Ice Man

By PuckedUP

October 17, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this

I’m by no means a fan of either. But I disagree with you Bill. To say Hartley changed things up when they were not working is bit off. That power play and penalty kill has sucked for three years. Who cares who is on the point. The Thrash still went with the whole, let’s make a box around the defense and pass it around until the puck magically appears in goal. And how about the offense. The ole dump and follow worked so well. And how long did it take to change something there. Oh we did not see that change did we? I know he was nice to your son, but quit being a fan, take off those rosy glasses. Be a realist!

DW should be next.

By JayBird

October 17, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this

Great post, Rawhide. I think we all liked Hartley as a man, just questioned some of his tactics. With that being said, I do want to thank him for making hockey relative in Atlanta and bringing the first banner to Philips.

By ranallo10

October 17, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this

Good write up Rawhide, I hope Hartley continues to give back to the kids in the same manner he did for your son.

And I agree, thank you Hartley for everything, it’s tough to see you go. Hopefully your replacement can have the same successes you did with this team, and continue to develop this team into a winning franchise.

By Erin

October 17, 2007 2:45 PM | Link to this

I, too, am sad to see such a positive influence leave this organization. It is a rare thing to find a man in his position that is so willing to converse with fans and be a POSITIVE part of the communitity and team. I wish him all the best and thank him for everything he has done for this organization.

By raindawg722

October 17, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this

Without speculating about whether he should have been fired, at the least, it seems unfair that when he finally gives a couple of rookies a chance he finally gets canned. I guess that why coaches dislike playing rookies. Thanks Coach. I’ll miss your sound bites.

By ranallo10

October 17, 2007 2:54 PM | Link to this

Maybe Hartley should join VS? He’d be an improvement upon anybody they’ve got there.

Hell, I’d rather hear him than the biased Ferraro comments.

By ranallo10

October 17, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this

Check out Stan Hauseman’s blog on Hockeybuzz.com

By Buzilla Baby Blues

October 17, 2007 3:08 PM | Link to this

Nice piece Rawhide. Well, written

By russian

October 17, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this

Well, Hartley has gone. I did like him or not. This is not right question. I just wish him Good Luck. We need to come back to our team. 76 games left and it is time to make some Hockey games. Unfortantly, we all remember Philly at last year. They were a last place to loose 1-6-1 and fired their coach. I think we need to concentrate on the game. Yes, Coach was good man, very friendly. I know him personally, but Hockey is more important right now for Atlanta. Let’ s do some good games and we will see a future. I am very optimistic now. Something will happend and we will go up.

By NASCARfan

October 17, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this

F-U DON WADDELL!!!

By Jenn

October 17, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this

Firstly, PuckedUP, how about you not tell the blogger writing for the “Fan’s Perspective” blog not to be a fan.

Secondly, let’s looks at why Bob was fired. Because he was an All Star assistant coach last year? Because he coached the Thrashers to their first ever playoff berth? Or maybe it was because he did it in style, winning the Southeast Division title. Or maybe it’s as simple as the fact that he has a winning record with the Thrashers?

I know, I know, the PP and the PK are killing us, and that needs work. Our defense is tiny, our offense isn’t making goals. These are things that seriously need work. But you know what. I say thanks anyway.

Thank you, Bob, for all you did. You are by no means perfect, but you have certainly been fantastic.

By PuckedUP

October 17, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this

Jenn, woo hoo Bob was an all-star assistant last year. Whoopie. We won the southeast division. Whoopie. Last I heard teams play for championships. You can stay mired in your quest for mediocrity. I will hope and expect for more.

And you are a friggin hipocrite. Tell me not to say something because I told someone to be more objective. Pull your head out of the wazoo, you are losing oxygen (that’s the stuff the body needs to survive).

By LAC

October 17, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this

Great link Rannallo10, Looking for you to be next GM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Buzilla Baby Blues

October 17, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this

I agree with Jenn. I liked Hartley and I also liked Frazier. The team just out grew Hartley and his message. Now the team needs some new blood to take it to another level.

I want to prefess what I say next. I do not want to waste this season. Its WAAAAAAAY to early and we can obviously still right this ship with the players we have and the deals that have yet to be made.

BUT (classic Brendan post here) IF we did tank it for the whole year…We have a great shot at getting a very high pick in one of the deepest drafts in recent memory…

Tavares would look good in Baby Blue wouldn’t he?

Its a long way off, but if we do suck it like Pam Anderson, at least we wouldn’t end up with hepatitis.

By Daniel-san

October 17, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this

The Thrashers are a business with the end product being sports entertainment. When a business is failing, changes like firing the boss seem natural, regardless of previous results. There’s a lot of money on the line. One of the main reasons the business made the playoffs last year was because they got a rent-a-player named Tkachuk who carried them in. The business needed that to keep enthusiasm. No major movements over the summer—could have taken a lesson from the Flyers on that one—and you get what you get. Let’s see how Thrasher management handles the challenging task of rebuilding their business…and fast. Management needs to deliver to show they are really “True Blue” if they want to keep selling merchandise and tickets.

