Matt McConnell is enjoying second tour of duty in Thrasherville
Matt McConnell…the Atlanta Thrashers’ original TV play-by-play man has, in his own words, quite the whirlwind journey in life so far…but his travels have brought him back to Thrasherville for his second tour of duty for the team and he’s loving every minute of it.
McConnell was born in Gary, Indiana and his father worked for a steel company…a job that would eventually move the family around quite a bit. He lived in Indiana for the first 12 years of his life and that’s where he became a fan of hockey…a big Chicago Blackhawks fan, he told me.
“I remember one night when I was about 4 or 5 years old”, McConnell recalled, “My dad turned on a Blackhawks’ game on WGN and I just kinda started watching it…and just really seemed to enjoy it”.
Then his dad came home with some tickets and he soon got his first taste of live hockey action. “That became something we did ten times a year”, Matt recalled. “We’d go to Blackhawks games… those Sunday night games. I grew up loving the game and following guys like Bobby Hull, Stan Makita and Tony Esposito. They were all my heroes”.
In 1975, just before Matt went into the seventh grade, his dad was transferred to northern Minnesota…a town called Virginia. “John Harrington, who played on the U.S. 1980 Olympic team was from that area”, McConnell remembers…and that’s where he began playing bantam hockey himself.
“Basically, I got my butt kicked”, he told me with a laugh. “And I realized it probably wasn’t going to be anything that was going to take me very far”.
In McConnell’s tenth grade year, his dad’s job took him to Pittsburgh where they lived between ’78 and ‘81…and naturally, he began to follow the Penguins.
Matt McConnell's whirlwind tour has him back in Atlanta calling Thrashers games on TV
After high school, McConnell was off to Michigan State where he got his first taste of broadcasting. “I started out as an accounting finance major but quickly telecommunications with an emphasis in economics. I also began working with the campus radio station…and they had a really good hockey team at the time, always went to the tournament. In my senior year they were upset by Provenance, which was a monumental upset…but they had some really good teams up there and that’s when I began broadcasting”.
After college he did some play-by-play work in the International Hockey League for a few years… “Making about $250 per week in Flint, Michigan in 1985”, he remembers. “The team almost folded mid-season, then went to Peoria for a couple of years. And then my big break came in 1993 when I got hired by the Ducks in Anaheim…so I was the first guy to do Ducks games”.
Given that he was there to see the startup of both the Ducks and Thrashers organizations, I asked him to discuss the similarities between the two.
“I think there are a lot of similarities…I think you always try to build through draft picks. But the fun part about starting up with a franchise is the buzz, you know…the initial buzz with everyone so excited about the team being there and they have the franchise in place. In Anaheim we won, I wanna say, nineteen road games and were in the playoff race the first year right until the final weekend when Winnipeg won a couple of games to take the final playoff spot. So that was a lot of fun”.
Continuing, he added, “I think when it’s an expansion team… everybody’s new, everybody’s kind of coming together as a family. We had a really good group out there…and I think Atlanta was the same in a lot of ways…you know, non-traditional hockey market, so I was used to how all of that unfolds”.
“There was an incredible buzz here those first few years [here in Atlanta]…and the team wasn’t very good back then. But now we’re fighting for a playoff spot”.
After about three years in Anaheim, McConnell returned to Pittsburgh where he did some TV work between 1996 and ‘99. “Working with the Penguins was fun…I got a chance to call games with Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr and Ron Francis”.
He then came to Atlanta for their inaugural season in 1999. After the 2002-’03 season, though, it was off to Minnesota for one year before returning to Atlanta. Once back, he did some freelance work for college sports television, doing college hockey, basketball and lacrosse.
He also hosted Thrashers Live for two seasons…2006-07 as well as 2007-08.
“It’s been a whirlwind, for sure…and I’ve truly been blessed to have worked for some very good people, “he said while nudging Darren Eliot to his right. “This guy is one of the handful of people who can really break down the game analytically and not just regurgitate replays”.
“It’s been a lot of fun and I hope it can continue for many more years”.
