Ice Man

By Bob

April 18, 2007 10:07 PM | Link to this

And they were holey socks and hand me down skivvies.

Rangers are a good team, they may go places. Hoss played better tonight, too little too late though. But at least encouraging. He needs to learn how to fight through the tighter checks in the playoffs.

Out of the UFA’s, I’d like to keep Dupuis and Belanger (although he was a ghost in the playoffs) and Kozlov re-signed, even though he did have a bad series. Blow the rest up. We need a quick center to skate with Kovy, someone who can dish. Couple dmen would be nice, that’s just our achilles heel every year. Not a lot of available room under the Cap, Waddell might need to deal someone.

Biggest thing to happen now this offseason is who wins, Spirit or Belkin? I know who I’m rooting for.

By R. Stroz

April 18, 2007 10:08 PM | Link to this

Time for some house cleaning! I think we should start with:

1) Sutton

2) Havelid, before anyone figures out he is going downhill fast

3) Devries

Everyone else who are your top three to get the gate.

By Wreckin' & Thrashin'

April 18, 2007 10:11 PM | Link to this

This franchise is in big, big trouble. No defense, no #1 center, no prospects in the pipeline, no draft picks.

It’s time to start over, beginning with Waddell and Hartley. I like both of them, but they’ve let the city down. We have to build around Lehtonen and Kovy. Marian Hossa is dead to me after today. He’s always going to be a choker.

By Nolan

April 18, 2007 10:13 PM | Link to this

Congrats Thrashers…

I knew this was going to happen when I was at the last game of the season. Too much celebrating…victory cigar, etc…

Work on winning a game in the playoffs.

Enjoy that banner raising in October. It’ll look great next to the WIDESPREAD PANIC one!

By HockeyPuck

April 18, 2007 10:17 PM | Link to this

Don - Thanks, worst team money could buy

Bob - Goodbye

Fans - Thrashers Season Tickets, half-price

By westcoastbird

April 18, 2007 10:22 PM | Link to this

So… We traded away our future to get swept in the playoffs. “The future is now” What HorseSh*t.

Lets Go Sharks!!

By R. Stroz

April 18, 2007 10:22 PM | Link to this

Bob - How about a post game Hartley impression to lighten the mood.

Like I play de vets becoz dey are slow, I dont deevelup new player cause I don’t know how to

By CM

April 18, 2007 10:25 PM | Link to this

Remember what Hartley said about “no time to turtle”? Hmm..you think they turtled? I do.

There’s always next year. Great, now I sound like a Sox fan..or a Rangers fan. They FINALLY made it past the first round. Enjoy it while it lasts.

G’night Bluelanders!

By Norm Maracle

April 18, 2007 10:28 PM | Link to this

Remember when Curt Fraser and Terry Stotts were fired on back to back days? Deja Vu?

We are in desparate need of the Arthur Blank — the whole organization will be evaluated from the top down routine.

In hindsight we overpaid for Havelid and agree we do not have a centerman. Guess Savard and all his awful penalties were more valuable that we thought.

By stendec

April 18, 2007 10:28 PM | Link to this

Thrashers are quitters, losers, frauds, underachievers, gutless, prideless, clueless, brainless, heartless, directionless, d+++less, soft and apathetic. But, worst of all, they are Falcon clones. That, as they say, is the deepest cut of all! Should have just forfeited two games at Madison Square Garden. Thrashers did not show up for either one! Thanks for playoff turtle job blue guys. Total embarrassment! At least Big Apple hockey fans love ya.

By Mark

April 18, 2007 10:30 PM | Link to this

How can you not look at Waddel and the panic move he made at the deadline.

Mellanby - done halfway through the season and never improved

Tkuchuk - slow center who should have never been paired with Kovulchuk who needs a play making center to get him the puck

Defense - all number 5 defensemen who are not strong in any area and we traded a good young talent for an over the hill Zhitnik

Centers - all number 3 and 4 lines at best, nobody to get Kovulchuk the puck and nobody to help Hossa who was wore out by the end of the year by having to carry his line by himself

Kozlov - old and playing like it

Slater - cant recall one good thing or play he made all year long

This team is in deep trouble.

By R. Stroz

April 18, 2007 10:32 PM | Link to this

If Hartley is unwilling to develop the prospects by giving them ice time, he should get the gate.

Hartley has to stop overplaying the vets and give the youngsters a chance to learn. Doesn’t he brag about being a teacher?

By B. Thenet

April 18, 2007 10:35 PM | Link to this

Wow a 4 game losing streak….what a shock

This team was so inconsistent that it was even hard to enjoy what was a rather good regular season.

In hindsight this was a great season for the team.

It is just hard to say anything that nice about them based on how it all eneded.

By xxx

April 18, 2007 10:36 PM | Link to this

It is amazing that this team looked so bad during the series. We have young players, old players, but no one took their game to the next level. I know this is the first time for the Thrashers in the playoff’s, but come on. Most of the key players have been there before and knew what to expect. Playoff hockey is the best hockey through out the season. To bad no one in the ATL got to see the excitement a good series can generate. Waddell should know the formula: Great Goal tender, A scraper and two scoring machines. Ask Kozlov he’ll tell you exactly what they are missing. Make a note of this: you do not let good players go! Savard ring a bell? It just does not happen to the teams that want a Stanley cup. I’m not sure what direction the GM wants to take this year, seems like every year the Thrashers are going in a new direction. Let’s get younger, no let’s get older. Maybe if the Atlanta Spirit had better direction this team would. I was hoping to see some good offense in this series. I was very disappointed that we did not have any. There was absolutely no offense, no passing to set up shots, nothing it was a very poor display. Can’t stand losing to those NY teams. The Rangers will not make it past the next round. I hope Waddell see’s what he is lacking rather than starting over and getting younger. How about an intimidator like Avery. Every winning team needs one if your going to go deep in the playoff’s.

By Andy

April 18, 2007 10:50 PM | Link to this

Stop showing Harltey the gate—he’s a winner. In this case, he didn’t have the horses. The big turn-around after the big trades showed how shallow our talent was.

Who should go? Slater, Sutton Who should stay? Tkachuk, McCarthy, Kozlov Who should we get? Valabik-big young d’man-and pay what it takes to get a first tier forward to force other teams to focus on more than Kovy and Hossa.

Do we need a new GM to make it happen? 7 years is enough—Don’s a nice guy but one good year out of 7 is worse than 0 for 4 in the post season.

By Daniel

April 18, 2007 10:52 PM | Link to this

Who’s ready for some Chicago Wolves Playoff Hockey?!!! Maybe we can send Lehtonen down to get some playing time in. But seriously:

This team is what it is. It overachieved some what to start the year and then came back down as the season went on. We have great scorers in Kovy and Hossa. The stars are in place upfront, we now need complimentary guys. I think going into the offseason the #1 goal is D-men. We need one big name, preferably two. I would be fine with 1 big name and a half namer. We need a top pairing. Then its off to get speedy center with passing ability, and then if theirs money left over, find a decent winger.

As for the coach, I think I have said this before, but it seems to me that there are two types of hockey teams (maybe 3) Teams that win on talent, and teams that win on system. I’ve always considered ourselves a team that wins on talent- case in point, our record when Hossa scores in the reg season. Teams like NJ and Minnesota, even Toronto are system winning teams. The teams that really win are the ones that combine both aspects. I have questioned Hartley’s system this year especially. I think once Savard left we really saw how much of last years PP was him and the chemistry he had with Kovy.

There’s a lot more to cover, but I don’t wan to write a novel right now. It was a good season, I proud of what the team did this year. Sad to see it end the way it did.

By Fans with $hit for brains

April 18, 2007 10:56 PM | Link to this

now who on this team must go AJC?

By NHL in Atlanta

April 18, 2007 11:01 PM | Link to this

Hockey ends another year in Atlanta with a thud. Not what the city needed or what the Spirit needed. Getting to the 2nd round would have created more of a buzz and much better media coverage. Instead the Thrashers get swept out of round one and off the radar screens of potential new fans. The uphill battle continues……..

By jefferson

April 18, 2007 11:01 PM | Link to this

This was a tough series for the Thrashers entire organization. The team was beat up in the playoffs by the Rangers. It does not get much worse than that. But let’s look at the bright side, this could be the start of a playoff rivalry in Atlanta. I hate the Rangers. I like what I saw with the Thrashers most of this year (until the playoffs), and I am already looking forward to more Thrashers hockey next season. But for the rest of these playoffs, I gotta say- Go Wings!

By Paul

April 18, 2007 11:07 PM | Link to this

Daniel, excellent post. We have a really good core with Hossa, Kovy and Kari but we drop off real quick after that. Team did overachieve this year and i do not blame Waddell for making the moves he made. And please no more talk about Coach Hartley we aint gonna get anyone better.

By Rangers Fan

April 18, 2007 11:08 PM | Link to this

I’ve missed my boys…..these are the Rangers from years ago!!! watch out…..we’re on a roll…..