By Daniel-san

October 17, 2007 3:38 PM | Link to this

The Thrashers are a business with the end product being sports entertainment. When a business is failing, changes like firing the boss seem natural, regardless of previous results. There’s a lot of money on the line. One of the main reasons the business made the playoffs last year was because they got a rent-a-player named Tkachuk who carried them in. The business needed that to keep enthusiasm. No major movements over the summer—could have taken a lesson from the Flyers on that one—and you get what you get. Let’s see how Thrasher management handles the challenging task of rebuilding their business…and fast. Management needs to deliver to show they are really “True Blue” if they want to keep selling merchandise and tickets.

By Dave

October 17, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this

You don’t become a bad coach after 6 games. The management failed to give quality players to the head coach. It’s that simple. The Thrashers roster is really weak. Who would want to trade for anyone other than Hossa and Kovy. That’s not good!

By Bob

October 17, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this

Good read, Bill Tiller. I just realized when the elections come closer, I can call you Bill the anti-Hill Till see how you’re a fellow member of the, ya know, vast RWC.

Hartley’s pink slip was signed the day our fearless leader declared this year was going to be a youth movement, yet retained Hartley. Another brilliant decision.

IF we did tank it for the whole year…We have a great shot at getting a very high pick in one of the deepest drafts in recent memory

That is the glass half full and absolutely correct, the new GM can come in and turn this around pretty quickly, guys. Fret not, there’s a light at the end of this tunnel, finally.

By Buzilla Baby Blues

October 17, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this

I’m a glass is half full kinda guy Bob.

You, Pucks n snot, LAC, and others must be in your glory now that one half the Atlanta Sprits Third Reich have been removed.

By Brian

October 17, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this

I know it sucks to lose someone, but in trying to be a realist and a “glass is half full” type as Bob says, I think everyone will be happy by what is about to happen. Here is what I mean. 1 of 2 things are about to happen:

1 - The team takes off either under DW or some other new coach. Turns out it really was BH and everyone is happy with our team as they reverse this winless start and another playoff appearance follows (this time with some wins in the postseason).

2 - The team loses just as badly under DW or the new coach so it turns out it’s not BH, but DW who is at fault. The owners have no choice but to get the big name GM to right the ship. Everyone is happy that a new GM has a lot of wiggle room given the way the team is set up right now as mentioned earlier and Thrasherville is rocking again.

Regardless of which scenario you are rooting for, doesn’t everyone here see at least one of the two happening and thus either happy that we have a winning team this year or happy that a new GM is coming?

DW just put himself on the line here, time to see what happens…

By Sara

October 17, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this

I hate it for Bob - I mean, you can’t really take pleasure in a guy losing his job (unless he was being a complete a-hole or committing fraud - but I digress). But something had to give and Hartley was a good place to start.

Yes, this team could have been built better maybe but maybe it was actually built fine and we just need a coach that can run with the GM’s vision? I think there is a lot of talent on this roster (besides just the “obvious”) that simply hasn’t been properly managed.

And Dave you are right that a coach doesn’t simply become “bad” after 6 games - unfortunately this team started playing badly about halfway through last season (case in point 10 point division lead dwindled into “barely gasped our way to the championship” within about 3 months. Anemic PP and PK are nothing new to this season. That’s the type of problem I had with Hartley - this was just a long time in coming and it was exacerbated by having a bunch of new faces and totally new line combos.

Good luck to him wherever he ends up. And even more luck to whomever they bring in as the new bench boss.

By Capt. Caveman

October 17, 2007 4:32 PM | Link to this

IT”S ALL RAWHIDES FAULT

You take over this blog, get all high and mighty, and then Hartley’s gone!!

I think I see the connection!!

By stendec

October 17, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this

I wish BH well. In professional sports winning is the sole bottom line. Players cannot be fired en mass. General managers do enough brown nosing behind scenes to keep jobs. Owners live in ivory towers. So when players fail to perform the coach is the turkey at Thanksgiving. Going from division title to 0-6 is tough to swallow. I know it bothered BH, too. I will always believe (Kari) cost BH his job. That is a personal thought. Other Thrashers did him harm as well. Hope fire-breathing coach ready to kick A++ takes over! Wish BH all the best. Thanks for our unforgettable championship season. For now. FOREVER!

By GaVaHokie

October 17, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this

Buzz… I’m sure St. Louis will enjoy having Tavares, seeing as they have our 1st Round draft pick (remember the Tkachuk deal?).

By Rman

October 17, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this

I live in the Washington,DC area and my son attended one of Bob’s camps in Hershey, PA. I am also a hockey coach in Frederick, MD. We went to a Washington Capitals game against the Colorado Avalanche and one of my players mothers called Bob when he was on the road to ask for tickets. He not only answered the phone on the third ring, he gave us tickets and lockerroom passes to get autographs from the likes of Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic and Chris Drury. I will always consider Bob to be one of the best hockey men and people that I have ever known. He deserves better. I know that he will land on his feet. The best always do! Dr. Rick Mead, DPT

By Russ

October 17, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this

Thrashers trade Hossa to Columbus for Foote and Federov. GM Don Waddell announces trading star forward before he was able to get away via unrestricted free agency in the upcoming summer. “Bringing in Foote (35 years old) will help shore up our defense and Federov (37) fills a need for an offensive center. They are both scheduled to be unrestricted at the end of the season, but we hope to lock them both up with long term contracts” Waddell said.

Please get rid of DW before something like this happens. He is going to either hold onto Hossa the entire season or trade him for “veteran help” to try to save his job rather than trade him for the best offer he can get of young players and draft picks, which is what he should do. It would hurt short term, but look at what the Thrashers gave up for two months of Tkachuk…just think of the young talent that Hossa could bring in a trade.

