AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > April > 06 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.US‘07-‘08 Post Mortem Pt. 3 of 3
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Again we find Rawhide in the morgue…he has retrieved the remains of “’07-’08 Corpus Thrashers” from the cooler and begins the final discussion of its demise.
Finally, we come to the root cause of what went wrong with this past season. Previously we explored some symptoms…but today, we deal with the source.
It stems forth from the office of the general manager.
Now, I first have to point out that Waddell is, for as much as I can tell, a very nice, personable guy. Most people who I talk to who know Don… like him. The two times I’ve met him he has been very cordial to me. So this isn’t a personal thing. But the fact of the matter is that with positions of responsibility comes accountability. Ask Bob Hartley.
But when you dig around in this cold body that was this past Thrashers season, you will find that everything leads back to one place, the GM’s office.
Who was responsible for the players that were put on the ice? Waddell.
Who did not adequately address the blueline and #1 center positions last summer? Waddell.
Who put the “smaller”, “faster” product on the ice? Waddell.
Who decide to fire Bob Hartley six games in? Waddell.
Who talked ownership into allowing him to stay behind the bench instead of hiring a new head coach, (as Bruce Levinson has confirmed)? Waddell.
Who was not able to convince Marian Hossa that the organ-I-zation was committed to winning and making strides in that direction? Waddell.
Who is it that cannot seem to attract big-name defensive players to Atlanta? Waddell.
Who has been the one constant in the 10-year history of a franchise who has seen it’s team outscored by opponents seven out of nine seasons, with one playoff appearance and yet to win it’s first playoff game? Yes, Don Waddell.
You get the picture.
This is not even to say that everything Don Waddell has done has been bad. I thought he handled the Danny Heatley as well as could be expected given the situation and the moves he made prior to last year’s trade deadline helped propel Atlanta to the post-season, (although we seemed to have paid that piper this season).
Last February, I had voiced concern regarding the deal that sent Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to Pittsburgh in return for two forwards, a center in the juniors and a draft pick. Now, looking at it without the fog of playoff possibilities, I think we did pretty well, (and Waddell does deserve credit in that aspect). But what I questioned at the time was why, when we possessed the player held in highest regard for trading, why did the GM not move to get help where it was desperately needed in return? How could Don Waddell tell us that this team was still poised for a run at post-season with the defensive corps we had assembled? Made no sense at the time.
But what caused me to scratch my head more than that was all the comments implying that trading for a…say, Brian Campbell…was a bad idea because he would only be a rental player and we would see him walk this summer, thus we would lose Hossa for nothing.
I thought to myself…”What the…”?
However, in retrospect, that very thought process was dead on the money. I mean, if you are Brian Campbell, or any other top UFA defender, and you’re looking at $7-8 million in Atlanta or the same amount in, I dunno, Montreal or San Jose or New York or Calgary….where you gonna go?
And if indeed the answer is not Atlanta…then isn’t that the most damning piece of evidence regarding what the problem is and where it emanates?
Certainly the problem isn’t the city. Atlanta is one of the premier markets and one of the greatest places to live. The issue isn’t the location…it’s the organ-I-zation.
And who has been in the one person in position to shape the perceived status of said organ-I-zation since its inception?
That’s right…Don Waddell.
Now, unlike the second part of this post mortem, I think most people share my observations the Don Waddel should be dismissed as GM. But the one group of people who can make the change that so many feel are necessary are those in the Atlanta Spirit Group. And if you take Bruce Levenson’s word for it…that change will not be forthcoming.
This is a scary proposition. For if he does give Waddell another season, what gives anyone the faith that anything will be different? Because the next time he places the primary focus on defense as the foundation from which to build a winning franchise…it will be the first time!
This team faces the prospect of “rebuilding” for the future. Every franchise does that, is the nature of the business. However in most instances the rebuilding comes after a prolonged run of success. The Thrasher will enter it’s second decade of existence needing to “rebuild”…and the run of success it can point to is… being swept in the first round of last year’s playoffs after barely missing post-season the year before.
And that’s about it.
If Waddell is indeed given the job of rebuilding this team…I fear we will not see a re-birth of the franchise. Rather it will be more like something Dr. Frankenstein would construct…digging up these remains, injecting new, artificial life into it…and we will be here again at the end of another season similar to this and rehashing the same findings in yet another post mortem autopsy.
I hope I’m wrong. Yes, I do hope that my fear of no changes being made in the general manager position is proven incorrect. Moreover, if indeed Don Waddell’s services are retained for another season in that capacity, I hope we are proven wrong and he brings in, finally, a couple of bluliners that will make a major impact for us and I hope he addresses, finally, the #1 center position.
But alas…
zipping up the corps of the ’07-’08 Thrashers season…
We are looking at the remains of his work.
gravediggers come and take the body away for burial
Put this one in the farthest corner of the cemetery. Make sure the hole is deep…10 feet, no…10 miles deep! If you strike bedrock or oil…keep digging. I don’t want this ever coming back to haunt us again.
Services »
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Sage of Bluesland
April 6, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
Yep—all of the laughable roads in the figurative joke otherwise known as “Blueland” lead to one true CAUSE of the problem.
Some silly person suggested we should actually go to the game to “protest”! Ridiculous. I guess basic economics isn’t taught in public schools around here? The ASG will laugh all the way to the bank with that asinine suggestion!