By R. Stroz

April 18, 2007 11:11 PM | Link to this

Hartley has to be willing to drop the slow vets, quit giving the vets a pass on poor play, and be willing to develop the prospects.

By Hanson Brothers

April 18, 2007 11:11 PM | Link to this

I’m looking for a silver lining. The only one I can come up with at the moment is my next AMEX bill won’t be too high with only 2 first round games to be charged by the team.

By R. Stroz

April 18, 2007 11:12 PM | Link to this

Joe719 - You better hide your broom before your wife wants you to clean the house.

By Hanson Brothers

April 18, 2007 11:15 PM | Link to this

Silver lining number 2. We get a 1st round pick back since surely KT will not stick around. Of course it is only a silver lining if DW is not the one drafting.

By R. Stroz

April 18, 2007 11:15 PM | Link to this

Hanson Brothers - Should we bus the booster club to the airport and moon the Thrashers defense?

By Thrashy Thrashy

April 18, 2007 11:15 PM | Link to this

Rangers Fan, if the opposition from here on out is as soft as the Thrashers, they’ll be skating the Cup at MSG. Otherwise, this is your team’s shining moment. However it ends up, congrats on the series win.

By Paul

April 18, 2007 11:20 PM | Link to this

I knew the Rangers were the better team before the series started but hoped we would get a hot goaltender and steal the series. I congratulate them for the sweep but no way do they win the cup. Beating Thrashers is one thing winning the cup a whole different ballgame, but hey they are still playing.

By BJ

April 18, 2007 11:20 PM | Link to this

Wadell already saying that Hartley will be back??? He might want to think about that one a few days and consider whether there will be any fans left in the stands before he makes that call. Something major has to change and fast or else there will be no reason to follow this team next year or spend $$ on tix. Not going to pay for a repeat of this fiasco.

By Hanson Brothers

April 18, 2007 11:20 PM | Link to this

R.Stroz, no the booster club is shutting down for the off-season. They think the team probably was distracted with all the rumors of the team folding or whether they were moving to Florida. Tough to concentrate on little things like defense under those circumstances.

By luckydog

April 18, 2007 11:22 PM | Link to this

I’ve usually come on here to vent after a bad loss.

But tonight I find myself looking on the bright side, or at least philosophical about the whole thing.

The Thrashers became competitive this year. Yeah we had a lot of loser points and were only 3 games above .500. But we had the most points so far and won our division. That ain’t nothing, no matter how fleeting the celebration. I went to my first playoff hockey game (2) with my son, and it’s an experience I treasure and hope to repeat.

The main task of the offseason is rebuilding a defense with some youth, speed and skill. In my mind Hedberg goes in as the starting goalie unless Kari takes it from him. If any player achieved anything in this series, he earned that. We still need a big time center, since Tkachuk is a goner.

Hartley and DW have one more year to prove they can keep it moving forward. I truly hope they do because otherwise god knows what might happen to the franchise.

See you next fall at the Phil.

ps: Thanks to Custance, Manasso and Ice Man for good reading all season.

Cheers

By Matthew At The SLC

April 18, 2007 11:25 PM | Link to this

Iceman…

You and Craig need to address the ownership issue. Because if Belkin wins, we can say goodbye to our players, and more than likely, we can say goodbye to our hockey team. He will sell them, and then they’ll move to Vegas. I’m not kidding, that’s exactly what will happen if Belkin gains control.

This issue needs to be addressed.

By R. Stroz

April 18, 2007 11:28 PM | Link to this

I need to figure out how much of a refund I’m going to get between the Thrashers and the IRS. It’s time to pick up some shows at the Punchline.

By R. Stroz

April 18, 2007 11:30 PM | Link to this

Matthew - I corresponded with the VP of Marketing for the Thrashers today. He assured me that the Thrashers and the All-Star game will be in Atlanta next year.

By MCB

April 18, 2007 11:31 PM | Link to this

Believe in LOSELAND.

By Nasty Nester 4 Life

April 18, 2007 11:51 PM | Link to this

MAN! I was lookin forward to drinking a lot of beer, saying bad words out loud, being as rude as possible and bullying families with small children who get offended while we were rockin the Nest Friday night. Oh well. We can still go back to ruining Thrashers games for other fans at Philips next season. Peace!

By joe719

April 18, 2007 11:54 PM | Link to this

Hey Stroz, “Strike another match, go start anew! Cause its all over now, Baby blue!!”

By T. Fan

April 18, 2007 11:55 PM | Link to this

The blame starts and ends with Waddell. He put together a flawed team, and when his job was on the line at the trade deadline, he traded the cow for a few magic beans.

In a short period of time, he traded away two #1 prospects and a #1 pick for two extra home playoff games. Yes, he took a risk. But in the end, it did not pay off. Where are the repercussions for fouling up?

By R. Stroz

April 18, 2007 11:58 PM | Link to this

Joe719 - You must have missed my earlier post. You better hide your broom before your wife wants you to clean the house.

By Braves Fan 79

April 19, 2007 12:04 AM | Link to this

at least the Braves r back to domination….go Braves!

By joe719

April 19, 2007 12:08 AM | Link to this

Sorry Stroz, just got home a little while ago. No problems with the wife; she’s down in Florida with my son and her mother, doing Disneyworld. I can fly around the house on my broom if I want to!! What a sweet night! The way they kept battling back all night, never panicking. A good lesson for your guys. And what’s up with Hossa? Elbows and slashes all night?!! What a punk!!! I guess the Ottawa fans were right about him. He really does suck!!!

By R. Stroz

April 19, 2007 12:09 AM | Link to this

Joe719 - Your coach, Renney, figured out a month or two ago that big, slow defensemen are useless under the new rule format, so Kasparaitis was sent to the AHL. Please ask Denney to send that memo to Hartley; because, Hartley hasn’t figured that out yet. Maybe, next year, the Thrashers will find some D-men that can skate faster than a log floating down the river.

By R. Stroz

April 19, 2007 12:12 AM | Link to this

Joe719 - Don’t hurt yourself too badly with that broom!

By Hanson Brothers

April 19, 2007 12:15 AM | Link to this

R. Stroz, you make a good point about the d-men. I got caught up in the trades we made and how it really did help us short term to win the division. But now that I have had 2 hours to reflect on the season, we could really regret the trades. One thing Bourret and Coburn could do was skate, and if they turn out to be good NHL d-men, those trades could hurt our defense for years. With the salary cap we can’t count on getting more than 1 or 2 quality free agent d-men, and that is if they are willing to come here.

By joe719

April 19, 2007 12:18 AM | Link to this

Hey Stroz, right now I ain’t feelin’ any pain!!!(if you know what I mean!)About your D; what the hell was Zhitnik thinking, pinching so late in the second period. I couldn’t believe he went in that deep with such little time left in the period. It was a stupid play, and the turning point of the game!!

By R. Stroz

April 19, 2007 12:24 AM | Link to this

Hanson Brothers - We have to bring up Oystrick and Valabik next year. Valabik is 6’7” and loves to hit. Oystrick plays a more balanced game at 6’0”. Next, we need to find a relatively fast young D-man on a team with salary cap issues. Third, we need to put McCarthy back in whether Hartley like him or not. McCarthy pinches in well and has good wheels. Fourth, for the love of hockey, get rid of Sutton and Devo. Last, and probably few will agree, put Havelid on the block. His skills have progressively gone downhill all season.

By R. Stroz

April 19, 2007 12:33 AM | Link to this

Joe719 - I bet you may feel some pain in the morning, after the sun rises. Take an aspirin and down another one, hopefully that will help.

As far defensive brain farts, the Thrashers have been giving away goals all season in the last three minutes of the period, usually the last minute of the period. They don’t seem to understand that momentum thing.

Just out of curiousity, do you think Moose or Lehtonen is the better Thrasher goalie. I’ve been leaning toward Moose as the regular season ended; but, everyone thinks Lehtonen is the future. I’m not so sure.

By brylew123

April 19, 2007 12:45 AM | Link to this

The only players who played well in the series were Dupuis, Kovy, and Moose. The rest of the team disappeared. We looked like we were in slo mo the last 2 games. We should resign Dupuis and Belanger as they both made things happen all year. Tkachuk taught Kovy what he needs to know about toughness and standing up for your team. We need to dump Sutton, Devries, Havelid. We obviously NEED to keep Moose. Was it not so obvious that the team plays harder when he is in the pipes?

By will in athens

April 19, 2007 12:46 AM | Link to this

Even though it wasn’t the biggest problem in the first two games, it always seems to creep up at the most important and inopportune times:

We have NO Defense. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

It’s not goaltending folks, we’re more than fine there.

Get rid of all the so called defenders for all I care, maybe keep X but thats about it. And now we see why the Aves got rid of Hartley, he looked as lost as anybody in the buildings this past week.

No power play. No real center. And again, most important of all, as always with this franchise - zero defense. Hey, at least Kovy tried. Whoever said Hossa is dead to them is a moron, but he disappeared for sure. Showed signs tonight, but thats how he shoulda played in game one only to improve upon that as the series progressed.

