Ice Man

By glovesave29

September 17, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this

According to all of the other jersey sites - maroon is the tune for the upcoming thirds. Sigh….we need this one instead…

http://nhllogos.blogspot.com/2007/08/thrashers-fan-artwork.html

Hockey News just released their predictions for the upcoming season…we are 13th in the east, ahead of just Toronto and NY Islanders.

By maali

September 17, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

YAH I READ IT. don’t think i won’t go find him and beat him up. if he works in the building anyway. heh.

also? if thrashers season tix are $100? i’m in.

By Bob

September 17, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

I agree with Falconer’s blog on picking up Schneider. I see Sara expresses concern about Valabik, but I agree with Falconer and the other commenters on there about his potential-

Personally I’m OK with Valabik going back to the AHL for part of the season. His upside is a physical 3rd pairing guy, we’re not costing ourselves all that much by making him wait a year. He’s not a potential difference maker IMO

Yep, Valabik is not ready, putting him back in Chicago for another year of seasoning is exactly what he needs.

By maali

September 17, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this

oh, PS slackjob, please let your readers know we have 7 open slots on the bloggers league of fantasy hockey:

Bloggers League

League ID: 25888 PW: lehtonen

COME ONE, COME ALL! well, until we hit 12 anyway… +)

By glovesave29

September 17, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

Another silly article from the Canadians on contraction…

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/blogs/2008/09/16/faynhlcontraction/

The funny part is, if you want REAL hockey talk, this is the best blog out there. We talk issues, discuss relevant topics, throw wild ideas out there…whatever. The blogs for those “true” hockey fans up in Canada are usually long winded arguements as to why one fan is better than the other and more times than no, falls apart into name calling and vicious racial epithets. Why they are sooooo concerned that we have a team here is laughable. Toronto, the end all - be all of hockey in this universe has no Cup in 40+ years and none in the foreseable future. Winnipeg and Hamilton are not getting teams…deal with it. The US dollar is no longer behind the Canadian and will continue to drop back down to the $0.75 level where it stood for years.

The cities they wish to contract have a total population of 21.7 million people. If you count LA’s population instead of just Anaheim, you get 34.6 million. That is more than the population of the entire nation of Canada - 33.3 million - and much more than the population of the 6 Canadian based NHL teams - 14.8 million.

Get over it Canada. We have hockey. Move on…

By Bob

September 17, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

Obviously a staged video…but pretty funny none-the-less

Meh, I find it hi-larious that Mortimer thinks that’s a “devastating video”.

It’s pretty amusing to see all these libs running around with their panties in a wad over Palin as a VP pick and are missing the forest here by focusing on her tree.

By Bob

September 17, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

Get over it Canada. We have hockey. Move on…

Amen, brother. It ain’t gonna happen, why do they keep pushing it? Inferiority complex, I guess.

By MortimerPeacock

September 17, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this

Bob,

Sarcasm. Joke. Unserious.

Love, MP

By glovesave29

September 17, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

Who knows, Bob…I read a blog a few days back where the blogger railed on everything from the “loud mouthed Jew Ranger fans” (their words not mine) to throwing Jarome Ignila out of the league for the simple reason he is black. Nice, huh?

By Smitty

September 17, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

Schneider is quite a bit of a step up even at 39. A +22 is impressive even on a good team with a good goalie. The experience factor will benefit not only the defensemen but the young guys up front as well. This would give Kulda and Valabik a little more seasoning time in Chicago.

By Alan

September 17, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

If we do pick up Schneider, then I’m all for sending Valabik back to the AHL for more seasoning. If we do not, then Valabik is needed here for his size, grit, and intensity with playing the game..

By glovesave29

September 17, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

Alan, Smitty - wouldn’t it be great if the NHL had a late season expanded roster much like MLB? That way, we sign Schneider and Valabik and Kulda go to Chicago (which is necessary as playing time is critical in this stage of their careers)…but then they miss the wisdom and experience that he offers. Lets face it, coaching a guy up is great, but nothing like on ice leadership! So what if March 15 or so, the rosters could expand by 3 or 4 slots? I think that would be fantastic for player development. We’d have to move up the schedules in the AHL and ECHL to work with this, but I think that is doable.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 17, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

glovesave — I’d be a proponent to such an idea. However, like baseball that would require a playoff roster to be set. Anybody added before March 1 is elligible for the playoffs on that club, but any of those rookies/AHL talent couldn’t make the club’s playoff roster unless an injury were to occur.

