This One Goes To Eleven
Eleven years ago today, Don Waddell was announced as the first general manager of the newly founded Atlanta Thrashers. There has never been another such announcement made by the team since then.
Since that day he has been the man behind the desk of each and every move made by the franchise. From the selection of Patrik Stefan with the very first entry draft pick back in 1999… to drafting Ilya Kovalchuk and Dany Heatley… to bringing in Marc Savard, and then watching Savy depart…to the tragic event leading to the death of Dan Snyder…to the Hossa/Heater trade…to the Zhitnik/Coburn deal…to the Hossa drama of 2007-08…the naming of three head coaches…and now the decision to bring in Rick Dudley to be associate general manager…one thing has been a constant in the organization.
That one thing being… Don Waddell as general manager.
As for the man himself, Don Waddell is indeed a likable person. I’ve spoken directly with him just a few times and he’s been nothing but polite and courteous to me and my sons. One thing that has impressed me about him is how he never has cut the conversation short…citing his schedule or where he needed to be. Instead, he has waited for me to say “Thanks for the time, Don…good luck with the rest of the season”. Maybe those of you have similar stories.
But the job of a GM is to ice a competive team and run the front office. So…just how well off is the Thrashers’ organization after 11 years with on the job for Waddell? Well, I guess that all depends on your “glass half-full” or “glass half-empty” viewpoint.
First off, the cold, hard numbers. The overall record for Waddell and the Thrashers is 273 wins, 367 losses, 53 overtime losses and 45 ties. The team has averages 71.5 points in the nine seasons played. In between coaching hires, he has stepped in behind the bench to coach the team he has assebled for a total of 86 games. His record during those times is 38-39-1-8.
The last two seasons have ended with 76 points…just slightly above the average.
One playoff appearance…zero playoff wins.
So, obvioulsy there have been some sour times in Thrasherville over the course of the past decade…even Don would admit that. To that point, after the 2007-08 season, I was firmly of the belief that his time was up as GM and a change had to be made. Many of you felt the same way…some even thinking he should have been let go before.
But he remained then…and remains still.
Regarding the past two Thrashers’ seasons… even though 76 points are 76 points any way you slice it, last year ended on a much better note than the one before. 2007-08 was a very tumultuous season… what with the terrible start, Hartley firing, Hossa drama and the poor showing down the stretch. But last year, although the team took a while to get things going, they played to a winning record down the stretch.
Personally, I prefer to look at where the franchise is now and what is in store for the future of the club and I think next season holds a lot of promise for this young team. I base that a lot on the way they played since the middle of January to the end of the season… and the fact that the starting roster next fall will be filled with much of the same players as those who took the ice then.
Over the course of the last year or so, a few good moves have been made by Waddell and the team. Starting with the hiring of John Anderson as head coach, then the acquisition of a very solid centerman in Marty Reasoner, to the waiver-wire pickup of Rich Peverly and then the trade deadline moves in which some fairly decent returns were obtained for the players departed. Oh…and drafting that Bogosian kid certainly didn’t hurt things.
So…you can’t call my viewpoint of the team “hopefully optomistic” regarding the future. Then again, I said the same thing last summer.
The most recent big news from Waddell and the Thrashers…that of Rick Dudley’s hiring… seems to have most fans smiling. One reason for the happy faces is that the acquisition of new associate GM Rick Dudley brings with it the speculation that there is a re-org about to happen in the Thrashers’ front office. As I’ve opined previously, I just find it difficult to think that he would leave an assistant GM job with the Blackhawks to make what really is a lateral move to come to Atlanta…not unless there is some sort of understanding that there is a promotion in his future here.
Such a move, of course, would likely mean that Dudley takes over as general manager and Don then wears only the hat of Executive Vice President. I, for one, would be in total favor of that.
But until/unless such a move is made, Waddell is set to go into yet another year as the general manager of the Atlanta Thrashers. And because of that, it is simply inevitable any such discussion of him will eventually lead back to one basic question… “How many years can any GM remain in place given such a record”?
Ummm…well, I don’t know about others… but this one goes to eleven.
At least, so far.
TJ’s Draft Party Update!
Mark just contacted me to let me know of another prize that will be raffled off at Friday’s draft party. It includes 4 premium seats to a game this coming season plus a Zamboni ride in between periods!!!
Remember, the fun starts at 7:00 pm.
