AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > April > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USToronto’s A Tough Crowd, Too
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I found this Scott Burnside piece the other day and thought I would toss it into the ring of discussion. What I wish to draw your attention to would be item #4, the part about Pat Quinn and his success with Canada’s Under18 World Championship team. Their 8-0 success leads Burnside to wonder if Quinn’s stock has risen in the eyes of some NHL franchise given this success with the young players.
Well, given that our team is one of those currently accepting applications for a new head coach, lets nose into Mr. Quinn’s resume some, shall we?
Now, most of you already know of the history of one John Brian Patrick Quinn, including his five years as an Atlanta Flame. And most have formed an opinion as whether or not he would be a good fit here. Certainly a man with 19 seasons under his belt as a head coach with 15 trips to the post-season and two appearances in the Cup Finals in that capacity deserves a look…especially one who, if memory serves, seemed to be interested in the job here after it became open last fall.
First off, his success this spring with the U18 squad isn’t his first such internationally. In the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City he coached the Canadian team to their first gold medal since the first term of the Eisenhower administration. Then in 2004 he led Team Canada to victory in the World Cup of Hockey going 6-0 in that campaign.
His most recent NHL coaching gig was in Toronto where he amassed a 300-196-52-26 record in seven seasons. After the 2005-06 campaign he was fired following the one and only time a Quinn-coached Leafs team did not qualify for the post-season. That season the team went 41-33-8 for 90 points…missing the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference by 2 points.
(Trivia question: Who else in the east finished the ‘05-‘06 season with the exact same 41-33-8 record for 90 points)?
So…Quinn compiled 7 winning seasons in as many seasons in Toronto…averaging almost 97 points…twice took Toronto to the conference finals…never finished lower than 90 points…three times with 100 points or better…and the one and only time he fails to make the playoffs… he gets the pink slip.
Wow…and I thought Vancouver was a tough crowd!
Yeah, remember David Nonis being shown the gate a few weeks back after general managing the Canucks to three straight seasons with winning records but only making the post-season once. Horrible…simply horrible! I mean…only one trip to the playoffs in three seasons? I mean, it’s not like it he had a single post-season appearance in…oh… a decade’s worth of work yielding zero post-season wins…but I digress.
Back to the point… Quinn also has experience as a general manager. In Vancouver he held that position from ‘87 to ‘91 before he was able to return to coaching, (he was banned from serving behind the bench during that time by then NHL President John Ziegler). Also, much of his time with Toronto he was both head coach and general manager.
Hmmm, that sounds familiar…so, it CAN be done successfully?
Thus, Pat Quinn’s resume shows years of head coaching experience with success as well as proven results in the front office. And, it seems, he wants to have a go at it down here.
Personally, I am very interested in what he could bring to the team. Not just as a head coach but as a general manger…if Bruce Levenson were ever to be struck by lightning and have an ounce of hockey sense bolted into his head causing him to think to himself, “Gee, a decade with the same GM and no playoff wins to show for it? Maybe this is un-good”.
Wandering off, he may then say, “Gosh, that hurt…I’m so woozy I don’t know if I’m heading in the right direction or not”.
Anyway, I’d like to see a Pat Quinn coached Thrashers team.
Of course, I’d LOVE to see a Thrashers team coached by John Anderson who was hired by general manger Pat Quinn.
Chances of that happening? I dunno…what’s the forecast?
Riddle Me This
So, what do the Atlanta Thrashers and the Pittsburgh Penguins have in common?
Neither team has lost a game in the post-season this spring!
Yup, the Penguins skated to a 5-3 victory in Madison Square Garden Tuesday night and took a 3-0 series lead over the Rangers. This after sweeping the Ottawa Senators in the opening round.
Marian Hossa had a goal with an assist and has 3 goals and 8 points so far in the seven games played after the Thrashers season ended. Pascal Dupuis chipped in with a helper himself on Hossa’s tally and has a goal and 4 points overall.
Pittsburgh fans that may feel led to may send “Thank You” cards and other well wishes to:
The Atlanta Thrasher / Atlanta Spirit LLC
101 Marietta Street
Suite 1900
Atlanta, GA 30303
Attn: Don Waddell
Sharks On The Endangered Species List
Following the 2-1 OT loss in Dallas Tuesday night the San Jose Sharks now find themselves in the deep waters of a 3-0 series abyss. As you know, your humble blog host picked the Sharks to win the Stanley Cup this year…but it ain’t looking so good right now. I picked them because I liked their team defense so much but so far it’s the Stars blueline that is shining!
