Is This Waddell’s Last Stand?
First off, let me be very clear on this point…this is not intended to be a “Bash Waddell” piece. However, given just where the organ-I-zation is at this time, I feel it is prudent to at least pose this question:
Is this summer indeed Don Waddell’s last chance to finally ice a competitive, solid, playoff-contending team…not just for this coming fall’s campaign but for the foreseeable future?
And if he doesn’t…is will time be up for him as the Thrasher’s general manager?
First let’s examine the history of the Thrashers during the Decade of Don. The overall record is 273 wins, 367 losses, 53 overtime losses and 45 ties, (accumulated during the five season’s prior to the post-lockout rules change). That amounts to a .436 points winning percentage and an average of 71.5 points earned in the standings each year. There has been exactly one playoff appearance during the nine seasons played…resulting in a four-game sweep to the Rangers in 2007.
Those, my friends are very un-good numbers.
Now, at the end of the 2007-08 debacle of a season, I made it very clear that I was of the opinion that Waddell’s tenure needed to come to an end. The circumstances that led to that miserable year was set squarely at the general manager’s feet, in my mind. And I thought even the Great Octo-Cluster could see that.
Ownership, however, chose to have Don remain.
Also, going into last season, had you told me that Atlanta would finish with the same amount of points…76…as they did the previous season, I would have called that epic failure and surely he’d be gone. But the 76 points amassed this time around are far different from those of two seasons ago…going 22-18-1 in the second half of the season instead of collapsing the way they did in March and April of 2007.
Over the course of the last calendar year, he has brought in such popular players as Marty Reasoner and Rich Peverley as well as draft Zach Bogosian with Atlanta’s third overall pick last year. Sure…many of you will quip that taking Bogey was a no-brainer, but the fact of the matter is that he did so and didn’t trade the pick away. Need I remind you of his wheeling and dealings of 2005?
So, it’s only fair to assume that if Don deserved blame for what has gone wrong in the past, certainly he deserves praise for what has gone right of late…giving rise to the hope for better days to come.
However, as we find ourselves once again enjoying the NHL playoffs from our couches instead of Philips Arena, we enter into a summer in which the Thrashers are seriously but a player or two away from being a serious threat. And what Waddell does, or fails to do, over the course of the next few months will directly impact the chances of that becoming reality…not just hope.
Of course, that “one or two players away” line is also the same as was used 12 months ago…and two summers ago. And that is why I ask the question posed above…is this finally the summer that ownership makes it clear to Don, and the whole front office, that it is time to stop building for the future and start producing results? Certainly, if we are sitting here one year from now and we’re still making the same assertions that all we need is a top-four defender and a top-six forward to complete the team…then even the Spirit Boys have to see that as an object failure…right? RIGHT?
Hope only lasts so long, after all. And it tends to fade into coldness of reality if not renewed by the observation of results.
U.S.A. vs. Russia Semi-Finals
Friday, the United States is pitted against Russia in one of the World Championships semi-finals matchup. Four Thrashers will suit up for their respective teams…Ilya Kovalchuk for the Russian squad and Zach Bogosian, Colin Stuart and Ron Hainsey for the U.S.
Here’s the linkie-linage to watch it.
Falconer’s Interview With Dan Marr Pt. II
The Falconer has posted the second part of his chat with Dan Marr. In it, Marr discusses college and European prospects. As always, great job Falconer!
Upcoming Viewing Parties At TJs
May 17 – Sunday afternoon playoff game…first weekend of the Conference Finals. Also, Tim Ecclestone will provide 4 tickets to an upcoming Braves game to raffle off that day!
June 26 – NHL Draft Party. Details to come.
As always, please RSVP with Trixie.
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116 comments Add your comment
LAC
May 7th, 2009
10:57 pm
Well what can be said about waddell that is one bit positive ? NOTHING !
He is a loser in every respect There is not one damn thing that waddell
has ever done that has built the defense into anything but a big hole to score through… Last season yet another example, second worst GA…
Problem with that is, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE BEEN THAT BAD on defense ?
About every year, and who runs the show STUPID DUMB don waddell.
And yes, remember how well he handled the Marian Hossa contract talks ?
And remember HOW many STAR players left saying the team is going in the WRONG direction ?
Fact is don waddell should have been gone after year three period.
These IDIOT owners for some reason are afraid to fire him, but when you are asg how much more DUMB could you possibly be ?
Bottom line, NO big name UFA’s will come here, we will add a couple more
ECHL players and #17 will be GONE FOR GOOD !
Like I have said before, don waddell has done more to destroy NHL hockey in this town than anyone ever could !
If we match this years point total, next season, I would be amazed !
Wayne from AL
May 7th, 2009
11:45 pm
Ice Man: Welcome to the party…A YEAR LATE!
Crazy Diamond
May 8th, 2009
12:27 am
We are so screwed. Atlanta Spirit is an awful mess. They will not act on the need for a better GM ’cause they are stuck in the legal mess. This is not a hockey town … NHL national TV contarct is worthless …and on and on.
We are so screwed.
Tony C.
May 8th, 2009
1:09 am
I will say this about DW he has (slowly and painfully) learned from many of his past mistakes. For example, we’ve gone from the oldest team in the league to one of the youngest in about 2.5 seasons… He also seems willing to ink PROACTIVE contracts (seeing Reasoner re-signed this month would be a prime target for the next step in this vein)… When he was asked by Falconer about needs to be addressed this summer-he responded first with “Top 4 Defender”-I swear it almost seemed like I was reading an interview with a real-live NHL GM. Additionally, this year he moved players that weren’t “getting with the program”. In the past DW has held onto divisive characters for often inexplicable reasons… He also seems to be finally drafting/acquiring players that fit what the coaching staff is trying to implement. Last Pro-DW-gets-it-right point: I get the feeling that #17’s day at basketball will have much more positive (and immediate) impact than hossa had.
CON: Dude. Do I really need to say anything? Ok Audette there.
kracker
May 8th, 2009
7:31 am
Well, there should be some lively responses here lol!
Sara
May 8th, 2009
8:25 am
Well given that the premise of this blog isn’t about whether or not this *should* be Don’s last chance, but instead whether or not it *is* his last chance….I have no friggin’ clue and neither I imagine does anyone else. To me there is absolutely no way to predict how Atlanta Spirit feels about any of this in general. If they were working off the same criteria many of you are, Waddell should have been fired after the sweep in 2007….or last off-season….or midway through this past season….or 24 hours after this season ended. And yet….here the man still is.
To me I think it comes down to this: will Don be provided the resources (read: money) to acquire those crucial pieces this off-season and if he is, does he then get them? It’s going to be a bit ridiculous to claim again we are going to acquire a top-four d-man or top-six forward if we are icing a team at League-minimum payroll again – we all saw where that got us *last* off-season. I mean sure Don can attempt to draft someone who could help now, he might manage to trade one of our goalies for a young cheap impact player, and pigs might fly and Nikulin might land in America this summer. Hopefully he can pull at least one of those things off, but the draft isn’t particularly deep this year with NHL-ready talent and no one is holding their breath on Nikulin. The second scenario is the most likely – Kari or Pavs is the only real thing of value we have that we could afford to part with and get a good return on. And while I haven’t looked at an updated list recently, I don’t recall there being a lot of splashy UFAs hitting the market this off-season.
So I suppose we’ll just have to see. If Waddell’s given a fair crack at it this off-season and comes up empty, you might see some movement from Spirit. But I think if they go into this off-season/season with the same constraints as last off-season, we aren’t likely to see much significant roster improvement.
