AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 22 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThe Inevitable Comparisons After Six Games
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The day after the Atlanta Thrashers played their sixth game of the 2007-08 season general manager Don Waddell faced the media to discuss the firing of Bob Hartley. The team had gone winless for those first six games…this after being embarrassingly swept from their one-and-only playoff appearance by the New York Rangers the previous spring.
It wasn’t just that the Thrashers were a half-dozen games into the season and still had that big, fat, hairy goose egg in the points column…it was the manner in which they were being beaten. The night before coach Hartley was shown the door, Atlanta had suffered a 4-0 defeat in Philadelphia. It was the second time that the team had failed to manage even a single goal in a game…the other time being a 6-0 smack down in Buffalo two games prior.
The Thrashers had been out-scored by a combined 27 to 9…an average of 4.5 to 1.5.
They were being outshot 203 to 138…an average of 33.8 to 23.0.
As bad as those statistics look, they do not even come close to describing just how bad the team looked out on the ice. The offense was punchless and anemic while opposing teams spent so much time in our defensive zone that they could have filed for Homestead Exemption.
Just how ugly was it? Well, Austin Powers had replaced the phrase, “Margret Thatcher naked on a cold day…Margret Thatcher naked on a cold day” with “Atlanta Thrashers first six games of ’07-’08…Atlanta Thrashers first six games of ’07-‘08”.
So…how does this year’s team compare after six games? Well, let’s just say that John Anderson shouldn’t have any reason to fret if he gets called into Don Waddell’s office Wednesday morning.
After Tuesday night’s 3-2 overtime loss in Tampa, the Thrashers find themselves at 2-2-2 for 6 points, which won’t get ya to the playoffs but it is a world better than last year.
They’ve scored 16 goals and allowed 17…two of those in overtime. That equates to scoring 2.50 goals per game while surrendering 2.83 per game.
The shots being taken against us is still quite alarming…35.2 per game, (Only the Bolts allow more). However, this go around they are managing to get off 30.8 shots per game on opposing net minders.
Unlike last season…when they had already suffered a pair of blowouts…they have been in every game played. Their most “lopsided” defeat…a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild, a game in which they were within one with fewer than three minutes to play. The other setbacks were a 1-0 loss to Marty the Magnificent and the New Jersey Devils as well as two overtime defeats in the state of Florida.
As individual performances go…
Todd White has been a very pleasant surprise out of the gate. He leads the team with seven overall points, (2 goals and 5 assists). In fact, he’s had a hand in each of the last five goals scored by the Thrashers…an assist on Bryan Little’s goal versus the Wild, two helpers last Saturday and a goal and assists in Tampa.
Bryan Little has played like he deserves to be on the NHL squad year ‘round. His 4 goals and 2 assists don’t even come close to telling the whole story about his total contributions.
Ron Hainsey…well, he’s hardly the “bust” that some pundits had forecast him to be. He’s fit in quite nicely with John Anderson’s style of play. He’s been as solid as a rock on the blueline, is a +5 and has chipped in a goal and four assists for good measure.
Although his 13 PIM are a tad on the high side…rookie Zach Bogosian has done little to put doubt into anyone’s mind regarding his ability to play at this level.
Notice who I haven’t even mentioned yet? Yup…Ilya Kovalchuk…he of a pair of goals and four points. He’s gonna get his numbers…but last season he had to be a one-man show up front. This season…well…it’s seems there is a supporting cast around him.
Then there’s Kari Lehtonen who has been in the goal full-time these first six games, (well except for about three and a half minutes while dealing with contact lense issues). Lehts has a .919 SV%, (ninth best in the NHL) and a 2.81 GAA. Kari has faced a league high 210 shots so far and has turned away all but 17 and no one has made more saves than his 193. This is very solid indeed.
Given that SV% stat, if the defense could limit the shots he faced to just 30…the GAA would be 2.43. If he faced but 29 SA/G…then we’re talking about a 2.35 GAA. Those type of number will get you to post-season.
But, there are some un-good things as well.
Again, giving up 35+ shots per game will simply not do. As was learned last year, it will catch up to you…same with being outshot on a regular basis.
Then there is the whole power play situation, which has a giant O-fer going since opening night. Yikes!
Jason Williams scored a goal and an assist in the first two games…since then he’s been seen only on the side of a milk carton.
These will have to be addressed for sure. But in the end…six games in with six points earned sure beats the heck out the goose egg that was laid out on the ice last season.