It’s a good idea, in my opinion. Especially if the AHL/ECHL seasons were to coincide. I like that the AHL has time to give amateur tryouts to Junior League players, so perhaps the NHL could borrow the idea from them.

By Russian

September 17, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

My questions:

1. How much we have to pay for Schneider?

2. If we pick him. Who will be sit as 7 D-men? Klee or Ex?

3. How long we have to keep him? one year, two years???

4. Do you think he will be good at age 39?

I watched him when he was in Detroit. He is great D-man, but I do not know if we need him now. Let’s see what Don will do. By way, Prospects were doing good. They are goign to play with Dallas on Championship Game.

By Smitty

September 17, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

glovesave Not a bad idea. By that time of the season many players are playing with a lot of aches and pains. I believe that is how Kulda got his chance in Chicago last spring.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 17, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

Re: Schneider — The only way I’d be for his addition to the roster is if space was moved. His addition means a top pairing defender loses both minutes and his partner. Since Schneider is an offensive defenseman, that means Enstrom will be logging second or even third pair minutes. Enstrom shifts down, but he shouldn’t be playing alongside Hainsey (both offensive defensemen). So now Hainsey is on the third line with Klee, and that means Bogosian has little room to wiggle. Granted, Bogosian is a two-way defender, so he could live playing alongside Enstrom (I wouldn’t recommend that due to inexperience) or Hainsey (more likely), but then that would mean we have even less minutes going towards Enstrom. Then what happens with Exelby and Klee?

Yes, Schnieder helps this team out THIS season, and his mentoring capabilities could help out in the short term as well…however, he only impedes the development of the young talent we currently have. This team is not one defender (especially Schneider) short of the playoffs, so why make a marginal improvement and risk the NHL development of a player who needs on ice minutes (ie Enstrom, Bogosian, and arguably Hainsey).

Schneider is not the type of defender this team needs. There isn’t enough room for Hainsey, Schneider, and Enstrom to get 20 minutes per game without having two offensive minded defenders on the ice at the same time. If Enstrom isn’t getting top pairing minutes, his value diminishes significantly. If Hainsey isn’t getting top two pairing minutes, he’s being hella overpaid for a third pair defender.

I don’t see picking up Schneider being a possibility (I’d think LA would take him), nor being a smart decision for the long-term success of this franchise. Schneider would be a speed bump in the development of the most important defensive talents, Enstrom and Bogosian. I wouldn’t be in approval of that.

By glovesave29

September 17, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

I’d dump Klee - since we’d already have an aging D Man / Coach in Schneider. I have not given up on X, he had a bad year last year, but he had shown steady improvement until then. Let’s see if his play was a bump in the road or a trend…

As for the Traverse City tourney..we’ve always done pretty well there because the other teams in the tourney get the lower draft pics than Atlanta as the team is doing better than us in the standings. I just do not put too much stock in it as a sign of the teams future…no more than I do with championships at the AHL or ECHL levels.

Ranallo - agree with setting the playoff roster before the call ups. Good call.

By Monkey Puck

September 17, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this

Schneider is not coming here.

This team is one-dimensional.

Shut down Kovalchuk, and you shut down the Thrashers.

No offense was brought in this summer.

Key to beating the Thrashers: Double up Kovalchuk.

We won’t really know much about the Defense until the Season starts - But I am prepared to see some disorganization and chaos on D until the Pairs are technically set.

Interesting that some of you have such pie-in-the-sky positivity of the upcoming season. Lord knows you will all be in for a BIG letdown. Especially that first game when Tampa tries to take out Kovalchuk.

That’s all you gotta do to beat Le Thrash. Take out Kovalchuk, and the team will be done for the season. Plain facts.

