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
R. Stroz
April 14th, 2010
1:34 pm
FIRST
R. Stroz
April 14th, 2010
1:38 pm
My take:
1) not entirely unexpected, yet pleasantly surprised
2) Weekes is finally gone.
3) Waddell serves as a go between owners and GM. Waddell is the salesman for Dudley’s plans. Waddell provides the polish for Dudley, so Dudley doesn’t deal with ownership directly. Otherwise, Dudley would probably use his knuckles to polish ownership.
4) Waddell is rewarded for towing the company budget.
5) Dudley has spent the last year picking his team.
6) The era of excuses just left the building.
That’s my first take.
Tom (Capital T Tom)
April 14th, 2010
1:44 pm
We all talk about Waddell having pictures, but Weekes sure must have had something on the boys upstairs. He never developed a goalie with 2 first round picks to play with and never improved the position during his tenure, yet still kept his job.
Alan R.
April 14th, 2010
1:46 pm
My thinking essentially follows that of Stroz. I think I’ll have more to offer once the pieces start falling into place as this offseason progresses. Then again, I’m sure that’s how most people feel.
Sherry Taylor
April 14th, 2010
1:48 pm
A Scotty Bowman would be good, if there is one out there not retired. He demanded respect, and got it, and knew how the heck to kick some pads when players weren’t doing their job. And, there was no questioning his leadership. At least now, there aren’t as many big egos which a coach must ‘coach around’.
Savannah Blueland Fan
April 14th, 2010
1:50 pm
Bobby Cox will be available.
Hip Czech
April 14th, 2010
1:58 pm
Moose Hedberg for goalie coach…heck, even make him a player/coach if he still can play.
Red Light
April 14th, 2010
1:59 pm
Craig Ramsay is my first and only choice!
Alan R.
April 14th, 2010
1:59 pm
Oh. Also, from the last blog:
Evander Kane made an appearance on Boston radio this morning. The audio of that interview here.
The audio of that interview is here. Lasts about 10 minutes or so, and is located about 1/3 through the Hour 2 segment.
Rightshot
April 14th, 2010
2:00 pm
I’ll coach! I even have experience.
da 'boomer
April 14th, 2010
2:00 pm
can we steal barry trotz from nashville?
DWTOO
April 14th, 2010
2:03 pm
We need someone with a proven track record, NHL experience, and walks on water. Actually Hartley might not be a bad idea – there can’t be too many hard feelings as he is seen around the areana. Doubt that he buys those seats.
World Be Free
April 14th, 2010
2:16 pm
Sherry, Bowman and Dudley were in Buffalo at the same time in the early 80’s. Not sure if Bowman actually hired Dudley to coach the Sabres, I’d have to do some research on this. Duds will command respect, just look at the effect of his first decisions today and that’s to send ALL the coaches packing. Bold move for a man with no coaches on the staff.
Red Light-boy would that be a good choice! Rammer is another one of my former Sabre favorites and a well-respected man throughout the league.
GaVaHokie
April 14th, 2010
2:20 pm
Stroz… spot on, I concur.
I have to think the candidates are Denis Savard, Craig MacTavish, Andy Murray and John Stevens… I won’t discount a Hartley revisit, ala Paul Maurice.
Just wish we had better timing on these situations so we could get a Claude Julien or Peter Laviolette type candidate.
Hookyboob
April 14th, 2010
2:23 pm
yipppee!
Alan R.
April 14th, 2010
2:23 pm
Absolutely not to Hartley. He’s still unemployed for a reason.
Smitty
April 14th, 2010
2:30 pm
How about Ted Nolan?
World Be Free
April 14th, 2010
2:32 pm
Smitty, how cool would that be?
Stefan
April 14th, 2010
2:33 pm
How bout John Stevens? He was the scapegoat for Philly’s fiasco this year, so maybe he needs a change of scenery? Or steal Denis Savard from Chicago (Dudley’s old ties)?
GaVaHokie
April 14th, 2010
2:34 pm
3) Waddell serves as a go between owners and GM. Waddell is the salesman for Dudley’s plans. Waddell provides the polish for Dudley, so Dudley doesn’t deal with ownership directly. Otherwise, Dudley would probably use his knuckles to polish ownership.
Would kind of like to see Dudley push ownership around a little bit for their “lunch money”.
The Shawshak Redemption
April 14th, 2010
2:35 pm
To paraphrase Ellis Boyd Redding
“Don Waddell, who crawled through a river of his own feces, and came out clean on the other side.”
GaVaHokie
April 14th, 2010
2:35 pm
Absolutely not to Hartley. He’s still unemployed for a reason.
I’m with you, but I get a bad feeling… just being my usual Devil’s Advocate.
GaVaHokie
April 14th, 2010
2:40 pm
Didn’t Ted Nolan cuss out the organization when we passed him over at the last minute for Bob Hartley? I think we also considered Nolan when we hired Curt Fraser… I don’t see him in the picture.
alex
April 14th, 2010
2:42 pm
best choice stevens, but won’t be done, to expensive for waddell, he robbed this organization for 11 years, should’t he have to work as team president for free now.
Joe Friday
April 14th, 2010
2:42 pm
“Duds will command respect, just look at the effect of his first decisions today and that’s to send ALL the coaches packing. Bold move for a man with no coaches on the staff.”
Lloyd, I’m just not reading this the way you are. I see this Dudley/Waddell shuffle of titles are purely a PR move made begrudingly to satisfy the demands of so many of us that left because we have no faith in Waddell’s ability. But Waddell’s still in charge. Dudley’s his guy. And the announcement didn’t say Dudley fired, them, read carefully here (collectively . . .as in, Waddell is still calling the shots, they only did this as a PR move to make some think that Dudley will be in charge now–he won’t be, Waddell is still his direct superior, just like he was last week):
“Collectively, we decided that we would not retain Head Coach John Anderson and Assistant Coaches Randy Cunneyworth, Todd Nelson and Steve Weeks, all of whom we thank for their dedication and contributions to the organization.”
As for the coach, please on McT. No way, no how. Hartley’s not coming back either. I think the dust settles for a bit here and we see who is fired from coaching positions over the next month or so, an early exit may lead to a good coach getting canned. There’s no rush, training camp doesn’t open for many months.