GaVaHokie
May 8th, 2009
8:27 am
Well… before anyone responds, they should look this over.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_team_payrolls_in_the_NHL
Remember Gearon saying on 680 the Fan last month about “spending lots of money after the lockout to ice a competitive team”? They spent $37 million that year.
Any GM would have their hands tied in this environment.
Season Ticket Sonny
May 8th, 2009
8:45 am
I’ve said it over…and over..and over again: Waddell is like The Pope: they both have jobs for life. Perhaps this comment should be for posterity, which I have to assume is tatamount to Wadell’s employment contract courtesy of the clueless ASG.
Jimbo
May 8th, 2009
8:53 am
Even though this is not supposed to be a “Bash Don” session, how can we possibly avoid it. He has repeatedly told us that we were one or two players away and those “elusive” players never appear. We have heard from departed players (Hossa and others), agents and others that Don is not committed to bringing in a long term winning team. Listen to him in interviews, would you buy a car from this guy? He is curt, caustic, a times acerbic. Leadership calls for being able to set a vision for success and get others to produce beyond expectations to get there. We will forever be in the 10th year of a 5 Year Plan, always one or two players away. He hasn’t produced. Time for a change is long overdue.
GaVaHokie
May 8th, 2009
9:26 am
If Kari didn’t pull his groin in 05-06, we wouldn’t be having this conversation… Atlanta would have had two Post Season appearances in the last 4 years… IMO.
But to answer your question Bill… yes, this is a make or break off season for Waddell. He’s gotta get top line talent for Kovy if he wants Kovy extended. If he doesn’t get Kovy extended before the drop of the puck, I think he’s gone.
Rawhide
May 8th, 2009
9:35 am
Wayne from AL – There are many who might suggest I have not only been at this party for the past few years, but I’ve been the host of it
GaVaHokie – “If Kari didn’t pull his groin in 05-06, we wouldn’t be having this conversation… Atlanta would have had two Post Season appearances in the last 4 years… IMO”.
That may very well be true, and I would even take that a step further by saying that the 2005-06 season saw Bob Hartley’s best performance as a coach getting that team so close to the playoffs after such a terrible start.
However, isn’t it the general manager’s resposibility to ice a squad that can deal with the starting goalie going down, and also procure additional players to adequitely respond to such a situation?
How many months did Marty Brodeur miss this past season? The Devils still made the playoffs as a division winner.
Russian
May 8th, 2009
9:49 am
I really want to see Don moving somewhere, but not Close to Hockey. Unfortantely it will not be happend until Atlanta Spirit are owners. They like him, he did not ask to much money. He created a team that can make a big Splash or go down deep. Also nobody cares about Hockey in Atlanta. It is South.
Resume: If Owners change = Don Waddle will gone.
Let see a USA-Russia. It will be nice game.
Brendan
May 8th, 2009
10:10 am
If Kovalchuk leaves …. Is there much more to add?
Rob
May 8th, 2009
10:12 am
I agree with Sara, it’s not should this be Don’s last chance, but rather is this Don’s last chance. In my opinion, the answer to is this his last chance is no, as someone else said, he just about has a contract for life. The ASG do not care about the Thrashers in any way, shape or form. They could care less if we make the playoffs, or even win a game.
ASG is in this strictly for the Hawks, they could care less about the Thrashers, as evidenced by not providing the money for Don to go out and get a top 4 D-man or a top-line center to pair with Kovy. Now, with the Hawks on the other hand, they provided the money to go out and get all star forward Joe Johnson among others. Were is the money for the Thrashers all stars?
The answer is no where, it’s all tied up in the Hawks, and unfortunately until this court case is settled, I think that’s the way it’s going to be.
j nes
May 8th, 2009
11:05 am
The NHL recently took over operations of the Phoenix Coyotes because the team went bankrupt. I can’t help but think that the situation in Atlanta, with the ownership group in a 3 year court battle, is just as bad. As much as i don’t like Gary Bettman, I wish that he would step in and take over the franchise. At least he cares somewhat about the success of NHL hockey teams.
Waddell is only half the problem, maybe less than half the problem if he is being handcuffed by his butthole bosses–the same idiots that fired Bernie Mulin, a great ambassador for hockey in Atlanta.
Bob
May 8th, 2009
11:16 am
Couple things. First, I disagree with the premise that we’re a top 4 dman and top 6 forward from being a serious contender. I think this club, as it stands at the end of last year, would need a #1 center, a #1 dman, and a #1 RW to be a serious contender. And those guys don’t grow on trees. My view is that if this club just adds a top 4 dman and a top 6 forward, then we’d be a contender for a #8 playoff spot, but a serious contender in the NHL.
Waddell should have been gone long ago, most all agree with this. The signs point to what is said above, that the owners don’t care enough about hockey to take action. To me, the biggest issue is when the lawsuit gets settled and what happens then. The best outcome to me is the lawsuit gets settled and they have to sell the Thrash to some owner who wants a hockey team but the deal is set up so the new owner has to keep the club in Philips.
So, in that scenario, is this Waddell’s last chance? Yes, if he can finally do something, then the new ownership post lawsuit may retain him, if not, he has to be gone, right? Right?! Sigh.
Dwayne
May 8th, 2009
11:17 am
Jimbo—-curt, as in Frasier, caustic, as in acid and acerbic, is that a middle east word that means Holy war against Atlanta hockey fans???
World be Free
May 8th, 2009
12:32 pm
Frasier should never been hired as a coach, not even an assistant.
What really has screwed this franchise is the Heatly accident. The tragic loss of a character person (Dan Snyder), the exit of a future star (Heatly to Ottawa), the arrival of a player that did not want to be here (Hossa).
This tragedy is still felt both on and off the ice.
DWTOO
May 8th, 2009
12:44 pm
Final Russia 3 US 2. Kovy with two goals in the second. Hainsey gets an assist. US plays sunday morning for the Bronze.
Tony C.
May 8th, 2009
12:47 pm
RUS 3 USA 2
I’ll be honest-a much better result than I had hoped for when the tourney began. Still I wish US had been able to hold off the Russians for another 2 min or whatever it would’ve been to get to OT.
Also, don’t know what Z-Bo did to get in Wilson’s doghouse but the kid saw may 10min of ice-time the whole tourney to date(maybe it’s cuz he’s just 18 idk). Hainsey has gotten better as the tourney goes on-still he is missing something from the beginning of last season-maybe a ligament tear? or more likely a mental issue/confidence thing.
Esche played way better than the last time i saw him, all in all should Team USA come home with bronze I’ll be pleased for them.
SWE vs Frostbacks @ 1430hrs to decide who faces Russia.
http://www.universalsports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&KEY=&SPID=11661&SPSID=95605
Also, anybody think DW should put some offer sheets to other team’s RFAs this summer??
Russian
May 8th, 2009
12:56 pm
It was nice game. Kovy got goal and assist. Frolov scored second goal. USA played very well.
I am agree to make our Thrashers better we need to get one D-men and one RW. Good one, real One.
Terrence Moore
May 8th, 2009
1:00 pm
Rawhide you are finally learning young grasshopper. When you have no other news to talk about or you don’t want to write a real article, just throw out a controversial topic and watch the readers get fired up. Welcome to my club.
