Ice Man

By Bob

July 6, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this

Rawhide, check out this scandalous news about Brendan’s target dman, Dan Boyle, he never would have agreed to come here in a trade. Check out how the new Lightning owners pressured him into waiving his no trade clause to accept the deal to San Jose, they told him they’d waive him and he’d get picked up by us if he didn’t waive it, and that forced him to accept the trade to avoid getting picked up by us on the waiver wire:

What a great job Don has done here to build us into the Official Laughing Stock of the NHL

I think we can now call this tactic The Thrashers’ Banishment Ultimatum to force a player into waiving their No Trade Clause.

Anyone have any doubts about where Kovy’s going the year after next?

Any of you still suffer under the delusion that Campbell didn’t want to be here because it’s too far from his family? Oh wait, Chicago offered more money, right? Sure, even Boyle waived his freakin no trade clause to avoid us like the plague.

Are we officially the Clippers of the NHL now. I don’t know of hearing about free agents avoiding the Clippers like the plague and top players waiving their no trades until threat of The Thrashers Banishment Ultimatum

I think Waddell has managed himself into a new standard for pro sports franchises. Being Thrashered may become new lingo amongst sports agents and GMs. I can hear coach’s and GMs now “you better up your play pronto of I’ll trade your sorry a* to the Thrashers!”

By Sage of Bluesland

July 6, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this

Hilarious, Bob—I’m sure the sheep will be out in full force to defend the indefensible.

However, I think the phrase “being Thrashered” can have so many more interpretations.

For instance, constantly failed promises could also mean you’re “Thrashering me along”.

Also, continued acceptance of non-accountability in the real world might mean you’ve reached the “Thrasher principle”.

Yet another one is when “Five-Year Plans” go on and on—it could also be known as “Clockwork Thrasher”…

But, hey—it’s all good: the wittle fwag-wavers get what they deserve…They’ve purchased it—I just hope they don’t complain…

By Thrashers27

July 6, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this

If Coach Anderson is smart the first thing he does when the team reports this fall is to put that quote about Boyle being dealt to the Thrashers on the wall of the locker room. Use it as motivation every time we take on Tampa.

By Corey

July 6, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this

That article just shows more and more what kind of embarrassment we have become to the NHL… Something drastic needs to happen, I do not want to see another hockey team leave Atlanta. Two years ago we won our first division title, now we are the laughing stock of the league… It is going to take a huge off season in order to get our image back, at least a little bit.

To tell you the truth I am excited about some things this year. New coach, whom I like, get to see bogo come to the NHL, and get to see Toby play in his second year with some more support… Maybe Army and Christiansen will come out and play lights out this year. We have an ok team that with a good coach might just surprise some people. Even if that was true though, the rest of the league wont believe it…

By funcused

July 6, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this

“It got to the point where my a* was threatened to be put on waivers and I was going to be picked up by a last-place team that wouldn’t win for the next six years.” = Atlanta Thrashers are laughing stock of the league.

EMBARRASSING …who is going to show up with paper bags over their heads like the Aints of the 80’s?

By Bob

July 6, 2008 7:14 PM | Link to this

Hilarious, Bob

I don’t find it funny, not one bit. I find it sad, very sad.

If Coach Anderson is smart the first thing he does when the team reports this fall is to put that quote about Boyle being dealt to the Thrashers on the wall of the locker room. Use it as motivation every time we take on Tampa.

Sure, great idea. In fact, we can use it for motivation for playing Detroit, as Hoss didn’t want to be here. Use it as motivation when we play Chicago as Campbell didn’t want to be here. New Jersey? Put up Rolston’s picture and throw darts at it. Where ever Recchi signs, there’s motivation for that team as well. Tampa, put their management’s quotes up on the board. San Jose, get Boyle’s pic up there. These are just the players we know about that happened recently, no doubt there’s many more, we should win every game next year with all of the bulletin board stuff we can put up! Oh forgot about Ottawa, get Heatley’s clown head up there on the board for those games.

By Maal

July 6, 2008 7:21 PM | Link to this

am i the only one thoroughly unimpressed with a dman that has not once set foot on NHL ice? i mean we may as well have another rookie. maybe in a year or two or more he’ll adjust to the game, but he’s, at absolute youngest 26 right? at that age we need experience. see: jason smith.

and wtf with lehts. did you see my thing about how the team COULD take him to arbitration? i will punch those cheap @#%$s in the &%$s.

By kracker

July 6, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this

Welcome back, Bill. Happy 229th.

I hear a two-year resigning of Boulton will be announced soon, so factor that into your line formations. The only thing I see surprising is that it didn’t happen later. Although Boults is primarily a LW so why not go ahead and do it now.

Now back to read your text.

By ben

July 6, 2008 7:42 PM | Link to this

personally, I still feel that something has to happen. they can’t do nothing this year. Or maybe they can. They are just like the HAWKS. The Hawks have no fans, they just play year after year to an empty hall. Maybe we should take a wider look around. There are alot of teams in this boat. It’s quite cyclcal. Remember when to be a team from canada was to suck? The Rangers blew for years. Is D-WAD a less-than-average GM? Yes, but through the years he’s been getting better. Will he be here forever? No he won’t. Just enjoy the ride that the cardiac kids bring us, and know that they will get better. Perhaps he’ll turn this into a destination, or perhaps others will. But this is a large city, that alone should keep Le Thrash here for a very long time, maybe forever.

By Rawhide

July 6, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this

Bob - I clicked on the link provided…once there, I saw this thing on the page about SUNShine girls….anyway, got sidetracked there and totally forgot what the whole subject matter was.

Oh yeah…Dan Boyle, groan.

I’m with Thrasher27…post it up in the locker room and use it as motivation. If it doesn’t phase any of the players there…send ‘em down to Chicago, or Gwinnett.

Someone needs to remind Boyle that it was HIS Lightning team that finished last.

By Disgusted Fan

July 6, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this

The team and Waddell (pretty much all Donny’s fault) get an “F” primarily because the one glaring weakness this team has had since Savard left remains, we do not have anything close to a first line center and the team has needed one for three straight offseasons now. Kovalchuk will be leaving and we need a new GM to broker that deal so we can build this thing right (if that is possible), or at least pass along the promise of a bright new day to Las Vegas when the team gets moved there by Jerry Bruckheimer (once he buys the team for nada from the ASG). The ASG has got to be the most dysfunctional team ownership group any pro sports league has ever seen. Let’s hope they lose the lawsuit.

By Corey

July 6, 2008 8:32 PM | Link to this

So are we thinking Espo will be in the line up next year? It seems like we have a lot of guys that are right on the boarder of the NHL.

By kracker

July 6, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this

russian You are our pipeline to Nikulin news from the other end. What do you hear?

By kracker

July 6, 2008 8:55 PM | Link to this

Corey I think the thinking is that Espo goes back to jrs unless he wows everybody at camp. Maybe Bogo too, but he has a better shot is my opinion.

By ben

July 6, 2008 9:20 PM | Link to this

look for the perpetual Waddell youth movement to continue. as a matter of fact, i’ll be betting that a lot of the league gets younger. bogo, espo, and others will stay. xlb will most likely stay but i hold out that a legit center will be found.

By polskidawg

July 6, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this

Bob - ever seen the movie Kingpin? If someone screwed up, they they “Munsoned.”

Maybe, rather than being Thrashered, perhaps Waddelled is the term?

Rawhide - don’t count out Kulda & Oystrick, particularly “Woulda” Kulda - Anderson really likes him.

By Tony C.

July 6, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this

I forget where I read it, so no link-but a quote from Esposito went something like this (excuse paraphrasing) when questioned about making the NHL club out of camp.

“Yeah I definitely plan on being there. No offense to anyone, but I don’t think there’s too much more for me at [the OHL] level. I think I have the skill to make the team, and I will be working on strength and conditioning so physically I will be ready- I know what I can do and I’m anxious to prove that. One problem is right now I can’t move up to the AHL and college is out (NCAA regs), so I’m looking to make the team-I’m very excited to have the opportunity to do so.”

Now that could be a case of making lemonade out of lemons-but hey I like a young guy to be cocky.

By Tony C.

July 6, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this

But yeah if he doesn’t make it out of camp it’s back to Juniors for Esposito

By ben

July 6, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this

Bob: About the quote. Boyle didn’t say that, the Sun writer did. Canaidan media despises the SE division. I would not put a whole lot of stock

By Sam

July 6, 2008 10:21 PM | Link to this

Thanks Ben. I saw it the same way. I saw a video on the Lightning site recently. When Marty St.Louis was asked which team he liked to play against least, he said the Thrashers. The reason, “they have some dirty players.” Perhaps Dan Boyle feels the same way. He could have also known or been told that Atlanta was looking for defensemen. He also stated that he just bought a piece of land in Tampa to build a home for his wife and upcoming baby. He had no interest in going any where. This blog seems to thrive on negativity.

By Rawhide

July 6, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this

Ben - I dunno, the part of the story in question here is “Boyle said he was pushed into waiving his no-trade clause after a member of Bolts management told him if he didn’t agree to a trade, he’d be put on waivers and would likely have been claimed by the Thrashers”.

The key part is the first two words, “Boyle said…”

Everything after that can logically be attributed to what “Boyle said”. And what he said was what a “member of Bolts management” told him…according to the story.

I could be wrong…or the way it reads is misleading to his intent, who knows…that’s just the way I read it.

polskidawg - Point taken. Both of them will have a chance to make the squad. One of the great things about having Anderson as coach is that these guys are going to have a fair shake in training camp and in the post-season.

Tony C - What keeps him from going to the AHL Wolves? If memory serves, Chicago picked him up for a short while at the end of the regular season.

By Brendan

July 6, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this

I never thought we could work out a trade with Tampa Bay for Boyle. First off, it’d be very unlikely the Bolts would trade directly with us. Second, if it were a 3-way deal, we’d have to give up something “good” to the non-Tampa team. And I don’t really want to do that, either. Not while we’re still rebuilding. We need those picks and prospects. Dan Boyle was just wishful thinking on my part, Bob. Nothing more.

Had Boyle actually made it to waivers, I believe Los Angeles would have had the first crack at him. Would they have passed on him?? If they did, and Waddell didn’t pick him up off waivers …. No, I can’t finish that sentence. I just can’t. Such an acquisition also would have gotten us a little closer to the floor of the cap.

By Alan

July 6, 2008 10:41 PM | Link to this

Thrashers27 - Tampa? We should use it as motivation when we take on every team. But mostly San Jose, since that’s where Boyle is now.

I think Tampa Bay’s defense got worse with this deal. It was bad enough as it is. Meanwhile, Hainsey and Bogosian will be an immediate help, Valabik will almost assuredly earn himself a roster spot, and Nikulin is “thiiiiis* close to signing. Whether he does or doesn’t, we’ve still improved our D. That has to count for something, I think, although our D corps would be much better with Nikulin than without.

By Tony C.

July 6, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this

Mr. T-

As I understand it, he was on a “tryout” contract, which is a time-limited thing. He’s not 20 before the deadline, meaning he cannot play in the AHL-maybe that was for last season, but I believe it’s the same for this year.

Now I could be 1000% wrong, but I believe that his birthday doesn’t meet the AHL deadline and by virtue of their agreement with the CHL, no one under 20 can play in the AHL

By Rawhide

July 6, 2008 10:53 PM | Link to this

Tony C - You are CORRECT sir!

Move to the front of the class.

By Bob

July 6, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this

it’s not the Canadian media saying it’s Atlanta, it was what Tampa management threatened him with, here’s the Tampa beat writer’s blog on it

By Alan

July 6, 2008 11:30 PM | Link to this

Bob - I chalked it all up to the pot calling the kettle black, really. I couldn’t see anyone putting Boyle on waivers at this point in his career anyway. That would be a big mistake, since Tampa then wouldn’t have received any other sort of compensation.

By Nikita

July 6, 2008 11:53 PM | Link to this

Yep, lots of negativity here.

My opinion: we have no idea what’s going to happen. I’m one of very few people here who actually thought we had the talent last year — 90% of the team was highly anticipated at signing, or otherwise appeared capable of playing well. We simply didn’t have the coaching or the management backing. If Anderson is a good coach, a lot of them might look like different players this year. Plus, Tampa Bay talking smack? I’m sorry, I don’t take that from mulletheads — I look forward to making them eat their words at the first game.

I doubt Espo will make it. There’s my cynicism — something isn’t right with him. I think Valabik will make it, but won’t be able to play up to standard all season. I think XLB and Klee and Valabik will take turns riding the pine, and either X will come out swinging or he will be traded mid-season. I think he’s still on the team for personal reasons, and he won’t get additional leniency.

By ben

July 7, 2008 12:00 AM | Link to this

i agree w/ Sam. This blog, while informed, has a negative slant. Bill ” Rawhide” Tiller, this is certainly no reflection on you. You provide a good service to us. I sincerely thank you Sir. There are many clubs worse off than Le Thrash. Honestly, aside from from their flukey cup win the ‘Ning comes to mind, as due a post Sweet Lou Devils, The Isles, the Kings, the Oil. We just had a down decade. the Leafs blew last year and have for a while. This team will not move. There are 30 teams in the NHL, Le Thrash did not finish last and was in the hunt most of the year. This team will be better this year and will get better next year.

FAs will come. Millions of people move south all the time. As long as the political situation in Russia is crazy, people will stay away. Sooner rather than later Le Thrash will get better, and when they do, we will all be the cool kids. To help usher in this change perhaps we should voice our displeasure by showing up and chanting and singing about how D-WAD should be fired on national tv. Doing this will show these Canadian snobs that we’re not idiot rube hicks. And who knows, we might even get what we want.

By Tony C.

July 7, 2008 12:19 AM | Link to this

ben-

Love the optimism, but I think Waddel should be fired. Honestly.

I give him top marks for how he handled the accident, I also think that he moves t nab Kozlov and Savard were inspired. But this is also the same guy who has had a consistent (and at time horribly dramatic) issue of goaltenders going down with groin injuries (I’m talking every season-look it up), but he only mandates that the strength coach (didn’t have one for four years look that up too) create a groin-conditioning program for goaltenders.

I undeerstand he may not have had the financial ability to go after every deal he’s wanted to, but even so his lemonade-making skills are sub-par at best.

The guy’s had 10 years, he’s drafted 2.5 “Stars” even though he’s had like 8 Top-10 draft picks (that means Number 1-10 in a draft) and we have 4 starters to show for it.

This is not a resume of success, or even average-ness.

I like the guy, and I truly hope that he’s been given the green-light to make the deals he feels are neccesary….but C’mon STEVE RUCCHIN as a replacement for Savard??? Really??? C’mon. That’s what he sold too “Steve’s been a great set-up man before in this league” DW said (and yes he was, when he had Selanne on one side and Kariya on the other-go back and watch the tapes, Rucchin would make the outlet pass and one of the wingers would actually set up the other winger’s goal).

My point is, if some “hick from GA” can see that, shouldn’t a hockey man see it even more clearly???

This guy hasn’t shown that he does.

So I’m making some safety-orange “fire waddell” t-shirts and hoping like hell this guy does an about face and assembles a team with a chance to do more than bow out of the first round of the playoffs.

By ben

July 7, 2008 12:32 AM | Link to this

i agree w/ your assesment entirely. my hick / rube comment was others perception of us, not my perception of my hometown or those who live in it. Waddell is entirely or indirectly responsible for what i refered to as a down decade. i feel we must take the case to fire this man to the national media vocally. My shirt size is XXL. in order to move on, he must be fired.

By Chris

July 7, 2008 12:42 AM | Link to this

You guys have to watch this link on youtube, it puts our free agency moves in a great perspective and it’s hilarious…enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVGvBIhAlcQ

By Alan

July 7, 2008 12:59 AM | Link to this

My opinion: we have no idea what’s going to happen.

Indeed. The negativity right now is unfounded. We should wait until sometime after the season starts before we start demanding accountability. For now, while I don’t think we look good, I do think we look okay as a team. It can get much better, or far worse.

By Rocco

July 7, 2008 1:26 AM | Link to this

So Don signs 1 guy, right? Your freakin kidding me. Come on, fire this schmuck! 1 guy comes here? This is unacceptable.