Bluenote
April 14th, 2010
2:48 pm
Denis Savard with a career 65-66-16 record? Chicago connections make this an interesting pick.
I loved the spin-a-rama but I’m not sure those are compelling numbers to consider him as a coach.
Perhaps he’s ready for another try.
Scott Stevens would have to be the player I’d most like to see be successful as a coach.
A contractual pipe dream…but I can’t imagine him doing a Droopy Dawg postgame interview
GaVaHokie
April 14th, 2010
2:49 pm
Absolutely not to Hartley. He’s still unemployed for a reason.
I disagree… we have 10 UFA’s and a Super Star to replace this summer… I’m sure a lot of players are going to want to know who they’re playing under before signing.
GaVaHokie
April 14th, 2010
2:51 pm
Oops… wrong quote… let me try that again… Rawhid delete my 2:49 post.
There’s no rush, training camp doesn’t open for many months.
I disagree… we have 10 UFA’s and a Super Star to replace this summer… I’m sure a lot of players are going to want to know who they’re playing under before signing.
Joe Friday
April 14th, 2010
3:04 pm
“I disagree… we have 10 UFA’s and a Super Star to replace this summer… I’m sure a lot of players are going to want to know who they’re playing under before signing.”
Ok, there’s no rush, July 1st doesn’t come for 2 1/2 months . . .
GaVaHokie
April 14th, 2010
3:10 pm
Ok, there’s no rush, July 1st doesn’t come for 2 1/2 months . . .
… that’s better.
World Be Free
April 14th, 2010
3:11 pm
Joe Friday-you gotta know Dudley. Duds reports to Waddell but I don’t expect Wads will micro-manage him, nor would I expect Dudley would put up with it. I believe Dudley was hired last summer with this in mind, his hiring was a long term plan to get Waddell out of the hockey day to day and get a proven replacement.
Waddell is the boss, but Dudley is his own man. I just can’t see he would take the job if he couldn’t have it his way. They have had 8 mos to work out the details.
You gotta have faith folks. We all wanted change, it’s not the total change we all expected but it is change. I will be TOTALLY jazzed when Duds steps to the microphone in LA to call out our #1 picks this year, if we don’t trade them!
Bluenote-Stevens would be a good call, no Hitchcock please!
You want a new name for a coach? How about Bryan Trottier?
GaVaHokie
April 14th, 2010
3:14 pm
Going back to Bob Hartley… devils advocate… you could argue that it’s a completely new, fresh situation to bring him back in… new GM, completely different squad. There’s only (potentially) one player remaining from the Hartley days, and that’s Jim Slater, who absolutely LOVES Hartley. Slater commends Hartley for teaching him the finer points of the game.
… I would personally like a better candidate, but he’s no worse than the other choices floating out there, in my opinion.
Dandylions
April 14th, 2010
3:25 pm
Found this quote in an AP article – good grief he is going to lend his experience to Dudley – say it ain’t so “My role within the company has evolved and grown the last few years, and the owners and I agree that it’s the appropriate time to have Rick assume all hockey-related responsibilities while I shift my primary focus to the business side of the Thrashers,” Waddell said.
“I will be less involved with the team on a daily basis, but will continue to make myself available to Rick and to lend my experience in any way that allows him to succeed and for us to build this club into a perennial contender.”
Joe Friday
April 14th, 2010
3:26 pm
See Hokie, Joe Friday is much less argumentative with you, our little “moving in the right direction” here in Rawhideville.
Joe Friday
April 14th, 2010
3:28 pm
“good grief he is going to lend his experience to Dudley – say it ain’t so”
And read Dudley’s quote about working closely with Don. And read the owner’s press release that came out today about the “collective” decision to let the coaches going. I’m telling you, this has PR move written all over it, and Waddell is still going to be pulling the strings, no other reason to keep him.
Midfield
April 14th, 2010
3:31 pm
I don’t know about Bob. During some games he hangs around the arena without a pen, so it’s impossible to even get an authograph from him when your hands are busy carrying all that beer. What on earth is he thinking?
Mr. Heat Miser
April 14th, 2010
3:33 pm
Anyone seen Curt Fraser?
Badger Bob
April 14th, 2010
3:35 pm
I love the Kaner interview on the Boston station. He was great – very diplomatic and humble! Future team leader, for sure!
While John Torchetti may be a leading contender for the coaching post, I’d definitely like to see us wait until mid-June in order to consider newly-fired coaches.
MB
April 14th, 2010
3:36 pm
“Slater commends Hartley for teaching him the finer points of the game.”
That should pretty much be the death knell for Hartley’s candidacy!
Rawhide, I agree that we need a proven coach. Sorry for JA, but 9/10 years of incompetence has destroyed what patience Atlanta fans might have had for a rookie NHL coach learning the ropes.
TableHockey
April 14th, 2010
3:36 pm
Dan Kamal interviewed Dudley today. You can find it here: http://thrashers.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp
Couple of interesting things – he said they won’t be talking to coaches anytime soon as most of them are working. I take that to mean they are interested in staff that are on a current playoff team.
He also mentioned the importance of our two first round picks and how important they are considering contributions from young players such as Kane and Bogosian. My take on this is that they plan to take those draft picks as opposed to trading them for an established player.
Lastly he indicated that he felt most of the UFAs want to remain in Atlanta.
It’s an interesting interview if you have time to check it out.
jimbo
April 14th, 2010
3:42 pm
Nothing unexpected in the moves including the continued survival of Teflon Don. He clearly reached his level of incompetence as a GM and now gets to fail as a Pres. of the Spirit. I don’t care who we get as long as its a strong disciplinarian with a defensive system that enables us to adjust when necessary and close the door in the third period. We want ungly wins not exciting losses. What about Scotty?
World Be Free
April 14th, 2010
3:43 pm
Please free me Trixie!
Rawhide
April 14th, 2010
3:52 pm
Rick Dudley will be on NHL Home Ice Channel (XM 204) at about 4:15 pm today. DE is on right now…says the move does not surprise him given the fact that RD came in last year.
Now…since Bob Hartley’s name has been kicked around in here today…
While I am not advocating re-hiring Bob Hartley as head coach, one thing that cannot be overlooked is the fact that the ONLY successful era in the Thrashers’ history was when he was coach here. Why is he not a head coach today? Who knows…maybe he likes his gig with RDS.