GaVaHokie
May 8th, 2009
1:16 pm
Figures the game winning goal would be from Radulov that NHL defecting bastard.
ranallo10 (in AT)
May 8th, 2009
1:19 pm
“The USA’s three best players of the tournament were announced: David Backes, Dustin Brown, and Ron Hainsey. For Russia, it was Oleg Tverdovsky, Oleg Saprykin, and Ilya Kovalchuk.” — IIHF game review.
Tony C. — I wouldn’t mind an RFA offer sheet in the least bit. For the past few seasons I make note of the RFAs that are upcoming, and mark a few as ones I personally deem worthy of an offer sheet (obviously depending on the salary and compensatory picks if it passes). Off the top of my head I think Zherdev highlights the class this offseason, and I would definitely welcome him in Atlanta…though, I think New York would match whatever offer they get. I’ll look through the defenders again and see if any jump out at me.
ranallo10 (in AT)
May 8th, 2009
1:23 pm
Wow, at quick glance there are some obvious names out there this offseason:
Kessel, Krejci, Stafford, T. Ruutu, Versteeg, B. Boyle, J. Johnson, Booth…and that’s only a hint of the notables through the Ls (Los Angeles).
Did you have a particular player in mind, who is somewhat realistic (i.e., Jack Johnson will be signed in Los Angeles, so it’s not a realistic pursuit).
Sara
May 8th, 2009
1:36 pm
My only comment on the whole RFA thing is just a reminder that karma is a mean, nasty beyotch. We have a lot of our own RFAs coming up soon enough and given how well-documented this club’s financial issues are, we already look ripe enough for the plucking without pissing in someone else’s cornflakes. I’d just as soon not have to get into a bidding war for Bogosian if it’s all the same to anyone else.
R. Stroz
May 8th, 2009
1:43 pm
The picture of Waddell on the AJC Thrashers page sums up his ten year tenure as GM.
R. Stroz
May 8th, 2009
1:45 pm
Sara – That’s why Waddell needs to stop vacationing and start re-signing players
ranallo10 – Zherdev is RFA as well and doesn’t exactly fit Torts system.
World be Free
May 8th, 2009
2:06 pm
Reasoner needs to be locked up. It would be a nice start to proving to the fans that the team is serious about the future.
I am not into signing RFAs, since there will be teams that are cap stressed who will be dumping players for a song before July 1.
Tony C.
May 8th, 2009
2:19 pm
I’m leery of Zherdev-his skill-level is off the charts, but his compete-level is questionable, and really, do we need another slight, talented guy who’s knocked off the puck easily?
That being said, if you can get him from NYR for $2M/yr. +/- I would have to take a long long look. But that’s pretty unrealistic, given the numbers his camp was quoting NYR.
Tony C.
May 8th, 2009
2:21 pm
Honestly I was looking @ Versteeg. If I was DW, I would’ve made an offer for him the night after the Winter Classic. I think he’s just tremendous skill-wise and a high motor also.
World be Free
May 8th, 2009
2:27 pm
Zherdev was ran out of town in Columbus, a team desperate for offense.
He started this year real strong in New York, but faded to the point of being invisible in the playoffs. Another great pickup for the Rangers.
Rawhide
May 8th, 2009
2:52 pm
As I mentioned at the bottom of the post…we are gonna do another playoff viewing party at TJs on Sunday afternoon the 17th.
I’ve update the entry to announce Tim Ecclestone is gonna have 4 tickets to an upcoming Braves game to raffle off that day! Nice seats, too!
Typical Atlanta sports fan
May 8th, 2009
2:55 pm
I hope Waddell does good so I can get back on the bandwagon and root for the team again. Unless of course the team goes with Phoenix up to Canada then I will have a long list of excuses why it is everybody elses fault but mine why the team didn’t do well at the gate because I will only support a winner. #$@% those cities from the north who support their teams in good years and bad years.
World be Free
May 8th, 2009
3:49 pm
I have seen empty seats in Canadian and other northern rinks. Only Toronto shows up all the time regardless as to how good or bad the teams might be.
People forget that Quebec City and Winnipeg had opportunities to keep their teams, but failed to do so. The “rally” to keep the Nordiques drew about 50 people in Que City.
Hamilton is not an NHL city, no matter what people may say. They’d be better to put a 2nd city in Toronto vs. one in Hamilton.
Rawhide
May 8th, 2009
3:54 pm
Just a few years back when the Blackhawks where having some down years, they were playing to a half-full arena.
I would add Ottawa to that list of fans who, like Toronto, show up regardless. They had an off year last season, but the place was still packed.
But for the most part, it’s true everywhere that winning fills seasts more than anything else.
Typical Atlanta sports fan
May 8th, 2009
4:25 pm
The Blackhawks are a bad case given that they didn’t even televise a single home game. It’s hard to judge an increase when you had the previous owner (in the case the owner’s father) who did things like that to alienate fans. In addition to Toronto and Ottawa both Minnesota and Buffalo missed the playoffs this year and both were hovering around the top ten in the league for attendance. Buffalo & Toronto missed the playoffs last year and were in the top 5. The whole argument for moving Winnipeg was that the weak Canadian dollar would not allow them to sign big players so they moved on that, not based on attendance which was very good for them. Yes winning sells more seats but the reason teams up north deserve hockey more is because they also sell seats when the team is losing. No team can win year in and year out because even Detroit had its bad years. If you only come when the team wins then say Hasta La Vista Atlanta!
Tony C.
May 8th, 2009
4:34 pm
Oh bite me. We let you guys play football even though you can’t do it right.
Typical Atlanta sports fan
May 8th, 2009
4:39 pm
Great comeback Einstein. Enjoy Matt Ryan while we let him play for you.
Tony C.
May 8th, 2009
4:39 pm
P.S. you make our argument for us. When they were the “deadthings” their gate was atrocious. Don’t tell me that Quebekkers would support a 10-year dissappointment especially if ownership never made ANY changes to an obviously flawed management team. Now, they might’ve lynched aforementioned poor management, but they wouldn’t spend $ on the steaming turd that has exemplified Thrashers results.
Tony C.
May 8th, 2009
4:42 pm
“We”??? I wasn’t aware Ryan was a frostback.
Tony C.
May 8th, 2009
4:43 pm
Mr. T. I promise to stop feeding the troll now.
Typical Atlanta sports fan
May 8th, 2009
4:44 pm
And where do you have their gate numbers for those years? Once again you aspire to be just like Detroit. Say hi to Matt Ryan for me while he’s in your hockey hotbed.
Typical Atlanta sports fan
May 8th, 2009
4:46 pm
Matty Ice as you southerners refer to him played college ball in Boston and was born in Pennsylvania. Go back to your high school football blog and leave hockey to the Northerners.
ranallo10 (in AT)
May 8th, 2009
5:24 pm
I’m just curious…I was born in California, so does that make me cool or uncool in this argument? I’m never sure if I’m allowed to like hockey.
kracker
May 8th, 2009
5:37 pm
Ignore the trolls, they have a short attention span.
For the ‘do we sign RFA?’ question, I am very leery of doing that. The cost for poaching a quality player is very high, plus you’re likely to invite similar activity against your team. I’d rather find a trading partner or a FA who wants to play in Atlanta.
The best thing to do, which the Thrash are now doing, is concentrate on drafting quality players. This also the proper answer to the current poll question. Doing a trade or signing a FA should be more of an endgame strategy to plug a hole or two on an otherwise healthy team.
Stupid Waddell
May 8th, 2009
5:41 pm
The idiot GM shoulda been fired years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It seems we have this discussion, EVERY F****** YEAR!!!!!!!!!!