By GaVaHokie

September 17, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

When Blank took control of a miserable Falcons team, one the first things he did was offer $100 season tickets for a year. It worked”.

The Falcons only play 10 home games… that’s $10 a game, which is the same for the Thrashers 400 Section.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 17, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

Hokie — But what were the prices of those $10/game tickets BEFORE Blank? That’s the important thing…he cut prices.

By Alan

September 17, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Schneider cleared waivers.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 17, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this

Looks like Anaheim is stuck with his bloated contract, or at least the buyout portion of it. Re-entry waiver or buyout, here he comes.

By Tony C.

September 17, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this

Re: Schneider;

I don’t know that a Hainsey/Schneider pairing wouldn’t be too bad. Schneider’s enough of a vet to know that everything isn’t going to be solved by joining the rush and/or starting the rush…he may infact provide the sort of mentoring polish Mr. T envisions….but…

I just have bad feelings about 35+yr old UFAs and this organIzation.

Plus, I don’t know that Valabick has too much more to learn @ the AHL level…seems to me he improved game-to-game once he was called up and given TOI.

I don’t know that “seasoning” in the AHL is what’s going to help him get to the level we’d all like any faster

By maali

September 17, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this

Schneider cleared waivers.

thank god. the last thing this team needs is someone else’s discards. one man’s trash may be another man’s treasure but we are not really in any position to be slapping a band aid on a severed artery, and at best that’s what schneider woulda been for the team.

By GaVaHokie

September 17, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

Just read this rumor from Andy Strickland…

Don’t expect either Mark Parrish or Glen Murray to attend a training camp without a contract. Both players have spoken to several teams and are not interested in a professional tryout.

Murray has received interest from three teams, I’m not prepared to speculate which clubs are interested but it is clear Murray will only go to a club that is a strong playoff contender.

Parrish has received no offers but is continuing dialogue with several teams including Vancouver, Nashville, Atlanta, and Dallas.

I have no problem with Parrish if he’s healthy. He had 30 points in 65 games last year, and usually averages a point every other game. He’s a net crasher and I think he’d be good on the second line with Kozlov and Little. Could be a steal for $1-$2 million… we know how Waddell loves his bargain basement players.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 17, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

Tony C. — Good point about Schneider playing alongside Hainsey…do you remember who he was paired with in Detroit?

Regarding Valabik…he was given less than 5 games at the NHL level. There is nobody out there that can pretend they’ve seen enough to say he needs “seasoning”, or isn’t NHL ready. Various coaches have said that he is NHL ready, so long as he does more of the little things. The coach, the GM, and even the player himself have said he was improving and getting adjusted to the NHL during his few games up in Atlanta.

I would think the coaches, GM, and the player know more about his readiness than us, and I trust them to know what he’s ready for at this stage in his development.

Personally, I don’t think the AHL will help him, I think he needs NHL time much like Coburn needed to finally blossom as expected. I’d like to see Valabik given a chance now, rather than languish in the AHL. But that’s just my opinion.

By Tony C.

September 17, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this

Ranallo-I don’t recall, but I think that it’d work. again this is a temporary fix…I’d rather take the lumps and let our young guys get better. They’re the unknown quantity, and while Schneider is a known quantity, he ain’t going to get any better barring a stop by the BALCO anti-aging department.

So I don’t know, I think it all boils down to wether DW and Co. feel that X is going to improve or if he really has just lost it.

If it’s “A”, then I don’t think we should go after Schneider

If it’s “B” then by all means go after Schneider and hope that Kulda continues to emerge at the same eye-popping rate he’s shown since this past Feb.

By PuckedUp

September 17, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this

I ran across some article today about the NHL expansion for 2015. The story states that one team from eastern conf will move to vegas, columbus will go to eastern conf and 2 new teams established. For what it’s worth, it seems likely the eastern conf team in this scenario could likely be le Thrash.

With the ownership turmoils what they are, the owners disdain (my opinion) of having to own le Thrash, NHL needing something to come of this team, a GM who is under zero pressure to put a winning team on the ice, etc; it seems as though the NHL would just decide to cut their losses.

