Ice Man

By Stevo

December 28, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this

FIRE WADDELL

By new coach

December 28, 2008 9:52 PM | Link to this

Hire Laviolette. JA has had his chance.

By Don Waddell

December 28, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this

If Boston hadn’t scored those two goals, we would have won today.

Ya know, we gave 110% at least 50% of the time except when Boston controlled the puck the other 50% of the time.

By Scotty

December 28, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this

FIRE WADDELL!!

Hire Pat Quinn for GM.

Hire Bob Hartley for GM.

Hire Rawhide for GM.

Hire ANYBODY for GM.

But for the love of God, FIRE WADDELL NOW!!

By bill

December 28, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this

Yes fire Don and John as well he didn’t name a captain and it should have been Kovy it was his time, he has been hear the longest and would have been a great leader in the locker room.

By Sage of Bluesland

December 28, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this

Nice effort, but the result is the same…I would expect us to do better in year nine of Donny’s “Five-Year Plan”…

No, actually I wouldn’t—considering it was and is that bumbling idiot Donny pulling the strings.

If, If, If…

FIRE DON WADDELL.

By bill

December 28, 2008 10:05 PM | Link to this

Let’s get rid of the NHL idea in Atlanta and bring in an AHL team,it’s less expensive and it’s a very competitive leaque so you won’t know the differnce, the fans really loved the knights and they won a turner cup.

By Erik Christensen

December 28, 2008 10:07 PM | Link to this

I couldn’t put a puck in an empty barn.

By Buzzeng

December 28, 2008 10:09 PM | Link to this

RH - you continue to impress me with your timely posts… are you typing your draft during the game?!?!

My two-fold question about the 5-game winning streak is this: What changed that kicked off the winning streak and what changed that ended the winning streak? Sadly, I don’t think there’s enough consistency to figure that out - I can’t find the common thread.

I can find one common thread for tonight - Boston is a really good team. I’m glad we played them closely, but can’t say I expected two points (or even one) from this game. The good news about being swept by Boston is that we won’t have to play them again this year (playoffs notwithstanding!!).

By Revolution

December 28, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this

Fire Don Waddell before he’s put in charge of deadline trades.

He is the only constant dating back to 1999. It’s never worked, and before you know it, we’re on another 5 year plan.

Get rid of him. Sell the team to an individual who will keep the team in Philips arena. Get us a manager and owner that cares. Somebody. Please.

By Rawhide

December 28, 2008 10:21 PM | Link to this

Scotty - I like the Pat Quinn suggestion as well…heck, even the N.E. Body vote for GM would be an upgrade.

As for me…well, I can honestly say that I could not GM the team to fewer playoff wins in 8+ seasons than Don Waddell has.

new coach and bill - I understand your frustration, but I disagree with the “fire Anderson” thought. He needs a chance with a decent GM that can ice a competive product. He deserves at least the whole year…if not at least 2 season to prove to us one way or the other what his abilities are.

Buzzeng - It was only 696 words. I can type that up on my laptop while driving home. :o)

(playoffs notwithstanding!!) - HA!

HAAaaa!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

HAHA-HO-HO-HO-HEE-HEE!!

Oh my God, Buzz…you’re killin’ me!

By Jeff

December 28, 2008 10:29 PM | Link to this

anyone go to the game tell how Christensen looked? Listened on the radio, but that only does so much

By B. Thenet

December 28, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this

Hurrah, another loss on home ice.

By R. Stroz

December 28, 2008 10:44 PM | Link to this

Jeff - Other than Christensen’s inability to slap the puck into an open net, he did fine.

By LAC

December 28, 2008 10:50 PM | Link to this

waddell, Be A Man, Monday morning, Please call a press confrence and Please announce you are resigning.

Do YOU really believe you know what you are doing ? Do you not see the train wreck YOU yourself have created ? Can you not accept the simple fact, that you are NOT cut out to be an NHL, or anything else, GM ? Do you not see everything you have done has FAILED, Everything !!!!!!

What do you have to say for yourself don ?

We the FANS have had it with you and your complete inability to accomplish anything with this team. What makes YOU think YOU are capable of reversing the overall team picture ? Do you know what people both inside and out of the NHL are saying about YOU don ?

