Thrashers

By Brendan

February 23, 2009 8:22 AM | Link to this

Yeah, these players should be playing at the highest levels of their abilities to wind up on a team that is playoff-bound. And I suspect that it’ll be Nic Havelid who is moved. I won’t be surprised to hear Marty Reasoner gets moved, as well. Attempts should be made to move Eric Perrin, if the organization is not going to re-sign him.

By kracker

February 23, 2009 8:24 AM | Link to this

I don’t see a lot of wins the next 6 games unless the Thrashers do what they have much trouble doing: Playing 2.5 solid periods most every game. Heck, give me two good periods every game, that would be a nice improvement.

All the next 6 games the teams are either playing to get in or stay in the playoffs. Or playing to maintain home ice or to earn it. Only Colorado, the worst team in the West, is out of it and they will be seeing Philips as a chance to get a win in the East.

We are (or I am) in the same position as last year: Win as many as possible without lessening our chances for draft positioning. That’s as a fan, I don’t expect or want the players/coaches to play for the draft.

Wow! Bruins lose again, to TB this time. They still may earn the President’s Cup but they will have to return to form.

The Mar. 4 TD - All our young guys need to show they can play here. Who do we trade? Nic or XLB…both? Kari needs to keep earning his next contract to stay here. For my part, it could go either way, though what do the Thrash do w/o him? I say resign Kari.

By dhj_1962

February 23, 2009 8:52 AM | Link to this

SIGN KARI TO A LONG TERM DEAL. SIGN ONE TOP 4 D-MAN. KEEP HAVILID, ENSTROM, ZACH, OYSTRICK, BORIS. THAT WOULD BE A FINE D. I LIKE THE O-FENSE, THEY ARE SCORING ENOUGH TO BE IN THE PAYOFFS. THE TOP PICK IN THE DRAFT SHOULD BE THE BEST CENTER AVAILABLE. GET RID OF A FEW OF THE 3RD AND 4RTH LINE O-FENSIVE PLAYERS FOR A COUPLE OF THUGS. NEED SOMEONE TO STOP TEAMS FROM RUNNING OVER LITTLE, ENSTROM AND PEVS. TELL ME IF YOU THINK I’M WRONG ABOUT THIS. BOULTON SHOULD NEVER BE A HEALTHY SCRATCH, HE IS THE ONLY PLAYER ON THAT TEAM WITH “TRUE GRIT” AND A LITTLE JUMP.

By R. Stroz

February 23, 2009 10:04 AM | Link to this

dhj_1962 found NASCAR Dave’s old keyboard.

By Russian

February 23, 2009 10:07 AM | Link to this

This is my view about next 6 games:

Colorado - Home - must Win. No questions to ask. Bust your asses and bring 2 points. All Colorado golies are not strong

Capitals - Away - LOST and lost a big one. I am thinking 1:7 or 0:6. Ovechnik is unbelivable and he has best partners around him in thios year. What is our Facking Don thinkg????

Carolina - Home - must Win. Team is same division. We have to show something to opposite team and build respect for next year.

Florida - Home - must Win. Look up for Carolina. Something.

Montreal - Home - try to Win. It will be dificult game. Shnieder will show up all what he has. It will good show. Also it will be game after Trade line. I hope I will see new face in our line ups.

Calgary - Home - Lost. Flames are strong and phisical team. We can not win this game.

Final Result - 4 Win and 2 Lost 8 points. Not bad…..

By BAF

February 23, 2009 10:26 AM | Link to this

Slava is hot? He has a few points over the past few games but he isn’t hot.

By Russian

February 23, 2009 10:26 AM | Link to this

Now I like to talk about trade at March 4.

Who must GO:

Havelid - First draft pick or Good Prospect. I hope he is rental player and come back to Atlanta.

Perrin - draft pick.

Slater - draft pick.

Crush - draft pick.

Throburn - draft pick.

White - First draft pick or Good Prospect.

Moose - draft pick.

Who must stay for next year

Kovy - Center #1 - Little

Slava - Pever - Army

Hoffman (we need size) - Reasoner (he is good for third line center) - Stuart (short handed Goals)

Boulton (he is truly Policemen) - Expo - anybody from Chicago

Bogus (offencive D-man) - Valabik (home stay D-man)

Toby (offencive D-man) - Ex (home D-man)

Hainsey (offencive) - Oistrick (home)

Kari - sign him for one more year ($3 mln)

Pavs - back up

This is a team I like to see a next year. Second line might be changed if Donny Boy a* will move from Office.