By Lee

October 17, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this

I will miss Hartley. I too have met him several times and he is as genuine a man as you will meet. Best of luck Bob. Anybody got Melrose’s number?

By AJ

October 17, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this

This is sooooooooo wrong!!!! It is going to be depressing going to the game tomorrow. I can’t believe this has happened!! Waddell should have been releived of his duties!!! He made HORRIBLE trades-he didn’t give Bob anything to work with at all!! Bob Hartley is a very special person and a PROVEN coach who has a Stanely Cup under his belt!? Every time there was anything to do with the team, special events-he made you feel like you were the only person in the whole arena!! He cared about his players and this town!! What a way to be repaid huh? He will be missed not only as a GREAT coach but also as a WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING!!! Thanks Waddell for NOTHING!!!!

By GaVaHokie

October 17, 2007 4:53 PM | Link to this

Actually, Hartley and Heatley are probably clinking beer glasses together right about now… it’s like the first day of freedom.

There’s no crying in hockey people!

By GaVaHokie

October 17, 2007 4:55 PM | Link to this

AJ… I’m sorry, but your response reminded me of Chris Crocker… “Leave Bob Hartley ALONE!! He’s a HUMAN BEING!! All you people want is MORE, MORE, MORE!!”

… no offense. :)

By Buzilla Baby Blues

October 17, 2007 4:56 PM | Link to this

Damn it hokie!!!

There is a chance that Tavares won’t come out until 2008. We should probably still suck then.

You going to the game tomorrow against Da Rangers? They may play my video!!!!!

By Pucks n Snot

October 17, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this

You are all pathetic. Hartley must feel like he’s just been reprieved from the gallows. It was a miracle he took one of those teams to the playoffs after the GM never got him ANY quality defenseman, goaltenders, or centers. Waddell had a blossoming star at center in Savard and he let him walk, then as you guys praised the move you simultaneously bytched and moaned about why you didn’t have any good centers. Then the GM takes the team that made the playoffs - dismantles it - and puts a squad on the ice consisting of toy midget AHLers and castoff free agents that other teams got rid of so they could ascend further up the ladder. Unbelievable! Hey ‘zilla - you wanna see Tavares in baby blue, huh? Do you wanna draft him or date him? I would hang myself with barbed wire before I described my team colors as “baby blue” - HA HA HA! Anyway, my 0-15 prediction is right on track…….and now that the same bufoon that has been the real cause of your troubles is now behind the bench as well I have no doubt that it’ll happen. Enjoy, “UNGLUEDLAND”!!!! A HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!

By Bob

October 17, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this

Please get rid of DW before something like this happens. He is going to either hold onto Hossa the entire season or trade him for “veteran help” to try to save his job rather than trade him for the best offer he can get of young players and draft picks, which is what he should do. It would hurt short term, but look at what the Thrashers gave up for two months of Tkachuk…just think of the young talent that Hossa could bring in a trade

Yep, that is spot on and why they should have canned Waddell as well. However, the owners, if they have any smarts, have Waddell by the short leash now and will be eyeing him very closely, since they know he’s gone at the end of the year. Waddell will have to move Hossa, sooner rather than later hopefully to maximize the return, but the trade will have to be signed off on (and probably discussed behind the scenes with whatever GM candidate they are talking to in preparation for the change).

You, Pucks n snot, LAC, and others must be in your glory now that one half the Atlanta Sprits Third Reich have been removed.

Nope, not at all. But this moves the process along to it’s ultimate end of taking care of the real issue, which is Waddell. Hartley was a good man, but you can’t make s** shine.

This club will have a nice bounce now, teams always do after a firing, we’ll get a good 5 game bounce. I fully expect to beat the Blue Shirts tomorrow.

But when the dust settles and this lineup continues the inevitable after the 5 game bounce levels out, the owners will have no choice but to can Waddell.

So, no glory. It’s actually a sad day seeing how a good man had to take the fall for the real problem, Waddell. But a step in the right direction and I can see the light at the end of this tunnel we’ve been in for many years.

By Waffleboy

October 17, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this

Tavares is not eligible until the 2009 draft. We have to suck for a whole nother season to get him. We can throw bombs at Waddell, but this roster is good enough to win in the “new NHL.” The upgrades from the beginning of last seaon’s roster to this one are there. Rucchin for White, Niko Kapanen for Eric Perrin. Both are upgrades. I’m gonna miss Hartley as a coach, but I honestly believe the players had stopped fighting for him. When that happens, there’s rarely a coach who can bring them back. This was a decision Waddell had to make. Who’s next for this team is the new question. Quinn won’t come unless he gets the GM spot, too. Does Waddell give it up? Who else is available? Barry Melrose? Mike Milbury? Screw that, bring up John Anderson and his two championships from the Chicago Wolves. He knows the young players and his 12-year career in the NHL will earn the respect of the verts. I think it’s a no-brainer.

By AJ

October 17, 2007 5:21 PM | Link to this

No offense taken GAVAHOKIE. Tomorrow night when Waddell comes out instead of booing-we need to start a HARTLEY HARTLEY HARTLEY chant!!!!

By CM

October 17, 2007 5:24 PM | Link to this

Nice post Rawhide..