WHY.Is he STILL here????????????????????
“WTF?”
kracker
May 8th, 2009
5:45 pm
**Ranallo** – Northern or Southern California? haha just kidding. I think a hockey fan can come from anywhere, be any age, they just like tha game. Me, I can’t even skate. I followed the Flames years ago here in Atlanta but not nearly to the degree that I follow the Thrashers now.
However, it does seem that there are some narrow-minded people from other hockey cities don’t think I’m a proper hockey fan because of where I live or who I am.
World Be Free
May 8th, 2009
6:31 pm
Well put kracker-we have some real good home grown fans here and in other southern cities. The “Phil” will be packed next year if the team is competitive.
Tony C.
May 8th, 2009
6:32 pm
Granted our RFAs may become the target of “retaliation” offer sheets-but if you’re a team that’s up against the cap-letting the RFA go for picks might not be such an unpleasant prospect.
Or even use it as a leveraging technique for a trade? IDK.
polskidawg
May 8th, 2009
6:45 pm
“Is this summer indeed Don Waddell’s last chance to finally ice a competitive, solid, playoff-contending team…not just for this coming fall’s campaign but for the foreseeable future?”
Great question – in the summer of 2005.
Bad question in the summer of 2009. It means that ownership, coupled with mismanagement has set this franchise back 5+ years.
Brendan
May 8th, 2009
7:06 pm
Ya know. I don’t support Hillary Clinton in many things. But there’s one quote of hers that I like to reference. Before I begin, put in some ear plugs. Her voice gets pretty shrill. “We have the right to criticize THIS Administration or ANNNNNNY Administraaaaattiiiiionn !!!! (Crack, went the wine glass.)
Okay, that unpleasantness is behind us now. But she’s right. You … are the customer. They are the restaurant owner. If you don’t like the food, should you be concerned the restaurant might close, especially after receiving lousy service? If your answer is, “But this is the only Chinese Restaurant in a 30 mile radius. We better support it,” you deserve to get sick from the shrimp, the next time you go back. Or the chicken. Meow.
As Alan says, “This team isn’t going anywhere.” This lease is unbreakable. Whoever buys this team and attempts to move it, has to pay TWO (2) mortgages. And truth be told, they’d lose money on the one (1) they’re going to before they even BEGIN to start paying off the rent at Philips Arena and the City of Atlanta. No, folks. You’ve got ownership … right where you want them. For ONCE!!!
You …. YOU HOLD THE POWER. You can demand change. Your wallet is your weapon. Demand improvement. Demand something more that “lip service” about “how close we are” to being a playoff team, while the payroll is the 2nd lowest in the NHL, only trailing the L.A. Kings.
Stop for a minute. I could get behind an argument that says, “Looky here, folks. We’re a QUALITY-RUN organization. We have an excellent GM. Excellent scouts. Excellent Coaching. We draft well. We develop talent well. And we win. We’ve been in the playoffs 5 out of the last 7 seasons. We’ve won several playoff series. And STILLLLL, the arena can’t sell out.”
Thaaaaat’s when I blame fans. In that scenario, the fans have nowhere to hide. It’s THEIR FAULT. The teams/organization held up its end of the deal. It was the fans who dropped the ball.
Umm, is that the case, here??? Even remotely??? Or, is the TRUTH … that this organization, from a hockey operations standpoint, isn’t qualified to run an ECHL team. And for once, beeee honest. Don’t make me do it. Don’t make me start it. Don’t FORCE me to resurrect the numbers. Your dog knows the numbers. Your dog knows the names that came and went. Your dog figured out that Don Waddell shouldn’t have returned from the lockout. Don’t even go there.
It’s not that there’s “insufficient hockey interest” in these here parts. It’s that fans have been insulted, lied to, and misled. Wantonly. And brazenly. There ought to be consequences for that. And there are. This team is probably NOT getting the fullest amount of the revenue-sharing dollars for which it would otherwise be able to receive. And its THEIR OWN fault. It’s their “inaction.” It’s their “procrastination.” It’s all “self-inflicted wounds.” If they want to find a culprit. I’ll hand them a mirror. They can gaze all day long, if need be. The answer is staring them right in the face.
Phil Foley
May 8th, 2009
7:42 pm
This team is not going anywhere. A lot of sponsorships, including the very lucrative Philips Arena naming rights deal, are contingent on the Hawks and Thrashers filling the place for 90 or so dates a year.
As far as Waddell goes, it better be playoffs or bust for him next year. Add a TOP 4 D and a TOP SIX defensive-minded linesman, sign Reasoner and pray Kari’s healthy and it’s possible.
But don’t kid yourselves, even with those additions, the team is not going to be an elite team, just a playoff team.
kracker
May 8th, 2009
7:44 pm
IDK either, Tony C.
I like the leveraging idea but I don’t know how much GMs are allowed to discuss the availability of another team’s RFAs, their offer sheets, players eligible for arbitration, getting agents involved, etc….what I am inartfully getting at is that there may be restrictions on the process so that, for example, swapping my LW RFA for your RW RFA may disallowed by the CBA at some point to protect the negotiating power of the players.
Anyway, it doesn’t seem to happen very often. I rarely consider making an offer for another team’s RFA. The Thrashers don’t have so many picks they can afford to give some up as compensation. I guess it’s the same for most teams.
kracker
May 8th, 2009
7:46 pm
Phil Foley, being “just a playoff team” looks pretty good to this fan
Hijacker
May 8th, 2009
7:57 pm
Here we have an ownership, which doesn’t care about hockey (they care about the friggin Hawks) and the teams only GM, who has done a terrible job of building the Thrashers. Ownership is also involved in constant major rule control struggle and still keeps GM Waddell around.
Waddell failed to assemble an NHL worthy defense in 9 out of 10 (counting this one) seasons. He failed to build a good team through the draft like many others have done before. DW continues to bring in waiver wire crap to help the team (e.g. Fata, Ndur.) He gave ex-coach Hartely a new contract, after Hartley lost the team in the last part of the 2007 season and especially in the 2007 playoffs. Hartley is responsible for killing Lehtonen confidence, which still affects him, today. His love for veteran players led that that horrible Coburn for Zhitnik trade disaster.
Disasterous decisions at the draft (incl. trades) still hurt the Thrashers. a) A 2nd in one of the deepest drafts in recent history was traded for one season of a bottom six Dman Ivan Majesky, b.) Valabik was drafted way to early, c) Kopitar was scouted by Waddell and deemed NHL worthy, yet he traded the Thrashers 2005 first rounder two times. San Jose and the Rangers used those picks to secure the rights on Setoguchi and Staal, while the Thrashers got Bourret (Waddell: “A guy we liked from the beginning on”.) Bourret has been traded twice in the meantime and may never play in the NHL. d.) several scouting reports and comments from his coach indidated that Jim Slater would turn into the player that he’s today, neverthess Waddell wasted a late 1st rounder on a 4th liner, e.) scouting reports are indidate that recent late first rounder Leveille looks like a carbon copy of Slater.
Waddell failed to resign key Thrashers FA at the time e.g. Brunette after the 1st season and Savard after recording career highs in 2006.
Two of four leading executives in Atlanta didn’t have any NHL experience, before joining the Thrashers. Don Waddell isn’t that much better (one NHL GP and one season as the Wings AGM in 98.) We are basically having an AHL management, which is learning NHL business on the job.
The lack of media and fan pressure adds to the misery.
