New coach should not require on the job training
That tremor you felt in the late morning was a major management shakeup that rippled through Thrasherville. It moved certain front office members from one position to another…and left in its wake several casualties.
Anderson…out.
Cunneyworth…out.
Nelson and Weeks…out and out.
A general manager other than Don Waddell will hire the new coach, however, as he will relinquish his general manager’s duties to Dudley. Waddell will take on the role of team president…something that has been speculated for a while now.
What do you think of the Thrashers parting ways with Anderson?
- Agree with it: He failed to do the job (72%, 144 Votes)
- Disagree with it: He was not to blame (28%, 55 Votes)
Total Voters: 199
Loading ...In essence, the Thrashers “Rich McKay-ed” Waddell.
My thoughts on that…well, I would have rather had a clean break with Waddell altogether. But I will take this over the status quo. I think his 12 years on the job has been, well, just look at the record…308 wins in 820 regular season games and no wins in just four playoff games.
The other side of that coin is that many see Waddell as a very good PR person, generous with his time to fans and makes himself available to the press for grilling. I hope these qualities will serve him and the team well in his new post.
Could this new arrangement work? Well…if Don allows Rick to do his job without a lot of interference, maybe…just maybe it could.
Of the coach firings, I will say I wasn’t expecting to see the whole crew was sent packing. I personally would have given Anderson into next season to “right the ship”. However, Anderson and Co. inherited a team that finished with 34 wins two years ago and coached them to two 35-win seasons. That’s not the kind of progress that will keep a coach around the NHL for too long…so it should not really come as a big shock.
Regardless, Dudley and Waddell now begin their search for a new coaching staff. Exactly who…well, I haven’t gotten wind of any particular person of interest but I do have one request for Don and Rick.
Please make hire someone that has a decent amount of coaching experience already.
What do you think of the Waddell/Dudley moves?
- Good way to make a change (40%, 76 Votes)
- Waddell should have been let go (59%, 114 Votes)
- Liked it the way it was (1%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 192
Loading ...Of the three previous coaches this team has had, two have entered into the job as head coach here with no previous experience as an NHL bench boss and both were fired taking with them losing records. The one that came here with some experience…Bob Hartley…led the team to better records each year here and coached them to a Southeast Division championship.
In short, I simply do not think that this organization can afford another coach that requires “on the job training” at this level.
Of course, the question is then…who exactly is out there that would fill the bill?
Well, there is Craig MacTavish who has had a year off since leaving Edmonton. I would suspect that over the next day or so Calgary will release Brent Sutter. Not advocating or dismissing either…but those are just a couple and I’m sure you have some suggestions of your own as well.
Oh yeah, and one other thing…while we’re at it, can we make sure there is a true goalie coach on the new staff?
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178 comments Add your comment
Rawhide
April 14th, 2010
4:25 pm
Rick Dudley on XM radio’s NHL Power Play
On why they fired the coaching staff, he said they thought team was good enough to make playoffs…expectations not met so they needed to make a change.
About the future…he thinks we are in better position than the situations in Tampa or Chicago. “Most players we like a lot”, but have some decisions to make with FAs.
Likes defense a lot “especially if we can re-sign Kubina”.
On home attendance…“Have to give the fans something to come out for”. Chatted about the situations in Chicago and Buffalo where they were drawing crowds of “8,000 a game” but put an exiting product on the ice and now they are sold out.
Timeline about coaching hair…said that many people they want to talk to are still involved with the playoffs, both NHL and AHL. Looking for a coach that can “teach” the game and has more than one game plan coming in. If plan “A” wasn’t working, then plan “B” was at the ready.
GaVaHokie
April 14th, 2010
4:29 pm
I think it’s looking pretty obvious that Dudley likes John Torchetti… they’ve got a lot of teams in common… Tampa, Florida and Chicago.
http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=47157
It’s the only thing that makes sense from a “currently still involved in the playoffs” perspective.
World Be Free
April 14th, 2010
4:29 pm
Bill-remember Dudley has been both a coach AND a GM in the NHL. He knows what it takes to be behind the bench at this level. Can’t understand why so many people are still focusing on Waddell. People wanted change and we have it, it’s just EVRYTHING they wanted.