But here are some cold hard numbers concerning Hartley and his time here.
With Bob Hartley behind the bench the Thrashers went 136-118-24-13, a points winning percentage of .531. Without him, they are 172-283-42-32, a points winning percentage of .395.
He took over a team that had 12 wins, 25 losses, 4 OTLs and 2 ties halfway through the 2002-03 season. He coached that same team to a record of 19-14-5-7. Combined with his time in Colorado that season, he was 29-22-14-5.
The next three seasons saw the Thrashers win 33 games and finish with 78 points…41 wins and 90 points…then 43 wins and 97 points.
Oh yeah…and a Southeast Championship to boot.
That is called progress, my friends.
Hartley’s career coaching record is 329-226-61-34…a points winning percentage of .579.
In his 8 full seasons as a head coach he led a team to a winning record 7 times.
IMHO, he was scapegoated in October 2007 by Don Waddell to save his own neck. However, since that time the Thrashers have played to a record of 104-109-27.
I said then…I’ll say again now…the wrong guy was fired that day.
Most of us agree that in pro sports, winning is the only real indicator of success. Well, given that criteria, Bob Hartley was a success here.
So…again, while I do not advocate bringing the guy back in, I also do not join the chorus of those who say he was a bad coach.
lilibeter
April 14th, 2010
4:07 pm
Regardless of how much I like John Anderson, I cannot justify his continued tenure here. I agree that we don’t have to make a hasty decision about who we hire. Deadline day is still a while away, and there may be more firings throughout the league that might free up a nice, experienced, hard-nosed S.O.B. of a coach.
I’d like to go on record at this point as saying that I DO NOT CARE if we have to over-pay a coach to come here. While I can’t provide a suitable name yet, I would love it if we were to reel in a coach who is league-recognized as being a goldmine of a hockey coach. My personal preference would be a coach who has an absolute burning desire to prove just how great of a coach he is by taking a team with a decade-long record of failure (like our Thrashers), turn that team around, and make winners out of them. If such a coach exists out there, then that’s our guy.
Joe Friday
April 14th, 2010
4:07 pm
Rawhide, agreed, Hartley was scapegoated. Watch the interview with Dudley that TableHockey linked above. Dudley clearly is going to prudently wait, as he should, and look to hire someone off of one of the playoff clubs, even a head coach that may get fired, but I look for him to target an assistance off a current club.
This is the biggest move he can make.
Lloyd, I can see why you like Dudley, that’s the first interview I’ve seen of him and I like what I see and heard.
Rawhide
April 14th, 2010
4:10 pm
This is the biggest move he can make
Joe Friday - Agreed. This first, big decision will set the tone of his tenure as GM.
jimbo
April 14th, 2010
4:13 pm
We could do worse than Uncle Bob but not sure that he has stayed connected with the NHL sufficient enough to know what other teams are going to throw at us. What has he been doing?
GaVaHokie
April 14th, 2010
4:14 pm
Rick Dudley was just on 680 the fan… overall sentiment, “I will be taking ideas to Waddell, and then we’ll both take the idea to Ownership”.
Sounds bad, but as long as the ideas that he takes to Waddell are GOOD ideas, I don’t see why there are any problems. I’d think Waddell would trust him enough.
lilibeter
April 14th, 2010
4:17 pm
Oh, and because I am a girl and can get away with saying such things without being accused of being a total pansy….
DING DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD!!
(Okay, well maybe not completely dead – perhaps even only relocated a bit. Either way you look at it though, D-Wad is FINALLY no longer our GM after years upon years upon years of suffering!)
ThrashDawg
April 14th, 2010
4:22 pm
I thought that after Hartley was fired the story was Kovulchuk did not get along with Hartley. Considering the fact that Kovy most likely ran the franchise while he was here, it would not surprise me if he got Hartley fired. I may have dreamed that story but I thought that was the deal.
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!
Sage of Bluesland
April 14th, 2010
11:02 pm
I would expect nothing less from World-be-Lapdog! I’m sure you defended dandy Don back in the day, too–saying “give the man a chance!”…I’m sure you also lauded Donnie’s drafting, too…
Same tune, same song…same results…
Just be sure to come back and take the medicine when the Waddellites have been proven wrong, again…and again…and again…
Same tune, same song…same results…
Kbatch
April 14th, 2010
11:08 pm
Sage… You may well be correct… All we can do is wait, see, and hope… I am definitely hoping that D-Wad will stay upstairs and let 5ud run the team… Time will tell…
Brendan
April 14th, 2010
11:19 pm
R.Stroz, if Dudley does get total autonomy over this club, then that’s something to consider. But, as far as I can tell, the Spirit Group’s mantra, is a “by committe” approach, whereby Dudley conceives an idea, then has to say, “Mother, may I?” to Waddell. If Waddell agrees, he pitches the idea.
There are drug trafficking organizations with less layers of bureaucracy than this.
Once Waddell is gone, I’ll be back. I detest abstaining from games. There’s no place I’d rather be than Philips Arena, watching my team. But out of options to force change, I’ve done the unthinkable. The Press Conference, today, should have been to:
1. Announce the firing of Don Waddell, John Anderson, Dan Marr, Steve Weeks and Todd Nelson. (Randy Cunneyworth can stay.)
2. The team announces that it is undergoing an extensive and exhaustive search for a new GM. And that Rick Dudley is among a “short list” of candidates.
R. Stroz
April 14th, 2010
11:24 pm
Kovy almost squeezed the stick into a toothpick tonight.
That sounds painful.
Sage's mom
April 14th, 2010
11:40 pm
Sagie, up again past 11? To bed with you now, you rude young man!
R. Stroz
April 14th, 2010
11:43 pm
I’ll try to refrain from one liners for a few minutes.
I have a slighty different take on this whole situation.
Since last summer, I believe Dudley has been making the player decisions from behind the scenes. The drafted players were bigger and nastier. The players obtained via trade and free agency have been larger. No more of Waddell’s smurfs.
Dudley has had an entire year to find “diamonds in the rough.” During the next few months, we’ll see who he has targeted. After that, we’ll see if Dudley scouted well.