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By five_hole
October 22, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
It’s the lack of scoring on the PP that has me concerned. We’ve got good point men in Schneider, Hainsey & Enstrom. We seem to have decent “attack time” in the offensive zone. So, what’s wrong? Do we need more traffic in front of the net?
By Sara
October 22, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
You swiped my comment off Knobler’s blog didn’tcha? :D
It’s definitely a valid point though. I said a while back, and coach more recently backed me up, that it was going to take a few months to really see what this team and system can do. I had said December, he said January. The back-end of the schedule should be consistently +.500. My concern for the final standings of the team was predicated on an idea that the first 2-3 months of the season could potentially have been fugly. However, if this team can continue to hang at the .500 mark through the growing pains stages of the season, they have a real shot at nabbing a play-off berth if they come on like a house on fire post All-Star break. We see that every season from somebody - maybe this year we are the somebody.
But before eggs are getting counted as chickens, there will have to be some issues addressed. Aside from the ones RH mentioned already are two more that are of great concern to me.
1 - this team has to play for 60 minutes (minimum) every game, and especially in the second period. Outside of last night’s game (from all accounts), the Thrash have come out skating in the first periods. The seconds however have been a different story. They are slower, move their feet less, take more penalties - it’s just all wrong. Gotta fix that in order to be truly competitive.
2 - sloppy sloppy sloppy lazy lazy lazy line changes. I have seen this in every game I have watched thus far this season. They will just cruise along to the bench as if there was all the time in the world. They’ve been lucky enough thus far not to pay the price for that but it will come. They’ll start getting busted for too many men on the ice or the opposition will start catching them in changes and score. Either scenario is most ungood and regardless of what challenges they face in learning and implementing a new system, developing chemistry with new line-mates, etc etc, there is never room for lazy play on the ice. It’s a fundamental every hockey player should know and I’m getting tired of seeing it. Hustle hustle hustle - I wanna see more Snyder spirit on this team.
On an overall level, I don’t think there can be any real complaints about where this team is right now. They just need to keep focusing on the idea that the job isn’t accomplished and there are still a number of areas needing improvement. But if 2-2-2 is what we get with all of these issues still lingering around the team, holy cow what are we going to get when they finally turn the page on this and get up to speed?
By Christy
October 22, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
Good Morning Rawhide and Everyone else out there.
Absent on the scoring sheet, yes but I think Williams (especially) and Christiansen have had some chances - whether it’s their fault the puck didn’t go in or the fates blowing in and diverting the puck I don’t know. Example, the other night looked like Williams was robbed off a rebound shot by Lalime…
Then again - RE last night - read Knobler’s article and am more in agreement with Coach’s assessment than the players’ after listening - it just seemed that for the first two periods, every other line from Kamal involved some version “lost it off his own stick”, “had it poke-checked away”, “can’t get out of their own zone”, etc., etc.
I think I’m waiting to get 15 games in before allowing myself to correctly “guess” what this team is going to be for the season - a rollercoaster ride of emotions or a nice constant adrenalin rush….
By Russian
October 22, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
Absolutely, we started much better than last season. Got 6 points on 6 games, it is not bad. Our PP is big Problem. five_hole Yes we need to go net and kepp someone on fron of the net. All our shots in PP went from D-men. Sometimes they were missing net. JA needs to find a way to crush net often on PP. Remember Tkachuk when he played for us, he was staying on front on the net every time. One more thing, Williams or Perrin need to sit down for couple games. JA has to try to Sterling with 2-d line. I am not really believe that it is goign to work, but next couple games will be interesting to see Sterling on ice. Final Grade is C for Thrashers after 6 games. Not bad.
By Bob
October 22, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
Game 6 and we got outshot 18-5 in the first, I think, and Kari kept us in the game and gave the boys a chance to come back and get that point.
That’s a big plus, in the past Kari starts melting down, it sounds like he played sharp last night. That’s a big key.
By Alan
October 22, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this
That’s a big plus, in the past Kari starts melting down, it sounds like he played sharp last night. That’s a big key.
I remember last year, some of Kari’s meltdowns. They happened generally because of really bad defensive plays in front of the net, or because of a shot Kari could have easily blocked that went in. And he would smash his stick against the ice.
Good times
This year, we have a D corps that’s doing a better job in front of Kari. Even with some of the more crucial and glaring mistakes he’s made this year, he hasn’t once melted down to the point of smashing his stick and yelling at his teammates.
It’s progress.