It’s history folks-glad you are not all Bills’ fans, you’d be insane by the 3rd Super Bowl loss!
goose
April 14th, 2010
4:36 pm
If you read the blogs/comment sections of sites such as espn tsn etc Everybody seems to think we were idiots for firing Anderson and giving Waddell promotion
World Be Free
April 14th, 2010
4:39 pm
goose-they have 10 years worth of material to judge us by
Zoomo
April 14th, 2010
4:42 pm
Rick Dudley is one of the top ten talent evaluators in the NHL. It’s clear that this past year he was responsible for type of players that were obtained for Lehtonen and Kovy, and that the plan going forward is to have a 7 or 8 man nucleus of young players to build upon. Think about it Bogo, Kane, Enstrom, Kulda, Vishnevsky, Cormier, Bergfors, and Dudley will select the right type of veteren pieces to go along with that bunch.
We’ve been knocking Waddell’s moves for years. There’s no way he continues to make the personnel decisons. Dudley would not have taken the job if that was the case. Dudley knows too much about player personnel not to have that control. Ever read about Dudley’s travels and schedule. The guys sees well over 200 junior, college, and international games a year. The guy IS a personnel guy.
My only question is who takes on the super-scout role since Dudley will clearly not have time for that role now.
I think Don’s management of the franchise from a profit/budget/cap perspective, and his knowledge of the NHL workings, and the owners lack thereof, are what kept Don around.
I happy with this. I would venture a guess that we are looking at 2 years and we will be a very good team. It won’t take Dudley 4 or 5 years. With the right preices we could be in the mix next year.
GaVaHokie
April 14th, 2010
4:48 pm
Every team that Dudley has taken over has improved in points the very next year.
Badger Bob
April 14th, 2010
4:51 pm
goose, I have been reading (and posting on) those sites, too. I think most of those posters know nothing about the situation here, as the main gist is “JA didn’t have any talent to work with once Kovy left” (false). A sampling from the TSN (primarily Canadian) posts also includes someone calling our trade for Kubina bad (hmmm…) and signing Antro as a mistake (yep, the same guy who led us in points and +/-). It was a good move, period. As was moving DW out of hockey operations. It’s a happy day, and don’t let the anti-Southerners ruin it for you!
Badger Bob
April 14th, 2010
4:53 pm
“and the owners lack thereof” – Exactly, Zoomo!
Schroeder
April 14th, 2010
4:55 pm
Ok, I said I was going to the golf course,but I felt a disturbance in the force!!! No more AHL system,and D-Wads pushed upstairs to work on new designs for the 3rd jersey and the possibility of a true goalie coach,Dudley in charge of player decisions (to a degree)? Holy crap on a cracker!!!!!!! This is better than shooting 65 on a windy day.Please tell me this is not a late April fools joke, I think that light at the end of the tunnel is not a Greyhound bus afterall. Call me a sheep Sage but even you have to admit that any change is better than no change. THIS IS GREAT NEWS! Rawhide,I can’t advocate Hartley either,can hardly understand a word he says,but numbers don’t lie.All I’m sayin’.
World Be Free
April 14th, 2010
4:57 pm
“On home attendance…“Have to give the fans something to come out for”. Chatted about the situations in Chicago and Buffalo where they were drawing crowds of “8,000 a game” but put an exiting product on the ice and now they are sold out.”
Now there’s a very frank statement of what Dudley feels of the product we have been saddled with the recently; a product assembled by his boss.
So much for Duds being shy about saying what he feels.
glovesave29
April 14th, 2010
4:58 pm
Hopefully Dudley will realize the Wolves situation will need to be corrected. They are not a true “development” team. Take a cue from Carolina, who just moved their AHL team closer to home in Charlotte. Move the ECHL Gladiators to the AHL, and have your top farm club 2 miles down the street from the practice facility. Let them practice against the big boys, move up to the NHL (or back down) while keeping their same apartment. Makes for a smoother transition.
The kind of player we are likely to attract via FA is one who prefers to be outside the “traditional hockey markets”. One who enjoys being anonymous off the ice. Having a laid back coach like JA wont work with that kind of player. That is why a taskmaster like Harley worked here. Id have no problem at all bringing him back.
