Ice Man

By Random Player

February 18, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

It’s going to be close finish to the playoffs. The SE Division is SO weak though that I can’t help but see a repeat of last year if they MAKE the playoffs.

In the true BIG GAMES, Lehtonen has been weak. Until they prove they can play in the big game - they can’t.

That said, I will continue to support the Thrash!

By Kozzie13

February 18, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

First! And thank God for Carolina losing. Now maybe my presence on Thurday in Raliegh will spur the Thrash to a win. It did last time

By J(Z)

February 18, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this

Just curious, how are the shots per game stat a percentage???? Not sure I understand that part.

With today’s Devils win, now 3 teams are tied for the top spot in the east, and the Crosbyless Pens are somehow just 2 points out! The whole eastern conference is a mess!!!!

By Rawhide

February 18, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

J(Z) - I got “%” crazy….sorry, fixed now.

It wasn’t too long ago that Ottawa seemed like a shoe-in for the best record in the east. Oh, how the times have changed.

RP & Kozzie13 - Howdie…

By Tony C.

February 18, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this

Yaaay. At least one of my two favorite teams is handling business.

By J(Z)

February 18, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this

Totally unrelated. I was looking at my schedule magnets for the last 3 seasons. Not once have we played a B2B with both games at Philips. Is that not odd? I know there’s other stuff going on at Philips, but I was looking at other teams’ schedules and the Rangers do it twice this year at MSG. So, I don’t know. Seems like a disadvantage that the Thrashers always have to travel as part of any B2B.

By five_hole

February 18, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this

J(Z) I’d also like to point out that we still have 5 B2B still to play (that’s 10 games) out of 20 left to play. At this point, I’m feeling more like a seller than a buyer.

It’s really sad that our mediocre d (small d on purpose) graded out better than our average o (small o on purpose). We’re puny up front and get pushed around in the corners. Smaller was supposed to be faster, but frankly I don’t see that on the ice.

All in all, I’m ready to build an ark, flood the rink and start over. I believe Dupuis is a UFA, and hope we can resign him. After him, Ilya, Lehtonen, Enstrom, Perrin and maybe a couple of others, they can walk away as far as I’m concerned.

By five_hole

February 18, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this

I’m editing my own comments - I pointed out the 5 B2B series still to play because we suck playing the back end of them (witness the game against the “orange turds”).

Basically, I’m saying that we’re too inconsistent. MAYBE we could get into the 1st round, but I seriously doubt that we have the talent to advance into the 2nd round.

By kracker

February 18, 2008 6:33 PM | Link to this

Here’s why the Thrash must make the playoffs this year: I wanna do another playoff beard.

By R. Stroz

February 18, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this

five_hole - Unfortunately, I’m counting 6 B2B’s left on the schedule.

March 1, 2

March 7, 8

March 13, 14

March 18, 19

March 27, 28

March 31, April 1

The worst part is the Caps only have 4 B2B’s left, if my numbers are right, and, oh, they have one game in hand.

Can we get a new game schedular next year please?

By HookyBob

February 18, 2008 7:13 PM | Link to this

Seems to me as if our opponent in the 2nd game of our last 2 B2Bs had not played the night before. To me that is a real disadvantage, especially if we are on the road or the 1st game went to extra time. One has to wonder if that inequitity is distributed across all teams in the league.

By kracker

February 18, 2008 7:14 PM | Link to this

We got hammered by the B2Bs schedule wise. Maybe I do a check of the whole NHL to see how ATLs 19 B3Bs compare to the other teams.

By kracker

February 18, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this

B3Bs are similar to B2Bs, just 50% worse.

By R. Stroz

February 18, 2008 7:32 PM | Link to this

So here are the results of our oppositions’ B2B sets and the Thrasher’s B2B sets.

The only teams the Thrashers catch on the back side of a B2B set are the Minnesota Wild and the Calgary Flames.