Regarding this current edition of the Thrashers and their chances of making the playoffs, McConnell told me he likes what he sees for the most part… but there is that issue of playing the full 60 minutes. Sure, they don’t get blown out of the barn, but the slow starts are somewhat of a concern.
“The fact of the matter is that we are in the middle of a playoff race. They are fun to watch…very talented. Ya know…you see flashes of what this team can be. They go into Philadelphia and get down 3-1, come back to win it. But I think since day one, it’s really been a matter of consistency…when are we gonna see a run of consistency over the course of a number of games? …I think that’s the next hurdle and I think that they’re really close”.
“We’re going to have this incredible spring in March with all of these home games…there is so much parity right now, it’s one or two games [separating several playoff contending teams]…so it’s exciting from that standpoint”.
“The thing that I’ve taken away from this team just being around them is that they don’t seem to let a lot of things bother them. I think the chemistry this year has been as good as I’ve seen. They seem to genuinely have a good time, they seem to genuinely want to play for one another. And I think with those attributes I’m pretty bullish that they’re gonna stick around and make a serious run for a playoff spot”.
Regarding his comments about things not bothering them…I asked if that was true during the recent drama surrounding the Kovalchuk trade situation as it unfolded.
“If it did bother them”, he responded, “Then they did a pretty good job of keeping it behind closed door. I thought John Anderson had a great quote when said that if Don and Jay had done a good job of keeping the negotiations in the board room and not letting it effect that team”.
When I asked Matt what were the best things about his job, he again directed my attention to the man he shares a broadcast booth with. “When I was down here for the first tour of duty, we lived closer together and so we would drive in together, carpool to the airport and we’d have long talks about the team and about the shows and I think that really helped us initially get to know each other”.
“But he’s as easy going as you’ll find…and I don’t know what it is, why we don’t always step on each other, but for some reason it just flows”.
“Besides working with Darren…who teaches me something new every day…what I like is just being around the game. Ya know, I found out in bantam hockey that I never had the ability to play professionally like these guys do, so I like being around the game and I have fun calling the games”.
Matt went on to add, “What else makes it fun is all of the stories. Not just from the present-day players but being around a group of guys [that date back over the past]. When I was working in Peoria, we had a game in Salt Lake and our coach was Rick Mohar, the All-American at B.U…and he told me, ‘Hey, I’m going out with a bunch of guys from the 1980 team that are in town’. He was a good friend with Mike Eruzione…and he asks me if I wanna go and I say ‘sure’. So we walk across the street to this hotel and there’s about eight or nine of them in this mini-reunion of the 1980 players. And as like to tell Darren, for the first time in my life I shut up for about two hours and just listened to the stories”.
To which Darren interjected…”I only wish I could have been there to enjoy it”.
McConnell also says he enjoys the travel that comes with his profession…getting to go to different cities and see different things. But overall, it’s the entire hockey experience that he enjoys…being around the game and the players that make and have made it what it is.
Of course, the big question for anyone so close to the Thrashers is…what will it take for the Thrashers to make the playoffs and what are their chances of doing so?
“For me, I’m going to keep my eye on special teams”, Matt said. “That’s going to be key. And we’ve talked a lot about secondary scoring and how the emergence of a guy like Jim Slater…which I think is a big deal. But I really think that they’ve got what it takes…but I think they would be in a much better position if they came out and started dictating play more, especially on home ice with all the home games coming up”.
Either way it unfolds, Matt McConnell will be there bringing us these all-important games the Thrashers will be in…and alongside him will be his partner Darren Eliot, who we’ll hear from later in the week.
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124 comments Add your comment
Jason
February 24th, 2010
2:24 pm
Listening to Matt McConnell makes me appreciate what we had in J.P. I’m sure Matt’s a nice guy, but I remember listening to the end of a game we won and he said, “…and THAT’S the Hockey Way!” I wanted to throw up when I heard it, so imagine my joy when they used the Atlanta broadcast for the highlights on On the Fly and what do I hear again? At least the anchor was nice enough to subtly make fun of it.