Nope, the ‘fans’ should simply boycott the product—as that is the ONLY surefire way to get the attention of an uncaring management—and finally effect change for the betterment of the organization.
(And before the lambchops suggest that the team could be moved—GASP!—if such a course were taken…If management chooses this course, then they are NOT worth having in the first place) Adios!
Stop subsidizing the incompetence…Stop being part of the problem and START becoming part of the solution!
It’s really not that difficult to grasp…It hasn’t been difficult, either, to see what the real problem with this ‘team’ has been for about six years now…
By Sara
April 6, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
Well, this one was definitely a stinker of a season no question about it. As for the root of all evil…
Waddell is the one who put this roster together.
I do not think there can be any certainty that it is Don’s 100% fault that a number one center or better defensemen were not brought in. I have never bought Levenson’s attempt to deflect the cap issue. I 100% believe the owners made a concious decision to cut payroll this year and that left Waddell little room to bring in top talent.
Waddell did make a decision to try a smaller, faster approach to the game which a) did not mesh with Hartley’s coaching style and b) may not have meshed with any coach’s style. However, it only took him one year to realize that was the wrong thing. If there is one thing I don’t think anyone ever gives Waddell credit for, it’s learning from his mistakes. And every person and every GM makes them.
I still think firing Bob was the right thing, simply because things went wrong long before this season. Arguing that things couldn’t have been any worse had we kept Hartley does not somehow negate the correctness of that decision.
Again, Levenson to me is not a sufficient source for anything and I do not believe Don wanted to stay behind the bench all year. I mean honestly - why would anyone want that? This ownership was too cheap to want to pay for another coach, plain and simple. And I think an argument can still be made that the best coaching search comes when more candidates are available…which is basically now.
As for the Hossa thing…he met with ownership as well as Don and neither was able to “make an impression” as it were. I’m not sure what went wrong there but I will grant you it is very disturbing. As disturbing as the fact we have lots of trouble getting high-profile players to come here as UFAs. I do not think that could all be lain at Don’s door either. I think it’s also a matter of the fact that we are unproven as contenders (arguably a partial function of Waddell), the fact we are in the Southeast (doesn’t have the appeal of a Detroit or Canadian team for sure), and the fact that we don’t seem to pay for big name talent either (completely the fault of the last two ownership groups IMO).
As for the last point, well that is an obvious fact.
I don’t blame Don nearly as much as many others on these boards. I firmly believe you have to take a broader view than some of you are willing to do. Playing 20/20 hindsight is horsecrap, as is taking out of consideration other mitigating factors. It doesn’t mean I agree with everything Don does/has done. Nor do I think this is going to be an easy situation to fix but ultimately ownership is going to have to make changes in more than just front office personnel for anything to change.
I am neutral at this point to whether Waddell stays or goes. Because I guess to me it doesn’t really matter due to ownership malfunctions. One thing I would like to see this off-season (sooner rather than later) is for Craig to contact some players around the league, on promise of anonymity, and find out what the general concensus is about this organization and why players seem disinclined to want to come play here. Market research as it were. Pass that along would ya, Rawhide. ;)
By PJ
April 6, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this
Well said Rawhide. And Thanks Brendan for you post game report.
By Random fan
April 6, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this
I am in complete agreement with this idea. Matter of fact, I have had these thoughts for a few seasons. I was of the thinking that the best time to have made the change would have been coming out of the strike season - nice transition time to me.
The really funny thing is that there is a world of die-hard Waddellists on the nastynest site. Don’t understand it. And frequently I get into extended disagreements with them. These are some of the most opinionated fans I have ever had the displeasure to chat with. As long as one agrees with them all is good. Don’t disagree with them though. You are liable to have a lynch mob after you.
It’s nice to know there is a modicum of reality and sanity out here somewhere. Here’s hoping the offseason brings a resolution to ownership issues, a new GM, a new coach, and better depth on the team.
By LAC
April 6, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this
Excellent Rawhide, you summed it up as well as it could possibly have been.
I just hope that these group of “owners”, who look DUMMER every day waddell stays read this and act once and for all, after all, firing a person is not a sign of weakness, but one that you see a problem and are addressing it to make things better… and we have to be better.
I just hope there are a lot of buyouts and trades of most on the roster and clean the slide and act like a pro team not a cheap resting place for old retreads and ECHL has beens.
By wh
April 6, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this
Malkin for whatever it costs. Please.
By Alan
April 6, 2008 6:13 PM | Link to this
A$G said something in the previous blog, but responding there is fruitless since the party is over here now. So here we go.
THE QUICKEST WAY TO EFFECT CHANGE IS THRU THE POCKET BOOK.
Washington disproved this earlier this year, if you were paying attention.
Let’s take a flashback, shall we?
A handful of disgruntled Capitals fans in the announced crowd of 11,669 began booing in the second period, but that sentiment grew in strength by the third, when full-throated jeers were joined by chants urging the team to “Fire Hanlon!”
11,669 is 62.5% of capacity in Washington. Sure, it’s not a lot of people. But you could hear the chants on TV. Loud and clear.