Not to make excuses, but there were some flukey goals for sure. Games 1 and 2 coulda gone either way, but game 3 could not have been more embarrassing and a bigger sign as to where this franchise is still really at.

I will have nightmares about this horrendous, horrendous so called ‘Defense’ for many years to come. They could not be worse. I mean honestly, how hard is it to simply clear the fricken puck? We made it look VERY hard, that’s for damm sure.

Defense. Centers. Coach. GM.

Not necessarily in that order… but major overhauls are due in every department.

By joe719

April 19, 2007 12:51 AM | Link to this

Stroz- In this series, I think it was obvious that your “Moose” was the better Thrasher goalie. The team played better in front of him. I think in the long-run though, you got to stick with Lehtonen. He has a little maturing to do; but I only see an upside to him. By the way, was there any truth to the stories that some of the veterans were upset with Lehtonen for the hair-dyeing stunt before game one. Some of the papers up here alluded to the fact that his attitude before game 1 turned off some of the veterans, notably Tkachuk, and Holik.

By Legion of thrash

April 19, 2007 12:58 AM | Link to this

Get rid of Havelid with Hartley and Wadell.

By R. Stroz

April 19, 2007 1:01 AM | Link to this

Joe719 - The hair upset someone, because he cut it all off. Guess which other player dyed his hair blue, yes, my favorite idiot D-man, Andy Sutton. The hair thing was a stupid distraction displaying a lack of maturity by both players.

Holik b*** about everything though, except his oversized 4.25 million dollar contract. The guy is a third line center who wasn’t winning hardly any face-offs in the series. He is another player that needs to go; because, he takes up too much cap space.

I’m hoping the Thrashers will get rid of the over the hill players like Holik, Sutton, Devries,and Havelid, which would free up some cap space for a younger, quicker team.

By joe719

April 19, 2007 1:04 AM | Link to this

to brylew123— If you think your ‘Kovy’ played well in this series, you must have been watching another series than the rest of us. He was knocked totally off his game by Avery. He showed how immature he was for even acknowledging Avery’s shenannigans. As for Tkaczuk teaching him about toughness and standing up for your team, are you kidding. Do you really believe, that his going after Avery in game 3(with his gloves still on, I might add) made any difference at all in this series? Other than getting himself tossed, what did he accomplish. He practically gift-wrapped the series to the Rangers with his play. Come 0n, get a clue!!!!

By R. Stroz

April 19, 2007 1:06 AM | Link to this

Ice Man - Did you fix my literary indiscretion?

By R. Stroz

April 19, 2007 1:12 AM | Link to this

Well everyone, I’m tired of listening to the fat lady sing, so I’m calling it a night.

Joe719 - Good luck in the next round. If you play Buffablow, watch out, they flop more than Danny Ainge did as a Celtic. Drop in from time to time.

By joe719

April 19, 2007 1:12 AM | Link to this

Stroz— Don’t have to tell me about Holik. He stole over $8 mil. in salary while with the Rangers; and now I find out he’s suing the franchise for some bonus money he never got. A really classy guy!Oh geez! Its late. Got work tomorrow. I hate these weekday games!!! Gotta go. Maybe I’ll come back around in the fall if the Mets and Braves renew aquaintainces.Till then take care!! That line you see outside Augusta National, are the Thrashers looking for tee times!!!

By Brendan

April 19, 2007 1:45 AM | Link to this

ICEMAN, it wasn’t “socks-n-underwear” back in October. That Thrashers team would get down, 2-0, even 3-0, then come back and win. They played with total confidence. They were never out of any game. Andy Sutton was doing well. Havelid was doing well. Jon Sim was on fire in the early part of October. And, most important of all, the team was playing GREAT DEFENSE.

Do any of these things sound like the Thrashers of April? That’s what went wrong. They weren’t the Thrashers of October.

Well, there’s always next year. I doubt we’ll the wholesale changes that most are calling for. But, ya never know, right? Next week’s headline could read, Belkin wins suit, Waddell resigns, Hartley is fired.

Speaking of which, the Columbus Blue Jackets fired Doug MacLean today. Long overdue some might say. Lots of speculation on the new GM. Could even be Neil Smith, who lasted only 41-days on Long Island. Coach Hitchcock’s friends with Pat Quinn, who is out of work. I think Quinn is still too much “old NHL” in his thinking.

The Carolina Hurricanes missed the playoffs and could not therefore defend their Cup. But GM Jim Rutherford just got a five-year contract extension.

By Tony C.

April 19, 2007 3:36 AM | Link to this

Here are the UFA skaters:

Kozlov

Tkachuk

Mellanby

Sim

Vigier

Boulton

Larsen

Belanger

Dupuis

DeVries

Sutton

Hnidy

X , Slater, Mackenzie and McCarthy are RFA

food for thought.

Iceman good work with the blog this season-was a huge improvement from the previous year.

By rj

April 19, 2007 6:31 AM | Link to this

I think it is adios for Waddell and hopefully Hartley. If the team had made the second round then the trade deadline deals make sense. A first round sweep tells me he got screwed. Coburn should have been playing for the Thrashers the last half of the season. He looked great playing for his new NHL team.

Getting traded from the Thrashers must be like a gift from heaven. It’s amazing the number of NHL’ers that were not good enough for Atlanta but are playing very well for other teams that made the playoffs. Thankfully most were sent to western teams so they only come back to haunt us a few times a year.

By five_hole

April 19, 2007 7:47 AM | Link to this

Hey Ice man,

I wanted to give you a shout out for writing a consistantly great column/blog this year. People my age say you ‘tell it like it is’, my kids would say you ‘keep it real’. Whichever way you prefer it, please just keep doing it.

So this is what it feels like to have your face smashed in the glass? Sean Avery giving you a face wash? It’s bad enough to lose in the playoffs, but to be swept and embarrassed?

Lord Tennyson (not to be confused with Lord Stanley) said ‘tis better to have loved and lost then never to have loved at all’. I’m not really sure what that has to do with hockey, but I am glad that we made the playoffs.

By Ice Man

April 19, 2007 8:07 AM | Link to this

Five-hole … just happened to check the blog before taking Ice Kid to school …

Thanks for the compliment. I appreciate it. Writing the blog was a lot of fun, and of course, we’ll keep it going over the summer for some Hot Stove League talk. Or is it Air Conditioner League?

You know, your post is funny, too, because I was thinking of deploying Tennyson’s famous ode to disappointment. … Then I decided to go with the much more profound socks and underwear analogy. Guess that’s why one of us is in literature books and other, well, isn’t.

By ZAvalanche

April 19, 2007 8:19 AM | Link to this

Hard to swallow this one. I thought the thrash played pretty well last night. The first two periods were more in line with what we had seen during the regular season. Couple things bother me about it: Hossa on an odd-man rush and passes it back to the ranger D. I understand what he was thinking, but you have to use discression when passing to people you cannot see that are calling for it. That is bush league, worst thing about it, it worked! Then, with a player advantage, at the end of the 3rd we have control of the puck, keeping it in the zone nicely, cycling the puck around for a shot and then………..WHOOPS! D-man drops the puck. Couldn’t have been a worse time, literally. Game over. Buh-bye.

I have some class, not a ton, but I am at least honest with myself. Good work Rangers. Very consistent, didn’t fall into the traps we tried to lay for you, that is, riling up Avery. But i cannot help but think that that was our only game plan. Lundqvist played well, very well in game 4. Youz guyz have some good momentum heading into round 2. Probably looking at Buffalo, but if not them then Ottawa. Congrats to Renney, player management was lights-out.

Offseason: Ditch the driftwood, and as for a center. I believe Drury is unrestricted. I highly doubt he will leave Buffalo but it is your job, Don, to try. Get out the check books. Keep Holik, Dupuis, Kozlov, Sim, Larsen, Belanger and Hnidy.

By ZAvalanche

April 19, 2007 8:26 AM | Link to this

IceMan. Thanks for providing the forum, I am new to it but really dug it. And yes, please, deep the blog going for the summer. I have to have something soak up the hours and nothing better than talking hockey.

By ScottH

April 19, 2007 8:28 AM | Link to this

Before killing the Thrashers and belitteling the Rangers potential….think of this the Rangers are now 17-3-3 in their last 23 games, far and away the hottest team in the league right now. The Thrashers just ran into a very hot team, believing in themselves, their system and a very hot goaltender play his best at the right time. Before the series the Thrashers were a dangerous team right? Give the opponent some credit, the Thrashers deserve some blame but not all.

By Anders

April 19, 2007 8:29 AM | Link to this

To Thrashers fans from NY. Good game last night. I believe if the Thrashers played more focused on hockey rather than chasing Avery around all series they would have made a series out of it. They fell for the oldest trick in the book. They were distracted from their game and before they knew it the series was over. Hartley and your veterans are to blame for that, they should have known better. You finished higher than us in the standings, you beat us 3 out of 4 games in the season and you had home ice advantage yet they let the Rangers dictate how the series would be played. That’s on Hartley. I still have no idea what style of hockey Atlanta wanted to play. Does anyone?