The only reason Waddell maintained the GM title was to be the “hero” if Kovy was re-signed. OOPS.
Now, do I think Dudley’s decisions have had to receive the Waddell stamp of approval? YES.
Does anyone remember who help screw Waddell into taking a goalie with the second pick of the draft? Cough, Dudley, Cough.
Here’s the real question. What happens when Dudley is eventually told NO. Does Don go flying out of the press box? Does Levenson get a swirly? Does Dudley use Gearon Jr.’s head as a stud finder against the sheet rock?
I guess my few minutes were up a few minutes ago.
Kovyoverrated
April 15th, 2010
12:02 am
Rawhide- Do you think that there was some sort of “come to Jesus” discussion between the NHL front office and the Spirit group about the status of this franchise in Atlanta? From Bettman’s comments earlier this season, I think there was.
Kovalsuck is still winless in the playoffs. In the words of the fat bully kid on the “Simpsons”– “HA-ha”
Thrashers27
April 15th, 2010
12:28 am
Please forgive the sacreligious typo from my previous post…The Great One’s name is spelled with a Z, not an S. Fat fingers on a small keyboard…and maybe a cocktail, or two. Whoooops!
Anyhoo, anybody think he’s a viable candidate? If nothing else he might help add legitimacy to hockey in Atlanta…although he couldn’t really do it in Phoenix. Personally, I think it would be cool to see him here in an iconic role, but he doesn’t seem to have what it takes to be a successful coach in the NHL.
Best of luck to Coach Anderson and co..
Eugene
April 15th, 2010
12:46 am
There is no way Atlanta would bring in a top tier coach. They don’t have the money to spend to bring in someone like Craig MacTavish even though he would be perfect for this team. So for a budget conscious Thrashers team, I’d go for Kirk Muller or John Maclean.
World Be Free
April 15th, 2010
6:09 am
Sage – My confidence in this move has nothing to do with Waddell, it has everything to do Dudley. I have been a Duds fan for 37 years, as a player, coach and adminstrator. He’s been a success at every level of hockey, including starting his management work at the ECHL, working his way up.
I can’t stay affixed to Waddell forever, as some of you have. It’s time to move on, as it may be for some of you from this blog, if you are so dissatisfied with the Thrashers. This may not be what we ever totally looking for, but it is a step in the right direction and I’ll take that step over not making any move at all.
Sage, as I have stated in the past, come on down to Phillips, then you’ll have the opportunity to call me or any of us lapdogs or sheep to our faces. We’ll be waiting…..
LAC
April 15th, 2010
6:56 am
NEWS FLASH !!!!!!
Rawhide, Bill Tiller named NEW Thrashers President.
Brenden Named NEW Thrashers GM.
Standec Named NEW Goalie Coach.
Rawhides first move naming Scotty Bowman coach !!!!!
Now THAT WOULD BE THE MOST POSITIVE Progress this Team could EVER DO !
Lastly, did “anyone” read that absolute SICK letter from those two panty waste owners ?
It was simply NUTS !
Sorry Mr.Potty Mouth, as long as you retain that MINDLESS THING waddell, I will keep MY money
as I have for three years now, when you finally get Balls, something you do NOT have, and fire the worthless SOB, then I will return, but never with that Idiot collecting a fat paycheck for being a Complete FAILURE !
Sara
April 15th, 2010
8:17 am
Since it’s doomsday at work, this will have to be brief … I’m sure there will be plenty of time to discuss and dissect during the off-season. And since the main premise of the blog is a new coach, I’ll stick with that as the topic.
A new coach should:
- believe in defense and know how to teach it (Duh5million)
- not be a player’s coach – this team needs discipline and someone who has a zero-tolerance policy for slacking and taking shifts off
- know how to develop young talent (which eliminates Bob Hartley rather quickly)
I’ll be curious to see what current assistant coaches might come up for consideration ’cause right now, perusing the list of the usual “former NHL coach” suspects, I’m entirely underwhelmed.
World Be Free
April 15th, 2010
8:22 am
Stroz-we will see
As I have said repeatedly, I just do not think Dudley would take the job if it required major handcuffs. The ONLY reason I am optimistic is because it’s Dudley. If the GM was Neil Smith, Feaster or anyone else, I’d be just as negative as others have been the last 24 hours.
He’s been in the job since last summer. I believe he was hired to take the job over eventually. The time is now.
Mike
April 15th, 2010
8:26 am
Did anyone else enjoy watching Kovy lose last night or was it just me?
GaVaHokie
April 15th, 2010
8:31 am
What’s done is done… I think we’re far better off, some people don’t… yada yada… moving on.
Here is a list of Coaching Candidates from Darren Dreger with no NHL Head Coach experience.
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=318052
Brad McCrimmon… *cringe*
DB
April 15th, 2010
8:38 am
World B…Kincade loves Keenan since Keenan hired him to do video stuff for the Flyers in Philly.
DWTOO
April 15th, 2010
8:41 am
There really is a Waddell fixation here! Than man’s been moved to a position that fits his strengths – PR and schmoozing. He’s history. Dudley’s in charge now and the whole point of this thread is to converse about a new coach.
Think Schultz has a list of viable candidates. Right now tho’ I’m supporting Hartley or Torchetti.
World Be Free
April 15th, 2010
8:43 am
DB-that’s what Kincade mentioned yesterday.
Keenan gave EJ MCguire a chance in Rochester too in the early 80’s. McGuire followed him as an assit. in Philly and Chicago.
GaVa-thanks for the list
Matt
April 15th, 2010
8:44 am
Mike Keenan, to me, is the equivalent of Chan Gailey or Larry Brown. Just an vagabound coach that goes somewhere for few years and never really accomplishes anything. Keenan wears out his welcome real fast.
And as for Kincade, he can STFU and go back to Philly and root for his sainted Iggles and Broad Street Bullies.
Dwayne
April 15th, 2010
8:45 am
Blog of the decade goes to JA’s “WTF” right after he got fired. I’ll drink to that!!!
J.B.
April 15th, 2010
8:48 am
i think Torchetti is the way to go; especially if we plan on taking full advantage of Chicago’s cap problems they’ll need to address in the offseason.
