Memorial Day Weekend Reading Assignments

“Wondering how the Thrasher may budget for Ilya Kovalchuk’s expected salary increase?”

I haven’t really been bothered by the monetary side of things, as I am confident that ownership and management will find a way to fit him on the roster. The problem, from the monetary perspective, is how they’ll fit him in.

However, right now the primary concern should be how they’ll convince Kovalchuk to stay, not how they’ll pay the bills once he’s signed.

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Waiting for the Fraudell and Subsidizing sheep comments….

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An interesting point on the draft… unless Waddell is posturing… he doesn’t consider the current rankings of Hedman, Tavares and Duchene as the Top 3 prospects… but he seems pretty high on Hedman and Tavares in other comments.

So, who does he see as higher than Duchene? … I’d have a problem with him drafting Schenn if he doesn’t project him as a Top Line forward. But he did mention him 3rd when discussing “in no particular order” the top prospects.

… I’m hoping it’s Kane or Cowen… I can live with those.

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Wow. I just read that DW piece. I’m now convinced he’s going to trade the #4 pick for Briere and the rights to talk to Knuble.

Because that’d be the exactly wrong thing to do. I have complete confidence that Donni will do just that.

Or worse. The phrase that cinched it?

“ …I’d move right out of the draft if I was getting a good player to put on our hockey club right now.”

This from the man who gave us Steve Rucchin as a replacement for Savard “He’s got experience playing with skilled guys…” to paraphrase Donni back then.

I was relatively optimistic about this offseason-going on the “a stopped clock is right twice a day” theory… comments like that have me worried.

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I wouldn’t mind seeing us go after Komisarek-but would it be at the expense of a big-body fwd? I hear he’s looking for a big payday.

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“I wouldn’t mind seeing us go after Komisarek-but would it be at the expense of a big-body fwd?”

UFA wise, I don’t think there are any top line big bodied forwards. If you were choosing between a top 6 big bodied forward and a top 4 big bodied defender, which do you think helps this team more? I’d argue the defender.

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ranallo- If it was for somebody like say, Spezza-along with the other guy’s 1st-rounder back, then yes. But from this interview and some other comments by Donni-he’s looking to “vulture” up somebody that is priced out of his club’s budget-Briere clearly fits that description; I would be ok with getting Gagne from Philly, but I’m sure they’d rather get rid of Briere… Anyway, yes I’d be ok with other players but I would be very hesitant to give up a franchise cornerstone for a guy that’s on the downslope of their career-no matter if the player is great, I mean, let’s say SJ is really serious about blowing things up and offers up Jumbo Joe well, you gotta think that’d be a done deal…amd when I talk about Komisarek’s price tag, I’m thinking Donni is looking to trade for the Fwd-who probably has an ugly contract…. IDK, me I’d do some crazy stuff, but I really feel that trading the lottery pick means you’re trading a “franchise core” type player (yes development time is an issue but the value isn’t), so I’d be expecting the same sort of caliber player in return.

For instance, no chance in hell would I trade with Toronto for just player(s) & prospect(s)… I’d have to get their 1st-round pick also.

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I know Briere was injured last year, but you wouldn’t trade the #4 pick to have him on the top line with Kovy? To me, the only downside to that is that his current contract goes until he is 37, which means that if he starts to break down, then you have a 36-37 year old in 5-6 years with a big contract. Maybe I missed something on the guy and his injury, but that seems like a good trade to me…

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WAIT A SECOND…good lord man-everytime i read something from Don i want to go puke. HOW IN THE WORLD IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN:
“We were tracking at about $46 million last year and we finished a lot lower because we traded Schneider and we traded Havelid once we knew we weren’t going to make the playoffs. I think we’ll track someplace in that neighborhood next season, and as I’ve said many times before, if the team is in a position where we can make a statement I think we will have the resources behind us to do it.”

We have the “resources behind us to do it”, do WHAT? Were on track for that AGAIN???? Stay at the low end of the cap?? GOOD FREAKIN LORD. How do you expect to sign a TOP 6 O man and D man and Kovy and stay at that cap level??????????? I’m serious, can someone, anyone explain that to me??? WHAT WORLD DO THEY LIVE IN????
He and Levenson just discussed it? I would love to be a fly on the wall for that conversation!!!
Another classic from that quote, “once we knew we were out of the playoffs” ahhahahhahah, DUDE WE KNEW THAT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. WAKE UP. I hope Levenson reads these blogs today. This is just a bad joke.
Sorry, had to vent, this economy, women and this hockey team aren’t helping my mood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Spud… well, we have about $16 million to do all that… seems feasible to me. Kovy is under contract, so he doesn’t factor into that.