Should San Jose fall short at this point it would be their 3 consecutive second-round exit from the Great Cup Quest after making it to the conference finals in ’03-’04. This is considered disappointing considering the fact that the Sharks have finished with over 100 points in each of those seasons except ’05-’06 when they gained 99.
There have been some rumblings about Ron Wilson’s job being on the line if they failed to shake the “under-achiever” tag this spring, (again, we could have it so bad). If so, we’ll kick his name around here..oh…next week sometime.
5 from 65 = 5 from 9
Not to rub any more salt in this wound but…Braydon Coburn has 5 assists in nine playoff games so far this post-season with the Philadelphia Flyers. Alexei Zhitnik had 5 assists in the 65 regular season games he played for Atlanta this past season.
Just sayin’….
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Brian
April 30, 2008 7:41 AM | Link to this
I’d love to see Pat Quinn back in Atlanta.
By LAC
April 30, 2008 7:42 AM | Link to this
Well Rawhide… You said it ALL !
Seems winning is not on the agenda of don waddell or these worthless owners. It’s a damn shame we are THE laughing stock of the NHL !!!!!
We deserve much better than 10 years of waddell and his self made disaster Guess the Tornado did not do the trick on Mr.Potty Mouth, so lighting a good second choice… Let’s HOPE !!
By kev
April 30, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this
On one hand, I am excited because there seems that there will be a more than qualified pool of applicants for the coaching position. On the other hand, I then remember that it will Waddell making the decision.
For instance, I don’t think we’d see Pat in ATL due to him being a potential threat to Don’s job as GM.
By Bob
April 30, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this
Marian Hossa had a goal with an assist and has 3 goals and 8 points so far in the seven games played after the Thrashers season ended.
Yep, I told you this nonsense about him being a playoff disappearing act was exactly that, nonsense.
The only difference between this year’s playoff run and his earlier playoff runs with the Sens is the quality of the goaltending that he’s facing. The best thing to watch is how he’s being a force all over the ice, just like his old self.
It’s like he’s out there saying Free at Last, Free at Last, Thank God Almighty, I’m Free at Last
The Sharks have been a big suprise, but it’s unfair to throw Wilson under the bus, although if we could get him, that would be our gain. I also picked the Sharks, but the Stars are on a mission. This is why you can’t just look at one side of the equation and say “the Sharks are choking and not playoff performers”. You have to look at the big picture and understand that the Stars are just playing that much better with great team defense and Turco is playing lights out, he’s a great goalie, always has been.
By GaVaHokie
April 30, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
Bob… Hossa is now on the second line in Pittsburgh. He’s still pretty far down the depth chart for playoff points considering his high-caliber status.
Check out Cam Cole’s article in the Vancouver Sun.
By NASCAR Dave
April 30, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
Well, well, well. Yet another EXCELLENT blog by Rawhide. This stuff is obvious folks. Why the hell the ASG cannot see this is eerily strange.
Thus, Pat Quinn’s resume shows years of head coaching experience with success as well as proven results in the front office. And, it seems, he wants to have a go at it down here.
Of course, I’d LOVE to see a Thrashers team coached by John Anderson who was hired by general manger Pat Quinn.
Same here RAWHIDE. We need Pat Quinn as GM and John Anderson as Coach. BOTH of these men are PROVEN winners.
Waddell is nothing more than a PROVEN loser — in all aspects of his job.
Looks like Billy Knight’s job is safe… and if the Hawks advance, Woodson’s job could be safe also. This leaves Waddell as the odd man out. Tough luck, Donnie.
But that’s what happens when you FAIL to make the playoffs in 8 of the 9 seasons you have been in charge.
New Blood = New Life
BYE BYE Don FRAUDell… and thanks for NOTHING!!!
NUFF SAID.
By Archie
April 30, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
Don’t get your hopes up for Pat Quinn, the guy is a fully capable NHL General Manager… and Don Waddell would never hire a guy who could potentially take his own job from him.