By Tony C.

July 7, 2008 6:00 AM | Link to this

yo J.K. Sockey is funny.

-pregnant pause-

You’re sh!ttingme!

classic.

His blgspt page is funny too.

Chris if that’s you, keep up the good work dude.

By Tony C.

July 7, 2008 7:13 AM | Link to this

Oh yeah, I would hope we sign Morrison today

By five_hole

July 7, 2008 7:19 AM | Link to this

An interesting link from cnn.com here. At least we have some company, although I’m not sure why Edmunton and the Islanders would be on par with us (the Islanders I suppose I can understand; who would want to have to wear orange jerseys?).

By Tony C.

July 7, 2008 7:29 AM | Link to this

Also, who else is going to prospect camp?

Mr. T- Iyou going to make it to any? I’ll be at most during the a.m. might even try and get us some quotes on Wednesday and Sunday.

Oh yeah, email Knobler and remind him he’s going to want to be there, if he hasnt already made plans.

P.S.-When did we draft Rylan Kaip? that kid can play. I was very impressed with his crunch-time play during the Frozen Four tournament this year. No idea if he’ll make it as a pro, but I was pleasently surprised to see he was a draftee/prospect and not an invitee

By Tom

July 7, 2008 7:58 AM | Link to this

All I know is this phrase in the Dan Boyle saga cuts me to the bone…

“If you don’t, we’ll put you on waivers and you’ll be playing in Atlanta.”

That just hurts when someone says that about ones team and we think we are in good shape.

By Corey

July 7, 2008 7:59 AM | Link to this

I’ll be going to the prospect camp. I’m going to bring my 3 year old nephew. Any idea when the best time to go would be? I have looked at the schedule but don’t know yet…

By adios

July 7, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this

the thrahser should be placed on the endangered species list … just a matter of time before the franchise moves to a place it can survive … its too bad for if ASG had just average money and above average common sense this would be a great hockey town

By Sage of Bluesland

July 7, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this

“If you don’t, we’ll put you on waivers and you’ll be playing in Atlanta.”

No matter how many times I read that, it cracks me up. I’m so far beyond the point of being mad—I wasted that effort on those who wouldn’t listen years ago.

Now, similar to the Falcons, the bumbling idiotic moves simply make me laugh. I think that is the final—and healthiest—stage of ‘fandom’ to be at…

As an aside, it’s truly ironic that the Falcons and Thrashers are a comparison in extreme contrasts—almost. Whereas the Falcons owner loves the spotlight and covets living vicariously through the team (and thus, makes bad decisions which are wholly due to emotion), the Thrashers ownership doesn’t seem to care at all about their product that they ‘serve’ to the fans.

One thing is consistent between the two: pitiful stewardship by GMs. The jury is out on Dimitrof, but from Herock to McKay, the Falcons couldn’t draft to save their lives. Of course, the Thrashers have had only one GM—and we are now embarking on our second rebuilding effort with the ‘payoff’ of the first one being a single playoff appearance (before getting shut out in four straight).

Wow. Yet some still defend the indefensible. Yep, I’m so far beyond the ‘stomping my foot’ stage and now simply laugh—at the dreamers and the organization(s)…

By Winnipeg Pete

July 7, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this

Calgary was lucky to get your Flames. As much as we want hockey back we don’t want your Thrashers. We’ll take Kovy to start the franchise up here but you can trade the rest. Boyle’s statement and feelings reflects the truth through the entire NHL community.

By kracker

July 7, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this

Check this about P-M Bouchard…

PMB is a goner

PMB is just what we need, he’s young, talented and can play C or RW.

By Sara

July 7, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

maal there’s a difference between players coming up through Canadian/American ranks and players coming up through European ranks. Look at Enstrom last year. In his rookie season he became our top d-man (course there’s not much competition there but even so, he was still damn good). Nikulin has been playing for years against high-calibre opponents in the RSL. He isn’t like some 19 yo kid from major juniors. He’ll have to make some transitions, but not as many as, say, Bogosian.

I’m quite torn about whether Bogo and/or Espo make the club. They are both in bad positions - not much left to accomplish in the OHL but not quite ready for the NHL. Espo in particular I think needs to be challenged to get him to step up his game. As for Bogo, we’re beginning to get a glut of D with Nikulin potentially on the way and Valabik and Kulda possibly ready to move up as well. I hate to send Bogo back since he probably can’t develop any further in the OHL but…

As for Dan Boyle - he’s an idiot, plain and simple. He should have flat-out called Tampa’s bluff. I find it highly unlikely they would have waived him knowing he would end up 8 hours to the north and in prime position to hand them their @sses on a regular basis. They’re brain-dead as it is for moving him in the first place. Their D went to crap in a quickness (which they should have known since losing Boyle for a chunk of the season last year amounted to the same thing). As for his choice to go the SJ to avoid the “lowly Thrashers” - well, good luck with that. Aside from the fact they are a perennial play-off team (which, granted, is better than what we currently have), they have yet to prove they can truly compete in those play-offs, having never even gotten to the SCFs - I’m not even sure they’ve made it to the conference finals. Besides, six years is a long time - a LOT can change in six years. Heck, a lot can change in one year these days.

Frankly I don’t care. It’s water under the bridge, I can’t do a thing about any of it, and I’m tired of griping/listening to griping. We’re going to have a new season under way with a new coach (with an actual system hooray!), new faces, and likely a new attitude (speaking of attitude, RH use your connections with the Thrashers would ya and get them to pick an opening song with some cohones next year would ya? I like “Paralyzer” and all….but the words ended up being a bit apropos and not in a good way. I’m thinking maybe Atreyu’s “Becoming the Bull” would be better).

By Sara

July 7, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this

kracker it’s an interesting situation and I guess if his contract is up in the air, it might make him more desirable to move than someone else. He’s put up some decent numbers under a defense-first system so it’s possible his numbers could improve under a more open system. However, he’s also another shorty at 5’10” - gotta say I’m not too crazy about that. But, it’s depth. That could help.

Btw Machalek is a RW isn’t he?? Anybody got an idea how he is progressing? (Suppose I could go look for myself eh?)

By Sara

July 7, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

Sorry…duh…Machacek. Well, HF didn’t tell me anything I hadn’t already seen. Wonder how far away this kid might be. Zubarev is another interesting issue - Russian can you tell us anything about this guy? Not that we’re not suddenly overflowing with D prospects…

By glovesave29

July 7, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this

Ouch…this hurts from Burnside on ESPN…”The bottom line is, if you don’t know how to run your team — Atlanta, Florida, Toronto, come on down — then you reap what you sow. In most markets, except Atlanta, that means a changing of the guard; and the team, in theory, brings in smarter hockey people who make better decisions and the team gets better and makes more money and stops complaining about the salary cap going up.”

Sigh…the sad part is, I am not even that mad anymore. I have resigned myself to the fact that this is the way it is, and nothing will change. We have a clueless hockey operations department and we are doomed to sail rudderless through another NHL season.

Can anyone explain to me why Nukulin is just joining us 7 years and countless bad defenses after he was drafted? Was he under contract in Russia? Seem to me like he might have come in handy down a Philips.

By Sara

July 7, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

Can you tell I’m bored at work yet?? LOL

Tony C noticed something else about that list - apparently it’s “bring a brother to prospect camp” year - Vinny Saponari’s older brother Victor has been invited, and unless I’m mistaken, it looks like Chris Thorburn’s brother is on that list as well.

Guess I’ll be coming in to work early the next few days so I can sneak out early to get down for a few. I love prospect camp - I still remember a few years back when Jimmy Slater attended - had Lane Manson pinned up against the boards for over a minute. :)

By five_hole

July 7, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

OK, right now, we have a bad situation. However, it’s a self-fufilling prophesy. FA’s don’t want to come here because we don’t win, and we don’t win (in part) because we can’t attract FA’s.

There are 2 ways to change the situation. One might be by getting rid of Waddell, the other is winning. Winning would change everything. Players want to make the playoffs, and if they see us as being in that position, then they will want to come here.

Here’s the other thing; attendance. I don’t think players want to play in an empty building. Now I haven’t renewed my tickets yet either, but if word gets around that Philips arena is empty, that won’t generate better opinions of us.

Let’s face facts; the hockey world sees everything south of the Mason-Dixon line as NASCAR world. The only thing in common with Hockey world and NASCAR world is missing teeth. We need to prove otherwise.

By Tim

July 7, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

Sara About Nikulin, not sure but for some people, making the jump from motherland Russia to North Ameria is a big lifetime decision, especially since money is not a factor. From what I have heard, he was making avg 3.5 millions a season over there in Russia. When you playing for that kind of money, why making the jump? I guess what made him change his mind was the World Championship when after winning Gold, he find it challenging. I bet Kovalchuk did promothe the NHL to him also. Anyway, hopefully we can hear some new from the kid soon!

By B. Thenet

July 7, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

Spencer Machacek had a fantastic season last year. He doubled his scoring output from 40 to 80 points in the notoriously stingy WHL.

I doubt he makes the team out of camp, but you should be able to pencil him in to at least a 3rd or 4th line slot in 2 years.

By RS

July 7, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this

There’s something about this new KHL league that these guys seem real uneasy about. The young ones are leaving (or trying to leave) in droves. Nikulin is also good friends with Ovechkin. I’m sure “Ovy and Kovy” worked on him during the World Championships.

By Sara

July 7, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this

Tim I knew Nikulin was making big bucks in Russia (tax-free as well). Apparently that’s been the reason he hasn’t come over in prior years, since here he is automatically subjected to rookie cap numbers (glovesave that should answer your question). I’m just glad he’s decided to come over - I think it is a competition thing, which speaks well of him. He’s accomplished all he can in the Russian League system, so the next step is to take on the best in the world in the NHL.

B Thenet thanks for the info on Machacek. He was ranked as a “sleeper” in his draft class in an ESPN.com (IIRC) article around that time. Would like to see that come to fruition.

RS it may not be fair, but every time I think of Russian hockey leagues, I think of the movie “Rollerball.” I know it’s supposed to be a better system than the one run by the government that all the players defected from, but a League run by rich oil men just seems like it would be shady, a la the aforementioned movie.

five_hole you are definitely right about the catch-22 we are in regarding FAs. However, the counter argument to that is that we should have enough homegrown talent by now to be more competitive than we are, thus more attractive to FAs. Course, on the flipside - look what Pittsburgh has just gone through. Went to Game 6 in the SCF and yet a number of their players jumped ship….whoops.

This is just not where players want to play, I think for a multitude of reasons. But you are correct - winning would sure help overcome a lot (if not all) of those obstacles.

By Alan

July 7, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

Everyone fretting about Atlanta and how UFAs “don’t want to come here” should take a look around. We have company:

News alert: The Sabres have a poor reputation among players. It has become increasingly evident that the only way to get quality veterans into Buffalo is to force them here through trades. It’s an unpleasant way to survive.

Forget the woe-is-Buffalo excuse. Everybody knows this is a passionate hockey town, but the word has spread about the organization’s business practices. The Sabres are known more for their commitment to the bottom line than their commitment to winning. To players, it might as well be Edmonton.

By Tony C.

July 7, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this

When they open franchises in the Czech Republic, Slovokia, Finland & Sweden I’ll start to get worried. Until then, it’s going to be a place for hired guns to go when their ultimate motivation is the loot-not that I’m hating on that (I’d sell out in a second if given the chance most days), but until it offers players all over Europe the opportunity to “play for the hometown fans”, I don’t see it being a competitor to fear. If you’re going to move to a foreign country to play hockey you’re going to go for the best level of competition right? NHL has Kovalchuk, Ovechkin, Datsyuk, Malkin, Afinogenov, Fetisov (that’s the kid CBJ just drafted’s name right?), Semin, Frolov…that’s just forwards I could think of of the top of my head (did have to check some of the spellings).

Clearly, KHL is something I’d worry about if I was a Super-League or Elitseiren owner-but I don’t think the NHL has to worry just yet.

By Bob

July 7, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this

Yea, Buffalo sucks as bad as we do! We’re not alone, we’re not alone.

Yes, winning will fix things, but how are we gonna win without good players? How are we going to get good players with Waddell as GM and ownership completely FUBARed?

By Hip Czech

July 7, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

…and I’m tired of griping/listening to griping

Amen and amen…if you don’t like the product then don’t support it. That means don’t go to the games, don’t watch them on TV, and don’t come posting to a ‘fan’ blog.

A number have said they are not giving another cent to the ASG. Fine, I respect that decision and am somewhat supportive of it (I am not renewing my STs, not entirely because of the product - there are other factors as well). Complain by your wallet, complain by sending emails or phone calls to the ASG, but what’s the point of posting nothing but complaints to this forum?

We’re all knowledgeable hockey fans, we all know that there have been lousy personnel decisions made. Make your displeasure known to those that can do something about it until either change is made or you decide to give up. Endlessly griping about Waddell on this forum isn’t going to accomplish much, you’re preaching to the choir…we all pretty much would like to see him gone and new ownership.

Maybe I’m wrong, maybe the headline tomorrow will be ‘Waddell fired because of outrage on Thrasher fan blog’.

By Tony C.

July 7, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

Hip-

Good point.

By Hip Czech

July 7, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

Can someone explain to me the difference between

…players who elected to take their teams to salary arbitration

and

The deadline for teams to decide to take players to salary arbitration…

?

(OK, y’all are knowledgeable hockey fans…I am not)

By Smoothie

July 7, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

I love how the pollyannas on this blog love to gripe about all of the griping and complaining of the “negative” contingent. If you don’t like negativity, perhaps you should pull for a different team!!

The reality is that as fans, we have as much right to b!tch and gripe as you do when it comes to blowing smoke up our a*******es about how great Spencer Macacheck is going to be in 3 years. The fact of the matter is that none of you who claim to be “knowledgeable hockey fans” know what’s going to happen either. It’s all conjecture and nothing else.

And if it wasn’t fun to speculate about a team we love — even if we prolly shouldn’t love this team so much — then what’s the point of having a blog?? To simply cling to unrealistic hope and expectation that we will be so markedly better this year because we finally have a coach with a system and a D-man other than Toby who can move the puck is nothing but mere wishful thinking.

Hartley had a system and look where that got us, not to mention Bob. We had Hossa, Savard, Kovy and a productive Slava and STILL couldn’t make the playoffs in 2006!! Do y’all really think we’re going to be that much better this year because of ZBo and Ron Hainsey?

While I would love to dream that DWad could pull a miracle out of his arse and sign Demitra and Morrison to bolster our offense, it should be pretty obvious that the current combo of indifferent and inept ownership and an outclassed GM is the true reason this franchise is mired in a morass of mediocrity. There’s so much to be positive about I just can’t stand it!!

By Nikita

July 7, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

I have high hopes for Machachek. He looks good. And his production is stellar — I don’t know that he’ll make it this year, but I suspect he’ll make a good showing and maybe make a tryout. I’m very cynical about Espo — his problems are mental, and we have enough delicate flowers (many of them under contract already) to nurse along this year.

every time I think of Russian hockey leagues, I think of the movie “Rollerball.”

Heh. Me, too. Alas, without LL Cool J. (and good suggestion on Atreyu.)

we should have enough homegrown talent by now

Well, we might, actually — our draft picks have all looked decent at pickin’ time…and then they’ve not been developed. We have established players who’ve played on many teams in many situations getting demoralized and negative — I have no doubt that affects the development of people who have never seen another NHL franchise. Here’s hoping Jon Anderson does better — I doubt he can do worse.

As for playing with various teams…players aren’t stupid — they know what’s going on behind the scenes. Playing down south requires that you go somewhere where most of the population doesn’t care about your sport, chances are you’re leaving friends and family, and in general you’re going to spend a lot of time away from the hotter markets. All of the southern teams have this problem — even Washington has trouble attracting players because it’s too damned far from the frozen north. Plus you’re playing for teams that do not have a lengthy heritage — chances are they’re neutral or upstarts in the view of anyone whose opinion you trust, hockeywise. However, Pittsburgh has had some rough patches moralewise. It’s in a state with a shrinking population, and in a town too small to support it, where a lot of the population is unemployed. It’s frequently in economic trouble. It’s frequently at the cap and has to do mass sell-offs. It’s not a good place to hang your hat, simply because you’re unlikely to do it long-term. Buffalo, meh. It’s a mediocre club. Like the NYR. Middling and competitive, but probably not the place to establish your legacy. And Toronto is a joke — anybody going there had better already have their ring in hand, because they won’t get it there.