The fans of the Washington Capitals have proven that you can spend money and still get what you want. This was plainly evident, if anyone bothered to watch the damn game. If the owners saw this kind of reaction from us, then maybe they would do something about it. But very few of us could be so bold, while the rest bloviated, whined, and typed in bold capital letters.
By bob (other)
April 6, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
DW is not going anywhere. He is staying and will bring in free agents based on negotiations and economic parameters in a competitive marketplace. In fact, SO MANY, fans are upset that 15,800 per game vote to support the franchise, greater than 8 other teams. I see about 25 or 30 consistent bloggers here, so although discontented and representative, certainly not a majority.
Sara ‘s copmments were rational. Keep in mind that many teams have larger arenas and higher average ticket prices, even when in many years the “product” hasn’t been so good. This puts us at an economic disadvantage. Our break even is somewhere in the $35M-$38M range, thus even with shared league revenue, we lose money. The playoffs are the difference maker as is the case with about half of the league franchises. How many of you “owners” would be willing to lose $15M if the cap was maxed out, while at the same time not be guaranteed and significant increase in performance. Ultimately it is up to players to be accountable for their contracts. For this past season, Hossa, Kozlov, Zhitnik, Holik, Exelby, etc DID NOT PERFORM TO THEIR CONTRACTS. That is not the GMs or OWNERSHIPS FAULT, but rather those players.Every team is in the same situation, star players, must perform. It is a reality of a parity league due to a still evolving cap environment. In the east, 4 teams that were in last year are out, us being one of them. Pretty standard stuff in the cap era.
Support the team if you want to, I choose to do so, by renewed STH and thinking positive about our future. We are going to be a good team next year and have resources available to do so. For all of you panicking about Kovy, we cannot offer anything until 7/1/09 and as for other teams, who will have enough room for an Ovechkin type contact? Only a few and we’ll be one of them.
Be rational. I am as disappointed as anyone over this past season, but negative thinking will never correct anything.
By polskidawg
April 6, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this
Rawhide – excellent summation of DW’s tenure, and I can’t disagreed with any of your points. However, I think you failed to mention one vital aspect of the franchise’s history – it’s putrid efforts in drafting and developing homegrown talent.
The problem of having DW organize the “rebuild” is that he is responsible for that failure and isn’t likely to dramatically improve. Furthermore, the team doesn’t need to sign a bunch of UFAs to long-term deals in an effort to plug the holes and hamstring the organization even more so.
What do Detroit. Anaheim, San Jose, Buffalo and Pittsburgh have in common, besides being in the playoffs (not Buffalo – top 4 next year.)??
They build through the draft and augment through trades and the occasional UFA.
Let’s get a GM who does the same.
(I apologize for the use of the word “augment” if it offends any of our female bloggers)
By FWG
April 6, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this
Right on the money with your comments!!
By A$G
April 6, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this
Waddell is the number one problem. The A$G are a very close second. As the other Bob points out (and this is my point Alan): we averaged 15,800 a game this year. So next year lets assume that drops to 14,000. I think the A$G’s plan is to keep payroll very low and lose the 2,000. They will come out ahead on it if you do the math. Here is my evidence: They have not and will not replace the GM or hire a coach because that would increase payroll. The UFA’s that are up this summer will not be resigned. They did not address the D or the center problem because that would cost money. Every move seems to about cutting expenses not building a winning team. So I believe they will take the small hit on lost ticket revenue and more than make up for it with payroll. Here is how we all will know for sure. If this summer they spend less than they saved by dropping Hossa and the other UFA’S and they keep Waddell as GM. I would bet the ranch that is what will happen. They will then tell the fans “we are rebuilding with young players and draft picks”. My guess is they want to keep payroll as low as possible until their lawsuit is settled.
By Alan
April 6, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this
Be rational. I am as disappointed as anyone over this past season, but negative thinking will never correct anything.
Indeed. I’m looking forward to the offseason, and hope to see this team move in the right direction.
By NASCAR Dave
April 6, 2008 9:28 PM | Link to this
Well, well, well! Brother RAWHIDE has hit the jackpot once again!
EVERY single problem on this team is directly ATTRIBUTED to Don Waddell! This guy MUST GO! This is completely UNACCEPTABLE!
Will they fire him BEFORE the lottery tomorrow night? How about let him (DW) SEE the pick WE get, THEN FIRE HIS A$$??? Sounds good to me!!!
DON WADDELL is NOW DONE WADDELL… GOOD RIDDANCE!
With Waddell around, we”ll NEVER be ANYTHING MORE than a mediocre playoff threat at best.
YEAR AFTER YEAR, he FAILS at drafting, signing free agents, addressing needs, building rosters, TRADING… the list goes ON and ON!
The writing is on the walls people! ALL of our STAR-PLAYERS WANT to walk because they don’t Believe in Blueland! This is Waddell’s fault! We CANNOT allow Don Waddell to make this year’s draft selections! He has HAD his CHANCE!
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Kovy said it, now the damn ASG NEEDS to STEP UP and do WHAT’S right! FIRE WADDELL!
The New GM can come right in, CUT PAYROLL, lock up our youngsters, and build an NHL ROSTER… something Don Waddell proves year after year, he in COMPLETELY INCAPABLE of doing.
FIRE WADDELL!
NUFF SAID.
By LAC
April 6, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this
Right NASCARDAVE, You scored a hat trick with this comment !!!!!!!!!!