By GaVaHokie
April 30, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this
I’m pretty sure if ownership liked Pat Quinn, he would have been here by now… he brings a lot of “drama”. I see a guy who doesn’t get along with ownership, trades away youth (wither he’s good with them or not, actions speak louder than words, he trades youth), and is used to spending $70 million on rosters.
You hate filling your roster with aging journey men now?…look at Pat Quinn… Steve Thomas, Joe Neiuwendyk and Travis Green… he has the same mentality as Waddell in getting extra mileage out of older players.
Here’s a funny wikipedia read on Quinn from an obviously disgruntled Leafs fan.
By GaVaHokie
April 30, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
Another interesting article on Pat Quinn with regards to the new NHL (7th paragraph). Oh, not to mention this was made after a Thrashers game where he called us “headhunters”.
By R. Stroz
April 30, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
Thrasher fans are stuck with Waddell and my money is stuck in my wallet.
By NASCAR Dave
April 30, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this
Oh, not to mention this was made after a Thrashers game where he called us “headhunters”.
Well Hokie, Quinn is wrong on that one…
We are NOT headhunters… we ARE GUTLESS, COWARDLY, WIMPS who quit on ourselves halfway thru the season.
And that’s Don FRAUDell’s fault, because he signed them all, and he coached them all.
The buck stops there…
By kracker
April 30, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Braydon Coburn has 5 assists in nine playoff games so far this post-season with the Philadelphia Flyers. Alexei Zhitnik had 5 assists in the 65 regular season games he played for Atlanta this past season.
I think we should use the address provided by RH to send that lil’ tidbit to Don Waddell and all the owners in case they missed it. They might might wanna, you know….make some moves.
By Rawhide
April 30, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
OK, on a serious note… did you guys hear this about Sean Avery being hopitalized
By NASCAR Dave
April 30, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this
Yeah RAWHIDE… that is why Avery is NOT coming here… his career is DONE. Same thing happened to Chris Simms (Tampa Bay Bucs QB) — And his career is DONE.
Tough luck for that punk. I guess he reaped what he sowed???
By Alan
April 30, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this
I just saw something about it a little while ago, Rawhide. Laceration of the spleen. I sincerely hope he makes a full recovery this off-season.
By Waffleboy
April 30, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
NASCAR Dave- I despise Avery as much as the next guy, but that is totally classless. Save it for when Dale, Jr. loses again and again…
I have no need for Pat Quinn. His success has only up to a certain level and he’s never been able to crest that wave.
Rawhide- This had to be the most painful blog I’ve ever read. Sometimes I hope for Belkin to win this case so that a new owner will sweep in and take over, even if that means they leave Atlanta. I just can’t take this banality of mediocre success anymore.
By ranallo10
April 30, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
The only difference between this year’s playoff run and his earlier playoff runs with the Sens is the quality of the goaltending that he’s facing.
Bob — Henrik Lundqvist is up for the Vezina…how does he elude your term of “quality goaltending”?
Hossa’s a point per game player, and playing like that in the playoffs. I don’t need to continue to break down the stats because we’re in agreement about his playoff abilities, but why do you keep shoving it down our throats?
Re: Avery — He may be a douche, but I hope he heals up. I wouldn’t wish a lacerated spleen upon anybody.
Rawhide — Would you agree that there’s a difference between successfully coaching youth against other youth, and successfully coaching and utilizing youth against men? Quinn’s U-18 success is just that…Under-18 kids being coached by an NHL style coach, and beating other Under-18 kids. If I’m not mistaken, Hartley coaches(ed) a youth team in Atlanta, yet how’d he do coaching them on the Thrashers (cough cough BRAYDON COBURN cough).
By GaVaHokie
April 30, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
Ranallo… kind of sounds like the ‘ol argument around here. “Waddell just shows he’s good at scouting minor league talent.”
Maybe the same can be said for Pat Quinn coaching U-18 players. ;)
By ranallo10
April 30, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this
After the 2005-06 campaign he was fired following the one and only time a Quinn-coached Leafs team did not qualify for the post-season.
Could this be indicative of things to come, seeing that this was the first year of NHL hockey under the adjusted CBA? Rules changed, and his coaching style didn’t keep up (compared to the high expectations from the ownership group, and relative to his team’s past performance).
By Nix
April 30, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this
Anyone else getting audio but no video on the Montreal v Philly game on VS?