By Krust

October 17, 2007 5:32 PM | Link to this

Lets have some fun make Barry Melrose the coach and the team can get the mullet going, they will have fun and win a few games. Tehn at theend of the year we fire DW and Get Pat Quinn to take over.

By Thrashers27

October 17, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this

Thanks coach and “you know, like a”, good luck to ya!

By Billsen

October 17, 2007 5:37 PM | Link to this

There is a saying in pro sports that coaches are hired so that GMs can fire them later. That said, I’m sorry to see BH go - he was a good choice for the team when he was hired, and like him or not, he was the glue that held things together after the Heatley/Snyder accident and he did get us to our 1st taste of the playoffs and a division championship. I will always think highly of him as a person and as the coach who got us to unprecedented heights as a franchise.

Still, there comes a time when a coach’s message can fall on deaf ears. Alas, I feel that’s the case with BH in relation to the vets on the team. Ironically enough, it strikes me that the line he’s had the best success with this year was the rookies. They played with some chemistry and energy. It is a shame that the vets didn’t as well.

Hopefully this will be a good move in the long term, but I have my doubts about the rest of this season.

Thanks, Bob, for the effort!

Billsen Nastynest.net

PS, PuckedUp? Jenn’s right - this is a fan’s POV, not the Beat Blogger!

By ranallo10

October 17, 2007 5:42 PM | Link to this

Hokie and Buzilla — You’re remembering incorrectly, as Tkachuk was traded back to St. Louis for that conditional 1st round pick.

Per espn: “Acquired the rights to left wing Keith Tkachuk and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2008 from the Atlanta Thrashers for a conditional first-round pick in 2008.”

Atlanta still possesses their 1st rounder next year, which means Stamkos could possibly be ours if the team never rebounds.

Brian’s take on the situation is spot on…there’s a bright side for everyone no matter how this works out.

By Roswell Thrasherfan

October 17, 2007 5:51 PM | Link to this

I also buy into brian’s theory of the two options, but I am rooting for option 1 because the result is sooner rather than later

By Brian

October 17, 2007 6:18 PM | Link to this

I am waiting in anticipation for one thing tomorrow night - I want to see who DW starts in net. That may or may not send a clear message as to whether or not he and BH saw things the same way. Of course, there can be a hundred reasons for starting one versus the other…

By Christy

October 17, 2007 6:23 PM | Link to this

Sorry to see BH go because I don’t thing it solves the problem. If it does, it leads to more questions and not just about BH.

I think what concerns me the most is the idea that the veteran players weren’t listening to him, a couple of articles hinting that he had lost the team, and Stan’s blog this morning that the players were smiling at practice, seemingly more relaxed than he had seen them before. (correctly or not, I interpret that as them being happy to see BH go).

What gets me about this is that while BH may not have been an ideal coach for this team, he was The COACH. And I take issue with his carrying the sole responsibility for “losing the team” in the sense that by the time I retire, I will have worked for about 50 years and in that cumulative time will not make half of what most of those players will make in their careers, working for a lot of bosses that I do not exactly have warm fuzzy feelings for and yet producing, always trying for the best. You PLAY and WORK hard no matter what, and I have yet to see the veterans really PLAY this year. If they all of a sudden come out gang busters then Shame on them for not doing it earlier.

By Sage of Bluesland

October 17, 2007 6:44 PM | Link to this

I’m mad there weren’t two firings today…How Don Waddell, the architect of this mess, survives, I’ll never know…

Makes me sick to my stomach that the buffoon still is employed in the figurative joke otherwise known as Blueland…

By yellowblood

October 17, 2007 8:05 PM | Link to this

I’m a hockey dimwit but I was living in Dallas when the Stars won the Cup. Every year Dallas had to beat Hartley’s team (Colorado) in the first or second playoff round. After Dallas won the cup, Hartley’s team won one or two years later. We have fired a coach who knows how to win and what it takes to get to the top. I doubt that he’s the problem.

By LAC

October 17, 2007 10:32 PM | Link to this

Come on BOB, I liked Hartley,He had a bad deck dealt him because of a BAD GM, so do you support Atlanta spritless ?

We are worse than our expansion year…. Gee Whiz Bob !!!

By GR

October 17, 2007 10:44 PM | Link to this

My 5 year old son is really going to miss “Coach Bob” too. At the playoffs party at Jillian’s last year my son ran right over to him and hugged him and Bob just picked him up and hugged him back. We’ll always remember that and him the best of luck.

By GR

October 17, 2007 10:45 PM | Link to this

My 5 year old son is really going to miss “Coach Bob” too. At the playoffs party at Jillian’s last year my son ran right over to him and hugged him and Bob just picked him up and hugged him back. We’ll always remember that and wish him the best of luck.

By R. Stroz

October 18, 2007 12:11 AM | Link to this

OK, let me make sure I’m reading Schultz’s article correctly, the most unproductive, overpaid and slowest player on the team goes behind the coaches back and tells the GM the team is not getting any better after the season ends.

For the love of hockey, someone, anyone, give Holik a mirror. Talk about someone not getting any better. Please take the C off Holik’s jersey, he doesn’t deserve to wear it. The least Holik could have done was had a face to face with Hartley.

Holik is an overpaid and oversized chickensh!t. In order to clean this mess of a team up start with Holik, the future frontman for the GEICO caveman commercials (Holik even whines like the cavemen).

By R. Stroz

October 18, 2007 12:39 AM | Link to this

Don has made his bed and now he can Waddlle in it.