By BB

April 19, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this

Maybe we should go back to the Curt Frasier years. At least all you arm chair QB want to be’s will have something really to B** about.

By Anders

April 19, 2007 8:39 AM | Link to this

ScottH - Thanks for some backup. All the Ranger bashing on this blog yesterday was out of control. They are a hot team with a world class goalie - keep in mind the Rangers were rolling last year until 9 players went to the Olympics including Lundquist, who won the gold medal, then they all burned out when they got back. They lost their last 8 of the season and were swept in the playoffs. This year was the opposite. They started slow, figured out the new NHL D rules adjusted and have been rolling since. If they get anything near a hot power play going look out. Because I guarantee you whoever they play in the next series is going to pound Jagr and Nylander. The Rangers need to turn that in to PP goals.

By RANGERS9407

April 19, 2007 8:47 AM | Link to this

wow we swept you guys. that was great. it reminded me of 1999 when the YANKS swept the braves. jeez, the thrashers needed a michael vick touchdown just to tie the rangers in game 3. good luck next year!

By Bored in Atlanta

April 19, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this

One word sums it up perfectly…. THRASHED.

By Bob

April 19, 2007 9:10 AM | Link to this

So Waddell really said yesterday that Hartley was his man for next year? Really? I’m going to whistle through the graveyard and believe that was before last night’s game and thus the dreaded vote of confidence

If he really meant it, then Waddell needs to go too (remember how long he kept Fraser around?).

Which probably wouldn’t be a bad thing. Waddell’s had 8 years, including the lockout year, to get this right, and this club is in bad shape and needs to be totally retooled for next year. We could see 1/2 the roster turnover. A new GM could do wonders, and quickly.

By Rawhide

April 19, 2007 9:22 AM | Link to this

Hard to get happy after last night. I’ll congratulate the Rangers as they were overall the better team in the series. Nothing said below should take away from that. Here are just some random thoughts:

THE SERIES:

1.It sure did seem as though EVERY break went the Rangers way. However, in hockey, the harder working team tends to get those breaks more times then not.

2.If you think about it,….we were THAT close to being up 3-1 right now. We get beat in, for all intense and purpose, 3 one goal games and a blow-out. The difference in the 3 close games, a muffed catch by Kari, a fluke crap-goal off the dasher boards and a side-ways puck a fraction of an inch over the line off the crossbar. Not sour grapes,….just an observation.

3.BH playing Moose in game two was a calculated gamble. Putting Kari back in for game 3 was not the right call. Of course, that’s hindsight.

THE SEASON:

1.I suppose after a day or so, this is what I’ll start reflecting on more. It was an exciting season. The best so far. Thank you Thrashers for a great year.

2.Blueland: Your awesome!! We had a BLAST with everyone! The home playoff games were proof we are a hockey town on the rise. We out-did our counterparts in Turner Field in the way of fan support. We proved the detractors wrong when we showed up in FULL FORCE last Thursday and Saturday and gave NO empty seats for Ranger “thousands” of NYR fans to scarf up, or TV cameras to focus in on! Well done!!

3.The trades,……I hear so many people saying we “mortgaged” our future. Folks,…everyone was singing DW’s praises when he made the moves last February. They were good moves and necessary moves. Put down your stones.

THE FUTURE:

1.I don’t know if it’s fair to dwell too much on this the day after such disappointment, but….my feelings are that both DW and BH should be,…and will be,…back next year. Obviously, I haven’t drunk the “BH+DW=IDIOT” Kool-Aide.

2.Don’t be too surprised if sometime before the end of the month we find out Hossa will be in need of some procedure to fix an injury,….more then likely to his left shoulder.

3.We could be looking at a team next year with 9-10 new faces. What we do/don’t do over the summer will determine how much better we’ll be. But, with that in mind, it underscores the NEED to keep the front office and coaching staff intact for stability.

ICEMAN - Thanks for this forum,…I have learned so much from the posts and those who frequent it.

A special shout out to my fellow bloggers, especially CM, BRIAN, Zav, MICHAEL, CAVEMAN,….ya’ll the best dudes, ….and dude-ette!

By Steve

April 19, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this

Hartley should stay. He’s a good coach. Just made some BAD decisions. Namely changing up the goalie every single PO game. That sends shockwaves through the team. I’d have gone with Hedberg all the way, he would have grown more confident, and having a good stopper at the back is very reassuring for the rest of the team.Then they can play a good game. Thrashers never really looked like they wanted to ‘take one for the team though” how about blocking some shots. Wish we had Shannahan.

By Newbie

April 19, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this

I am fairly new to hockey but know enough to get around. I noticed near the end of the game when Atlanta was on a powerplay and down 3-2 that they kept shooting the puck into the NY zone only to have NY shoot it back to Atlanta’s end. This happened like 3-4 times in a row and killed most of the powerplay. With a man advantage, why not control the puck into NY’s zone and play off that? Atlanta looked totally disorganized to me.

By Rangerdan

April 19, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this

Great series by Rangers! Better team won - not because players are so much better but because the Rangers had more character, were hungrier, had superior coaching, great blend of experience and youth and best of all, completely outclassed a thrasher team more focused on cheap shots and goonery than on hockey. The only time the Thrashers showed any class is when they lined up to shake hands with the Rangers and congratulate them for mercifully ending their pathetic presence in the playoffs - good riddance. The Thrashers should hang the heads in shame for disgracing the great game of hockey.

By the way, the Blueshirts are the Rangers (not the Thrashers) - as in Broadway Blueshirts. A nickname they have had for over 75 years - get you own original nickname Thrasher fans.

While your disapointed, stop feeling sorry for yourselves - your city is not cursed. Sometimes you lose and lose bad - move on! Enjoy the rest of the playoffs!

By Hanson Brothers

April 19, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this

Ice Man, first thanks for the great blogs. I look forward to participating and/or lurking during the summer. Tony C. thanks for posting the free agents. This is my prediction for how it will play out: Here are the UFA skaters: Kozlov - here Tkachuk - gone Mellanby- retired Sim - here Vigier - gone Boulton- here Larsen - gone Belanger - here Dupuis - here DeVries - gone Sutton - gone Hnidy - here X , Slater, Mackenzie and McCarthy are RFA - all here

Everyone have a good summer. Enjoy the rest of the playoffs. Its always good drama. Time to take Mrs. Hanson on some vacations after keeping her tied down in the basement for 6 months.

By Brendan

April 19, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this

First priorities: Re-sign Dupuis and Belanger. Before you start thinking, “Isn’t it a bit EARLY for Summer roster moves?” It isn’t. The price goes ONE DIRECTION from here. Up. And we don’t really have the luxury of budget room. So, if Waddell doesn’t make of list of his priorities, and get that list done CORRECTLY, it could be “too late” in June. It ought to start with Dupuis and Belanger, if for no other reason, to diffuse the litany of “mortgaging the future” accusations. He gave up players and picks for those two. He darned well better re-sign them. Tkachuk is different. He was a straight up “rental.” We can’t afford Keith, and we’ve seen what he’s done in the playoffs. And he didn’t dispell any notions from the fans in St. Louis that the guy disappears in the playoffs.

Allright, next up ought to be Kozlov. At least “start” that dialogue. But if Don signs him for too much, it’ll cripple what other moves he might do this Summer. I like Kozzie. I want him to stay. But he’s 34. And not gettin’ any younger anytime soon. And there it is.

Allright, what next? Boulton, Vigier, Larsen, Hnidy, McCarthy … not necessarily in that order, but if Don acts quickly, these guys can be locked up for cheap. Inexpensive depth is an essential part of being an effective “new NHL” GM. Hnidy was $600K, I suspect Don will have to go up to $710-ish for him. He’ll argue that he was the Icebirds top pairing D-man. And the other guy made $3.5 million. But I doubt Shane Hnidy will get offers of $800K. So, if he likes it here in Atlanta, he’ll take 700-something thousand dollars to stay. McCarthy ought to be about $850K. If it takes $900K, so be it. XLB will be around $840K-880K, I’d say. Mac and “X” are both restricted, so Don must give them the qualifying offer, or we lose our right to compensation, and they become UFA’s. Same with Slater.

I wouldn’t entirely rule out the return of two former Thrashers: Patrik Stefan, who would only cost $900K and Glen Metropolit, who I think might cost about that much, as well.

DeVries, Sutton, and Tkachuk are gone. Kozlov may be gone. Soo, I think Don ought to re-sign Jon Sim, if Simmer wants to stay. He was on pace for 20 goals. I would think Sim could be re-signed for about $800K.

Okay, I hear ya. These players aren’t “glamourous.” But they’re inexpensive depth, that all teams need. Bringing back Boulton, Larsen, Vigier, Sim, Hnidy, McCarthy, X, Dupuis and Belanger really isn’t that bad of an idea. Okay, maybe not Vigier!!, Renallo10 screams, while pulling his hair out. But for the league minimum, I can accept JPVJ.

