Thrasherville 2009 reflections and looking ahead to 2010’s possibilities
Well Thrasherville, calendar year 2009 is all but a memory now and CY2010 is upon us. When the Thrashers take to the ice in Boston’s TD Garden tonight…the second time during this seven-game road trip…it will be the 80th and last game played by the team in CY2009.
Rich Peveley found a home in Atlanta in 2009 (AP/Gregory Smith)
As you may recall, it all began with a thrilling 4-3 shootout win against the Vancouver Canucks on January 2 in front of a raucous and rowdy Friday night crowd in Philips Arena. Unfortunately, that was then followed up two days later by an abysmal 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay.
Since that time, Ilya Kovalchuk was named team captain… we parted ways with the likes of Jason Williams, Nic Havelid, Erik Christensen, Mathieu Schnider…we stole Rich Peverley off the waiver wire from Nashville…played to a winning record in the second half of last season…watched the Penguins hoist the Cup…brought in Rick Dudley to be associate GM…had a very good draft in June, highlighted by the 4th overall selection of Evander Kane…traded Garnet Exelby to Toronto for Pavel Kubina…signed free agents Nik Antropov and Maxim Afinogenov…seen “Kari Down ‘09″ begin early after his back surgery in July, and only recently has he even taken to the ice…survived the flooding rains of late summer…watched the team get off to a tremendous start this past fall…and most recently seen them slump to 0-4-1 in the past five games and 4-9-1 in the month of December going into tonight’s game in Beantown.
It’s been quite a year, eh?
The Thrashers used their 4th overall draft pick on Evander Kane. He earned a spot on the squad and has 9 goals, 6 assists and is a +7(AP Photo/Gregory Smith)
Regardless of the outcome against the Bruins, Atlanta will end the year with a winning record, as they are currently 40-34-5 in the 79 games played so far in CY2009. That would equate to 85 points earned out of a possible 158…a .538 points winning percentage. Even if they lose their fourth straight in regulation tonight, a 40-35-5 record still amounts to a .531 PW%.
Yes, I know, some will say any overtime loss is still a loss and therefore losing tonight amounts to a break-even record of 40 wins and 40 defeats. But in the NHL, points are what matters in the current scheme of things, so if one wins more that 50% of the possible points available…that amounts to a “winning” record. Maybe one of these years the league will move to simplify matters and go with just Ws and Ls.
Anywahooo…the current year’s record, whichever way you slice it, is better than what we were looking at 12 months ago. A 3-1 loss in Carolina last New Years Eve finished off 2008 on a losing note…which wasn’t much different than most games played in that calendar year as they went 27-41-12 in 80 games played during CY2008…a .421 PW%. That year included the crash-and-burn second half of the disastrous 2007-08 campaign as well as the 13-23-5 beginning of last season.
The year prior to that, CY2007… which straddled the back end of the 2006-07 season and first part of the 2007-08 season…saw the Thrashers play to a record of 39-37-5 over 81 games, which is a .512PW%. 2006, the first full calendar year after the lockout, had the Thrashers playing 92 total games. That was a very good year as they went 48-27-17, earning 113 of a possible 184 points, which is a .614 PW%.
As for predictions for 2010…here are a few for ya to chew on over the next couple of days.
Ilya Kovalchuk's contract status is the big story from 2009 that will carry over into 2010 (AP photo)
First off… and this is really the biggie… I do believe that Ilya Kovalchuk will re-sign with the Thrashers. However, I won’t predict when. Don Waddell did himself no favors last September when he indicated that we wouldn’t be talking about the Kovy contract come Christmas time…so I won’t make the same mistake.
But needless to say, it needs to be soon.
Personally, I think it’ll come down to one night, while sitting with his family over dinner, Nicole Kovalchuk… belly swollen with child and helping the two other little tax exemptions with their meals…is gonna look over the table at her husband and say something like, “Ilya…honey…I love you. And I love our family. And I love our home. And I know the kids love it here, too. Our life is pretty good here and I think we can raise our kids on about 9 or 9 and a half million a year”.
Wiping little Carolina’s mouth she continues, “Now, you do what you think is best, hon. But I just thought you might like to hear that”.
Wives can be pretty persuasive with that calm, reassuring, gentle, loving voice.
Secondly…I will predict that Todd White will indeed score a goal in CY2010. Yes…I’m serious…stop laughing.