People keep saying it won’t happen. I keep saying anything is possible and we should not take this for granted. If hockey dies again in this town, I doubt it would ever return.

By GaVaHokie

September 17, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this

PuckedUp… you ran across that article on Eklund’s site, which takes away the credibility already… and second, it’s speculative to 2015.

I wouldn’t put much weight into it… it could still be Tampa for all we know. I don’t trust their new owners one bit. They seem like the “Vegas Baby” type.

By qc-ATL55

September 17, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this

Can anyone tell me why DW didn’t pick-up Schneider? That guy was free(if you forget about the 5.5M salary)! No loss of draft picks or young talent… He is a veteran with a +22 and almost 40 points at 39 years old. What did we have to lose there?

By Smitty

September 17, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

Re: Schneider. I hope it is not the salary. I think this guy has a lot to offer. I know ATL has been burned in the past with UFAs and with so-called established veterans. I agree with going with the young guys but some of them are not quite ready. Scneider will put us over the minimum cap and bring some much needed experience both on and off the ice.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 17, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this

PuckedUp — You read it on Hockeybuzz, by Eklund himself. His reliable source has three teams relocating/expanding, and Canada getting at least two of them.

Look through all the comments, you’ll notice a nice theme of things…they’re all bashing on the non-traditional hockey markets.

In my opinion it’s one man pandering to his audience to generate hits (Eklund), and it’s a group of fans blinded by their superiority complex where they think a podunk city in the prairies of Canada would outdraw a team in a non-traditional market, and make more money to boot.

If any team in the southeast is to be worried about losing their franchise, it’d be Nashville or Florida. Nashville’s owner is a crook, and they’re currently being run by a trustee appointed by the NHL. They’ve been walking on thin ice as a franchise for the past few years, and though they win they can’t draw enough corporate sponsors to keep ticket sales high.

Florida is the next best bet (again, in my opinion), as the market hasn’t warmed to any sports including World Series champions, and Stanley Cup finalists. The city will not seem to approve building a new stadium, and even if they did fans don’t appear interested in coming.

Atlanta is different than both of those teams. They have corporate sponsorship, they have fans that show up continually, and as soon as the team wins the rafters are packed. For this city, winning will cure a lot of the problems. Unfortunately winning isn’t helping Nashville much, and winning hasn’t been a thing in Florida’s recent history since they made the Stanley Cup finals.

By Pixie (Tony's Secretary)

September 17, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

Paging Tony C Please check your emails sir….

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 17, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this

Who is Pixie?

I know Trixie, but did she get fired, or have a sister?

By Pixie (Tony's Secretary)

September 17, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

Ranallo10 I believe Tony C conducts enough Comcast business over the blog to qualify for support staff, don’t you?

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 17, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this

Pixie — I’m just saying…I WANT A SECRETARY!

I need someone to fix my typos (who writes “piers”?) and to page me when something important is going down.

Is Dixie available?

By Pixie (Tony's Secretary)

September 17, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this

RStroz’s got Dixie….sorry. Lexie might be available but I hear her work ethic is questionable.

By Trixie (Rawhide's Secretary)

September 17, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this

Mr. Ranallo - Pixie is correct. Dixie is Mr. RStroz’s administrative assistant.

If you would like, I can contact our staffing firm, Temp Tations, to see about setting up some interviews for you.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 17, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this

Trixie, please do.

By Nikita

September 17, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this

Sorry for the long post, but…

1. Please, no politics. I’m amused by the video — but this isn’t the venue for commentary on who should win and why. Unless someone’s going to win in a shootout, or John McCain and Barack Obama are expected to drop the gloves. Also, am I the only person who has flashbacks to Swoosie Kurtz in Slapshot when I hear the phrase “hockey mom?”

2. I think we should pick up Schneider — if he doesn’t pan out, he will not cost us much. If he does pan out, we have additional insurance. Honestly, I’m not optimistic that everyone will be both good enough and healthy enough (especially the kiddies) to play the same pairings and full ice time for the entire season. There are worse things than having the luxury of giving some of your defenders a rest on the less-crucial games of a B2B.