J.P was understated at times, but when there was something to get excited about, he REALLY got excited. He’d call the game on about a “4″ volume and turn it up to “8″ at the big moments, hit “9″ or graze “10″ when it was huge. McConnell just stays too excited the whole time. He rides along on “7″ the whole time, and then jacks it up to “11″ when the need is there for more excitement.
And on a different topic, they’re practically giving away tickets for the first two home games back. http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/8gqkg4?camefrom=NHLTHRASHERS_0910_E_022410STH
Dwayne
February 24th, 2010
2:51 pm
When I watch the Thrashers on TV, I just turn the sound OFF and turn the radio on to Larry Munson.
Dwayne
February 24th, 2010
2:55 pm
On trading Colby Armstrong, if everyone knows he will not resign with Atlanta, doesn’t that make him a rental?? In a way?? Trade him and a pick for Poni-ka-rovs-ski. Would Poni (whats his name) give us a better chance at a ployoff spot that Colby??
World Be Free
February 24th, 2010
2:59 pm
Trade Colby for Poni straight up.
The Leafs Nation has been talking about Colby for a long time.
That’s if he does not want to stay here.
Smoothie
February 24th, 2010
3:27 pm
With Colby being a UFA, I’m not so sure the Leafs want to risk not being able to re-sign him on July 1. If Army wants Canada, wouldn’t he prefer Western Canada? If the Leafs were a true buyer at the deadline, then I could see them drooling over Armstrong.
Personally, I think it makes more sense to parlay Finny and Army into picks and prospects at the deadline IF Toronto (Burke) tells Waddudley “you’ve got a deal for Poni as long as you can get us a 1st round pick or a high # 2 along with a prospect.” Rumors are that the price-tag is a 2nd rounder and a prospect. At least I think that’s what I recall reading on Spector’s site.
HookyBob
February 24th, 2010
3:50 pm
Good game,…eh?
Bob
February 24th, 2010
3:55 pm
Colby is exactly Burke’s kind of player. No way Colby re-signs here, so might as well move him.
HB, you watching the game? From the stats it looks like the U.S. are all over the Swiss and Hiller is probably keeping them in the game, no?
HookyBob
February 24th, 2010
3:57 pm
Bob,…..you called it spot on. Announcers just said it is eirily(sp) similar to the Canada-Swiss game in tourin.
Team US is killing a penalty.
World Be Free
February 24th, 2010
4:10 pm
You have to understand-The Leaf Nation thinks Tronna is heaven. All hockey players should want to play in Toronto for nothing. So yes, they would trade for him because it’s paradise.
Canada
February 24th, 2010
4:26 pm
0-0 after 2. Sucks to be dominating a team but not winning due to outstanding goaltending, doesn’t it?
HookyBob
February 24th, 2010
4:33 pm
0-0 end of 2.
Shots are 32+/8 in favor of US.
Crowd,…many wearing Crosby & Luongo jerseys, is decidedly for the Swiss,
Gotta tip my hat to the Swiss.
They took a lot of penalties last part of the 2nd. Methinks yesterday’s game is starting to wear on the older Swiss players. Now,..fear the monkey puck.
Go red, white and blue.
Tim
February 24th, 2010
5:08 pm
Bob, why would Burke trade for Armstrong when he could try and sign him for free this summer, especially if Army decide Toronto is the best spot for him?
Being a buyer is to get good player, that are on the last season with no chance of signing with the current team,to try and improve playoff chance. Toronto of course is not a buyer in this trade deadline. I don’t think Burke would even thinking about getting Armstrong for Poni just for the remaining of the season, when most likely he can trade Poni to another team that could give him long term asset.
Christy
February 24th, 2010
5:16 pm
THAT was a fun game. going into the Olympics I was looking forward to rooting for the Swiss just based on how they had done in Torino. I was sorry to see them go against the US so often.
Brendan
February 24th, 2010
5:38 pm
USA! USA!! USA!!! 2-0 is pretty hotly contested affair with the Swiss. And the Swiss played Canada pretty close, too. Actually, almost all of Switzerland’s games were tightly contested matchups.