By Thrasher_Ed

February 23, 2009 10:32 AM | Link to this

Mike Knobler, Where are the Ron Hainsey trade rumors coming from and do you think there is any credibility to the Thrashers wanting to trade him? I just don’t see this unless we can get something of great value in return(#1 center, young Top 4 D-man). There seems to be lots of wild rumors involving the Thrashers and it may get wilder yet.

By Brendan

February 23, 2009 11:12 AM | Link to this

Something from the Spirit court case has been bothering me, Mike Knobler. Don Waddell was quoted in the AJC as saying, “Everyone talks about the ceiling of the cap. We’re just not one of those markets that can spend to the cap (limit).”

While, I don’t dispute that, at all. It nonetheless bothers me that a cap limit was ever set this high. I thought Bettman said the goal of his league, post lockout, was to have 30 “healthy” franchises. Right now, Atlanta has to spend $40.7 million just to reach the floor of the cap. If the team loses money by spending at the floor or the cap, then don’t we have, “by definition,” a mis-set cap number? Oh yes, revenue-sharing dollars, I hear you utter. That’s not how you build and sustain “healthy” franchises, as was the stated goal of our Commissioner.

Stop for a minute, okay? What if the NHL suddenly stated that its whiz-bang, crackerjack staff of auditors determined that the Red Wings need to have a $72 million budget to ensure another Stanley Cup win, including getting Hossa and Franzen re-signed. Still with me? Well, the floor of such a hypothetical cap would be $16 million less than $72 million. Class, how much is that?

Well, for starters, you have to borrow from the “7” of 72, because “2” is less than “6,” to subtract the “6” of 16. Did every get $56 million? Good. Okay, now class, what’s the “ceiling” of the current cap? The class screams, “56.7 million, Brendan.” That’s right. So, Waddell and Atlanta would have to spend to what the CAP LIMIT currently is … something for which Waddell says the Atlanta market cannot afford, just to reach the floor of the hypothetical $72 million cap limit.

Do you see it, now? Do you see how the cap is not taking into account how the lower cashflow teams operate? Well, how on EARTH is the NHL supposed to have “healthy franchises” when their accounting operates in the “projected revenues” theatre? Under a $72 million cap, (not a real number, just made up by meee, for purposes of illustrating an example,) Atlanta would have to receive $20 million in revenue-sharing just to “break even.” (That assumes its “break even point” is around $36 million, for what Atlantans would actually agree to shell out to witness the caliber of team that Waddell ices.) In other words, how can the Atlanta market ever really get a foot hold into the Free Agent market, when it needs millions and millions just to “break even.” Atlanta’s market cannot even begin to think about a cap limit budget for “Opening Night.” And since, not if, that’s the case, then the salary cap must be reformed. For if all 30 teams cannot spend to the cap limit, or close to it, then the league has not, by any stretch of the imagination, created economic parity or equality amongst the teams in the league. Again, I thought that was “one” of the many goals the Commissioner set forth for the “post Lockout” NHL.

Waddell probably likes the “blue light specials” at K-Mart. His mindset does recall one of a minor league GM. But now, Waddell, OR ANY OTHER GM for ATLANTA, will have no choice but to bargain barrel hunt for roster players. Oh sure, the cap might decrease some for 2010. Yeah, but not by enough to truly help the Atlanta market. If Atlanta cannot spend to the cap limit, on “Opening Night,” then the current salary cap doesn’t work.

By dhj_1962

February 23, 2009 11:30 AM | Link to this

stroz, sorry about the caps…russian, you are talking about 8 people gone from current roster…i know the Thrashers are not very good, but thats alot of turnover. now that i have scrolled up and read the names again, i’m all for it. but, if we do not get a top center for Kovy, we might better hold on to White and see how he works with Kovy and Little for the rest of the year. Providing JA leaves that line intact for the REST of the season.

By Nikita

February 23, 2009 11:37 AM | Link to this

Re: trading…note that there’s a big difference between who we should trade and who we will trade. For starters, I’d bet that we won’t trade X or Thorburn — X is too valued as an individual, though his play is terrible, and Thorburn is obviously a favorite of the coaches. I would trade X if it were my choice — Thorbs is developing decently, and could be worth keeping depending on how he shows up at camp. But X doesn’t have the talent.