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116 comments Add your comment
Tom Lysiak
June 24th, 2009
12:47 am
Rawhide, here is my theory on the Dudley hire (call me Captain Obvious, but I don’t believe I have seen this expressed quite this way here). Seems to me that DWad knows this is his last shot, and it could either be a homerun or strikeout. The team came together under a new coach late in the year. They got rid of some older players and went young. (So, the stage was set for good things to come.) The resident “superstar” has to be re-signed or traded at the deadline for the best possible deal. He has the 4th pick in the draft and has to make the right selection. He also can turn some other picks, players, prospects into a top-six player if the right deal comes along. The possibility exists that he could also land a very good player on the cheap from teams needing to dump salary. He knows the court battle could potentially end soon resulting in a buyout and possibly an infusion of cash via new ASG partners (which would help with free agents). Or, he could see the team sold to new owners who are serious about winning.
As Brendan (I believe) would say, STOP. That is one heck of a list of things that, if they are done correctly, could turn this franchise around quickly. He needs someone competent to help him make the right decisions on all these things. He realizes it is too much for one decision maker if all are to be “wins”. If they are able to win on most of the calls, they are able to turn the team around and bask in the glory. DWad gets kicked upstairs, Dudley becomes the fulltime GM and they both get to stick around. If they fail on most of the calls, they are both gone anyway. If that theory is remotely correct, I credit DWad for seeing the writing on the wall and saving his own hide, and the team. Of course, I could simply be wrong and projecting what I would do if I were in DWad’s shoes right now…..
UpperDeck4Life
June 24th, 2009
1:13 am
Couple of interesting thoughts on DW and Dudley.
Back when DW was GM for San Diego of the IHL, his coach was Rick Dudley with a top scoring winger…..John Anderson. How’s that for convenience?
A couple of Stats on DW the GM:
On June 25, 1999, the NHL held an expansion draft for the Atlanta Thrashers. Waddell selected a total of 26 players. Of those 26, only 16 ever suited up for the Thrashers. Out of those original 26 picks, only 5 ever played more than 82 games for the franchise.
From the 1999 thru 2007 drafts, DW drafted a total of 82 players, 11 of which have played at least 82 NHL games, and 11 more who are already on their way to playing 82 or are viewed as prospects who will have decent NHL careers. That’s a little over a 25% success rate.
During the same time period the Red Wings, generally the consensus top organization in hockey has drafted 71 players. Of those players, 8 have played at least 82 NHL games, with another 10 on their way to playing 82 or are prospects who are considered to have decent NHL careers. The Wings have hit on about 25% of their picks as well.
The big difference, the Wings have only had 2 first round picks during this time and the Thrashers have had 9. Seems like once DW gets out of the first round, his picks are marginal at best. Now his drafting has gotten much better in the last 2-3 drafts, but those early years of poor drafting have really hurt the franchise.
Sage of Bluesland
June 24th, 2009
7:36 am
11 years…On our third “Five-Year Plan”…Still attempting to “Build through the draft!”…Playoff “guarantee” completely backfiring…First significant move was signing Damian Rhodes in order to make him the ‘cornerstone’ of the franchise…Had both max-cap and min-caps…One playoff appearance…Zero wins in playoff games…
(and away from the Thrashers organization, did absolutely nothing with TeamUSA hockey–the results there are equally abysmal…but I guess that’s the Thrashers’ ownership’s fault as well?)
Do you ever wonder why the Thrashers are in the position they are in?! I don’t.
Oh well, those who continue to subsidize this incompetence will get more bluster from our fraud of a GM…I hope you enjoy it; You’ve earned it!
Sara
June 24th, 2009
8:00 am
Hokie I asked Lyle Richardson at Spector’s about his take on the Dudley move and his comments, paraphrased, were that he might prefer the weather. :p But his real point was kinda similar to yours in that he opined Dudley may think he would have a better shot at getting a promotion in Atlanta than he would in Chicago, even if he hasn’t been assured of one.
Sage, you forgot to call us all “sheep.” You’re slipping dude.
Toby
June 24th, 2009
9:04 am
Two more days until the biggest week in Thrash history!!
Note to self: It’s impossible to get much work done when all you do is blog on AJC and hit the refresh tab on Hockey’s Future.
Glovesave29
June 24th, 2009
9:10 am
Ahhh, Sage – our fairweather fan – Will only be pulling for the team once they are winners again. We all hate the current state of affairs and want a winner, and most here want to see Waddell gone…but FANS pull for the team through thick and thin. Why don’t you go down to Sports Authority ang get yourself some jerseys for the Pens, Steelers and Phillies – then you can brag to all your friends (!) that all of YOUR teams are winners. Don’t forget to put the Wings, Giants and Red Sox jerseys away until they are champions again.