Stop ticking off the fan base. Do whatever it takes to get bums in the seats. Everybody who is not a hockey fan has had a field day today with amazingly witty remarks like “we have a hockey team?”. Ha Ha. Yuk Yuk. They admit to never having been to a game. Those here know if you go to a game, you are hooked. So reach out to those future fans. Get them into the building at any cost…once. I can assure you that many will come back for more and more. Go down to the students at Tech and State and start passing out tickets. Half price beer with student ID. Pack the building and make it fun again.
Time to reach out to the Flames fans. Have the alumni come into town…maybe split them up and play an old timers game after a Thrash game. Heck, while you are at it, do the same for the Knights. Celebrate the history of hockey in Atlanta. Celebrate the Pee Wee team that just won the National Championship. Reach out to us that play in the AAHL.
Change the entire feel of the team…a la Thomas Dimtroff with the Falcons and John Schuerholz did with the Braves. Accept success and NOTHING ELSE.
Smoothie
April 14th, 2010
5:01 pm
World – no doubt! If I can survive being a Bills’ fan, I can handle this! Of course, it would be just as hard being a Bills fan right now as they haven’t made the playoffs since ‘99 and the MCM right? Or did they qualify once and get bounced in the Wild Card?
R. Stroz
April 14th, 2010
5:02 pm
I have a question for Joe Friday, Brendan, and Tom (Capital T Tom) and those of the “I’m not renewing/reupping my tickets until Waddell isn’t the GM.”
Are you going to renew your season tickets? I believe I already know Joe Bob Friday’s response.
BTW, Joe Friday, do you mind the “Joe Bob Friday” name as it serves several purposes:
1) It recognizes the facts, just the facts
2) It recognizes your father’s inspiration for your love of hockey
3) It sounds REAL SOUTHERN.
LAC
April 14th, 2010
5:03 pm
Nothing has changed, waddell is STILL in charge and his STINCH will continue to poison the team for years to come until they move. Then waddell WILL be canned and we cannot enjoy it !
But Wondered WHY Weeks was around as long as he was… I agree Moose for Goalie Coach,
That would be a GOOD move. Coach not sure, we will see.
We need more scoring, TOP quailty scorers, not retreads like todd white… Who BTW needs to be bought OUT ASAP and let go. Is the NJ pick worth a solid player in trade or keep it ?
Several mock drafts on the NHL site suggest we use it to pick a goalie who plays for Seattle in the WHL… Good, Big, Solid… We shall see.
But don waddell still has to GO, he’s still employed with Atlanta Thrashers and They will never get one thin dime of mine until that stinking liar is Gone for GOOD !
Atlanta Thrashers, The ONLY place you accend to the top being a complete FAILURE !!!!
Gee Whiz !!
EA
April 14th, 2010
5:06 pm
The patience of the fans perhaps caused JA an early exit. Dudley inspires confidence in this team. He said that most, if not all, of the UFAs want to be here. That itself is a positive change. DW can have his job upstairs. He does have a lot of connections within the NHL.
Savannah Blueland Fan
April 14th, 2010
5:09 pm
Yeah, R. Stroz. I remember when Joe Friday said his prior name was in honor of his father. I was kinda touched by that.
Smoothie
April 14th, 2010
5:09 pm
Amen brother! Our target demo for next year to fill the upper deck should be college and grad school students at Tech, GSU and even the traditionally black schools. Show the young kids who may not know — or even if they do know — that they are committed to building a fan base from the ground up. Have more kids’ nights in which a local travel team is given comp seats along with their parents and families who sacrifice immensely for their kids to play hockey. Let parents bring their kids for half-price and for God’s sake, cut concession prices! The food is mostly crap and they charge $7 for a large hot dog!!? You’ve got to be kidding. Arthur Blank made changes to concessions and tkt prices to get people out to the games before raising prices again after the team improved. Time for the ASG to do the same, but they’ve got to do even better than that since you have 41 home dates in which to put butts in the seats. Try HARDER ASG!! The potential is there; you just need to wise up and start tapping into what’s right under your nose.