The Thrashers, on the other hand, are not facing any team which had a game the prior evening in any of our B2B sets. Put another way, the Thrashers will be playing a fresh team every night for the rest of the season, except for two games: UNGOOD.

By Brendan

February 18, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this

For the Thrashers, the playoffs have already started. That’s true for every team in the Southeast division. We’re going to need more production out of Kovalchuk. Including “defensive effort.” His plus-minus lately has been taking a bath. And Hossa’s and Holik’s aren’t any better.

If we chose to forgo the playoffs this year and sold off assets, I think we’d do quite well.

By kracker

February 18, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this

Brendan I really do expect DW to get two half-loaves before the deadline: Someone(s) for the playoff push to fill at least part of the RW spot for the departed Hossa and maybe a C or a Dman + prospects and picks.

Marleau is on IR now (groin) but is eligible to come off immediately I read, so he could be parked to rest the groin and also to do no further damage prior to a deal or he could be simply unable to perform. Forsberg is out for this year. These player reductions serve to make Hossa even more of a player to be coveted.

Fingers crossed.

By Brendan

February 18, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this

Today, Ron Wilson’s San Jose Sharks had a 2-0 lead on the NY Isles in the 3rd period. Before the period ended, the Isles rallied for three (3) goals and won in regulation time. This does hurt the Thrashers, in terms of making the playoffs without winning the division.

Way to “choke” it, San Jose!!

By Brendan

February 18, 2008 8:31 PM | Link to this

Kracker, as much as it makes sense, strategically, to move Marian Hossa, while you still can, I’d bet DW hangs on to him. I’m not saying that’s the “right” thing to do. But I’ve tried many a time to crawl inside Don Waddell’s head to figure out how he thinks. And the best I can come up with … is that he views Hossa as “essential” to this year’s playoff push and playoff series. If he cannot get “equal value” for Hossa, then he hangs on to him, with the underlying principal being, Hossas don’t grow on trees. You can’t just replace them. I also think … that Waddell thinks … if we just make a splash in the playoffs, maybe it would sway Marian to stay, at the offer we’ve presented to his agent.

Yes, but uhh … Don Waddell is in a much better position than you or I or anyone to know, EXACTLY, what Marian’s “demands” are … and also to know what the Atlanta Spirit Group has authorized, in terms of salary and length of contract for Marian Hossa. Maybe 5-years/$35 million is the “limit” of what they’ll put forth. And if it is, and the Hossa camp has said, “Sorry, but that’s just not gonna cut it.” Well, Don still has a choice to make. And he may just “opt” to keep Hossa, figuring his job hinges on the playoff berth. And that the playoff berth supercedes anything else, like tangible assets or a slew of draft picks, that might come in return.

It’s impossible to know just how Don Waddell thinks. All I can do is “guess.”

By kracker

February 18, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this

Yep Brendan, there is much we don’t know. DW has been saying the correct thing that he wants to keep Marian as a GM must do with a current asset no matter what his real plans are. I just can’t see him sitting on his hands but as you say, he may be on orders to get us into the playoffs, period. The owners may be desperate for the playoff revenue and hope to build future sales by winning some post-season games. They did raise the season ticket prices, I’m sure you noticed that, haha.

Me, I don’t see how anyone running the organization can risk the doubly disasterous result of missing the playoffs and getting no returns for Hossa/Heatley. Schultz and Bradley will not let such a double failure go unremarked on, nor should they. Same for us fans that will scream loudly and angrily. I already emailed my ticket rep and said I’m not renewing my season ticket until after I see what goes down at the trade deadline. DW has to make the deal, IMO, and he’s in a pretty good position to get both those half-loaves.

By Teacher

February 18, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this

HABS INSIDE/OUT site wants Atlanta out of the league, be like Gone With The Wind, and blow away like an American dollar, losers, LMAO.

By The Other Bob

February 18, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this

Teacher - What a pathetic attempt to drum up support for a piece of crap web site.