Spud Webb
June 24th, 2009
9:49 am
Yea, I’m also getting a man crush on Kane. Can’t wait to hear his name or DW bungle it!!! ahahahaha, Rawhide, my guess for DW to be OUT as GM and get promoted (throwing up NOW), November 1, 2009.
Alan
June 24th, 2009
9:56 am
LAC, there’s a reason some of us who follow the Red Wings refer to Pierre Mcguire as “The Douche Canoe.”
Rawhide, re: DW ousted contest: 29 Sept 2009 and 1:30pm.
ranallo10 (in AT)
June 24th, 2009
10:09 am
I had hoped that a team (not Atlanta hopefully) hired McGuire to be their new GM…then we’d not have to hear his “opinion”.
I’m finding myself more and more content with the thought that Kane will be drafted by Atlanta. I have said it prior but I have no problem if they were to drop back a few spots, but I will be a content fan knowing Kane is in the pipeline.
Based on the track record of Waddell and Co.’s drafting abilities, I wouldn’t mind seeing round 2 through round 7 picks traded (in one package) for a decent NHL player.
I can imagine Bettman announcing: “I have a trade to announce — The Atlanta Thrashers trade ALL of their picks to the Boston Bruins for the rights to Phil Kessel, Mark Stuart, and a Bruins bumper sticker”…I’d consider that a win for Atlanta even if Kessel didn’t re-sign.
Hockey Biltong
June 24th, 2009
10:38 am
Sage- “Get thee to a nunnery.”
Smoothie
June 24th, 2009
10:41 am
Ranallo, that’s pretty funny and sadly I agree with your sentiment. I’d rather trade all of our picks from Round 2 thru 7 for a couple of legit players who can contribute right away. As much as I don’t think Pavelec is quite ready (he’s only 21!) to challenge Kari or even Moose, I don’t really care to lose him in a trade with Colorado for someone like Milan Hejduk or Darcy Tucker (shudder)…not to say that will happen but Kevin Allen mentioned COL as a potential trade partner due to their goaltending issues.
Anyway, seems like Kessel could be a real possibility. How do you feel about his lack of size? I know that is sometimes over-hyped, but would you be concerned about a lack of size in our Top 6 with Kessel in the fold? Personally, I’m not sure as I realize our team speed would be second to none especially with Kane possibly replacing Kozlov on the 2nd line in a year perhaps.
ranallo10 (in AT)
June 24th, 2009
10:52 am
I would not be concerned with Kessel on the top line, nor a supposed lack of size. Skill shines more than size, in my opinion, and with someone of Kessel’s caliber alongside Kovalchuk the top line would be fine without a 6′4 physical presence. A nice big top line power forward would be wonderful, but I don’t see it happening (nor do I see Kessel coming to Atlanta).
GaVaHokie
June 24th, 2009
10:54 am
Smoothie… I wouldn’t call Svensson a “soft” Euro… he’s a big kid and knows how to force his way to the net. With his speed and size he can “shoulder” himself to the inside lane on defenders. He’s really strong on the puck ala. Hossa and Jagr… I gotta think this is your set up man for guys like Kovalchuk and Little.
I’m on the fence… i gotta think that MPS is the smarter choice, even though I like Evander Kane.
Waddell said outside the Top 3, there is one guy he’d “throw out on the ice” next year and see what he can do… I think that person is MPS.
GaVaHokie
June 24th, 2009
11:00 am
You gotta think… in the World Juniors, Kane barely made the roster and played well enough to move up from the Checking line to a scoring line… but MPS flat out stole the show in Juniors. Arguably the best player in the entire tournament according to most critics.
Smoothie
June 24th, 2009
11:09 am
GVH, news to me as I’ve read that the biggest knock on MPS is his questionable ability to finish due to a lack of strength on the puck. If true, sounds like the 2nd coming of Maxim Afinogenov! No thanks.
I think it’s a credit to Kane that he managed to impress coaches, scouts etc with his play as a “checking” forward in the World Jrs. Apparently, Pat Quinn was so impressed with Kane that his minutes increased consistently throughout the round robin play. He scored some clutch goals and managed to increase his stock enough to be rated as one of the Top 3 North American skaters.
I’m not saying MPS is not going to be a good player, but there isn’t even any guarantee that he will choose to play in the NHL as there are worries he may stay in Sweden one more year. EK has dreamed of playing in the NHL and I have no doubt he will work his tail off to make it to the “show” by the start of the 2010 season.
GaVaHokie
June 24th, 2009
11:32 am
Smoothie… Noooo, much better than Afinogenov. Not even close.
And I agree on Kane… BRAVO for making an impression at the Juniors and making the most of the opportunity… but Svensson was an absolute balls-out “Showstopper”.