By Rawhide
April 30, 2008 7:22 PM | Link to this
Much as I despise Avery, (on the ice), I certainly do not wish him ill in regards to this type of injury. I hope he recovers 100% and we can all get ack to boo-ing him this fall!
Waffleboy - Sorry, didn’t mean to to cause any pain. Just calling it as I see it.
Ranallo - Would you agree that there?s a difference between successfully coaching youth against other youth, and successfully coaching and utilizing youth against men?….possibly, or it could just be another part of the whole resume.
Success coaching, general managing, dealing with young players.
Just sayin’….
Could this be indicative of things to come, seeing that this was the first year of NHL hockey under the adjusted CBA? - The team still finished with a winning record and 90 points.
Hokie - You hate filling your roster with aging journey men now??look at Pat Quinn? Steve Thomas, Joe Neiuwendyk and Travis Green? he has the same mentality as Waddell in getting extra mileage out of older players. —Huh? What?…I’m sorry, I can hardly hear you….I can’t hear you….
Pat Quinn’s overall coaching record of 657-481-154-26, 15 playoff appearences in 19 seasons, 2 conference championships…..they are all too loud…I can’t hear you….
Look, seriously guys…I get where you’re coming from…I’m not saying Pat Quinn is a slam dunk choice…but the man has the creds. I’m a bottom line guy…and those are good numbers.
Has he won a cup? No….but if we are gonna limit anyone with any NHL coaching experience to only those who have, and are looking for work…then that’s a pretty slim list.
Let’s see….Bob Hartley has coached a team to a Stanley Cup….do we hire him back?
Besides…if I had my druthers, IF we were to gain Quinn’s services…I would rather it be as a general manager.
Of course, I’d take COLIN Quinn over what we have right now, but….
By Rawhide
April 30, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this
Nix - Try the BRIGHTNESS button :o)
By Nix
April 30, 2008 7:31 PM | Link to this
:-p Thanks, Rawhide. Seriously, I get video on commercials but the screen goes black again when the game comes back on. Not cool.
By ranallo10
April 30, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this
Rawhide — John Anderson is undefeated at the NHL level…perhaps he should get a shot?
By Rawhide
April 30, 2008 8:10 PM | Link to this
ranallo - LOL!!! Yes, yes indeed that is true.
Truth be told, I think Anderson will be the new head coach…and I’d be OK with that…he definately deserves a shot.
Of course, (simply to play devil’s advocate here),…it is also just as possible that he could be one of those who excels at the level he is at currently but won’t have quite as much success in the NHL.
A “Jason Krog” of coaching, as it were.
By kracker
April 30, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this
CHICAGO WOLVES TRIM ROSTER (Esposito)
04/30/2008 10:58 AM - The Chicago Wolves have released center Angelo Esposito from his Amateur Tryout Contact(ATO).
The 19-year-old forward was held scoreless in one regular-season game with the Wolves during his professional debut, after signing with the club on April 13, following the conclusion of his QMJHL season with the Quebec Remparts
I suppose this is not necessarily bad for the kid, but I was hoping he would get some ice time, however limited.
By kracker
April 30, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this
Well, the hot link didn’t work but the URL is there. The above text is all it says, anyway.
By Rawhide
April 30, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this
There ya go Kracker…works now…
By kracker
April 30, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this
Thanks, RH.
The Wolves also called up several Glads players:
The Atlanta Thrashers have reassigned forwards Guillaume Desbiens (ghee-OHM day-BYEHN) and Tomas Pospisil (PAHS-pih-sil) and defenseman Chad Denny from the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators to the Chicago Wolves. In addition, the Wolves have recalled left wing Mike Hamilton from Gwinnett.
By PJ
April 30, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this
Hey Rawhide, another new blog? Hmmm, Pat Quinn….I wasn’t living here way back when so I don’t have the fond memories of his heyday, but one look says it all…He’s too damn old. Not to discriminate, he’d probably make a better GM than Donny but a NHL coach is a physically and mentally draining job and it’s a looooooong season. Exactly how old is he? and how does he fair in age with other NHL coaches? How old is Anderson?
As for Avery, well you all know he’s not my favorite player and would be cheering madly if I saw him get the worse end of a fight at Philips but.. I wish him a quick recovery. Perhaps his brush with death will help him look at the man he is and the man he wants to be…..well one can only hope.
By Tony C.
May 1, 2008 12:56 AM | Link to this
Yo.
