Thrashers Well Represented At World Championships
Anssi Salmela will play for Team Finland in the World Championships being held in Switzerland. That brings the total number of Thrashers playing in the tournament to eight. Also wearing their country’s colors are…Ilya Kovalchuk for Russia… Tobias Enstrom, who’ll play for Sweden… Colby Armstrong who will suit up for Canada… Boris Valabik will do battle for Slovakia…and Colin Stuart, Zach Bogosian along Ron Hainsey will each represent the red, white and blue for the good ‘ol USA.
What sticks out to me in that count is the fact that no less than five Atlanta defenders have been selected to compete in the tournament.
Congrats to them all and we’ll be following their success in the weeks to come.
Hey Caps Fans…We Can Relate
The Washington Capitals are in a bad, bad position right now. They had the luxury of playing the first two games of their series with the New York Rangers on home ice …and dropped both of them by one goal margins.
Game-one went 4-3 to the New York. In game-two, played last Saturday afternoon, Lundqvist and the Rangers found a way to make one single goal stand up, giving them a 2-0 series lead heading back to Madison Square Garden.
If all this sounds painfully familiar, there’s a reason for that. Two season ago the Rangers were a lower seed matched up in a round-1 playoff series with the Southeast Division winners…the Atlanta Thrashers. Game one played in Philips Arena was a 4-3 Rangers win and game two… also an afternoon affair… was a low-scoring, one-goal win by the Blue Shirts. 2-1 then, 1-0 this past Saturday.
Also like the Thrashers of two seasons ago, Washington’s head coach Bruce Boudreau made a change in goal for game-two and now is faced with the decision of whether or not to go back to veteran goalie Jose Theodore who allowed four goals on only 21shots in game-one… or stick with 20-year old Simeon Valamov who stopped 23 of the 24 shots he faced in game-two.
As I’m sure you’ll recall, Thrashers’ coach Bob Hartley decided to keep the revolving door in front of Atlanta’s net spinning and switched netminders yet again…returning to Kari Leghtonen.
The result was a 7-0 game-three mugging at MSG, Kari allowing all seven on 35 SOG.
So, if history is any guide here…I’d say Broudreau should stick with Valamov.
Thank God For Los Angeles
The Falconer reports that the Atlanta Thrashers spent $44.1 in salaries that went toward the cap. That places them at 29th in the league with only the Kings spending less.
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65 comments Add your comment
R. Stroz
April 20th, 2009
11:21 pm
I would love to know how many GM’s have been hired by a team and subsequently resigned or fired during Waddell’s ten year tenure.
Have any current GMs held their job longer than Waddell has?
Brendan
April 21st, 2009
12:54 am
R.Stroz,, Waddell “officially” became the named GM of the Thrashers on June 23, 1998. But, for the rest of league, Atlanta didn’t enter the league, actively, until the June 1999 Draft. I remember Damian Rhodes as the 1st contract, but I have forgotten the date of that contract. All I really remember of it, is that Rhodes played 81-games over three seasons, while collecting $10 million, and blocking any attempted “buyout” of his contract, by “trying out” with a division rival, Florida Panthers, whose medical staff declared him to be “unfit” for play. And the CBA, at that time, did not allow injured players to be bought out. Hold on, I’m ready to say something nice about him. He’s married to Amanda Jahn. Did that qualify?
Calgary has just defeated Chicago, 4-2. Makes ya wonder, now, where this series might be if the Flames had held the 2-0 lead it enjoyed in Game Two, instead of losing it in overtime.
Anaheim: 1999-2009: Bryan Murray, Al Coates, and Brian Burke all came to power during the Decade-long Waddell Administration, and counting. I have forgotten who took over for Brian Burke.
Boston: 1999-2009: Harry Sinden, Mike O’Connell, Peter Chiarelli, all during the Waddell years.
Buffalo: 1999-2009: Darcy Regier. R.Stroz, here is a GM with greater tenure with his club than Waddell. Regier was hired in 1997. But R.Stroz, here’s an important distinction. Not only does Regier own a playoff wins. He also owns several playoff SERIES wins, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999, ousted in six games. Darcy Regier’s Sabres also made it to the Conference Finals in 1998, 2006, and 2007. So, in total, that’s four (4) trips to the CF in the Regier Administration, which just last week was renewed for another season, along with Head Coach Lindy Ruff, the only Coach Regier has ever hired. Regier was hired on June 11, 1997. Ruff was hired on July 21, 1997.
