAMN! Toiletlids lost their well earned shutout with less than six minutes left. DAMN! Bestards did not deserve to score. Let alone Ilya “Mr Misfire” Kovalchuk. Hell, even a stopped clock has the right time twice a day. Right Bags Are Packed? Untalented Russian mother (X)! The Finnish sieve was in fine form. Three more behind him! Final score damn misleading. Would have been more lopsided but Pennies let up offensive pressure with an insurmountable 3-0 advantage! Why not? Thanks again son of a betch Kari Letemin. Gutless Finn quitter! **Take a slow boat back to Finland or a quick leap into Hell. Your choice. You ball-ness mother (X)! Hope Devils finally give Toiletlids the shutout they so richly deserve. Hope that LaLa Land bestard is in goal again. Needs more time to develop. Like about 10 damn years! Bring back the Flames. No? At least call up the Wolves! Do some damn thing John Petrino. Yes, I said John Petrino! Another pitiful exhibition. Can we expect anything more from these uncaring quitters. Keep playing out the string losers! It will all be over soon enough. Keep collecting that money for doing absolutely nothing!

By Barry Melrose

January 6, 2009 11:14 PM | Link to this

Suckers.

By Rancid Peter

January 6, 2009 11:16 PM | Link to this

Apparently, stendec’s flaccid pecker isn’t worth a shet after all. At least that’s what Donny Waddell said in the post-game presser.

Talk about “moving in the right direction.”

By R. Stroz

January 7, 2009 12:27 AM | Link to this

Knobler - If you have the opportunity and don’t think the question will get you in too much hot water, would you ask Waddell how many games he thinks the Thrashers will win this season?

By Brendan

January 7, 2009 12:33 AM | Link to this

Okay. Let’s try to see things from the AS,LLC’s perspective. Naw, just kidding.

Maybe the worst part is … what if they really think they’ve got a gem of a GM?, and they’re PETRIFIED to fire him, thinking … We HAD a great GM—and we let him GET AWAY! Why did we DO that?

Can they be this hoodwinked? Could they be this bamboozled? Is it possible that Waddell has so very flimflammed them into such thoughts?

Or is it, as I suspect, that they just plain, flatout, DON’T CARE. And they don’t think very highly of you fans, which is why they insult you with their double-talk, empty promises, and election-year rhetoric. So, who did the Tier I defensemen turn out to be? Wasn’t Brian Campbell. Wasn’t Ron Hainsey. And Zach Bogosian is just a rookie. Who was the Tier I center they got for Kovy? Christensen? How many million were they UNDER THE CAP on “Opening Night?”

All Waddell needs is??? ONE … MORE … YEAR!! He’s bound to turn it around, right? We’re close, real close to putting together a winning streak. That was November. It’s January, now. Did we miss the winning streak?

If this organization would just BEEEE HONEST with the fans, INCLUDE US in the “The Plan,” and not keep us so very much in the DARK … and offer DISCOUNTS on Season Ticket Packages for NEXT SEASON, think how far that might take them in making this rebuilding project a bigger success, and a more palatable one for the fans of this team. I’d say, “bygones,” but the season isn’t over yet. And the next season hasn’t started.

In the immortal words of Homer J. Simpson, “D’oh.”

By 12345

January 7, 2009 9:40 AM | Link to this

If Darren Eliott says “moving forward” one more time I am going to shoot the tv… Not really, but he sounds so STUPID saying that it is unreal !

By Spud Webb

January 7, 2009 10:02 AM | Link to this

Brendon I do like Ondrej Pavelec but by no means saying is the answer to our problems. We have many!!! I guess my thinking is this… Lets just blow this up, lets start fresh. I do think Kari is very, very talented, but I just don’t see it happening here. I doubt we could get much at this point for him but I just wanna get the disappointments and mistakes out, including DW. If we can get anything, lets do it. I agree with you 10000000%, build in front of the goalie & I have always thought that. Kari might do well somewhere else & wish him well. Another disappointment last night. UGHHHH

By Buzilla in CT

January 7, 2009 10:07 AM | Link to this

Has anyone brought a sign to the game yet calling for Waddell’s firing?

By stendec

January 7, 2009 10:10 AM | Link to this

When the announcer says the team is moving forward he refers to moving closer to a time that the Toilets pack up their pucks and sticks and exit Atlanta. Good riddance to bad rubbish! Can the Wolves THEN turn Loseland into the Wolf Lair? Maybe they would make it an arena that foes would not lick their chops to play in! The Atlanta Wolves. Hmm. Anyone know what a wolf would do to a thrasher? Shudder! Feathers would be a-flying!

By Bob

January 7, 2009 10:11 AM | Link to this

John Kincade tonight on his radio show was saying the thrashers will be sold within a year. I hope they stay here

I think both of these things have a fairly high probability of happening as the Spirit boys won’t be able to secure financing to pay off Belkin in this environment. Here’s how I see it playing out:

1)Spirit finally settles the suit with Belkin and have to buy him out for inflated dollars that they can’t afford and that they can’t raise financing for

2)They have to sell the Thrashers to raise the cash to pay off Belkin , but a stipulation on the deal is that the new owner has to keep them at Philips

3)New owner comes in and fires Waddell (if he makes it that long) and most likely Anderson, new GM comes in here has Little, Tavares, Bogosian, and Pavelec (and one year of Kovy) to work with and we are on our way to finally building a hockey club in Atlanta

4)Couple years down the road the few remaining Sara and Bob (other)s of the world look back and realize that Don Waddell was the problem all along when they see the new GM do wonders with a limited budget

5)We all live happily ever after, the end

By Bob

January 7, 2009 10:14 AM | Link to this

Has anyone brought a sign to the game yet calling for Waddell’s firing?