You don, are a complete LAUGHING STOCK, you and LOSING go hand in hand ! You “SAY” you love this team, OK then don… Do what HAS TO BE DONE, RESIGN, or anything worse wuld be fine too, but just get out of the GM business, you are a total and complete FAILURE !

You will not get better don, you have just about destroyed the Thrashers with everything you have ever done, The FANS have NO respect for you as you have made Tha Atlanta Thrashers THE laughing stock of the entire NHL. You, like the team you have assembled, STINK.

So don, For ONCE in your worthless life, BE A MAN, stand up and do what is right, do not maintain this all is well BS any longer, You need to grow up and get it over with, you MUST RESIGN don, you now have NO choice in the matter, the pressure on you is too much and we the PAYING Fans, have had more than enough of your never ending circus, time to pack it up and leave town, we need some NEW acts, yours have grown old & stale and will never get better… The next train leaves at 1000 Monday morning, get on it don and NEVER EVER come back to Atlanta, We do not like LOSERS here and getting rid of you would be the BEST possible thing that could happen to The Atlanta Thrashers !

By Steely Dan

December 28, 2008 10:54 PM | Link to this

“The next train leaves at 1000 Monday morning, get on it don and NEVER EVER come back to Atlanta”.

Aw, come on LAC, make him take a Delta flight. It gets the hell out of the state faster.

By Don Waddell

December 28, 2008 11:03 PM | Link to this

I’m not resigning.

One night, after getting Levenson drunk, I took pictures of Levenson with a hooker. That’s called job security.

By Gus

December 28, 2008 11:05 PM | Link to this

Anyone who felt this team was going to beat Boston tonight should not be allowed on this site. It was never realistic. It was a good showing to not be over until 6 minutes left. How many time have they lost to anyone else??? That being said, anyone notice that Kari and Eric both played tonight and appeared healthy enough for a trade???? They might like Minnisota. It could not hurt, as stated earlier if Eric cant hit an empty barn and Kari is on a one year deal in which he can’t keep healthy, why the hell not??? It couldn’t hurt and apprarently we can’t get any worse.

By Jason

December 28, 2008 11:06 PM | Link to this

Oh….let’s see….um…I would say after the latest unfocused loss….FIRE WADDELL NOW!!!!!

By stendec

December 28, 2008 11:32 PM | Link to this

Happy New Year to you and yours Rawhide. Still believe your boy Kari Lehtonen is an untalented piece of shet who will never be worth a damn (like that first marshmallow goal off glove and whiff job on game-loser?) and overrated and overpaid Ilya Kovalchuk who has totally called it quits. Doing his best Maryann Hossa impersonation until the season expires. Oh well. Not your fault. Man do I miss the Flames. Not big winners but they were courageous fighters who took home ice (Omni) defeats personally. None of this Loseland crapola. God bless!

By sisu

December 28, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this

Another loss, another sunshiny comments on the postgame show. The team played well, they fought to the end, bla bla bla bla…

I wish something would change but it is unlikely that anything will happen since the team is paying 2 coaches and one GM. Not likely they will be willing to pay 2 GM’s?

Keep the coach, he is not the issue….

By Rawhide

December 28, 2008 11:58 PM | Link to this

stendec - Thank you and same to you and yours. I hope the New Year brings many blessings and joy to your home.

I would hardly call Kari “my boy”. I say when he does good…I say when he screws up. Tonight he played well, but I’m sure he wishes he had that first one back…went right through his glove.

I said last summer this was the year for him to prove if he is worthy of the Thrashers’ “goalie of the future” label. We’ll see…halfway through the season, it doesn’t look like it though.

Everyone - Here is why I still have faith in JA. At about the 1:25 mark of the interview he shoots back at a questioner about the season being over. I love his response…I disagree that the playoffs are still in the realm of possibility but I love his fire.

Again, I do think he deserves the whole season at the least…but I would love for him to have a competent GM to help him out.