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Tony… so what you’re saying is, Briere’s nickname should be “Hobbit Flop”?

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Hokie- no, I like to call him by his rightful title “king of rhythmic gymnasts”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI1sWlq-LDA&feature=related

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Tony… Ugh, why did you make me watch that?

I’m thinking more and more that $4 million and a call from Kovalchuk, Antropov will be our big guy upfront.

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A healthy Briere? Absolutely.

Problem is, he’s getting older (which generally INCREASES the probability of injury), and seems to be taking longer to come back from injury.

He also costs a ton for a guy that you can only realistically count on for 45-55 games a year.

I wouldn’t be upset to see Antropov in thrasherbleu, but $4M/per? seems awful high to me. Now, $4M over 2 years? Run it.

So here’s a question, who would you consider trading that #4 overall pick for (let’s be reasonable, kids)???

Also, Hokie- does this make up for it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqKEntpC3OE&feature=related

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Nei, Bob, I meant Red Wings. Not Blackhawks.

(Call me a dreamer, but I hope by this time next year, I’m talking about a Thrashers victory instead.)

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Tony C, classic line, “I think we are good on hobbits”.
GaHokie, I know Kovy is under contract for the season. I was/am hoping we get him to an extension this summer or I fear he won’t be back after next season, someone will come over the top for him. So I dont think there is anyway we sign him and add other “improvements” and stay at 46 mill?????????

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So I dont think there is anyway we sign him and add other “improvements” and stay at 46 mill

Bear in mind Kovalchuk’s extension won’t kick in until next season.

That said, it’s hard to “improve” when you’re $16 million bucks under the cap. I sincerely hope the owners are listening to him, because from where I’m sitting, it appears our GM is too befuddled to sound cognate.

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I’ve really enjoyed reading your comments today, folks. Keep ‘er going. At 8PM, it’s Chicago HOSTING Detroit. I am hopeful that the change of venue will bring about different results. The NHL announced the SCF schedule. And basically, if the CF are sweeps, the Finals start on the 28th. But if ANY of the two series go five games, the Finals won’t start until June 5th. Intesting. That could be as much as 9 days of … absolutely nothing, if the Hawks-Red Wings series goes 5 games, but the ‘Canes-Pens series ends in a sweep. Somewhere, somehow, that must make sense to someone.

Segue to crazy ideas, in the Waddell interview, he said, the team’s identity was in question. Or words to this effect. When was it ever “solidified?!” As Tony C. is fond of saying, “What is Thrashers Hockey?” No one really knows. I couldn’t rightly tell you what ‘the Plan’ was, from 1999 to the present. Other than, “smoosh together a hodge-podge roster of prospects and veterans, and hope for the best, within the budgetary constraints.” How’d I do?

Allright. I am loving the Briere discussions. I, personally, wouldn’t do it. I like Briere, admire his passion and determination to be a star in the NHL, but he’s overpaid. And not getting any younger. Or any bigger. He’s just coming off some minor eye surgery. And to my knowledge, he’s never ASKED to be in Atlanta. And quite frankly, I’ve seen enough of players who don’t want to be here and didn’t ask to be here, or sign to be here. Free agents who sign in Atlanta did so without a gun lodged in their backs or craniums. If they ‘guessed wrong,’ it’s by THEIR doing. Generally-speaking, I don’t like trades. I like them MORE when we fleece someone. And actually RE-SIGN that player when the contract is eligible for that. But, in the end, I’d much rather draft the preponderance of my roster and then re-sign it. That’s just good ol’ “handling your business.” If the #4 pick in the draft is to be traded, I’d hope it’s for a prospect who was drafted even higher than 4th overall.

There’s a couple of players who fit that bill. Stop. I’m not saying this is what we should do, okay? James vanRiemsdyk, former #2 overall pick, was “allegedly, supposedly” on the trading block, by Philadelphia, at the 2009 trade deadline. They “reportedly” wanted Lehtonen for him. Would anyone want him? I’m asking, not advocating. Huge difference there.