Yeah, everyone….fall for this morons trick and go run off to Habs Inside/Out…LOL!!!

Idiot!

Habs Inside/Out…what is it? A site that lists which Montreal players are out of the closet gays and which ones are still cowering in the shadows afraid to come out of the closet???

I’m sure if it’s as “well written” as Teacher’s post…it’s simply…yawn… riveting.

By kracker

February 18, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this

The Wings losing streak may be over, they are up 4-0 on the Avs in the 2nd, 7 minuets left.

By HookyBob

February 18, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this

Ungood 21 games remain…90+% against “fresh” teams (credit R Stroz). Minneeeesota may not be fresh,…but have we ever beaten them? (I don’t think so.) 28% of games are 2nd of B2B for us. Our opponent in 5 of the 2nd game in those B2Bs are against a southeast division team (3 of those are on the road). Our March schedule is all uphill folks.

Say we prevail to win the division,…a brutal question needs to be asked. Will our “old and/or little guys” be spent? And then,..guess who is #6 (presumed playoff opponent) now…none other than the NY Rangers.

On another topic,..I’m watching Red Wings and Aves. Lidstrom got tagged hard tonight…could be out for awhile. Rafalski and Kromwell are also out. Once invinsible Detroit could be hurting bigtime from the injury bug.

By Brendan

February 18, 2008 9:39 PM | Link to this

Kracker, what if the ASG/DW views this situation as … “Well, we’ll get the ‘reclaimed cap space,’ which is enough to get Patrick Marleau in an offseason trade. Remember, San Jose has until July 1, 2008 to trade Marleau before his ‘no trade clause’ kicks in. Although, if I were Marleau’s agent, I’d argue that the “spirit” of the contract renewal was predicated on Marleau not being traded. I doubt he could get the contract nullified, citing the Sharks didn’t negotiate in “Good Faith.” As it is, I’m not sure Marleau could still fetch $6.1 million.

That said, wasn’t Hossa’s “cap hit” EXACTLY $6.0 million? DW could make the argument that he replaced Hossa with Marleau, for LESS MONEY. It is presumed that Hossa will fetch $8.0 million out on the open market. Marleau at $6 million starts to look a little bit better at that point, and Marleau (2nd overall draft pick, 1997,) is a year younger than Hossa.

By HookyBob

February 18, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this

Whoops hit the post button too soon.

The last sentence of my previous post was to be: Might the Wings have an interest in Zhit or Klee?

By Rawhide

February 18, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this

Kracker - Yup,…I’m watching this Red Wing beat-down of the Avs.

Brendan - I watched that game this afternoon…throwing stuff at the TV!! &%$#-IT!!! However, the goal by Mike Comrie that tied the game was unbelievable…passing the puck to himself through the defender’s legs…then going 5-hole on DiPietro.

Other Bob - Don’t feed the trolls…obviously someone else too small to simply root for his own team and feels the need to compensate for some “short-coming” in his life…

J(Z), Five_Hole, HookyBob & RStroz - Yes the B2B games suck…but these are the cards dealt us…just gotta suck it up and play….

By Brendan

February 18, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this

Rawhide, Comrie’s goal was beautiful. Basically, all the Isles goals were decent. I just can’t believe SJ let it happen. Teams shouldn’t blow 2-goal leads in the third period and come away “empty-handed.”

By kracker

February 18, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this

Brendan People smarter and closer to the situations need to make the call on Marleau, there are too many variables like why is he not playing well this year, is he injured, will he sulk if he’s traded here, is he a life-long West Coaster (shouldn’t matter but it might), if Savard wasn’t worth $5M is Marleau worth $6M? Marleau and what else comes along, is it multiple players and picks each way, on and on… I assume we get all relavent doctors reports, etc. and can examine him prior to committing to a deal, is that correct?

