Ice Man

By Alan

December 5, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this

“Pink slip”

Heh.

That’s certainly one way to interpret the phrase. Although some might consider it kinky to have the termination notice written on a “pink slip”…

By Jim

December 5, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

Forget the “Limbo Club”, we’ve got a “Waiting in the Wings” team ready to replace this year’s dead wood. Among them are: Ramzi Abid, Tomi Kallio, Lubos Bartecko, Hnat Domenchelli, Tony Hrkac, Per Svartvadet, JP Vigier, Rumun Ndur, Uwe Krupp, Jiri Slegr and goalies Damian Rhodes and Byron Dafoe. Bring back this group of alumni. Yucking at them would be better than anguishing at the current bunch.

By Wings fan in Ga.

December 5, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this

The Flyers and Penguins quickly rebounded after their awful point seasons. I have a hunch the Thrashers will not rebound after this awful season. Bring back Bob Hartley! … The Thrashers might want to think about bringing in Marty Lapointe, just for the simple reason of he was one of my favorite Wings and it would be awesome to see him and Kozlov back on the same team.

By Brendan

December 5, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

I hope Emily becomes a regular feature.

By Alan

December 5, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this

Bring back Bob Hartley!

Sorry, fellow Wings fan, but I said it slowly last time. Now, I’m going to yell it in your ear and hope that you and everyone else gets the memo.

COACHING IS NOT OUR GODFORSAKEN PROBLEM!

There. I feel better already.

By Buzilla in CT

December 5, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this

Taverase here we come!!! I am siked for the battle of the basement the weekend!!!

I will be at the Trasher/Islander game on Saturday. I may get on TV since there will only be about 5 people there and I will be the only one sporting a Thrasher Jersey. I have a beard now…In case you see my pretty mug.

I am leaning to trading Kovy…I know it’s horrible to hear but if we can get young good propects and draft picks along with Taverese in next years draft, fire waddell, maybe we can right this ship in two or three years…

man am I depressed…

By Scotty

December 5, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

62 points? ReallY? WOW!

Did anyone predict that low before the season?

By five_hole

December 5, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this

Good evening, I’m five_hole and you’re not.

As much as we love to bash Waddell (and he certainly has had it coming for years), I think he did a decent job in the offseason. Campbell thumbed his nose at Atl; Waddell got Hainsey. Who’s having the better year? He drafted Bogosian (kind of an obvious choice but I’m still giving him credit). We all liked the choices of John Anderson & the coaching staff. He may deserve blame for not being able to attract a top-tier forward or two, but I think that may be in the Brian Campbell mold. Getting rid of Waddell may help us at the trade deadline & next year, but will not help now.

I think the bigger problem here is that John Anderson has lost control of the players. They are lethargic; they are undiciplined, and that is coaching. I think that they need to get the players attention by dumping a roster player; be it X, Christensen, you fill in the blank. Bring up a kid or two from Chicago and give them playing time.

After all, if you believe in the free market, competition for roster spots and playing time will be a good thing.

By Nikita

December 5, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this

How about X and Christensen?

By five_hole

December 5, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this

That’s what I was talking about. To me, the most likely to be dumped are X, Christensen, Williams or Schneider. You cut any one of those players and you will get the attention of the rest of the team.

Schneider would be the biggest hit in terms of cap. X would probably be picked up by another team. Not so sure about Christensen or Williams.

I would be perfectly fine if they did that and brought up Esposito or some other kid they think deserves a chance.

By Buzzeng

December 5, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this

Isn’t the historically correct Emily concluding line “Oh… never mind…” ?? (or is that trademarked by Gilda’s estate?).

By Nikita

December 5, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this

My list is:

1. Christensen — because he hasn’t played well since he was with Armstrong and Perrin, and he lacks weight and mental steadiness. However, he’s inherently talented, just too troubled to spend any more time on. We’d probably be able to shop him easily.

2. Ex — because he hasn’t played well, ever. I don’t understand why he remains on the team. He’s young enough and big enough that if we shop him, we should get a taker. And he’s cheap enough to waive. Incidentally, I just sorted the team stats, and by EVERY SINGLE MEASURE he is at the bottom. So I thought, hey, this is a rough year. Maybe he’s normally a much better player. Nope. He has NEVER been a good player — only a better one, and his “better” is still not good enough to let him on the bottom of any NHL roster but ours.