Also, Brian Burke, Toronto’s GM, has amazingly said that even Luc Schenn is available in a trade with Toronto. There are those who think Luc Schenn’s younger brother might be drafted 7th overall, where Toronto is slated to draft, I believe. If Toronto offered their #7 spot, PLUSSSSS Luc Schenn, would you do that deal? And at 7th overall, would you select Brayden Schenn, to keep the brothers together? I’m not advocating. I’m asking. This is a message board where fans come together to discuss ideas. Sometimes respectfully and peaceably. In theory.

What I’d do … is pick 4th overall, absent a better offer/deal to either move up or down. I’d love to move up! I’d love to have Viktor Hedman. I can’t imagine what that’d cost a team that ABSOLUTELY RELIES on its future draft picks as their primary means of ESCAPING THIS MESS, however. Hedman can’t be had, though. No way the Islanders trade their #1 overall to us. No way Tampa Bay trades within the division. And Colorado seems set on Matt Duchene. So, I don’t see a way to move up. Okay, there’s a way. But I don’t want to talk about it. It involves a player I want to re-sign. I won’t even discuss it.

Ranallo is right about Kovalchuk’s money. First you get him re-signed, thennnn you worry about managing the rest of the roster. The “phrase that pays,” from Waddell, is this one: “We’re only talking about dollars and cents.” That’d be GRRRREAT news!!! Woo-hoo!! When you hear, “We’re still discussing Ilya’s future with the team.” Not so much. And any trade of Kovalchuk is a LAST RESORT, 2010 trade deadline move. Any GM can still get a good return on Kovy at the deadline. A 1st and 3rd at a minimum, probably some conditional pick or other, be it 1st or 2nd rounder, and maybe even the choice between a roster player and a prospect in their system.

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I hope everyone picked up on the big clue that Waddell sent our way about the way they could ideally fill the roster.

High cap hit players who have already played beyond the high salary years of a front loaded contract. In other words, a player who actually costs less than his cap hit indicates…thus allowing the franchise to pay less while still meeting the floor restrictions of the salary cap.

As StateBird said, “cheap”.

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Holy Collapse at United

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LAC, the loss of Kovalchuk, in and of itself, is what speaks volumes. Nothing can replace that. So, a pick #28, #29, or #30, just means we get a “crapshoot” pick to try to improve our team. Hokie once advanced the notion that such a pick could be used to snare an RFA. People scoffed, but that’s precisely what the BlueJackets did to get R.J. Umberger from Philly at last year’s draft. So how “crazy” of an idea was it, really? If Atlanta could actually manage to procure an RFA player for pick #28, let’s just say, that’s still “something.” And even if Atlanta uses the pick to select someone, maybe it’ll be a player better than Jim Slater. Every year, there are “prizes” in the 2nd round. Good teams find them. If they can be found in the 2nd round, LAC, they can also be found at the very end of the 1st round.

Whether or not Dan Marr, and his staff, can pull of that feat remains to be seen. The loss of Kovalchuk would be substanial, since Kovalchuks and 1st overall selections just don’t grow on trees.

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LAC, I feel your sentiment. But, if you had a resume like Chuck Fletcher, wouldn’t you wait for a better opportunity than Atlanta?? I would. Tempered with the fact that I’d never been a FULL-TIME GM before. Even so, with his credentials, they scream, “Good bet.” He waited for a good situation. I think he found one. Certainly better than Atlanta’s. The Minnesota ownership, with the firing of Risebrough, signals a committment towards trying to do better. Chuck Fletcher, I suspect, will be given every opportunity to succeed. That doesn’t mean, necessarily, that he’ll have a MAX CAP SALARY with which to work. But where he needs a little “extra,” he’ll probably get from the owners. Minnesota is a fantastic hockey market. It’s the part of the culture there.

It’ll be interesting to see if Bob Gainey does eventually get fired during this offseason. If so, that’s a double-edged sword for the next GM. It reflects a tremendous opportunity to make a reputation. But it also invites media scruntiny over your choice of ties and socks. They’ll pick you apart, and second-guess you, at every opportunity.

Overtime has started!

Scores!!! Patrick Sharpe!!! Blackhawks win!!!! WOO-HOO!! This will be a series after all!!!

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I still go with Kane at #4, and go with a veteran D-man via free-agency or trade; I think the learning curve for a defenseman is greater than that for a front-liner (think playing CB in the NFL).