We are desperate for new & capable GM and owners who care for this team.
Brendan
May 8th, 2009
11:08 pm
Hijacker, quality, detailed post.
Shifting gears, Staal, Samsonov, and Jussi Jokinen are taking over this series with Boston, for Carolina. It’s now, 3-1, ‘Canes. I did pick Carolina in this series, amidst raised eyebrows, but I didn’t see it potentially ending in Game 5, for Carolina. Truthfully, this series could be much closer. Bruins hit some goal posts early on. Yes, Marc Savard did score for Boston. If the Bruins lose this series, don’t put it on Savard. He hasn’t disappeared in these playoffs. I can’t pinpoint exactly where it’s gone wrong for Boston. I don’t want to say it’s Tim Thomas in net, either. But whatever it is, they have to win, from now on, if the #1 seed in the East intends to reach the Conference Finals.
In the other series, the Penguins have ridden the momentum of a Game 3 overtime win into a 5-3 win in Game 4. So, now it’s back to Washington, series tied, 2-2, where once again the home team has the pressure to hold serve. Varlamov looked suddenly “human” in this game. Glovesave, by my count, at least three (3) of the five Penguin goals are on Varlamov. The 1st , 3rd, and 5th I thought were on Varlamov. Do you agree? The Capitals needed to get that OT winner in Game Three. It was a missed opportunity. Was it the “turning point” in the series?
This is why they play the games.
Alan
May 8th, 2009
11:59 pm
Just a few years back when the Blackhawks where having some down years, they were playing to a half-full arena.
Just a few years ago, the Wolves were out-drawing the Blackhawks.
Here’s more examples, for our “typical Atlanta sports fan” friend:
Vancouver had a lot of trouble attracting fans in the 80s and early 90s.
So did my hometown Detroit Red Wings. When Illitch bought the team, he had to give away a car at every home game in an effort to attract fans back to the team.
Pittsburgh also had a lot of trouble getting people to show up. They, like Phoenix, were rumored to be on the move just a few short years ago. The fanbase became apathetic as a result. That is, until Cindy Crotchby ended up in their possession at the draft, Lemieux strong-armed Pittsburgh into building a new arena, and the team started winning.
The Islanders currently suck. No sugar coating it. The results at the box office? We all know what that’s like, because we’re living with those same results at our own box office.
I can’t speak for everyone, but I have no problem supporting a losing team, so long as that team is actually playing with intensity, the ownership at least appears semi-competent, and the general manager seems to know what he’s doing. Only one out of three things occurred this past season, and zero out of three during the 2007-2008 campaign.
Atlanta has about as much of a chance of moving as Whitehorse, NWT has of getting a NBA franchise.
Rawhide
May 9th, 2009
12:00 am
Hijacker – Wow…Nicely done. I was…and still am…a Hartley fan. But the goalie flip-flops in the playoffs killed us. No denying that.
Brendan – Carolina was my “sleeper” in the east…I thought they would surprise some people. But I didn’t think they would be giving Boston the kind of series they are. (For the record, I picked the Bruins in 6).
I’ve been very impressed with the Canes this past week.
Brendan
May 9th, 2009
12:48 am
The winner of NJ/Carolina has gone on to reach the Cup finals twice before, or so reports the “On the Fly” boys. Boston isn’t done yet. But it’s not looking good. The Penguins were almost buried in Game 3. Now, the series could go either way. If Varlamov lays anymore eggs, it’s just going to get harder. I wonder what Jose Theodore is thinking, these days?
Adios
May 9th, 2009
1:15 am
I’ll take all bets that Thrashers will still be here in 3 years. Much to my dismay they will be gone, like the Flames, for all the wrong reasons.
Hijacker
May 9th, 2009
6:04 am
I was ready to clean the house, including Dan Marr, after the IMO most talented Thrashers team (at least one offense) failed to reach the playoffs in 2006.
Waddell get’s the main blame for failing to acquire a capable starting goalie, for promising us that the Thrashers will be in the playoffs that season & for holding on to Hartley. Buffalo was willing to part with Marty Biron that season. I believe that rumored asking price was Atlanta’s first rounder.
In order to compete in then “new NHL”, it became apparent that team need to have a couple of youngsters in the lineup. Just for salary cap reasons alone. Bob was and still is stuck in the old days of the NHL. All this started in Colorado were Hartley’s younger (and talented) players were constantly in the dog house.
GaVaHokie
May 9th, 2009
9:11 am
Alan… In regards to Pittsburgh, Melon Arena didn’t have box suites. I read something to the extent that they could sell out every home game and still lose $7 million a year (approx.).
That has always been the perfect example for me that season ticket holders and sell outs are great, but nothing is more important than the highly lucrative sponsorships and box suites to the health of a franchise.
And before the STHers start “kicking me in the balls”… it’s ALL important.
I wish we could just drop “Thrashers” and become the Atlanta “Coca Cola’s”… go back to the Little League days when your team name was a local car dealer or carpet store.
If that’s what it takes to stop bitching about money.
World Be Free
May 9th, 2009
9:57 am
Alan-you are right on man. The folks in The Great White North are trying to convince us that they will support a team no matter the record. Other than Toronto, I have seen empty seats in Montreal and every other Canadian city when the product is not competitive. And took at the Blue Jays-they struggle at the gate with a better than average product in baseball.
Go Southeast Division-we don’t look too weak now, judging by the playoffs. Eric Stall is an absolute beast.
Alan
May 9th, 2009
1:36 pm
In regards to Pittsburgh, Melon Arena didn’t have box suites.
That’s just it. They weren’t selling out because the team sucked. Box suites nothing, the team before they drafted Crotchby blew more chunks than the fat guy in “Monty Python and The Meaning Of Life.” The inadequacies of the arena notwithstanding, it’s all about the performance of the on-ice product. That product, in the major markets I named, stunk pretty badly in both the past, and in the case of the Islanders (and to a lesser extent, the Kings), the present. Worse than the dump on the corner of I-285 and Moreland Ave.
Thrashers27
May 9th, 2009
1:44 pm
I know this is one of the least likely things to ever happen, but wouldn’t it be awesome if Waddell was able to convince Nikulin to join the team next year and also sign Gabby, Camalleri and Bouwmeester. Just the thought of that happening brought a tear to my eye…If that were to really happen, I would likely cry and pee myself.
frosty the snowman
May 9th, 2009
3:15 pm
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=278109
sharon
May 9th, 2009
4:15 pm
What the hell is going on? Have the owners (all 8 of them) been quietly negotiating to sell the team? If not, then this Vancouver investment group is really overzealous. The Hamilton Thrashers in 2010? Again, what the hell is going on?
I feel sick.
Alan
May 9th, 2009
4:17 pm
Did you read that story? Seriously. Speculative journalism at the Toronto Sports Network at its finest.
There’s no evidence the team is nearly as bad off as Phoenix, nor is there evidence the team is being shopped to prospective buyers. Alas, it makes the teenagers in Toronto and those who have the Canadian flag tattooed to their genitals happy.
Let them be happy about their speculative journalism for now, for they will be disheartened when they wake up and find it was just a dream.
R. Stroz
May 9th, 2009
4:19 pm
If the ASG doesn’t crush that rumor soon, all hell is going to break loose.
1) STH will either sit on their money or start calling to get their money back on deposits.
2) I wonder what the fan club thinks of that rumor.
3) There must have been some discussions that have taken place between the ASG and the real estate developer for him start looking for a venue.