Red Light
April 14th, 2010
5:10 pm
Now, here’s a switch, LAC is using “we” in his commentary.
Smoothie
April 14th, 2010
5:12 pm
While I don’t have a prediction for who our next HC will be, I will predict that Todd White will be bought out before it’s all said and done. If my math is right, I think it would only cost them roughly $600 K, which would free up $1.8 under the Cap. Todd White is certainly not the type of player Rick Dudley goes after in drafts / FA.
glovesave29
April 14th, 2010
5:12 pm
Why is everyone so sure that Moose would be a good goalie coach? Gretzky coached the Yotes, and they were not an offensive powerhouse. The best goalie coach in the league never played professionally…Francoise Allaire. Ted Williams and Babe Ruth were terrible managers. You just never know.
As for DW upstairs. I am OK with it. He’s completely out of hockey ops and is now just a suit on the business end. We may have people vying to take our franchise in the coming years. That he is here and has roots might (gulp – I cannot believe I am typing this) be to our advantage.
Red Light
April 14th, 2010
5:15 pm
Just having a bit of fun LAC.
Smoothie: Arthur Blank did it for one year, and then upped prices immediately. BTW, Blank never cut any prices in the Club Level, far from it. Increased it every year by 5 percent.
But, I agree that the fan base lost over the past 10 years, needs to be replaced by a wider demographic base, particularly on days that historically don’t draw like Mon-Wed. In the sales dept’s defense, there hasn’t been much of a product to sell.
Barry
April 14th, 2010
5:24 pm
Your title to your blog Ben says it all. Thrashers need an NHL head coach that will know how to come in here, setup a system, and get this team to play consistently throughout the year. Many times Anderson seemed to be out coached. There were games where the team just looked completely lost out there on the ice and didn’t have a clue what to do or how to win, especially when they played the Bruins. Personally, I think Anderson should have started off as an assistant coach and see how things needed to be done at the NHL level. He needed to see first hand what it takes to get a team prepared for NHL games before he tried to do it himself with no experience to fall back on at that NHL level.
Smoothie
April 14th, 2010
5:30 pm
Red Light – that’s the point. The only way to grow a new sport that isn’t a traditional entertainment option in a southern market is to grow it from the ground up. The fact that a pee-wee travel team from Alpharetta can win a “national” title speaks to the potential of hockey in the south. You gotta go after the kids. I bet if you surveyed most of the folks on this blog that they would tell you they were hooked on hockey at a grade school age. I was. And I didn’t even play hockey…well, I played some street hockey. I loved basketball, football and baseball, but I grew up loving hockey. And apparently I loved it the best because here I am 36 y/o spending way too much time on an internet blog discussing a hockey team that ostensibly very few people give a damn about!! Hook ‘em while they’re young!! Even if you lose a little money doing it! It will come back around ten-fold!
Schroeder
April 14th, 2010
5:40 pm
You guys are SPOT ON. My dad worked for Lockheed and got free tickets to a Flames game and took me when I was 16.One game is all it took,I’m now a lifer and I was born in Marietta and grew up in Smyrna,never lived a day North of Cobb county. I am living proof that if you go after the right demographics,Young people, college kids,grow the market,it will explode here if you put the right product on the ice!!!
chris16
April 14th, 2010
5:53 pm
We better not hire a coach from the southeast teams they all suck. I like bob he was the best.
Joe Bob Friday
April 14th, 2010
6:18 pm
“People wanted change and we have it, it’s just EVRYTHING they wanted.”
No we don’t, Lloyd. It’s exactly as I suspected, the titles have changed but the status quo remains in place, it’s still Waddell in charge.
Stroz, nope. Joe Bob Friday just heard it from the horse’s mouth that Waddell still remains in charge and the associate/now GM and the GM/now the President status quo remains in place. Fool me once, shame on me . . .
“Joe Friday – Agreed. This first, big decision will set the tone of his tenure as GM.”