3. Boris Valabik. Because he’s not very bright, he has a big “penalize me!” sign on his back, and he’s mean. He’s not a great fighter or a great skater. But he is a dirty player. Also at the bottom of the stats. Send him back to Chicago or trade him — but really, just get him as far away from the club as possible.

I don’t want to trade Williams or Schneider, though. Williams is o.k. — performing better than some others, and not performing badly in general. I suspect that if we put him with Armstrong and Perrin, his contributions will improve. Schneider probably won’t fetch much/will cost us — also, he should get increasingly good at the system and healthy and he’s smart. I would not waive him, and I doubt a trade would be advantageous.

Possible tossers: Slater, Thorburn. I love them both, I do. But I really think Slater is doomed never to develop here, so it would be a favor to both the team and him if he were traded away. Thorburn, well, I like him, but I think we can replace him. I would also consider trading Eric Boulton, only because I think he can be replaced with a younger, heavier player. But in all three cases, I wouldn’t want to trade them until EC and Ex are gone, and only at a good price/deal.

We should probably also consider trading Nic Havelid mid-season if he doesn’t adjust better to JA’s system. But not till we stop the hemorrhaging and dump the most awful players we have.

By Sara

December 5, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this

It’s not a bad idea five_hole and Nikita. After three coaching changes, not including Waddell’s tenures, I’m a bit over the “easier to fire a coach than the players” concept. Who says you can’t fire players? Fire one and you might well get everyone else’s attention. Personally I’d fire a forward before firing a defenseman. The D hasn’t been that bad, especially given it is overall the youngest part of our roster with two newbies and a sophomore on it. Besides, they can’t afford to dump Schneider or even probably XLB - that pesky cap floor problem which might have gotten even worse with the amount of time Bogo has missed (how many of his bonuses is he going to hit at this point?). Crusher or Williams might get us something in a trade - it would be a lateral-type move but bringing in another 3rd liner at this point won’t hurt if that 3rd liner won’t be a slacker. Williams has more talent than Crusher - and while I know some might disagree with that assessment (or call it an equally-bad push) no other GM in the league is going to judge any player based solely on his performance with this team, especially if they have performed well on other teams. On the other hand Crusher is younger and cheaper and still RFA eligible.

The other issue to me is to start dealing with the psyche in that lockerroom. That is the most manic-depressive lot I have ever seen. The highs are super highs (think “Russian PrivJet” blaring down the hallways) and the lows are obviously really low. Coach needs to get these guys on a more even emotional keel, leading by example. He’s falling into the manic-depressive trap himself at this point. They should just chill-out, the word play-offs should not cross anyone’s lips in that room, and get back to working on the core fundamentals. Step 1: how to compete for 60 minutes of a hockey game. Step 2: how to score on the PP. Step 3: how to prevent other teams from scoring on the PP. And so forth. Ignore the win-loss record from both perspectives. It’s not a big deal if they win, it’s not a big deal if they lose. What matters is whether or not they are applying their fundamentals. They get that down, the success will come on its own. (And no, the irony that this conversation must be had about an NHL team versus a peewee team does not escape me but things are what they are.)

It’s a bit sad to need to resort to human psychology at this point but I don’t know what else to suggest. This malaise issue has existed since the first days of the franchise. It was a problem under Fraser, a problem under Hartley, and now a problem under Anderson. Someone needs to address that directly in some method that does not involve use of the word “fragile” - also annoying. I mean really it’s either that or pretty much a literal purge of the roster and while that may seem tempting it is also unrealistic and impractical. So maybe a little purge along with a new game plan would be in order.

By Nikita

December 5, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this

Besides, they can’t afford to dump Schneider or even probably XLB - that pesky cap floor problem which might have gotten even worse with the amount of time Bogo has missed (how many of his bonuses is he going to hit at this point?).

Hmmm. Good point. You think it’s bad enough to make additional investment look worthwhile? Honestly, I’d love it if we picked up a mid-price player with top-tier potential, or even a solid mid-skill defenseman.

Nodding also on the mental state of the team. The delicacy is just astounding. Especially since, with the exception of the 2nd line, everyone played the last two games in unfamiliar circumstances.