Let the sh!t start hitting the fan.
sharon
May 9th, 2009
4:36 pm
Yes, I did read the story, thank you. Having worked in the U.S. media for many years now, I have news standards… as in, legitimate media sources shouldn’t print garbage rumors. If that’s what TSN is doing then they seriously need to consider their credibility, or lack thereof.
However, it does appear that the Vancouver group is meeting with the mayor of Hamilton to discuss the Thrashers. I’m very curious to know why they think this is a doable deal.
Alan
May 9th, 2009
4:37 pm
I just emailed Chris to ask if he could possibly get the ownership on record about this story. I hope he’s successful.
R. Stroz
May 9th, 2009
4:41 pm
Imagine how this story will effect Kovy’s contract negotiations.
Also, this could be why no players have been re-signed.
The ASG can either crush the rumor or open pandora’s box.
R. Stroz
May 9th, 2009
5:16 pm
Someone should ask the owners. They will be courtside tonight at the Hawks game starting at 8:00.
Alan
May 9th, 2009
5:31 pm
My question wasn’t directed to you, Sharon, but to Frosty. When I begin writing my post, your post hadn’t shown up yet.
Alan
May 9th, 2009
5:34 pm
Received an email from Chris, stating he’s at the Hawks game and will be seeking out an owner for comment.
sharon
May 9th, 2009
5:45 pm
Alan, ok, gotcha.
I can’t wait to hear what the ASG has to say about this.
12345
May 9th, 2009
6:24 pm
First all I can say about Don Waddell is he is not an honest man.
He has lied to all Thrasher fans for many many years and shows no remorse for any of it. Futhermore he continues to hide from everyone
so he does not have to answer for his thousands of mistakes.
The man last season said Zit was going to be a BIG part of our defense this season, two or three days later he was bought out. The trade was one of the worst in NHL history, went straight down the drain.
Don Waddell is so far out of his league it really… is not funny.
He has no idea what to do and who to trade or sign except worthless Jim Slater what a waste and so on.
I do not like dishonest people and I do NOT like Don Waddell, he lies to cover his own butt with no regard for Atlanta hockey fans !
LAC
May 9th, 2009
6:30 pm
Where the HELL is this “new” reporter ASLEEP at the wheel, he needs some answers to this rumor NOW !
Alan
May 9th, 2009
6:31 pm
According to the email I just received from Chris:
“My statement from owner Bruce Levenson is that there is no truth to the rumor.”
‘Nuff said?
kracker
May 9th, 2009
7:20 pm
Ha! Take that, Toronto Star!
Done
May 9th, 2009
7:29 pm
To me there are multiple strikes against this team.
1. The lawsuit. Until it is settled, the ASG is not spending any more money. The value of ASG affects what they have to pay to buy out Belkin.
2. Business men trying to run sport franchises. It is public knowledge that the winning teams have a staff of people with hockey experience in the office. ASG has one likeable guy with limited experience. ASG has poured good money after bad and publicly complained about their losses. Between that and the lawsuit, they need to keep the budget as low as possible.
3. Basketball VS Hockey. Hawks have more of the ASG attention. There is a reason that players won’t resign and are not happy here. Listen to them talk about other owners. Detroit for example, players do not want to leave because the owners appreciate them and show it. Hossa took less money to play with them.
4. Loosing the wrong players. We all have out list of players that are doing great on another team that DW got rid of for not being a good player. DW tears down the team every year instead of building on what is there. The year of the goal tending problems, I think we had one of the stongest teams. Savard wanted to sign (so he said at a home town discount). After hearing DW talk about Savard in an interview, I knew he was not going to keep him.
5. DW is a horse trader. A good trade is more fun than a winning team. Unfortunately, they are often not good trades.
6. Not putting together two scoring lines. For the last two years, Kovy has been on his own. Imagine what he could do if he had a center (which is not named as a need) and winger to work with consitantly. Kovy is the play maker, defense and scoring on his line. Alex O asked for support and got it.
7. Defense does not defend the goaltender. He is there to stop the pucks and they are there to lay on the hits. Brodeur’s defense control his rebounds and don’t screen him.
8. When you look at the roster from year to year, the majority of the team is ranked as 3rd and 4th line players at best. Players that should be developed for first and second line players end up on the checking line.
Is DW going to loose his job? NO WAY!!! He is just as much of a sympton as a cause right now. He does what the ASG wants. Kovy will leave and DW will say it was good for the team, Kari will tear it up somewhere else as well, Koslov will not resign as he has already been blamed for the last season and publicly questioned resigning, and Slater will tear it up when he leaves too. Pavs is being treated like Crosby – expected to be the best without having to prove himself which sets him up. He already has attitude. The weight will rest on Little and Army if they survive.
LAC
May 9th, 2009
7:49 pm
Ok Alan, who is Chris and how did HE get the DRUNK owner to respond ?
Alan
May 9th, 2009
8:06 pm
LAC: Chris Vivlamore. You know, our new beat writer.
To my knowledge, he just approached him at the Hawks game and asked. *shrugs*
kracker
May 9th, 2009
8:07 pm
Alan, what’s up with this? “Co-owner Levenson won’t comment.”
http://www.ajc.com/thrashers/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2009/05/09/thrashers_move_ontario.html
Alan
May 9th, 2009
8:18 pm
Your guess is as good as mine. I only know what I read. Now I don’t know what to think.
Sigh.
R. Stroz
May 9th, 2009
8:19 pm
No comment = UNGOOD, it is along the lines of taking the fifth because you don’t want to incriminate yourself.
If these a$$wipes sell the team, I’ll post Waddell and Levenson’s addresses and phone numbers for everyone.
Tony C.
May 9th, 2009
8:21 pm
Great.
Color me p!ssed. I can’t believe that moron owners/management are going to cost us an NHL franchise again.
I was having a good day.
Alan
May 9th, 2009
8:24 pm
Perhaps the “no comment” is just “I’ll tell you, but you can’t publish it” — ie, keep it ‘off the record.’
I was hopeful. Then, I felt as if the story was untrue. Now, I’m mad.
kracker
May 9th, 2009
8:26 pm
Well….Levenson is at a basketball game watching his other team. He is perhaps already sloshed if that is his regular thing to do. He gets asked about a Canadian news article. Saying “No comment” is the easiest and safest thing to say for the moment. I’m waiting for more before I jump to conclusions.
Slappy McNutsy
May 9th, 2009
9:43 pm
If not this season, then next. Or the season after that. If not Hamilton, then Kansas City. Or Hartford. Or wherever.
Unless there is a major, major turnaround in the management of the team which translates to better play and better attendance.
But really, what do you think the odds are of that? Honestly?
Downtown ATL
May 9th, 2009
9:48 pm
The NHL relies on Fan’s belief that the franchises in their area are around to stay. Their long term strategy should be the development of Hockey as tradition in non-traditional markets. That takes 25-30 years. If they allow 2 franchises to abandon viable, albiet growing markets the casual fan in places like Tampa, Miami, Nashville, Columbus, Dallas, Anahiem, San Jose are lost.
Sage of Bluesland
May 9th, 2009
9:57 pm
In a way, I hope the Thrashers do move–as no real hockey town will support his continuous incompetence….Bumbling, blustering Donny will be back where he belongs: the minor leagues.
(Either that or going back to selling Port-o-Potties, which is his true medium)
Feel stupid, fwag-waving set? You should. I never stop laughing thinking of you and your ‘hope’, all in the face of fact and common sense…Cheers, Sheep!