But we need our D corps to be even better than they have been, and our O-ffense to step it up a few notches. I hope this is addressed by Anderson in the time between now and Friday, because we need to go to Detroit and take control.
Knocking off the cup favorites at this point in the year will be big for our team, and might instill some much needed confidence in our guys.
By NASCAR Dave
October 22, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
Well, I missed the game (like EVERYBODY else)… But, I was wondering…
How did “CRUSHED” do??? What about REASONER??? Have they found the score sheet yet??? Has PERRIN showed up for the games yet??? LOL
Hmmm, let’s see… What about the “GREEK GODS” (snicker, lol)??? Have they contributed ANYTHING yet???
Just wondering…
By Tom
October 22, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
Does any one know how many shots on goal the Wolves gave up per game last year? This may be just a symptom of the system.
We are so attuned to bad defense by the Thrashers that we are suffering from Battered Hockey Fan Syndrome.
Maybe JA’s system will give up more shots but those shots are bad shots. I know watching all the games I am able to that the shots are not from in front anymore, they are from the wings.
And if pushing up the defense on offense allows more shots that is okay as long as we are not giving up gimmees.
By Alan
October 22, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
Does any one know how many shots on goal the Wolves gave up per game last year? This may be just a symptom of the system.
As per the goalie stats for last season from http://www.theahl.com: The Wolves, through the course of an 80 game season, gave up an average of 25.275 shots per game. 179 of the 2022 total shots resulted in goals for the opposition.
By BAF
October 22, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
Bogosian’s PIM includes a 5 minute major against a goon that started the fight. So, let’s say 8 PIM that impacted the games which is a more accurate reflection.
By Russ
October 22, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
Tom, with Anderson’s very open, attacking system I actaully didn’t expect the shots against or the goals against to change much from last season, but if we have the players to pull it off I would think the Thrashers scoring and shots should be on the rise and therefore diminish the discrepancy between shots for the Thrashers and their opponents that Rawhide often references. I personally don’t think we have the players in place to make a dramatic difference this season, but hopefully the extra year of experience for some of the young guys will help going forward. We’ll see.
I’m thinking the game in Detroit would be a good chance to give Moose his first start. It’s the first of a back-to-back and against a non-conference opponent. Also, getting a break once out of every six or seven games sounds about right for Kari. I’m taking a wild guess that stendec would agree with sitting Kari.
By Tom
October 22, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this
Thanks Alan, so 25 shots against the Wolves who were the league champs. So if we got our SOG down to the low 30s and we got our shot up to the 29-31 range that would be an accomplishment for a team expected to be in the cellar.
Once we have the right metrics in place we can really analyze the development of the team.
If we think the Thrashers will be a top team then we should expect top level stats. But as a cellar dweller I think that if we kept our SOG to low 30’s that would be an accomplishment if we raise our own shots on goal.
And in January we get the SOG down to 30moving forward that is a win unto itself.
By Alex
October 22, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
It was “Margret Thatcher naked on a cold day” but other than that, good piece
By Rawhide
October 22, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
Thank, Alex…good catch and right you are. I’ve corrected the quote above.
By Sara
October 22, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
OK, this just officially sucks. Since last night’s game wasn’t even televised, it’s gonna be 6 days in between Thrasher hockey games. I’m jonesin’ bad. :(
By glovesave29
October 22, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
I have been looking for something exactly like this, and who should have it, but those who ignore hockey the most…ESPN.
http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/shotchart?gameId=281021020
By Nikita
October 22, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
How did “CRUSHED” do??? What about REASONER??? blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Same old thing — my days are lonely without dwarf porn, stendec’s naked mother, and some players to flog for absolutely no reason.
Er, they did fine, actually. If you bothered to pay attention to the games you’d see the 3rd and 4th lines making tons of contributions.
As to points raised by posters who are sane and have the ability to read about, listen to or watch the games and synthesize the information contained in them, I’m not ecstatic about our SA stat — but we’re not that far off, and I think the issue may be conditioning and coordination. If we could get to 25 SA and 30+ SOG, we’d do very well. Good thing we have competent netminding so we don’t have to stress that.
By Tony C.
October 22, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
5-hole
uhhh. yeah. We’ve almost always needed more traffic in the crease. This is a reason I’m a proponent of getting Antropov in here.