Who should go: Havelid — plays a solid game, but has never fully adjusted to Anderson’s system. I’d bet that he WILL go. Crushah — streaky. Let someone else gamble on him. And I’d imagine his value should be pretty good right now for a team that needs a shootout specialist. Perrin I like. But I think he WILL go. Hainsey…maybe. I think he’ll stay. But I also think we can replace him. Oystrick — his numbers kind of suck. And he looks good to me in general, but I think it would have to depend on his market value.

We need to keep White, Slater, Kovy, Little, Koz, Pevs, Army, Reasoner, Bogues, Enstrom.

By GaVaHokie

February 23, 2009 11:51 AM | Link to this

Here’s an interesting rumor from the Ottawa Sun via the Fourth Period

This certainly makes things interesting… I’d have no problem moving Hainsey to Philly for Upshall and Van Riemsdyk instead of Lehtonen.

By Mike

February 23, 2009 12:32 PM | Link to this

Mike

Just to be the jerk that points out little mistakes, LaVallee played at home in the last week of the regular season last year, so technically it won’t be the first look for at him for Thrashers fans.

Keep up the good work!

By kracker

February 23, 2009 1:12 PM | Link to this

GaVa LOL on the shopping Hainsey rumour (Canadian spelling deliberate.) There is a nice link to an Ice Girls calendar there, though.

NO WAY can we move White until there is a known, better replacement. That means a trade in the summer or perhaps a FA signing.

So, Mike, to that end (and many others), do you think there will be an effective, stress effective, determination in the Great Owner Lawsuit/Squabble sometime this spring? I’m sure Belkin will appeal if he loses but I am hoping the owners will recieve a decisive, favorable decision, pending a fruitless appeal. Any guesses at this time?

By B. Thenet

February 23, 2009 1:14 PM | Link to this

Good point on the cap Brendan.

The large market teams, and the players association, wanted their to be a cap floor with the new CBA. The problem is that teams like Atlanta, among others, are getting killed just getting to the cap floor.

DW has said publicly several times that they had no idea the floor would get so high, so quickly.

Granted part of the problem was the Canadian dollar going nuts vs. the US Dollar, and all of the Canadian markets are on fire right now as far as ticket sales and revenue. Where as before the last lockout, it was Canadian markets crying for financial help.

However, something needs to be done regarding the cap floor for at least 10 NHL teams to stay afloat right now. Perhaps the NHLPA and the Board of Governors can get together about the cap floor issue, it is a very serious issue that is going unreported.

I will add, it seems unlikely that the Canadian markets can keep up their level of spending so that should help matters a bit.

By Jim

February 23, 2009 2:13 PM | Link to this

Waddell’s comment about this market not supporting a high priced team is ridiculous. We set an attendance record for a new franchise in our first year. The reason that fans continue to fall away is his and ASG’s bonehead moves and their inability to put a good NHL product on the ice. Give us a decent team and “they will come back”. But, not with Donnie Brilliance at the wheel.

By Brendan

February 23, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this

Thank you, B.Thenet. I was hoping someone respond. It is a fairly serious issue. That impacts our market. Dead on.

I’m not sure how to fix the floor, when the issue is cashflow. The only thing I can suggest is … higher revenue-sharing for the smaller market teams. That, tied with making the disparity between the cap and floor more like $6 million, instead of $16 million. Had that been the case, Atlanta’s minimum budget would have been $50.7 million, and they’d get something like $12-14 million in revenue-sharing to compensate their losses. I’d have to believe Atlanta could field a more competitive team with those kinds of numbers. And, it could begin to have a “fair shot” at landing a Tier I free agent, with $14 million in revenue-sharing coming back Atlanta’s way.

By sisu

February 23, 2009 3:49 PM | Link to this

All I have heard is the cap will go down…

By Bob

February 23, 2009 4:11 PM | Link to this

cap is going down, there is little doubt of that. But doesn’t the revenue sharing fix Atlanta’s problem of “losing money just to reach the cap”. I feel it’s just more double talk out of Waddell and the Spirit when they talk about losses, but conveniently forget to talk about the revenue sharing they receive at the end of the year.

By Midfield

February 23, 2009 4:27 PM | Link to this

Jim, good or fair attendance is probably not enough to sustain a franchise. There may be enough hockey fans to fill in Philips, but not enough people interested in watching hockey on TV or buying NHL merchandise, etc. For the record, I’m not trying to shill for Waddell. I think he should be let go.