Anyway, I just sit back and watch what happens, it’s DWs job. He just has to get it right cause everybody’s watching on this one.

By kracker

February 18, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this

HookyBob Zhit and Klee to Wings? Maybe in a package deal with Hossa? Do we go with Popo and Valabik? Get Hnidy back? I don’t know…

By Brendan

February 18, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this

The players should pass a physical. But do “passing physicals” always equal “a clean bill of health?”

I hate to even mention this … but the very 1st-ever Thrashers signing was goaltender Damian Rhodes, who we got from Ottawa. Was Rhodes “injured?” No. Did he pass a physical? Yes. Yet, he wound up playing only 81 games for us over 3-years time. Did Ottawa know or suspect there were health problems? We’ll never know. Officially, they’ll deny everything. “He passed a physical, didn’t he?,” is what they’d say. And yet, when DW tried to “buy out” the final year of Rhodes’ contract, Rhodes went to a SE division rival, the Florida Panthers, and got their medical staff to agree that he didn’t pass a physical. Technically, under the terms of the old CBA, no player, while injured, can be bought out. I thought it was funny that Rhodes was “well enough” to practice and skate with the Panthers, but couldn’t pass a physical?? Bygones.

But you’re right, Kracker. People closer to that situation, and whose job it is to know about such matters, should step up and do their jobs. I think Marleau would do “okay” here. But once again, we’re bringing in a player who didn’t chose to be here. When Marleau signed his deal, it was to play in San Jose. As a professional, he’s got to honor the contract he signed. If he sulks, that’s a shame. If I were a center, I’d sure want Ilya Kovalchuk on my line. I’m gonna hit ALLLL my stats.

Finally, with Savard, I’ve heard things that I don’t really know are true. Specifically, that Marc was going through a divorce with his wife and that he wanted to play someplace closer to Ontario, where his kids would be. Allegedly, supposedly, he wanted to play for the Leafs or the Rangers. When the Bruins came calling, I guess he felt that was “close enough.” Well, if even a word of that is true, Savard could have approached Waddell about a trade at any point during the years, including the offseason, to let Waddell try to maximize the “return” for Savvy. Instead, we kept him all the way through the conclusion of the season, and missed the playoffs by 2-points in 2006. Savard walked in the offseason, for nothing. I understand why Waddell did it. He thought Savard represented Atlanta’s best chance at making the playoffs. He gambled … and lost. But not by much.

By Nikita

February 18, 2008 11:38 PM | Link to this

Well, Rucchin passed a physical. Just sayin’…

By chrisf

February 19, 2008 12:13 AM | Link to this

Puh-leeeze don’t give up Hoss for flakey players like Ryder or Marleau. Even if packaged with draft picks, neither one of these duds will have anything like a “Tkachuk effect” down the stretch.

The void left by Hossa would be apparent every time one of these clowns goes into the corner and (a) can’t fend off the D with one arm and (b) lose the puck from their other (stick) arm.

Chicken-and-Egg dilema: The best way the Thrash can prove to Hossa that they are a potential contender is to retain the services of Marian Hossa. I don’t think this would tick him off enough for him to cross the ATL off of his shopping list this summer.

It’s hard to believe that Hoss only came to us just before the “new NHL” started but he’s put up comparable numbers for most of his seven years in Ottawa, which would seem an even more-appealing Summer destination following the Sens’ Cup Final appearance coupled with the relative strength of the Canadian dollar.

By ranallo10

February 19, 2008 1:36 AM | Link to this

I wish my team was cool enough so that I could troll around on other teams’ blogs and post like a retarded 8th grader on Spring Break.

RH — Is it racist to dislike French Canadians because they sound funny and overuse the words “uh”, “eh”, and “like” when speaking English? I don’t want to be known as a racist…

By Keith Tkachuk

February 19, 2008 4:02 AM | Link to this

Suckers.