Why are we living in the past, exactly, or cursing factors we cannot change? It’s at least partially a new season, isn’t it?

By Hip Czech

July 7, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

*If you don’t like negativity, perhaps you should pull for a different team!! *

That’s beautiful…because I don’t like people posting the same stuff ad nauseum I should go find another team to pull for? It seems the ones who should go find another team to pull for are all those who continually gripe and whine.

I agree Waddell stinks, I agree the situation is a mess, but continually pointing that out on this forum accomplishes what?

I am all for first amendment rights and discussing the LATEST Waddell moves (or non-moves)…but to just post here ‘the Thrashers suck and Waddell should be fired’ doesn’t add a whole lot to the conversation.

By Sara

July 7, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

Smoothie then why bother?? What is the point of b!tching? I’m sick and tired of having to read the same crap every day on this blog to the point where I may quit posting and/or reading because frankly, there isn’t much of value left for me in this blog. Even Bob, who used to have great posts, has now regressed to doing little more than b!tching about Waddell or anyone who doesn’t agree that he’s the worst thing to happen to ATL since Sherman.

I’m going to be optimistic every single off-season because once I cease to be, I will cease being of fan of this team. That simple - if it doesn’t make me happy, then I’m not going to bother with it. You (and I) can debate player movements, personnel decisions, and the like rationally and logically all we want, but at the end of the day, being a fan is ALL about emotions.

By Smoothie

July 7, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this

Hip Czech — every blog is going to have there fair share of attention w******* who want to bluster lustily about firing the GM and blindly supporting a bad product etc, but you have to take the good with the bad. I would love to be more excited about this upcoming season, but what pray tell should I be excited about?

I’m curiously interested in seeing how guys like ZBo, Spencer and Espo will do at camp, but we must be realistic. Even if they show well and make the team, it’s doubtful they’ll have the sort of impact that Toby Enstrom had.

I’m just wondering what it is you want to talk about other than Waddell, free-agency and our lack of a “big splash” so far. Perhaps you are a real life, bonafide NHL scout who can shed some serious light on whether our 2nd round pick wasn’t truly a stupid reach on an undersized teenager who hasn’t even played A-league junior hockey.

By Smoothie

July 7, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this

Smoothie then why bother?? What is the point of b!tching?

Sara, it may seem like b!tching for the sake of b!itching to you, but for some of us, it’s called discussing the reality that confronts us. How can you begin to discuss this franchise and it’s future and not be reminded of its many utter failures and mistakes?

I would love to have nothing but hope and excitement for a quick turn-around, but until we sign a big-name FA who can score some goals, I can’t even fathom being all that amped up about the same team we had last year plus Ron Hainsey and John Anderson. Perhaps I’m just a bit more cautious when it comes to optimism since I’m tired of being let down by this team.

You (and I) can debate player movements, personnel decisions, and the like rationally and logically all we want, but at the end of the day, being a fan is ALL about emotions.

Precisely, and sometimes being emotional about your team means being negative. It goes both ways. That’s what makes this entertaining…if everyone shared the same pollyanna, everything’s gonna be just fine attitude, what would be the fun of posting on a blog?

By Hip Czech

July 7, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

Smoothie, right, no problem with that …I just agree with Sara that I am sick of just reading the inane ‘Thrashers suck, fire Waddell’ posts.

Of course people should post their opinions on the moves the Thrashers are making, positive or negative. We SHOULD be talking free-agency and a lack of a “big splash”, we SHOULD be talking about prospect camp this week, we SHOULD be talking about teams that have cap issues, etc…and I would still like an explanation of the difference between:

…players who elected to take their teams to salary arbitration

and

The deadline for teams to decide to take players to salary arbitration…

As far as the ‘big splash’ I am OK with only one FA signing, by most accounts this year’s FA class was mediocre at best. The few quality players out there were grossly overpaid (Campbell, Redden, even Hainsey to a lesser extent, and if you want to go bash somebody go to the Leafs blog and bash the Finger signing). Blame it on management that made promises (sound familiar) that they should not have made without realizing the FA market. Yeah, at the beginning of last year it LOOKED like this was going to be a bumper FA class. But in reality it turned out not to be.

I am no Pollyanna, I agree this franchise is in a mess. If people have constructive criticism then let it be heard and move on. It’s just that the majority of people reading this blog agree that Waddell should be gone and the ASG should not be in ownership so why continually point that out?

It also boggles my mind why some people take perverse pleasure (I guess there’s the answer) in going to a team’s blog site that they care nothing about and posting. I hate Buffalo, I hate Tampa, but I am not going to go to either of their team of fan blogs and post stuff to rip them.

By Mitch Holder

July 7, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

**Dissapointing days in Free agency and ahead for Blueland.

Noone enjoys the thrashers more than I a season ticket holder for 4 years but things are in a sad state for our Hockey team. I hope things get better.

We are now replacing Columbus as the team free agents put at the bottom of there list when finding a new place to play.(Remember a few years ago when Holik and other players were putting Atlanta near the top of there list?) A questionable ownership situation, Mixed witht he same Gm and direction of the team and Hossa’s commments on his doubts if Atlanta is really doing everything to build a Stanely cup team has hurt us. Once again we end the year looking for solid Defenseman and Centerman. and for this year add secondary scoring to that list .

I like John Anderson and feel that he was the right choice as coach and I think The defenseman from Columbus and the guy from Russia will work out fine but we did not make enough of an impact in Free agency to help our team.

I hope we get our issues resolved and get a solid centerman for Kovy before he becomes a free agent because all of his friends that formerly played for us are having positive expieriences in other hockey cities.

By Sara

July 7, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

What Hip said. It isn’t the opinions I have a problem with, it’s the number of times per blog I have to see those opinions. I just cannot fathom being that negative all the time no matter what. I mean, gas prices blow chunks and are never going to get any better but I don’t spend all my time griping about it. At this point, I don’t even gripe anymore when I go to the pump - it is what it is and I can’t change it. Nor do I see any point to wallowing in the negative and making myself perpetually unhappy.

Smoothie you mentioned before that most of this is stuff we can’t predict either way and that’s true. Fact is, this isn’t the same team as last year and it has the potential to do even more changing than one might have thought. There is no telling what any of these kids might be able to bring to the table next season. I just kind of prefer the glass-is-half-full approach of hoping for the best, instead of assuming that because we didn’t go out and sign 5 of the biggest guys in hockey (one at each position) and trade away or waive half of our roster that we are therefore obviously going to suck worse than any team in the history of the NHL. I’m even looking on the bright side of that - even if we do suck, we’ll still get a good shot at Tavares so I get a win-win almost.

Look, that’s just how I get through things. I can gripe for a while (and I have) but eventually I have to get that out of my system and move on. It’s a life philosophy if you will. Try it sometime - it’s better than Prozac (trust me). :D

By Smoothie

July 7, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

Great post Hip Czech!! I hear ya and pretty much agree with all of it. I agree that we don’t need to hear the same crap spewed a slightly different way by LAC, Sage and Dave in such an incessant manner. As passionate hockey fans, we pretty much know and believe the things they say to be on point.

However, I do appreciate the fact that they are passionate enough to post regularly and express themselves in a vehement fashion. Of course, I usually know what they are going to write and after a sentence of reading, I realize it’s the same passionate diatribe as before so I choose to simply skip it and scroll down.

But I’m certainly not going to whine about the fact they are constantly pi$$ing and moaning about our inept and incompetent management / ownership. Whining about the fact people b!tch too much is no different than those who b!tch and whine to begin with, at least in my humble opinion.

By Alan

July 7, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

I’m just wondering what it is you want to talk about other than Waddell, free-agency and our lack of a “big splash” so far.

How about “anything else?”

Listen, I love the blogs, but I’m in the same boat Sara is in, where that I am so sick of reading this b****** that I’m just going to stop. And I dislike Waddell, to boot. I’m just sick of hearing ramblings about sheep, how bad Waddell sucks, and ownership conspiracy theories. The 9/11 conspiracy theories are more compelling and believable than the ones aboout the Thrashers ownership, for crying out loud.

but you have to take the good with the bad. I would love to be more excited about this upcoming season, but what pray tell should I be excited about?

What isn’t there to be excited and optimistic about? A “big splash” doesn’t necessarily mean going all out like the folks south of here did. And the void left by moving Boyle out is huge, even if you consider they received a defender (as well as draft picks) as compensation. Is this the kind of “big splash” you wanted? Seriously now.

I’ve taken “the good with the bad” for a long time now, but when people start sniping at me or others because of our opinions, it might be time for me to search out greener grass elsewhere.

Let me tell you, I get more done at work a lot quicker when I’m not spending all day posting on these blogs. And to top it off, I can fire up Diablo II or Half-Life during my “time when there’s nothing to do,” if worst comes to worst. This doesn’t mean I’m leaving as of now, but unless things change, you’ll see a lot less of me.

By Steve

July 7, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

Has the coaching staff for the Thrashers been finalyzed and signed? I have not found any press on this.

By Bob

July 7, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

Even Bob, who used to have great posts, has now regressed to doing little more than b!tching about Waddell or anyone who doesn’t agree that he’s the worst thing to happen to ATL since Sherman

I tell ya, I’m severely depressed about all of this. I had a light at the end of the tunnel last season, I figured “finally, the owners will get rid of him”. And then they didn’t, and it completely demoralized me. I have no hope left for our club getting better until he is gone. It’s probably why I’m myopic on it now, I’ve got tunnel vision nothings going to change until he’s gone.

And then everytime I get my hopes up, and I had my hopes up for Campbell, Rolston, and a center, they get dashed with the reality of the situation we’re in. And then a long weekend and as soon as I start reading some hockey, bam, there’s a story about Dan Boyle being forced to waive his no trade to avoid being banished here.

I really have no hopes for this club until he is gone. But I don’t want to give up on out club, I guess that’s why I keep focusing on the real problem, getting rid of him

There, I didn’t use his name once. I feel better.

By Rawhide

July 7, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this

At the risk of giving everyone something else to b!tch about…it seems as though Todd Bertuzzi is going to Calgary.

There is one less impact player off the market.

OK,carry on….

By Smoothie

July 7, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

Alan — while I realize signing big name FA’s is not a guarantee for success, I want someone to tell me who in the hell will score goals for this team other than Kovy and perhaps Slavamatic! As much as I would love to believe that Little will blossom, he’s prolly not going to pot more than 15-20 goals. Perhaps EC and Army will really step up but they haven’t really been consistent lamp-lighters thus far in their careers.

For me, a “big splash” would be signing a guy who has PROVEN he can score 25-30 goals / year such as Demitra, Huselius, Rolston or even Satan…someone who might take some pressure off of Kovy while Little develops on the 2nd or 4th lines. How about a trade with a team like Philly who is already over the cap to secure a perennial 25 goal scorer like Mike Knuble?

Perhaps DWad is laying in the weeds waiting to pounce when the time is right but after his recent string of signings (other than Mark Savard), I’m not the most optimist cat in the world when it comes to getting a proven commodity. Hell, Petr Bondra would probably score more goals than Thorburn, Slater and Boulton combined…actually I have no problem with those 3 playing on the 4th line for us.

By Alan

July 7, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this

I knew I could coax a little bit of optimism out of you, Smoothie. It’s not much, but it’s a start.

I heard about the Bertuzzi signing, Rawhide, and found myself thinking “too bad it wasn’t Colorado.”

By five_hole

July 7, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

Of course you meant Cal-Gary.

I agree about the b*tching. Can we all agree on a moritorium until at least the 1st preseason game?

By kracker

July 7, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

Hip Czech Wow! You fired up the usual suspects even more than I thought it would.

But none of this is a problem. I just scroll on by if I see a keyword such as “fired” or a lot of bold or caps and get to a trusted poster such as yourself (and many others) with something interesting or funny to say. I like to try to learn some of the finer points of the game as well as all the things that happen off the ice and in the pages of the CBA and CHL rules, etc.

By Kansas City, Kansas City Here We Come!

July 7, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this

I was just looking at how much this year’s free agency bidding might carry over to the next few years. If you look at some of the younger impact players in the league and their stats from last season, here are a few more who might get rich sooner than later.

Ryan Miller UFA 2009; Henrik Zetterberg UFA 2009; Jason Pominville RFA 2009; Anze Kopitar RFA 2009; Tobias Enstrom RFA 2009; Cam Ward RFA 2010; and Braydon Coburn RFA 2010.

Based upon the salaries tossed around this past week, you would think d-men Bouwmeester, Meszaros and Wideman would get substantial arbitration awards or new contracts.

Bouwmeester will get at least $4 million, don’t you think?

By R. Stroz

July 7, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this

Are we having fun yet?

Seasons are won and lost during the offseason. Unless, we sign Nikulin and pick up some help for Kovy, next season isn’t looking very promising as of this minute.

By Bob

July 7, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

Demitra, Huselius, Rolston or even Satan…someone who might take some pressure off of Kovy while Little develops on the 2nd or 4th lines

Agree. He has to do something, right? There’s no way they go to camp with this lineup.

What about Demitra and Morrison, are they both still available? I would take both, in a heartbeat, and feel 100% better about this club’s chances this coming year. Not perfect guys for us, no, but it’s all there is on the UFA that will help us. I guess trades are the other option, but what do we have to give?

By R. Stroz

July 7, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this

I guess trades are the other option, but what do we have to give?

How about a nice soft roll of Charmin.

By Hip Czech

July 7, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

Zetterberg and Franzen will be tied up before they become RFA…gee, maybe even Enstrom. Bouwmeester and Mezzaros may be a sign and trade thing this year. If Bouwmeester does hit the open market, yeah, he is 4mil easily.

How Detroit handles the cap is an amazing thing to watch. I am torn between whether Hossa signed a one year deal because Detroit laid it out for him ‘hey, you sign for one year so we don’t tie up cap space that we need for Zetterberg and Franzen and then we will sign you long term after that’, or he REALLY IS putting all of his eggs in one basket this coming year.

Looks like public opinion on Hossa is split about 50/50. Half the people commend him for the ‘it’s not about the money’ stance…the other half rip him for screwing the Pens and saying ‘oh, I love Pittsburgh and it’s not about the money’ and then bolting for Detroit for the same money.

If Detroit plays here next year fan reaction will be interesting..me, I don’t boo him; and seeing there will be more Wings fans anyways he probably gets a pretty good ovation.

By NASCAR Dave

July 7, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

Well, well, well… A whole lot of testy tempers in here it seems… WHY is THAT??? Is everyone starting to get it now? - What SAGE/BOB/BRENDAN/LAC/NASCAR DAVE have been telling you, ALL ALONG??? :)

Indeed. The negativity right now is unfounded. We should wait until sometime after the season starts before we start demanding accountability. For now, while I don’t think we look good, I do think we look okay as a team. It can get much better, or far worse.

ALAN - You have got to be kidding me!!! What the hell are you talking about??? Wait until after the season starts??? WHAT???

NO WAY!!! i signing is UNACCEPTABLE!!!

How can we look like a “good team”??? We have NO Top Line Center… NO Top Line RW… NO additional scoring threats have been brought in… 1 D-Man who we OVERPAID for…

WHY have they NOT signed MORRISON???

WHERE is NIKULIN??? Is he REALLY coming, or was that just more FRAUDell nonsense he was babbling about???

No trades???

So, you’re telling me we are “cool” with LARSEN/WHITE/SLATER/KLEE/EXELBY??? LMAO, how pathetic!!!

There are 2 ways to change the situation. One might be by getting rid of Waddell, the other is winning. Winning would change everything. Players want to make the playoffs, and if they see us as being in that position, then they will want to come here.