Also, just prior to the beginning of the season I predicted that the Thrashers would finish this season with a record of 39-33-10 for 88 points, third in the Southeast Division and tenth in the Eastern Conference. I see no reason to change that forecast.
With "Kari Down '09" coming around early this year, it's been Opie and the Moose manning the nets since the beginning of the season (AP/Gregory Smith)
I think they’ll tease us with some good play…even flirt with a playoff position…but fall short in the end.
I hope I’m wrong… that they’ll earn a half-dozen or so more points to make the post-season dance…but look at the five games to be played in April. Two dates with Washington, two against Pittsburgh and another one versus New Jersey. Not the kind of teams you wanna be facing if you’re on the outside trying to get in going down the stretch.
To earn a spot in this spring’s great hunt for Lord Stanley’s Cup, I would suspect that the Thrashers need to be north of 90 points by the end of March. My guess is…they won’t be.
One last prediction…John Anderson will sign a contract extension to remain behind the Thrashers’ bench beyond the 2010-11 season. This is something that general manager Rick Dudley will announce sometime in the fall.
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103 comments Add your comment
stendec
December 30th, 2009
9:18 pm
GO BRUINS! Do let let these hosebag quitters score. Feel bad for you Mr Moose Hedberg sir. Way to hang tough big fellow. The rest of the losers can go straight to Hell. Especially Ilya “I Certainly Am Worth Millions” Kovalchuk! The Maryann Hossa clone heartless bestard. Captain? Captain my a$$! ++STENDEC++
12345
December 30th, 2009
9:21 pm
I give up, I will not attend another game until owners change or at the very least Don Waddell is fired for his failed leadership, I have had
enough of this stuff, no NHL fan in Atlanta should have to endure this mis-management from any pro sports team and the Thrashers are the worst
example I have ever seen. Where is the NHL and Gary Bettman ? They need to come in here take control of the team and do what they did in Phoenix, BTW, I heard Phoenix canned the greatest player in the history of the NHL as coach, and they just won their 10th straight game and the arena was packed, something that will never happen here with the owners we have and this Waddell. Gee firing people is not so bad, so why will that not work here ?
LAC
December 30th, 2009
9:25 pm
4-0, 18 SOG, absolute gutless preformance by this team.
Where IS STUPID LIAR waddell now ?
Russian
December 30th, 2009
9:36 pm
FIRE COACH!!!!
stendec
December 30th, 2009
9:38 pm
Will an apologist please post to tell all of us how this heartless giveup shutout loss to the Boston Bruins actually has a silver lining? Feel free to use all the slide rules and statistics you can get your hands on. Pavs Lehtonen gave up three goals on two shots. Not that bad? My error. Just seemed that way! Captain Ilya “Pay Me Millions Now” Kovachuk was challenged to be a true captain with on ice leadership before the debacle. Like how overrated Russian responded? Swell huh? I say $100 per game plus a few free concessions are all this Maryann Hossa quitter is worth! Notice my rates continue to dwindle per game? Wonder why? True professionals would be hurt and embarrassed by this total collapse. Moose Hedberg is the only one who gives a f#ck! Anyone notice big grin on face of IK when leaving ice? Given up? What the Hell do you think! ++STENDEC++ Sorry Moose. I feel bad for you big guy. As for other Yardbirds, Hell ain’t nearly full!
Doug
December 30th, 2009
9:41 pm
This team is a joke ! Fire Don Waddell,,, NOW!!!!!!!!!! He created this MESS !!!!!! ABSOLUTELY EMBARRASSING. I thought he said Kovy would be signed by Christmas. Obviously he can’t get it done, so lets fire him and let the Dudley guy try to sign him ?????????
stendec
December 30th, 2009
9:49 pm
Have an idea. Since Ilya “I Am Worth Zillions” Kovalchuk is so damn proud of being named to Russian hockey team then let his sorry uncaring Maryann Hossa a$$ STAY in the Fatherland! This captain is a liability! Captain my a$$! Present captain C to Moose Hedberg. Only player that gives a damn when team loses! Wonder if El Kapitan will dog it at third speed while skating for Russians? Did not think so! Pay his a$$ in rubles. Untalented bestard quitter! ++STENDEC++
Doug
December 30th, 2009
9:49 pm
Not sure this is a coaching issue either. Anderson can only work with who Waddell gives him. This is not an NHL roster. We have 1 “star” (Kovy), a couple of “prospects” (Bogo,Little,Kane), and the rest of the team is 3rd and 4th liners…….how would they expect to be an offensive team when we really only have a couple of offensive threats???? Sorry, i just call it as I see it. Been watching the game for 35+ years, and this team Waddell constructed is an absolute mess.