By Rawhide

February 19, 2008 6:39 AM | Link to this

ranallo - In today’s hyper-sensitive PC world, one can never be too sure…but I would guess No, it’s isn’t “racist” to do so…merely oservant of the facts.

However, to call such a troll “retarded” is unfair…to the mentally challenged in our population. They are, dear children of God who deserve our love and affection.

“Trolls” like who you’re referring to on the other hand….

By drew

February 19, 2008 7:04 AM | Link to this

after some late night reading on tsn.ca’s trade centre page, i think our best return for hossa would be a trade w/anaheim…lots of prospects and ready to go players, plus they have some cap issues. of course, if the wings come calling w/kornwall, filuppa, hudler and a pick..i’d have to listen…my head is about to explode..too much to think about

By Lew318

February 19, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this

I have read the responses here Rawhide and I think your assessment on the pieces of this team are right on. We need to rate Heart, Desire, Discipline. Or stated differently, if we take the pieces you rated and asked how do the Thrashers put these together on any given day; I think the grade would be D- to F.

It’s not that they don’t have the ability and it’s not that they don’t have the heart (in a big game) they don’t have all three on a consistent basis.Without all three, they will not get into the playoffs, nor do they deserve to.

These guys do not play as a team. For whatever reason, they have never been able to develop a meaningful team personality and it shows.

I have already purchased by tickets for next year and will support them the rest of this year, but it’s painfull!!!

By FormerIslesFan

February 19, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

RH Not to call you out or anything on the Comrie goal you described above, but he went five-hole on Nabakov, not DiPietro. I don’t think there would be much celebrating if he put it through the Isles’ goalie’s legs… But, it still was a great goal.

Did anyone see Martinek’s shot that busted the mask of Nabakov and bloodied his face in the SJ/NYI game? Did anyone know he had that hard a shot?!?!

By Rawhide

February 19, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this

FormerIslanderFan - Well, yeah…Nabakov not DiPietro…that would be entirely different, indeed! LOL!! Me have brain fart!

Lew318 - Well put.

By NASCAR Dave

February 19, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

RAWHIDE I got a new KEYBOARD man!

Here are my grades:

Food in the Club Level = A++
Ice Girls = A
Thrashers at crunch time = D
DWAD’s Trades = To be determined

GO THRASHERS!

By R. Stroz

February 19, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

I wonder if the Thrasher season ticket holder increase is the way the ASG plans on financing the Hawk’s acquisition of Mike Bibby and his $14 million/year contract.

By Alan

February 19, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this

It would be what I would expect from ownership, Stroz.

By Rawhide

February 19, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this

Nascar Dave Nice…a new keyboard! Very good! How was the race???

OK, here is something a couple weeks old from Burnside. The reason I point it out is what he said about Holik…the Devils dangled John Madden out there in return for Holik….hind-sight is 20/20 but who wouldn’t take that swap right now?

By Jethro

February 19, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this

NASCAR DAVE - WHAT DID YOU DO WITH OLD KEYBOARD!

By NASCAR Dave

February 19, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this

JETHRO THREW IT ON 285!!! J/K! STRAIGHT TO THE TRASH BROTHER!

RAWHIDE I forgot.. Super Size Beers at GORIN’s = A+ !!!

By J(Z)

February 19, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

kings trade modry to flyers TSN.ca Staff 2/19/2008 2:35:52 PM The Los Angeles Kings have traded defenceman Jaroslav Modry to the Philadelphia Flyers for a third round pick.

Is this the first GM Meetings trade? Dude’s been getting around!

By Tim

February 19, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this

Rawhide, I wouldnt do it. Holik contract end at the end of the season while Madden, who is also overpaid, have another season left on his contract. So I would keep Holik and reinvest once the season is over instead of having to keep Madden Salary for next season. Madden cap hit is almost 3 millions, so I think we can find a better center with the 4 millions Holik freed up.