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LAC, when a person has a resume as strong as Chuck Fletcher’s, that is, someone clearly GROOMED to be a GM, he can wait for a good opportunity. If presented with the chance here, in Atlanta, he’d likely PASS on it. With Minnesota, he’s in a traditional hockey market, with excellent hockey roots and a well-established hockey community. I’m not saying Chuck Fletcher will get a MAXED CAP for “Opening Night,” but the decision to fire Risebrough, alone, shows CARING and COMMITMENT towards changing direction, towards winning the Cup. Chuck Fletcher probably took stock of that situation and felt it was the right fit for him. Without knowing that man, whatsoever, my guess is that if he didn’t feel like he’d get a ‘real opportunity’ at winning a Cup, he wouldn’t have taken the post.

With a degree from Havard, experience as an assistant GM, experience being a minor league GM, with YEARS and YEARS invested in learning the trade, plus being the son of a Hall of Fame GM like Cliff Fletcher, he’s OVERQUALIFIED for the post.

In my opinion, LAC, the only way someone like that would be coming here … is if he thought he’d truly be put in a position to succeed. And that means commitment from ownership towards acquiring and maintaining the pieces of the roster necessary to win the Cup. With a genuine window of opportunity. Does that even ’sound’ like FUBAS?

The two things I think FUBAS has going for them, in terms of attracting a GM candidate, are (1) the willingness to provide longevity at the post and (2) the ability to turn the hockey decisions almost entirely up to the GM. I know, they sayyyy they have this “by committee approach.” But really, these owners couldn’t identify Devin Setoguchi in a police lineup. They didn’t know who Alexei Zhitnik was, at the 2007 trade deadline. My ‘outsider guess’ is that they, by committee, agreed that help was necessary along the blueline, to make the playoffs, in 2007. So Don was “tasked” with providing IMMEDIATE HELP. Waddell’s decision?: Trade Coburn to get Zhitnik. It worked. Short-term gain, longterm loss. But it worked. So the owners were happy, but foolish. With benefit of hindsight, perhaps the solution wasn’t to make a rash of deadline moves, but rather, to make Waddell come down behind the bench to coach what he, alone, assembled. When he did it the next season, the team went 11-4-1 in a 15 game stretch. Sadly, it led to a new 2-3 year contract extension for Waddell, as ownership was satisfied that ‘the problem’ was recitified. The Thrashers would finish 28th that year. And get to pick 3rd overall in the 2008 draft. Bygones.

I think, to get Chuck Fletcher here, the ownership would have basically had to promise him FULL CONTROL AND AUTHORITY over ALLLLL personnel decisions. From equipment manager, to scouts, to assistant coaches, to drafts, trades, and free agent signings. And provide him a budget that might allow him to remain competitive, with a true ‘window of opportunity’ to win the Cup.

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Antropov- yes. Gill- absolutely not. His wheels are gone and he is now a clutch and grab road cone.

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**An interesting point on the draft… unless Waddell is posturing… he doesn’t consider the current rankings of Hedman, Tavares and Duchene as the Top 3 prospects**

Does not surprise me that Wadell would have a different top 3 than most of the other teams. The other teams scout and draft well. I would really like to know who his top 3 are. I don’t believe anything Wadell says and will not purchase any thrasher tix until he is away from this franchise.

Briere is injury prone, would not suprise me that Wadell trades for him and Briere would be on injured reserve more than half the time.

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Gee Brenden… Anyone even you could do better than waddell,
Darn trying to type on a moving Railroad Locomotive is unreal…. Cheers for Memorial Day !

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Brendan- I think Khabibulin may actually be hurt. I believe in game 2 he got bowled over, and when he came up was acting like something was tweaked. Then, he missed practice two days in a row, which is supposedly unusual for him. He seemed uncomfortable at points during game 3, also, so I think he’s playing with at least some sort of minor injury.

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‘Canes gave up a late goal to Sidney Crosby. Less than a minute left in the period. Those are very bad things, even in the regular season. This is a ‘must win’ game for Carolina. Go ‘Canes!

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17:00 left in the 3rd. ‘Canes have closed to within one, thanks to Samsonov. Go ‘Canes!!

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Below is the official AJC response to Bruce Levenson:

Some comments from the AJC public editor, who looked into this matter:

“Whammer” is a commenter who has repeatedly posted to AJC blogs, defending the Spirit ownership group, and most recently trashing Atlanta sports fans as the worst fans in the country.

The reporters were curious about the identity of the commenter, believing that if it was someone in a leadership position in the Spirit organization, that would be newsworthy. They did what journalists do – reported the story by asking questions, including asking Mr. Levenson whether he was the person anonymously posting as Whammer, or whether someone was doing it at the ownership group’s behest.