R. Stroz
December 30th, 2009
9:52 pm
Well, Anderson got sixty minutes of consistent hockey.
There is one word to describe the effort tonight: FUGLY!
stendec
December 30th, 2009
9:52 pm
Hey Doug. What the Hell has the captain done to DESERVE to be signed for millions of buckaroos? Given up? Dogged it? Skated at third speed? Skated fab figure eights while awaiting breakout passes as goals are being scored? He sure looked super tonight did he not? SHEESH! Are all Yardbird fans such dimwitted dunderheads? ++STENDEC++
Matt
December 30th, 2009
9:54 pm
Holy Mother of God, do we ever SUCK!!!!
Let’s bring up the ENTIRE Wolves roster, how much worse could it be than the team we have right now? Zero effort again. 6 freaking losses in a row and plummeting right to the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
I am so frustrated right now it’s hard to find the words to describe it at this point.
R. Stroz
December 30th, 2009
9:55 pm
If I were Anderson, I’d request extra ice time from arena operations, take the team back out on the ice in full gear, and pull a Herb Brooks on them.
stendec
December 30th, 2009
9:56 pm
BTW Doug. I have been watching THE GAME seriously for over 40 years. So I am not a novice either. ++STENDEC Do agree team is mess. Without heart or any desire!
Doug
December 30th, 2009
9:56 pm
Stendec, Kovy is definitely not putting up evidence he deserves the $$$ he is asking for, but what about guys like Hainsey and Kubina? Do you really think they are worth what we are paying them? I don’t. Point the figer at Kovy all you want, thats fine. But there are other top dollar guys on this roster who have been dogging it since October (Hainsey, Hainsey, Hainsey, Hainsey)
Maybe we should just dump all the overpaid players Wadeell signed, cut payroll, and start over?? After Waddell is gone, of course. His ship has returned to port. Back where he started. Sorry pal, trips over. Times up. Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out.
Get The Puck Out
December 30th, 2009
9:58 pm
If the Thrashers are not going to put any effort in to play hockey i think i’m not going to put any effort in to blog. When they start to play somebody let me know.
Alan
December 30th, 2009
9:59 pm
I agree with the posters above. Waddell should definitely be fired. There is no doubt in my mind that is the answer.
stendec
December 30th, 2009
10:00 pm
Do not think any Yardbird outside of Moose Hedberg has NHL caliber talent. All except for him are overpaid. Moose cares. Hard to do when surrounded by untalented quitters who simply do not give a damn. El kapitan included. No disrespect to you. Just hate and am nauseated by giveup jobs by paid so called professionals. Tonight was a giveup job by every player except Mr Hedberg. ++STENDEC++
Thrashers27
December 30th, 2009
10:03 pm
PA-THETIC!
Dunwoody Kevin
December 30th, 2009
10:07 pm
Bill, please tell the idiotic/incompetent “beat” writer we don’t need any more STUPID stories about STUPID WADDELL’S STUPID daughter !!!!!!!!! Really, is that all you got Chris???? Don can’t give you any info on Kovalchuk talks or why the team SUCKS A++, but he can tell you about his daughter? WHO CARES!!!!!! Do YOUR JOB!!!!!!!!!
Matt
December 30th, 2009
10:14 pm
Ya know, I’m finding that 12 year old MacCallan (sp?)helps ease the pain. New drinking game, every time the “Trash” fail to hustle, you have to do a shot. I think that would rival playing “Newhart”.
BTW, ASG your basketball team blows as well and no one is coming out to see their games either.
Sage of Bluesland
December 30th, 2009
10:20 pm
Now where is that little child Sara and her wittle spweadsheet to ‘prove’ to us that the bumbling, blustering little fraud of a GM is actually an above-average GM?!
What a sad, pathetic joke. Now we finally know who lisping Don’s daughter was all along!
I gave you all the answer years ago–but you didn’t listen. It’s too late now. The former port-a-potty salesman will ride this franchise into the ground, laughing all the way to the bank at you–the SHEEP who subsidized his incompetence.
Ownership would have been FORCED to do something if more did the right thing for the good of the franchise: boycott the product; let it be known that the product/service was completely unacceptable as is.