By Alan

February 19, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this

Dave - You should have thrown it on 285. It would have been a wonderful change from all the traffic reports about ladders in the roadway. Watching cars run over keyboards is both safer for the cars and vastly more entertaining than watching one try to run over a ladder.

By NASCAR Dave

February 19, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this

ALAN GOOD IDEA BROTHER! YOUR A FUNNY DUDE!

p.s. - My dog got p** when I put the Hossa jersey on him last week….Somehow he got it off and went #2 on it! HEE HEE!

Based on that, I feel HOSS IS GONE.

By Midfield

February 19, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this

Perhaps, Waddell should use NASCAR Dave’s dog to make all the roster moves. Some people might even say that it would work just fine by comparison.

By Tony C.

February 19, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this

Think we could get Huselius and prospects+picks for hossa?

GO BLUE !!!

P.S. did Rucchin really say he’s ready to play?

By Brendan

February 19, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this

Tony C., I wouldn’t think Calgary would be willing to part with Huselius just yet. They need ‘im. I don’t doubt that Calgary would give us “substantial” draft pick compensation if we flipped Hossa their way. In a deep draft, I wouldn’t mind Calgary’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round picks, plus a conditional 1st round pick in 2009, if the Flames re-signed him in the offseason.

What? I think we should put “liens” on him, a la Keith Tkachuk. The price has gone up. Sorry. If a team wants to “rent” Hossa that badly, they’ll do it. Plus, such a move makes it appear that we’re still trying to re-sign him during the offseason.

By Capt. Caveman

February 19, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this

yo rawhide

They still letting you do this man.

Don’t they know you suck!!

hahahahahahhaha

BUDDY!!!

By ranallo10

February 19, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this

Seeing that Huselius and Hossa are scoring at the same pace this season (Huselius has 1 pt more in 1 more GP), Huselius is barely younger, and is being paid ~$5M less ($1.4M compared to Hossa’s $7M salary, $6M cap hit) for the same production…

I don’t think Waddell could make that trade work for Calgary’s liking.

By Rawhide

February 19, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this

Tim - Points taken…but I would repectfully disagree.

Again, I’m looking in the clarity of hind-sight…but, if we were given a Mulligan….I would make that deal right now.

Madden’s 15g, 19a, +5 w/ 19:15 TOI…he would have definately address our #1 center problem.

White as a #2, Perrin as a #3…they are much better suited there.

Again…wouldas and shouldas….

Caveman - Yup…every morning I wake up with one mission in mind…”How do I fool the guys at the AJC again”?

And every morning I do…

By NASCAR Dave

February 19, 2008 6:08 PM | Link to this

RAWHIDE MANDY SUTTON out 4 to 6 WEEKS……. on TSN!!!

(http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=230035&hubname=nhl)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

By NASCAR Dave

February 19, 2008 6:12 PM | Link to this

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=230035&hubname=nhl

SORRY BOUT THAT!!!!

By raindawg722

February 19, 2008 9:21 PM | Link to this

I am not sure if this has been said here, but I think that DW can buy himself another year or two if he trades Hossa for a combination of picks and prospects. He can sell that trade to the owners as the best thing to do in the interest of the team for the long haul. DW could tell the owners, “Look, if I were only out for my own interests, only trying to cover myself, I could hold on to Hossa for a playoff run knowing that he would walk at the end of the year, and the team would get nothing in return. However, I want to do what is in the best interest of the organization over the long haul by trading Hossa for picks and prospects, but you [the owners] have to be willing to accept that our chances of making the playoffs this year without Hossa are pretty slim.”

I am not saying that is what DW will do. I am saying that if he did get the owners blessing to trade Hossa for prospects and picks, it would be difficult for them to turn around and fire him when the Thrashers don’t make the playoffs.

By Rawhide

February 19, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this

Stupid, STUPID, STUPID BRUINS!!!

&%$#@!-IT!!!! IDIOTS!!