GaVaHokie
April 15th, 2010
9:02 am
Subject to change, but here are my Top 3 so far…
Paul MacLean
Bob Hartley
John Torchetti
World Be Free
April 15th, 2010
9:10 am
I don’t generally listen to ATL sports radio, just happened to pass on it yesterday, since my CD player is busted.
I never considered Keenan an option here. He is alot like the other 2 guys you mentioned, in the sense that he’s been around probably too long. I think Calgary was his last shot. But he is the 3rd winningest coach in NHL history, so he’s done something right. He is also know for having given a number of people their first breaks in the NHL. One more note-it was scotty Bowman that gave Keenan his original break to professional hockey.
Not sure who I favor as the next coach here. I never thought of Bylsma as a coach, but he’s been good in Pittsburgh. Davis Paine was an improvement in St. Louis. The one name that catches my attention is Kevin Dineen, who has done a great job in Portland this season. He and Dudley had similar styles as players.
Spud Webb
April 15th, 2010
9:13 am
I’d love Teddy Nolan here, but he can’t seem to stop arguing with management in each of his two stops…I would LOVE to see the great One here, won’t happen. Should be interesting to see how much we spend on a coach??? Minor leagues again or are we actually going to get a coach?? I’d have to say I’d love Ken Hitchcock here, I’ve always liked him!!
How about Pheonix last night??? Anyone else watch this???? So tell me again, weren’t THEY supposed to lose thier team back to Canada, much like the rumors in regards to our Thrashers??? It goes to show you with some craft GM work (NOT SEEN IN THE ATL) and a little heart and WHAM…you can WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As I was watching that game I kept thinking, that can be us, that can be us!! Please BE US NEXT SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also, how about the Stars letting Turco walk…and their new starting Goalie next season……………………….Kari!!!!!!!!!!! Interesting.
Alan R.
April 15th, 2010
9:14 am
I too believe Torchettt is in our future. And that is just fine with me. He fits the bill of a coach who doesn’t need any “on the job training,” and he is someone.not named Tortarella that Dudley is comfortable with.
I am tentatively concerned with the whole “working together” thing, as one could read into it as Waddell still having his icy talons of death connected to the team; however, I also know that Dudley doesn’t play very nicely with micromanagers. Overall, we’ll see what happens. Will this really be a new chapter, or is this just a spit-shined turd? We will see.
Joe Bob Friday
April 15th, 2010
9:15 am
“It has been less than one day!”
Lloyd B., you are completely missing the point, many of us get it, but I’ll try to explain it to you one more time.
It has not been one day, it’s been what, a year since Dudley was hired? Nothing changed yesterday re. the GM position other than the shuffling of titles. A year ago, Dudley came in under Waddell and they together have been working on hockey operations and we have seen some improved decisions that I have attributed to Dudley. But nothing further changed yesterday, the status quo remains in place that has been in place the past year. Dudley still reports to Waddell and as we speak right now, Dudley and Waddell are sitting together choosing a new coach, a new coach that Waddell will have final say on. It’s pretty simple, the good news happened a year ago when Dudley was brought in, but nothing further changed yesterday other than a shuffle of titles that has some naive fans believing that as of yesterday, Dudley is now in charge of all hockey decisons. No he ain’t.
Tom Lysiak
April 15th, 2010
9:17 am
Some people cannot be pleased, ever. They beg for Waddell’s head for years, justifiably. He gets neutered and kicked upstairs, and it isn’t good enough. Dudley is not some lapdog who would get involved in a “puppet” situation. He has credentials and respect, inside the game. If you haven’t seen his fingerprints on the personnel moves since last summer, you are blind. If you didn’t see this EXACT scenario unfolding since last summer, again you are blind.
As for the “boycott”, my what a setback. “Stooge of Doucheland” likes to make word plays on other people’s names on here. This sets up a really interesting scenario for him and his “boycott sheep”. He has vowed never to spend a dollar while Waddell is in the organization. What if Dudley hires the right guy and his player evaluation skills put together a “Blackhawks” type product here? Just on principle “Stooge” has to stay away, until Waddell is gone. It’s going to be a hoot watching a really good thing happen here and waiting to see if or how much “Stooge of Doucheland” changes his tune. ASG told you they don’t care about your “boycott”. Waddell has told you he doesn’t care about your “boycott”. I’m REALLY sure Dudley already doesn’t care about your “boycott”. He’ll focus on the team and the fans who show up. Not the whiners who have unhealthy obsessions and fixations with a specific person. This is about Thrashers hockey and not one person. I can’t wait to watch it unfold without the “boycotters”.
“Stooge”, I’m leaving now for a nice long weekend so take all the shots you want. We’ll pick this back up later. Go Thrashers!!!
Joe Bob Friday
April 15th, 2010
9:19 am
The only way that John Torchetti will not be the Thrashers’ head coach next season, is if he turns the job down.
J-man
April 15th, 2010
9:27 am
I’m not on the whole favor of giving a guy with previous NHL head coaching experience the job, but it depends on the guy. Everyone who was fired during this season was fired specifically for a failure to able to work with younger players. Ken Hitchcock, for example, messed up Nikita Filatov so badly that they had to loan him to the KHL to try to salvage the situation. We have a decent amount of young players here and hiring guys like Hitchcock would be bad. I’m neither strongly opposed nor strongly against MacTavish, but he doesn’t excite me. Brent Sutter would be a good choice though, but I must warn that the way he got into the Calgary job was really really sleazy and arguably unethical and I can’t rule out that he’d do the same anywhere else. I could see him being hired here (assuming he gets fired at Calgary) and then, say, 1 year from now Darryl Sutter gets the GM job at, say, Edmonton. Bye bye Brent!
World Be Free – Dudley has an axe to grind with Keenan as the owner of the Panthers sided with Keenan over Dudley some years ago and forced Dudley out. I don’t see Keenan as having a real chance of coming here, but if he somehow did, I would NEVER go to another Thrashers’ game under any circumstance until he is fired.
Alan R.
April 15th, 2010
9:34 am
Dudley still reports to Waddell and as we speak right now,
That’s the thing. Waddell was his superior before, and is still his superior now. However, Waddell has half the power. He is half the man he used to be, with half the responsibility. At least, that’s what his title suggests. Meanwhile, Dudley’s role has now expanded — again, as the title suggests.