But, no, there are too many wittle Bwuewand fwag-wavers around–and they have become just as much of a problem. Pat yourselves on the back, those who continued to subsidize. Ownership never got the message clear enough–there were still enough of you around to live in your fantasyland….Poor ignorant, delusional sheep.
P.T. Barnum was indeed correct. You get what you deserve, folks–and you’re getting what you so foolishly paid for. Enjoy it–you bought it.
StateBird
December 30th, 2009
10:28 pm
Don’t think I’ve ever seen the blog so negative but hard to argue with the comments.
A question that I would like to see as a poll or answered by long-time ATL hockey fans:
- After the Thrashers move to another city who would you rather support:
A. Flames
B. Thrashers
Brett
December 30th, 2009
10:33 pm
Wow, some of you pay money to watch this stuff? I’m really sorry, that’s gotta hurt.
alex
December 30th, 2009
10:37 pm
it crystal clear the problem not kovy or other on the roster but ownership+dw. it’s fanny stendec some times understand this, but still blamed kovy and lehtonen. ok fire everybody bur asg+dw hire ovy, crotchby, malkin, heatley, JESUS,.. anybody-with this ownership and gm team will be suck, because they are cheap and stupid. end of story. ok stendec go ahead and send kovy in siberia prison like stalin did with all soccer team in 1952 after they lost game in OLIMPICK.
FalconFan
December 30th, 2009
10:49 pm
You know, I used to always hate reading posts by Sage and Stendec, but “believe” it or not, I think I agree with them now. They were right all along about this team. Sorry guys for ever doubting you. You were correct all along.
LAC
December 30th, 2009
11:18 pm
I 1000% with Dunwoodykevin, that artical was a COMPLET JOKE and Waste of time… Sorry chris do your job. ask waddell when he will RESIGN, do it, we demand it, quit being a creampuff reporter and ask the tough questions, if waddell does not like it F Him ! And if you don’t ask it F YOU ! chris !
Glad I quit going three years ago… These clowns are AWFUL !
HookyBob
December 30th, 2009
11:37 pm
White sits and we lose 4-0,..go figure. We’ve gone from “one goal losses” to being shutout,…and down 3 after the 1st period. The trend is “ungood.”
We know (and have witnessed) these guys can play much better,…it’s the mental aspect that is failing them now. I’m starting to worry about psyche (aka fragile state) of this team.
Team leadership is MIA. Someone needs to step and get these guys fired up. Who? I liked Kane and Peverly tonight. Maybe Bolts,..or Max, can get the guys going in Buffalo. Gotta get the old spark back.
Go Blue.
stendec
December 31st, 2009
12:11 am
Just posted Hubpage on Yardbird year end losing streak (Stendek). Since HubPages censored me due to NASA interference it might not be on there just yet. Just thought a few might be interested. Is one on about Dawg bowl win. These damn heartless quitters not worth saying anything else about. Except do not let them return to Atlanta after wonderful road trip. Good night all. ++STENDEC++ Happy New Year!
stendec
December 31st, 2009
1:03 am
Hi Alex. Do not know why I am so offended by your post. But I am. Just noticed it.
To wit:
it crystal clear the problem not kovy (he is the team captain for the love of God and highest paid player on alleged team) or other on the roster but ownership+dw (ownership does suck like a giant Hoover vacuum cleaner and Don Waddell does have mentality of newly formed single cell omeba). it’s fanny (funny?) stendec (me) some times understand this (compliment?), but still blamed kovy (fair assessment since team CAPTAIN dogs, rarely exerts himself, never plays defense, continually skates third speed and always seems disinterested) and lehtonen (overrated Finn fraud cancer who will never be worth a damn). ok fire everybody (all for it) bur (but?) asg+dw (those bestards too) hire ovy (nah), crotchby (nah), malkin (nah), heatley (Hell nah), JESUS (He would help but has His sights set higher than sports),.. anybody (amen)-with this ownership and gm team will be suck (cannot agrue with that factual statement), because they are cheap (yep) and stupid (everybody with a fraction of a brain already knows that). end of story (please tell us more). ok stendec (me) go ahead and send kovy in siberia prison (rather send him to Hamilton along with all other members of heartless club) like stalin (Joseph?) did with all soccer team in 1952 (slightly before my time) after they lost game in OLIMPICK (Olympics?). Spared USSR hockey team of 1980? Fancy that! At least Soviets cared about winning at one time!