That SAS wikki link had my coworkers wondering what I was laughing so hard about-I thank you for that RH, I needed the laugh
Ok, so would you start Price or Halak? Also, who/what would you change about the PP if you’re Carboneau?
By GaVaHokie
May 1, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this
Rawhide… Pat Quinn as GM, maybe. But he’ll make similar moves as Don Waddell… however, if the difference between acquiring aging veterans is getting Brendan Shanahan instead of Scott Mellanby, than it’s a slight upgrade.
By GaVaHokie
May 1, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this
We need two solid years to convince Kovy to stay… the coaching change HAS to be right. we can’t suck this coming season and THEN be good the year after that. That’s not enough to impress Kovy.
That being said, I’m not sure we can take a flyer on a guy like John Anderson… it’s too risky (refer to Ranallo’s “Jason Krog of coaching” comment). If he comes up and sucks, that’s it. Pat Quinn brings a lot of drama… he calls players out for taking penalties and not being accountable defensively… umm, remind you of the Hartley and Kovy situation? How are you going to feel reading headline’s next year, “Quinn benches Kovalchuk in 3rd Period defensive meltdown”.
So, is Brad McCrimmon the right choice based on that? It’s what Kovy wants… not that he should dictate, but let’s face it, he is. The other choices are bringing in a new guy (Anderson) who “might” suck or a red-faced barking old man (Quinn) who’s going to ride you constantly.
By GaVaHokie
May 1, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this
Pat Quinn’s overall coaching record of 657-481-154-26, 15 playoff appearences in 19 seasons, 2 conference championships…..they are all too loud…I can’t hear you….
I’m playing devils advocate, if bringing in Pat Quinn as a “Vince Lombardi” figure that at the very least brings inspiration to the locker room, I’m all for it. But, i don’t want a Bobby Petrino effect with the players saying, “Who’s this old a***** barking orders at me?”
By Rawhide
May 1, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this
Tony C - I think it was Hokie that put up that Wikki link…and it was hysterical.
PJ - Quinn is 65.
Hokie - Again, all very good comments…but, again, playing devil’s advocate…to your comment regarding PQ making same moves as DW…answer me this, (and anyone else, chime in as well)…
If you had a choice…right now, today…between Don Waddell or Pat Quinn making the decisions for the Thrashers this summer in the draft, trades and UFA signings….which one you gonna pick?
Keep in mind, this is a very, VERY important offseason for this team given it’s performance last season.
So, again, Waddell or Quinn??
Who would you pick?
By Rawhide
May 1, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
Hokie- How are you going to feel reading headline’s next year, “Quinn benches Kovalchuk in 3rd Period defensive meltdown”.…. I have said before that I AGREED with this type of discipline that came from Heartley….again, simply look at the results: The player Kovy is NOW….
Oh, and the “Jason Krog of coaching” line was mine
( .\/. ) grrrrrrrrr
By GaVaHokie
May 1, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this
Rawhide… Oh, and the “Jason Krog of coaching” line was mine ( .\/. ) grrrrrrrrr
Sorry! :)
By GaVaHokie
May 1, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
Rawhide… I think Waddell and Quinn are the same person. So, I’d stick with Waddell… but I’d fire Dan Marr… how this guy has managed to scout for three decades is beyond me.
You wanna talk about consistency? Yes Waddell has been a constant for Atlanta since Day one… but so has Dan Marr… AND he has been the only constant from Toronto scouting and Atlanta scouting since 1987… which two teams have had consistent issues with youth movements? (Steen, Stajan, Wellwood, Antropov, Ponikarovsky and Kaberle were NOT Dan Marr products)
By GaVaHokie
May 1, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
If you had a choice…right now, today…between Don Waddell or Pat Quinn making the decisions for the Thrashers this summer in the draft, trades and UFA signings….which one you gonna pick?