By Old Time Hockey
April 6, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this
I’m not a regular poster, but I do see some wisdom in Sara’s comments. The biggest factor in the team’s demise is that ownership has been trying to run the team at a discount rate. Who (other than the owners and Waddell) really knows what financial restrictions they put on the GM? It always seemed to me that they were trying to put together a discount team for most of the season, with the option of spending more money if they happened to be close to playoff position at the trade deadline. However, I also can’t really disagree with those who want to hold Waddell accountable.
In my view the team is now in quite a pickle. Our talent pool in the NHL and minors is way too shallow. We have only two real front line assets (Kovy and Kari), and they have both voiced major frustration with the direction of the team. We have little value to trade for our real needs—some front line forwards and defensemen. Our chances of landing UFA’s also appears to be poor. Most of the playoff teams are eight or nine forwards deep, and many possess one or two all star caliber defensemen. In contrast, if we lose our UFA’s we will have two forwards who are skilled enough to play on lines 1 or 2 (Kovy and Kozlov), and Kozy is getting to the point in his career when he will need to be with top flight linemates to be able to put up decent numbers.
The bottom line is not despair, but the ownership and the GM really need to have a great summer. Somehow we need to land at least three (four would be better) forward who can play on the top two lines. We also need to completely revamp our defensive corps, and acquire at least one defenseman who is better than anyone we have now. We may be able to get one of these players thru the draft. But we really need to pull out all the stops this summer to get some talent!
By A$G
April 6, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this
Old Time Hockey…you are 100% correct. The question is how can we do all said in your last paragraph at a discount? The $ in A$G is a play on the di$count hockey we get at blueland. We will soon know if ownership is going to build a good team or stay with discount hockey. Unfortunately I believe their is one other person who knows the answer besides the owners and Waddell. Mr. Hossa!
By LAC
April 6, 2008 10:26 PM | Link to this
Well if you read Kovy’s comments, don waddell does not listen to the players who KNOW what they need to work.
Can you imagine a pilot needing 3 engines for take off because he is tried of flying at tree top level because his boss will only let him have 2 engines… STUPID !!!!
That word alone describes don waddell, the man is afraid of sucess and lothes failure.
Unless we RID ourselves of dead weight, larsen/slater/klee/white/zit we are going to be doing this all over again come next season and then what ?
Just what does it take for these IDIOT owners to act ? They act so stuck up it is sick to watch, then when they TRY to address the problems, the look more like fools !
don waddell is simply NOT an NHL GM, I doubt he would be decent at roller hockey either.
Too many people on these blogs tell it like it is, esp Sage/NASCARDAVE Rawhide/Brenden and the list goes on and on…
These low-life owners need to look no further than Washington, they made a change and WON, We need to do the same and we will WIN… But as long as don waddell is GM nothing will appen because he does not have the GUTS to make the proper changes we need.
But MOST alarming is his talk of slater/white/klee coming back next season… NO NO NO NO NO NO NO !
Buy them OUT and move forward, they are LOSERS and we do not need them anymore, they proved they are NOT NHL Players and to bring them back would tell everyone we are LOSERS with NO desire to WIN !!!!
Wake up YOU STUPID OWNERS
By Sage of Bluesland
April 6, 2008 10:26 PM | Link to this
“DW is not going anywhere. He is staying and will bring in free agents based on negotiations and economic parameters in a competitive marketplace….”
I thought it went without saying, but I’ll go ahead and say it: Legitimate teams are not built through free agency. They are built through the draft, pure and simple.
How anyone can blame ownership for the utter FAILURE of this organization—headed by Don Waddell—for the draft picks squandered, I’ll never know—well, that is until I remind myself that you cannot make sheep drink the water you’ve led them to…
For those who cannot see the obvious, go back to talking about what you like about Kari’s face-mask artwork, who has the best ‘hair’ on the team, and how only a couple of real hits in the free-agent market will make us Stanley Cup contenders…
It’s really quite laughable—and predictable, too…Finally, however, I would like to add that if Don Waddell doesn’t go anywhere [i.e. get duly and justly fired for his near decade-long run of incompetence], then the Thrashers will NEVER go anywhere; we’ll lose Kovy (read the latest article and try to SPIN that, sheepsters!); and we’ll continue to be league laughingstocks…
Hey, if that’s what YOU want, then—by all means—continue to subsidize the incompetence…YOU will deserve what YOU get—but just don’t be a hypocrite and complain…Just be sure to remember to apologize to Sage, Bob, LAC, and Dave…
By LAC
April 6, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this
Why can this lawsuit not be resolved?
Is THAT the one big issue preventing this team from spending $ ?
You hear nothing on it, I thought is was dismissed… Gee Why has this been going on for what 5 years ?, another PLAN ??????????????
By crazy hockey fan
April 6, 2008 11:07 PM | Link to this
If we do not fire waddel and hire some good players the only way the thrashers are ever going to win the cup is if they win it on the xbox or playstation.
By 12345
April 6, 2008 11:13 PM | Link to this
Order of finish in NHL.
DETROIT. SAN JOSE. MONTREAL. PITTSBURGH. ANAHEIM. NEW JERSEY.
MINNESOTA. DALLAS. N.Y.RANGERS. COLORADO. PHILADELPHIA. OTTAWA.