I’m still of the opinion that we should wait and see. I still believe that we should give this setup a chance, and see where we end up at the end of the day. Folks, we’re in a “build” process at this present time. We should have made the playoffs this year. We didn’t, and the coaches were fired. Along with doing that, the Titanic’s deck looks a little different than it did before. I’m not happy that Waddell is still here, but I do believe he’s been neutered. I don’t expect anyone else to do the same. I just hope that with these moves, we hit the ground running next year and brutalize opposing teams on our way to the playoffs.
World Be Free
April 15th, 2010
9:40 am
Joe, your opinion is yours and mine is mine. Time for all of us to move and see what happens. The other control we have in this situation is whether we want to remain fans or move on to another team.
Zoomo
April 15th, 2010
9:42 am
No way on Keenan. That was just John “I Know More About Everything Than You Do” Kincade’s fantasy because he worked for Keenan.
Interesting that Glovesave mentioned the idea of moving the AHL affiliate to Gwinnett. I know that the notion of that has been considered by the franchise before. Even the concept of putting the best prospects in Gwinnett instead of Chicago, but that was deemed unfeasible because the competition level in in ECHL would impede player development.
World Be Free
April 15th, 2010
9:42 am
that’s only control not other control-guess I’d better get back to work.
Savannah Blueland Fan
April 15th, 2010
10:44 am
Reality has hit!!!!! I won’t get to play my favorite drinking game next year! WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
R. Stroz
April 15th, 2010
10:54 am
Interesting reading.
I’m not trying to stoke the fire here, however, I firmly believe that both WBF and Joe Bob Friday have valid points. That stated, I do have a major concern that I’ll address at the end of the post.
First, I agree with Joe Bob Friday, in that, the renaming of Waddell and Dudley’s positions was largely semantic. Dudley has been making the player moves for an entire season and has been given a year to scout future moves.
Second, I agree with WBF, in that, Dudley didn’t agree to come to Atlanta to be Waddell’s puppet.
I imagine the agreement between Waddell and Dudley goes something like this:
1) Waddell deals with the owners because Dudley doesn’t have the patience to deal with dysfunctional people.
2) Dudley uses Waddell to sell his player moves to the owners when substantive sums of money are involved.
3) Dudley agreed to keep payroll down the first two years until the team turns the corner with a youth movement full of hard working, gritty, talented players. After that, once attendance improves, the purse strings are loosened for Dudley.
4) Waddell had to agree not to infringe on Dudley’s player choices. Although Dudley did agree to discuss the player choices with Waddell prior to pulling the trigger.
Now, this where my concern lies, if and when, there is an issue involving payroll down the road, as in Dudley wants to pony up for a player and ownership doesn’t, does Don vote with ownership or does he back Dudley?
That, to me, is the future Stanley Cup contender question.
Alan R.
April 15th, 2010
11:19 am
Our good friend Craig Custance posted an article yesterday proposing Dudley seek out Flyers GM Holmgren and request permission to interview ex-Flyers coach John Stevens.
The more I think about this idea, the more I like it. He was a defenseman during his playing days.
Torchetti is probably the candidate, but the fact that Stevens likes our defense and wants to come hear means something, at least in my eyes.
World Be Free
April 15th, 2010
11:26 am
Stroz, I understand why people have concerns. I happen to agree with their concerns and the fact that some of the people who are responsible for this team being a mess are still around. The concern you noted is valid, no doubt about that. If the owners won’t financially support the hockey team as they have the basketball team, then there’s little chance of the Thrashers improving. In this case, it does not matter who is GM.
My optimism is Dudley-based, nothing else. I am hoping his experience and professional will translate into improvements in this team, despite all the other issues. If Darcy Regier can do it in Buffalo, dealing with Larry Quibnn and Tom Golisano, then Duds has a chance of doing it here.
All I want to do here is give the man a chance. If Dudley fails, I’ll be the first person to admit I was wrong, just like I have in the past.
glovesave29
April 15th, 2010
11:43 am
Zoomo – you move Gwinnett up to the AHL.
NO WAY to Keenan. He is hated by players. He always leaves after a few seasons, and it takes years to clean up the mess he leaves behind. The only thing good he ever did was reject this horrible jersey the Blue were going to wear…
http://media.photobucket.com/image/blues%20jersey%20keenan%20rejected/spyboy1/TSG%20Blog/StLouisBluesAlt96.jpg
glovesave29
April 15th, 2010
11:45 am
I meant to say “Blues” not “Blue”…guess the spirit of Boom Boom Geoffrion overtook me for a sec!
StateBird
April 15th, 2010
12:06 pm
Said it before, will say it again …. Torchetti and Stevens should be a the top of the list. We don’t need retreads with bad track records (e.g. Keenan, MacTavish, Hitchcock, etc.)
And will repeat support for moving AHL assignment to Gwinnett. The problem in the past was travel with all teams being in the northeast and midwest. However with recent movements to Charlotte, Texas and other parts south now is the time. A move should also save the Thrashers some money. Lets see if DW, the businessmen, can get this done.
Alan R.
April 15th, 2010
12:17 pm
you move Gwinnett up to the AHL.
And where do our ECHL players go?
I’m all for having our prospects here in town, but I think the way of doing it is building an arena and expanding the league to have an AHL team here.
Cliff Fletcher
April 15th, 2010
12:19 pm
Dudley admitted on air yesterday something to the fact that the fans have stayed away because of bad product on the ice. Have we ever heard something like that in the last 10 years? Doesn’t sound like Dudley is playing nice with his boss, who is responsible for the bad hockey over the last 10 years. So much for the lap dog talk.
Schroeder
April 15th, 2010
12:57 pm
I may not be the brightest light in the hall,but I would have to assume that since during the season Dudley’s role was ASSISTANT GM and Dwads job was GM.That dynamic has changed,now that he is solely responsible for the outcome, if I were GM and it was my neck on the line I would have final say,keep everyone informed but it was my say-so. I would be curious to know if that is indeed the case. Although the selection of a new head coach is a decision that should be done by commitee,the day to day player decisions and hockey operations should be left to Dudley. That is the only way it will work if Waddell is still in this organization.It remains to be seen if the new President keeps his rather prodigious snout in his job and does not micromanage.I personally believe that it is extremely early to start casting doubt until there is proof of his meddleing.The transition for all concerned takes time,afterall Dwads has had 10 years of screwing this up,do ya think that would stop instantly,once Dudley gets comfortable with this new arrangement,I would give you 20-1 that the WAD man will get his new business cards with the word PRESIDENT on them (couldn’t talk them into EMPEROR) and will suddenly find more regal things to do than the lowly job of dealing with “common” players. I can dream can’t I. (BAA BAAA)
glovesave29
April 15th, 2010
12:58 pm
ECHL is moving the Johnstown Chiefs to Greenville. That’s all of 90 minutes up the road from Gwinnett.