Once Mr. Levenson denied that he or other owners were behind the Whammer postings that criticized fans, there was no story. AJC reporters frequently pursue newsworthy angles that don’t prove true. They don’t write every story they report.

The reporting included one missed step that the AJC regrets. The IP address on the anonymous blog entries was checked and found to be affiliated with UCG, a publishing company in which Mr. Levenson and other Spirit owners are partners. Anyone who owns a blog knows how easy that kind of check is to make, but at the AJC its only done in rare circumstances, with approval from a top editor. The editor involved wasn’t aware of that policy and didn’t seek approval, nor had the reporters been informed of the policy. It’s my understanding that this was explained to Mr. Levenson when he contacted the newspaper. The policy has since been communicated to all newsroom employees.

Finally, as relates to Mr. Levenson’s contention that the AJC should screen blog comments, the AJC commenting process allows any member of the online audience to object to any comment online; an editor then reviews the comment for possible removal. As far as the editors here know, Mr. Levenson did not object at the time to the postings he cites as objectionable.

Shawn McIntosh
AJC Public editor

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It’s still too premature to ask it, but I’m wondering if Crosby is really going to be 0-2 in his attempts to capture a Cup ring. It certainly looks like he, and the Penguins, will be getting another chance at it. Pittsburgh’s got some high-end picks, for whom much was expected. Fleury went 1st overall in 2003. Malkin went 2nd overall in 2004. Crosby went 1st overall in 2005. Jordan Staal went 2nd overall in 2006. Ryan Whitney, no longer with the team, traded for Chris Kunitz, was a 5th overall pick from 2002.

The Pens drafting, from the “crapshoot” area and beyond hasn’t been utterly fruitless. Brooks Orpik went 18th overall in 2000. Tyler Kennedy was pick #99 in the 2004 draft. Kris Letang went 62nd overall in 2005. Ryan Stone was pick #32 in the 2003 draft. And, of course, we simply can’t forget the components of the very temporary “Hossa acquisition,” Colby Armstrong went 21st overall in 2001, Erik Christensen went 69th overall, and Angelo Esposito was pick #20 in 2007. Daniel Carcillo was also a Penguin draft pick. He went 73rd overall in 2003. So, that’s not terrible drafting. Maybe some of the trading can be questioned. I never like Ryan Whitney for Chris Kunitz, but that’s turned out okay for the Pens. The Pens need to make sure they re-sign Kunitz. Ray Shero, the GM, deserves some credit. He took the post on May 25, 2006. He did have to fire Michel Therrien, whom he re-signed until 2011. Ouch, on eating that contract. But Dan Bylsma has been coup. Nobody argues with success. Especially if it results in a Stanley Cup. The Penguins winning the Cup this year doesn’t hurt the league’s image any. Commissioner Bettman said that the new CBA would ’spread the wealth,’ and reduce or eliminate the dynasties, with a salary cap. Well, if the Penguins won, the post lockout Cup winners would be: Carolina, Anaheim, Detroit, and Pittsburgh. Did the league fail to deliver? (Don’t get me started on how salary caps are set. Let it go.) But yes, four different champions would be what the league was trying to do. And certainly, the NHL has touted Sidney Crosby enough, as one of its premier stars. As well as Malkin, and Fleury, somewhat. It’s not bad if Detroit repeats again, either. That’s the most visible franchise, and a shining beacon of light for other ownership groups to emulate. Chicago is still in this thing, too. But, would it detract any … if Crosby lost, again? Let me rephrase. It’s a team game. Would it detract ‘any’ if the Penguins lost, again? Would people start to say, “Penguins can’t win the big one?” Sid’s not really the star he was projected to be. Ya know, the usual ‘non-sense?’

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Bobby “Herf” Holik is hanging up the skates for good.

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Brendan, Kunitz is signed for 3 more years. So Pens do not need to sign him. Granted, he is a little overpaid at 3.5M or so, but so was Ryan Whitney who was getting 4M a year for about the same term (one extra year under contract over Kunitz, I think). Plus the Pens got Tangradi, a highly thought of prospect in return. If Pens don’t make that trade, they dont make the playoffs. Plus, even with Kunitz’s dry spell for a big part of the playoffs, I don’t see how Ryan Whitney would have improved the Pens defensive corps. The Pens are getting plenty of offense from the defense already.