Still, I’m happy with either one.
dwayne
June 24th, 2009
11:39 am
I heard Kane was not a popular person in the club house…any one hear this? One persons opinion doesn’t mean much, but…it was out there.
Here is my conspiracy theory….Majority of scouts say Kane is a solid 4rth pick, hoping the Thrasher idiots (not Dudley) pick him. Leaving a MUCH better player to fall at least one spot. Now, I do not hear alot of positives about the Thrasher organ-I-zation as a whole, All Kovy chatter is about how quickly he is getting out of town. I listen to XM 204 everyday going to and from work…1 hr and 30 mins total. Not alot of chatter about us. I wonder, if say Toronto had the 4rth pick, Tavares, Hedman, Duchene and say for the sake of a name MPS was a lock at 4, and with Atlanta picking 5th, every “expert” would still say Kane was the 5th best pick, even if he wasn’t. You follow me?
ranallo10 (in AT)
June 24th, 2009
11:46 am
Seeing that Allan Muir has Paajarvi-Svensson as the number 4 pick and Kane at number 7, I’d say your conspiracy theory has yet to infiltrate SI.com.
GaVaHokie
June 24th, 2009
12:06 pm
Majority of scouts say Kane is a solid 4rth pick, hoping the Thrasher idiots (not Dudley) pick him.
Oh, cool… Dudley gets a “pass” as the new guy…. interesting.
Smoothie
June 24th, 2009
12:07 pm
GVH, I see that MPS scored 12 pts in 6 games at the World Jrs including 6 goals so perhaps the finishing knock against him is an unfair assessment considering he is playing against much older players in the SEL. Looks like he does fine against his peers when given the chance. Perhaps MPS is the right choice for us at # 4, but my gut feeling (thanks to what I’ve read, seen and heard from EK in his interviews) tells me Kane is the guy we need on this team. And those that argue that he hasn’t filled out his frame yet need to examine this photo closely: http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?contractUrl=2&language=en-US&family=editorial&assetType=image&ep=2&p=evander%20kane&src=standard#
(see row three for “guns are legal on the Kane Train” picture)
dwayne
June 24th, 2009
12:13 pm
With the 4rth pick….
Kimelman has Kane
Holland has Schenn
Roark has Duchene
Since Dudley just got aboard, how much input will he have.
dwayne
June 24th, 2009
12:16 pm
I give him a pass because he just got here. You know as well as I do that don the dud will blame the new guy for every mistake. You know, kinda like Joe Dirt got blamed for the oil spill.
dwayne
June 24th, 2009
12:17 pm
lifes a garden, dig it.
Oliver Stone
June 24th, 2009
12:18 pm
Watch it with the conspiracy theories dwayne, you’re workin’ my side of the street there buddy!
dwayne
June 24th, 2009
12:21 pm
i’m honered Ollie.
GaVaHokie
June 24th, 2009
1:06 pm
Smoothie… I don’t wanna sit around all day looking at 18-year old boys with their shirts off, but Svensson has 20 lb’s on Kane, I’m sure a summer with Ray Bear and he’ll have considerable “guns” himself.
Again, I’ll be happy with either one… I’m leaning away from Schenn in the last 24 hours.
Tier One… Tavares, Hedman, Duchene
Tier Two… Kane, MPS
Tier Three… Schenn, Cowen, Larssen
myra-gales
June 24th, 2009
1:14 pm
Rawhide. What is up with this? Stumbled across it on Twitter. Is this our Stendec? Sounds like him. Very unStendic statement! Anyone heard from him lately?
Does this pass NSA scrutiny? If so. To my pals on Thrasher blog: Kari Lehtonen still greastest NHL goaltender to ever suit up. No doubt!
Joe Dirt
June 24th, 2009
1:15 pm
Hokie – You wanna see my guns, I’ll take my shurt off forya.
joe dirt
June 24th, 2009
1:17 pm
these guns are how i get the chickies
Joe Dirt
June 24th, 2009
1:48 pm
Looks like stendec was ubducted by aliuns, guess they broughtum back.
http://twitter.com/stendek_
Rawhide
June 24th, 2009
2:00 pm
Myra-Gales – shrugs…I dunno. But the name isn’t really a “common” one.
Last I remember hearing from him was last week sometime on this blog.
