Thrashers GM looking to trade after latest loss

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Thrashers general manager Rick Dudley is actively looking to make a trade to shake up a struggling team on the verge of falling out of the playoff race.

Dudley told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday that there is a heightened sense of urgency following a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

"As of [Tuesday] night, yes [we are seeking a trade],” Dudley said. “Are we looking to do something? Absolutely. We don’t want to let this go. Obviously we haven’t given up on the season. It would be ludicrous. We haven’t given up on improving either. If it doesn’t come from within, it will come from outside.”

The Thrashers hold a tenuous one-point lead on the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference even after the loss to the Islanders, who are 14th in the conference. The Thrashers have won just seven times in their past 22 games, erasing a once comfortable playoff margin.

Dudley said that ultimately, he would like to add two forwards and a defenseman.

“Those could happen now. They could happen later,” Dudley said. “Obviously we feel a sense of urgency because we think we are a better team than we displayed [Tuesday] night. We think we are capable of making the playoffs but it may take a move here or there.”

Dudley said he is concerned with individual commitment to winning and the loss of tempo that the team displayed during a 10-2 streak earlier this season, a span that included wins over Washington, Detroit, Colorado and Boston.

“The people that are here can in some way, shape or form make the decision for us,” Dudley said. “If they play like they did [Tuesday] night, it’s an easy decision. If they play at the level we were at once when we had a tempo that was second to none in the league, they make that decision for you because then, they are good enough. We have to make decisions on what we see. What we’ve seen so far is that we are not there yet.”

Following the loss to the Islanders, captain Andrew Ladd and alternate Dustin Byfuglien met with coach Craig Ramsay to discuss player accountability. According to Ramsay, locker room leadership came to him, representing a consensus of the team, because unnamed players have shown a lack of effort, commitment to winning and attention to detail that have punctuated the recent stretch of play. The coach said ice time will be his only “hammer” to demand an improved level of play and the elimination of continued mistakes.

Ramsay also said the team currently lacks the “mental commitment” to win.

“You make a mental decision that I’m a little sore so I don’t want to get hit as much. I’m not going to go in the corner quite as quickly and hope I get the puck and make one good play,” Ramsay said. “To me, it’s a mental skill. We are not playing mentally hard enough. ... We’ve reached a level of contentment as a group. You have to be mentally strong to play this game over 82 games because nothing else is acceptable at the end of the year.”

Dudley and Ramsay both said it was good to see team leadership step forward.

“There are not a lot of people in the last few games [that played well],” Dudley said. “You better look in the mirror. There is a commitment to be made. There are 29 games left. I believe in my heart that if this team -- and I know they are young -- but if they got together and said, ‘Hey, for whatever length of time there is left, we are going to be the best we can be. We are going to take care of ourselves. Work hard. In practice we are going to do everything that our strength coach asks us to do. We are going to stay sharp. We are going to take a little off our having fun time.’ ... In the long-term scheme of things, it’s a very short time to be the best you can be. There are no shortcuts.”