I hear others screaming, “But Brendan, c’mon man. Priority #1 is firing Hartley!!” I don’t wanna go there just yet. And is hiring Claude Julien, another French Canadian Coach who will simply love Vigier, really the answer? What do we really know of that man? He had a solid Devils roster with which to work. If a coaching change is made, I would hope it’s to go to someone who wants to work with young players, as that is the direction the Thrashers SORELY need to pursue. And if the likes of Valabik, Sterling, LaVallee, Oystrick, Pavelec and Little are really coming next season, then they need molding by someone really knows how to do it. Atlanta needs a “youth movement.”

And above all, Don Waddell needs to “resist the urge” to go get another “yesteryear, mid-30’s All-Star” from free agency. If anything, the Atlanta Spirit should give DW an ultimatum: “Absolutely no free agent signings over 30, unless its an essential returning player from last season.” Think Kozlov. DW needs to target players 25-29, if possible.

Okay, Hossa, Holik and Kovy. Nothing to change there. If the worst should happen, Holik will probably be moved at the trade deadline for picks or players. If DW can find a home for he and Rucchin this Summer, he’ll start out with a Grade of 8/10 for offseason moves.

Fire away, folks! Tell me I’m wrong. And let’s keep the Vigier talk to a minimum.

By frustrated

April 19, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this

Congrats Thrashers on a successful year and initial entry into the postseason although the results weren’t there, this gives us something to build on. Lets hope sacrificing the draft choices and trades won’t hurt us long term. Waddell and Hartley should have another year to take us further and then evaluate at that point although I believe for this team to go further there are some players who need to look in the mirror and somehow figure out a way to take their games to a higher level of performance in the playoffs (ie look at the Braves since 99). And as fans and especially the negative minded media, how can we put such a high bar of expectation on a franchise who just made their first playoffs?

By ZAvalanche

April 19, 2007 9:54 AM | Link to this

Newbie- yeah the PP the whole series was pathetic. I think the reason they went back to the dump and chase option is that NY defense on the PK was so choking through the neurtal zone that trying to skate it in was resulting no opportunities. Players like DeVries would skate the puck into the neutral zone, find all of his passing lanes blocked and lacking the skill to work it in himself, he dumps it. The dump and chase works, for some teams, but it is predicated on the idea that you need to be the first to the puck. Have a wing streak down the opposite side when you dump in. We would dump it THEN start moving.

By Daniel

April 19, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this

I know I made I a joke about Lehtonen playing for the Wolves, but I was thinking, with the World Championships going do you think he should try to play for Finland? I know there is the risk of injury but how much do you think he needs to play to get his confidence back? IMO Kari is a good goalie, and the future, we’ve seen him when he’s hot (first month of the season). But he’s young, and anyone who’s ever played a sport with a goalie (soccer, hockey etc) knows that as a general rule goalies are kinda mental. A different breed I should say. Does anyone think playing in the Worlds would help him mentally?

By ZAvalanche

April 19, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this

Daniel, yeah i think it would help him a lot. Rather than sitting on that last game he played for 4 months he would be out competing and, hopeully, gaining some confidence. Injury is a concern but he is young and i think the more time he gets playing will help him.

By Scott A

April 19, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this

Just to put another cherry on top of the Rangers series sweep for you Thrasher fans, the guy that the Rangers got for Dupuis earlier this season, Alex Bourret, had 2 goals and 2 assists in last night’s hartford Wolfpack playoff game. Thanks.

By Tim

April 19, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this

IMHO Hartley is to blame for the team’s performance in the playoffs. We had the playoff experience on the bench to support the first timers. While the first two games were close and the home crowd was great, the result was unacceptable from a player and fan standpoint. Hartley was unable to motivate or coordinate a plan that resulted in A win. The Goalie switching was totally uncalled for. Hartley should have known BEFORE the playoffs started who he wanted in net. Moose obviously was the man. Bad goal on the dump in one time, but he played outstanding overall. We made it to the playoffs with outstanding players and very good trades at the deadline. The playoff performance showed a true lack of leadership behind the bench. Sorry Bob, you seem like a well qualified coach in many respects. Your playoff experience didn’t show though when it really counted. You choaked. I’d say your fate should have been sealed after game 3.

By ZAvalanche

April 19, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this

As for the Hartley thing, I will let you all make up your own minds. But I will say that if we take in a bunch of young talent, as Brendan says (which agree with, as long as there is good leadership, which we mostly have) be careful with Hartley. Yeah, he climbed through the young ranks to get to Colorado, but when he got there he was VERY hard on his young talent and too lax with vets. One of the reasons he got chased out of town.

By dj

April 19, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this

Go after Drury, Brad Stewart, or Zubruis.

By ZAvalanche

April 19, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this

One issue we need to address is the clutch performer issue. Somebody who makes it happen in the most dire of circumstances. Many names out there, but Ryan Smith would be an awesome addition. Guys got spunk, a sick shot and he never stops, ever.

By Legion of thrash(formerly michael)

April 19, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this

Brendan, I agree to bring back the simmer. On defense Sutton and DeVries have to go. If we could trade Havelid it would make me very happy. Now, we have to get ten times better at defense, although Popovic, Valbik, and possibly Oystrik will have to come up. Which is good to have young players come up, but we all know about Hartley and young guys. Rucchin has to do the good thing and retire. Belanger would be good for the third line, he is not a playmaker. We need a playmaking center! Kozlov is a must because of the chemistry with Hossa, plus his dogs like it here. Vigier can go wherever Damian Rhodes is. Boulton, Larsen, and Dupuis are keepers. Slater needs to go to the wolves and learn how to play. Did I mention Havelid needs to go, I don’t care how.

By Legion of thrash

April 19, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this

ZAvalanche—— Druuuuuuuury! like we talked about at taco mac. Although I don’t think he would want to play under Hartley again.

By ZAvalanche

April 19, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this

LoT- You have it right man, Devo and Sutton have to go. Drury is a straight up player. Has been successful everywhere he goes. Guys got heart. problem is, that guy is gonna demand a huge contract. Spending that much on one guy is hard to do when you have to rebuild a whole defense.

By Thrasher Ryan (AKA Hnidy's Knights, Boulton's Bruisers)

April 19, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this

So when does next seasons schedule come out?

By LoneRanger

April 19, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this

CM - you sound like a Ranger fan? They have at least won a cup (no Atlanta hockey team has ever won a cup) and they have at least won a playoff game. The Thrashers are goose eggs in that department too….

By Anders

April 19, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this

Thrasher Fans - Your a couple of years from needing a player like Drury. You need defense! Spend your cap money on mobile defenseman. Montreal has 2 or 3 coming out as free agents. Offense can be had every year at the trade deadline (assuming you have something on the farm worth trading) but D’ men - hard to get. How many good ones moved this year at the dealine - Maybe 1 or 2. Drury would have been standing at the hash marks with the rest of your forwards watching the Rangers skate circles around your dinosaur defense too.

By R. Stroz

April 19, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this

Just exited the phone with Atlanta Thrashers representative, he said playoff refunds weren’t going to occur until after ALL of the playoffs are complete. I don’t know about the rest of you; but, I don’t like it when someone sits on my money and has no reason for doing so.

By R. Stroz

April 19, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this

Brendan - We are making DW’s job too easy. We know the solution

1) Keep some low price grinders

2) Keep Dupuis & Belanger

3) Overhaul the defense

4) Bring up the prospects

5) Tell Hartley to teach and give the prospects a chance or hit the gate.

By Christy

April 19, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

Brendan - lack of in-depth, generations deep hockey-knowledge rearing it’s head here, on my part, so please take that as the source of my question - but how did Tkachuk disappear? (other than game 3 where they all did) What should I have been looking for? - in the sense that he had a goal and 2 assists while on a line with the Mellanby who I love but who couldn’t seem to keep up and Kovy who seemed to be off his game for about 80% of the series, and in comparison to the Hossa line (granted they were the Ranger’s main defensive target all series)Tkachuk seemed to have a good series, at least to me.

by the way, don’t know how many of you on here follow baseball, but if you have been a Braves fan for any length of time, you know that the hurt will eventually fold in upon itself and will meld with an indescribable shadowy blanket weighing on your soul that will generate a feeling of numbness whenever faced with an early post-season exit and thus allows you to function without going insane from the despair.

By ZAvalanche

April 19, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

RS, that is crap they are holding on to your $$ for another month and a half. Doesnt seem like a good way to keep your fans loyal. Priorities: Resign the guys we want to keep (been WELL documented) and build a tough, speedy defense. After that, try and goad another playmaker in.

By R. Stroz

April 19, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this

ZAvalanche - I agree about holding the money. Even the IRS gets my money back faster than that. Seems like a good way to pi$$ customers off.