FED UP
June 24th, 2009
2:01 pm
Waddellsworth brought in Dudley so he has a new scapegoat when the Trashers don’t make the playoffs, AGAIN. (brokenrecordbrokenrecordbrokenrecordbrokenrecordbrokenrecordbrokenrecordbrokenrecordbrokenrecord)
Toby
June 24th, 2009
2:01 pm
Dudley was supposed to be on NHL Live today, but never made it on : (
Viking
June 24th, 2009
2:07 pm
Smoothie: About MPS, from what I can gather from Swedish media, the only concern about MPS is his defensive skills (which could be improved upon), and not what you in a generalizing way call being a “Euro Softie”. However, I am sure his offensive will be something astonishing – and I am hoping to see him in a Thrashers uniform breaking for the goal or serving Kovy one of his delicatessen pucks…
Midfield
June 24th, 2009
2:17 pm
I think by this day and age the perception of European players being softies is kind of outdated, don’t you? I mean, there are some, but, come on, even in the Cup finals, would you call Holmstrom, Kronwall and Malkin softies?
ranallo10 (in AT)
June 24th, 2009
2:25 pm
Last I looked Briere was Canadian…and I’m not sure if you can get much softer than him.
Jimbo
June 24th, 2009
2:28 pm
One minor issue went unnoticed in the press release about Dudley’s hiring. In addition to nondescript functions that Don has given him, he will be a back-up Zamboni driver and play Thrash at kids functions.
GaVaHokie
June 24th, 2009
2:35 pm
I think MPS in Anderson’s transition, fast-break offense could be a thing of beauty. As long as guys like Kovy and Little are finishing what he “serves up”.
“Delicatessen” is right… effortless hands.
Smoothie
June 24th, 2009
3:30 pm
Jeez guys, a little bit touchy are we? I apologize for over-generalizing, but I was doing it more to highlight Evander’s penchant for playing with an edge (see his PIM’s in his first full year of WHL) rather than trying to indict a whole continent of hockey players. However, while I wasn’t trying to trash European hockey players, I certainly wasn’t trying to be politically correct either.
Smoothie
June 24th, 2009
3:33 pm
http://twitter.com/CraigCustance
We may not have him as our beat writer anymore, but he’s still looking out for the Thrash! God love him.
five_hole
June 24th, 2009
3:39 pm
“… I don’t wanna sit around all day looking at 18-year old boys with their shirts off” – GaVaHokie – Do you like Gladiator movies? You ever seen a grown man naked? Have you ever been in a… in a Turkish prison?
TableHockey
June 24th, 2009
3:53 pm
I think it has to be Kane – I can’t imagine the ASG passing up on the opportunity to market to african-americans with him. That segment represents a lot of new tickets sold if they are successful.
Seems like a no-brainer.
The only question is if something goes strange in R3 – would they take Kane and that marketing opportunity over Duchene if her were available?
GaVaHokie
June 24th, 2009
3:53 pm
Smoothie… we’re not doggin’ on you… just making conversation.
Thanks for the tip on Custance’s Twitter… latest headline..
Thrashers have made qualifying offers to at least three potential restricted free agents – Kari Lehtonen, Jim Slater and Colby Armstrong.
GaVaHokie
June 24th, 2009
3:55 pm
Still doesn’t mean that Kari can’t be traded, it just means we can hold his rights past July 1st… so don’t look too much into it.
GaVaHokie
June 24th, 2009
4:18 pm
Latest from Eklund…
*Gionta. The Devils are out from all indications…The Sabres and Thrashers are in…
five_hole… Airplane, classic.
Tony C.
June 24th, 2009
4:34 pm
Gionta? great. Sing it! All together now… La-la, la-la-la-laaaa! La, la-la-la-laaaa!
BLUELAND: The Smurfiness Continues….
Not knocking the guys skill here, folks…but “physically imposing” he ain’t. Again, to be clear, I’d be happy to see him sign here-I would just hope we then deal for some size.
Rawhide
June 24th, 2009
4:39 pm
So far we’ve had movie references from “This is Spinal Tipe” via the blog title…”Joe Dirt” and “Airplane”. Plus a guest appearance from Oliver Stone.
Excellent!
GaVaHokie
June 24th, 2009
4:41 pm
Not to mention Shakespeare and Smurfs.
GaVaHokie
June 24th, 2009
4:45 pm
Kozlov White and Gionta could be a good line… Kovalchuk Peverley and Little on the top.
…eh.
GaVaHokie
June 24th, 2009
4:56 pm
Okay… according to Andy Strickland, this would be the first legitimate offer for a Top 10 pick I’ve seen so far.
Word is Phoenix turned down an offer from Toronto that would have sent Ed Jovanovski and the 6th overall pick to the Leafs for Kaberle. I hear Phoenix didn’t want to give up the pick.
Tomas Kaberle for the 6th pick AND Ed Jovonovski?! That’s not even to swap places, that’s flat out taking the 6th pick… I think he’s overvaluing Kaberle just a little bit.