By BlueSpark

February 23, 2009 4:29 PM | Link to this

Hainsey’s salary is definitely too high to be moved. It’s got to be Havelid. Moving Kari is probably not a bad idea either.

By Brendan

February 23, 2009 5:00 PM | Link to this

Bob, all I think the revenue-sharing does is offset the level of losses. For the record, don’t quote me. I don’t really know. That said, let’s use this as an example. Let’s say the Thrashers “break-even” with “good attendance” at $38.5 million. But they are forced to spend $40.7 million, per the terms and conditions of the CBA, to reach the floor of the cap. That’s a loss of $2.2 million. But, they get revenue-sharing to the tune of $7.2 million. So? So, they actually made $5 million, if they set their budget at the floor of the cap. Now, Atlanta didn’t do that. Atlanta’s “Opening Night” budget was 45.7 million. Said another way, the Thrashers were $5 million over the floor of the cap.

Which means? Well, iffff any of those numbers are actually correct, (crapshoot estimate,) it means that the Thrashers “broke even.” They lost $7.2 million in operating expenses, but they were compensated to the tune of $7.2 million in revenue-sharing.

Well — say it with me — All that means is that Atlanta can field a salary cap floor payroll, but nothing more. The second they go over what they’re compensated for, they start to have actual losses. I believe that is what is now happening. In other words, Atlanta didn’t experience “good attendance,” but rather “modest attendance.” Meaning? The “break-even” for Atlanta may have been closer to $35.5 million than $38.5 million, using the “made up” hypothetical numbers above. If that’s the case, then Atlanta’s $45.5 million payroll actually reflects $10 million worth of loss, which was then compensated by $7.2 million in revenue-sharing. And yes, that means the team actually lost $2.8 million, due to quality of the “on ice product.” We can charactize that any of a number of ways. “Fans shunned the owners.” “Fans voted with their wallets.” “Fans got ‘fed up’ with Waddell.” Or, fans decided to spend their ‘discretionary income’ ELSEWHERE. Or, we could even say, “There just WASN’T any discretionary income to spend, on the Thrashers, or any other sports team.”

But, to be CLEAR, it’s not because there isn’t support of hockey in Atlanta, or “good fans” in Atlanta. It’s that people don’t especially want to waste their time, and money, supporting an organization that treats them so disrespectfully. And that is how you are treated, as fans of the Atlanta Thrashers. You were promised a Tier I center and a Tier I defenseman, who never came. This organization won’t even tell you how long its Head Coach and GM are under contract. They think you don’t, as the paying customers, have the right to know. It is “understood” that if the team falters, that there’d be accountability. But Waddell is still here, along with the same scouting staff, assistant GM, etc. In short, the owners aren’t trying. Well, all they’re really ‘trying’ to do … is keep the team’s finances above water. And I sort of blame the league for that, since there apparently isn’t enough revenue-sharing going on, in the smaller market venues. If the NHL were giving Atlanta $15 million in revenue-sharing, it’d better have a budget of $50+ million. So what if they operating losses are $10 million, that’s still $5 million in surplus after paying off those debts. But the point still remains, what if Atlanta attempted a MAXED CAP on “Opening Night?” That’d be $56.7 million minus $35.5 million (break-even), for a loss of $21.2 million. That is then offset by $15 million in revenue-sharing, for a “net loss” of $6.2 million.

Well, folks. There’s a word for that. “Unfair.” I actually think … that I BELIEVE Waddell. Atlanta CANNOT spend to the cap limit. And I blame that on the National Hockey League. They said they’d clean up the DISPARITY that existed among the markets. If this is what constitutes “cleaned up,” I’d hate to see what “messy” is, in their view.

By Tony C.

February 23, 2009 5:15 PM | Link to this

Wow. Crazy rumor. David Pagnotta isnt known for just making stuff up.

If Hainsey is really dis-satisfied, I say move him. But I don’t see anybody picking up that contract. It might be a player-for-player summer/draft-day move though.

By Tony C.

February 23, 2009 5:18 PM | Link to this

Also, people will buy merch swag if you win.

By TableHockey

February 24, 2009 11:06 AM | Link to this

I actually think the trade deadline will be quiet for the Thrashers. I’m not sure that the players that others teams would want would be players ATL is willing to trade.

I expect 1 maybe 2 players max will be traded - Havelid being the most likely.