That was done last year, and it was confiscated!

This year, they’ve been chanting “Fire Wad-dell” at the games, and it’s growing with each game (amongst the few fans that are there).

By T-Bone

January 7, 2009 10:24 AM | Link to this

Have they scheduled any town hall meetings lately or are they removing that final facade of caring what the fans think as well?

By dhj_1962

January 7, 2009 11:32 AM | Link to this

lets change the name now to the wolves, i’m sure Atl. fans will come out in the hundreds of thousands and the Wolves will make the playoffs this year!! good idea Stendec, you are a genius, your brilliance is wasted on the pages of these amateurish blogs.

By B. Thenet

January 7, 2009 12:17 PM | Link to this

If this is like how the ASG handles their other franchise, the only thing left is for DW to go to ownership to ask for JA to be fired…and then be told no.

By Jarndyce

January 7, 2009 12:44 PM | Link to this

I blame all the people who shout “Knights” at the games. Apparently the team has heard you, and understand that you want an AHL-level team.

You, and you know who you are, have only yourselves to blame for the fiasco that is the Knig—, um, Thrashers.

By NASCAR Dave

January 7, 2009 12:54 PM | Link to this

They’re just NOT tough enough… I’ve been telling you people this since last year. The only one with any grit is VALABIK…

Dump PERRIN/CHRISTENA/SCHNEIDER/HAVELID/HEDBERG/SLATER for whatever picks we can get… Fill those roster spots with some Wolves so they can gain some valuable experience as the season winds down and we work towards getting TAVARES…

And FIRE WADDELL!

By dhj_1962

January 7, 2009 1:02 PM | Link to this

you can’t take a sign that says “fire waddell”?? but you can hold up those stupid chic-fil-a signs? can you wear a bag over your head?

By Timbuktu Ridah

January 7, 2009 1:02 PM | Link to this

With as many errors as you’ve made thus far - both grammatically and in judgment - do you really want to continue to claim I “don’t know” anything? Your post is an eyesore, so maybe you should clean it up a bit, perhaps repeat the third grade, and get back to me when you can hold a conversation without looking like a dumbass.

alan is a f@g. just shut up loser.

By Tyler

January 7, 2009 1:14 PM | Link to this

Well I am taking a “FIRE WADDELL” sign there next time I go, if I even ever go again. They will not take it from me either. They can try all they want. Try me. Try taking it from me and lets see what goes down, seriously. The Glass Wall around Management needs to shatter now, and soon. Lets get it on. No more damage control is needed. The damage has already been done.

By Toby

January 7, 2009 1:20 PM | Link to this

Mike

I read on the Falconer’s blog that there is speculation that there is a freeze on DW doing anything because he will either be fired or moved to an office posistion. Hear anything on this? PLEASE LORD BE TRUE!!!!!

By Alan

January 7, 2009 1:41 PM | Link to this

If all you’ve got is calling me the equivalent of a cigarette in British English, then maybe I’ve hit the nail right on its head.

Tyler - Best of luck with that Fire Waddell sign! I’m hoping to have a large vinyl sign created that says exactly that.

By R. Stroz

January 7, 2009 2:21 PM | Link to this

If anyone is going to try to get a FIRE WADDELL sign past security, please try the following:

1) Get two poster boards.

2) Write “Lets Go Thrashers” on one side of each poster board and “FIRE WADDELL” on the other side of the poster board.

3) Tape the two poster boards together so closely that they look like one poster board, with the “Lets Go Thrashers” sides showing.

4) Once inside the arena, use your car keys to cut the poster boards apart and expose the “FIRE WADDELL” side. Don’t leave the signs unattended as security will quickly grab them.

Anyway, that is the plan I’m going to use soon.

By Buzilla in CT

January 7, 2009 3:06 PM | Link to this

Bring a dry erase board with you to the game. They won’t take that from you. Walk in with it saying “Go Kovy” or whatever… Then put your “Fire Waddell” and draw a big male anatomy on it complete with hair on the beans…just to drive the point home

By GaVaHokie

January 7, 2009 3:09 PM | Link to this

R. Stroz… even easier… bring in a Let’s Go Thrashers poster with a black marker in your pocket…. just write on the back once you’re inside.

By I.C. Wiener

January 7, 2009 3:32 PM | Link to this

Better yet, you could cut out the pictures of Donny in every Winger game guide, paste them to a roll of toilet paper, and use them to wipe your @$$ each time the other team scores or once for every empty seat at Philips!!

Who’s with me?

By Buzilla in CT

January 7, 2009 3:39 PM | Link to this

That actually goes along with Donny’s Port-a-John buisness that he be returning to after hockey

By I.C. Wiener

January 7, 2009 3:45 PM | Link to this

Money in the bank … or toilet? :D

By GaVaHokie

January 7, 2009 3:45 PM | Link to this

Or just shave it into your back hair before the game… when you get inside, take your shirt off and swing it over your head… that should get you plenty of attention!

By I.C. Wiener

January 7, 2009 3:56 PM | Link to this

We need a Donny Fraudell impersonator handing out pink slips with every beer and bratz. And then he needs to ride on the Zamboni after the crowd tosses pink slips on the ice everytime the visiting team’s 3rd string skaters all get hat tricks.

Show that fraud some real hockey love :D

By GaVaHokie

January 7, 2009 4:45 PM | Link to this

Well, changing subjects… here’s the latest from Eklund. This makes pretty good sense. Schneider to Montreal.

Can’t expect much in return at this point… I’d say we’d be lucky to get Lapierre, Chipchura or D’Agostini in return… maybe, tops, a 2nd round pick.

By R. Stroz

January 7, 2009 5:23 PM | Link to this

GaVaHokie & Buzilla - Thanks for the laugh.