WASHINGTON CALGARY. BOSTON. NASHVILLE. CAROLINA. BUFFALO.
EDMONTON. CHICAGO. VANCOUVER. FLORIDA. TORONTO. PHOENIX.
COLUMBUS. N.Y.ISLANDERS. ST.LOUIS. ATLANTA. L.A. TAMPA.
We are in the depths of the NHL, I see no hope for the future as the ownership will not make the changes that must be made.
We are stuck and until new GM & Ownership we will never be a playoff team !
By A$G
April 6, 2008 11:49 PM | Link to this
But if the playoffs continue to elude Waddell and the Thrashers, it could ultimately mean Kovalchuk’s exit. And his pursuit to become the best Russian ever might be realized in another city.
TO ALL FANS THAT CONTINUE TO BUY TICKETS AND SUPPORT THIS ABSOLUTE JOKE OF A FRANCHISE……..you being complacent allows the owner’s to be complacent which allows the GM to be complacent.
If Kovalchuk says enough is enough why won’t you???????????????? They are paying him as they were Hossa alot of money to show up at blueland. If these guys don’t want anything to do with an organization that is willing to pay them huge sums of money pays why do you? Wake up. Smell the coffee. IF YOUR ARE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION YOU BECOME PART OF THE PROBLEM! IF YOU CONTINUE TO BUY TICKETS WHY SHOULD THEY CHANGE? If you asked Kovy (assuming he could answe honestly) if he would buy season tickets from this organization what do you think his answer would be. It would be the same response he will give them in two years from now and the same response Hossa gave them two months ago.
By BigBill
April 7, 2008 1:50 AM | Link to this
Very Sad to see our only post season appearence will be monday night for the lottery drawing…
Reason enough to put an End to the Don Waddell circus once and for all !
By Tony C.
April 7, 2008 3:50 AM | Link to this
Dude.
Again We tried a “Fi-re Wad-dell” chant. I think that only one other guy joined in (R.Stroz maybe-you sit in 215 right?).
But hey, who knows, things can change pretty quickly…and maybe the powers that be will be able to effect positive change.
GO BLUE !!!
By WTCG - 17
April 7, 2008 5:43 AM | Link to this
TSN REPORTING WADDELL FIRED !!!!!!!!
TSN REPORTING WADDELL FIRED !!!!!!!!
TSN REPORTING WADDELL FIRED !!!!!!!!
By tbone
April 7, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this
Don’t know if any of you people heard Darren Eliot after the game Saturday night but he said we had most of our team signed for next year and there would be few new faces on the team. If that is true then we’re doomed before we start. If Waddell is in the house then I’m staying in mine.
By RegDunlap
April 7, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this
Who put the fizzies in the fountains? Waddell
Who delivered the cadavers to the Alumni luncheon? Waddell
Every spring the trees are littered with panties.
Every fall the toilets explode.
(Animal House to the best of my memories)
We are the Delta House of the NHL!
By Alan
April 7, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
WTCG - Got a link? Nothing on TSN’s front page, and Google News doesn’t say anything either.
By atldave
April 7, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
Below is a list of the Thrashers UFAs and RFAs.
UFAs: Milan Bartovic, Eric Boulton, Fred Brathwaite, Kevin Doell, Darren Haydar, Johan Hedberg, Bobby Holik, Jason Krog, Joel Kwiatkowski, Steve Mccarthy, Karel Pilar, Mark Popovic, Steve Rucchin, Jesse Schultz
RFAs: Joseph Crabb, Guillaume Desbiens, Kari Lehtonen, Nathan Oystrick, Brett Sterling
How do we trade the rest of the deadwood? If we cut them it impacts our cap space. The ASG won’t pay for players we cut. How truly can we expect the team to improve next season with the lack of ability to get rid of our existing deadwood.
By NASCAR Dave
April 7, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
Come on ASG - BE REAL MEN!!! Cut this clown Don Waddell NOW!!!
This was the year HE WAS EXPOSED for his LACK OF ABILITIES!
We the THRASHER FANS want to WIN, and we want TO WIN NOW! We are READY to move forward WITHOUT DON WADDELL!
Come on ASG, PLEASE make Don Waddell = DONE WADDELL!!!
NUFF SAID.
By R. Stroz
April 7, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this
Tony C. - Section 216, close.
I tried the Fire Waddell chant several times. I heard a few others; but, we never got it off the ground like the other night against Washington.
By the Operator
April 7, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
Paging Rstroz, paging Rstroz, please check you email.
By the Operator
April 7, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
Paging Rstroz, paging Rstroz, please check you email.
By PJ
April 7, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this
Amens Please…..
Oh Heavenly Father, we know the Thrashers have not always displayed a steadiness of faith, for reasons we may never know, yet they are yours to gift as you choose. On this day, we humbly ask for your divine intervention in ensuring the best possible outcome for the Atlanta Thrashers. Please give them the draft pick that will best serve this team next season. We also pray that you purge all the negativity from the entire Atlanta Spirit Organization by eliminating those who contribute to the demise of Professional Hockey in Atlanta. Please be merciful and make your sacrifices swift and clean so that this team can rebuild on a more solid foundation next season. AMEN!!!
By ThrasherNY
April 7, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
AMEN!