Unfortunately Rawhide, Dudley just admitted that this isn’t his decision, it’s the same status quo as yesterday when Don was GM and Dudley associate. Nothing has changed but the nameplates. As Hokie heard Dudley admit on 680, I heard Dudley admit the same thing on HNIC on Sirius:
Guys, hate to burst your bubble but it’s exactly as I suspected. I just heard it out of Dudley’s own mouth on HNIC on Sirius when Jeff Marek asked him “what about the new coach” At the end of the interview. Dudley replied “between Donnie and I we have given about 100 interviews today and we haven’t had time. Tomorrow morning Don and I will sit down…” and then he stopped in mid sentence as I think he realized he was giving up the fact that Don is still in charge on the hockey decisions and he went on to say about how “we’re going to look hard and there’s no hurry etc”
there you have it guys, this isn’t a McKay, this is a PR move to make it look to some like DW isn’t still in charge, but Dudley just admitted he is and is starting tomorrow they both are sitting down to together begin to choose our next coach, so status quo with waddell in charge, fellas
Red Light
April 14th, 2010
6:23 pm
OK, then let me take a shot at playing Devil’s advocate.
Dudley was handed the reigns because as Waddell said, he started tending to other business matters (whatever). So, Dudley acquires Kubina, signs Antropov, deals Salmela and Kovalchuk, swaps second-round picks, picks up Oduya, Bergfors, Cormier and another 1st rounder, acquires C. MacArthur for a 3rd- and 4th rounder, and now is faced with completing a roster with 10 UFAs, 4 RFAs and the reputation of a team that can’t hold on to its top guys, fortified by Kovy’s departure, AND, this latest chapter was under or partially under Rick Dudley’s watch. Also under Dudley’s watch and all these little machinations during the past year was an improvement of seven points in the standings and yet another failed playoff run, which now falls primarily on the slumped shoulders of scapegoat John Anderson, who didn’t know how to coach, according to a former instrumental player with the franchise, Slava Kozlov.
Now, Waddell was given a pass by some because of Atlanta Spirit LLC’s lack of money, lack of resources dedicated to hockey, bad luck and bad breaks off the ice, and a suggested lack of personnel acumen, which really wasn’t his fault because he’s a good PR guy and is great with the fans because he says hello occasionally..
So, because Dudley is handed the keys to the jalopy, one that maybe still has too low of a budget for maintenance, and even though the backseat driver was asked to get in the motorcade’s lead car, that we should pay to watch Dudley drive the car because you’re offering me a “deal” or because we play good music that will appeal to the younger generation during stoppages in play?
And, as long as I’m playing Devil’s Advocate, that frankly doesn’t sound like much of a sales strategy or grass roots effort to me!
Knowing what I do know about Dudley, I think he is bright, has a good road map for what he wants to do and I believe wholeheartedly that he will continue to improve the roster and the coaching staff. I do think it wise to remember that if he is not provided the ample resources to do his job, like the Waddell apologists suggest, then being the GM of this franchise is a thankless position that can only be improved by an infusion of additional capital. If all other contenders spend $56 million, and Dudley is forced to limit his expenditures by $8-$1
Supes
April 14th, 2010
6:23 pm
OMG, what’s it gonna take to get that inept TEFLON DON out of TOWN! Just unreal…if I performed so poorly at my job 10 years (with one exception) in a row I’d be LONG gone, yet Don manages to get a “promotion” and like some have said I suspect he will METTLE and still be in charge behind the scenes.
FIRE DON!!!
Freaking ASG…
R. Stroz
April 14th, 2010
7:14 pm
OMG, what’s it gonna take to get that inept TEFLON DON out of TOWN!
William Tecumseh Sherman
Red Light
April 14th, 2010
7:19 pm
Another beauty by R Stroz!
74 Dawg
April 14th, 2010
7:46 pm
R Stroz,if Waddell had been Sherman’s Chief of staff, He would have traded away all of his Cuban cigars and talked him into marching around the city. To all you hardcore Thrash fans,congrats,the team at least has a shot now,maybe,which it didn’t before. I’m still in mourning over losing the Flames. Is Cliff Fletcher still alive? He would be better as Team President either way.