By five_hole

December 5, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this

I wouldn’t get rid of Valabik yet. He’s still a rookie and hasn’t played many games; he’s a kid and is still learning, and yes, he’s got a mean streak. Nikita may think that’s a bad thing, but I like players with an edge. Plus, we need size if we’ve got guys like Enstrom & Perrin.

Sara and Nikita keep blogging about trade. I’m saying cut them. Waive them. Shake things up. Trades don’t get players attention like having a player everyone thought was safe suddenly on the street. At this point, I doubt if Christensen or Williams have much trade value.

BTW, Slater is on my keep list. Thorburn … . I’d miss, but to make a point with the rest of the team … sure I’d chuck him.

By Don Waddell

December 5, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this

Reasons I will not resign:

1) No one in their right mind would give me another job.

2) What could be a better gig, I’m being paid to be the worst GM in the history of the NHL.

3) I’d never be able to afford a house in the Sugarloaf subdivision again.

4) It’s so much fun to blow smoke up peoples’ backsides and get paid for it.

5) Selling port a pottys doesn’t pay as well as running a NHL team into the ground.

6) I can’t get a job as a banker because they are running all the crooks out of that industry.

7) I like having stupid drunk bosses.

8) AFLAC hasn’t asked me to be their duck voice yet.

9) Detroit and the state of Michigan have prohibited me from returning.

10) I haven’t finished running hockey out of Atlanta yet.

By FormerIslesFan

December 5, 2008 7:18 PM | Link to this

RH

I was going to call you out on the SNL reference but FiveHole beat me to it.

Now…to all you Thrashers’ fans. Lilibeter and I are on our honeymoon and will be going out to the Island to see the Thrashers play tomorrow night. This will be the first time that I ever have walked into Nassau Coliseum wearing an opponent’s sweater, so wish (Lilibeter) and me luck and look for us on the broadcast (if there is to be a broadcast).

By Sara

December 5, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this

five_hole I wouldn’t object to waiving a player either but by the same token, this is not the time to cut our noses off to spite our face. If someone can be moved for another player, that avenue should always be considered before just dumping them for nothing. But something drastic (which does not involve trading Kovy) would not be amiss to shake things up.

You know, I went back and looked up all of the free agent signings and trades and drafting Waddell has done since 1999. All of it, season by season. The funny thing is I hadn’t realized how far back some of the haters had gone to make their cases for how bad Waddell allegedly is. I mean, whining about Reirden?? From our third season?? Do people not grasp how things work when you are trying to build a franchise in the early years?

I’m going to put all of this into an excel spreadsheet and I’ll post the link later. That way everyone can see exactly what went down when and then put that in its proper context.

Now, for basis of comparison, I want three other teams chosen - I’ll let the blogging audience pick. I’d like to try to focus on some of the relatively newer teams in order to better compare apples to apples (as in expansion franchise to expansion franchise). So why don’t you give me two more teams - I’m going to include Nashville automatically since they are a) an expansion franchise, b) work on a crap budget about like this team has often had to, and c) have also only had one GM. I’ll research the transactions for the first nine seasons to even it up with us. You’d be surprised how little time it takes to go through all of that stuff.

So, suggestions?

By HookyBob

December 5, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this

Rawhide: Here’s another perspective of the Thrashers record, or rather the hole they have dug. We both picked the Thrashers to end the season with 86 points. To do that they would have to go 33-23-1 the rest of way. Not gonna happen. At this point they’d have to go about .500 just to get to the lowest pick.

By five_hole

December 5, 2008 8:46 PM | Link to this

Sara I’m not cutting my nose to spite my face. If we can get something in the way of trade, I’m all for it. But I would like to have some shock value to my move. These guys seem too comfortable and if I were GM, I’d want to make them a little uncomfortable.

OK, you want expansion teams?

First, I’ll relate the Blues franchise which started in 1967. They signed a bunch of over-the-hill players and castoffs from the other teams. They went to the Stanley Cup in both 69-70 & 70-71 (lost to Boston both times). Of course, they had a relatively unknown coach named Scotty Bowman. My point is that coaches and organ-i-zations matter.