3. If someone needs to be bumped to make room for him, I say make it Ex. Klee is in his contract year, he’s steady, and he has better instincts than Ex. And let’s face it — Ex has on average shown about half the production of Klee, age notwithstanding. If Ex wants ice time, perhaps he could earn it by playing like an NHL defender. The above said, I think we should consider trading both Ex and Klee later in the season if the youth movement pans out.

4. Agree 100% on ticket prices. Also, the whole Thrash promo thing is so incredibly disorganized and half-assed. As I mentioned, I live about 60 miles from Atlanta. I sometimes try to convince people I know who are in college to go to games — but there’s no way anyone is driving 60 miles without knowing how one buys seats, or in fact if there will be any seats. Basic stuff like that needs to be fixed, and ticket prices need to be substantially lowered. Also, some of you guys have better abilities to attend every game, but I don’t — I have the ability to attend maybe a game a week, and the games I’m able to attend are usually the ones that feature deeply discounted seats. So why would I buy season tickets? Why would I buy x number of midweek games when I know I can get them substantially cheaper on stubhub? And why is management asking every ticket holder to pay the same price, when demand is evidently not equal? Finally, it’s really, really dispiriting to be in the arena, sitting in $25 lower bowl seats, and being basically alone. I attended once, with my dorky-a* superfan signs and cheering, and got glared at by the 6 other people in my section. Honestly, I’m surprised Moose doesn’t borrow Kari’s skates to slit his wrists on a night like that.

5. Anybody going to training this weekend? I may catch the team on Saturday en route to some other stuff I have going on.

By five_hole

September 18, 2008 7:37 AM | Link to this

I was impressed by what John Anderson had to say last night, up until he said he wanted Ken Klee to “join the rush”. I was haunted all night by an image of Klee on a breakaway and the entire hockey rink (including the fans) getting to the other end of the ice before Ken could.

The bottom line on Mr. Anderson, though, is that he is a great motivational speaker. After listening to him, I was ready to suit up (reality check; I would make Zhitnik look good). He talked a little about style, but really didn’t get specific, instead saying he wanted to play a “chameleon” style, which seemed to me that he wanted to adapt to the environment/perceived weakness of the opposition.

If you believe (as I do) that a coach can win (or lose) 5-8 games for the team, then I have to say that I came away from last night believing that John Anderson will win those 8 games.

By Bob

September 18, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

Anyone ask Waddell lats night why he still has a job?

Any questions about plans for more pickups prior to opening the season?

By Bob (other)

September 18, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

Bob, Don has a job because he is qualified. He and the rest of the organization are in the business of hockey, as is the case with every other team.

An accounatbility question was asked. Overall the questioning, in my view was idiotic. Example”rather have Hossa than Kovy”. Is team going to move? We have attendance greater than 8 other teams. The naming rights on the Arena is $220M. It goes away without both franchises(condition of agreement).

It is a business.

By Sara

September 18, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

Wow, Bob (other) interesting tidbit about the naming rights. Guess that nips relocation talk in the bud. No way could the AS sell this team for enough to make up not only their own losses but also for the lost revenue from losing the naming rights.

I had heard about the retarded questions. More than one person brought up trading Kovy, with ,as you said, one guy trying to make a case that Hossa was better than Kovy.

What really got me steamed though is I heard someone gave Hainsey some real grief. Apparently someone asked him how he felt about being an overpaid, mediocre d-man. Way to welcome a brand new player by being a tactless d*ckhead. That’s a real good way to encourage other players to want to come here ~ OY! More of that kind of crap and these town hall meetings will likely stop.

By Nikita

September 18, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this

Klee and rushing…that’s not the best idea I’ve heard, unless he expects Klee to play fewer minutes (which hopefully he does). Klee’s been a defensive defenseman for practically his whole career. Under the right coaching and application he might look zippier than he generally does. Also, one reason one might want Klee on a rush is that his goal accuracy is pretty high, at least given how rarely he shoots.