By Sara
October 22, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
glovesave that kicks butt. Goals from in close huh? Imagine that… It’s interesting to see who takes shots from where - Perrin, Boulton, Thorburn are all buzzing down low around the net. Shots from the blueline are from our d-men. But it’s interesting to note there are some shots at/below the hashmarks from our d as well - including even one from XLB. Coach has to be liking that.
On the other side of the equation - there were some good shots from everywhere from TB. That would be a problem. I’ll have to spend some time later checking out that graphic from the other games and the timing of the various shots as well.
By Alan
October 22, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
Am I the only one who knew about that which glovesave linked to? It’s been there for a good long while. It’s been there since at least last season.
Then again, ESPN’s scoreboard page was my primary way of keeping up with games when I couldn’t get to a TV. Maybe that’s the difference here.
By glovesave29
October 22, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this
I just never go to ESPN for hockey, Alan. Ever since they lost the NHL contract, its all about MMA, Poker and Cheerleading…things I couldn’t give a flip about.
By Alan
October 22, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
I never read any of their previews or stories. Well, except for one story about the tragedy at Swift Current back in 1986. But their scoreboard is just as accurate as any other, and they have that nifty shots chart on there.
I couldn’t care less about golf, cheerleading, or championship poker… and while ESPN can screw up a good many things, I don’t think anyone could screw up a score page.
By Bob
October 22, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this
Fans at a Swedish hockey game threw a bunch of stendecs on the ice
I see what you’re up to, Russ, but he isn’t takin’ the bait yet.
By Alan
October 22, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
Bob - Would you like some video to go with that?
Specifically, check out the 4:45 mark of said video. Absolutely hilarious.
Oh, and due to the nature of the video, it might not be safe for work. If in doubt, watch it when you get home.
By glovesave29
October 22, 2008 5:35 PM | Link to this
Hey Bob - HYSTERICAL!…but if hats thrown on the ice to celebrate a hat trick go to charity, what exactly is this team going to do with all of those stendecs?
By kracker
October 22, 2008 6:32 PM | Link to this
glovesave29 et. al I gather the ESPN link shows y’all some sort of shot zone and distance chart? I’m not seeing the chart. I did install the flash upgrade and booted.
Is there parhaps a manual switch I need to flip? I can’t see anything I need to do.
By glovesave29
October 22, 2008 8:39 PM | Link to this
I wish I could help you kracker, but it worked fine for me the first time. I have not the slightest idea how to make it work other than what I did….click on the “shot chart” tab.
By five_hole
October 22, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
Tony C. would absolutely love to see Andropov in Atlanta. But it would take assets that we don’t have to trade for him.
You may hate him because he takes half the season off, but Holik could block the net. Thorburn should be big enough; wonder why they don’t use him?
By Brendan
October 22, 2008 11:44 PM | Link to this
“They barely took notice of it,” reported the Swedish newspaper. Kind of hard to miss something like that, no? Now, I doubt it’ll catch on here, Stateside. Even in a good economy, those things can get pricey. Especially if you threw them after every goal, for example.
Can you imagine walking up to the cash register with an arm full of them? And the Dude behind the counter looks you up and down, and you reply, “They’re for my friends. At the hockey game. No, really. They are.” And cashier says, “I’m pretty sure they play hockey with a puck. Ya Freak.”
By LAC.
October 23, 2008 6:29 AM | Link to this
So far so good… In moderation. While we don’t look like Stanley Cup material, we don’t look like doormats either.
Would be nice to have a few others pickup the scoring slack,and nice to see Todd White finally contributing, he has been one of the better players so far.
Overall through six games grade C+ to B-.
Lastly… looked through the Golf outing photos on the Thrashers site… Will somebody, ANYBODY please tell don waddell NOT to wear shorts, Anderson too, and esp Mr.Potty Mouth, their legs looked like chicken legs to say the VERY least.
By Tom
October 23, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this
Brendan
Or trying to go through security at the game. The lady guard’s look down her nose at you would be priceless. Of course, you may end up with her phone number…
By Tom
October 23, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this
Kari L seems to be doing well this year, but today’s Sporting News has a comparison of the goalies and Kari ranks only 15th in save percentage, with all of the shots he has faced.
His goals against average does not even make the first page.
Still a Work in Progress.
By kracker
October 23, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this
Glovesave29 Yaaay! The ESPN shot graphic works for me on my work computer. That is good stuff! Wow, you can isolate each player, sweet!
It probably doesn’t work with Vista on my home box. Anyway, nice chart.
By Bob
October 23, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this
Of course, you may end up with her phone number
lol.