By R. Stroz
April 7, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this
AMEN
AMEN
AMEN
By Nix
April 7, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
AMEN!
By Brendan
April 7, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this
AMEN!
By Alan
April 7, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this
AMEN!
By Rawhide
April 7, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
A-FREAKIN’-MEN!!! Nicely done, PJ!! Thanks!
Oh,….to see the Thrashers logo get pulled tonight for the #1 pick!
Bob (other) - While I respect…and admire…your belief in DW, I cannot say I share your faith in him. Yes, he could bring in the people you say he will this summer…of course, he could have last summer as well.
I’m looking at the history here. If indeed he is retained as GM, and I fear he will be, then I hope your optomism is shown to be correct. I just don’t think it will be.
Also, the critisizm of DW isn’t just coming from a couple dozen who post on this site. Most people who come here never post and I run into several “lurkers” at the games…almost everyone of of them what to see a change. The desire to see a new GM now is voiced by many I sit next to at games…even those who do not know that I run this blog.
Also, take a look at Kovy’s comments from the other night…he isn’t going to just throw Don under the bus, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to read between the lines. He wants a change to be made….serious changes.
Again, I doubt very much that the “fire Waddell” train of thought is the monority opinion.
On this blog…
On other blogs….
In the Thrashers fan-base in general…
I would even venture to guess that it is not the minority opinion in the locker room as well…
But that’s just my take.
By HookyBob
April 7, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this
AAAA…Men! Thanks PJ.
FYI: Lottery is also on Versus,..8:00
By Tony C.
April 7, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this
Amen
R.Stroz-Pretty sure it was you then…we were in 214.
And yeah basically everyone I’ve spoken to @ games since November has been leery at best of retaining Waddell past today. I wouldn’t be surprised if the room felt the same way. I mean WTF is this where our minor-league guys have to watch video of our team in order to “learn” the system…..that’s ridiculous. I’m not saying that you must play the same system as the parent NHL club (although that OBVIOUSLY works-ask Detroit, Colorado etc.), but you should prepare your “future” line-up with more than a couple of hours with an iPod.
By LAC
April 7, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this
We pick THIRD… Tampa gets the kid Stamkos… Just GREAT !
Since waddell is still here, $HIT, he will trade DOWN, for 3-4 round picks… and lose everything, since so many from this team this season WILL be back…WE ARE DOOMED !!!!!!
By BigBill
April 7, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
The Kansas City Blades sound like a resting place for the Thrashers,You will like The Sprint Center, and OH yes there are Bigger Tornadoes in KC !
No chance for this team any longer, it is broken and cannot be fixed, I have quit supporting them and look forward to their leaving…
The ownership could care less about winning, Waddell is the worst GM in pro sports and the players know they cannot win so they give up.
Just think of it… If we let Tampa win those last two games against us, WE would have the first pick, now was that asking too much to tank two worthless games for the #1 pick ?
Tampa gets a LOT better and we are worse for it, like some others said, Waddell will trade down for the sake of the team…
What a complete loser Don Waddell really is, what a shame he is still around WHY ?
By NASCAR Dave
April 7, 2008 9:11 PM | Link to this
See, I TRIED to tell ya! No one ever listens to NASCAR Dave, but they SHOULD, because I was RIGHT!
We were DOOMED from the start of this thanks to “DONE WADDELL”! Now TAMPA gets STAMKOS! DAMN!!!
NOW’s the time to CUT HIM LOOSE! Waddell, the babbling IDIOT! Before he screws up this pick too! Keep him around, and WATCH him PANIC and TRADE away our prospects to try and MOVE UP! We CANNOT let this happen!
We have 3 1st ROUNDERS! We NEED a NEW GM who can come in and USE THESE PICKS WISELY! DWAD will mess this UP!
I love the THRASHERS! I love them TOO MUCH to watch Don Waddell MISMANAGE them AGAIN, and RUN THEM INTO the GROUND! Enough is Enough! END the INCOMPETENCE!!!
New GM will come right in here AND SLASH payroll, just like Dimitroff and the Falcons! No other way around this MESS Don Waddell CREATED ALL BY HIMSELF! New GM will trade away dead weight and acquire MORE PICKS - 1st and 2nd Rounders maybe, 3rd or 4th Rounders, DEFINITELY. Payroll will DECREASE, DRAFT will be UTILIZED PROPERLY, Emphasis will be put on YOUTH and PLAYER DEVELOPMENT, all skills NOW LACKING in the DON WADDELL ADMINISTRATION…
I know The Atlanta Spirit Group is Not THAT DUMB, are they? To ignore the SAD FACTS?
Bye Bye DONNIE! You are “DONE WADDELL”!
NUFF SAID.
By Bob
April 7, 2008 9:57 PM | Link to this
I am severely depressed that this day, April 7, is being put to rest, and we still are stuck with Waddell.
Nothing meaningful will change here until they bring a real GM in here. Most all Thrashers’ fans know this, why don’t the Spirit?
Please, please, please, someone step in and save us, Waddell has been the problem since Day 1.
By A$G
April 7, 2008 11:00 PM | Link to this
The good news is…….we will only have one #1 pick that can’t wait to get away from blueland.
Sheople don’t forget to buy more tickets so you can continue to support this mess!