++STENDEC++
Brendan
December 31st, 2009
1:10 am
Tonight’s game was an embarrassment. How many puck battles did we win? What was the final tally on “scoring chances?” Moose Hedberg is the guy who putting forth the maximum effort. This team … is just infected with “malaise.” At one point, I saw our D back up to the faceoff circles. What the ???
Where is the grit? Where is the tenacity? Where’s that GIVE-A-SPIT meter? Where’s the hustle? This team looks lost. I think this is six straight losses and eight out of nine (8/9) games as some form of loss. Wow. Okay, folks. New Year’s Day is coming. In October, and November, bad teams can beat GOOD teams. But after January 1, it’s rare. Why? Because the PRETENDERS get separated from the CONTENDERS.
Lee, the defining moment of this game actually WASN’T a play of any kind. In the middle of the second period, there was an advertisement that the first 10 callers to buy a ticket to an upcoming Thrashers game … get some free tickets along the glass. And I thought to myself, “Has it come to that? How much do seats along the GLASS normally cost?”
But, oh noooooo! That wasn’t even the defining moment of patheticness. It was that … at the 10-minute mark of the 3rd period, they RE-RAN the ad!!! I’m not kidding. I’m not. They seriously re-ran it. Ya know what that means? Yep, they didn’t get ten (10) callers! They couldn’t find ten people to buy tickets, to take advantage of the generous FREE tickets along the glass ad campaign.
Wanna check it out, to prove I’m right? There’s 14:16 left in the 3rd period, on the replay of tonight’s game. At the 9:59 mark, they’ll re-run the ad. What the heck? Call ‘em! Maybe they’re still not at 10 people yet! You may YET get those FREE SEATS along the glass. It’s Channel 53 on Comcast, for FoxSportsSouth. It’s on RIGHT NOW.
Brendan
December 31st, 2009
1:17 am
Well, it’s past now. We’re at 8:00 left in the 3rd period, on the replay. Something else occurs to me. If Darren Eliot were not a Thrashers employee, he would be ripping this team to shreds over this kind of play. Instead, he and Matt O’Connell are just trying to call and comment on the game, as best they can. Eliot is talking about what the Bruins need to do to just bring home this win. An objective announcer would be saying, uhh … what Chico Resch says!
Brendan
December 31st, 2009
1:28 am
Statebird, if the Thrashers ever leave Atlanta, which would be in 2019, that they’d change the name of the team to something else. If you were the city gaining the Thrashers, would you keep the name?
When the Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix, they renamed the team to Coyotes. When the Whalers moved from Hartford to Raleigh, they became the Hurricanes. When the Quebec Nordiques moved to Denver, they became the Avalanche. When the Oakland Seals/California Golden Seals moved to Cleveland, they became the Cleveland Barons. When the North Stars moved from Minneapolis/St. Paul, they became the Dallas Stars. I’m pleased that Calgary kept the name Flames, and the stylized “A” for Assistant Captain on their jerseys. But I cannot really answer the question.
If the Thrashers really left, and kept the name in their new city, and I liked that city, I might continue to root for them. I like Calgary. I like the Flames. I rarely root against them. If there were a gun pointed at my head, I’d answer “Flames,” Choice A.
Brendan
December 31st, 2009
1:48 am
I think I have a possible candidate for a Thrashers theme song. It’s called, “Girl from Ipanema.”
Stop laughing. Every time I hear this song in a movie, the very world around the characters is crashing down. And it’s just such a sweet, lovely little song to be playing, as society crumbles. Maybe, the most famous occurrence of it in Cinema is found within “The Blues Brothers” as Jake and Elwood attempt to bring the $50,000 to the Cook County, Illinois Tax Assessors office, to save the Penguin’s orphanage.
In the elevator, as the SWAT team outside prepares to apprehend Jake and Elwood, it’s “Girl from Ipanema” playing in the background. Which gets me to thinking, when WAS the last time you got into an elevator and actually HEARD “elevator music?” Is it entirely gone, now?? I haven’t heard any in YEARS.
NorthStarsDave
December 31st, 2009
7:05 am
Someone asked…so here it goes….
Sure…it is a bad time in Blueland….very blue….however, almost EVERY team in goes through this during the season….remember, we still have 3+ months left…
Let’s take a look at one particular team…1-4 in their last 5…shutout twice…2 of those losses at home….
If this were the Thrashers…and some of you that been serious followers for centuries would state…the second coming of the Apolocalypse was about to occur! Fire everyone…start over…
OK…another team…lost 4 in a row just two weeks ago…averaged less than 2 goals per game…looked hapless at home against a team in total disarray….