FIVE HOLE - We cannot WIN when we constantly bring in RETREADS, and not TOP PLAYERS… Do you get it yet??? Was 9 years not enough for you to SEE it??? Things will NEVER change here with that bubling idiot Donnie FRAUDell running (or ruining) the show…

Yes, winning will fix things, but how are we gonna win without good players? How are we going to get good players with Waddell as GM and ownership completely FUBARed?

BOB - We’re not…

Sara, it may seem like b!tching for the sake of b!itching to you, but for some of us, it’s called discussing the reality that confronts us. How can you begin to discuss this franchise and it’s future and not be reminded of its many utter failures and mistakes?

SMOOTHIE - Very valid point. Some people just don’t to accept the fact that we are the laughingstock of the league with 1 guy to blame (FRAUDell)… They would much rather discuss KARI’s New Mask or which players are going to appear at Training camp instead at LOOKING at the STARK REALITY we have here in BLUESland… It’s really quite sad, to say the least…

NUFF SAID.

By Thrasherbob

July 7, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

Hey, is anyone going to Duluth this week to the Prospect Development camp? If so, can you post something, anything remotely promising on the blog?? Okay, I’ll settle for just an update. BTW, the Beast is not listed as a coach at camp or as even an attendee……..do I dare read too much into that?

By Smoothie

July 7, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this

Bob — I believe both Demitra and Morrison remaine unsigned. I’m quite surprised that the rumour mill is not still churning full throttle with respect to the future destinations of these 2 players. I asked Knobler if he knows anything but he’s probably still trying to get DWad to realize he’s the new beat write for the Thrashers!

I too would gladly take both of them in a NY minute, but I prefer Demitra over Morrison if we can only have one. I think Little is fast, scrappy and skilled enough to successfully play the pivot between two legitimate goal-scoring threats such as Kovy and Demitra. Of course, having Morrison center Kovy and Demitra would prolly be ideal so Little could slide down to a lower line.

Why not throw $5-6 mill per year at each for 2 years? Perhaps the extra money they would get would help persuade them to play for a shorter contract. It would minimize the risk for the ASG and serve as an extended audition for each player. And both players, should they remain consistent with their production, would still be able to secure another 2-3 year contract in 2010. A win / win perhaps??

By Nikita

July 7, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

I can’t even fathom being all that amped up about the same team we had last year plus Ron Hainsey and John Anderson.

Yeah, except it’s NOT. It’s the same team minus several players who were cancerous off-ice and poor on it, minus someone who didn’t gel with the future of the franchise (who someone else now gets the privilege of paying ludicrous sums of money), minus a Bugs Bunny-esque manager of everything except actually teaching the team to work together and win, and minus an environment in which there was no consequence to intentionally not doing your best. It’s plus several players who are at the point where they could well mature into AWESOME players (and frankly I’m disappointed in everyone that assumes that a bunch of players in a horrible environment will never recover once the environment is changed), Ron Hainsey, Bogosian, someone who appears to actually know what a system is and be able to implement it, and so on.

It’s not the same team at all — it would not be the same team if only because it has a large number of 20-26 year-olds on it, and most who received ice time last year did so in inappropriate positions — if half of them mature into the players they’re capable of being in a better environment we’ll have a good if not great year. Heck, my major issue with the first half of last season is that last year the team wasn’t even conditioned — if there are consequences for dragging your a* around the rink like you don’t care if you’re on the ice, it’ll be a different team.

The defensive upgrades will make it a different team. Any improvement in the power play (and let’s face it — if the power play doesn’t improve we might as well not bother) and PK will make it a different team.

So, in short, there’s plenty to get excited about. Like the whole next season.

By Hip Czech

July 7, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this

NASCAR Dave seems to be impatient…ND needs to realize it is still over two months until training camp opens and the roster begins to take shape.

Demitra would be nice (though he will miss 15-20 games because of injury). I would hope Bouchard is the one who ultimately lands here via trade.

Exelby & prospect & 3rd round pick for Bouchard.

Then sign Demitra or Jason Williams (or both, though Williams may be a little soft for a top line gig w/Kovy).

Or trade for Vermette.

By five_hole

July 7, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

FIVE HOLE - We cannot WIN when we constantly bring in RETREADS, and not TOP PLAYERS… Do you get it yet??? NASCAR Dave Maybe you should take a Percoset and lay down for awhile. I’m worried about your blood pressure, brother. Light some incense; put on some dolphin/whale music. Ooohhmmmmm. Ooohhhmmmm. Ooohhhhmmmm.

Exactly where in my posting did I advocate “bring in RETREADS, and not TOP PLAYERS”? I don’t want retreads, retards or reruns. I don’t want almost were, might-have-beens and could-should-wouldas. On the other hand, here’s a reality check (and PLEASE inhale/exhale before and after reading this) the top players have already signed elsewhere. They’re gone. Forget it. Not gonna happen (except by trade). Buddy, we need plan B.

Plan B seems to rotate around our new Coach. He needs to instill a winning attitude and a system that fits what talent we have. At least for this year.

Again, please inhale/exhale before reading this: We’re not going to win a cup this year. Not gonna happen. So, what’s the best we can hope for? Maybe, just maybe, with a good system and a lotta luck, we could make a playoff bearth. The rest of the league would notice winning. That’s the best we’ve got to hope for. Hope I didn’t put you in the hospital, buddy.

By Brendan

July 7, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

Bluejackets ink RJ Umberger to 4-year deal, terms undisclosed. Dang. I wanted to see how much this contract turned out to be. Hokie and I have been curious about it. Think it’s made its way to www.nhlpa.com yet?

By Sara

July 7, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this

Tell ‘em Nikita!

By Hip Czech

July 7, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this

This years winter classic:

outdoor game in Chicago

By Smoothie

July 7, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this

Well Nikita, I certainly agree that addition by subtraction can be a good thing for any franchise, but we haven’t really upgraded any position save for a puck-moving D-man who may or may not thrive in JA’s system. I wish I could comment on Hainsey’s abilities but who the hell ever gets to see the Columbus Blue Jackets play?? If he can help us keep the puck in the other team’s O-zone longer than 5 secs, then we may just be better, but let’s see how much better we are on offense:

— subtract Hossa and add EC & Army…I’d say that is definitely a downgrade even if Hossa was dogging it half the season

— subtract Recchi and add WHO?? Armstrong? LaVallee? Haydar?? NOT! Haydar didn’t even get a sniff from any of the other non-playoff contenders and there is a reason for that…net result = downgrade unless we sign a FA

— subtract Holik and insert Todd White! OMG, this will be a disaster if White is expected to anchor our checking line. The guy is totally deserving of his Charmin moniker and can’t even win more faceoffs than Eric Perrin…however, there could be a net effect of a slight upgrade if Perrin continues to blossom as our 3rd C and LaVallee and / or Stuart flourishes with consistent minutes

— 4th line is pretty much the same as before with Slater teasing us again with some goals towards the end of the year. I love his grit and determination, but he is Pascal Dupuis without the fun, French name to yell out when he touches the puck

So I can see how we’re soooooo much better than the end of last season. Even if JA’s system is the elixir we’ve been looking for, I just can’t see how we’re going to improve by more than 5-10 wins without another proven goal scorer and a talented pivot who can dominate the puck and draw some attention away from Kovy.

By Sara

July 7, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

Smoothie Christensen replaces Holik - both finished last season with a 58.4% FO%.

Look the D is automatically better IMO because at least one old fart (if not a couple) is going to get replaced by someone younger. Hainsey may not be a top-two, but he’s not a badly priced top-four and he’s in his prime. Somehow I can’t think that between Valabik, Kulda, Bogo, Nikulin (please) we aren’t going to find a couple that stick and stick well.

Sterling and some of the other kids that have flourished under Anderson’s system in Chicago may very well flourish up here with it as well. It’s the great “unknown” again but I’m still going with sunny-side up here. And Slater > Dupuis cause Slater can actually finish when Perrin dishes him the puck on the PK. Dupuis had 3 SHG playing all year on the PK - Slater had one less goal with only, what, maybe a month on the PK?

Recchi is easily replaceable (and I doubt he would have worked out next year anyway given McCrimmon is out of the picture). Hossa - yeah, that one hurts and hasn’t been addressed yet.

No one is saying we’re going to win a Cup. But we should be better and more than 5-10 wins better. I think we lost more games towards the end of the season because of poor team morale than anything else. Take that out, and it could have ended totally differently.

By Nikita

July 7, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this

we haven’t really upgraded any position save for a puck-moving D-man who may or may not thrive in JA’s system.

Yes, but you’re not addressing my central point, which is that the equivalent of two lines of players might potentially upgrade themselves over the break — in fact, they’ll have to if they expect to have a career in the NHL. And D-wise, we have no idea how X will come back, or if Valabik might play better in a system run by someone who actually understands him.

— subtract Hossa and add EC & Army…I’d say that is definitely a downgrade even if Hossa was dogging it half the season

Hossa couldn’t play with Kovy and needed his own support, so it really doesn’t matter. Someone else now gets the privilege of overpaying him, and we’ve now seen what Kovy needs to score — large fellow forwards and a competent D line. (For a large portion of the season he was with small forwards and the secondary D, which only works if the secondary is our current primary.) He should probably be matched with Thorburn and Christensen. He’s not a two-way player except under duress, and we really shouldn’t expect him to be.

ubtract Recchi and add WHO??

Er, we don’t know what’s up with Recchi, do we? Except that he said he’d like to play one more year on a lower line and retire. He may well be the third line anchor.

Reminds me, who the ^%$# is Junior Lessard? He’s on the roster — Boulton has now disappeared.

OMG, this will be a disaster if White is expected to anchor our checking line.

He isn’t big enough. White is the player I most expect to see traded — I simply don’t see where he can be used at this point.

however, there could be a net effect of a slight upgrade if Perrin continues to blossom as our 3rd C and LaVallee and / or Stuart flourishes with consistent minutes

Eh. Lavallee, maybe. Supposedly Anderson likes Stuart, but I think he’s not NHL material.

line is pretty much the same as before with Slater teasing us again with some goals towards the end of the year. I love his grit and determination, but he is Pascal Dupuis without the fun, French name to yell out when he touches the puck

This I absolutely do not agree on. I think Slater was misapplied all last season. He needs to sink or swim on a higher line. Plus, thank god no one on our current team has the Pascal Dupuis gift for creating scoring chances that don’t turn into goals.

Even if JA’s system is the elixir we’ve been looking for, I just can’t see how we’re going to improve by more than 5-10 wins without another proven goal scorer and a talented pivot who can dominate the puck and draw some attention away from Kovy.

a. If JA’s system is as I described above, we’ll win 5-10 more games merely by being in better shape than our leaguemates out of the gate. We actually didn’t do too poorly toward the end, but by then everyone else was Cup-hungry — but if we’d started better we would have been in the hunt longer.

b. what I said about self-upgrades.

c. I hope we’re still planning to add a player or two. But I think we could see great improvement from teh existing squad.

Fantasy lines shortly.

By Bob

July 7, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this

But we should be better and more than 5-10 wins better

If this current lineup is one game better than last year, Anderson should get consideration for the Coach of the year trophy (man, does the name for that escape me, is it the Jack Adams?).

By five_hole

July 7, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this

I’m appreciating the positive attitude from Nikita and Sara and I’d just like to add one more thing; we had veterans who played at less than their potential last year. Slava had a lousy year by his past production. So did X. Part of that might have been the locker room problems that Hossa presented with his contract. Part of that might have been problems “gelling” with Todd White, who was also not very productive either. White did have some decent numbers his last year with the Wild. Part of it might have been lack of coaching and game plan.

Yes, I’d still like to add a power RW. I’m guessing that Sterling will be the #2 RW, if for no other reason than the knows Anderson’s system. If we could sign a Demitra or trade for someone without giving up too much, we might be competitive.

Let’s not forget that hockey is a team sport. Especially at the speed these guys play at, it’s about timing and instinct; it’s about knowing which way your winger is going to break; it’s about counting on your defensive partner to cover if you join the rush. We may not end up with the most individual talent, but the U.S. team at Lake Placid didn’t have the most talented team, either.

By Bob

July 7, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this

the equivalent of two lines of players might potentially upgrade themselves over the break

What? How do players upgrade themselves over the break, take some magic elixer?

He should probably be matched with Thorburn and Christensen

What? That will guarantee his exit from town after next year (if he doesn’t demand a trade first).

Er, we don’t know what’s up with Recchi, do we? Except that he said he’d like to play one more year on a lower line and retire. He may well be the third line anchor

Er, didn’t you read Recchi’s quotes? He’s avoiding this place like the plague along with the rest.

He isn’t big enough. White is the player I most expect to see traded — I simply don’t see where he can be used at this point.

This I agree with, except I don’t expect to see him traded.

Supposedly Anderson likes Stuart, but I think he’s not NHL material

I think Stuart (and LaVallee) is NHL material, I loved Stuart’s play in the Wolves’ Cup run, and liked what I saw of him when he was here.

I think Slater was misapplied all last season. He needs to sink or swim on a higher line. Plus, thank god no one on our current team has the Pascal Dupuis gift for creating scoring chances that don’t turn into goals

What? Slater is absolutely the epitome of the Dupuis/Slater syndrome (all wheels, no hands).

we’ll win 5-10 more games merely by being in better shape than our leaguemates out of the gate

What?

By joyaman

July 7, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this

Too Bad…

…that many of you are tired of hearing the FDW refrain. We too would like to get on with the armchair GM banter, and did so patiently for many years.

Each time we pardoned the man in charge with an extensive list of excuses to fuel our dilusional thinking: (1) Expansion club just starting 5-year plan; (2) New corporate owners (AOL-TW) too far removed from day-to-day decisions to support GM; (3) New owership (again) - free three-year pass; (4) Lockout - Donny’s club goes undefeated; (5) Don’t blow it up - just a player or two away (as the club was lighting the fuse of its 2007-08 implosion); (6) Now it’s “time to rebuild” again (Groundhog Day syndrome).

GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK

How can anyone who honestly claims to be a full-bore Thrashers fan sit still for the second coming of this s** storm? Some issues are so fundemental and foundational that when they go terribly wrong - and trust me boys and girls, they have - they must be immediately addressed before any true forward progress can be made.

That is why some of us appear to be a broken record these days. It’s not that we don’t care about who coaches, or who is signed or acquired, or what the opening night line combos and d-pairs might look like. It’s just that (to quote Bill Murray in Meatballs) “It just doesn’t matter!” You’ve got a category 5 Tornado spinning around in your front yard and your checking the freaking Weather Channel to see what the UV index will be next weekend.

Help us fix the problem, then we can all move on.

-joyaman

By NASCAR Dave

July 7, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this

Is NIKULIN here yet???

What about #1 CENTER??? Where’s he???

Where’s the RW???

And 8 of you silly fools gave them an “A” in the AJC Poll.

That’s just downright disgusting…

NUFF SAID.

By Nikita

July 7, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this

What? How do players upgrade themselves over the break, take some magic elixer?

Normal physiological changes at that age + physical training + changing dynamics of the team. I’d suspect At least three of six (Armstrong, Little, Thorburn — Slater, if he’s in the correct location) will come back as much better players.

What? That will guarantee his exit from town after next year (if he doesn’t demand a trade first).

B.S., if Christensen doesn’t break down. They’re the two most physically-appropriate players that we currently have, they’re fast enough to create adequate shock and awe, and they could well return with the ability to compete on that level. I’d like us to pick someone else up as a linemate, but he needs large two-way players.

I think Stuart (and LaVallee) is NHL material, I loved Stuart’s play in the Wolves’ Cup run, and liked what I saw of him when he was here.

I don’t think Lavallee is ready, but a lot could happen over the break. But Stuart has been here a few times — and not with a lot of bang, either.

What? Slater is absolutely the epitome of the Dupuis/Slater syndrome (all wheels, no hands).

a) his hands are better and improving and b) he’s much younger than Dupuis. Plus, he didn’t play in a position that allowed him as many scoring chances as Dupuis until after Dupuis was gone.

What?

Last season started ugly. And I don’t just mean the score, or the acrimony — I mean the team was clueless, lazy, out-of-shape, not working together, and dragging. If we can address most of those before the season starts, rather than a month or two in, then we won’t have to make it up later.