So much for the history lesson. For current expansion teams, I’m not sure how recent you want to go. I’ll suggest the Minnesota Wild and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

By Bob

December 5, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this

“Dang-it! But I was CLOSE”!

lol

I think he did a decent job in the offseason

lolol

I’m going to put all of this into an excel spreadsheet

Stop, you jokers are killin’ me! Y’all are a funny bunch after a couple beers…

By Sage of Bluesland

December 5, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this

So, Sara is going to prepare some fancy spreadsheet to show that our bumbling idiot of a GM is not so “allegedly” bad…

What a joke. Are you Don’s daughter, Sara?

I suggest you start by looking at the record. Tough to analyze that and come to multiple conclusions.

Start with Damian Rhodes—he was, after all, the very first signing of the “allegedly” bad Don Waddell. Yeah, he earned that money, didn’t he? Became a foundation of sorts, too, huh?

It will be humorous to see your unbiased ‘ranking’ system (no pun intended) as you attempt to prove everyone wrong and that Don is, really, a better-than-average GM.

Maybe you’ll use statistical gyrations and formulas to ‘prove’ your point further?

Laughable.

(oh, and by the way, “assinine” isn’t correct…It is “asinine”…You know what happens when you ‘assume’, eh?…)

By Bob

December 5, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this

So, Sara is going to prepare some fancy spreadsheet

lol, great minds again, I saw the screen pop up and you were laughing at the same thing, I swear, I have Yuengling come outta my nose right now, you owe me a new keyboard!

By Alan

December 5, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this

BTW, Slater is on my keep list. Thorburn … . I’d miss, but to make a point with the rest of the team … sure I’d chuck him.

It would be just the opposite for me. If we’re talking waiving or trading one of these two, it would have to be Slater. He’s a top-notch energy guy who is still finding his groove in the league, but Thorburn can work the body and has talent. We need more big bodies. If they can pot a few as well, exceptional!

If you’re talking waiving or trading a guy “everyone thought is safe,” then it’s Christensen. His problem is, I truly believe, more of a positional problem than anything else. He’s a natural center and really doesn’t have much going for him playing on the left or the right. He’s also a RFA, and a player Waddell wanted from Pittsburgh when he pulled the trigger on the Hossa deal last year. In my eyes, he’s about as safe as you can get on this team.

You want shock value? A guy like Christensen sent packing is shock value.

By Sara

December 5, 2008 10:14 PM | Link to this

I’ll tell you what Sage when you and your buddies can string together a list of all these bad moves Waddell has made, and prove definitively that a) they were all 100% his decision and b) that he had better choices available and chose not to take them, then you can laugh all you want. Besides, what are you afraid of - that a little in depth analysis might actually prove you are full of it?

You know what they say by the way about people who must resort to personal attacks to make their point? So which is it with you - are you threatened by me, totally lacking in intellectual capability to make a rational argument, or just that lacking in substance for your argument?

But I’ll toss you a little bone. Donnie’s first screw up you already mentioned - Damian Rhodes. Just to toss out two random names of goalies available in the 1999 Expansion Draft - Roloson and Fernandez. I didn’t cross check their teams to see if we received other players via trade as consideration not to draft them, but frankly even if he did, it was still a bad call. Nothing we got in trade would have had as much value as either Fernandez or Rollie compared to Rhodes or Dough-boy Maracle.

Score one for your team - whoo hoo!!

By Sage of Bluesland

December 5, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this

Not intimidated at all, Sara, I just know where this is going…You’re quite transparent in your agenda.

Save your statistical “conclusions” for the official message board. I choose to live in reality.

(Well, at least the Waddellites are dwindling in number—no, make that decreasing at an increasing rate…)

And to think you would be taken seriously with your spreadsheet “analysis”! Now THAT is funny!

By Nikita

December 5, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this

Alan, are you feeling o.k.? I thought I was Thorburn’s only fan. Let me restate this: I don’t want anyone to go until Eric Christensen and Garnet Exelby are gone.

Well, maybe this guy. I’m not so sure about the shirt.

By Alan

December 6, 2008 12:16 AM | Link to this

You want the truth, or a lie to believe, Nikita? :P

I’m not necessarily a Thorburn fan, and I honestly don’t think Thorburn nor Slater have earned a one way ticket out of here. But the choice is clear if we have to choose between the two of them. Big bodies, used appropriately, create space. If used on a scoring line, they can help generate chances, and inevitably, goals.

We’ve seen the benefits to having this before, but only in flashes. We see the potential. It can be accomplished. So dumping one of our only real big bodied forwards is moving in the wrong direction.