I don’t know why Atlanta people are pissed about the Hossa trade.I know there were rumors that Montreal was offering more, but I doubt it. He was a rental. I think it was worth a gamble for both teams. Eric Christiansen was a waste for you. Armstrong is a decent second or third line player. Esposito is a good enough prospect even if there are no guarantees he will succeed. But remember, Hossa was merely a rental. If that trade didn’t get made, Atlanta gets nothing. Pens got Guerin for a measly 3rd or 5th rounder(based on how far they go in the playoffs). Even if Pens managed to somehow make the finals without Hossa, they woudl have been swept by the Redwings were it not for Hossa’s contributions. Having said that, I am pissed Hossa bolted to the team that beat him. (for the record, I do understand wanting to be with a winner, i felt good for Bay being traded from the pitiful pirates to Boston. I could have been OK with Hossa going to any other marquee team, like say, Anaheim). If Hossa doesn’t win the cup, it will be a bad gamble as he is not going to get a cup and he will most certainly earn less in whatever he is offered this offseason. The mistake Waddell made was creating a situation where his leverage wasn’t as high as it could have beeen as it was well known Hossa wasn’t going to return to Atlanta the following season. If Waddell did a decent job, Hossa might have at least been open to returning.

Gill is not very good anymore. Whatever benefits he has with his big presence in the crease, he also offsets it with his clumsy movements. Frequently he seems to obstruct his own goalie or deflect a puck into his goal. I hope the Pens do not sign him for anything in 7 figures per year. While Pens do not have many top d-men, they are deep in decent d-men.

When Darren Eliot said Crosby was the most talented grinder, he wasn’t kidding. two thirds of his 14 goals in 16 games have seemingly come from right around the net.

As an objective observer, i gotta agree with you guys. It is shocking that Waddell still has his job. A lot of high picks, and Thrashers still has sorry talent despite drafting of superstars such as Kovalchuk.

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As R.Stroz points out, “How many Top Four guys has this organization actually re-signed, once those players hit UFA status? R.Stroz’s question is a fair one.

However, how many of those UFA’s actually were willing to stay, but weren’t shown the money? Just about all of them… Brunette, Audette, Holik and Savard were all willing to stay for reasonably fair money, but the organization wasn’t willing to pony up… “cheap”.

In regards to Ilya Nikulin… next time I see him, I’m going to punch him in the face.

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PensFan, very good post. I rather enjoyed reading that, and learned some things, too. It’s good news for the Penguins on Kunitz being onboard for 3 more years. I hadn’t thought to check on his contractual status, nor the inclusion of Tangradi in that deal. If the Pens opponent isn’t Chicago, I’ll be rooting for Pittsburgh in the finals. Okay, I should apologize to Carolina fans. Their series isn’t over. But down 0-3, it isn’t looking good. It appears that the SCF won’t start until June 5th. The Penguins would do well to close out the series sooner than later, to give their players the maximum healing and rest time for the Finals. Yes, I know. Some people will say tht a ‘big layoff’ isn’t a good thing, not to be playing for so long. But really, these Finals represent a hockey player’s, coach’s, and GM’s life’s work. Preparation time is a nice luxury to have. After a smattering of preseason games, 82 regular season games, and perhaps as many 17-20 playoff games, depending on the results, it’s a marathon–for all concerned.

I never saw Ryan Whitney as the problem in Pittsburgh. When they were having their troubles, I was looking at Mark Eaton as one of the sources, back around Christmas. But I think the real culprit was Coach Therrien. I think he lost the room. The players weren’t in his corner anymore. They did ‘the right thing’ by issuing him the “pink slip.” Bylsma has been tremendous. I haven’t stayed on top of the NHL Awards, like perhaps I should have, but I’d hope that Dan Bylsma’s name is a candidate for the Jack Adams Coach of the Year award. Seriously, the Penguins were in danger of missing the playoffs for half of the season. Under Bylsma, they really poured it on.

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Holik lives in Wyoming?? I wouldn’t have thought of that state as a magnet for hockey players. Wonder if Holik’s the only NHL player living in that state.

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Damned fair-weather fans! Screw it, I’m moving the Thrashers to Boise.

Suckers.

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Kracker, thanks for the link. I saw in the editor’s notes that he speculates Kovalchuk might only do a 2-year extension, if he re-signs. The editor notes that the 2-year deal would still allow Kovalchuk to hit the open market in the prime of his career.