Calgary: 1999-2009: Al Coates, Craig Button, and Darryl Sutter.
Carolina: 1999-2009: Jim Rutherford, who was hired on June 28, 1994. During the Rutherford Administration, the franchise won its 1st playoff series since 1986, a 3-0 series sweep by the Hartford Whalers over the Quebec Nordiques. In the next round, in ‘86, the Whale lost Game Seven in overtime, 2-1. Heartbreaker. Rutherford tooks the ‘Canes to the SCF in 2002, then won the Cup in 2006.
Chicago: 1999-2009: Bob Murray, Bob Pulford, Mike Smith, and Dale Tallon. Chicago’s last playoff berth occured in 2002, a 4-1 series loss to St. Louis.
Colorado: Pierre LaCroix, from 1994-2006. That included two Stanley Cup wins. Then Francois Giguere took over. And he just got canned, this offseason, for a 15th place finish in the Western Conference. The Aves will pick 3rd in the draft this June.
Columbus: 2000-2009: Doug MacLean from 2000-2007. Scott Howson from 2007 to the present. Franchise still looking for 1st playoff win.
Dallas: 1999-2009: Bob Gainey, from 1992-2001, Doug Armstrong, 2002-2007. Brett Hull and Les Jackson, 2007-09. Last year, the Stars lost the CF to Detroit. This year, they missed the dance.
Detroit: 1997-2009 – Ken Holland. This is a GM with a longer tenure than Waddell. Waddell was Holland’s Assistant GM. In the Holland Administration, the franchise has won four (4) Stanley Cups and appeared in five (5) Conference Championships.
Edmonton: 1999-2009: Glen Sather, Kevin Lowe, until 2008, Steve Tambellini, and think they just made another change, at least with the Head Coach. Not sure if Tambellini is still there or not.
Florida: 1999-2009: Bryan Murray, Bill Torrey, Chuck Fletcher, Rick Dudley, Mike Keenan, and Jacques Martin. Whew! That’s a list!
Los Angeles: 1999-2009: Dave Taylor, 1997-2006, Dean Lombardi, 2006-present. The last playoff appearance for the Kings occured in 2002, a 4-3 series loss to Colorado.
Minnesota: 1999-2009: Doug Risebrough, 2000-2009, just fired. Apparently talking to several candidates.
Montreal: 1999-2009: Rejean Houle, Andre Savard, Bob Gainey, hired in 2003. Montreal won two playoff series versus Boston, in 2004 and 2008.
Nashville: 1998-2009: David Poile. This is the 3rd, along with Regier and Holland, to have greater longevity than Waddell. The Preds have never won a playoff series. But they do own 4 playoff wins over Detroit. The Preds made the playoffs every year since 2004, until this season. They missed by a few points, at the end.
New Jersey: Lou Lamoriello, 1987 to the present. In that time, the Devils have won three Stanley Cups (1995, 2000, 2003) and reached five (5) Conference Finals (1988, 1994, 1995, 2000, and 2003). Since being hired in 1987, Lamoriello’s Devils have missed the playoffs only twice (1989 and 1996).
Okay, I’m just gonna stop there.
Brendan
April 21st, 2009
1:02 am
Alright, sorry. Left out Jim Rutherford. So, Rutherford, Lamoriello, Regier, Holland, and David Poile. There might be more. I’m too tired to keep looking. But this should give you some idea, R.Stroz. These are names that most hockey fans do know, noted for their successes.
A2B
April 21st, 2009
9:21 am
Hey, sorry it took me so long to get back to the conversation. I would really like the thrashers to pursue people from teams that are on the top of this list for one reason.. they are defensively responsible (play on the PK)on teams can score. Take a look at the link http://www.nhl.com/ice/teamstats.htm?fetchKey=20092ALLAAAAll&sort=powerPlayGoalsAgainst&viewName=penaltyKill
Getting another a D-man (ohnlund is a fall back choice to me, but I’d take him) that is young with about 4 years exp should be who we go after. Another solid 20 goal scorer like Armstrong to solidify the second PK unit would be another important acquisition. Like I said before, we can score, its just slowing down the other teams first. If we get defense here and move the puck out of our zone faster that plays exactly into what JA is looking to do. I have never thought I would say this in 5 years, but it seems like Waddell might actually know what he is doing, but he is the one that is handcuffed by the drawfs upstairs.