Downtown ATL
May 9th, 2009
10:00 pm
Assuming Slappy McNutsey is not a casual fan, his comment is a perfect example why the NHL must limit franchise moves to the most dire of circumstances. The NHL has to limit the offseason rumours to trades and draft picks. What kills me is the Canadian glee at the struggles of non-tradiotional markets. Eklund may be a rumour monger but his passion on this topic is why he is a better publication than the xenophobic Hockey News.
Downtown ATL
May 9th, 2009
10:09 pm
Hey Rawhide. How about an profile on and interview of our beloved Sages. Seeing what makes dude tick would be one fascinating read. Hell… add in a couple more of our familiar unhappy posters you might win a pulitzer.
kracker
May 9th, 2009
10:11 pm
Well good. Finally some sanity from a team source.
http://www.ajc.com/thrashers/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2009/05/09/thrashers_move_ontario.html
This all really gets soooooo tiresome.
Rawhide
May 9th, 2009
10:12 pm
Dowtown ATL – Hell…I’m game if he is.
Brendan
May 9th, 2009
10:13 pm
Capitals had the Penguins in Ovetime of Game 3, with the chance to go up, 3-0, in the series. Instead, they lost that game, and Game 4. That set up tonight’s game. The Caps took a 2-1 lead into the 3rd, but Pittsburgh popped in two goals to take the lead, 3-2. Who else BUT OVECHKIN scored to get the equalizer with about 4:00 left in regulation. That forced overtime. The Capitals took a penalty, and almost killed it off. With 0:01 left on the penalty, Malkin scores off a deflected pass to Crosby, that hit Caps D-man Tom Poti and eluded Varlmamov.
So, from down 0-2, to up 3-2, with the chance to close it out in Pittsburgh, is the situation in the series. I wouldn’t count the Capitals out just yet. If Washington can manage to win Game Six, they’ll have home ice for Game Seven. The difference in the series … is two overtime wins by Pittsburgh. Had the Capitals scored those two overtime winners, the series would be over right now.
Malkin’s legend grows, with this overtime winner.
At Christmas time, neither Carolina nor Pittsburgh was among the playoff field. After Christmas, these two were the hottest teams in the East. If you follow trends like that, and ignore seedings, picking Pittsburgh and Carolina to meet in the CF seems like a good idea. If that was your strategy coming into these playoffs, you’re probably grinning like a Cheshire cat right about now. Carolina and Pittsburgh need only one (1) more win to meet in the Conference Finals, for the right to play for the Cup.
Pittsburgh fans saw their team reach the Finals last year, but be told they’d be “lucky to make the playoffs this season.” It took a coaching change to make the playoff berth happen. And now, it’s looking like the Penguins are poised and ready to replicate their 2008 playoff success. For Carolina, I do wonder if maybe, just maybe, Jim Rutherford’s future might be reexamined in Raleigh. Since winning the Cup in 2006, the ‘Canes didn’t make the playoffs in 2007, or 2008, and it wasn’t looking too good for 2009. Carolina won nine of its last eleven (9/11) games to make the playoffs and move all the way up to sixth (6th) position. What a long, successful journey for Carolina since December. They got there with some waiver claims, like Samsonov and Jussi Jokinen, and having some of their key players step up when it mattered most. I have forgotten their trade deadline moves.
Slappy McNutsy
May 9th, 2009
10:14 pm
Passionate fan of the game, casual of the Thrashers. Grew up going to Flames games. Had Knights season tickets. Was at Thrashers opening night. But: have been unimpressed with the Thrash since Don was named GM and Damian Rhodes was taken as the teams first goalie. I *should* be a rabid Thrashers fan, but have never been. From ugly logos (and this year’s third jersey? ugh!) to the poor management, I’ve never been able to get behind this team. And that’s a shame – because I’m sure there are many other folks out there who feel exactly like I do.
And if/when they move the real shame of it will be that Atlanta will be blamed and not the terrible ownership and management this team has suffered since day one. And I don’t think this city will get a third shot.
kracker
May 9th, 2009
10:41 pm
Slappy. With all due respect, I don’t feel like you do. Eaxctly or otherwise. Let’s all take a deep breath, Ok?
Gee, I really hate the offseason. May it next year be a shorter offseason for us all.
Downtown ATL
May 9th, 2009
10:46 pm
Slappy, very well said. I bet there are 100,000 or more hockey fans who hail from outside the southeast who would say the same thing.
The Thrashers make Atlanta emmigrants who love their old team even more. Plus, if we don’t start making you folks Thrashers fans, we lose your kids too. There are two groups at stake here; Casual Thrashers fans like Slappy (and I bet Sages) and the unitiated. Failing to woo both is the model for how the league fails to build tradition in the non-traditional markets and ends up an 18 team league with a 30 year history broadcasting on Versus.
Rawhide
May 9th, 2009
10:48 pm
kracker – The only problem with all that is that this is coming coming from the same man who less than a year ago denied John Anderson had been hired as the Thrashers head coach…the day before it was announced that he was indeed hired as the new head coach.
Also, he’s the same guy who told us last summer that Alexie Zhitnick was going to be a big part of the team last season.
Brendan
May 9th, 2009
10:49 pm
Slappy, I can appreciate the sentiments behind your post. Truly, I can. I feel that pain, myself. I’ve been in “stunned disbelief” at the way the franchise has been run for many years now. But I do believe there will “absolution” of the fans for this franchise, if it were to actually leave. Which, it won’t, in my opinion. For what it’s worth, I think national writers like Craig Custance, The Sporting News, and Scott Burnside, ESPN, will defend the market of Atlanta, and place the blame where it belongs, on the ownership. I’d even go so far as to say Jeff Schultz would absolve the fans and place blame squarely on ownership moves. I doubt Schultz would say, “There’s just no passion for hockey in Atlanta.” His criticisms of Ownership/management are sometimes accompanied by citing the outrage of disgruntled fans, as well.
There is evidence to suggest that Atlanta could get a 3rd crack at an NHL franchise down the road. Some of that evidence is selling out 38 of 41 home games in the Inaugural Season, while … AT THAT TIME, setting an NHL home attendance record. (Minnesota would later beat it.) Ya know. When we DIDN’T KNOW the team would be so badly mismanaged and unloved by the ownership. A second thing about Atlanta that is hard to ignore is its national ranking as a TV market. The Thrashers also sold out their two (2) home playoff games in 2007. And it wasn’t an arena full of Ranger fans. I was there. I counted all of six (6) Ranger jerseys in a house of 18,545. There were NO CHANTS of “Let’s go Rangers!” None.
I don’t think, honestly, that fans stay away EXCLUSIVELY over wins and losses, Slappy. I think the fans see FUBAS for what and who they are, and act accordingly. It’s the ownership’s fault. Not the fans’ fault. Almost everything that’s gone wrong for this franchise can be traced to the ownership, in its various incarnations. But I blame the Atlanta Spirit, LLC (FUBAS) most of all. They had the benefit of a salary cap, whereas the previous ownerships (Ted Turner and AOL-TIME-WARNER) did not. They had revenue-sharing dollars to help. The previous ownerships did not. It was FUBAS’ decision to leave Waddell in charge, as well as Dan Marr, as head of scouting. It was FUBAS’ inability to buy out an estranged owner, that has led them to where they are. Salary cap floor spending can be traced to that. Don Waddell’s retention as GM can be traced to that. And for what? Because they failed to meet a deadline for an appraisal. Because they stupidly put in a clause that said Belkin had the right to “buy them out AT COST” if they failed to meet the timeliness of an objection of an appraisal. If your head is starting to spin, you’re not alone.