I went to a hockey game and an orgy broke out!
By Sara
October 23, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
Tom that’s pretty much where Kari was at the end of last season as well. My read on it is he is still basically holding his own while waiting for the rest of the team to get it together themselves. The better they get, the fewer SOG he should face (even if the overall reduction isn’t drastic), the poorer the quality of those SOG should be, and the better the team should be at clearing rebounds and the defensive zone in general.
Absolutely it’s a work in progress but I think this year, as opposed to last year, we will soon start to see tangible results of that progress. :D
By Bob
October 23, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
Wow, I’m sure everyone else got the Half Price Blowout email just now, ticket sales went so well they’re already selling tickets at 50% off for lower bowl and upper bowl. How do the season ticket holders feel about that? You pay full price, while I get to sit right next to you for 50% off. I sent a request in for 4 tickets in Section 116, I hope they have some left there! lol
By truth
October 23, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
Wow, I’m sure everyone else got the Half Price Blowout email just now,
Oh boy - the floodgates just opened!
By Alan
October 23, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
Bob - No email here. Yet. Maybe I’ll get it soon enough… or maybe they’re courting previous season ticket holders who didn’t renew? I don’t know.
By Maytag Repairman
October 23, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
I bought season tickets in section 116.
I’m more lonely there than at work!
By Alan
October 23, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this
It seems that Brian Burke wants out of Anaheim. At least, that’s what Toronto Star columnist Damien Cox thinks. He makes a compelling argument for this, too.
By Bob
October 23, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
Alan, I didn’t read your link but Burkie is going to be the next GM for Toronto next year. Toronto wanted him this past summer, but Anaheim wouldn’t let him go. Which is beyond bizarre for the Anaheim owner, why would you want to keep a lame duck around who just might hamstring you on his way out?
maybe they’re courting previous season ticket holders who didn’t renew?
No, they’re already hit me up that way via all kinds of offers, free tickets, offer of club seats. This email is one of those eShoots eScores emails that went out to everyone and their sister. It’s sad to see it this early in the season, but they dug their own hole.
By NASCAR Dave
October 23, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
Hey BOB… Sounds like a good INVESTMENT to me… LOL!
By Alan
October 23, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
This email is one of those eShoots eScores emails that went out to everyone and their sister.
Okay then! I’m looking forward to actually receiving the email, then!
For those who haven’t seen it, however, here’s a direct link to the deal on the Thrashers’ site.
I don’t know about you all, but $75 for club seats sounds nice.
By ranallo10 (in AT)
October 23, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
Toronto wanted him this past summer, but Anaheim wouldn’t let him go
Actually Bob, the NHL wouldn’t allow Toronto to poke their nose around. Burke is under contract, and is not allowed to be poached until that contract expires. I believe the CBA mandates that any coach currently under contract cannot move laterally to another team, but instead needs to first receive permission from the originating team (in this instance the Ducks) and second receive a promotion.
If I remember correctly, the NHL considered this situation “tampering”, so when the whole Burke to Toronto media fiasco became afire they put an end to it before it really began. Basically they threatened Toronto, and the rumors amazingly quieted down.
Meanwhile Anaheim has hired the perfect Burke successor in Dave Nonis (he did wonders in Vancouver after Captain Train Wreck left), so I’m guessing he’s the heir apparent for the Anaheim GM position that will open next year when Burke’s contract expires (and he likely signs in Toronto).
By Brendan
October 23, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
Tom, I could always claim I’m making a charitable donation to lonely security guards. That, or “I find waving this (pointing to the object) makes a bigger impact than one of those oversized foam hands.” Of course, I’d wind up getting pelted with lube jars. Eh, I guess you have to take the good with the bad. But I digress.
I wanted to say that the Red Wings game represents a fine “litmus test” for our young hockey club. Last year, the Red Wings fired 47, or thereabouts, shots on goal in a 5-1 loss to the T-Birds, where Marian Hossa auditioned for his next club. I’m not going to come here to torch Kari Lehtonen, or if it should be Moose Hedberg, if we lose, 3-2. Or even 6-2. We’re supposed to lose to the Red Wings, arguably still the best team in the league, on the road. I’m interested in knowing how competitive the Thrashers will be against them. Keep in mind, it’s a “build year (TM, Poster Bob, all rights reserved).”