Why build a new arena? The Gwinnett Center is a great place to see a game.
J.B.
April 15th, 2010
1:04 pm
there’s also the cottonmouths in columbus. you could exponentially increase the talent in the SPHL by sending all the ECHL talent to Columbus and our AHL guys to Gwinnett if the Gladiators were to become an AHL team.
(There’s probably about a million issues with this idea of which I’m unaware; primarily just noting there’s another pro-hockey team a short distance away)
Schroeder
April 15th, 2010
1:12 pm
BTW,Glovesave, I would be very interested to hear your take on possible goalie coach candidates. You being a former netminder like myself,but being in South Ga I don’t get nearly as much data.
Alan R.
April 15th, 2010
1:17 pm
The Chiefs’ affiliates are the Houston Aeros and Minnesota Wild. That doesn’t have anything to do with the Thrashers.
Not sure why we should share our prospects with Minnesota.
Can the Gwinnett Center handle two hockey teams? If not, we’ll need another arena.
Don’t get me wrong. I am wholly in favor of moving/creating our AHL affiliate here. I’m not in favor of getting rid of one hockey league to house another, all the while dumping our ECHL players on another affiliate’s team. It’s sorta like adopting a kid and dumping your old one at an orphanage.
World Be Free
April 15th, 2010
1:17 pm
Schroeder-along the lines of what I have been thinkg and hoping.
Dudley is not a first-time GM or administrator.
Smoothie
April 15th, 2010
1:18 pm
According to Mike Russo, the leading candidates may be Torchetti and Craig Ramsay, both of whom I like: From Minny Star Tribune Russo’s Rants:
“Dudley is one of the game’s great talent evaluators. He built the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Cup team even though he doesn’t have a ring to show for it and Dale Tallon credits Dudley for helping him rebuild the Blackhawks. This could be a very good move for the future of the Thrashers.
Next up Dudley will hire a coach. The top contender in my opinion is Blackhawks assistant coach John Torchetti, who was brought into Tampa Bay, Florida and Chicago because of Dudley and played for Dudley on the old ACHL Carolina Thunderbirds. Torchetti was nearly hired a few times by the old Wild regime to coach Houston. He’s a former interim head coach of the Panthers and Kings.
On those Thunderbird teams Dudley coached, he used to also drive the bus. From a 2002 feature I wrote on Dudley, Torchetti told me this: “I used to stay up talking hockey with him until 3 or 4 in the morning while he was driving the bus,” Torchetti said, laughing. “I learned so much from him about conditioning, demeanor behind a bench, how to deal with players, the hard work needed to win and loyalty.
“Loyalty is what hockey is all about.”
Dudley has an immense amount of respect for Torchetti, a true player’s coach, tactician and teacher.
You can bet Dudley will be interested in talking to Boston Bruins assistant coach Craig Ramsay, too. When Dudley managed Florida, Dudley fired Mike Keenan and took over behind the bench. But he tried incessantly to get Jay Feaster and the Lightning to let Ramsay come across Alligator Alley to coach the Panthers. Feaster wouldn’t allow that (division rival, in the middle of the year — were the obvious reasons), so Dudley replaced himself with Torchetti (coincidentally, that story broke while I was here in Minneapolis for the All-Star Game — I edited pretentious clause, ha).
But Dudley gushes over Ramsay.
Until these teams are eliminated in the playoffs though, you can bet the Thrashers’ coaching job will be on hold.
I bet you never thought you’d get so much Thrashers info on a Wild blog. Hey, it’s the offseason and I wanted to freshen up the blog.”
ben
April 15th, 2010
1:22 pm
Ahl here:
That would never work because it would be comparable to the Thrashers in terms of levels of play. And people would opt to see the cheaper AHL over the thrashers. I read an interesting article about name changes. That should happen here in ten years. What I think is the NHL told ASG to “promote” Waddell to what he’s good at and find a replacement GM. And so they got Dudley, a great hockey mind and a friend of Don’s. Maybe they can’t fire Waddell straight up. Maybe he has a bizzarre contract. I mean, if ASG knows nothing of hockey, then Turner’s boys knew less. No, I don’t actually think the man has photos or anything.
I think this is a step in the right direction. I think the next step is to hire an assistant coach in the playoffs right now, and sign him to 2-year deal. Put in the contract that failure to get into the top eight gets you fired. This was a playoff caliber team before Kovy got / became a distraction. The payroll needs to go up. Also, keep good ties with Kovy and Hartley and Kozzy. When Kovy retires put his name in the rafters. Also, when Waddell does leave put 37 on someones back or in the rafters. That’ll be when this team has truely moved on and left that accident in the past. We can visit past, but we shouldn’t live there.
Tom (Capital T Tom)
April 15th, 2010
1:24 pm
I have talked with people associated with the Gladiators and can say they have looked into the economics of moving to the AHL and it does not make sense. They are a profitable and successful concern in the ECHL and want to keep it that way.
lilibeter
April 15th, 2010
1:27 pm
Stroz…I think you are spot on in your synopsis of what you believe Dudley’s and Waddell’s agreement to be, and based on what I’ve been reading from other fans on other sites, Dudley is 100% not here to be anybody’s yes-man. Were that the expectation, he would have stayed far, far away from Atlanta.
That being said, somebody really needs to keep me off of those other sites because I do NOT have the correct temperament to deal with ignorant people. Hey wait a minute, maybe that is the very reason why I’ve been having so many issues with D-Wad!
Zoomo
April 15th, 2010
1:40 pm
Just listened to Dudley on NHL Live. Interesting. Said one of the reasons for firing of Anderson was lack of development of Little and Bogosain. Also, says he has to have a coach who can adjust the style of play to fit the opponent and make in game adjustments. Sounds like he areed with Kozlov’s comments about the coaching staff.