I’m taking from Anderson’s comments in general that he is not going to do stay-at-home defense, and that he’s not going to train the team in one strategy. Both of which seem like good things at this juncture. Our philosophy last year was, more or less, leave it up to Kovy and try to limit the hemhorraging — and we know how those worked out.

Any surprises come out of last night, five_hole?

By Bob

September 18, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this

I heard that someone did ask Waddell why he still had a job. Good for that questioner. Hossa better than Kovy? That’s up for debate, but you keep Kovy as he’s younger (assuming we can re-sign him long term, fingers crossed there).

Asking Hainsey that is pretty dumb, but this is one p** off fanbase. Bad form by Waddell to bring the new guy in front of the wolves.

This franchise will not move, that is one question/worry that I too roll my eyes at. The owners cannot give up 44 or whatever guaranteed dates a year of concession sales. Can’t do it. It’s a total package. They also can’t take 44 dates of 1/2 empty houses, but I’m afraid they’ll have to accept 30 or so 1/2 empty houses this year for Thrash games. The Wings, Pens, et al games will still sell out with their fans buying up tix. And after football is over, the Friday and Saturday night games will still do pretty well. But I shudder to think what a Tuesday night game against the Canes is going to look like.

By BG33Brown

September 18, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this

Sara I was there and the guy asked him how the “grief” that he has been given by the media re: “overpaid already bust” affects him.

I don’t feel it was an inapproriate question.

Hainsey seems like a quality guy and Anderson is going to be a great coach. I’m not sure we are going to be great or even good, but I’m excited about our direction as a team.

By Spud Webb

September 18, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this

Ranallo10 nice post at 11:37. I guess were not getting Schnieder, shocker. I would’ve hoped to pick him up and let Klee or Ex go or traded. I might be alone but I want to see the kids on D up with the team all year. I’m willing to watch the mistakes and eat some games, but I want SOME HOPE OF THE FUTURE. It’s so frustrating to me to feel like were still and expansion team. Get the retreads out and let the kids play. I say this because in my opinion were not going to be competiting for anything this year. So lets have something to look forward to and possibly give Kovy some hope for the future and a reason to stay!!!

By GaVaHokie

September 18, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

How did Hainsey answer the question? How did Waddell answer his questions?

Can someone give a recap please?

But I shudder to think what a Tuesday night game against the Canes is going to look like.

Probably the same as it always has.

By Alan

September 18, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

Apparently someone asked him how he felt about being an overpaid, mediocre d-man.

What?! Yagottabeshiattinme! Some halfwit douche actually asked that?

I have to hope that Hainsey, Reasoner and some of the other new players read the blogs and realize that not all fans are like those idiots.

By Rawhide

September 18, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this

Hokie - One recap, as requsted.

By BG33Brown

September 18, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

I forget his answer but he basically said that he doesn’t pay attention to that.

Brief Recap:

DW came out walk through the returning lineup (forgetting to talk about white-which we can all understand)

Anderson came up with hainsey and answered a lot of questions. Hainsey only got 4 and I feel like some of the questions were asked to him only so he had something to talk about-I would of liked for him to have told us a little about himself and take off. But he did say that he came here b/c of andersons system, like Kari as a GT, and thinks his addition can make our D look pretty solid (with Bogo also.

Anderson was real impressive. Talked about his systems a very little, but talked about how to reverse the mentality. There are going to do a lot of team building stuff and he isn’t going to name a captian right away. 4 or 5 A’s and then decide after a while.

Then they left and DW came up and the fireworks began. There were 2 guys how asked about trading 17. which was dismissed. the good news was that 17’s agent called in August and asked for DW to call him back asap. DW said he thought 17 was going to demand a trade. but the call was saying how excited he was about the season, he wanted to win here and was committed to the city.

The last question addressed the issue of reallocating the franchise and the real key came from the fact the phillips naming rights are for 20 years at 10 mil ( i think/year) and that goes away if the franchise moves.

Hope that helps.

By GaVaHokie

September 18, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

Thanks Brown! That’s definitely interesting about the naming rights.