Unlike many people, I don’t consider the Atlanta Spirit, LLC, to be losers. They should do fairly well on their investment. Perhaps as much as a $10 million-per-year average yield at the time of sale. It’s clear to me they made their money in other ventures, not sports management. Not hockey management. And that’s where people think they’re a bunch of bozos. And there’s little evidence to contradict that. Just TRYYYYYY to explain this franchise to a hockey fan in a different market. They won’t understand it. They probably can’t figure out why the attendance is as good as it is.
But I digress. Atlanta hockey fans, in my opinion, are a very dedicated group. All they really ask … is for their team to be on an intelligent path, geared towards success. If the team is being competently run, Atlanta fans will come along for the ride, in the face of losses. Everyone understands what “rebuilding” means. But when the fans see moves and decisions that don’t have any outward appearance of cogent thought or effort, then no one should blame them for apathy. The apathy stems from inactive, uncaring ownership. Not losses, and lottery draft finishes, in and of themselves.
LAC
May 9th, 2009
11:13 pm
TSN pulled down the Thrashers story after only a couple hours at most.
These Canada fans need to take their Canada teams, form the Canada Hockey League and Shut The FU-K UP !
Every damn time it always Atlanta that is the weak link, never Florida or Tampa or Carolina or Dallas or LA it is ALWAYS Atlanta!
I will admit these owners could care less about the Thrashers and as long as they are in control we will be nothing more than point fodder for the Playoff teams !
Downtown ATL
May 9th, 2009
11:22 pm
Brandon says it really well. Of the 9-10 non-traditional markets Atlanta is the most fertile ground. There are nearly 5 million people here now and I’ll bet almost 1,000,000 hail from cloder weather areas where Hockey is played. With real LEADERSHIP and Hockey knowledge in the Ownership group the Thrashers could be one the most successful franchises in the League. If Ted Leonsis owned this team the sky would be the limit.
sharon
May 9th, 2009
11:24 pm
They’re moving, they’re staying, they’re moving, they’re staying. For crissakes, the rumor merry-go-round gets to be a bit much at times. I guess we’ll have to wait and see how it shakes out. Sigh…
Brendan, I agree. Thrashers fans are a dedicated, and passionate, group. They (or we) seem to get no credit from the Canadian media or fans though. Talk about a bunch of vultures, just circling the ‘non-traditional’ teams and waiting to pick them apart.
Rawhide
May 9th, 2009
11:29 pm
Talk about a bunch of vultures, just circling the ‘non-traditional’ teams and waiting to pick them apart.
Sharon – This is why I am personally rooting for teams like Carolina and Anaheim. I mean, if a SCF was played between two team in “non-traditional” markets, I think it would just drive the All-Snowbird NHL crowd crazy!
Don Waddell
May 9th, 2009
11:38 pm
Do you believe me?
1) Just wait until Stephen Baby and Kyle Wanvig get here.
2) Bourret was the player we wanted
3) Playoff Guarantee in 2005-2006 season
4) Five Year Plan
5) Incremental Progress
6) We haven’t finished our due diligence yet, John Anderson hasn’t been named as the coach.
7) We still have a chance at the playoffs (after Hossa was traded and why Holik wasn’t traded)
9) We are only one or two players away
10) There is no truth to it (selling the team). There are too many obstacles (which means we’ve already looked into it otherwise we would n’t have realized there are obstacles.
Do you believe me now?
Bill Clinton
May 10th, 2009
12:22 am
Don, I feel your pain. You know I give private lessons to improve your skill level.
Repeat after me, I did not have…….any conversations about selling the team.
stendec
May 10th, 2009
1:50 am
Good riddance to bad rubbish! Let the uncaring quitters leave. The sooner the damn better! Oh, to Hell with Ruskie besterd Ilya Kovalchuk for what he did to the AMERICAN hockey team! Sorry heartless scum that they are anyway. Let the oxygen waste STAY in Siberia, uh, Russia! Atlanta professional sports fans will always have the Falcons and, uh, cough, fidget, well, the damn Falcons to cheer for! Send the Loseland losers packing. They will definitely not be missed! SQUA TRONT!
Brendan
May 10th, 2009
1:53 am
Actually guys, the ownership has ADMITTED to the “concept” of selling the team. But, they were talking about Belkin’s portion of their ownership group. They said they were recruiting a new stream of revenue since Belkin’s has dried up.
Truthfully, I don’t think the team is leaving. I don’t think it CAN leave, given the restrictions on the naming Rights of Philips Arena, city bonds that were secured at the time of acquisition of this ownership, and that there’s still 11 years left on that lease. Which is almost unbreakable. But I don’t doubt that the team could be sold. In fact, I want it sold. I’d prefer that it be sold to a local interest. But if it’s ONE PERSON, not an ownership group or a company, and they happen to live on the West Coast, I don’t care, so long as they have deep pockets, fork over the money, want to win, and will conduct a thorough and diligent search for a compentent GM, who will have a budget that’s ALWAYS within $3 million of the cap limit on “Opening Night,” with an HEAVY EMPHASIS on PROACTIVE CONTRACTS designed for PLAYER RETENTION–preferably for our very own Thrasher draft picks.
Hijacker
May 10th, 2009
8:40 am
@stendec: I find it amazing that parts of the Thrashers fanbase finds ways to blame anybody, but the real person, for the ills of the Thrashers. Last time I checked it wasn’t Ilya Kovalchuk who was GM of this team.
Donald Waddell is the root of the problems!
Krust
May 10th, 2009
9:07 am
Well, my Sunday morning is done. But, I think back to an article I read last week about the Phoenix team moving.
The Arizona team has filed for Bankruptcy.And their owner wants out. And it is true that they almost have both feet out the door to Hamilton. If Betman looses his quest to keep the team in Phoenix IT will be in Hamilton next season. That being said Betman has quite a record for keeping
teams were they are. But, Phoenix moving to Hamilton is not a rumor its real. That makes me feel better. And why would Hamilton need two hockey teams. Wangs Islanders are in world of trouble to there arena stinks and Wang cannot get the local officials on board to get his prject fo a new arena going. So he rumored head out of town. Can someone tell me about Copps arena? How old? Seating capacity?
World Be Free
May 10th, 2009
10:49 am
The Canadian media is obsessed with moving every southern U.S. franchise to Canada. All the Canadian-based web sites are obsessed with this too. Quebec City and Winnipeg have already failed. Regina is an outpost and Hamilton is a dirty, smelly armpit.
The NHL will be the CFL on skates – third down, time tp punt!
World Be Free
May 10th, 2009
10:54 am
The Copps Coliseum was built in the mid 1980s to draw an NHL franchise. It holds about 17,500 with little or no skyboxes, it needs alotta money to become 21st century competitive.
The idiots in Hamilton believe they are entitled to a franchise just because they built this white elephant. They don’t support minor league hockey or football (CFL).
Sorry, I have been listening to Hamtilon, Ontario’s whining for 25 years. They canb have Dick Beddoes, Don Cherry and the rest of those micro-minds.
Dean
May 11th, 2009
1:03 pm
Waddell was a minor league manager before he came to Atlanta. I doubted his credentials then, and he certainly has done nothing to change my mind. Stictly AHL material.
As for the Thrashers being a couple players away from becoming a “serious threat”…what’s are you smoking?