Comments on: Zach Bogosian – “Scary Good”

By: Sage of Bluesland

Sage of Bluesland — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:45:31 +0000

“…We’ve waited and waited, like Linus in the pumpkin patch, for the Great Nikulin to fly through the air, with his bag of toys. If he hasn’t come by now ….” [Brendan]

Line of the year. Post of the year.

Brilliant “Five-Year Plan” Donny’s lips are moving, folks…pssst, he’s lying and blustering…

By: ranallo10 (in AT)

ranallo10 (in AT) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:30:59 +0000

“cycnical”…well done

By: ranallo10 (in AT)

ranallo10 (in AT) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:30:37 +0000

Call me cycnical…the hockey gods already dislike the city enough, discussing unrealistic championship parades is not going to anger them further. Hell, it might put Atlanta ON THEIR MAP.

By: Rawhide

Rawhide — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:29:14 +0000

Holy #$%@! I go away to write a new blog and I come back to see people are already planning a championship parade around here!!! Oh, the hockey gods are NOT going to be pleased with this at all!! Time for a new subject obviously!

By: Smoothie

Smoothie — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:23:40 +0000

Brendan, pass me a pitch fork and a torch! I’m ready to rumble!

Actually, I’m ready to see some damn hockey! With or without Zherdev I just wanna see some hitting and pretty goals.

ranallo — indeed I was jesting, but I imagine Shirley Franklin only cares about the Thrashers insofar as that the attendance / revenues are large enough to cover said bond payments. Of course, I do think the Thrashers, IIIIIIFFF they were ever able to win a Cup, would owe it to the majority of their fans, who do reside north of I-285 and Perimeter Mall to have a major celebration at the biggest park in Alpharetta or Roswell…something along those lines.

RStroz — did you send your eloquent missive to Don Waddell, Bruce Levenson et al? You’re preachin’ to the choir here on this blog eh?

I’m setting the over / under on goals allowed today against the Canes at 4…I’m thinking we lose 5 – 3 and Kane pots two of them. Anyone?

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:22:14 +0000

Ranallo laugh all you want – just remember what happened in Vancouver last season…that’s all I’m sayin’. Fact is we DO have enough issues to get over without adding jinxes to the mix. :-p

By: Brendan

Brendan — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:18:01 +0000

Ahh. I hadn’t thought of that, Ranallo. Very interesting. Well qualified.

By: Brendan

Brendan — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:13:40 +0000

Well, Sara, Kovalchuk did specifically say that “I don’t want to just compete for the playoffs.” He wants–has asked for–the chance to COMPETE FOR the Stanley Cup THIS SEASON. That’s his goal, per his quote. Lest the quote be factually misrepresented to Mike Knobler. I take that to mean … that Kovalchuk sees this upcoming season, from an April 2009 perspective, as an opportunity to go DEEP into the playoffs in 2010. I don’t think Kovalchuk’s request is doable, without a new business plan.

We’ve seen the ownership’s response. NHLnumbers.com has the cap at roughly $44,322,000. Capgeek.com has it at about $48 million, and some change. Capgeek has been a little better at keeping its site up-to-date. Not sure NHLnumbers even lists Colby Armstrong’s contract yet this season.

In ownership’s shoes, I’d sit #17 down … and explain “THE PLAN.” If Kovy reviews “THE PLAN” and says, “No sale. Trade me, now. Or I’m playing out my contract and nothing more,” then I’d have to decide to (1) give Kovalchuk what he wants, and that means opening up the purse strings, like it or not, or (2) deciding whether to trade him now or at the 2010 trade deadline. Or, I suppose, letting him walk for nothing, and have an irate fan base, ready to tear down and torch the offices of the Atlanta Thrashers. (Note: You should not EVER resort to this kind of violence, over a sporting event. End note.)

By: ranallo10 (in AT)

ranallo10 (in AT) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:06:08 +0000

You’re funny Sara — as if us talking about possible routes for the Stanley Cup is the jinx…not the management’s track record, ownership’s unwillingness to spend league average, and all of the other factors we’ve argued ad nausea in these parts. Nah, it’s the talking of parade routes if the Thrashers ever win a Stanley Cup.

Brendan — I was thinking the ownership would do it simply because it was at Ted’s Montana Grill that many of the sales discussions happened…in Ted’s private suite above the restaurant with his son-in-law Beau and the other involved parties. It’s not Shadenfreude towards Time Warner, but rather a tribute to the shady ways they (the ASG) were “allowed” to purchase the team. It would seem fitting but yet ironic at the same time.

By: Brendan

Brendan — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:56:16 +0000

Hockey Biltong, GM Don Waddell has given us HIS WORD … that Kovalchuk will NEVER be traded. If he leaves, per Waddell, it would be Kovalchujk’s choice, via Free Agency.

…

I’m just passing along what was reported in the AJC, Biltong. Don’t shoot the messenger. I do, honestly, suspect that DW doesn’t want to trade Kovalchuk. He doesn’t want that to be part of his legacy. If Kovy walks, that’s very, very disappointing. But it does clear $6.5 million in cap room, to either get PROACTIVE with Bogosian or Kane, down the road. Not to mention to free up money for Bryan Little’s next deal. If Antropov re-signed to play with Kovalchuk, and Kovalchuk indicated, privately, to Nik … that he wasn’t staying, I’d bet Antropov wouldn’t have AGREED to a 4-year deal. That’s a long time to spend in Atlanta, sans Kovalchuk. Does Nik love the A-T-L that much? Or his inflated contract so much? Or does he know something? Like? Like Kovy’s using his contract as leverage to get the roster he wants, for the next few years, maybe even promising Nik that more Russians are coming. That’s pure speculation, of course. Perhaps, wild speculation, entirely offbase. But in Kovy’s shoes, I’d wait to sign until June 30, 2010. In fact, that’s my guess in the contest!