ThrashDawg
April 14th, 2010
7:54 pm
Do you really think Dudley would accept the job of GM only to have DW play him like a puppet? I think you are selling Dudley way short if you think he would take the job under those circumstances. Remember this is not his first rodeo! Do you think that Dimitroff makes all the decisions without running it by McKay first? Do you think McKay would veto Dimitroff’s decision in light of the fact Blank put Dimitroff in charge of personnel decisions? I just don’t see DW standing in the way of Dudley, nor do I see Dudley allowing it to happen. Just my two cents that Dudley is his own man.
ex-STH
April 14th, 2010
8:02 pm
Right on, Zoomo!! I think Duds is excellent at player personel! I like the nasty (take no $hit) look of the assistant coach with today’s Blackhawks. Bring him on Duds!! I would not mind Hartley back here. Kovy was labeled a “coach killer” when Harts was let go.
Harry Sinden
April 14th, 2010
8:10 pm
Don Waddell still has the purse strings— Thrashers got the rep of a low paying organization. Not going to attract any high caliber talent on the roster or behind the bench.
Sage of Bluesland
April 14th, 2010
8:50 pm
Laughing at those who just want to bewieve so BADLY!!!! It’s really pretty funny to see the Waddell-like thought processes…
Not a single penny of my money goes to an organization which continues to employ that lisping, blustering, fraud Don Waddell.
When will some of you learn? Ever?
We’ll see how long it takes before this mess is uncovered and the blame-game gets thrown around in the papers…at least some are waking up to reality a little quicker these days–and dropping their delusion a little bit…
World Be Free
April 14th, 2010
9:04 pm
I have read several posts here and I have to say I am disappointed. Here are my final thoughts on the matter.
Rick Dudley would not accept this position or any other GENERAL MANAGER’s position if he felt he was going to be micromanaged by anyone. He has a proven track record that supports the fact that he doesn’t have to be nurtured; he’s not an understudy. He was hired to make the hockey decisions and that’s what he will do. We have been waiting for 10 years for a general manager of this quality and all some of you can do is offer a golden shower to the event.
This is the guy we have been waiting for folks, so forget the fact Waddell is still around. Will Dudley consult Waddell? Yes, because Waddell is his boss! As long as the final decision if Dudley’s, I think it’s a great move.
Hockey Biltong
April 14th, 2010
9:14 pm
Keep it coming Thrashers. Bring on a real coach and put some dynamite in the locker room.
WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO>
Joe Bob Friday
April 14th, 2010
9:22 pm
“He was hired to make the hockey decisions and that’s what he will do.”
Lloyd B, go listen to an archive of the HNIC interview with Dudley this afternoon, the part at the end where Marek asks him about hiring the new coach. Dudley flat out said that he and Waddell were busy all day and that first thing in the a.m. he was going into Don to start to figure out who the new coach will be–and the key is where Dudley cuts himself off in mid-sentence which means he KNOWS this is an attempted snow job, and then rephrases it to say “we will be doing. . . .”
I would love to believe that things have truly changed and Dudley will be in charge of the hockey decisions now, but that’s straight from your man’s mouth. He still is Don’s asst. And Waddell is a well known control guy who wants to make all the final decisions. Dudley is a good friend of his, he’s not “eating crow” or something by taking this change of titles to appease the naive fans that real change has been made, this was the deal all along with him, I’m sure and I’m sure that Dudley is happy to work under this guise for his buddy.
Things improved with personnel decisions since Dudley has been here, that has been a plus, but nothing further changed today, we’re still in the same boat with Waddell in charge and Dudley his subordinate. That isn’t the true change that this club needed, and the most important impending decision is going to be made by Don, with Dudley’s input, which is the same status quo we’ve had for what, a year now (when did Dudley come in)?
Archie
April 14th, 2010
9:32 pm
Where did this word “promotion” come from? Looking at this whole situation, I don’t think that word applies to Don Waddell here. He has half the job responsibility he had yesterday, the owners took his job description and gave half of it to someone else and let him keep the other half. Just because you take the word “vice” out of “vice president” doesn’t mean you promote the man, if you take away half of somebody’s job requirements you have demoted them instead.