By R. Stroz
April 8, 2008 12:10 AM | Link to this
Steps for the ASG to get my money next season:
1) Fire Waddell
2) Bring a Top Line Center for Kovy
3) Bring in some top tier d-men
Anything short of this and I’ll be watching from home unless I get free tickets.
By Bob is OUT
April 8, 2008 12:25 AM | Link to this
I’m more than tired of reading about it, and talking about it. I did what most logical STH’s and did NOT renew. I’m quite content with my decision, and will purchase a very nice HDTV and watch real hockey teams on TV. The organization doesn’t care,and now, neither do I. I was in from the beginning, but cannot take being ignored, abused, or taken for granted, any further. Good luck Thrashers, with this front office group, you’ll need it!
By Brendan
April 8, 2008 12:25 AM | Link to this
The draft isn’t until June. There’s still time. But the ASG has to change its mind quickly, or it will be too late to go in another direction by the time of the draft.
And, there is the matter of re-signing or not re-signing free agents like Recchi and Holik that can happen between now and the draft, if left in Waddell’s hands.
PJ, I hate to keep “pestering” you for prayers, but we’ll another one much sooner than I anticipated.
By LAC
April 8, 2008 1:40 AM | Link to this
Well kinda surprised to see TSN having us ranked at NUMBER 30 in the final power rankings of the season.
Hell,we were better than Tampa & L.A. but I guess it simply shows what a JOKE we are in the NHL.
From the owners, to waddell to the players who QUIT this season, we are BAD.
Need to ship Leths to LA along with todd white and a couple others hope to get one of their centers and their #1 pick. Remember we have the Pittsburgh pick too,but it will likely be near the end of round one. Throw that to them get two Dmen and hope they can really HELP !
Then sign Campbell and go after two good teir 1 centers and hope like hell players like slater/larsen/klee/zit/havilid/white are GONE next season, bringing just one of those back would be tragic.
Thendo not even consider holik GOOD-BYE and recchi, just old retreads nothing more… and we have been there and done that… and IT DOES NOT WORK !
Mainly find a REAL NHL GM and get this goofball idiot waddell out of town once and for all !
By Russian
April 8, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
I do not what to say. We got 3-d round pick. Is it good??? is it bad??? Tampa will take muber one. We are going to pick D-man. Everyone who wants to Don Waddell out, PLEASE just stop talking. It is never happend He will be here until Thrasher will be sale to another city. Owners likes him, because he did not ask too much money for build team. Thrasher always have 3 or 4 lines players. We had only Kovy and Hossa are trully First Liners, anobody else checking lines. and price for them around $1.5 mln I follwed Thrasher since 1999 and I never got Season Tickets. I do not need them. I saw 20-25 home games every year to get Free tickets or buy $10. You said, that cheap, I know, but who cares to spend $2000 on Tickets Holder and see completely ugly hockey.
By Adam
April 8, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this
Well today is 4/8 and this ownership is to busy focused on Basketball to think about making any changes in its p** NHL franchise. DW is a yes man and will be here till the team is sold. Until then he will do what ever he can to put a 7th or 8th seed together, while mostly failing at that.
I am done putting so much energy & money into being a fan of this team. Short of a miricle coming in April 09 CenterIce and following the rebuilding BlackHawks along with the Gladiators is in my future. Season tickets for this crap? Yea right, I wont even take free tickets. I’m not spending another dime at Phillips. Last year I went to close to 20 games. This year 5 & next year none (Unless DW is gone)
And to think in the end all the vile puke that came off his keyboard Pucks&Snot was right all along…
F this BS
By Bob
April 8, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
The organization doesn’t care,and now, neither do I. I was in from the beginning, but cannot take being ignored, abused, or taken for granted, any further
This sums up how I feel. And I hate it, I hate not caring anymore. I love hockey, but I hate this feeling, what a waste.
By TG for Center Ice
April 8, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
I am glad we lost first overall. This organization will not be able to hide behind Stamkos hype next year. More holes will be exposed, so ultimately DW will get fired. We’ll win first overall next year for sure.
By A$G
April 8, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this
2: Congrats to Ilya Kovalchuk for speaking up about changes being necessary, because there’s really only two things that may force owners hands here: 1.) The threat of losing another superstar who sees no direction from the front office (see: Marian Hossa); 2.) empty seats. EMPTY SEATS EMPTY SEATS EMPTY SEATS
NOW GO BUY THE TICKETS ALL YOU SHEOPLE BUT DON’T COMPLAIN WHEN YOU GET MORE OF THE SAME.
TICKET BUYERS SUSTAIN THE PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Brendan
April 8, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
Morale is at an all-time low, for the folks who want Waddell gone. I’m thinking about attending the Gladiators playoff games Tuesday and Thursday. Who knows, maybe that’s where my hockey entertainment dollars will go, aside from the absolutely REQUIRED “Center Ice” package.
We should get out and support the Gladiators. Tivo and DVR and VCRs can record the NHL playoff games. You can watch them the next day.