I know what you would say, and it would seem like wisdom but for the warning in my heart… a little “Lord of the Rings” quote for you. :)
By Nikita
May 1, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
Hmmm. I’m actually kind of fond of Sean Avery. I like his metrosexual affectations, his catwalk strutting, his starlet dating. His penchant for scarves and doing fashion shoots is kinda cute, too. I also like the fact that unlike many pests and agitators, he really, really, really puts effort into it, down to researching the people he plans to heckle (a la Reg Dunlop, though I don’t know that he’s gotten anyone’s divorce details.) And I’d like to point out that as far as we know, and the speculation goes, he got injured doing what he is supposed to do — delivering a clean hit to an opposing player. He also continues to be the jerk he is because he has the numbers to back it up — the new NHL doesn’t have room for agitators that are not also scorers. He’s right at peak age — his career isn’t over. Nor will he likely change at all, unless his production goes down. Look to him to return this fall more obnoxious than ever, and emboldened by the celebrity conveyed by having the rules restated explicitly to address his exceptional tactics.
I vote against Quinn. He lacks class, but in his favor he’d get us some press. That’s one of DW’s less-than-ideal characteristics — he’s pretty quiet, and perhaps too quiet for a town in which hockey needs to take a bigger role.
This Penguins-Rangers series has me highly annoyed. The Rangers got ROBBED in game two, and game one was a bit one-sided as well. Lundqvist is playing like a champ, and the Rangers are doing better than their scores suggest, generally due to craptacular officiating. That erroneously blown whistle in game two is a travesty. And of course I’m especially annoyed because most of the bad officiating applies to my favorite player. Pittsburgh, well, not bad. They might make the final two, except doesn’t the winner of this series play Detroit next? Detroit will wipe the ice with them.
Stick a fork in the Avs, ‘cause they’re done.
I dislike Jeremy Roenick to an extent that I can’t properly convey, so I’m currently lighting novenas for the Stars. A more arrogant, disdainful embarassment to the sport of hockey I can’t think of at the moment. Quite frankly, in any other sport he would be barred.
And woo, Philly. They’re fighting hard, and I suspect will take the Habs. But if they do, I doubt they’ll survive the next round. As an aside, Daniel Briere is proof that midgets can do well in hockey if they’re adequately talented — his stats are practically identical to our midget-in-chief, Eric Perrin.
Other players I’m enjoying right now: Evgeni Malkin, Brad Richards (can we buy him? That’s be my dream top-line center), Martin Straka, Brendan Shanahan, Ruslan Salei, Cody McLeod.
By NASCAR Dave
May 1, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this
If you had a choice…right now, today…between Don Waddell or Pat Quinn making the decisions for the Thrashers this summer in the draft, trades and UFA signings….which one you gonna pick?
RAWHIDE - NASCAR Dave sez go with Pat Quinn. Proven winner. Decades of experience. Respected around the league. Being a former Flame, he has respect around the ATL also.
John Anderson as Coach, too. The best way to do it is to bring in Anderson FIRST, let him get situated, THEN fire Waddell and bring in Quinn as GM. All of this needs to be done before the draft.
Waddell had his chance(a decade)…
By A$G
May 1, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
We have a gm. If we hire another we have to pay two. We like it when we don’t spend our money and you spend yours. BUY MORE TICKETS!
By Alan
May 1, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this
If you had a choice…right now, today…between Don Waddell or Pat Quinn making the decisions for the Thrashers this summer in the draft, trades and UFA signings….which one you gonna pick?
I’d rather use a game of roulette to pick our drafts, make our trades, and sign free agents in the off-season. I’m not sure I would trust Quinn with our young players. As a coach or a general manager.
By Brendan
May 1, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
If it’s only a choice between Waddell or Quinn, I’d take Quinn. But I would be concerned about his penchant for acquiring or over-using aging, veteran talent. This the “new NHL,” build on youth and speed. And in the Atlanta market, in particular, (that is to say, a market whose “break even” point is closer to the floor of the cap than the ceiling,) I’d advocate that it’s imperative to have exceptional drafting, to acquire those “capped” rookie contracts. Once these high-end draft guys reach RFA status, Atlanta’s market will have trouble re-signing them. That’s the reality that I perceive, anyway. So, I don’t see how acquiring “yesteryear’s All-Stars,” at their inflated prices, would solve anything.
Waddell vs. Quinn on draft day = I’d prefer Pat Quinn. Waddell vs. Quinn on trades, (NHL players for NHL players) I guess I go with Quinn again. Waddell vs. Quinn on FREE AGENT signings … I don’t know. I can’t see how Quinn can afford the Forsbergs, Niedermayers, Selanne’s, Kariyas, Shanahan’s that he’d surely want on Atlanta’s budget. Waddell’s modus operandi is to target a guy like Steve Montador, making $600-$800K a year, then offer a two-year deal for a modest pay increase. Waddell will go after guys like Streit, Montador, Roszival, etc. Quinn will go after Wade Redden, and vastly overpay for him. Well, if you’re going to OVERPAY a Tier I blueliner, why not Brian Campbell instead? I’m just sayin’. Quinn is an improvement over Waddell, in general. No doubt about that.