By Brendan

December 6, 2008 1:42 AM | Link to this

Something Alan said above got me to thinking about that Hossa trade. What was DW’s top priority? On one hand, maybe it was Christensen, or even Angelo Esposito? On the other hand, maybe it was the totality of the package combined?. I know the Hossa trade is a delicate topic. It’s even a springboard for the Heatley crowd to chime in, since Hossa was what we got in exchange for him, along with Greg deVries (who departed the organization via Free Agency, to Nashville, for nothing). When we do our genealogy, the #2 pick from 2000 = Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Esposito, and Daultan Leveille (#29, 2008 draft, via Pittsburgh). Well, what WAS the most important part of that trade?

Still thinking? Yeah, well … I am, too. I am leaning more towards the totality of the package concept, rather than a specific player. Christensen brings a shootout factor value, that I think DW liked. I can’t blame him for that, since Hossa was a regular shooter for Atlanta. Also, DW had been looking for a Center for Kovalchuk since Savard left. I can’t say Christensen (69th overall selection, Pittsburgh, 2002) or Armstrong (21st overall selection, Pittsburgh, 2001,) was really that intended target. But, perhaps, Angelo Esposito was? Espo was the 20th overall selection, by Pittsburgh, in 2007. Draft analysis “experts” like Pierre McGuire (whom someone could shoot, near fatally, without ever being convicted by a jury of his peers) considered Angelo Esposito to be a “slider.” McGuire felt Esposito was a “Top 10” caliber prospect whom GM’s were criminally neglectful about choosing. I will entertain the argument that Waddell intended to use the #29 pick in 2008 draft to find Kovalchuk a Center. But I won’t give it much weight. Nobody knew where Pittsburgh’s 1st round pick might be, and it can’t be expected to have been in the mid-teens, even if the Senators had upset Penguins in the 1st round. Even in the mid-teens, we’ve entered the “crapshoot” area of the draft. And I think it’s unfair to assume that Tier I Centers ought to be found there. Now, obviously, they are found there, as “diamonds in the rough.” But I’d expect to find a Tier I center somewhere within the confines of the “lottery draft.”

Still with me? As stupid as we think the AS, LLC are … maybe that’s PRECISELY what the plan was for this season. Perhaps they think they can get their Tier I center for Kovy with that lottery draft pick? It’s not the craziest idea I’ve ever heard. The lottery draft is, seriously, where one could expect to find such a player. But, uhhhh … ya know. Waiting allllll the way ‘til the 2009 Draft to fill the vacancy created by Savard’s departure in 2006 … is what is criminally neglectful.

I hear you scoffing out there. “But Brendan, I bought my season tickets with the understanding that 2008 was to be a playoff year for Atlanta.” Yeah, well … if they didn’t intend to get to the lottery draft in 2009, then why did they have an “Opening Night budget” of $44.7 million? That’s not exactly gunning for the Cup … or the playoffs.

By R. Stroz

December 6, 2008 2:10 AM | Link to this

Brendan - The intended target was Esposito.

Why? The future center for Kovy.

Well the future is now and Kovy needs a center. Williams isn’t getting it done and anyone can see the frustration on Kovy’s face.

That said, it’s time to finally go all in on the Hossa trade and see if Esposito is the future center for Kovy. If it works, Waddell looks smar..sma..less stupid. If it doesn’t work, Waddell looks like an idiot (so much easier to write).

That’s right, bring Esposito up NOW. This gives Esposito and Kovy at least one year to see if the chemistry works.

There is no chemistry with Kovy and Williams. Williams is too slow and soft to play with Kovy.

Kovy needs someone with speed to keep up. Reasoner puts in the effort, but has no wheels. After watching the Oilers vs. Kings tonight, I understand why the Oilers let Reasoner go. Reasoner couldn’t keep up with the rest of the Oilers. The Oilers are FAST.

So, pull the trigger, bring Esposito up, and see if Esposito and Kovy work well together. What does the team have to lose at this point? Kovy’s clock is ticking.

If the Esposito experiment works, Kovy is more likely to stay. If not, the Thrashers don’t have a plan B.

It’s time to push all of the chips into the middle of the table.

By The Joker

December 6, 2008 2:24 AM | Link to this

If the Thrashers could have had either Burke or Waddell as GM, does that mean the Thrashers got the sloppy seconds?