You blew a 2-0 lead on Carolina with 1:03 left giving up two goals in, what was it…20 FRICKIN’ SECONDS?

throwing crap at TV

By Thrasherbob

February 19, 2008 10:09 PM | Link to this

RW Remember that’s 1 point out of a potential 4 since last Saturday’s debacle…..It could have been worse.

Let’s Go Thrashers!!

By Rawhide

February 19, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this

groan - One point too many! But at least Boston took the other point in the SO.

Oh, did ya like the way Florida choked on a 2-0 lead in the third to lose to Pittsburgh??? Very nice!

Feeling better.

By Thrasherbob

February 19, 2008 10:39 PM | Link to this

RH Indeed.

By Tim

February 20, 2008 12:52 AM | Link to this

And did you see how Ranger choke also against Montreal? Rangers are not that far ahead of us neither :)

By Brendan

February 20, 2008 2:06 AM | Link to this

Tim, the Rangers keep hovering around 6th spot. If they manage to stay there, then they’ll draw the SE division champion.

Rawhide, it was a bag of “mixed blessings” tonight, with Florida losing to Pittsburgh in regulation time. The Bruins, I don’t know man, they might just squeak into the playoffs. They’re a “bubble” team. But there’s no way they should have let Carolina get this thing to OT.

raindawg722, good to see you posting again. I would think, at this point, one of two things is running through the ASG’s mind. Unfortunately, I couldn’t RIGHTLY tell you which scenario is more TRUE or LIKELY, but here goes.

(1) The ASG has already decided to make a change at the GM position, regardless of the outcome of this season (possibly at the suggestion of Marian Hossa, who has met with them directly, to discuss the obstacles to his re-signing here). (2) The ASG is “delighted” with Don Waddell’s efforts, and wouldn’t DREAM of firing him, with or without playoffs. So, any idea of “buying more time” is completely out the window in this scenario. And really, if after eight nearly completed seasons, an owner is still uncertain about a GM, then they’re utterly clueless. Haven’t they seen “enough?” One way or the other?

Which leads us to “Door #3.” The owners don’t have a handle on the situation. On the one hand, they handcuff Don Waddell with an “Opening Night” budget $8 million under the cap. And on the other hand, they ask Waddell to be “Helen Keller,” and work some “miracles” to get the Thrashers into the playoffs.

I can’t think of too many GM’s who would want this scenario, can you? Get us into the playoffs, but on a “shoe string” budget. Folks, this is the “effect” of the Belkin lawsuit. The ASG is required to maintain the value of the franchise so that, if Mr. Belkin wins, that he isn’t inheriting, at cost, “devalued” franchises. Also, if Belkin will eventually AGREE to being bought out, he must not be “cheated” out of his portion of the CORRECT and PROPER VALUE of the franchises he invested in. Yes, this is why Forbes Magazine thinks Don Waddell hung the moon, ranking him 6th-best GM in ALL sports. He adheres to tight budgets while still making “incremental progress.”

And we fans are left there thinking, “Why doesn’t our ownership want to WIN the Cup?” That is, AFTER ALL, what they promised to try to do on “Opening Night’s” banner hanging ceremony. Ummn, does it LOOK like they’re trying to the win the Stanley Cup? Or, does it look like they’re trying to outlast this lawsuit? I’d say, “It’s the latter.” Serious potential DAMAGE can be done if this team tries to “mortgage the future” for ONE (1) playoff win. And I think everyone knows that. Even these ‘in over their head’ owners.

By raindawg722

February 20, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this

Brendan, thanks for noticing that I was gone. Incidentally, one of the reasons that I do not post that often is that my schedule does not afford me the risk of getting into an extended conversation with the likes of yourself. As always, your points are well taken. The “outlast” the lawsuit angle is something that I had not considered. It sounds ominous, though.

By Brendan

February 20, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

No problem. I don’t want to get anyone “fired.” This blog is for “fun.”