Badger Bob
February 24th, 2010
6:11 pm
Tim, you are a voice of sanity in the Poni trade talks. You are absolutely right about TO and Army – if TO is selling, why would you buy one of the valued pending UFAs? And from the Thrashers standpoint, I think continuing the buyer/seller fence stradling they’ve been doing could actually work well – giving up UFAs only if you get back pieces that could help now but will definitely be around for 2 or more years (like Oduya, Bergfors, Cormier, Vishnevskiy).
LAC
February 24th, 2010
6:49 pm
Loved Al Ciraldo, remember those calls… ” Toe meets leather, long high short kick…”
Classic, that larry moosen is the WORST I EVER HEARD.
WBF, No I do not like Rick Jennrette’s delivery and those yells when Buffalo scores are SICK !
Worst is that color guy on Washington, he is horrific to say the VERY least. And Little Tripp Tracey in Carolina, well Tripp needs to return to kindergarden asap to improve what he is trying to say !
what the puck
February 24th, 2010
7:40 pm
Anyone know a link for a live video feed of the Russia vs. Canada game?
what the puck
February 24th, 2010
8:08 pm
http://www.sports-stream.travel2ohrid.com/channel3.html heres al ive feed for anyone who wants to watch the game.
Lee
February 24th, 2010
8:14 pm
If the thrashers make any deals before the deadline, who do ya’ll think will be traded first…not SHOULD….cause that’s easy….but will?
Smoothie
February 24th, 2010
8:18 pm
Wow, the Russians getting buzz-sawed!! If the Canadians keep this margin through 2 periods, does that mean NBC+CN switches to Czechs vs Finns? Hope Russia can at least make it interesting before falling short one goal…Ilya & Max are certainly used to that.
stendec
February 24th, 2010
8:40 pm
The 98 year old lady was in her bikini all set to step onto the ice in Vancouver, British Columbia! Thankfully her presence was not required. SIGH OF RELIEF! The USA was involved in a trap game. Thankfully the Americans escaped the trap to advance into the semifinals! Three monumental sequences. When the puck slid past the goal line a millionth of a second after the second period ended it had to be a bad omen. Swiss netminder lived a charm life for over two periods! American third period power play goal almost ensured the top seed would not lose 1-0 in an Olympic ending shutout defeat. Only puck which would elude Swiss goaltender! Americans caught major break when puck bounced off post then back out into play. Puck could just as easily slipped into net to deadlock score at 1-1 in final period! Empty net goal was just icing on cake. Proud of Americans! Guys did what they had to do. Absolutely love beatdown Canada is putting on overrated Russian bestards! Hope Ilya “Olympic As Well As NHL Bust” Kovalchoke and Alexander “Not So Great After All” O enjoy their flights stateside. NOT REALLY! Heartless scumballs. Hope Canada reaches double figures on damn Soviet slackers. Now 6-2 in second period! This one is over. Plenty of hockey remains tonight. Enjoy the show friends! ++STENDEC++
GaVaHokie
February 24th, 2010
8:49 pm
Interesting… so the Russians play horrible defense, turn the puck over a lot, and need to score a lot of goals to win… sounds familiar.
stendec
February 24th, 2010
9:01 pm
Canada 7 Russia 3 after two periods! I know the one remaining fan of Ilya “Another Giveaway” Kovalchoke in Atlanta is so proud. Russians have IK on power play. Thrasher fans KNOW that is a fatal mistake! ++STENDEC++ Then again. The heartless quitter cannot play defense and is not a team player. Maybe it is not such a mistake after all!
Rawhide
February 24th, 2010
9:12 pm
Just Da-YUM!
GaVaHokie
February 24th, 2010
9:38 pm
I think Ted Leonsis just crapped himself.
World Be Free
February 24th, 2010
10:02 pm
Wonder if Kovy wants to be traded to USA, since Brian Burke runs a first class organization?
World Be Free
February 24th, 2010
10:10 pm
LAC-that’s Craig Laughlin, the color commentator in Washington and I agree he is awful.