By Tim

April 19, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this

LoneRanger, Perhaps you weren’t here when our Atlanta Knights WON the Turner Cup. It was a great series and our boys were ready to play. Perhaps that’s why we still yell “KNIGHTS” before each Thrasher’s game

By ZAvalanche

April 19, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

RS, maybe the interest generated from your $$ will buy Hartley a new PP white board. AHHH, SO THAT WAS THE PROBLEM! He couldn’t diagram the PP and nobody could make out what he was saying between all the “likes”.

By R. Stroz

April 19, 2007 11:12 AM | Link to this

ZAvalanche - If they are using the money for a new PP white board, I might be willing to wait a little longer. That was a good one.

By ZAvalanche

April 19, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this

I was really hoping for good Hartley impersonation on the PP, anybody, anybody?

By storstark

April 19, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this

I don’t wanna talk about the playoffs right now. On one hand, two games decided by a goal made by fractions of an inch (the bounce in game 2, the bounce in game 4). Nonetheless, entirely central problems were exposed. Our team was old and slow, the Power Play sucked.

Four obvious symptoms of very poor coaching: (1) putting slow old Mel on a fast, talented line and giving him way too much play time; (2) dump chase dump chase dump chase—not working? oh, just keep doing it, surely it will come together at some point—it didn’t; (3) the power play sucked; (4) the refusal to develop and play young talent all season long. These are ALL coaching problems. The problem is that I don’t know that there is an available coach out there with a proven track record capable of getting this team into the playoffs again other than BH.

I’ll just say that when the burn subsides I will be incredibly proud of clinching the division. I will have confidence in our abilitiy to get back to the playoffs next year, where I know we will play better (look at how desperate the Rangers played this year having been swept last year, never quitting after scoring five in game 3). We have enormous challenges in this off season, but I have quiet confidence now—something I never had before. Part of why we are so mad is that we actually had expectations for once. Surely we’re not going to throw away years of loyalty for this one debacle though. We have seen far worse. This is a winning team now that has continued to improve, however painfully slowly, every year. And ya know what? I already miss the season and am looking forward to the next one.

I managed to come up with a team that was only about half mil over the cap. New players included SOURAY, DRURY, DARCY TUCKER, SAMI SALO.

It was made possible by resigning Belanger, Kozzie (at 2.5), and Dupuis, promoting STERLING, VALABIK/OYSTRICK/POPOVIC (only one of them), and giving a small raise to the RFA’s.

Now I don’t think Drury, Tucker, or Souray want to leave their teams, so this is kind of wishful thinking. And I don’t think DW has the savvy to get a killer team together, and we all know that Hartley refuses to develop young talent, so it won’t happen.

The point of this is that there is POTENTIAL for a GREAT team next season. We have $13M in cap room, get ‘er done.

By ZAvalanche

April 19, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this

Here are just a few D-men who are UFA based on the list I have, which is a month or so old.
Sheldon Souray Kimmo Timonen Brian Rafalski Mathieu Schneider Andrei Markov

I would be happy with any of those.

By Big John

April 19, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this

I am not even a tru hockey fan but I even had to turn the tv to the game these past 4 games.I must say I am very dissappointed in these so called Thrashers fans and the media for being so hard on the Thrashers.Yes they got swept but those first 2 games I was on the edge of my seat! most excitement from an Atlanta team since 1991 and the Braves if you ask me.Thanks for the excitement Thrashers,you’ve convinced me to come to a few games next yr.

By ZAvalanche

April 19, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this

Storstark, i completely forgot about Salo. Guys a stud, 37 pts for a D is good. But the stat i liked on him the most was +21. Good call.

By Thrasherfan33

April 19, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this

Here are some thoughts from Section 120:

1. DW - He had to make the trades he did and when they helped us win the division, everyone was impressed with what he did. Now that we get swept out of the playoffs, those same people are calling for his head. He should be given one more year to improve on this season and then be fired if he doesn’t.

2. Hartley - Nobody has agreed with all his moves this season and some may be questioned for some time, but I think he needs to stay as long as he changes some of his thought processes (DW needs to make sure he makes the changes!). We all talk about the new NHL and the players necessary to be competitive, but I think sometimes Hartley gets stuck in his old NHL thinking. For example, why wasn’t Mac playing? He is faster than DeVries, not a liability on the blueline and great on the PP. (Sure would like an answer to this one, but I know we will never get it.) I know someone posted the other day that a Thrasher player said he was not a fan of Hartley. Was this a veteran? Someone who plays a lot or someone who has been a healthy scratch a lot this season? Depending on the answers to these questions could help decide if the players are still behind him. If they aren’t, it was probably caused by his way of thinking and if this thinking doesn’t change, he needs to go.

Even if you don’t agree with my thoughts about DW and BH, who do we get in their place?

Congrats to the guys for making the playoffs. Congrats to the fans, old and new, for turning Phillips into a crazy a* place for the playoffs. See you next season!

By T-Bone

April 19, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this

I agree with Anders that this team needs to FINALLY focus on Defense. This organIzation has never been about defense from its origins and it shows. Given that we traded away Coburn after passing on Phenuef I have little faith that DW all the sudden will pull off a coup in this area. So, we’ll be left with Zhitnik paired with Havelid, X and Hnidy(?), McCarthy and Valabik(?).

And Christy, yes as a Braves fan I am well-acquainted with a team playing well below its abilities come crunch time. It looked all too familiar, unfortunately.

By Matt

April 19, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this

Simply awful…you look at all the other series and these guys came out for a Sunday skate with a cup of coffee in hand. No emotion…no urgency. Looked like they had booked their vacations and wanted to get it over with so they wouldn’t lose their deposit. And it all starts with Hartley…they could’ve gotten a Sears mannequin and it would’ve had more emotion then this guy.

By Ilya k

April 19, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this

r d sux r d sux r d sux

I have nothing more to say until Oct.

By Rawhide

April 19, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this

BIG JOHN - Welcome to Blueland! Look forward to having you out in the fall!!

By Legion of thrash

April 19, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this

Neil Smith is available!

By Geoffrey Paul

April 19, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this

Guys- been really busy with work and haven’t been able to post in a while… this sucks, ain’t no other way to say it. Kozlov has been one of my favorite players for years (I loved watching him and Federov skate together in Detroit back in the day), but I think the time has come to say goodbye. UNLESS he is willing to take a major paycut he isn’t the best 2nd line LW in our organization- that spot belongs to Sterling. Also, if we let Kozlov walk, that ends Hartley’s love affair with the Hossa Kozy pairing and we can get creative as to what we do with Hoss. I think we should consider moving him up to the top line with Kovy. With the money we save by bringing up Sterling and not signing Kozlov we can go sign Scott Gomez, a proven playoff performer who skates and passes well, to center our top line. For our 2nd line, I think we should at least consider bringing up the entire Wolves 1st line. They obviously have a lot of chemistry, score goals in bunches, and they are CHEAP. With the savings we can then go and get the best free agent defenseman we can find. I think Valabik could be a monster, but he probably needs one more year before he is ready to stick at the NHL level- although I think he will see some call ups. The guy who is definately ready, and who could end up being a top 2 guy, is Oystrick. Oystrick and Havelid could be a pretty good 2nd pairing to go with Zhitnik and a stud FA to be named later as our top pairing. Exelby, McCarthy, Popovic, and Hnidy can fight it out for playing time as the 5th and 6th. We should re-sign both Belanger and Dupuis, but we shouldn’t try to make them something they aren’t- they are GREAT 3rd line role players and penalty killers and we would be much better off as a team if we keep them in that role. Holik delivered in the playoffs, and I have no doubt he will continue to be able to do so, it just sucks that we have to spend so much on him, but his fire is obviously needed on our team and he should be our new captain and hold down the fort as our 4th line center. Larsen should continue to be paired with Bobby. Giving guys a defined role and not asking them to do more than that will really help our team next year. Also, Hartley needs to adjust to the new NHL and start balancing out ice-time more amongst his lines. Play your studs, but don’t shift them 3 times as often as your checking line guys. As disappointing as getting swept is, playoff chemistry has to be developed and it is common for teams to need to visit the playoffs a couple of times TOGETHER AS A UNIT before finding success. Here is my preliminary lineup thoughts for next year: Kovalchuk, Gomez, Hossa Sterling, Krog, Haydar Slater, Belanger, Dupuis Larsen, Holik, UFA?

UFA, Zhitnik Oystrick, Havelid McCarthy, Exelby

I think that this lineup would be balanced and competitive, a little top heavy with our #1 line, but both the second and 3rd lines should be able to score some goals and the 4th line will end up with a lot of +’s. Additionally, with the exception of the 4th line, this would be a MUCH FASTER skating team and that would accentuate our skill. Finally, this lineup should leave us with plenty of room to make trades at the deadline.

I know it may be a little early to talk about this… but I have to do something to remain positive…

By rangerrooter

April 19, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this

“The Rangers will not make it past the next round”

• At least we made it there. In a sweep no less.

By Legion of thrash

April 19, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this

Geoffrey Paul— With the exception of Sterling, that first line in Chicago is men playing with boys. Krog and Haydar are old and are career minor leaguers. What did they do when they were brought up?