I honestly don’t have a problem with Waddell being team president, he would be the 3rd GM in this town to be promoted to team president and handpicked his own replacement. That method has not only worked for the Falcons, but is working pretty well for the Braves too with Schuerholz and Wren. No reason beyond cynicism would lead anyone to believe that personnel decisions will be made by Dudley and not Waddell. We got what we wanted, which is somebody else making the personnel decisions. If your wanted to see the guy tarred and feathered, then you were missing the point in the first place. The point was to have a true talent evaluator as GM, and an administrator as president (which by the way is a position that neither the Hawks or Thrashers had before today). Waddell is an administrator, always has been, let him administrate while the talent evaluator goes and evaluates players.
R. Stroz
April 14th, 2010
9:40 pm
I dare someone to ask Dudley if he plays “mother may I’ with Waddell.
John Anderson
April 14th, 2010
9:45 pm
WTF ?
Tom (Capital T Tom)
April 14th, 2010
10:08 pm
This is why I like Dudley:
It’s very simple: you can’t sell tickets to a bad product. If we put the product we expect — if you build it, they will come — history would say [the fans] will be there.”
That is all the fans have been asking for the past few years. Waddell and the Spirit Boys never grasped it, but Dudley does. Now my biggest fear is Waddell will put up road blocks so that Dudley does not show him up.
stendek
April 14th, 2010
10:09 pm
Nice news but…I am a happy man tonight! Cynthia Crosby, Maltedmilkman and the overrated odious Pittsburgh Tuxedos lost ON HOME ICE to the Ottawa Senators. Will be a Sen fan this playoff year if they can knock these pretenders out of the Stanley Cup running! Now for the best part…Ilya Kovalchoke and the New Jersey Pitchforks lost ON HOME ICE to the Philly Flyers. Overrated Northern scum SHOULD HAVE BEEN shut out! One highlight dear to my heart showed the Figure Eight King skating through the entire Flyer defense, faking out the goaltender then shooting the puck wide. TRANSLATION: Missed the wide open net! BY AN ATLANTA MILE. Very familiar sight for all Trasher followers. I actually jumped to my feet in unbridled joy! Hate that traiterous Russian SOB. Wish him nothing but ill will! Got my No Doze ready to watch late game. Hope my other teams win. Man, I have not been this enthusiastic after a hockey game since Johan Moose Hedberg shut out the Tuxedos singlehandedly! Best all. ++STENDEK++
Tom (Capital T Tom)
April 14th, 2010
10:12 pm
And this is why I love Stroz:
OMG, what’s it gonna take to get that inept TEFLON DON out of TOWN!
William Tecumseh Sherman
World Be Free
April 14th, 2010
10:13 pm
Joe Friday and everyone who believes like Joe-
Give the man a chance, would you! It has been less than one day! If you are into disecting Dudley’s every word, then it is clear that you will never give him a chance. So what’s the point hanging around this or any Thrasher blog if you have absolutely no hope whatsoever?
Stroz, right on-I want to be there when someone pisses Dudley off!
Nice to see Sage is still Sage; I expected nothing less even if Waddell had been fired.
StateBird
April 14th, 2010
10:19 pm
GloveSave29 – Dittos on moving the AHL affiliate to Gwinnett. Would be a nice pair to Carolina’s relocation of their AHL affiliate to Charlotte.
I originally supported JA’s hire and believed it was deserved based on his AHL performance and knowledge of talent in the system. However it did become apparent that it simply wasn’t working out here. Reading Kozy’s comments and inferences to Kovy I believe that JA may have also been a problem in retaining Kovy.
Would be pleased with Stevens or Torchetti. Hartley would be ok.
On the whole today was very refreshing.
Tom (Capital T Tom)
April 14th, 2010
10:23 pm
Oh, and Ilya still has not won a playoff game.
Thrashers27
April 14th, 2010
10:40 pm
Gretsky, anyone?
World Be Free
April 14th, 2010
10:40 pm
Kovy almost squeezed the stick into a toothpick tonight. Mr. First Class Organization placed himself behind the 8-ball for wanting to go to a winner. Ray Ferraro said he almost broke the door when he came to the bench in the 3rd period. Kovy back to slamming doors again.
What a job Cory Clouston is doing in Ottawa. The Sens lose their best player in Heatley before the season, suffer a ton of injuries most of the year and have goalie problems a plenty. Makes a case for a good, young inexperienced coach.
The 680 guys were talking about Mike Keenan today on the drive home. Let’s hope not!