Folks, how would YOU feel about a 2-year extension for Kovalchuk? I’m trying to conceptualize a ’silver lining’ on that one. I guess it would that three more seasons of Kovalchuk is better than one. But, to me, a 2-year deal might as well be a “band aid” to the problem. Now, I hear ya. “I’ll take the band-aid!! Two years from now, Waddell and the Spirit might be gone, and the new owners and GM can lock #17 up for the rest of his career.” Fine. I guess that’s possible, too.

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Two more years is fine with me… I see it the same as the one year deal with Kari Lehtonen this year. It gives both sides a chance to evaluate each other.

We could be moving forward with Kane, Espo, Armstrong, O’Dell, Mahachek, Holzapfel, Little, Peverley, etc. by that point.

It also gives two more years for Toronto, Philly, Calgary, Ottawa, and Detroit to get themselves into more salary trouble.

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Rawhide, thanks.

WingsFaninGA, let me explain why Hossa’s departure stings so much for us Pens fans. I normally will admire a player taking winning over money. When Jason Bay was traded to the Red Sox, I was pissed because I believe Pirates didn’t get enough quality in return for a guy who still had a year plus left on his contract for chumpchange. But I was happy for Bay. Let us assume Bay became a free agent instead and decided to sign with the Red Sox as free agent despite Pirates offering him more security, I would be happy for him because most competitive people would take that offer.

THen again, here is a good example of why one could be bitter about a player leaving for a top team. When Barry Bonds was not discouraging rumors back in the early 90s about not being opposed to going to Braves even before he was a free agent, there was some irritation among the Pirates fans because we just battled Braves in a tough series the year before and were about to face them in a consecutive year. When he eventually signed with the Giants, there really wasn’t any bitterness about his decision to choose SF. But if he signed with the Braves despite the Pirates offering him money and another year of competitiveness(I know, very hypothetical), you would see a Hossa level backlash.

Which brings me to why I feel differently about Hossa. First of all, he is going to a team that is already a winner, not merely going to a top team where he can help put over the top. Then while I praise a player for going to a team for competitive reasons, i will also feel a player is taking the easy way out when he leaves a team which was defeated by that teamhe is going to in a series that became competitive towards the final few games. When you are part of a team that has battled hard(yeah I know he wasnt there for most of the regular season), there’s gotta be that fire in you that says “you know, we came close, and there is still work to do to get better than DEtroit. Give me another chance to help beat that team”. So Hossa passes one competitive test in my view, but he fails the other where he would like revenge for getting beat.
If the Pens didnt play Red Wings in the finals last year because Red Wings had some unfortunate injuries derailing their run, I can guarantee there wouldn’t be half the bitterness towards Hossa if he felt Red Wings were merely a team on the rise and with him, he can take it to the top very easily.

Another reason why Pens fans feel bitter is because Pens gave up so much for him, Hossa had to know how much the team coveted him. So rejection naturally feels bad for the fans. So it would have been nice if he showed some regret for having to reject the Pens offers and given Crosby a heads up before he left instead of taking everyone in the Pens by surprise.

ANyway, I am not trying to say we are right or wrong for feeling this way. But explaining why we feel this way about Hossa and why we want to see Detroit lose this year at any point in the playoffs.

Brendan, Ryan Whitney was good for the Pens last year. But this year, he looked awful. And he hasn’t been a difference maker with Anaheim and the Pens quite frankly cant afford to pay someone 4M a year if he is not going to add to the existing corps. Letang has done a fine job replacing Whitney. Eaton has also stepped up his game in the playoffs after a bad year and half stretch.

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Brendan- I actually think that a 2-year deal makes a lot of sense. Kovy wants to see this team in contention before he signs long term, and you’ve been saying all Spring that it’ll still be a couple more years before we can truly be a contender.

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This is about as valid as Ecklund. Kovy is going to leave as a free agent.

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LeBrunn’s usually 1000% better/more reliable than Ecklund.

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Brendan- I don’t recall ever hearing Kovy say anything that pointed to the cup contention having to take place next season. Everything I remember him saying was about him wanting to win, and it depending on what direction the team goes. I think in order for the plan to work the way you’re hoping, D-Dub is going to have to improve this team enough to look like one that will at least get into the playoffs this season without sacrificing too much. Then, we can finish grooming our top 10 draft picks from recent years, and our middle of the road from next year, so that they can take the place of the couple of vets we’re going to need this year to show Kovy that we’re serious.