At least, I’d “feel good” about supporting them. I’m at a total loss … as to why I should support the ASG. I mean, how do you ignore 80-percent of all the power rankings rating your team LAST in the league? How do you ignore a 27th place finish? How do you simply “ignore” the Hockey News Power ranking your GM as 28th in the league? How do you make the conscious choice … to ignore no playoff series wins in 10 years. I know. They haven’t even won a playoff game, but I think that’s trivial compared to not winning a playoff series, given the favorable draft position this organization has had since inception. How do you simply “ignore” that one of your STAR PLAYERS refused to re-sign with you because of the direction of the team. And now, the “face of the franchise” is issuing an unconfirmed ultimatum, “fix this team in the offseason, or I’m gone in 2010.”
Two 1st overall picks. Two 2nd overall picks. Two 8th overall picks. And 10th overall pick. And a 12th overall pick. Why aren’t we “loaded for bear?” Why aren’t we one of the youngest teams in the NHL?
But the architect of all this … has allegedly been clandestinely awarded contract extension? I won’t be the slightest bit to surprised to hear that the “very day” the lawsuit is settled, that the ASG announces the sale of the Thrashers. That’s got to be it. What “other” explanation could there be???
By Russian
April 8, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
to Brendan
Bravo! Bravo! Great Speech. I am agree with you for 100%. Perfect. You did not cry to fire Don, you just showed to us how Bad Don Waddell is as GM. Thank you I hope someone from Managment will read this. ;-(
By PJ
April 8, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
Brendan And what pray tell are we calling for now?? I thought the last one was rather all-encompassing. Why don’t we all start a little wager. Who does DW (assuming he’s still GM)take for 3rd pick? It’s a toss up for me between the guy with a broken wrist, the guy with kissing disease or the russian. You?
By Brendan
April 8, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
PJ, we pray for the “courage” of the ASG to make a change at the GM position. We pray for the “testicular fortitude” to gamble on financing a new GM’s vision for this club. That’s the new prayer I’m calling for.
In the June draft, just like I said six months ago, I like Drew Doughty. I’ll no doubt be outshouted. And yes, I’ll admit it’d be BETTER to take Stampkos, if we’d have won the draft lottery. But Doughty is who I was hoping to get all along. This guy is a solid prospect for our blueline.
But, but, but … Brendan, it’ll be YEARS before he’s ready. I’m in it for the longhaul. Seven years from now, we’ll still like Doughty. And we’ll be glad we took him, if we take him. I’m willing to be patient and to rebuild properly this time. I won’t utter a “peep” about finishing LAST, or next to last, again next year, so long as we get Tavares, and a change at the GM position during THIS offseason.
Really, truly … all that’s needed is better decision-making by someone who knows what they’re doing, and the requisite financing that entails from the ASG. Or some other prospective owner. That’s it.
By ranallo10
April 8, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
Brendan — Kovalchuk has so much as admitted that if that’s the course this team takes (rebuilding for the long haul, to hell with this coming season), then he’s out. He wants to win before his contract is extended, not when he’s 30.
I have no problem with a defender being drafted, but I do have issues with it being at the expense of Ilya Kovalchuk. I’d rather Kovalchuk than any of the top 3 defenders…
But, now we’re seemingly stuck picking a defender (I think it’d be silly to pass up on them, even for Filatov). I agree for the long haul it’s best to go after a D-Man like
PJ — Here’s my wager…no matter what defender is taken in the first 10 picks, the defenders who were passed over will be trumpeted as the “shining example of why insert GMs last name) sucks” in 5 years time.
The marginal differences between the three defenders currently will be obvious in hindsight. Just like Phaneuf/Coburn/Sutter, the people who feel like drafts are easy will be saying “a good GM would’ve drafted Doughty over Bogosian” (for example).
I’d put my salary on that wager.
By Brendan
April 8, 2008 6:08 PM | Link to this
I remember when Alexandre Daigle was touted as a “can’t miss” prospect. But sometimes, even the entire NHL Central Scouting gets it wrong. In such situations, I give a “pass” to the GM. Everyone ELSE was wrong, too. It’s hard to know what you’ve got when the league is drafting 18-year olds. But, yet, some do it very well.
What if Gretzky and Lemieux had both been draft eligible in the same year? Who’d be the first to say, “Can’t believe you drafted Gretzky?!” Didn’t the team who drafted Lemieux do pretty well, too? (Most of Lemieux’s career, he averages 2-points a game.)
Right now, Coburn, Phaneuf and R. Suter are all decent acquisitions for their various teams. Phaneuf was just the “fastest” to develop into a star. If Nashville had it all to do over again, I don’t know that they’d change anything. Passing on the “top prospect” along the blueline probably opens up more doors of skepticism than it closes.
By Brendan
April 8, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this
Ranallo, Kovalchuk may have already made up his mind to leave. In 2010, he’ll choose where he wants to play. He will have earned that right. But if, by doing things “right” this time, perhaps under the guidance of a new GM, Kovalchuk likes the direction of the team … TWO YEARS FROM NOW … he’ll change his mind about re-signing in Atlanta. Food for thought.
By Krust
April 8, 2008 8:42 PM | Link to this
Ball Park Atlanta Flames 1972-1980 256 games attended Atlanta Knights 38 x 5 seasons 190 games attended Atlanta Thrashers 8 Seasens x 41 games 328 games attended. Can anyone match these numbers for a real hometown hockey fan. Well that said this team is torcher to watch. Dons got to go. We need new blood. Just plane bad hockey. Our talent level over all is not good. Also it seems the young players we let slip away do well. (Knutz).