By Smoothie

July 7, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this

Smoothie Christensen replaces Holik - both finished last season with a 58.4% FO%.

Uh, hate to nitpick, but your argument is flawed because you’re not really comparing apples to apples. I doubt EC will be playing on the checking line. I reckon the top line job is his to lose unless Fraudell makes a trade to bring in a top-notch pivot.

If you recall, Holik was a temp fix on the 1st line because a) White was not gelling with Kovy and b) White was nursing his shoulder after the All-Star break. Holik would have been fine as our 3rd line C for another year IF he were a more effective captain. But I think the majority here realizes that it was time for Bobby to move on as we need a younger motivational force (ahem, um Kovy) who can lead by example as much as by his words in the lockerroom.

I think Thorburn can play on the first line with Kovy if, and only if, we sign or trade for a bonafide stud centerman. Without a playmaking center, Kovy draws too much attention and Thorburn’s scrappy forechecking efforts go to waste.

Right now, this is as good as it’s gonna get unless we make some moves:

Kovy — EC — Thorburn / Army

Slava — Little — Army / Perrin

White — Perrin — Stuart / LaVallee (don’t want White on the checking line but his 2 + million salary makes him too expensive for 4th line duty)

Boults / Sterling — Slater — LaVallee / Perrin

If Slater could finish, he would have played top line minutes all year last year. It doesn’t take a coaching genius or new system to figure that out.

By Tim

July 7, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this

Sterling will be LW or not making the line-up (unless if he dramatically improve on RW position which is not his natural one and it shown last season).

By NASCAR Dave

July 7, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this

It’s really sad that so many of you fools are SO accepting of this INCOMPETENCE…

Listening to you people make excuse after excuse… It’s really nauseating to say the least…

But it’s funny too… Because the solution is very simple; 1 move needs to be made and that will change EVERYTHING… But after 9 years it still hasn’t been made…

WHY is THAT???

WAKE UP!!! 1 damn signing is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE!!!

How can you FOOLS sit here and say it’s OK… IT IS NOT OK!!!

NUFF SAID.

By Russ

July 7, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this

10 more wins than last season puts the Thrashers at 96 points. Optimism isn’t nearly a strong enough word for anyone that thinks this group is capable of 10 more wins.

Basically, I am looking at the Thrashers as about a second or third year expansion team right now. That is about where I would put the quality of their roster as it currently stands. Hopefully Anderson will be given at least as long as Fraser was working with inferior talent. Unfortunately, the same GM is in charge of overseeing “Expansion: Phase II” and the ownership group could care less about the product being put on the ice.

By Sara

July 7, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this

Dave I hadn’t looked - did 8 people really give this off-season an A?? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA man I’m an optimist and I wouldn’t even go there. Actually, you can’t grade the off-season since it technically ain’t over yet. I like the Hainsey signing, I like the Campbell non-signing (except for the whole slap-in-the-face part). But we should have done something at forward somewhere. Oh well.

And btw, there is a HUGE difference between “accepting incompetence” and choosing to ignore it. Personally, I am choosing to ignore it because I can’t fix it, nothing is going to change any time soon, and I don’t feel like spending my summer being depressed about my hockey team. Now, after a couple of days at prospect camp I may go back to slitting my wrists if all the kids fall all over the ice, but for now…I’m good, thanks!

By Nikita

July 7, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this

10 more wins than last season puts the Thrashers at 96 points. Optimism isn’t nearly a strong enough word for anyone that thinks this group is capable of 10 more wins.

If this team can manage not to get their asses handed to them for multiple lengthy stretches, then we’ll be there. Also, there really isn’t any excuse for getting pounded like we did last year on several occasions, which only happens when you completely lose your &^%$. Plus, 94 points = Buffalo last season, and we can do better than Buffalo. Plus, if we got 10 more points, we’d at least make the top half of the division.

By Smoothie

July 7, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this

Normal physiological changes at that age + physical training + changing dynamics of the team. I’d suspect At least three of six (Armstrong, Little, Thorburn — Slater, if he’s in the correct location) will come back as much better players.

Nikita — while I’ll grant you that a team can improve their puck possession and overall forechecking by improving there physical stamina and the employment of a better system, I cannot believe that you think Thorburn and Slater are candidates for improving their goal scoring by any material amount.

Thorburn has never scored more than 5 goals / yr and has been and always will be a grinder whose potential prolly caps at 10 g / yr. Slater would need to improve his production 100-150 % to become an effective goal scoring threat who is worthy of playing with Ilya K. Do you honestly think he will ever score 20+ goals? He’s a career 3rd / 4th line player and PK specialist at best.

As for Colby and Erik, I think they have the potential to blossom into very solid, perhaps 1st line players. However, Erik has only averaged about .2 goals / game for his short career. While I think he is perfectly capable of playing with Kovy and feeding him the puck at least as consistently as Todd White, he didn’t really show me the soft hands and playmaking ability that scouts have written about in the short time he was here before getting hurt.

Wouldn’t you be more comfortable with EC if we could sign a proven goal scorer like Demitra rather than rely on Slater or Thorburn to improve their production 200-300 % in one summer?? Until we make such a move, I don’t see how anyone in their right mind could predict a 5-10 game improvement when we are losing Hossa’s 30 + goals, Holik’s 15 goals, Recchi’s 15 goals and replacing it with the potential of 10 goals from Slater, 10 goals from Thorburn, and the possibility of 20+ from BOTH Army and Crusher next year. That’s a BIG IF!!

By NASCAR Dave

July 7, 2008 5:37 PM | Link to this

Dave I hadn’t looked - did 8 people really give this off-season an A?? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA man I’m an optimist and I wouldn’t even go there.

Actually it’s at 11 now… That’s 11 lashings well deserved, IMO…

Personally, I am choosing to ignore it because I can’t fix it, nothing is going to change any time soon, and I don’t feel like spending my summer being depressed about my hockey team.

That’s fine SARA. Just keep spending your money on it. That’s what they want anyways, and you never let them down…

By Tom

July 7, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this

To me it is pretty simple…

The Thrashers have a serious problem.

They are putting out an inferior product in a non traditional market and charging top dollar.

To make it work they need to fix a minimum of 1 of the 3 parts to this problem to remain viable.

Either improve the product on the ice by fielding a better team with stronger management and coaching. That does not seem likely with Waddell here and being a place players do not want to come to.

The other way to make it work is to lower the cost of tickets to make the arena a place to be. The team sort of did that by running perpetual specials last year but burned the season ticket holders in the process. This year they said that will not happen so with an inferior team they will have an empty arena to play in.

The last part is unable to be fixed. Atlanta is not a hockey town. It has a strong hockey fan base, but that base is limited and will only attract new members with success.

So we are faced with an inferior team that charges high ticket prices in an empty arena in a non traditional hockey town.

Welcome to your 2008 Atlanta Thrashers.

What scares the heck out of me is that the present situation has no recourse for improving unless either management changes or the team is moved to a traditional hockey city. Those are the only alternatives I see.

How about you…

By kracker

July 7, 2008 6:08 PM | Link to this

Whoa!….you guys are throwing around improving by 5 to 10 wins - or even more - like that’s only a modest improvement. 10 more wins is HUGE! Give the Thrash 10 more wins last season (20 more points) and they are 44-30-8 for 96 points and 6th place in the playoffs (actually 3rd seed since 96 pts wins the SE), perhaps better if some of those extra wins come from the 3, 4 and 5 teams. If the extra wins come from some of the Thrashers OTLs last season, well then the additional points go down.

Anyway, 10 wins for, say, 18 more points would be a fantastic improvement and have the Thrash at the edge of the playoffs next year, either just in or just out. I hope it goes down that way!

By Bob

July 7, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this

If Slater could finish, he would have played top line minutes all year last year. It doesn’t take a coaching genius or new system to figure that out

You’re spot on, Slater has had his minutes playing on the top line, he in no way shape or form is a scoring forward, he’s a grinder or PK specialist, at best. I’d rather we just dump him, as he’s not that great on the PK or as a grinder, but he does skate really, really fast in a straight line, so he’s got that going for him, eh?

Now, at the risk of (ok, I know this isn’t going to go over well) of p** off my couple of fellow bloggers who want to paint a rosy picture and whistle through the graveyard that is exactly what the Spirit is counting on

They are making a business decision that there’s enough of you out there willing to buy into this nonsense or just put your blinders on and buy tickets in order to watch live hockey, that you’ll accept this incompetence. I’m sorry, but that’s what I, for one, am railing against. I don’t want to accept it, and I don’t want to just walk away as I love the game and our team too much. I want it to be better.

If enough of us stand up and voice our opinions and Don’t Buy Tickets then they will have to change. It’s the only thing we as fans can do to force them to change.

If we as fans just lay down and put on rose colored glasses and suffer under delusions like players are magically going to improve themselves over the summer and turn into NHLers and that this lineup can win one more game (much less 5 to 10 more games) next year, then we are enabling the Spirit in their incompetence.

If your favorite restaurant started serving crappy food that got you sick, and charged you a lot of money, would you just keep going back because “the chef is learning, he’s going to learn how to cook better” and “some food is better than no food”. No, of course not. You’re going to stop going there, and that’s over a $20 dinner. Think about the $1000s we paid (and some of you are still paying) as season ticket holders!

Sorry, if the few of you that don’t want to hear reality and don’t like hearing that the management of your hockey club stinks and needs to change, then you need some thicker skin, as that’s the prevailing opinion of the majority of the fans and it’s going to keep up until the right changes are made. Whoever fooled you into thinking that a real fan is one that blindly supports their team no matter what, sold you an empty bill of goods. The best fans are the ones that care enough about their club, to want the best for them, and to go about forcing change in an effort to make them better. Not just go to games and cheer them on because, gee whiz, they’re our team and that’s all we can do.

Dave wants to focus on the 11 Spirit employees (or the one that keeps clicking Grade A every hour on the hour), I look at the fans that voted C, D, or F and am heartened to know that many of you get it.

But don’t think there’s “nothing we can do about it”. There certainly is. Let your voice be heard and let your wallet amplify that message that you will not be a lemming for Waddell to send out more empty promises to and for the Spirit to translate that misplaced loyalty to pad their bank accounts.

Nothing meaningful will change here until meaningful changes are made and a real GM is brought in to build this hockey club

By Nikita

July 7, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this

I don’t see how anyone in their right mind could predict a 5-10 game improvement

Easy. We simply show up prepared to play and that’ll get us 3 or 4. If half of the players resume their pre-last-season production (which for most of them was DOUBLE last season), there’s 3 or 4.

And I haven’t voted, for the record. As I’ve said previously, what I would hope for ideally was two top-D and one top-C. I didn’t get that.

P.S. Declaring a 24 year-old to be doomed to mediocrity is premature.

By kracker

July 7, 2008 7:09 PM | Link to this

General comment to the sad/mad/blowhard people: It is about 3 months until the real games start. We don’t know what the final roster will be or how it will preform folllowing training sessions and preseason games. We don’t know how JA will perform as a new coach or how his system will work out with the players he has available to pencil in on opening day.

So for the people who get on here and repeatedly preach at people about how this player can’t do something or it all won’t work because you say it won’t, well, you are doing so simply because being abrasive and preachy is your temperment, being disagreeable is who you are. There is simply insuficient data to make any conclusive assessments at this time.

Wait until the team actually loses a real game then you will have something to assess. Until then I choose to remain hopeful of having an enjoyable season of hockey coming up. Something that would just kill some of you since you would have to either leave or subsist on a daily diet of cold crow.

[btw, this is the toned-down version]

By kracker

July 7, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this

P.S. Declaring a 24 year-old to be doomed to mediocrity is premature.

Yes. But some ppl are smarter than me.

By kracker

July 7, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this

Woohoo! Here you go, R Stroz, is this your handiwork?

cafepress t-shirt

By JD

July 7, 2008 8:15 PM | Link to this

Recchi to Tampa Bay

By Paul

July 7, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this

Wow, Mark Recchi signs with Tampa Bay

TSN.CA Free Agent Tracker

By kracker

July 7, 2008 8:24 PM | Link to this

OK….we got a brand new bad-mouthing-my-team bad guy to beat!

By Tony C.

July 7, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this

Heh.

Boy I love it. Barry keeps getting greybeard forwards and no D help. He better have some real bruisers on his squad because I seriously think most forwards in the SE will be able to skate right by two of their top-three D-pairings.

Junior Lessard can skate and hit, I’ve seen him contribute a timely goal…may not be a bad signing. But this continues DW’s predilection for 3rd-liners.

By R. Stroz

July 7, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this

kracker - It’s not my handiwork; however, I’m think I just figured out what to do with some of the savings from not purchasing half season tickets.

By They're all liberals

July 7, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this

After reading that so many other people are fed up with the negativity around here and how they describe them, it made me realize something. The negative posters here are like liberals. You can talk to them about all sorts of facts, evidence, whatever, and they just yell back “BUT THERE’S A WAR IN IRAQ”. You can discuss why taxes are bad and they just yell “BUT THERE’S A WAR IN IRAQ”. You can discuss free market economic theories and why big government is not productive and they just yell “BUT THERE’S A WAR IN IRAQ”. Go to some liberal blog, cut & paste the entire thing here, only substitute “Iraq” with “Fire Waddell” and you wouldn’t know the difference. Bunch of whiny liberals around here who don’t understand facts but just like to yell and scream.

By Sage of Blue States

July 7, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this

Great. Another 5 years we are going to be in Iraq because of brilliant Donny. Or is it a 10 year plan now to get us out of that country?

By ETHANOL CAR Dave

July 7, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this

Don’t you people realize that your season ticket holder dollars are funding an unnecessary war?

NUFF SAID

By LAChange

July 7, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this

I bring a message of HOPE and CHANGE. We need a new GM to get us out of Iraq. Only with this new CHANGE will we reach our country’s potential. Vote for HOPE and CHANGE and get us out of Iraq.

By Nancy R. PeStrozi

July 7, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this

I’m going to show up at the next function that Waddell is at with my blowhorn and yell BRING HOME THE TROOPS! BRING HOME THE TROOPS! BRING HOME THE TROOPS!

By Bob-by Kennedy

July 7, 2008 9:47 PM | Link to this

Don’t you people realize that your season ticket holder dollars are funding an unnecessary war?

Spot on. Don’t use your own money to fund that unnecesary war in Iraq.

Great. Another 5 years we are going to be in Iraq because of brilliant Donny. Or is it a 10 year plan now to get us out of that country?

That’s right. Another 5 year plan of being in Iraq is all we have to look forward to.

By Brendemocrat

July 7, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this

Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. There’s a war in Iraq

Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Why won’t Waddell get us out of Iraq you say? Because Bredemocrat

Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. We are still in Iraq

By R. Stroz

July 7, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this

Several weeks back I suggested that with the current state of the Thrashers, few free agents would sign and the Thrashers may not reach the NHL salary floor.

With Morrison and Demitra nearly signed elsewhere and the Thrashers 10 million under the cap, the Thrashers only way to reach the salary floor is to take on bloated salaries of players other teams not longer want.

In other words, the Thrashers are quickly becoming the equivalant of being to Siberia.

By Nancy R. PeStrozi

July 7, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this

All this money that is going to the war in Iraq could be going to other uses to help our country. Even though the budget season is not only a week old and we have 3 months to figure things out, I am going to put forward this theory: In order to meet the budget, we are going to overspend on the war in Iraq.

By kracker

July 7, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this

Now this is some funny stuff….next it’ll be DW Obama for a Change-GM ticket

By Sage of Blue States

July 7, 2008 10:15 PM | Link to this

Look now. All of the sheep are finally realizing that there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. I guess we went over there for nothing. Countless Thrasher soldiers were lost because brilliant Donny had to take us to Iraq.

By ETHANOL CAR Dave

July 7, 2008 10:19 PM | Link to this

What are we going to do next? Our ROTC graduates aren’t ready to go fight a war yet. Waddell hasn’t drafted anyone worthy out of West Point or Air Force. Even I could’ve gotten that #1 pick right from Annapolis.

NUFF SAID.

By Bob-by Kennedy

July 7, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this

All of the sheep are finally realizing that there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Spot on. Waddell couldn’t find anything over there. His hockey department got all the intelligence/scouting reports wrong and we went to war for nothing.