By Rawhide

October 18, 2007 9:21 AM | Link to this

Rman & GR - I knew I was not the only parent with that type of experience with Bob Hartley. Thanks for your thoughts.

Krust - Lets have some fun make Barry Melrose the coach and the team can get the mullet going - I don’t know why that makes me laugh, but it does!

Rstroz - Don has made his bed and now he can Waddlle in it. - That’s a good line, can I use it?

OK, I have a question. I’m just gonna toss it out as red-meat and let ya’ll run with it.

(Keep in mind I HOPE and PRAY the following situation DOES NOT happen).

BH was let go, primarily, due to the team going 0-6-0 out of the gate, (3 of those games without Hossa). What if DW coaches for 6 games and he too goes 0-6-0. Same players, same results.

Should he fire himself?

By Russ

October 18, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this

If he goes 0-6 he should fire himself…but I say why wait that long…go ahead and fire yourself now DW.

By Brendan

October 18, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this

Scott Burnside strikes again. If you haven’t read this one yet, it’s worth a read. He even credits AJC Columnist Jeff Schultz with a quote.

By Bob

October 18, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this

What if DW coaches for 6 games and he too goes 0-6-0. Same players, same results.

Don’t get caught up in what happens in the next 5 or 6 games. In hockey, whenever a coach gets fired, the team always seems to go on a nice 5 game run. I fully expect the Thrashers to win tonight and go something like 2-2 over the next 4. That would make them 3-2 over the next 5 games.

But do not get excited about that, although it will be a very nice relief to all the losing. Teams usually go on a nice 5 game run, then reality sets back in and they go back to the same play that was going on before the firing, because the basic underlying causes rise to the top again.

But in the 1% chance that they do go 0-6 over the next 6, then yes, Waddell has to be fired then also. But that’s not going to happen.

3-2 over the next 5, starting with a win tonight. But then watch and see what happens over the next 20 game stretch, and the rest of the season. Too many holes in this lineup for the standard 5 game bump to carry forward over the course of the whole year.

By JayBird

October 18, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this

It’s nice that the random bloggers have almost disapeared and we can get back to some real hockey talk. Don’t get me wrong, if some of them would continue to contribute, that would be great. But we all know they will all go back to whatever they were doing before, waiting for another big topic to throw their two cents at.

I still don’t know what to think about the Hartley firing. The more I listen to and read articles from other people, the more I have mixed feelings. I can see why Hartley was fire, the lack of results, the assumption of losing the team. I can see his hard a* tactics getting old. At the same time, he has been a very successful coach who has won everywhere he has been. Was he given the resources he needed to succeed this year? Absolutely not and I don’t think anyone can argue that. As we all know, the coach becomes the scapegoat when a GM’s decisions don’t work out. Hell, Scotty Bowman couldn’t win with the group we have now!

I am torn about the rest of this year. Part of me wants to rebound and become respectable again. The odds of that happening with this group are low. The other part of me wants the season to continue in the $hitter so we can clean house and rebuild this organization. Waddell’s draft and player development record speaks for itself. Our rebuilding efforts have to start at the draft and we have to build a strong minor league system. Yes, I know, Chicago won a championship a few years ago and our teams have been successful…that’s fine. But the purpose of the minor league teams is to produce NHL players and our teams, for the most part, have not done that.

The thing about this rebuilding is that it takes time. How much time does this organization have to build a winner and stay viable in a fickle Atlanta hockey community? We saw the rise in attendance last season when the boys were contending. This season, we will see a continued demise in attendance numbers. How long can this franchise survive without putting a winner on the ice and butts in the seats? Not very long! There is a time period after the inception of the team where losing can be tolerated. We are beyond that point and the very survival of this franchise depends on the decisions made in the next 6 months. If the Atlanta Spirit decide to take hockey seriously and invest money in a coach, GM, scouting department, and minor league system, we can survive. If they continue to scrape by, hoping for lightning in a bottle like last season, we will all be relegated to going to Gladiators games while the Thrashers franchise moves to Vegas, Kansas City, or Winnipeg.

If this post seems disjointed and rambling, please forgive me. I am typing while listening to a lecture in my class at GSU.

By Tony H

October 18, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this

Brendan - Thanks for the link to the Scott Burnside article. It was most interesting and, unfortunately, probably shows the Thrasher situation correctly.

My concerns go much deeper than Bob Hartley and DW. Burnside’s comment that the current Thrasher ownership does not possess long-term hockey knowledge and count on DW as their link to how to put together a winner is really scary. To me, that translates as no DW, no clue.

I can only hope that they will get some guidance/advice from a true hockey expert and sort this thing out quickly. Those of us who have lived in Atlanta long enough to remember losing the Flames to Calgary don’t want to see a similar situation occur again.

I don’t think DW can hire a quality NHL coach because it does not take a rocket scientist to know that DW could very well be a lame duck GM. So, I, for one, would like to see John Anderson be given a chance with the Thrashers. After all, he has succeeded wherever he has been and knows the players in our organization as well as anyone.

Regardless, lets continue to support the Thrashers as best we can. I don’t want to lose another franchise. This could be our last one if we don’t.

By R. Stroz

October 18, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this

Rawhide - Feel free to use Don has made his bed and now he can Waddlle in it. However, if you sell any promotional items using the phrase, please forward a small royalty fee to help offset the cost of my ticket plan this year.