Caps play – by – play guy (Bignoti) is good.
The 2 guys in Florida are both bad-I wonder who the picked to tell Denis Potvin he was fired? Pots is alot better than either of the 2 current clowns.
Pete Weber in Nashvile is still the worst. I got into an argument with him on Buffalo radio about 20 years ago. I don’t normally call in on sports radio shows, but Weber was ragging on Mick Ramsey at the hieght of his career. I had to stick up for Rammer because idiot Weber was wrong.
I bought a pair of Ramsey’s old practice skates, so Mike and I are “bros”.
Somaatl95
February 25th, 2010
12:22 am
Poor Kubina. Hope he doesn’t let this follow him back to Atlanta. Sucks his helmet broke at the absolute worst time. And poor Russia, their #71 curse sure looked familiar! At least Finny got a good Goal in the game. I really hope Canada doesn’t advance to the finals… is that wrong?
Tom
February 25th, 2010
5:58 am
Who would have imagined this day in hockey…
Slovakia 4 – 3 Sweden
Finland 2 – 0 Czech Republic
Canada 7 – 3 Russia
Sweden and the Czechs knocked out in the quarters, and a blow out of epic proportions by Canada over Russia.
Let`s Start the Season
February 25th, 2010
6:20 am
So many of our bloggers are coming up with great ideas on trades for the stretch run. All well and good. The reason we were trading before the Olympic break was to dump salary. Yes, Kovy and Lettenemin were sent out to unload salary. That`s why, sad to say. any future deals between now and the trade deadline will be for that reason.
World Be Free
February 25th, 2010
7:51 am
USA is not the Dark Horse-Slovakia is
GaVaHokie
February 25th, 2010
8:14 am
LAC and WBF… Craig Laughlin is terrible… I feel like I’m listening to Liberace commentate the game.
World Be Free
February 25th, 2010
9:04 am
GaVa-the irony is that Joe Bignoti, Washington’s P-B-P man is good.
Bob
February 25th, 2010
9:16 am
All I know is it’s great to be watching some fantastic hockey. 3 more great games to go (couldn’t care less about the bronze unless we’re in it). Wouldn’t it be great if our boys can come out of this break and make a run of their own? Even though we have no prayer in the playoffs, it’d be awesome to make the run and get in.
Bob
February 25th, 2010
9:19 am
is it true that U.S.-Finland is going to be at 3pm EST on Friday?!?
World Be Free
February 25th, 2010
9:19 am
rob-here is your Mal Davis moment-
http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sports_ink/2010/02/this-day-in-buffalo-sports-history-mals-big-moment.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fbuffalonews%2Fsports_ink+%28Sports%2C+Ink%29
GaVaHokie
February 25th, 2010
9:34 am
Not sure if anyone else has noticed this, but I printed out the Olympic hockey TV schedule on NBC before the games even started. Feb. 11th to be exact.
The 3pm game on Friday says “Ryan Miller and U.S. men’s Hockey Team head into the semifinal round with a medal in sight.”
How did they know that?
da 'boomer
February 25th, 2010
10:06 am
How good would a combined Czech Republic/Slovokia be? BTW – screw you Ilya…it looks as if you do not play defense regadless of the jersey you are wearing.
R. Stroz
February 25th, 2010
10:45 am
Looks as if Milbury has caused a stir with comments about the Russians bringing their “Eurotrash” game last night.
http://olympics.fanhouse.com/2010/02/24/mike-milbury-cant-believe-russia-brought-its-eurotrash-game/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl1|link1|http%3A%2F%2Folympics.fanhouse.com%2F2010%2F02%2F24%2Fmike-milbury-cant-believe-russia-brought-its-eurotrash-game%2F
From my perspective, these are the points I took from that game:
1) Russian coaches need to revert back to emphasizing defense again. The Soviet Red Army team knew how to play defense. The forwards knew how to play defense. To use an analogy, the Russian hockey team and the USA basketball team from six years back forgot how to play a fundamentally solid game as they prefered “flashy ESPN style highlight moments.” As a result, both teams were humiliated.