By storstark

April 19, 2007 1:11 PM | Link to this

Zavalanche, the best part about Sami Salo is he could be had for under $2M. He was paid $1.5M this year. He will also have a good contentious playoff run under his belt. There are some other decent deals out there, too. Jaroslav Modry could be had for less than $2M, for example.

Just saying, get smart, deal quick. Don’t pay guys too much but make sure you give ‘em enough to get here and you can have a really good team. I know it’s harder than it sounds, but there is POTENTIAL…

Key is to mix in cheaper, younger talent like a Valabik/Oystrick and a Sterling to keep costs down, develop future, and open cap room for proven studs.

By Geoffrey Paul

April 19, 2007 1:12 PM | Link to this

Both were only brought up for a cup of coffee (Haydar even less than Krog). Without looking at statistics, I believe Krog had something like 3 points in < 10 games with the Thrashers. That isn’t bad considering he was having to get used to skating with new people. I have a hunch that if we brought them up and let them skate together they might do alright- mind you, I’m not saying they would set the world on fire, but I think they could contribute at this level. Furthermore, I think bringing up Sterling isn’t debatable. So if you take that as a given, it might be good for his development to give him linemates that he is comfortable with. The scary thing to me about bringing them up as a line isn’t whether or not they could score some goals (they could) but whether they would be a huge defensive liability. Also, Krog and Haydar would make decent trade bait after playing a while with the top club.

By JAR

April 19, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this

Well, at least I can cancel my monthly delivery of Maalox until October. It was a good season guys.

By Legion of thrash

April 19, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this

GP— Krog was on the Anaheim team that went to the Finals and lost. He played that whole season and in the playoffs. There is a reason he is playing minor league hockey.

By CM

April 19, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this

No no Lone Ranger sorry to cause confusion, I’m definitely not a Rangers fan (or a New York anybody fan), I’m a big Thrashers fan, but last night was the culmination of a boat load of disappointment. Nobody wanted this team to finally make it to the playoffs and then go 4 and out. The Thrashers really are a better team than that, they just couldn’t put all the fundamentals together when it was most crucial to do so.

It just stinks for the guys to end the season that way, or in Mellanby’s case, a career. But there I go, gettin’ all sentimental, sheeze.

RH - I wonder if Hossa will have surgery? Hmm… Guess we’ll have to stay tuned.

Regardless of the final outcome, downfall, sweep, butt-kickin’, whatever, it was a really good season, one to be proud of and without those final trades we wouldn’t have made it this far. Going forward, hopefully everyone on the ice can focus on the future and not the nightmare that was Game 3, as it depends on who you ask as to whether Games 1, 2 and 4 were part of the nightmare.

Can’t wait till next season!

Go Thrashers!!

(Now I’ll re-focus all my energy on my Braves and whoever is playing the Rangers!)

By wrex

April 19, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this

Was that really Marian Hossa out there on the ice? I’d swear that I was watching a crappy impersonator during this four game series. Hossa may be the Thrashers’ equivalent of A-Rod.

By R. Stroz

April 19, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this

wrex - Hossa has more class than A-Rod even if he does disappear in the playoffs. Hossa doesn’t complain or blame team mates.

By Anders

April 19, 2007 2:36 PM | Link to this

Hey guys, don’t think of it as a 4 game sweep, think of it as freeing up your Friday night to watch the Mets dismantle the Braves next! Maybe Leo Mazzone could coach the Thrashers. He seems to be the common thread to Atlanta playoff success.

By Rawhide

April 19, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this

CM - Don’t ask me why,…but I believe it is true about Hossa.

See you in the Braves Blog…..

By wh

April 19, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this

Back in town.

First thing I want to say is all of this Hossa is a career playoff choke talk is nonsense. Did he step up this time around, hell no - but the whole team scored 6 goals and he was the marked man.

Career PO stats coming in 51 games 13 goals and 22 assists 35 points. Not Gretzky but hardly “soft and choking” There is nobody remotely as good available in the league to replace him with. For those of you calling for Souray and Drury - $ and Geography make this highly unlikely.

Many of you on this board should be pleased. You have been given yet another reason for your hilarious hatred of a city that maybe 5% of you have ever stepped foot in. This is fresh material for you. So carry on with your anger and bitterness. Business is good for your hate mongering. Also- Oddly enough the investment banking friends gracious enough to provide tickets to the games didn’t say “youze guys” once. As you can imagine I found this very curious. Also -I am well aware the Rangers will be swept by “X”, NY Sucks, I’m a F* etc. At least try to find an original angle in your replies.

I have read some of the back posts as well as this one - What a pathetic bunch of self directed blowhards. The bashing I have read from all of you “fans” is patently absurd. I am sure that the majority of you work in truly elite fields where your unique skills and relentless work effort have put you in positions of high success that far less than 1% of us mere mortals could ever hope to attain. Not only that, you all work for (and clearly are at the helm of, from your self confessed management expertise) organizations that regularly challenge Microsoft, GE, and Exxon Mobil for global supremacy. It is unfortunate that such people were forced to sit through an embarrassment to the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia, and by God, Sons of the South everywhere. To think 7 days ago this was maybe the greatest team ever assembled. Try waiting 54 years between championships - followed by a 10 year drought in winning 1 home playoff game. I’m sure we’ll be seeing the bulk of you back during the first five game winning streak of 07/08. To all of you described in this paragraph, it is YOU that suck.

Lastly - there are some extremely knowledgeable fans to this post. Particularly those who can recite obscure yet highly valued players around the league. The Thrashers could use more fans like you. In the end you have a team that won a division title and went to the playoffs for the first time. Is there much work to be done? Absolutely. There would have been change and the repercussions of the deadline deals would have been staring at the franchise no matter how far this team advanced in the playoffs. See you in the fall.

By Anders

April 19, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this

Good to have you back in town WH. Now I suggest you go lie down.

By Rawhide

April 19, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this

WH - Glad to see you had a relatively disaster free flight, (assuming that was your mode of transportation)…..

I think you remarks about Hossa are on target. This summer the focus should be on team defence. Sutton, DeVo and maybe Havalid are gone,…..I’ll be scouring the UFA list to see who I think might fit this bill, (we got, what $13 mil or so if all the assumed exiting players do go)…..

Now,…do you have any preference of whom your Rangers will face next round. I’m working off the assumption that Buffalo and Ottawa will finish off their respective opponents.

That would leave NJ/TB….if I read my chart right,..if NJ wins, that leaves the NYR facing Buffalo. If TB wins,…that leaves them as the lowest remaining seed and you get Ottawa. Your thoughts???

By wh

April 19, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this

We are getting the Sabres - Islanders will be folding tents in Buffalo tomorrow night. Sabres are tough. Rangers need a split in Buffalo. Coming home 0-2 will be tough. Rangers obviously playing as well as anyone in the east right now and riding white hot goaltending. Hard to say Sabres haven’t been impressive up 3-1 but these games have been closer than I would have thought in round 1. Playoff hockey rules.

By Anders

April 19, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this

WH- I’m a Rangers fan as well. I don’t see us beating the Sabres unless we get the PP cooking. Otherwise they’re going to pound Jagr and Nylander without paying for it. They’re smart enough to ignore Avery and hope he takes more penalties than he draws. Lindy Ruff is a smart tough coach. He’ll do whatever it takes to win either to his own team or ours.

By wh

April 19, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this

I think Brodeur plays much better rest of the way than he has so far in this series w/ TB is my logic on Sabres/Rangers. I like the Lundqvist/Emery matchup if the get Senators

By Brendan

April 19, 2007 4:49 PM | Link to this

Christy, Tkachuk usually disappears in the playoffs. It’s nothing new. It’s something that’s dogged him from his days in St. Louis. I think some Blues fans even chimed in to say things like, “You’re gonna like Keith during the regular season. But he tends to disappear in the playoffs, as the opposition keys on him.”

The Rangers, defensively, were incredible in this series. Tkachuk got his looks and chances. He just didn’t convert. He had about a chance per game to convert. He had a good goal in Game Four. What I liked about Tkachuk during the playoff drive was his leadership and physical play, including his standing up for teammates in scraps. But, I have to believe TK is playing elsewhere next season.

680TheFan’s John Kincade just announced “his list” of seven (7) Thrashers who won’t be here next season. They are: DeVries, Sutton, Vigier, McCarthy, Rucchin, Mellanby, and Tkachuk. And Kincade lists Kozlov, Hnidy and MacKenzie as also possibly lost this Summer.

There’s only two I disagree with on that list. Rucchin is under contract next season. So, unless he’s traded, or placed on longterm IR, we’re stuck with him. If I’m DW, I re-sign Steve McCarthy. At a minimum, I give him his “qualifying offer,” so that if some other team outbids me, I get compensation, since he’s a restricted free agent. If Hartley doesn’t like him, which is evident, he’s just gonna have to “get over it.” The Thrashers need McCarthy. He’s young, at 27, fast, and offensively minded. He’s capable of Quarterbacking a Power Play. There’s no reason not to keep him, unless he DEMANDS the moon and stars, in terms of salary. And if that’s the case, let some other team sign him, and we’ll take their 3rd round pick or choice of non-protected players from their farm system. Lord knows, we’re short on draft picks this Summer!!! We could use a few!!