By Peter

December 29, 2008 12:00 AM | Link to this

I disagree sisu, Coach Anderson’s job in Chicago for the past several years was to develop players to one day play for the Thrashers. I think he has done a lousy job developing players and I think he is doing a lousy job coaching this team. Granted, Waddell and his friends from college (or wherever he got his scouting team from) have not done their jobs either, but John Anderson is definately not a NHL coach.

By Stevo

December 29, 2008 12:09 AM | Link to this

Fire Waddell, but don’t throw John Anderson under the bus. JA is a good coach, he knows how to win. You don’t win championships at any level if you are a bad coach. He is doing the best with the talent he is given. If there is any positive from the game tonight the team proved they can play with the best teams in the league. They just need to play tight the entire game and not for 40 or 50 minutes.

By Jason

December 29, 2008 12:27 AM | Link to this

DW is gone sometime in Jan. You heard it here.

By 12345

December 29, 2008 12:55 AM | Link to this

Don must have survived the Tornado last season, but got a bump on the head, because he is in Never-Never Land thinking he has a good team here.

Get out now Don before the Next F-5 Tornado destroy’s you once and for all !

By jason

December 29, 2008 2:29 AM | Link to this

Peter - JA’s job in Chicago was to win championships for the ownership of the Wolves. The Thrashers do not own the Wolves, hence why they’ve never been like a true minor league team for us that mirrors what we do as far as systems in the NHL. One of the STH’s that sits near me spoke with JA on Long Island a few weeks ago and JA really thinks if he’s given two years to get his system beaten into the players that are up here, this team will win.

Granted, I’m sure he’d love some better horses to run out there. I’m sure a guy like Savard would look good in Thrasher Blue…oh wait, he did. Shane Hnidy would probably do okay for us as well…oh wait.

P.s. - Listening to Darren Elliot on the post-game show tonight was an absolute joke. If my cell weren’t dead, I would have called him to call him on the b.s. he was spewing tonight. Maybe one night, the Fire Waddell crew needs to storm Taco Mac post-game.

P.p.s. - Kari seems to always play his best against the better teams in the league, but doesn’t have the same focus against teams we don’t respect. The only reason we lost 2-1 today was Kari stood on his head a few times to keep it from being worse (though I know he’d love to have the first one back, but it did look like it deflected and fluttered in).

P.p.p.s. - Fire Waddell

By dhj_1962

December 29, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this

oystrick needs to go, but, no one to replace him. his fault on the game winner. when will ZB be ready?

By rj

December 29, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this

This defensive system don’t work. My head wants to explode when I watch an Atlanta forward stand in his defensive zone spot and watch while the opposing team’s guy with the puck is 2 feet away but just outside the Thrasher forward’s area of responsibility.

Bullsh&t, go knock that guy on his a$$ and free up the puck. Usually what happens is the Thrasher forward watches the other guy score a goal.

By dhj_1962

December 29, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this

oh yeah…i forgot…FIRE WADDELL!!!!!

By jsh1954

December 29, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this

At the first of the season, I was tracking every game and watching all of the ones that were on TV. Now it has gotten to this: I did not even know there was a game until I saw the score in the paper. Great job building the fan base!

By dhj_1962

December 29, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this

best case scenario, trade EC and KL to wild for gaborik(if he signs an extension or offer sheet to stay in ATL), sit gaborik for the rest of the year, admit to all the fans that they are tanking the rest of the year, pick Tavares with the first pick, resign Kovy. oh yeah, and FIRE WADDELL!!!!

By sisu

December 29, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this

Bogo skated in the warm ups and should be ready soon, perhaps he will play this week? So who do you sit? I vote for Nathan, he needs a game or two in the press box to get his game on track…

I hate to give up on Eric yet, he just returned but if he brings value in return why not? If Kari is not our guy then we need to get Backstrom from Minnesota or make a pitch for Tim Thomas.

By Brendan

December 29, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this

Darren Eliot isn’t a moron. But he is an Atlanta Spirit, LLC employee. But yes, sometimes Eliot’s comments speak to his credibility. There comes a time to … tell it like it is.

It’s time for Eliot and all Spirit employees, to stop with the excuses. Post game show comments boil down to this: “The dog ate my homework.” “The sun was in my eyes.” And I think this one is the most apt of all, “It was like that when I got here,” which is the excuse I’d use, if I were John Anderson.