By Brendan

October 18, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this

Look, I want to address this “vibe” I’m getting here that this franchise is somehow on the move. No way. I believe the team has an iron-clad 20-year lease. Even if Belkin got the team and sold it, whoever buys it (Jim Balsillie, hypothetically) can’t just up and move it while paying two rents. That’s a really bad business practice. Paying two rents for one arena is a bad business practice.

If this team were to be sold, it just seems more likely that it would be sold to a local interest, or an outside party who would keep it local. Unfortunately, a name like Arthur Blank surfaces whenever topics turn towards potential local ownership. (Nooooooo!!!!)

I do suspect that (NHL Commissioner)Gary Bettman doesn’t have any objection to the NHL being in cities like Las Vegas, Kansas City, and maybe even Portland or Seattle. But only as “relocations.” Bettman has been consistent in saying he wants 30 teams in the league.

So, if some local market refuses to support its team, and has “leasing problems” with their venue, (think Nashville and Pittsburgh last season,) then I could see a relocation. I don’t believe that’s the case here in Atlanta. It’s not as if there’s some, “Hey, if you draw less than 10,000 fans a night, on average, then Philips Arena reserves the right to oust you.”

It’s been my impression that there’s absolutely no way that the Thrashers or Philips Arena can break their lease agreement, until it expires. And when is that? 2020?? If that’s the case, then we should start to worry in 2017. But not now. If someone has the “skinny” on this, please chime in. As I do not possess the facts of this. This post reflected my observations and opinions, not facts.

By JayBird

October 18, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this

Brendon, I wasn’t saying the franchise is on the move because its not, right now. Who knows a few years down the road. I was giving a hypothetical situation that could happen if our ownership and management issues aren’t sorted out. As fickle as the Atlanta sports fans are, especially with a non-traditional sport like hockey, the Thrashers cannot afford many bad seasons.

As far as there being no way the Thrashers or Philips can break their lease agreement, that is crazy. There is always a way and if someone wants it bad enough, it will happen. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want anything like this to happen but if things aren’t stablized at the ownership/management level, who knows what will happen?

By ranallo10

October 18, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this

Rawhide, we need a different vibe around here. How about you start us a new blog?

Maybe to appease the regulars, such as Bob and Buzilla (and others who have expressed interest) you could make the topic the Ice Girls and create a ranking system.

By Thrasherblues

October 18, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this

Yeah Ranallo, let’s start a blog so a bunch of old perverts can ogle over college girls and wannabe/former strippers. LOSER! If you want to rank them, lets rank them on who is more likely to have herpes, more likely to get knocked up after a Saturday night gangbang, or which girl handles the hockey “stick” the best.

By Tony C.

October 18, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this

Just a ball of sunshine ain’tcha skippy?

By ranallo10

October 18, 2007 1:39 PM | Link to this

Thrasherblues — a few things to comment on (though I shouldn’t acknowledge you).

1 — I know a few of the Ice Girls personally, and somewhat resent the remark of herpes or getting knocked up. The few I know are nice girls who are doing this because they love hockey, and actually do not like having to wear the outfits they have on currently. Much like cheerleaders for the Falcons, these girls are doing it for a reason beyond being w*******…talk to one (without spilling a beer on them or flirting with them) and you’ll see what I mean. However, some are an exception to the norm (I’ll give you that much).

2 — I’m neither an old man, nor a pervert. I do not ogle over the Ice Girls. Re-read the comment I made, and notice how I identified some people who do like to look at quality craftsmanship when they see it.

3 — Who are you? Can you not tell when a person is attempting to lighten the mood by bringing up a jovial topic?

Please do us a favor and go back to obscurity.

By Thrasherblues

October 18, 2007 2:00 PM | Link to this

Why do you want to deflect everyone from the issues at hand? Aww, poor baby, a little sensitive because his team is struggling? Oooh, lets lose the vibe, its not good.

If they are such nice girls, why would you recommend trivializing them on a blog based on something as shallow as looks? Quit being so sensitive Sally, I was making a joke and trying to lose the oh so bad vibe. And yeah, I’m sure you really know these girls. I bet they come over to your house for punch and cookies to watch 7th Heaven re-runs!

By Buzilla Baby Blues

October 18, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this

my fiance is an Icegirl….

By ranallo10

October 18, 2007 2:15 PM | Link to this

Thrashersblues — Jessica Biel is beyond hot! That’s a good idea for a topic change…thanks.

And no, I’m not “friends” with the few Ice Girls I know, I merely “know them personally” as I accurately quoted in my previous post. (Reading Comprehension is a highschool course, perhaps you skipped that one?) If you cannot grasp nuances of an online post, you may not want to partake in posting (i.e. - it was a joke).

Why do you want to deflect everyone from the issues at hand?

There are currently four blogs on the AJC alone that are focused on the “issues” at hand. These issues are not ours, but rather the Atlanta Thrashers’ and the Atlanta Spirit’s. We are fans, and decide to go to the games based on the outcome of these “issues”.

I think four blogs is enough focus on the “issues at hand” so that we can start discussing more important topics such as what your next nickname will be (I’m thinking “Laser” — if knows what movie that’s from, you’ll get a prize), why people like you seem to pop up out of the blue whenever something drastic happens with this club (Psychology 1001 refresher), or if you rank on the same level as Pucks-N-Sage in terms of usefulness to the blogging community.