I hear ya! So would Sage of Bluesland, Red Light, Russ, Ranallo or most of the regular bloggers be! All of whom, I’m very confident, could replicate the Thrashers being in the bottom third of the Conference 7 out of 8 years, miss the playoffs 7 out of 8 years, and fail to win a single playoff game, much less a series, in eight seasons. Likewise, I believe all those bloggers could elevate the Thrashers to a division title, in a given season where the division is weak, and where 92-94 points would be sufficient to win it.
I am looking at the San Jose/Dallas series and wondering if Ron Wilson will still be the coach next season in San Jose. If the Sharks feel that Wilson is the problem, they may cut him loose. If they did, Atlanta would do VERY WELL to acquire him as the next Head Coach.
By Bob
May 1, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
If you had a choice…right now, today…between Don Waddell or Pat Quinn making the decisions for the Thrashers this summer in the draft, trades and UFA signings….which one you gonna pick?
That’s the no brainer of the year, easily Quinn is the better choice between just he and Waddell.
However, I still think the best choice is to get someone like an Asst. GM that is working under a Bob Gainey, or a Brian Burke, and who’s learned the ropes of how real GMs go about building a successful hockey club.
By 10yr plan
May 1, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this
It’s sad but Quinn was available 10 years ago and the organization choose Waddell over Quinn and Burke among others. Quinn would be a huge upgrade over what we have now(DW). Don’t blame Marr for everything because DW has the final say on everything. As for Quinn being too old, look what Bowman did in his final years. Quality coaches delegate and let their assistants run the day to day sessions. Finally, it would be nice to tie in the current team with the former Flames as Quinn was a former captain. I know Waddell was quoted as saying 20 years was too long to remember the Flames but isn’t 10 years too long to wait for a quality hockey team?
By Sara
May 1, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
Brendan Wilson has a lot of qualities that are admirable however he has never proven that he can lead/coach a team to the highest level. The Sharks are super-talented and yet can’t even make it to the Conference Finals much less Stanley Cup Finals much less actually win the Holy Grail of Hockey. Granted he took an upstart Capitals team way further than they were probably ever meant to go back in 1998, but he still hasn’t shown he can get the job done. I’d rather have a no-name like Anderson than someone who’s had the opportunities yet never done anything with them.
And H E L L N O to Quinn. Don’t like him, have never liked him, don’t want him here ever.
Now if you all will excuse me, I must exit stage left, head home, and enshroud myself with the winged wheel and think happy thoughts about crying, sobbing, broken-down Avs players and their fans. :D
By NASCAR Dave
May 1, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this
SARA I’ll bet you $5 the Wings lose tonight… NO Sweep. Sorry.
But I won’t be there to watch it, I’m heading to Richmond VA for the next few days… NASCAR calls!
Have a good weekend everybody! Well, everybody except those stupid Hab Trolls. They’re gonna have a BAD weekend because their team is DONE!!! LMAO!!!
PEACE.
By Sara
May 1, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
Dave it’s certainly not a given. The Avs have a lot of pride - they aren’t going to want to get swept by their biggest rivals and in their own house no less. I expect them to come out fighting - I’ll be ticked if they don’t. These last three games have been fantastic hockey.
I admit I’d LOVE to see the sweep but mainly I just want to see the Wings move on to next round period. Whether it happens tonight or on Saturday at the Joe makes no real difference to me. :)
By Tony C.
May 1, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
DEADWINGS SUCK
that is all.
By pete
May 1, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this
Quinn? Sounds great but I understand that it is already decided that “The Beast” is taking over the HC job this fall
By Rawhide
May 1, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this
Pete - I would think that if he was the choice, that announcement would already have been made. What would be the point of waiting?
If he was to get the job, then why wouldn’t he have just been made the caoch last winter?
Not saying it isn’t true…but it doesn’t add up to me.
Besides, personally I wouldn’t care much for that decision. I mean, he was supposedly the defensive mind of the coaching staff. Based on that alone….I wouldn’t feel comfortable handing the show over to him at all.