2) Kovy’s next contract is dwindling in amount every shift. Either he’s hiding an injury or is playing not to get hurt. At this point, I’d guess his fair market value has fallen below 7.5 million per season.
3) Why did the Russians lose? Most of the KHL players were too slow, Nikulin included, and the NHL Russian forwards wouldn’t play defense.
Viking
February 25th, 2010
10:52 am
da’ Boomer, “the old Czechoslovakia” was a strong contender every year.
Fell asleep at the end of Finland – Czech Rep. game. Woke up halfway through Sweden -Slovakia. Still 0-0. A few minutes later the “fiveconsecutiveshotsresultinginfourgoals” ensued. (Slovakia had only 14 shots for the whole game, with 7 in the last two periods.)
Unbelievable. Especially since “King Henrik” was in the process of manufacturing an Olympic record of shutout play. I guess my fellow Swedes were not only playing Slovakia, but also the laws of statistics…
The high pressure applied by Team Sweden for the rest of the game did not result in more than 3 tallies, so my guys were sent home by Hossa, Gaborik, Chara & Co. No more sleep after that experience.
While I did considered Slovakia to be in the middle, it is incredible how tight it has become between the top and bottom hockey nations this year. Heck, even Norway did as good as Sweden against Slovakia! Does this mean that we might face a possible defeat against Norway in 4 years? Horrible thought. (Do not laugh on my expense, it can happen to USA too.)
Stendec had me beat in our quibble about Russia’s excellence. For the rest of the way I will root for any team except for Canada.
whitaker77
February 25th, 2010
11:31 am
I am part of the minority but I cannot stand Matt. There is just something about him that makes me think of a fool. I am sure he has a wealth of knowledge about the game, and he acts as if he cares about the game, but he is the reason why I watch the games on TV with MUTE on or change the channel in between periods. I am shocked to learn that he has been in the industry for over a decade he looks so uncomfortable in front of the camera. Not to also mention that there is NO chemistry between Matt and Darren. If you watch Darren’s facial reactions to Matt there is at least one moment were you can tell that Darren thinks that Matt just acted the fool (rolling his eyes, sidewise glances, having to step out of frame, and so on). Also if you listen during play you can hear the unease between the two. It is funny and sad at the same time, but most of all painful to hear and watch.
I believe that play-by-play and color commentator combos should be like comedy duos, one straight man and one funny man. The Thrashers have their “Straight man” in Darren, but they by no means have their “funny man” with Matt.
Right now I think the best combo is that of Drew Remenda and Randy Hahn, the announcers for the San Jose Sharks. They can play-off of each other very well, they balance each other, they know their hockey, they are not bias (when an opponent makes a great play they call it a great play), they have no problem calling the Sharks players out for a boneheaded play, and they make watching the game that much better.
That is my 2 cents…
Red Light
February 25th, 2010
11:31 am
Interesting that the two hottest goalies in the tournament will face off against one another Friday afternoon. Miller has a 1.25 GAA and .944 save %, while Kiprusoff has 1.33 GAA and .947 save %. Thinking about leaving work a bit early and heading to TJs for the 3 p.m. start.
I was thinking just how good Eric Staal would be for the Canes if he had a bit more offensive help in Carolina. Whitney and Jokinen are good players, but playing with Iggy and Crosby shows Staal’s true value. I like watching that guy play!
Nikita
February 25th, 2010
12:05 pm
I’m glad he likes his job, but I can’t say I like listening to him. The problem, for me, is that he lacks personality. Darren Ellioitt may occasionally sound like he’s insane, but we love to catch the Atlanta feed so we can hear him do his rather wacky thing. He knows the game, but he also brings a lot of personality and flair to it. Matt does not, though obviously he also knows the game.
I still like Kamal, too.
Nikita
February 25th, 2010
12:07 pm
Darren’s supposed to be the straight man? Really?
a) he doesn’t sound all that straight when he talks about Moose.
b) seriously, he has moments where he reminds me of the football commentator from South Park.