By Brendan

December 6, 2008 2:52 AM | Link to this

I like the idea, Strozy. But methinks DW is concerned about losing a year off Espo’s RFA eligibility. That’s the clock you hear ticking, in Waddell’s view of things. Sage of Bluesland has always advocated, from nearly the beginning, that DW is all about “buying himself more time.” Amazingly, Waddell’s “plan” has worked. Well, he’s still here, isn’t he?

Just think, Stroz, Waddell can bluster, “just you wait ‘til Angelo gets here! It’s playoffs all the way, baby!” Which is what he said, not literally, of course, when he drafted Kari Lehtonen, back in 2002. And yet, when the results aren’t there … there’s no accountability for them. There’s only deflection of blame via plausible deniability.

By Bob

December 6, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this

does that mean the Thrashers got the sloppy seconds?

You’re suspended for 6 games, Mister!

By Alan

December 6, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this

You know, guys, that Esposito is in juniors, right? He can’t be simply “brought up” until he’s assigned with one of our minor league affiliates, either in Chicago or in Gwinnett.

For this year, you’re going to have to settle with what we have, or what we manage to get via trade.

By The Falconer

December 6, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

62 points. I had not realized we were on such a low pace.

By Rawhide

December 6, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this

Falconer - Yeah, I was a little shocked myself when I ran those calcs.

By goose

December 6, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

I was just watching a program on tsn about Dan Kamal and I saw Rawhide in the forefront of one of the crowd shots.

By Nikita

December 6, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this

Esposito will not be Kovy’s #1 center. For that matter, no draft pick should be banked on — drafts are notoriously uneven in their promise, and the players don’t necessarily pay out, especially in the first year following the draft.

Let’s be honest here. Nobody is as fast as Kovalchuk. The closest we’ve had in the last few years are Jimmy Slater and Pascal Dupuis, and neither of them had the skill to finish consistently. Also, it’s not really fair to judge anyone on the last few games except inasmuch as they displayed character flaws or continuations of previous problems. Because, for example, Thorburn and Reasoner were playing half the minutes and half as fast, respectively, as they did in their last few games. Williams was playing to a faster LW and against less physical lines, and Perrin was on a vastly faster and less physical line. IMO, I would rather see Perrin on the top line than Reasoner — I think his skills are more complementary. But I think they both have the character to make it work.

What I’d like to see, for now: 1. Kovy-Reasoner-Thorburn 2. As is — Koz-White-Little 3. Perrin-Williams-Armstrong 4. Wolf - Wolf - Wolf

And trade EC and Slater. Sit Boults most of the time.

By Tom

December 6, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this

*does that mean the Thrashers got the sloppy seconds?

You’re suspended for 6 games, Mister!*

That got me laughing today. Thanks!

By Rawhide

December 6, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this

I just got through watching the NHL Network’s “Voices” program that featured Dan Kamal…very well done and interesting. I particularly enjoyed getting his inside take on the Dan Snyder tragedy as well as how he goes about preparing for each game.

I had the pleasure of meeting Kamal last summer after the town hall meeting at Philips. He came up to me and we started chatting about the team…he was very complimentary the work here, saying it was among his daily reading. I was honored indeed.

He stayed with me and the fellows I was with and we chatted all the way to our cars. He truley has a pssion for the sport and for the Thrashers!

If you haven’t yet been able to check it out…check the NHL Network’s listing and make some time. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

Oh and Goose…yeah, that was me!

By R. Stroz

December 6, 2008 9:39 PM | Link to this

Finally, some real hockey.

By Alan

December 6, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this

Well guys, after giving up a power play goal in the first minute of the game, we pile on five goals of our own and show that no matter how badly we suck, the Islanders suck just a little more.

By Steely Dan

December 6, 2008 10:20 PM | Link to this

The Thrashers must have taken Exlax tonight, ‘cuz they really blew out the Turds!

By R. Stroz

December 6, 2008 10:20 PM | Link to this

Favorite Moment of the Night: Sim meets Boris

While numerous players were pairing up for a tussle, Jon Sim graps the closest player next to him, Sim looks at the player and realizes his eyes are below the other player’s shoulders, Sim looks up, and looks up a little more. At that point, Sim realizes the Thrashers have a new player, Boris Valabik.