Uhh, ya know, even if we win that game, Jeff Schultz will write a column that states, “It’s just one game. Nobody wins the Stanley Cup with one win in October.” Of course, that’s true. We don’t even know who’ll start in net for Detroit, just yet. But it’d be an appropriate time for the Wings to bring in their backup. Go Thrashers!
By Bob
October 23, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
But it’d be an appropriate time for the Wings to bring in their backup
If it’s Conklin, they just played him last night, I think. I switched to a game and I thought it was the DeadThings mobbing Conklin as they won.
I would love to beat Detroit and you’re right, it’s a good litmus test. I don’t know what I like less, the DeadThings themselves or their fans that always fill up our arena with that Winged Wheel. Those are all Atlanta people, and most of them would wear their Thrashers’ gear to other games, just like the Buffablow or Pens fans that in 80 other games are all Thrashers’ fan. Pick a freakin’ team already!
By glovesave29
October 23, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
I gotta think that with all of these days off leading up to Detroit on Friday, that Kari is going to get the start - then Saturday (when all 30 teams are playing) against the Broooons Moose will be in the net.
If I were Burke, I’d stay in Anaheim. He’s been offered a new contract, he has a cup win on his resume and an owner who is willing to give him the reins and let him spend a lot of money. He can go out at night and not be mobbed and have every minutia of his life analyze in the papers. The pressure of delivering a championship to a city that hasn’t seen one in 42 years has got to be ENORMOUS. Think Wilson is wishing he was back in San Jose right about now?
By ranallo10 (in AT)
October 23, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this
glovesave — I’m a bit jaded towards Burke’s style of management, I’ll admit to that now before you continue reading my response to your statement.
That being said, I understand why he’d be accepting of the job in Toronto…it’s the best challenge in the game. He’s under constant scrutiny (something his ego needs is daily stroking by way of seeing the letters B-U-R-K-E in a story’s headline), and Toronto is DYING for a Cup after years of mediocrity in a city that feels The Cup should be renamed to the Lord Stanley’s Maple Leaf. If he were to bring the same “management” to Toronto that he brought to Anaheim, and got them in sniffing distance of The Cup, his feces would be bronzed and he’d be considered a God among men.
Someone like Burke, a complete narcissist, YEARNS for the position that will be available in Toronto.
But, I worry for the Toronto fans. If they think that they’re bad now, I can’t imagine what they’ll be going through once the flash-in-the-pan is done with their franchise. He left Vancouver’s system in shambles, he gave up a lot for a one-time chance at a Cup in Anaheim, so what’s he going to do in Toronto?
Luckily Toronto is a city that can live off of one Cup every 40 or so years, so many there would be ecstatic if he brought fleeting success instead of sustained success.
Of course, it’s always possible he can build a franchise that is built for sustained success…but I would argue Waddell is more likely to win a Stanley Cup than Burke build a team that isn’t built like a one-and-done type of club.
By Viking
October 23, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this
Just a reflection regarding the “spectator video” mentioned earlier;
I hope we could get some of that action in the stands at Philips that a Swedish lower division game audience is showcasing. (And I am not talking about the “dildo action”.)
By kracker
October 23, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
Rawhide & Mike Are the blogs malfunctioning? Earlier today on this blog and tonight on Mike’s latest blog, I’m not seeing a reply box or any replies. And the Thrashers page text is big and bold.
Hope it gets fixed and you guys keep up the great work! and GO THRASHERS!!!
By Alan
October 23, 2008 10:09 PM | Link to this
kraxcker - Apparently, the blogs were malfunctioning earlier. But it was just the hockey blogs and the politics blog that were messed up, based on very limited observation between Rawhide and myself. Strange that the comment box would appear on MOMmania, Chop Chick and Bird Babe (for example), but not here or the politics blog.
Regardless, at least this one is up. I hope Knobler’s is up and running again soon, too.
By Rawhide
October 23, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this
Kracker - Yup…the web gremlins have been givin the techno-wiz guys a helluva time today.
But those guys are the best and have been working on it. As you can see, we are back up and running as it relates to receiving comments.
Thanks for your patience.
By Sharon
October 23, 2008 11:19 PM | Link to this
Pick a freakin’ team already!
Wow, I had no idea that I could only cheer for one team! I had no idea how offensive my behavior really was!
For the love of God, forgive me!
By The Joker
October 23, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this
Bob (other)’s investment is going down faster than Usain Bolt can run the 100 meter dash
Isn’t that SPECIAL
By ranallo10 (in AT)
October 24, 2008 3:58 AM | Link to this
How dare you Sharon…for shame!