By Brendemocrat

July 7, 2008 10:32 PM | Link to this

ETHANOL CAR Dave it’s funny you should mention West Point. See, back during the War of 1812 blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. And we are still in Iraq.

Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. But there is no plan to get us out of Iraq.

Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. So you ask, Bredemocrat, why do we need to get out of Iraq? Because, I say Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah.

It’s also a little known fact that near Iraq the ancient Mesopotamians Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah.

By LAChange

July 7, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this

CHANGE is what we need. I have HOPE that a new GM to replace Don Waddell will get us out of Iraq. Although my wife says she has never been proud of the NHL, I believe we can CHANGE it for the better if we replace Don Waddell with myself. Follow me, I HOPE you want to win the Stanley Cup for Atlanta.

By Nancy R. PeStrozi

July 7, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this

When is Belkin going to win the chair back from the American Society Group (ASG)? If he we to be chairman, he would fire Don Waddell and bring in a GM who doesn’t want to be in Iraq.

By "The Fake" Ben

July 7, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this

Just thought I would be the first to let you all know that Reechi signed with Tampa Bay and Morrision is reportaly signing with the Ducks. Go Thrashers

By Alan

July 7, 2008 10:51 PM | Link to this

DW Obama for a Change-GM ticket

That’s awesome. You can get Sage Of Blue States to be the campaign manager: “Change wou can bewieve in.”

By Sage of Blue States

July 7, 2008 10:51 PM | Link to this

The United Nations was able to use diplomacy. Why can’t we use diplomacy? No, we have to go to war. And I don’t like those outdated bombers we have, they won’t help us win any wars at all. But surely every other country in the world will pay us 30 trillion dollars for them. Why hasn’t Donny Fraudell gotten us 30 trillion dollars for each one of those bombers? He failed again. It’s time to get a new GM, one who can competently get 30 trillion dollars for those outdated bombers that none of us wants. And get us out of Iraq.

By HookyBob

July 7, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this

Sara, Nikita, & Allan I admire your optimism,..and wish I shared it. If I were to walk in your shoes would those be the shoes of recent (since the lockout) Thrasher fans, and maybe longtime backers of another NHL franchise,.. perhaps located in Michigan? No offense meant,..simply trying to establish a perspective.

Those of us who have followed the Thrashers through many off-seasons before see Waddell’s approach as identical to years past,….and have a hard time being optimistic. Waddell makes few moves,..even letting good players walk without offers. Then comes the PR about how much potential this particular combination of (mostly young and/or unheralded) players possess. To us it is more of the same mediocrity we have lived with for the entire life of this franchise. To make matters worse, it doens’t go unnoticed,…this franchise’s reputation is going down,..at least in players eyes.

Two things may be different this year. First,…we have a new coach with an exciting style of hockey. So we ask…will this man (who spent a dozen years in the minors) be what turns us into a NHL winner,.. or is it more of the same MO,..the inexpensive option accompanied with lots of promotional PR? I am cognizant that “offense first” systems have had very limited success at the NHL level (especially so in the last 20 years). Don’t get me wrong, I wish him the best,…but don’t feel the odds are in his favor.

Second,…perhaps our defense is shored up,…perhaps. Yet, if you worked through Rawhide’s exercise a couple weeks ago,..where’s the offense coming from? It is hard to imagine our current players increasing their points by 30%-50% or so. (Possible though). How many current Thrashers would be first line players on other teams?

There are bloggers here who analyze the situation and try to determine what the problem(s) are. In 9 out 10 analyses the finger is pointed at DW (often w ownership complicity). So, they keep pointing out that this is where the change needs to be made. Some call it whining,..I don’t. Stroz, Bob, Brendon, & Russ correct me if I am wrong. A closer look at all the blogger’s comments will tell you that these are voices of moderation. Ignoring the problem isnn’t the going to make us better.

I do have a question for Brendon,.. who writes that we are “rebuilding”. Does that mean were “built” at sometime?

As a Thrasher fan I will be there this fall to cheer on the team.

By Alan

July 7, 2008 11:11 PM | Link to this

Hooky - Don’t mean to nullify your point after only a couple sentences, but I’ve been a Thrashers fan since Day One. Literally, since the day the NHL announced an Atlanta franchise.

Sorry.

By Tony C.

July 7, 2008 11:13 PM | Link to this

wow.

Politics

greeeeeat

By B. Thenet

July 7, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this

Worst blog ever

By Don't you get it

July 7, 2008 11:40 PM | Link to this

If this was the worst blog ever then now you understand what everyone else can’t stand. If you don’t want to listen to the same Iraq dribble over and over again, what makes you think the rest of us want to listen to the same fire waddell dribble over and over again. We get it, you don’t like him, move on then. I think I am going to see if we sign Nikulin. Then seeing how there is not a time limit that says you are only allowed to sign people during the first 24 hours of free agency, see if we get Demitra or trade for an RFA. Then I will see if this is the same old Donny. Until then, post something new or informative, not the same old dribble.

By ben

July 7, 2008 11:40 PM | Link to this

“The Fake”Ben:

Thankyou oh so much for that. Sarah, i am a relentlessly positive person who sees the bright side to things and i must say there has to be a change. but i do love this team.

IS IT ME, OR IS MY NAME TOO COMMON?

i love the psudomyns

By Brendan

July 7, 2008 11:48 PM | Link to this

Hookybob, the Thrashers were “built” with a window of opportunity in 2005-06. That was a team that would have made the playoffs with a healthy Kari Lehtonen and Pasi Nurminen. Once in, I’d argue it had the potential to pull off a 1st round upset, and maybe more. I can’t entirely rule out a berth in the CF, with some breaks along the way. The big acquisitions of that offseason were Bobby Holik’s 3-year deal, acquiring Peter Bondra, with an incentive-laden contract, Kovalchuk’s 5-year deal, and Hossa’s 3-year deal in the trade with Ottawa for Heatley. The Thrashers added Mike Dunham in net. But unfortunately, that didn’t work out too well either. The groin injury bug bit Lehtonen, Dunham, Shields, and even Michael Garnett. The only escapee was Adam Berkhoel. Scott Mellanby was signed before the lockout and remained under contract, as was Nic Havelid and Jaroslav Modry. So was Exelby, M. Savard, and F. Kabele.

The 2005-06 team was a team that began the season at an almost maxed out cap, Hookybob. Waddell tried to keep as much of the team together as possible. He did eventually re-sign Havelid, Exelby and Mellanby. He added Steve McCarthy without giving up any bodies at the 2006 trade deadline. He added Moose in the 2006 offseason, on a 2-year contract, which a very good move. He got Moose re-signed to another 2-year deal this offseason.

2006-07 started out well enough. Expectations weren’t as high as the year before, but the playoffs weren’t out of the question. But by the trade deadline, the team was faltering and even trailed the division they led most of the year. None of the four trade deadline acquisitions (Dupuis, Belanger, Zhitnik and Tkachuk) are still here. Although, Dupuis and Zhitnik were still with the team in 2007-08.

By Brendan

July 7, 2008 11:56 PM | Link to this

Oh alright. Kovalchuk was re-signed AFTER the 2005-06 season started, not during the offseason. I think he joined the team in the third game of the season. Or thereabouts. Don’t quote me.

By Jethro

July 8, 2008 12:00 AM | Link to this

Looks like sum @$$hole got off tha short bus and ended up here.

Go back ta cold callin ya pathetic sales rep. Thatz right no one wantz yur sorry @$$ product.

When Duckman goes huntin and getz shot by Cheney ya might be able to sell sum tickets homer.

In tha meantime, eat sum more peenut butter cause thatz all you can afford.

By Jethro = Stroz

July 8, 2008 12:08 AM | Link to this

HAHAHAHA. Stroz signed on with another name and used the same peanut butter line! Figures that Nancy R. PeStrozi would complain about Cheney :)

By R. Stroz

July 8, 2008 12:15 AM | Link to this

Well Done

The only problem with your comparison is that I have been a life long Republican.

However, I do like the idea of Cheney and Waddell going hunting together, something along the lines of taking care of two birds with one stone.

By Jethro = Stroz

July 8, 2008 12:21 AM | Link to this

PeStrozi, please, enough about the Republicans and the Iraq War and Waddell.

By HookyBob

July 8, 2008 7:11 AM | Link to this

Alan - If you’ve watched the Thrasher mgmt (or is it mismanagement) all these years and are still optimistic about the upcoming season,..my hat goes off to you. While I struggle to see what it is founded in, I hope it is rewarded.

BTW: Feel free to tell me to put down the crack-pipe and step back from the keyboard. :)

By Alan

July 8, 2008 7:25 AM | Link to this

I try to always be optimistic, Hooky. You don’t get much from life it your glass is always half empty. :)

Suck it up and smile. There’s brighter times on the horizon for us in Blueland.

By five_hole

July 8, 2008 7:40 AM | Link to this

I see that while I slept, the blog degenerated into cheap shots at politics.

So, what I see the semi-whitless like They’re all liberals and *Brendemocrat * want to keep the same useless economic policies of the current administration (Waddell & the ASG, of course). They think we need to “stay the course” and want “4 more years”, even though our leader has the worst approval rating in (Thrashers) history and has put the (Atlanta Thrashers) in the worst economic shape in our history.

Some of us think we need CHANGE. Some of us think that we need a new direction (for the team, of course). We need new leadership, new ideas. Together we can say YES WE CAN.

My name is FIVE_HOLE and I approve this message.

By Nikita

July 8, 2008 7:45 AM | Link to this

would those be the shoes of recent (since the lockout) Thrasher fans, and maybe longtime backers of another NHL franchise

Um, no. I have rooted for the Thrashers in every season since the beginning.

I am optimistic because a) why the hell not? b) I believe what I said about our youngest players, which we have a lot of. And I feel decent about our core — I simply hope that between now and opening night we get a system (which Anderson appears capable of providing) and the pieces to fill in some glaring holes we have (er, the word here is “hope”).

I’m starting to think that one of Atlanta’s major problems is its fans. For one thing, I’ve yet to hear anyone thrash their team like our fans thrash ours, despite seeing major problems with those other teams. And I really don’t have the energy for the hating. So, I’m gonna sit back and wait for opening night. And give our players the benefit of the doubt and all my support. Which is what they deserve.

By Dick Cheney

July 8, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this

With Recchi being your latest defection, I will be glad to take Waddell out hunting!

By Sara

July 8, 2008 7:59 AM | Link to this

Hooky I hate to burst your bubble like Alan did but I’ve been a Thrasher fan since day one as well. I’ve still got my first year season ticket stubs in the little momento books they gave us.

Neither myself, nor Alan, nor Nikita or some of the others are denying there are some issues here (and have been). It’s just that there are basically two paths here: continue to gripe and complain about crappy owners and bad mgmt decisions or look for the positives in the organization. Continuous complaining doesn’t make anyone happy - Buddhism and psychology kind of back me up on that one. So I’ll focus my attention elsewhere.

Things I’m looking forward to:

1) a PP that might involve something other than a Kovy one-time blast from the point

2) not having to watch this team play whack-a-mole in its own zone

3) not having to watch Zhitnik and Holik take turns filing into the sin bin

4) seeing how Enstrom and Little mature in their second seasons and what some of our young players can bring to the table

By Sara

July 8, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this

Nikita trust me - Atlanta fans get on all of their teams. Wander over to a Falcons blog or Hawks blog and you’ll see it for yourself. Although you have to be careful in the Falcons blog - it degenerates into race wars if MV gets brought up.

ATL has lots of passionate fans for all of its sports teams - especially the college teams and especially where football is concerned but that’s the South for ya. What gives us such a bad rap is that ATL fans are also very discriminating when it comes to their money - always have been. If a team sucks, people aren’t going to pay to go see it. It’s happened with every pro-team in this city at one time or another. About the only exception was the MV era for the Falcons - people came anyway because he was so dynamic to watch that at least you did get some entertainment value for your dollar.

It’s hard to fault that logic because it will send a message.

My hardest thing is that ultimately I support a team of players and this mess isn’t the fault of the guys in blue. They (mostly) have shown up every day trying to do their job and I won’t crap on them just because they have morons higher up the food chain. I’m also thankful to have an NHL team, even when it has been bad. Yes it’s frsutrating but to me it’s better than not being able to see it live at all. We are blessed to have Kovy, were blessed to have Heater and Hossa while their tenures lasted. I have some great memories of this franchise from every single year and from lots of players. Little things like Pasi’s donkey-kong save and Weaver trash-talking Lemieux on the ice still make me smile, even years after they are gone. I’ll continue to watch next season and the season after because even though the team may frustrate me at times, they also make me smile - that’s why I’m a hockey fan and a Thrasher fan. As I said before, the day I let all of my enjoyment for this team get sucked out of me is the day I stop being a fan and the magic is gone.

By Rawhide

July 8, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

sigh….

OK, the “politics” blogger was funny…the first 4 or 5 posts…but, ummmmmm, let’s put that one to bed now.

OK?

By Bob

July 8, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this

longtime backers of another NHL franchise,.. perhaps located in Michigan? No offense meant,..simply trying to establish a perspective

Excellent perspective and makes me feel better about where they are coming from. I’m sure if my true love and original hockey club was winning Cup titles and I had that “fall back on”, I wouldn’t care as much about the failings here in Atlanta.

For those of us that aren’t Wings fans, and really just Thrashers’ fans, it sucks and we’ll continue to push for change, as we don’t have “well, the Wings will win it again and I can watch them in the playoffs”.

Et Tu, Recchi? And Morrison gone as well? Great.

By Russ

July 8, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this

OK, the “politics” blogger was funny…the first 4 or 5 posts

Rawhide - I think you are giving him way too much credit.

By Bob

July 8, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

the “politics” blogger was funny

He was? It was dumb and also completely off base as liberals are the ones that refuse to hold people accountable for their actions.

Like stroz, I’m a hard core conservative, which means I demand personal accountability for one’s actions, which is why I hold Waddell’s feet to the fire. I would hazard to guess that the vast majority of us that hold him accountable are conservatives, and the few lassez-faire types are liberals (or content Wings fans).

By B. Thenet

July 8, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

Who coined “stay the course”?

Please don’t make this political.

By Rawhide

July 8, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

B. Thenet - I believe it was George H. W. Bush who coined that phrase in 1988.

Russ, Bob - I was trying to be nice. I’ve engaged in some political banter in here myself…so I’m not preaching down on anyone.

Back to hockey now…..

By Bob

July 8, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

Who coined “stay the course”?

Daffy Duck? He’s as much of a conservative as who you are referencing (check the spending lately?). Swing and a miss.

By Sara

July 8, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

Any excuse eh Bob?? Because no one rational or as emotionally invested as you would dare to say anything other than “Fire Waddell” every other post. Typical conservative attitude. ;)

If all I cared about was a winning team, I’d stick solely with the Wings and say to h3ll with the Thrashers. Could have done that for the last 10 years and saved myself quite a bit of time and money. Alas, no, I choose to carry on in the hopes that one day in the not too distant future, my Thrashers will be as good as my Wings and I will reach hockey nirvana (until they meet in the SCF, in which case I will be in hockey h3ll but let’s not get ahead of ourselves).

It’s all a moot point - you all have your “Fire Waddell” beanies pulled down firmly over your heads, buffering out any other sound (or thought). So you folks just keep on spending your summer all hot and bothered about “Dumb Fraudell” while I spend the rest of my summer sunny and elated. :D

By Former Thasher Fan

July 8, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this

The problem isn’t the “fan getting all over them”. Have you ever read the press in Philly? New York? Ottawa? Toronto? Chicago? Fans & the media is TOO complacent here.

The real issue with ALL ATL sports teams (Except the Braves, and this is changing) is the owners refuse to keep a team together due to being cheap. They are always rebuilding. Falcons go from Super bowl to losing in one year. They go from NFC title game to losing in one year. Thrashers go from Division title to losers in one year. Never build on sucess.