By Thanks

April 19, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this

I’m just happy they went that far

By Bob

April 19, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this

CM, you are right. I’ve been saying it since about 2 weeks left in the season when he turned into a shadow of his former self, Hossa’s hurt. Kincade just reported he’s having surgery on his left shoulder. ranallo said he was just slumping, don’t you just hate being wrong all the time, ranallo

wh, good series, and best of luck to your boys. Buffablow is tough, and they just keep coming at ya, but your boys are playing well. If Lundqvist can get hot, you can take em.

Brendan, I agree with your list. No one takes Rucchin off our hands, so unless he retires, he’s still ours (and he’s got 2.4m reasons not to retire). McCarthy is a keeper also, but if Hartley (heaven forbid) is still here next year, he ain’t gonna play him, so might as well move him.

By Brendan

April 19, 2007 5:38 PM | Link to this

Seriously, our first draft pick is in the 3rd round, courtesy of the Rangers, when we shipped Alex Bourret to them. How excited are you about the Draft Party? Woo … not so hoo.

Kincade just announced that he wouldn’t be “surprized” if one of Atlanta’s “big names” got traded this Summer. Intentionally or unintentionally, he then talked about Marian Hossa. And let it slip out that Kovalchuk is more likely to remain a Thrashers than is Hossa. And I agree with that. I’m not saying the right thing to do. I want to keep Hossa. But I understand the logic behind a Hossa trade. Hossa has a year left and will be nearly impossible to re-sign, whereas Kovalchuk, who is younger, is under contract until 2010. And his cap hit is now less than his actual salary. Not to mention that he’s a former 1st overall pick by the Thrashers, and is essential to season ticket sales.

Imagine if Don had to re-sign Kovy now? We couldn’t. He’d be up in the $8 million range. So … I might have to agree with Kincade that Hossa might be traded this Summer. No one is saying that’s in the works. There’s no rumors. Hossa hasn’t said anything about wanting to leave, or anything of the sort. As far as I know, Hossa’s having some surgery on his left shoulder during this offseason. He couldn’t be traded to anyone without first passing a physical after that surgery. Kincade has been utterly adamant on his show today that Rucchin won’t return. Uhhh, he ISSSS under contract. Unless he’s privy to some career-ending injury or imminent trade, how can he be ADAMANT that Rucchin is gone???

Help me out here, folks.

By wh

April 19, 2007 5:46 PM | Link to this

I can help you Brendan. Kincaid is a DB blowhard $%$%$. He coached a pee wee hockey team and got fired from the only NHL “job” he ever had. This makes him an “expert”. Do you really think the front office is giving him the inside scoop? This guy is the Avery of the airwaves.

By Ice Man

April 19, 2007 6:07 PM | Link to this

I agree on the Kincade thing. You have to take what he says with a grain of salt. He often speaks before he knows the whole story. (eg., when Brian Van Gorder QUIT at Ga. Southern, Kincade spent the whole afternoon blasting the school for FIRING him.) He does things like that a lot, gets real adamant about things that may not be factually acurate. That said, I hope he’s right because Rucchin is worthless. (Didn’t we say that about nine months ago?)

By Tony C.

April 19, 2007 11:17 PM | Link to this

Yeah.

During the “I’m sure DW said Get me Ruccinsky and assst. GM’s asst. got him Rucchin” discussion…because then, as now, not even red-clay hockey fans ike yours truly had any illusions about Steve Rucchin being the pivot that would allow #17 to pick up where he and Savard left off.

How did cheap Lou get out of Malakhov’s contract? Whatever IR hoodoo he pulled, may it please be replicated with respect to Msr. Rucchin. Not to be an a*, but I don’t even he would lie to you and say he wants to be out there for another 82+ games.

I second the idea of The Kid playing for Finland…he’s gotta get back on the horse.

Ice good lookin out on keeping this thing open through the summer.

By Nick

April 20, 2007 6:50 PM | Link to this

See thats the problem. The whole goal this year was to make the playoffs, we didnt even start really thinking about winning the division until the latter part of the season. Next year will be different, it will be to repeat as division champs and advance out of the first round and make a run at the cup. This offseason will be nothing but a long time to think about the goal that should have been the goal this year

By Brendan

April 21, 2007 12:10 AM | Link to this

Hey, how ‘bout that Tampa Bay goaltending tonight, hmmn? Holmqvist should have stopped all three. But I might give him a pass on the 1st one, as it appeared to be deflected. But Goals two and three are squarely on him, as it the OT winner from Game Four. With better goaltending, the Bolts might be up, 3-2. Still, they fared better than our Icebirds, who won the division.

Allright, Sabres clinched. Not a surprise. Ottawa clinched last night. Perhaps a surprise. And, tah-dah! The San Jose Sharks have moved on, in just FIVE games.

Okay, let me just ask you? Are you feelin’ better now about the 1st and 3rd picks, plus Metro, to St. Louis for Tkachuk? Before you answer, Nashville gave up a 1st and 3rd, plus Scottie Upshall, and prospect Ryan Parent … to be eliminated in five games in the opening round. In other words, the Predators were ONE GAME MORE SUCCESSFUL than the Thrashers.

It’s gonna be a long offseason in Nashville. They didn’t win their division. They didn’t get out of the 1st round … AGAIN. And they gave up two picks and two players. So, do they try to re-sign Forsberg? Or have they seen enough? I still say no one should be fired in Nashville. They took “calculated risks” and it didn’t pan out. If they are stupid enough to fire Barry Trotz, we should swoop in and get ‘im. He knows how to handle a goaltender rotation.

By Bob

April 23, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this

Brendan, that’s why I wanted to play Tampa, instead of the Rangers. They’re goalie stinks!

Nashville screwed up going after Forsberg, I can’t see them re-signing him. I don’t want him either. I don’t think they’re in trouble up there, they just got beat by a club that could be on their way to winning a Cup. San Jose is that good.

By Brendan

April 23, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this

Bob, I completely agree that San Jose looks like a Cup Finalist. And I agree that Nashville is still in good shape. They’re not in trouble, but they do have some free agents to lock up. Forsberg … well, I wouldn’t have done it. But, I understood why they did. If the Preds had won the Cup, everyone would probably point to the trade deadline moves as the reason. Philosophically, teams shouldn’t rely on trade deadline moves. That’s just for “tweaks.” If you’re the Thrashers, it’s our very “life line.” People roll their eyes when I say, “give Valabik, Little, Sterling, Popovic, and LaVallee a chance to make this team, like it’s some unfathomable, utterly irresponsible possibility. Well, if that’s true, what was the point of drafting them? That’s the whole “concept” behind the draft. You want these guys to eventually play on your roster.

Who just screamed, “No it isn’t, Brendan. It’s to trade them away for 30-something, proven-commodity players.”

By Bob

April 23, 2007 3:05 PM | Link to this

With Hartley as Coach, that may be their only use (to trade away for more of “Bob’s guys”).

By Brendan

April 25, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this

Bob, this does seem to be a recurring problem. Don took the time and trouble to go get him players, the least Hartley should do “use” what he’s been given. As GM, Don does have line authority over Hartley. It’s a fine line. Hartley gets to “coach” and “make roster decisions” as best he sees fit. But Don reserves the right to “evaluate” those decisions, and “meet with him” about them. If the “evaluations” keep going poorly, Hartley shouldn’t feel “comfortable” about his tenure. But, all I’ve heard from Waddell is, “Bob’s here, 100-percent next year.” Well. Stranger things have happened.

By Sage of Bluesland

April 27, 2007 4:19 PM | Link to this

Sorry I’m late to the party (but better late than never, eh?)…but all I have to say is, “DO YOU BELIEVE IN DEBACLES?”.

Those were the AJC’s words/headline—not mine. I wish they were mine, though.

Get used to it, folks. I’ve said it for years and I’ll keep saying it: As long as Don Waddell is running our franchise, we will continue to disappoint…will continue to hear excuses…will continue to underperform…

He should be back in the port-a-potty business—it was his true medium…

By Brendan

April 28, 2007 8:01 PM | Link to this

Well Sage, what should Don do now? Aside from running a port-a-potty business, I mean. Should he re-sign Hossa? Re-sign McCarthy, Exelby, Slater, Sim, Hnidy, Larsen, Vigier, Dupuis, Belanger, and Kozlov? Should he give up the 1st round pick, and re-sign Keith Tkachuk?

He’s got tough options.

By Brendan

April 28, 2007 8:06 PM | Link to this

I meant to say, “re-work” Hossa’s existing contract, as soon as the terms of the CBA allow for that sort of thing. Or trade him now, for a windfall of talent?