I mean the second half of the season we had the 3rd best record in the NHL. Our PK was doing better and GAA went down as well. Take that same momentum we had (and obviously a lot of the key players) and insert a solid stay at home D-man, a good two way forward, and another center that plays like Reasoner but scores more and I’m happy. Although that means we have to say bye to X and slates, so who knows if that knocks off the chemistry there.
Those are just my thoughts.
ranallo10 (in AT)
April 21st, 2009
9:52 am
A2B — Are there any players that are pending UFAs that fit the roles you’ve outlined above? Any you have in mind via trade?
ASG hater
April 21st, 2009
10:13 am
Some of those other players don’t have a contract for next season and won’t risk an injury.
Jus’ sayin.
Hey there Brendan – Drew Stafford doesn’t have a contract for next season but he is playing on Team USA. Can you even name any other players that were asked to play but turned down the invite due to contract status or did you just make that up? Just sayin’
A2B
April 21st, 2009
10:13 am
Free agents: Mike Cammalleri or Nik Antropov at center would be fantastic, Brian Gionta or Michel Ouellet from R wing, Jay Bouwmeester, Jordan Leopold, Andrew Alberts on D. I think we are solid on LW for atleast 2 years.
Trades are going to be hard to gauge because to get the upgrade we need a scorer/goalie to get there. I would like us to trade for a Mark Streit type of defender or a forward like Eric Stall . Maybe Pavs/2nd pick could pull that off it given to the right team. Our problem is we are one year away from having trade depth to really make a difference.
Through the draft I want to see Kane here where we sit. Everything points out that he is a future two way forward that is going to wreak some havoic in NHL with his strength.
From our roster who we HAVE to keep (RFA): Army, Lehtonen, Valabik, Salmela, and Oystrick.
Build out from there and see what happens in free agency
BLitz
April 21st, 2009
11:40 am
We don’t HAVE to keep Lehtonen. For the amount of times he gets injured I doubt we would notice he is even gone. Trade him for whatever we can get.
Rawhide
April 21st, 2009
12:47 pm
Interesting comments from Ben Wright regarding some things Michael Gearon Jr said about Kovy while on 790 The Zone this morning.
ranallo10 (in AT)
April 21st, 2009
1:08 pm
I wonder if Josh Smith is ever at a Thrashers game talking about the future of the franchise with one of the owners.
Oh wait, he need not worry, the ASG at least show they CARE about the basketball product by attending the games.
kracker
April 21st, 2009
3:17 pm
Bill, Like Ben hints at in the BB, doesn’t the fact that Geron admitted that Kovy talked bluntly to the owners about the Thrashers needing improved talent indicate that the owners are indeed going to try to spend to get that talent? They were ready to spend about $2M/yr more than the Hainsey contract for Campbell last summer. They have even more incentive to spend now. The Thrashers’ youth is maturing. The Hawks’ recent success is surely helping the bottom line of the ASG, Inc., which may allow them to spend more as a group. And of course, Kovalchuk is tiring of waiting on the team to develop.
Rawhide
April 21st, 2009
3:58 pm
Everyone – please join me in welcoming Chris Vivlamore as the new AJC beat writer for the Thrashers!
kracker – Bill, Like Ben hints at in the BB, doesn’t the fact that Geron admitted that Kovy talked bluntly to the owners about the Thrashers needing improved talent indicate that the owners are indeed going to try to spend to get that talent
Yes, I think Kovy’s thoughts are being made very clear. One can only hope that he, Levenson and the rest of the Spiriteers take notice.
Bob
April 21st, 2009
5:03 pm
I can’t see Gearon admitting what Kovy asked for, unless they plan to follow through on it. Good news!
Jason(Darkhorse)
April 21st, 2009
5:36 pm
Gearon just said the same stuff to Buck and Kincade on 680 thefan about Kovy and the owners committment to building a winner. On the same note he also said Waddell wasn’t going anywhere and the owners were pleased with the momentum and success of the second half.
He’s saying all the right things about the Thrash, we’ll see soon enough if that was just hogwash. But I do agree with Bob, why repeat a private conversation with your superstar multiple times to the media if you don’t mean it. Hopefully a good sign.
Alan
April 21st, 2009
6:50 pm
I read the Blueland Blog coverage this morning, and was in disbelief. The fact people have heard him again on another station saying the same thing really has me wondering whether the owners are finally serious about hockey in this town.
I guess time will tell. Alas, it’s a long way to 1 July 2009.