Pittsburg will keep Crosby and Malkin together, we trade both Heatley and then Hossa. Why can’t this city & it’s owners keep the stars around? Trade Dominique, trade Dion Sanders, Release impact vets and go with cheaper unproven kids……

Look at Detroit, New Jersey, Colorado, Dallas …. stable teams who have the same players year after year. How many captains have the Thrashers had in 9 years? Look at the Falcons, rebuild yearly.

Next year, Kovy will be traded and then what? Who will score?

ENOUGH!

By Bob

July 8, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

I believe it was George H. W. Bush who coined that phrase in 1988

Ah, good one. Now he was a conservative. The son? Notsomuch.

Typical conservative attitude

Ah, I knew it. So, you’re a liberal and a Wings fan, no wonder you’re just oh so fine and content with Waddell.

while I spend the rest of my summer sunny and elated

Must be nice for you. I’m sure if my hockey team won the Cup last year, I’d be sunny and elated as well.

By Smoothie

July 8, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

He was? It was dumb and also completely off base as liberals are the ones that refuse to hold people accountable for their actions.

Like stroz, I’m a hard core conservative, which means I demand personal accountability for one’s actions

Bob thanks for saying what needed to be said with respect to that idiot poser who tried to relate a hockey blog to something as serious as the war in Iraq…to a conservative sort like myself, that is nothing but distasteful and offensive especially so close to a natl holiday that honors the sacrifices made for our freedoms. I guess his method of being funny involved being completely wrong and ignorant.

Anyway, I really don’t understand people who profess love for two professional franchises in any sport. I LOVE the Thrashers, for better or worse, but I don’t give a rat’s a* how another team does during the season. My dad grew up in Buffalo and I grew up following the Sabres and idolizing Gilbert Perreault and Phil Housley.

But, I absolutely LOVE beating the Sabres in our house when they come to town…I find the Banana Slug fans to be the most obnoxious fans in the league. I follow the Sabres a little bit for conversation’s sake with my dad, but I would never corrupt the integrity of my fandom by pulling for another team even if it is in another conference or from my home state.

Am I alone here? I pull for the Braves, Falcons and Thrashers (hate the Hawks, love the Hornets for other reasons) and that’s it…all other teams are the ENEMY.

By Alan

July 8, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

Ah, I knew it. So, you’re a liberal and a Wings fan, no wonder you’re just oh so fine and content with Waddell.

I lean left and am a Wings fan, and I’m not content.

Broad brushes were made for painting walls, not people of various political stances. Rational people know this.

By kracker

July 8, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

Brendan, even with the 5 goalies in 3 weeks to start the 05-06 season, we likely still make the PO if Bondra doesn’t pull his groin in Feburary. He returned pretty quickly but only scored a couple of goals the rest of the season.

Anyway, we can’t fault the owners for not spending to the cap that season. DW was sending 2-way guys to Chicago if we had 2 or 3 days off just to save a few bucks of salary.

By Bob

July 8, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

Alan, to follow up on Hooky Bob’s point, he’s spot on, and so am I by pointing out that conservatives demand accountability, and liberals want to believe that everything is magicallly going to work out by themselves.

Sara, Nikita, & Allan I admire your optimism,..and wish I shared it. If I were to walk in your shoes would those be the shoes of recent (since the lockout) Thrasher fans, and maybe longtime backers of another NHL franchise,.. perhaps located in Michigan? No offense meant,..simply trying to establish a perspective.

So, Hooky Bob is three for three with you three, all Wings fans, thus content with your real team’s Cup win and more willing to accept what’s going on here. Hey, that’s your right, but don’t run away from it, it’s the truth.

I followed up with that moronic poser up above with the rantings about the war and calling us liberals, by pointing out how moronic it was and I guessed that the ones with the lassez-faire attitude toward Waddell were probably libs. And I’m two for two with you and Sara.

Seems that broad brush painted a pretty straight line, eh?

But I do agree, bringing politics into it was moronic (please see above who did that). I was just continuing the very accurate observation that Hooky Bob made, and he’s right and it actually makes me feel better about you three, if my team won the Cup this year, I’d also be pretty satisfied with whatever the heck Atlanta was doing. After all, we just won a Cup!

By NASCAR Dave

July 8, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this

Well, well, well…

I see those WIMPS BRIAN and ROSWELL THRASHERFAN showed up last night…

Friggin pansies…

NUFF SAID.

By Alan

July 8, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

So, Hooky Bob is three for three with you three, all Wings fans, thus content with your real team’s Cup win and more willing to accept what’s going on here. Hey, that’s your right, but don’t run away from it, it’s the truth.

If you honestly believe I am content with this organization, you are only fooling yourself. Lies and falsehoods might make you feel better, but they only end up making you look stupid. So congratulations on that.

You think this is some sort of game, with the three for threes and two for twos. You don’t really know anything of me, and I doubt you and Hooky know anything of Sara or Nikita. I digress, however. I’ve slapped this tarbaby enough times. You think you’ve got all the answers, and by disrespecting other fans of this team, you think it makes you look better. It makes you feel good.

I’ll not play your game any longer, Bob. I’m unhappy with this organization, but it’s not like you or anyone else care to see that. Maybe Stroz knows how discontent I am. I wonder about Dave sometimes.

Nonetheless. No more games. See you all when the season starts. Maybe.

By NASCAR Dave

July 8, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

Is NIKULIN here yet???

Do we have a #1 Center yet???

Has the “promise” from the Season Ticket holder “emergency meeting” been fulfilled yet???

NUFF SAID.

By Smoothie

July 8, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

[Check out this from the Spectors site] (http://spectorshockey.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=790:nhl-trade-and-free-agent-rumors-july-8-2008&catid=5:trade-rumors&Itemid=9)

If indeed Mike Knuble or Joffrey Lupul is on the block, then Waddell needs to bring one of them to Atlanta to play RW with Kovy. I would prefer Knuble because he would prolly cost less in terms of picks and prospects. They need to dump $4-5 million I think so we may want to entice them with Sterling and a couple of draft picks for Knuble and a young d-man other than Coburn (as they are not likely to trade him back to us).

By NASCAR Dave

July 8, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

I’ll not play your game any longer, Bob. I’m unhappy with this organization, but it’s not like you or anyone else care to see that. Maybe Stroz knows how discontent I am. I wonder about Dave sometimes.

ALAN Brother, there is no need to leave! I know where you stand on this, and my only disagreement with you on this is that I WILL NOT spend any more money on this debacle, and you will. That is the only real difference of opinion between us…

It’s fun to sit here and b!tch about things, because it’s SO EASY!!! They give us SO MANY reasons to do so…

If you are leaving because of internet bullies, so be it… I’m not here to stop you from doing that, although I would suggest you stay… It seems you are getting all riled up over some politics spam posted by BRIAN and ROSWELL THRASHERFAN…

Why do you think they have been in hiding since the 1st part of last season, ALAN???

Because they are gutless cowards, just like the ASG and that stupid lying buffoon, Donnie FRAUDell!!!

NUFF SAID.

By Bob

July 8, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

Do we have a #1 Center yet

Little?

Has the “promise” from the Season Ticket holder “emergency meeting” been fulfilled yet???

C’mon Dave, think about it, you should know Waddell Speak by now. Bogosian and Hainsey, there’s your two new d. They underpromised and overperformed if they get Nikulin here as well, woo hoo.

By five_hole

July 8, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

Alan I commiserate with you; don’t debase yourself by stooping to their level. Typically, anyone who doesn’t march in lock-step (or is that goose-step) with the only track they can muster is the root of all the evil in the world. An outcast to be shunned (and made fun of, outside of earshot). In other words; they’re a*******holes.

By Smoothie

July 8, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this

text to be linked

Testes, testes…one, two, 3??

By techtosterone

July 8, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

So some of you delusional types think all we need is 10 more wins, and that ought to be easy with “effort.”

You forget we lost Hossa.

Look at who we have, and what winning teams have. Assume that a winning team has a “few” players of above average NHL skills. Now lets see who we have that I simply equate to above average for an NHL’er.

1 offensive player = the obvious Maybe 2 at the most defensive players, Hainsey & Toby. Before you say it, Havelid is average, you know it. And again, I’ll throw in Kari as being above average player, though that can be debated.

So that makes 3. Don’t underestimate the effect Hossa had. Adding another world class player totally skews the dynamics of your team, and losing one of those players dramatically hurts.

Lets put it another way: if you are good enough to make your home country’s national team, then you are likely an above average player. Do the Thrash have somebody else than Kovy? Havelid used to, but I’m not sure he still has a spot on Tre Kronor.

Almost half of Sweden’s national team plays for Detroit — and we know that Canada, Sweden, and Russia are far and away the top 3 national teams.

The NHL has a cap. Everybody has the same rules. If Detroit can do it, we can do it. There is no unfair advantage to any team, like it or not.

Its all about the players, and we aint got none. And we all know (well, except ASG) who’s fault that is.

By Alan

July 8, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

I love the blog, but some of the people here are real douches. That’s all I’ll say on that. I actually meant to close this tab instead of hitting refresh, but I’m kind of glad I did. Thanks five_hole, perhaps I was wrong.

Perhaps this blog is like Hotel California… you can check out, but you can’t ever leave.

Or, perhaps I’m a glutton for punishment. Know this, though: they can fling their poo all they want, but I’m not taking it anymore. How appropriate, since they’re a***** to begin with.

By NASCAR Dave

July 8, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

C’mon Dave, think about it, you should know Waddell Speak by now. Bogosian and Hainsey, there’s your two new d. They underpromised and overperformed if they get Nikulin here as well, woo hoo.

BOB - That’s the point. I’m trying to let everyone know about their sneaky little tactics.

LITTLE is NOT a #1 Center… He could be someday, but he is NOT THERE yet… I told this to RANALDO too, If you give KOVY B. LITTLE and tell him “here is your #1 Center”, he will leave, plain and simple…

The whole NIKULIN story was probably a made up distraction to keep us tided over for a bit while all the other teams signed all of the best remaining players… Leaving us with nothing…

Isn’t it funny how they pick on MIKE KNOBLER to do that??? They straight up tell that dude LIES. Plain and simple. LIES, LIES, LIES…

One day KNOBLER will figure it out… I feel kinda sorry for him, having to deal with those losers/liars otherwise known as the ASG and Donnie FRAUDell…

By Russ

July 8, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this

Smoothie - Thanks for saying what I’ve been thinking. How can you root for two teams and still consider yourself a true fan? Maybe this is just my opinion, but when it comes to professional sports true fans pick a team and live and die with the highs and lows of that team. Maybe if some on here didn’t have a “fallback” team that was much more successful than the Thrashers they would be demanding accountability too, rather than complaining about those who do. If the Wings happen to have a down season next year (not likely) do you have a third option in mind so you always have at least one good team to root for? To me this says you are definitely a hockey fan…but a Thrasher fan, I don’t think so.

By Bob

July 8, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this

Good pick up, Smoothie. Knuble would be a great pickup. And it’s not like Philthy doesn’t owe us one.

By Smoothie

July 8, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

Lighten up Francis, uh, I mean Alan. No one is saying you don’t care about the Thrashers. Obviously you do or else you wouldn’t post here. But I don’t see you offering up any possible solutions for this cluster of a franchise. All you do is nitpick other people’s arguments (some admittedly less cogent than yours) with silly comments about how that person isn’t being rational, but you never give anything concrete to support why you think the Thrashers are going to be any better this year. You just keep saying “wait till the season starts” or “we won’t know till we see these guys play under JA’s system”.

As for five_hole’s comments, I’m not sure how to address them, but if he thinks *Bob of all contributors is an internet bully, then perhaps he should check out the Falcons blog for comparison’s sake. This blog is for DEBATING and COMPARING IDEAS, but the minute someone starts forming sound arguments and using common sense to back up their point, they are labeled an “internet bully a*******whole”…okay, sure.

By Nikita

July 8, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

So, Hooky Bob is three for three with you three, all Wings fans,

My team was the Flames and is the Thrashers, and any team which employs former Penguins from the early 90s or early millennium teams. My favorite player is Martin Straka, who I have followed through all his teams since his rookie season. I detest whoever employs Jeremy Roenick, and I am not interested in Buffalo, Phoenix, or the Gwinnett Gladiators. Everyone else (in various leagues) I’m pretty neutral on. Locally I root for the Lynx, the Thrash, and the Bulldogs.

I do not generally divide people falsely into camps because it is not productive. So I don’t care what your political affiliation is, and I won’t generally disclose mine. I get mail and solicitations from both major parties.

which means I demand personal accountability for one’s actions

Yeah, ‘cause people play best when the house is empty, and they know no one cares about them because they’re p** at management. Riiiiight.

By Sara

July 8, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

Ohhh Bob, you’re conservativeness is sooo showing again. And for the record - conservative and accountability haven’t belonged in the same sentence since 2000. Tht would probably be why I haven’t voted Republican since 2000 either - it’s that whole “sending a message thing.” When they stop being lying hypocrites turning my country into a cesspool, then maybe I will vote for one again…until then it’s democrat or nothing. Accountability baby - gotta love it!

For the record - I lean slightly left of center - most of the time it depends on the issue in question - I’m against the war in Iraq (although actually I’m against about 99.99% of our Middle Eastern policies period and I blame every President and Congress for about the last 50 years for it - see bi-partisan - or equal opportunity hater, whichever you prefer), I am for social programs but want to see MAJOR overhaul because I don’t like seeing anybody get a free ride - I didn’t , I worked my butt off to get where I’m at today and I expect everyone else to do the same (picking oneself up by one’s bootstraps…where have I heard that before??). I’m also pro-life and I shouldn’t have to tell you which side of the fence that falls on. See what happens when you start trying to “label people?” It’s amazing how complex people and the world can actually be.

Anyway…you can bait me all day if it makes you happy. It certainly is passing time for me. I’m still smiling and I’m still going to be optimistic about next season, no matter how much you debbie downers whine. :p

By Thrasher Ryan

July 8, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

Yes! 189th!

Lighten up in here people, would ya? :)

Did somebody grab Morrison yesterday?

By Alan

July 8, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

But I don’t see you offering up any possible solutions for this cluster of a franchise.

You must have just arrived this summer. Fact is, I did, and they got laughed at and shot down. Go back in the archives and look. I suggested a proactive approach instead of the passive resistance that some people have been preaching. Some of us have agreed to disagree, and that’s fine. To each their own.

But from you and your ilk, I get the “you’re a Wings fan so you have a fallback when the Thrashers suck.” Sorry. I’m a Wings fan, but I follow the Thrashers the most.

Last time I checked, this wasn’t Detroit. I can’t go sit on my uncle’s pontoon boat and watch the international fireworks celebrations, and I damn sure can’t go to the Joe and watch Detroit pummel yet another team into the ice.

I care very much about this franchise, and the direction it’s heading. Seemingly, at the detriment to some of you. So detrimental it is, that a few have decided to be blind about it, and tell me that what I feel isn’t really what I feel at all.

So if you really want to hold an incorrect opinion of me, that’s all well and good it seems. But you’re doing so out of your own blind ignorance. And that goes the same for everyone else who thinks its fun and makes them feel good to hold this sort of opinion.

Sorry you feel this way.

By Nikita

July 8, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

I was reading some blog yesterday that had a list of potential centers…all I can remember at this point is Mike Cammalleri.

The fact of the matter is that no team will make or break their team on free agents, but they can goose a generally good team. We have a generally good team. We do not lack talent. But what we need we don’t yet have. We evidently haven’t gotten it yet from free agency, and we won’t know till camp if it’s rising from within, either through discipline or maturation.

By NASCAR Dave

July 8, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

NIKITA Cammelerri got traded to the FLAMES on Draft Day…

And yes, NIKITA, we missed out on that one too…

Pretty sad, ain’t it???

By Bob

July 8, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

Let’s see, we’ve got a farewell speech, that was reneged on in minutes. lo freakin l.

We’ve got a Nazi reference.

We’ve got swearing and name calling.

And all this being done by those on one side of this issue.

Very interesting and extremely enlightening.

I think it’s pretty easy to see who the rational and level headed people are, just so happens to be the same people that know the true problem with this club and are the ones willing to stand up and do something about it.

How can you root for two teams and still consider yourself a true fan?