By Brendan
May 1, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this
Sara, I’d take Wilson over any coach we’ve had so far. But I completely agree, he’s the “Marty Schottenheimer” of hockey. At least with Schottenheimer, you know you’re going to get a quality regular season. But I follow what you’re saying. You want a coach who can deliver a banner hanging from the rafters, that has a picture of a big silver trophy on it. Don’t we all?
Bob Hartley actually won a Cup, with a star-laden roster, in Denver. So, I’m going catch holy-H#ll for that earlier comment. It’s just that, watching that anemic PP, and the way Hartley handled goaltender rotation, and the way he’d bench Kari, then tell him to play better while riding the pine, it was too much. Well, how does Kari do that from the bench? And Hartley’s baseball references, plus the decision to switch goaltenders for the shootout? Pfft. By the trade deadline 2007, I was starting to think the 2001 Avs were more a result of the roster, than any coaching by Hartley.
I have been critical of Ron Wilson in the past. I’ve felt like my criticisms of him were fair. (He told his ‘98 Capitals that it was “okay” to lose in the Finals. Which they did, in a sweep.) But even I’d have to recognize his 500+ career wins in the NHL and know, definitively, that such coaches don’t grow on trees.
As Ranallo might say, “no GM or Coach will win the Cup under the ASG’s business model.” Sadly, I agree. But I can’t see how asking different people to be GM’s and Coaches and Scouts would be WORSE than what he have now. So, I’d welcome Ron Wilson. I’d welcome Pat Quinn into the fold. But I don’t think even the combination of the two will bring forth the Cup to Atlanta. Truthfully, I’d want a GM and a Head Coach capable of connecting with young players, and who are willing to “coach ‘em up.” Are Wilson and Quinn my favorite candidates to do that? No. But I’d take ‘em over what we’ve got now every day of the week, and twice on Sunday. And I’d be delighted to watch them stun the world by capturing the Stanley Cup, on a budget of $44 million, when other teams will be spending far closer to $50 million to achieve the same goal.
By ranallo10
May 2, 2008 5:48 AM | Link to this
It’s a risk/reward situation, clearly. Hiring Quinn and a new Coach (like Wilson) could bring successes to this team…or, it could bring one playoff appearance and 6 years of cellar dwelling.
Personally, I’d rather Anderson and a young unproven GM who has been an assistant to a far more successful GM (as Bob said). Any GM’s assistant or head of scouting/player development would be who I hope are interviewed…but those candidates would have to be from the teams like Detroit, NJ, San Jose, Buffalo, Anaheim.
I’d rather a chance at sustained success over the next 10 years than another one-and-done playoff run. I don’t believe that Quinn can bring sustained anything to Atlanta.
By Pucks n Snot
May 2, 2008 6:29 AM | Link to this
IS THAT TEAM STILL IN ATLANTA??? PACK THE DAMN MOVING TRUCKS ALREADY!! A HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!! Let’s go Red Wings (clap clap clapclapclap)!! yeah, Tony, we suck…..boy if we suck after the display we just put on vs. Colorado, then what state is your team in, you FREAK? You should be flogged and banned from all hockey activities forever for that statement, junior. C’MON, ATLANTA - GET ON THE BANDWAGON! DETROIT PLOWS THROUGH THE LEAGUE AS PREDICTED BY PUCKS N SNOT AND WILL BE SIPPING LABATT FROM THAT SILVER CUP IN A FEW WEEKS ONCE AGAIN!! Oh, and then next year we will sign Fabian Brunnstrom and we will be even better, while UNGLUEDLAND continues to set the bar for futility and incompetence. A HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By woody
May 5, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this
Doesnt matter who is coach The THrashers are doomed and will be losers as long as Wadell and the Spirit are around.
By bk
May 7, 2008 4:45 AM | Link to this
I have to admit: I love it when people keep mentioning that canada went 50 years between winning olympic hockey gold medals. Gee, I wonder why that was? Could it have something do with sending C-grade teams to play world-class pros who trained together 11 months out of the year? Golly, that might be a winner. I mean, the last time I checked, Bobby Orr never once appeared in the olympic games and gretzky only did when he was 37 and years past his prime. historical context is everything - but i would hazard a guess that they don’t teach much history in american schools, do they?