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Hokie, you mentioned the name “Zhitnik.” Oh god, now I’ve just done it. You know what that means. That’s 30 lashes for both of us.

Jameson, Kovy’s comments were, “I think,” just after the final game of the season. To the very best of my recollection, what he said was, “Hopefully the GM can get the pieces we need for next season, not just for (the) playoffs, but to compete for (the) Stanley Cup.” Even I think that task, from where the organization stands now, is unrealistic. Generally-speaking, “quick fix, go for broke strategies” hardly ever work out, and wind up leaving you WORSE OFF than you were before. And even if it worked, how quickly would that team be dismantled or the pieces lost to free agency? In such instances, I love to cite the 1992-93 Florida Panthers as THE EXAMPLE. That team was built very quickly and dismantled even faster. The Panthers rocketed like meteor to the Stanely Cup Finals in just their 3rd year of existence, but then … you couldn’t find ‘em with binoculars in the standings. And aside from a blip here and there, it has remained so. (The Panthers last playoff win was April 17, 1997.) Ilya went on to say, same article, that the fans of Atlanta deserve it. The “it” refers to a Stanley Cup Championship caliber team. I understand Kovalchuk’s frustration, since 2001. But unless this team spent to the maxed cap, and made major moves out on the free agent market, or major trades, at the expense of its future draft picks, I can’t see that happening. No disrespect is intended towards Coach John Anderson. I do believe the Thrashers will get more than 76-points next season. But I wouldn’t bet on 96-points, without making a few moves in the offseason. And 96-points just barely gets you into the playoffs. But much more importantly than that, that is, just “making it in,” is the issue of being PREPARED to play those games. Let’s face it, folks. Challenging as it may be for several of the league’s markets, more than 50% of the league gets in. Of those teams, how many are truly built to make it through four rounds of playoffs? The list gets a lot shorter, doesn’t it? I think that’s what Kovy is talking about. I can’t see that the ownership will be able to grant him his wish. The best I think they can do is make sure they draft well, perhaps make a trade, and snare a piece or two in free agency to make the team BETTER. If ‘the plan’ really is a 4-year slow build, Kovalchuk has to get onboard with it, in my opinion. Otherwise, ownership/management has to change its strategy to appease him. Personally, I don’t feel like the ‘building project’ is anywhere near complete. That’s just an opinion, not a fact. I’d say, since we’re half-way through it, we might as well finish it. There are plenty of people who would say we never should have wound up on a path of rebuilding after the 2007 season, but I don’t know what to say about that. We knew Tkachuk was a straight rental. We knew we didn’t have Belanger as a “sure thing” to re-sign. Everyone knew Zhitnik (30 more lashes for me, that’s 60 now) was too old to be a centerpiece of the team, moving forward. And Dupuis was a latter line forward. Atlanta did re-sign him. Some people forget that. But it was just a one-year deal. And he got packaged with Hossa.

My wish, vis-a-vis Kovalchuk, is for him to re-sign and be “okay” with the building project a little while longer. The ultimate goal of a building project would be a 3-5 year ‘window of opportunity’ whereby the team is actually DEEP ENOUGH to compete for the Cup in each of those seasons. Building projects require patience. Which, I think, has worn thin. Perpetual building doesn’t sound very glamorous. The point is … to get it RIGHT, and then ACTUALLY SUCCEED.

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Brendan-Yeah Ted owns quite a bit of land and ranches out there. More than I realize. I know he owns a really big ranch about thirty minutes from where I am. Not sure and wouldn’t be suprised if there were other tracks closer to me. I think he, right now, is the biggest individual land owner in the world, covering Montana down to Mexico and into large parts of South America down to the Patagonia region. So yes, he could easily sell some land and buy back the Thrashers and such with ease. Unfortunatly, his interest in doing so probably sailed years ago.

My land is up on a plateau above the valley with some great views of the Beartooth Mtn range. Apparently, right before I bought my land in ‘06, Mel Gibson owned about a 500 acre ranch on the river valley below. The entrance to get up to where my land is located was right across the street from part of it. The folks at the Grizzley Bar told us some wild stories about Mel getting drunk with the locals all the time there and doing some crazy stuff back in the day, probably right before all the DUI drama and other things he said to the media that got him in hot water publically.

On the record, I prefer Kovy signed long term, but I guess I will take him anyway I can in terms of a short term extension as a possibility.

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