As for why I recommended a topic change. This blog has become stale, and has yielded yet another by-product of the stale Waddell bashing blogs that comes with every blog — bloggers like you.

By Tony C.

October 18, 2007 2:20 PM | Link to this

nah that’s blay-zurr

By Thrasherblues

October 18, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this

I never said anything about “friends” you “douche bag”. I guess knowing someone “personally” isn’t “friends” in Ranallo World. You are the typical name dropper who thinks they are important because they sniffed someones jock or in this case, skirt. And tell me Pavlov, which aspects of Psychology 1001 would this situation fall under? I can play amateur psychologist as well and I find that you weren’t loved as a kid and you were involved in an inappropriate situation with a sneaky uncle.

You want to act so smart and smug, telling me about “Reading Comprehension”. Apparently you weren’t taught spelling in “highschool”…two words, genius. I’m guessing you taught to overuse quotation marks in the special education program at your alternative school.

By Trixie (Rawhide's Secretary)

October 18, 2007 2:28 PM | Link to this

Zilla, check your e-mail, please.

By Thrasherblues

October 18, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this

Apparently we were classmates because I can’t spell either!

By Bob

October 18, 2007 2:35 PM | Link to this

ranallo, I see you’ve made a new friend, you’re good at that, eh?

zilla, for real? youdaman

By Rawhide

October 18, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this

RANALLO - Um, seeing that the devine Mrs. R frequents this column,….I ain’t touchin’ that with a 10,539 foot pole.

NO-SIR-EEEEE!

By Buzilla Baby Blues

October 18, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this

I am kidding Bob. My fiance is too old to be an icegirl. But when they start to hire Icewomen, she’s all in baby!

By ranallo10

October 18, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this

Rawhide — Understood. How about a blog on a nickname to replace Backstreet Boys for the Atlanta Wolves line? Mrs. R wouldn’t get angry about that, would she?

Bob — it’s amazing how this person pulls out a line that only you use, and happen to post within 5 minutes of you…interesting. Brian warned me of this previously, but I assumed you were above that.

Thrasherblues — Nuances such as implications are part of my forte. I bet they come over to your house for punch and cookies to watch 7th Heaven re-runs! Underlying implication of this quote: ranallo10 + Ice Girls - Buzilla’s fiance - Bob = Friends.

Yes, I do many things wrong grammatically. For instance, I use too many commas, write in a manner as if I’m speaking to a person, and often use words that might not fit the situation though I feel they truly do. I would go back and correct those errors, but then I remember that this is a blog, and not a doctoral thesis. Thus I do not pay my editor to look over these posts.

I was very well loved as a kid and my uncles are not sneaky. Clearly wild accusations are your forte, keep at it!

Works cited:

highschool. Dictionary.com. WordNet® 3.0. Princeton University. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/highschool (accessed: October 18, 2007).

By Thrasherblues

October 18, 2007 2:58 PM | Link to this

Buzz, you should be thankful Ranallo doesn’t know her personally since he knows some of the Ice Girls. I’m sure they are friends with all the women he has bedded from the Niagara Falls area!

By Bob

October 18, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this

damn, and here I was getting all ready to guess which one she was…

By ranallo10

October 18, 2007 3:08 PM | Link to this

I don’t understand the Niagara Falls reference there, I’m from Los Angeles. That implication clearly is over my head.

Brian’s from the Buffalo area, perhaps you meant him Bob? I mean Thrashersblues.

By Rawhide

October 18, 2007 3:09 PM | Link to this

OK, kids,….show of hands,…who’s going to the game tonight?

By ranallo10

October 18, 2007 3:12 PM | Link to this

ooh ooh ooh, ME ME ME!!

By Thrasherblues

October 18, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this

Whoa Pathagorus, how long did it take for you to come up with that equation? Nuances are part of your forte? Thats another word for being a pretentious a-hole, right? Here is the definition of pretentious for you since you love the dictionary so much: expressive of affected, unwarranted, or exaggerated importance, worth, or stature. In other words, a name dropping, nuance using whose forte is being a prick.

By Bob

October 18, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this

Bob — it’s amazing how this person pulls out a line that only you use, and happen to post within 5 minutes of you…interesting. Brian warned me of this previously, but I assumed you were above that.

Paranoid much? Way to step in it again, you goof. Right after you accuse me of that, thrashersblue writes something at the same time as I. Can you ever get out of your own way, you goof? I have never done that, and never will. See, I like my opinion too much. ;) ya hump

By Rawhide

October 18, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this

ooh ooh ooh, ME ME ME!! - OK Horseshack, sit down.

So, Ranallo’s going,…..

By Bob

October 18, 2007 3:19 PM | Link to this

Brian’s from the Buffalo area, perhaps you meant him Bob? I mean Thrashersblues.

Rawhide, please, please, please do me a big favor and check the IP address on thrashersblue and also on me and show Ranallo what color the world is over here in the real world? Pretty please?

By Rawhide

October 18, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this

Priviledged information , Bob.

By R. Stroz

October 18, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this

I’m not. I asked the service rep to switch out my tickets for another game later in the season. Until the current clusterflop is resolved, I’ll be watching the games on TV.

By Bob

October 18, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this

Rawhide, I’ll tell ya if you check the IP addresses,

And can someone tell me what/who Pathagorus is. Is that the big dinosaur they just dug up in Africa or whereever? Or is he our new coach?