Think about it.

Now … THINK HARDER.

By Brendan

December 29, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this

Truthfully, I’d have thought Boston would beat us, 6-2. So, all things considered, playing the best team in the Conference, the Thrashers eclipsed expectations.

Spirit Group: Hire a new GM before the trade deadline. Let someone else have a shot at rebuilding this team. Waddell had his shot. Truly, he did.

By Alan

December 29, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this

My head wants to explode when I watch an Atlanta forward stand in his defensive zone spot and watch while the opposing team’s guy with the puck is 2 feet away but just outside the Thrasher forward’s area of responsibility.

That’s a lazy forward, not a defensive system flaw.

By Alan

December 29, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

An interesting yet sad new twist on the death of Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov earlier this year…

By the 409ers

December 29, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

like everyone we have been VERY DISAPOPINTED with EC, i mean charmin. however in the boston game he played well, had good jump to his game and was going 100mph every second he was on the ice. he still cant score to save his life but at least last night he gave 100%. thats more than u can say for most of the team.

FIRE D-WAD

By R. Stroz

December 29, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this

409ers - A small correction on some of the nicknames.

Todd White is Charmin, although I have refrained from calling him that after he came back and played the next game after getting his head drilled.

Jason Williams is Angel Soft or Creme Puff.

EC is Christy.

BTW, Christy did hustle yesterday but still can’t put the puck in an empty barn.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 29, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

Stroz — I’ve noticed you giving White a bit of a break this season, finally. I believe it was Hokie who continually insisted that people would eventually appreciate White’s contributions.

I’d say that Hokie was right about that, at this point.

By the by, does anybody else find it interesting how the most productive lines for this team seem to be whichever line Kozlov is on? I’m not surprised by it, but it’s an interesting thing to think about knowing Kovalchuk hasn’t been paired with Kozlov beyond PP time (to my recollection).

By Joshgekko

December 29, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

Not sure if it’s been mentioned yet. At the end of the game, Kovy hustled back to make sure the puck didn’t go into the empty net . That in itself doesn’t mean much, but the fact that he knew there was no time to get it back into the offensive zone yet still wanted to prevent the extra goal showed his continued trend towards teamwork. He seems to be turning more into a playmaker this year. I’m assuming it has more to do with the lack of topline talent playing on his line that’s keeping him from getting quality chances. Even then I cant help but think that in the past he would have thrown it on net whether or not the chance was there.

By Joshgekko

December 29, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

RH Im def with you on allowing JA the chance to show why he was so good in the AHL. I think that, given better personnel, he would do well in the NHL too. And that is with no offense intended for our current players. I like our entire team individually. I just feel like we have too many complimentary players to consistently compete.

By dhj_1962

December 29, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

kovy needs a scorer on his line……period. come on, you’ve seen the passes he makes…..if he had malkin or semin, st’louis….a healthy gaborik…the list goes on and on, he’d have 20 goals and 25 assists by now. if, if and more ifs. the reason why ASG is not worried about attendence or winning is because the Hawks are carrying them. they seen this coming last year when the hawks made the playoffs, they got 3 games at home and made some money. as far as fire wadddell is concerned, if he would make public on how much money he offered big time free agents, providing he is telling the truth, maybe his hands are tied, if no one wants to play in ATL. that aint his fault. and of course, the ASG, who are they and whats their experience with hockey?

By dhj_1962

December 29, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

SISU—-yes, sit oystrick, play ZB, hope EC can score 1 goal off a pass from Kovy. Someone mentioned JA having NOT named a captain, We have disussed this before,i do not think Kovy wants it, Slava speaks no good english, Little?? too young?? Reasoner?? we do not know these guys, maybe JA knows these guys now and none of them are “C” worthy.

By Jim

December 29, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

A couple of EHL teams folded. Why not petition the league to replace one of them? We’ve got no chance against a good NHL team, maybe we can hang with a few EHL teams. Time to turn off the lights and lock the door on this season. Party is over!

By NASCAR Dave

December 29, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this

Happy Holidays, Thrashers fans!!!