Granted…this was B-A-D bad…OP looked…to use a redneck term…skar’d…especially when Savard was allowed…never challenged…to fire at will from point blank…do NOT give me the d-men had to cover their man and you always let to goalie see the shot…he hit the post…and the rebound was swatted in by Sturm…oh, who was being marked (ha, soccer term!). It was downhill from there.
Next game Buffalo (5-4 in last 3 weeks) and then the Isles (4-5 in last 3 weeks)….
BTW…those teams mentioned above…the Pittsburgh Penguins (the one and the same that had a losing record at this time last year)…and the Boston Bruins…
Enjoy the Winter Classic…if it doesn’t rain!!!
Putting On The Foil
December 31st, 2009
7:19 am
I’ve tried to be patient with this team and this so called system, but now I’m in agreement with Russian. Fire Anderson immediately and hopefully stop the bleeding. We can sit around and point fingers at different players not doing this or that, but you obviously cannot overhaul the team right now, so firing Anderson is only potential solution at the moment. Where’s Pat Quinn? If the son of a guns ain’t gonna play hockey, maybe they will at least stand up for themselves and hit or fight somebody. Last night was truly low point of the season so far. I shall go now before I become STENDECKIAN.
NYC
December 31st, 2009
8:02 am
I find it utterly amusing when we happen to hit the skids for a period of time, all of you cry “relocation!” Seriously?? I would think Carolina has to have been mentioned moving to at least 30 different locations with the season they’re having. They’re fan base must be losing their collective minds (insert sarcasm).
I for one will make my New Years resolution to remain optimistic in regards to the Thrash – and why not! We’re 11 points ahead of last year’s turn of the calendar – currently 1 point out of the dance. This year’s rough patch happened to occur, well, now! Anyone remember how we finished the second half of last season?? We happen to mirror last year’s 2nd half output, and guess what – yes, playoffs!
Folks – we’re in the hunt. Despite the play of late…we’re in the hunt. To me, that makes the new year of hockey even more reason to be excited. I’m not jumping ship. I believe it will be a Happy New Year in Blueland!
So everyone pledge their New Year’s resolution will be to stop playing the “moving franchise” card every time we lose. Pledge to stay behind the boys and trust that this might be the year that the giant elephant in the room leaves it’s inhabitancy at the Bulb!
Cleanse the negativity, enjoy your NY’sE, enjoy the Winter Classic, and trust the Thrashers will turn on the jets in 2010 and do something special!
Happy New Year everyone!
five_hole
December 31st, 2009
8:24 am
It’s hard to blame the defense, or even the goalie, IF YOU CAN’T SCORE! Sorry for yelling. I had to get that off my chest.
It was just a pathetic, anemic game we played. How is it that we have so many Olympians, yet we play so abysmally?
Is it lack of confidence in the goaltending? Is it Kovy’s contract distracting from the game? Or is it just Anderson’s system sucks. The only reason I don’t want Anderson fired now is that I’m afraid that Waddell will take over the bench again. He goes first, then Anderson. The sequence is important. First Waddell, then Anderson.
five_hole
December 31st, 2009
8:24 am
Oh, Happy New Year, everyone.
Bob
December 31st, 2009
8:30 am
All those lucky early season wins where we were outshot, yet still won the games dues to stellar goaltending, are coming back to bite us. these things even out over the long haul of the season.
2010 predictions: We’ll fight for the 8 spot all year but fall short. Kovy will be traded. Sara won’t come back and admit she was dead wrong. New ownership will take over the club under the agreement that they stay in Phillips and Waddell will finally be fired, Anderson along with him. Fall 2010 will mark the beginning of the Thrashers finally on the way to building something respectable.
J-man
December 31st, 2009
8:39 am
Russian is quite right in that Russian men do listen to their wives. But that sword cuts both ways. If Nicole wants out of Atlanta, then so does Ilya. I have never met either of them nor do I know anyone who has (except for a quick autograph), but based on some things I have read about Nicole, I suspect that she is letting Ilya make the decision. I think she is indifferent to staying here in Atlanta and neither hates it nor loves it. Unlike the Hossa situation where Hossa never responded to the offer he was given, Ilya and his agent have responded. It’s within the owner’s ability to make a deal happen. It’s just a question of whether they want to or not. I think they are playing a dangerous game of chicken and trying to get a hometown discount out of Ilya. I don’t see that happening.