Sim’s reaction: NEVER MIND.

By five_hole

December 6, 2008 10:32 PM | Link to this

Favorite Moment of the Night: Sim meets Boris

And that is why I wouldn’t give up on Boris just yet Nikita

By Alan

December 6, 2008 10:36 PM | Link to this

Stroz - I loved that. If you check out the replay, Sim was actually egging him on at first. A bit of chirping here, I think there was a stick swat too. Then Valabik picks him up by the sweater and let’s Sim see what’s towering almost a foot above him.

That, and all the penalties Mandy Suckin took, were the highlights. I’m a little disappointed that we couldn’t generate more offense on all the PP time we had, and am also somewhat disappointed that our PK didn’t kill off that first penalty… but we still won the game.

I just wonder if the effort was enough for Anderson’s liking. We play one of the best teams in the league on Wednesday, so we’ll see what happens there… but that’s an almost guaranteed loss.

Unpack the bullhorns, my friend, because we’re going to have some fun on Wednesday.

By What The Puck

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

Just wlaked out of my study lair and talked to my father rstroz and recived the delightful news that we beat the islanders 5 to 1. This is good news and kinda makes me feel a little better (i have been studying most of the time i have been up today and I have some kind of cold =( ). Ah well we still need to get a new GM and get some people to help our star kovy. Hope that they can turn things around soon because quite frankly they have sucked this year. Ah well time to hit the books again (OMG sooooo much information to store in such a short period of time =0 )

By Rawhide

December 6, 2008 10:47 PM | Link to this

WhatThePuck - cracking whip…Back to the books, boy! I will NOT be party to the possible declination of your grades here!

craking whip again

No study…no hockey!

cracking whip one last time

By Alan

December 6, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this

So, is any one else looking forward to another pun-filled Rawhide blog?

I know I am. I hope he’s pushing it out now, as we speak.

By Rawhide

December 6, 2008 11:32 PM | Link to this

Alan - Nah, not this time. I’ve been workin’ on a thousand-worder for tomorrow on this whole “Trade Kovy Away Now for the Good of the Team” movement. Gonna try to get that posted in the morning.

Besides, Steely Dan said it best…how can I top that?

By BlueSpark

December 6, 2008 11:36 PM | Link to this

Garbage win. 17 shots? Like Coach said, though, they’re desperate.

DW should shop every forward other than Kovy (franchise player) and the Kozlov-White-Little line (they don’t suck). Anything he can get for anybody else would be fine with me. Even prospects; is Sterling or any of the Wolves any worse than the guys he’s putting out there now? I don’t think so.

I guess Moose has earned the #1 spot, but honestly I’d like to throw Pavelec in there more often and see how he does. So far, I’m not too impressed, but the team in front of him is playing like garbage.

How can I find out the D-pairings for tonight’s game? My comcast DVR took a dump on me and lost the game.

By Brendan

December 6, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this

I had to listen to the first two periods of this one on the radio, but got home in time to see the 3rd period. I can’t help it. Whenever I look at the Isles blueline and don’t see Luc Schenn, whom they passed over to slide to #7 in the draft, I’m reminded that there is WORSE ownership in the NHL.

Stupid is as stupid does. Don’t ever forget it. Then I see Mandy Sutton. And Jon Sim. And they’ve got to be thinking, “Ya know, I didn’t really improve my situation all that much by leaving Atlanta.”

Anywho, goals by Boulton in back-to-back games? Wild. Thorburn from Kovalchuk was executed perfectly. Ilya scored. Bryan Little scored. We’ll take our wins where we find them. Unfortunately, we don’t have 55 games remaining against the Islanders. LAC, Stroz, Sage, and NascarDave all have the inside edge on the points competition.

By Andy Sutton

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

Even Don Waddell wasn’t stupid enough to pay me 3 million a year to be a pylon.

The best part about playing for the Islandturds is now I look like crap and play like crap.

By Nikita

December 7, 2008 12:51 AM | Link to this

About tonight’s game…

Good 1. The score and the chippitude. 2. Eric Boulton — booyah! Ilya Kovalchuk — booyah!

Not so good: 1. Shots on were way too low. 2. Faceoffs were poor (actually, I’ve noticed an inverse correlation between faceoff % and winning) 3. Giveaways — too high.