AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 05
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
So, This Is What The Bottom Looks Like
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
That loud THUD that echoed though the crisp fall air last night was the sound heard when hitting rock bottom.
This is as low as it gets. We have sunk as low into the abyss as possible…it gets no deeper than this.
Can’t get any “bottom-er”.
We woke up this morning to find that the worst possible scenario has become…reality.
No…I’m not talking about the Republican Party and the thumping it got in the elections on Tuesday. And, no, I’m not speaking of the stock market over the past month and a half.
I’m referring to the fact that today…Wednesday November 5, 2008…we find that our Atlanta Thrashers are at the bottom of the NHL standings.
The combination of a 2-1 Islanders win over the Rangers and overtime loss by the L.A. Kings to the Anaheim Ducks has left the Thrashers one point behind New York and tied with the Kings at 8 points. However, given the fact that Atlanta has played one game more than Los Angeles…that means the Thrashers’ .333 Points% place them dead last in the league.
All of this in spite of last Sunday’s 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers.
Well, at least it took almost a month into this season to get to this point…whereas last year it was right off the bat.
Looking for silver linings?
Well…the Thrashers will get an opportunity to do something about their predicament as early as tomorrow night when the New York Islanders pay a visit to Philips Arena. A win for the home team will lift them out of the basement and, possibly, as high as 13th place in the conference, (depending on the outcome of the Panthers vs. Kings game later that night).
Let’s also keep in mind that at this time last season, the Thrashers had exactly 8 points after 12 games played and were at or near the bottom of the pile…but by Thanksgiving they had worked their way to a record of 11-10-0 for 22 points and were back in the thick of contention.
So…history proves the ship can be righted in fairly short order and there can be change made from the bottom up.
(I’ve heard that line somewhere recently…but I just can’t remember where).
Also, this time around Atlanta has a much better head coach dealing with the team then the one who was behind the bench after the 0-6-0 start last season. John Anderson and Co., I believe, are the right men to handle this job…this team.
Now, as can only be expected…there are rumblings in regards to whether or not Don Waddell needs to be on alert for the swinging ax of accountability. Craig Custance recently took up this subject and, according to Bruce Levenson, his job is safe for now.
If I may be allowed my two cents here… even though any other NHL organ-I-zation…or for that matter, any other professional sports franchise…would have long ago decided to make a change in the front office by now, the fact of the matter is that if Waddell was not fired after last season then I highly doubt ownership will make a move this early in the season.
Despite the history…
Despite the record…
Despite the half-empty arena…
Despite the decisions made…
Despite, it seems, all logic…
Don’t look for any…change…in this particular office.
.JPG)
-1.JPG)
Services »
