Archive for February, 2010

During his intermission interview during last Friday’s game in Washington, newly acquired forward Niclas Bergfors was asked his thoughts about being traded the day before from the New Jersey Devils to the Thrashers.

Bergfors, celebrating his first goal for Atlanta, has 8 SOG and is a +1 in his two games since the trade (AP Photo/John Amis)

Incorporated in his response was the phrase, “It is what it is”.

To be honest… Johnny Oduya, who also came to the Thrashers in the deal that sent Ilya Kovalchuk to New Jersey, as well appeared less-than-thrilled with the transaction. Oduya and Bergfors both looked like soldiers who had just been re-assigned from a base in Key West, Florida to somewhere in Siberia. Oh, they were polite and all…gave the customary “Want to help my new team succeed” kinda responses…but there wasn’t a whole heckuva lot of joy plastered across their faces in doing so.

Yesterday during a brief interview on NHL Live, heard on XM’s Home Ice …

Continue reading Bergfors and Oduya coping with ‘it is what it is’ situation »

For those of you who have been regulars around here since I’ve been hosting this little online forum for the past three seasons, you know I’ve not been shy about dipping the pen in poison ink before opining about the Thrashers general manager on occasions. But tonight, I happily write about something I totally and completely agree with Don Waddell about…and that is his statement recently about how this team needs a new identity. As he said, the roster for the longest time had been constructed around him.

But with Kovy’s departure, the organization is in a bit of an identity crisis…and I think Don was correct in pointing it out.

For too long, whatever identity the Thrashers might have had was based on icing a team that formed from the idea of winning 4-3 and 5-4 games almost every night. As we have seen over the past several seasons…that simply does not work. If you have to rely on 4 or 5 goals every night, you aren’t going to win more games than you lose.

Given …

Continue reading Don Waddell is right about the Thrashers needing new identity »

Thrashers fans have had a rough week, (duh1).

It started with the 4-3 loss in Nashville last Saturday night…continued with a lack-luster performance Tuesday during a 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay…then came the news that general manager Don Waddell had informed Ilya Kovalchuk he’s going to be traded…the promised trade Thursday and we saw yet another star player depart Thrasherville…all of that was then followed by Friday’s 5-2 loss in Washington to the Capitals, the Thrashers third straight defeat and fifth in the last seven.

So it’s understandable that Thrashers fans might just be in a cranky mood as they enter into Philips Arena for the first home game post-Kovalchuk.

And Waddell won’t have to wait for Saturday night’s  game to begin gauging the mood of his paying customers. Nope…he’s extended an invite to season ticket holders to attend a town hall meeting an hour prior to face off. And I’m sure there are some who are just chompin’ at the bit to tell Don …

Continue reading Waddell could face a cranky crowd Saturday night »

So, the Kovalchuk era in Thrasherville officially ended last night. However, the sun still came up this morning. Well, at least I’m assuming so…it’s so rainy and cloudy out there today I can’t say that I’ve actually been able to eye-ball confirm that rumor.

Anyway…as widely speculated, Don Waddell and the Atlanta Thrashers dealt away Ilya Kovalchuk… their team captain, leading scorer, centerpiece and face of the franchise. Heading to New Jersey with him is young defenseman Anssi Salmela, who is actually returning to the Devils after coming here in the Nic Havelid trade a year ago.

Say good-bye to Kovalchuk and his potential 90-100 points per season (AP photo)

In return for the pair, the Thrashers gain defenseman Johnny Oduya, forward Nicklas Bergfors, prospect center Patrice Cormier and the Devils first round draft pick this summer.

Let me start off with the two things I actually like about the transaction…first, there is the Oduya part of the transaction. If …

Continue reading The morning after in Thrasherville »

OK kids…while we sit around waiting for the news to break about who Ilya Kovalchuk will be traded to and which player(s) may be heading our way, here is a couple of question to ponder. First, given the news yesterday that Don Waddell informed Kovalchuk that he’d be working out a trade in the coming days, what happens if such a deal is not finalized by Friday night when the Thrashers play in D.C.? Certainly you can’t suit him up to play knowing his future is not with this team…right? Does John Anderson sits him and dresses Kozlov?

I’ll be curious to see if he’s at practice Thursday morning…or even make the flight to Washington.

If so…awkard!

I think there can be a logical argument made to sit him now that he’s been informed of the pending trade.

And next…and this is really the main topic of the day…once Ilya Kovalchuk departs and and Thrasherville enters into the A.K. era, (After Kovalchuk), who do you think should don the ‘C’ in Thrasherville?

Continue reading Who should wear the ‘C’ in Thrasherville A.K.? »

By now I’m sure all of you have heard or read what 680 The Fan’s John Kincade had to say regarding Ilya Kovalchuk and his eminent departure of Thrasherville. He’s as good as gone, says the co-host of the Buck and KincadeShowwhich is heard on the team’s flagship station during the drive home.

Yesterday I discussed this with John and he told me, “I can’t reveal the sources, but have confirmed it from both sides of the story”. Continuing he said, “I am 100% certain Ilya Kovalchuk will be leaving the Thrashers…I think he will be moved before the Olympic break with almost the same certainty”.

In a nutshell, Kincade is stating that Don Waddell and the Thrashers have offered the pending free agent, “The largest contract ever to an unrestricted free agent and that he turned it down”.

The number I’ve heard kicked around is a long-term deal that would pay him about $10 million per season.

Ilya Kovalchuk may soon be shaking hands good-bye with his Thrashers …

Continue reading Ilya has left the building »