World Be Free
February 25th, 2010
12:19 pm
Stroz-remember my Kovy contract prediction when he was traded. I predicted Kovy would get .60/dollar on his new deal, compared to what the Thrashers offered him. Now .60 may be a bit low, but I am confident that he won’t get what Atlanta offered him.
World Be Free
February 25th, 2010
12:32 pm
Stroz-Milbury is such an idiot, he’s the Terry Bradshaw of hockey announcing. He’s a Don Cherry kinda guy; you know, an IQ of around 75 (Forrest Gump territory). Remember when Milbury went up in the stands in MSG back in ‘79? He got into a fight, ripped off a guy’s shoe and beat him with it. If he fought a woman, would he have hit the woman with her puse? Or his purse?
The Russians lost because Canada ran them out of the rink. The first 7 minutes were all about physical intimidation. Russia never recovered. Kovy spent all of his time along the boards, refusing to pay the price and go to the net. Givin’ it all for his country.
Whitaker-SAJ and LA both have good annoucing teams. LA has Miller and Fox who play very well off each other. Too bad they are on the left coast, up late at night.
Pittsburgh Pirate Fan
February 25th, 2010
12:56 pm
The joke of the league is located in Toronto, known as the Maple Leafs. The Leafs are near the bottom of the standings, they have no 1st round pick this year or next year and their farm team is last too.
Are we sure this is where Army wants to go? What fool would sign with the Leafs as a UFA?
whitaker77
February 25th, 2010
1:25 pm
Pittsburgh Pirate Fan: Give the buds a year or two and you will be eating your words. Brian Burke may at times seem to have or be making strange to bad moves, but in the long run they work out to be outstanding. Just look at Team USA, when the team was pick people thought he was crazy too young, too small, there was no way they would make the medal rounds, and Canada would slaughter them. Fast-foreward to today and I think the tune has changed.
I am sure that given a chance to either sign with the Thrashers or the Maple Leafs 99% of the players would say the leafs even if the Thrashers finish ahead of them, and part of the reason will be Brian.
I am tired of seeing SuperStar leave Atlanta, but I am more upset about the role players that leave. Most give lip service saying they want to be here, but when they leave and are asked about why they did not sign too often we hear “I want a multi-year contract and they only offered me 1 year.” or “I want 2 million a year and the highest they would go was a million.” You need stars on your team but even more important are the role players, think how bad our PK line would be with out Reasoner.
We cannot keep the Hossa’s, Ilya’s, and Kaberle’s (soon maybe not the Kane’s, Little’s, or Bogo’s) of the league; and we have trouble keeping the Sim’s, Recchi’s, Bélanger’s, and so on.
What does that leave us? a team made up of our most recent draft picks (only if they are first rounds), players in their twilight, players no team want [to take a chance on],and 4th liners.
We have all said it the front office needs to wake up, the cluster phuc of an ownership needs to get their heads straight. If they want to sell the team then SELL IT ALREADY!!! If the NHL is determine to keep the team here in Atlanta (Which I think they are) then I say sell it, not too many owners could run this team any worst than it has been.
Just my brain-farts…
Smoothie
February 25th, 2010
1:53 pm
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/hockey/stars/stories/022510dnsporibeiroitem.14e50d377.html
Ron Hainsey for Mike Ribeiro? Now that would be a coup!!
Isn’t it just a little early to give up on Mike Ribeiro? Hell, they’ve got Kari Lehtonen now…who needs good d-men!!?
Pittsburgh Pirate Fan
February 25th, 2010
1:59 pm
whitaker-I think what is going to get Burke is the “win now” attitude in Toronto. These fans are so starved for a winner. They won’t wait for Burke to reload. You have to build a winner from the draft. Burke has sold out the next 2 years at least trying to win now.
The Leaf Nation will get tired of Ron Wilson soon, he’ll be gone and they will have to start all over again. This isn’t Wilson’s fault, but he’ll take the fall. I have been watching this pattern for 40 years, sitting in the balcony in Buffalo. Love it when Punch Imlach used the Sabres to exact his revenge on Toronto.