Most of the teams in non-traditional markets get hit with relocation talk and nothing stops it. However, there is basically no way to make money on a hockey team if you don’t own the arena, so it makes little sense for someone to buy the Thrashers and keep them here and lose money on them. If you can find some billionaire who is civic minded and willing to lose money on the team, then let the Atlanta Spirit know who they are. I don’t see the Thrashers being sold for years, if ever.
Rockem Sockem Thrasher
December 31st, 2009
8:46 am
NYC – I think you’ve got a point. The losing streak has brought out the doom and gloom in all of us. I’d like to see the same team that started out the year.
I don’t understand why something hasn’t been done yet.
R. Stroz
December 31st, 2009
9:01 am
How is it that we have so many Olympians, yet we play so abysmally?
Because they don’t play as a team. If I were Anderson, and they performed again like they did last night, I’d take them out in full gear after the pathetic effort and make them skate until they realized who they represent and who cuts their paycheck. Right now, we have too many Olympians looking out for themselves and forward to February.
I say pull a Herb Brooks on them and let them know who the boss is, as is, the inmates are running the asylum.
NorthStarsDave
December 31st, 2009
9:05 am
NYC and Rockem Sockem….thank you…I am not the only one!!!
Dwayne
December 31st, 2009
9:24 am
Fire JA now, can not fire players first. Look at Philly, tied for 8th after being so bad early in the year. Hey wait a minute, we are still tied for 8th!!!! All is not lost. Where is Kari?? I repeat. Fire JA, Don can get behind the bench, and make everyone play “D”. Dudley can then make an intelligent decision on what yo do with Kovy. I didn’t see the game last night, thank goodness.
LAC
December 31st, 2009
9:34 am
This system anderson employs, does not play defense from what I can see.
It is too wide open and we are being burned game after game.
Now, I am sorry, but this zach b. STINKS to high heaven, there is NO defensman on the team worst than this guy. He is ALWAYS out of position, he NEVER hits anyone, always making mistakes that end up in OUR net, not their’s. I know he is young, but he has shown me NO ability to learn, change his game or get better, he is NOT going to be a
“franchise” player everyone thinks, time to dump him too, he is a complete waste…
The “On The Fly” guys had Darren Drager on, He says #17 will NOT resign here, it’s over and why would waddell be in Saskatoon ? He needs to be fixing the team, but then that simply shows what kind of person he really is, he could give a $hit about the team, he WANTS to destroy hockey in Atlanta. waddell if I catch you out I will WHIP YOUR A$$
you are a disgrace to the entire world of Hockey, all leagues and all ranks, you show us everything that is wrong with being involved
with the great game at any level. You need to be terminated at once,
and then at least the Thrashers will start to have a chance, and
I must say, you must $UCK at dealing with agents etc… You have NEVER
made it happen, Go away waddell for the sake & future of the team, you have killed us for years and we will NEVER win under a Career LOSER &
LIAR like you !
StateBird
December 31st, 2009
9:52 am
Too many people confuse logic with reality. Logic dictates that Atlanta is a market that the NHL would defend over lesser markets such as Nashville, Tampa and Raleigh. Logic also dictates that the Philips lease agreement (9 mil a year) will keep the team here through 2019. Unfortunately the reality is that the ASG, now the worst and perhaps the poorest ownership group in professional sports after the transfer of the Coyotes, will be forced to sell the team. Reality is that the NHL has spent their political and financial capital saving the Phoenix market. Despite best wishes there is nothing left in the tank to save Atlanta. Reality is that the lease agreement is chump change for a new ownership group to absorb in order to relocate the franchise.
This franchise and the Atlanta hockey market are faced with a number of Hobsons choices. Sign Kovy at max price and not be able to afford decent surrounding pieces or let him go and alienate the fan base. For fans should we support bad hockey at all costs to keep a franchise or boycott and see the franchise leave.
Dwayne
December 31st, 2009
10:16 am
I think the fan base has been declining for some time now. If Kovy leaves, hopefully by trade, and JA and his system is gone, Thrashers might win. Fans come back. Zach B. a bad player, I do not think so, its JA’s system, JA keeps telling the him to pinch, attack, attack, defense be damned, maybe Hainsey can cover an area usually covered by 2 d-men. haha. Why is Kubina a plus player? Because he tells JA to kiss his A$$, he is out of Atlanta after this year and he is playing his game to secure another good salary!!!! You don’t believe me?? I have a friend who works on escalators at the mall, and just happened to be fixing the one that Kubina and his agent was stranded on. Since the two of them could not figure out how to get off the escalator while it was being fixed, they had a lengthy conversation on the state of Thrasher hockey.