By Thrasherblues

October 18, 2007 3:26 PM | Link to this

The Niagara Falls reference is from the movie The Breakfast Club. “Laser” isn’t used in the flick so I guess it is over your head.

By Bob

October 18, 2007 3:29 PM | Link to this

Priviledged information , Bob.

C’mon, you don’t have to post the IP addresses, just take a look and post here that I’m not the other one, pretty please? Please? I’ll vote for Hiliary if you don’t. I mean it, I will use this punch card!!

By ranallo10

October 18, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this

Did that jab strike a nerver there Bob? Two minutes is surely enough to type one sentence after changing a screen name. Good “proof”. But it’s cool, I know more than just one person don’t agree with me nor like me. I go to sleep perfectly fine every night knowing this. Ranallo World is filled with people who don’t necessarily agree with me every waking moment.

Rawhide — Horseshack, I like that, ‘twas funny to me.

Thrasherblues — Nah, I’m not a pretentious a-hole. My statement is just one that says I attempt to look into a poster’s message and understand what they are really getting at. For instance, Buzilla was making a joke earlier. Did you get that one? I’m the prick when you’re the one who started this whole thing because you ASSumed I was an old pervert who ogles Ice Girls, then proceeded in ASSuming all Ice Girls are disease infested w*******? That’s a bit hypocritical to say the least.

Name dropping would’ve been “I know _ who is an Ice Girl”. I didn’t do that. I said I know a couple of them, which I do, and further explained why that was of relevance to the situation.

You called a relative defenseless group of women w*******, insulted a group of bloggers, and came from relative obscurity to do so…and I’m the prick? Solid excuse there bud. Or as Bobert likes to say “ya hump.”

By Thrasherblues

October 18, 2007 3:38 PM | Link to this

Why does a woman have to be a wh-re if she has a disease? That’s your ASSumption, Sally. I never used the “W” word, you did. Why are you the only one who didn’t get I was joking about the Ice Girls? So Buzz can joke but I can’t? Lighten up, Frances! You aren’t a prick, just a guy who was easily baited into accusing someone of doing something they didn’t do.

By Trixie (Rawhide's Secretary)

October 18, 2007 3:38 PM | Link to this

Paging Bob,…Paging Bob,…..

Please check your e-mail.

Thank you,

By ranallo10

October 18, 2007 3:38 PM | Link to this

I haven’t seen “The Breakfast Club”, so I guess that makes sense why I didn’t get it. Guess I’m not an old pervert after all…eh?

Pathagorus (supposed to be Pythagoras) is the creator of the Pythagorean theorem. Thrasherblues simply mispelled it…I thought it was witty though.

Props to Thrasherblues for the Euclidean geometry joke!

By ranallo10

October 18, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this

lets rank them on who is more likely to have herpes, more likely to get knocked up after a Saturday night gangbang, or which girl handles the hockey “stick” the best.

You’re right, you never said “w*******”. Thanks for pointing that out.

Now I guess one is to assume from your direct quote that you were insinuating…choir singing virgins? Wow, I feel so stupid for making such an off base assumption.

And yes, I do get easily “baited” when people jump on a bandwagon against those who are not present to defend themselves. You’ve found my weakness.

By Thrasherblues

October 18, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this

The alternative school spelling class didn’t take!

By ranallo10

October 18, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this

Trixie — please pass this memo to Rawhide:

“Dear Mr. Hide,

Please change the AJC fan blog so that your readers may have a pristine location for which to air their complaints about the Atlanta Thrashers organization.

In a related matter, it is about time you do something about the ‘Ice Man’ header on your blog, as it is misrepresenting to the masses.

Finally, we would like to thank you for your offering last week. We hope you appreciated our wrath.

Sincerely,

Hockey Gods Llc”

Thanks.

By Thrasherblues

October 18, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this

Ranallo, I was bringing up stereotypes and assumptions when talking about the Ice Girls. I wasn’t trying to be malicious, just funny. There is nothing for them to defend because it was a joke. Choir singing virgins? They probably got herpes from their father or youth minister. ;P That was a joke and was in no way meant to be offensive to the choir singing virgin population who read Rawhide’s blog!

By Rawhide

October 18, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this

BOB - I’ll vote for Hiliary if you don’t. I mean it, I will use this punch card!!

For the love of God, NOOOoooooo!!!!

OK, Ok,……sheeze! talk about holding a gun to the head of the nation! OK, I looked, and, as far as I can tell,….it’s you, THE Bob! OK.

Now,…you can disregard Trixie’s latest request.

By ranallo10

October 18, 2007 3:56 PM | Link to this

My father was a father, and he would take exception to your above statement.

Oh wait, we’re not doing that anymore…nevermind.

Clarification accepted, now can we talk about something else?

By Buzilla Baby Blues

October 18, 2007 4:39 PM | Link to this

Just for the record, I am an old perv that oogles the Icegirls

By Bob

October 18, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this

For the love of God, NOOOoooooo!!!!

OK, Ok,……sheeze! talk about holding a gun to the head of the nation! OK, I looked, and, as far as I can tell,….it’s you, THE Bob! OK.

Thank you. And I will not now throw this back anyone’s face, I’ll just hope that people quit accusing me of doing things that I don’t do. thankyouverymuch

Now for the record, I’ll be caught starting