Bingo. And that’s why those of us that are truly fans want change done here, we don’t have this other team to fall back on.

the minute someone starts forming sound arguments and using common sense to back up their point, they are labeled an “internet bully a*whole”…okay, sure.

Smoothie, that is not even worth responding to. Like I said, there’s one side of this swearing and throwing insults, making farewell speeches, making Nazi references (which, BTW, is the recognized internet standard for having lost an argument).

Meanwhile the rational level headed ones are making coherent points as we see the real issue here.

And the poser up above who brought politics into it and got it 180 degrees backwards on which ones the liberals are, really shined a brighter light on the minds on each side of the argument. Very, very enlightening.

By Alan

July 8, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

Did somebody grab Morrison yesterday?

Yep.

By NASCAR Dave

July 8, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

Did somebody grab Morrison yesterday?

Yep.

ALAN Here is another great signing we MISSED OUT ON…

WHY is THAT???

WTF is going on here??? We have 1 New Signing???

It’s plainly obvious what they are trying to do now… Keep Payroll as low as possible so it is easier to sell off the team…

And some of you people are going to invest in this??? Good god, I need a drink!!!

By Sara

July 8, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

Wow Bob et al - I sincerely hope none of you have children, and that if you do you only have one. Because, obviously, a person cannot love two or more things equally simultaneously and truly love either one. (/sarcasm)

I’ve been hearing this argument for 10 years - it’s as stale as the rest of your posts.

By Alan

July 8, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

Here is another great signing we MISSED OUT ON

I know.

WHY is THAT?

Why bother asking? You know the answer just as well as I do.

And some of you people are going to invest in this?

You know as well as I do why I would attend games. I’ll voice my displeasure to the national and international viewing audiences while you watch on TV. This is what I meant by an agreement to disagree. You and I both have different points of view, and different ideas to have the cancer of this organization removed. It’s not so much investing in the organization as it is having our voices heard.

But you knew this already, because I stated all this months ago. :)

By Nikita

July 8, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

Note: I swear like a sailor. But I don’t believe any of those other examples belong to me. Nor is the characterization of my stance accurate. I simply want to support the team — I would like to see changes, but that doesn’t negate my appreciation for the players.

As to sides, I don’t think I’ve called anyone a sheep, called them delusional, ascribed fictitious motives to them, or assigned them to sports teams that they don’t actually support. So I don’t agree with that characterization either.

Yes, Nascar, it is sad. Also, Junior Lessard is now OFF the roster. WTF? Boulton, too.

By NASCAR Dave

July 8, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this

STENDEC’s “Falcons On Ice” referenece is perfect now… This truly is the Falcons on Ice… LMAO

By Smoothie

July 8, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

Alan — I meant with respect to personnel changes, possible free-agent signings, examples of why X player from Chicago will thrive at Y position etc.

I think we all realize we have the most undesirable ownership situation (not having a sole owner for the hockey franchise) possible and most of us prolly agree that DWad has a less than stellar track record for the last decade.

I honestly believe that the only way the ASG will fire Donnie Fraudell is if this team falls flat on their face this year and people stop buying tkts — and it would certainly send a msg if STH avoid renewing for any length of time. Now, I wouldn’t necessarily endorse a long-term boycott, but I think buying season tkts before the ASG proves they care enough to right the ship is akin to supporting insanity (repeating the same course of action and expecting different results).

You, Sara, Nikita etc prolly choose to think otherwise, but your die-hard hockey fan within won’t let you sacrifice your season tkt to enjoy live hockey that you prolly couldn’t enjoy as frequently if you lived in Detroit. That’s fine, but I think it’s quite clear you three are more paitent as a result of your double allegiance.

I’m only concerned with debating HOW this team is supposed to get better in the SHORT RUN and could give a crap about your political leanings or your Red Wings allegiances. Because if they don’t fix this mess within 3 years, I honestly believe this city will be in jeopardy of losing yet another hockey team.

By Former Thrasher Fan

July 8, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this

It is sickining to go to the Hockey News website and see all the teams signing players and THE THRASHERS AREN’T SIGNING SQUAT!

By Former Thrasher Fan

July 8, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

This is what the Thrashers have done:

7/2/2008 Ron Hainsey, D Signed as Free Agent Five-year contract 7/1/2008 Mark Popovic, D Became Unrestricted Free Agent
7/1/2008 Jesse Schultz, RW Became Unrestricted Free Agent
7/1/2008 Guillaume Desbiens, RW Became Unrestricted Free Agent Not tendered a qualifying offer 7/1/2008 Milan Bartovic, RW Became Unrestricted Free Agent
7/1/2008 Eric Boulton, LW Became Unrestricted Free Agent
7/1/2008 Kevin Doell, C Became Unrestricted Free Agent
7/1/2008 Steve Rucchin, C Became Unrestricted Free Agent
7/1/2008 Bobby Holik, C Became Unrestricted Free Agent
7/1/2008 Jason Krog, C Became Unrestricted Free Agent
7/1/2008 Joel Kwiatkowski, D Became Unrestricted Free Agent
7/1/2008 Steve McCarthy, D Became Unrestricted Free Agent
7/1/2008 Karel Pilar, D Became Unrestricted Free Agent
7/1/2008 Mark Recchi, RW Became Unrestricted Free Agent
7/1/2008 Darren Haydar, RW Became Unrestricted Free Agent
6/30/2008 Alexei Zhitnik, D Became Unrestricted Free Agent Contract bought out by team

By ben

July 8, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

GW Bush made me a more left-leaning person. I am an opptimist.

i continue to feel that the Thrash will be great one day.

By Nikita

July 8, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

That’s fine, but I think it’s quite clear you three are more paitent as a result of your double allegiance.

I doubt it. I think we three (and those who agree with us) are either more patient in general or think the focus should be on something other than the same old all-caps litany. Like who we can get in her to fill the gaps, how the Anderson era might differ, how everyone’s going to return from the summer, etc.

By NASCAR Dave

July 8, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

Yes, Nascar, it is sad. Also, Junior Lessard is now OFF the roster. WTF? Boulton, too.

NIKITA - It’s funny isn’t it??? You know, how they are ACTUALLY following NASCAR Dave’s “Keys To Success”…

One of the keys was CUT ALL UFA’s LOOSE!

They have done that. Just goes to show you that Management knows NASCAR Dave is right, whether they would like to admit it or not…

Has anyone else noticed that EVERYBODY has publicly stated we are in a “Rebuild” mode, EXCEPT for Donnie FRAUDell???

WHY is THAT???

NUFF SAID.

By ETHANOL CAR Dave

July 8, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Hey everyone, look at me! I hate Don Fraudell. I speak complete sentences. NUFF SAID!

By Sage of Blue States

July 8, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this

I hate Don Waddell too. I know hockey because I hate Don Waddell. I’m a great Thrashers fan because I hate Don Waddell.

By Brian

July 8, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

FIRE WADDELL

By LAChange

July 8, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

If you have HOPE that we can CHANGE the GM in Atlanta, then you too can hate Don Waddell and be one of the great posters on this blog.

By Nancy R. Strozlosi

July 8, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

Did someone say they hate Don Waddell. I hate him too. I can hate him just as much as you hate him. I hate him more. I want everyone on this blog to know that they need to read my post because I hate Don Waddell and the ASG too.

By Roswell Thrasherfan

July 8, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

We have 25 million in Cap Space

Why are we NOT spending???

By Brian

July 8, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this

They should have fired DW years ago like I have always said

By Alan

July 8, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this

I meant with respect to personnel changes, possible free-agent signings, examples of why X player from Chicago will thrive at Y position etc.

Please, don’t move the goal posts in the middle of the game. You said I don’t offer any solutions. You even told me to lighten up. I’m sorry, but I get both very defensive and very angry when someone questions my loyalty to a team I love, even if I also love another team in the same league.

Don’t backpedal, say what you mean and mean what you say. But don’t feed me lines of conjecture, either, like telling me I am content or even happy with the way this team looks just because my other team won the cup.

Speaking of conjecture, regarding your most recent post, I don’t own season tickets and I never have. I considered buying one of the seven game packages, but am not happy with the results I’ve seen thus far. So far, you’ve lost every round when you think you’ve pegged me as something.

This whole thing is worse than a marathon of all the “Children Of The Corn” movies.

By Bob-by Kennedy

July 8, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this

I hate Don Fraudell.

Spot on. He is a fraud but until the ASG fires him we are stuck with him.

I know hockey because I hate Don Waddell.

Yes. You can’t know hockey and not hate Don Waddell.

If you have HOPE that we can CHANGE the GM in Atlanta, then you too can hate Don Waddell and be one of the great posters on this blog.

Spot on. Until Waddell gets replaced, we can only have hope among ourselves, that is the knowledgeable hockey fans who hate Don Waddell, that things will get better for Atlanta.

By NIKULIN

July 8, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

Я не придет там.

By five_hole

July 8, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this

Nikita - Sorry, gotta disagree with you about Jeremy Roenick. I remember watching Phoenix play Dallas in the playoffs (what year was that?) and Darrien Hatcher creamed Roenick behind the net with a high elbow to Roenick’s jaw. Broke it in how many pieces? Roenick came back the next game wearing the bird cage and played the rest of the series. He was eating thru a straw. Forget how much pain he must have been in just trying to sleep. Jeremy Roenick in his heyday was exactly the kind of player I’d love to have on my team.

As to Bob’s comments about “Meanwhile the rational level headed ones are making coherent points as we see the real issue here. “,

idiot poser came from Smoothie The negative posters here are like liberals came from They’re all liberals who started this mess.

I also found moronic poser from Bob about the guy who started this (OK, Bob may have been right about that one).

I really don’t see cogent rational points out of critiques like these. I also think people who make statements like as liberals are the ones that refuse to hold people accountable for their actions. and conservatives demand accountability, and liberals want to believe that everything is magicallly going to work out by themselves. (both Bob) are a little full of themselves and need a reality check. You really don’t believe cr*p like that, do you Bob? See, liberals like to think that there’s hope for everyone, even you.

By Take the TRASH out of Atlanta

July 8, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this

Congrats TRASHERS. The fans have voted you a BIG, FAT “F”. Good luck in Winnepeg or Vegas or KC. The fans here have given up on you and your incompetence.

By Lanny McDonald

July 8, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this

I really don’t see cogent rational points out of critiques like these. I also think people who make statements like as liberals are the ones that refuse to hold people accountable for their actions. and conservatives demand accountability, and liberals want to believe that everything is magicallly going to work out by themselves. (both Bob) are a little full of themselves and need a reality check. You really don’t believe crp like that, do you Bob? See, liberals like to think that there’s hope for everyone, even you.*

Please try to stay on topic five-hole. Thanks.

By Winnipeg Thrashers

July 8, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this

All of Winnipeg hates Don Waddell. Does that mean that we can have your team? You are only bandwagon fans and don’t appreciate hockey unless you are winning in the playoffs (see Atlanta Braves) whereas we will watch them. P.S. Calgary hates Don Waddell, is that why you gave them your last team? Go Winnipeg Thrashers!

By Russ

July 8, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this

Sara - I don’t think the comparison of supporting two teams to having more than one child is really a fair one. Unless someone’s priorities are way out of whack, the emotional attachment to your team can’t possibly compare to that of your children. The issue that you seem to have a problem with is the posts from the same people that continue to complain about this franchise and particularly DW. To use your analogy - If you had two kids and one of them was getting involved in drugs and always in trouble with the law and you knew it was largely due to the people they were hanging around with, would you keep trying again and again to get them away from these bad influences or would you try a little bit and if it didn’t work just say “Oh well, at least my other kid is good”? Also, Sara I am not trying to single you out… generally I think your posts at least use sound logic which is better than some on here. This is just one issue I disagree with you on, so be it.

By Former Thrasher Fan

July 8, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this

Hey Winnipeg Thrashers,

YOU were the ones who couldn’t support the Jets. YOU lost the team because the grass is greener in the good old USA.

Canada isn’t getting a team. They thought they were when Harford moved, thought so when expansion happened.

Keep looking at the Bobby Hull -AVCO Cup pictures you have. All you will get are memories!!

By Bob

July 8, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this

Wow Bob et al - I sincerely hope none of you have children, and that if you do you only have one. Because, obviously, a person cannot love two or more things equally simultaneously and truly love either one. (/sarcasm)*

Thank you for putting sarcasm there at the end of it.

I pray you understand that the straw man you pulled out there (which is almost as ridiculous as the straw men pulled out by multiple people as they sink on this thread) has no basis in reality. If someone truly compares affection to a hockey club to love of their children, their priorities need a little re-ordering, to say the least.

By Smoothie

July 8, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this

Alan, I am very heartened to hear that you are not a STH and I apologize if I insinuated that you were. I was merely speculating that you may have invested in ST and were thus more inclined to give the organization the benefit of the doubt than someone who has chosen not to renew. I can admit when I was wrong unlike some of the folks on this blog.

I’m not trying to pick on the 3 of you, but it seems like y’all are as quick to lump us all together into the same group as you think we do to you. Obviously there are going to be different factions on most issues and that’s fine. But everytime I ask someone for their feedback on a personnel move (such as a trade for Mike Knuble), it seems like the group that is less vehement in their dissatisfaction with the management would rather bluster on about how we sound like a broken record rather than offer up a counter point to a suggestion for a free-agent signing.

If y’all think we should simply stand pat, sign no-one else, not trade for a goal scoring RW and see how the kids develop, that’s fine. Just don’t expect to see any real improvement in terms of our W-L record next year. Kovalchuk and Kari alone can’t make us a playoff contender. I just hope y’all are right about one of our 23-25 y/o having a breakout year, because the stats show that if a guy doesn’t score 20 goals by then, he probably never will.

By Brendan

July 8, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

Kracker, I agree completely with your 10:28 post. Good catch there, on several fronts. It was extremely disheartening to see our Thrashers miss the playoffs by a scant 2-points. I thought that team had some real potential. After Christmas, it really took off, going 13-2-3 in one stretch of the season. And you’re right, Kracker, absolutely no one can fault the ASG for the roughly $38 million budget on Opening Night in 2005. The cap was $39 million. I agree that the Thrashers didn’t miss the playoffs because of roster decisions. It was injuries, in the aggregate, that took their toll. That includes Bondra. It just wasn’t our year. And then, of course, the organization lost Marc Savard in the offseason to free agency. Irrespective of how it happened, (Marc’s divorce—and need to be closer to his kids in Ontario vs. his desire to leave—or get paid his “fair market value,”) Savard’s departure hurt the organization and forced it to look to alternative solutions at Center for Kovalchuk.

By Sara

July 8, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this

Bob and Russ if I say I love hockey more than my children, my priorites are screwed up. Considering I spent 2 1/2 years while in college sacrificing having even cable to watch hockey so I could feed and house my kids, I wouldn’t worry about it too much. But the argument is in fact the same.

What you two are questioning is a human being’s capability to simultaneously love in equal measure two similar things. If human beings have the capacity to equally love their children, then inherently, humans have the capability of loving two hockey teams. The root of the situation is the same, even if the level of importance of the examples is not. Let me use a different example - you have more than one friend right? Can you not maintain equal affection for more than one friend simultaneously? Or is having more than one friend disloyal to all your others?

Russ’s example of my kids hanging around bad influences is slightly different. I can control my children to a certain degree. I can talk to them directly, I can ground them, I can enroll them in a military school, or I can pack them up and move them to Tibet if necessary. I can’t do a single thing directly to impact what this franchise does. Granted I can not spend my money with them, but there’s no guarantee how effective that would be unless assured how many others are taking the same tact and additionally, it’s also cutting my nose off to spite my face. I love NHL hockey and I love this team. I also support the players who are not at fault in any of this. Will I buy season tickets? No. At this point, I wouldn’t even bank on me buying a partial season plan. But I will attend some games, probably using some of AS’s beloved promos which ultimately won’t recoup them nearly enough money as selling the tickets for regular price does.

BTW Russ perhaps, for Alan and myself, some of the patience as you called it stems from following a team that spent decades blowing chunks before enjoying a decade of success (deadwings didn’t just come from out of nowhere). Every pro sports team goes through cycles. The Thrashers’ time will come too, although sooner rather than later is always nice.