Hanson Brothers
December 31st, 2009
10:51 am
StateBird, I have to disagree with your remark that trading Kovy will alienate the fan base. There is no bigger Kovy fan than me. I bought his jersey the day after he was drafted and have worn it proudly to games ever since. Kovy is a great offensive player and I would be sad to see him go. But as a nine year STH, I think I have a pretty good grasp of the overall pulse of the fans, not just those who comment here. There is a strong core of hockey fans in Atlanta who, more than any one player, want to see a winning team. The core fans will come to games win or lose. The sometimes fans will come to games when the team is average, and you will have attendance that mirrors most of the games of late. The new and occasional fans will come when the team wins, no matter who is playings. The 5,000 fans that are needed to fill up the arena don’t know who Kovy is, or only heard his name and don’t know much about him. But when the team wins, they will come. To borrow a worn out phrase, if you build it (a winning team) they (fans) will come. Rebuilding a franchise by trading a superstar has worked for other teams in other sports, and while it could easily not work here, especially is Waddell is behind the trade, if it improves the team and makes for a better product on the ice, I could deal with losing Kovy, and I think most hockey fans could too.
Smoothie
December 31st, 2009
10:53 am
Last year this team struggled mightily early in the season due to erratic goaltending, players who did not buy into JA’s system (Perrin, EC, Williams, KOVY and Kozlov), and players who were either too young and inexperienced(Bogosian, Valabik, Pavelec) or too confident in themselves as veterans (Havelid & Schneider…perhaps Hainsey but he played well in the first couple of months IIRC).
This year, early on, the players seemed to be buying in to what JA was selling as a collective unti…not all the time mind you, but when the system broke down, the goalies bailed us out countless times. Now, through December, our goalies (especially Pavelec) have started to break-down and confidence is waning in our netminders as a result. But that isn’t the real problem. Certain players who were already struggling are really going through the motions due to a lack of commitment by a certain Kaptain Kotton Kandy. When is the last time Kovy hit someone? Can anyone remember? The team feeds off him. And when you’re the highest paid player, it really sucks the life out of a young team when the leader is not giving 100%. Remember when Kovy would start fights to defend his and the team’s honor? Hasn’t happened since Vancouver but that was more of a frustration-induced hissy fit. Where is the Kovy of last March??
As for who is buying in and who isn’t:
Buyers: Antropov, Kaner, Thorburn, Reasoner, Army (but for how much longer?), Kubina, Schubert (but he’s prone to knuckle-headed mistakes), Enstrom, Hedberg, Pavelec (but he’s had to face too many shots too often) and Peverley (starting to hit a wall since this is the most ice-time in a calendar year at this level he’s ever had)
In-betweeners: White, Little, Slater (all three had bad starts or reduced ice-time and it shook their confidence; now they aren’t bouncing back due to lack of leadership / commitment), Finny for awhile but he is just too spontaneous when things are going badly
Questionable: Hainsey (who is too soft for being an ‘A’), Bogosian (sophomore slump or too good too soon leading to overconfidence?), Kozlov (too often in conservation mode and won’t be aggressive enough to set the tone), Finny (I am wondering about his commitment to the system as he seems to get the same latitude Kovy does without the results…especially now) and lastly, KOVY!
I left off Salmela, Popovic, Valabik, Slater, Boulton and Lehtonen either because they haven’t played enough or it’s too hard to tell because they don’t play consistently enough. Well, with Boultsy we know he does what he’s expected of fairly well, but he has to let his knuckles heal before he can fight again…we don’t have enough toughness to round things out. Bogosian seems to have lost his edge, Thorburn knows he can’t get too crazy due to his responsibility as a PK’er and Slater tries to play with an edge, but it often seems wasted.
Send a message Waddell: send down White and Kozzie on waivers and see what happens. Worse case scenario is that somebody claims one of them, but c’mon, who? Perhaps a team that needs a QB on the PP, but we need grit and toughness (see Sobotka, Bitz and Wheeler) to compete. Machacek, Crabb and Grattan might just be the cure in the short-term.
R. Stroz
December 31st, 2009
11:27 am
100th