Are you enjoying this “Thrasher Hockey” yet??? LOL

Just remember SHEEP… You get what you pay for… And you have nobody to blame but yourselves…

By Nikita

December 29, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this

Yawn. This is getting ooooooold. I am seconds from doing a Fire on Ice rundown, not because I feel the need to get into who’s hot and who’s not, but because I am bored stiff by the same old broken record nonsense.

I enjoyed the most recent game, actually. I didn’t expect us to win. But I also didn’t expect us to lose by one point.

By dhj_1962

December 29, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

heres something to think about: is the salary cap droping next year? is fire waddell waiting to pounce on a true # 2 center to play with Kovy? because reasoner is a # 3 at best. is fire waddell gonna deal KL and try to land a #1 goalie for next year? is fire waddell gonna keep MS and try for a top 4 D-man? what do yall think? and even if the above was true, would anyone want to come south and play in a 1/2 FULL phillips arena?

By Ilya's Dad

December 29, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

Time to flush the Wad…

By Buzilla in CT

December 29, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this

if, if and more ifs. the reason why ASG is not worried about attendence or winning is because the Hawks are carrying them

In the last few years, it was the Thrashers that were making more from home games than Hawks games. Beer, food, and apparel sales were much higher for Thrasher games. Just ask any of the venders at the next game you go too.

By R. Stroz

December 29, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

Actually, the salary cap and salary floor should drop next year.

I would hazard to say the ASG clowns are more interested in the falling Canadian dollar due to falling oil prices than they are with the Thrashers attendence.

The falling Canadian dollar coupled with the recession should produce lower revenue figures for the NHL. Since the salary cap/floor are determined by overall season revenues, the salary cap/floor should drop next season.

What does that mean? The ASG can lower the Thrashers payroll even more and claim they are closer to the cap ceiling on a percentage basis.

Happy New Year

By Rockem Sockem Thrasher

December 29, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

Considering how this season is going the Thrash NEED to try out more of the AHL Chicago Wolves guys.

I think that Grant Steveson (C) and Grant Lewis (D) are having very good season.

Chicago Wolves Stat Page

By Buzilla in CT

December 29, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

How many more days until next years draft?

By Tony C.

December 29, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this

I think that we are positioned to take advantage of the shifting financial-cap landscape, but I also am convinced that Don JobSecurity Waddell (c’mon, it IS his middle name) is not the guy to get anything close to a maximized return from that opportunity.

Ugh, I just hope #17 stays to have at least ONE season of watching Tavares-to-Kovalchuk…. SCORRRRRRRRRRRRRRE!

It’s a nice dream, I fear that FUBAS+DW will find a way to dink it up

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 29, 2008 6:28 PM | Link to this

Stroz — Technically the cap should stay about the same next year, as it’s set based on projected revenues, not actual. I read an article earlier this season where Bettman said that the cap should stay the same in 09/10, but could see a decline (finally) in 10/11.

What that means is that some teams should be less willing to shell out the long contracts at high price tags for Free Agents this offseason, in anticipation of the dropping cap.

Hossa might’ve cost himself MILLIONS chasing The Cup in Detroit with that one year contract.

By Fred

December 29, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this

I was at the Bruins vs Thrashers game, had pretty good club level seats. Despite the shot totals, face off etc, it looked like JV playing Varsity. Bruins looked like they put in less than 100% effort and the game was never in question. There need to be some sweeping GM and player changes here in ATL if this team is ever going to compete. Little and Valabik look promising. Kari looked pretty good as well. From growing up playing hockey, and watching it religiously up until pretty recently, the Thrashers have NO chance to compete with the resources they have right now. It is a testament to the rookie coach that they have even won a game at all this year. We need to quit making excuses for this team, and leave the dead horse of FIRE WADDELL alone. If it hasn’t happened yet, it prolly won’t under this ownership group. Hopefully whenever the lawsuit gets settled something will change….. I sure hope so

By dhj_1962

December 29, 2008 9:07 PM | Link to this

my case in point, thashers WERE making more money, 2 years ago, we are talking about now. hawks made more last year and are filling up the arena this year. by the way, Team Canada is on center ice, the Tavares kid looks good, Pat Quinn aint playing Espo too much. must know he is a thrasher, wants to hold him down.