NHL Live hosts brought up Don Lever. I didn’t know that Lever was one of Dudley’s assistants whne he was in Boston. Like I said interesting stuff.
Smoothie
April 15th, 2010
1:40 pm
After listening to Rick Dudley on NHL Live, don’t discount the possibility of Don Lever (currently of the Wolves) getting a look as they are former associates in Buffalo. And for those of you familiar with your beloved Atlanta Flames, he scored 14 G in 28 games for them in 1979-80. That would be an interesting way to reconnect with the former Flames’ and the hockey history in this town.
World Be Free
April 15th, 2010
2:07 pm
Smoothie-Duds and Rammer were close during their playing days in Buffalo too. Don’t discount the influence of Punch Imlach on both guys.
Not sure about Don Lever, he’s been an assistant for a long time, again back to Buffalo days. There’s gotta be a reason nobody seriously thought of him as coaching material to this point. However, the Flames connection with Lever would be neat.
Always Hoping
April 15th, 2010
2:09 pm
Lever would be a good choice as he spent many good years behind Lindy Ruff in Buffalo. Back in the day he played for Vancouver and had some good years before moving around the league. Playing for Vancouver in the early days made him a better coach.
Should the Predators go quick in round 1 is there any chance of us talking to Barry Trots?
Paminski
April 15th, 2010
2:30 pm
Zoomo – I have to agree that Anderson didn’t seem to know how to develop Bogo and Little. It seems odd since he was developing our players in the AHL. But then again, maybe not so odd considering the Thrashers performance year after agonizing year.
glovesave29
April 15th, 2010
2:37 pm
Tom – the Thrashers carry a bulk of the costs for the Gladiators when it comes to salaries. It would take a minimal change in ticket prices at their average of 5,166 per game. A single dollar per ticket per game is $185,976 for the season. Plus, you got players coming up and down…how great is it for them not to have to rush around, pack up their things, catch the flight. They stay in the same apartment, just drive to a different arena for work. Plus, you can have the AHL team work more closely with the NHL team in both on ice and video practices.
Alan – my guess is the Chiefs will lose thier affiliation (it happens all the time) with the Wild in favor of a team in the Central League – or maybe one of the western teams in the ECHL. It makes geographic sense for them, as well as the Thrashers / AHL Glads to use Greenville. Maybe you take the open ECHL franchise to Birmingham. They has the Tiger Sharks for years. Maybe try to affiliate with the Memphis RiverKings of the CHL. There are certainly options.
JB – the SPHL is miles below the ECHL in terms of quality. Columbus is close, and actually has a long history there, but it makes no sense. ECHL talent would destroy any SPHL teams.
I am on board with those who think DW is out of the way with hockey related issues. First of all, why make the change at all if its going to be status quo? It would eventually come to light, and the team would lose any shred of credibility that they have left (which unfortunaltely aint that much!) RD has a ton of experience, plus his reputation is on the line. It’s not his first time at the roadeo, so he doesnt have to take the gig with all of the strings attached just to get his foot in the door. He’s not going to be a puppet. Not his personality. No reason to do so anyhow…he’d just take a similar gig with another team who was not placing supposed strings to the job.
Schroeder – nice to have another member of the blue paint club on the boards! I am just hoping we even GET a goalie coach. Steve Weeks did play goal in the NHL, but others who have gone to Thrash practices can attest that he almost never worked with the goalies. He ran drills.
Smoothie
April 15th, 2010
2:59 pm
Did anyone watch Hockey Central last night? Apparently, JA was on there giving his side of the story, so to speak. Kind of threw Kovy under the bus for trying to do too much himself and not being a good leader. I believe the Falconer will have more on this at his blog if anyone wants to check in over there. Also, Anderson whined about how players had a hard time playing in front of so few fans / empty building. Anyone hear that? I think it’s the waaaaaaaa-bulance. C’mon guys, you’re paid to play hockey 100% effort every time you step on the ice, your remaining loyal fans don’t want to hear that bullcrap.
Alan R.
April 15th, 2010
3:30 pm
glovesave – Why try to predict that which hasn’t happened yet? Sure, the Wild might pull their affiliation, but all that is meaningless at this point.
And isn’t the CHL below the ECHL in terms of quality and player development anyway? I could be wrong, though.
I like the idea of having the AHL come to town for the Thrashers, but I’m against ridding ourselves of the ECHL.The AHL currently has 29 teams, which means there’s room for one more.
If the person who said the Gladiators aren’t interested in becoming an AHL franchise is to be believed, then the only option for getting the AHL close to home is to expand that league.
Rawhide
April 15th, 2010
3:41 pm
Smoothie – Regarding your 2:59 pm post. I cannot reveal the source, but the part about players complaining that it was hard to play in front of a 1/2 full arena….that is actually spot on correct.
Many of them would lament that it was tough to get “jazzed” or “pumped” knowing that there would be just as many…if not more…empty seats than full. It was, in their words, easier to play in front of a packed house than an “empty nest”.
Not sayin’ that’s reason to take a trip on the waaaaaaa-bulance or not, but that’s a part of the story that I’ve been told is true.
glovesave29
April 15th, 2010
3:49 pm
Alan…is this not what this whole blog is about – our thoughts and ideas? Just having some fun and throwing some ideas out there.
The CHL and ECHL are pretty much at the same level. The ECHL makes the claim they are higher, but they did the same with the old WCHL – but when they merged with the ECHL, the western teams won 3 Kelley Cups in the last 6 years.
J.B.
April 15th, 2010
3:51 pm
glovesave – Re: Columbus; really i was just pointing out geographic proximity of another pro hockey team that nobody had mentioned. I’m certain any SPHL team would get anihilated against AHL or ECHL talent.
Sidenote: Cottonmouth games are a blast. Great atmosphere down there. I highly recommend it if y’all want to check out some minor league action other than Gwinnett.
Alan R.
April 15th, 2010
4:02 pm
glovesave – Of course the blog, much to the behest of a few perpetually sour apples, is about having fun. I’m just of the opinion that we shouldn’t be trying to usher out the opportunity to bring in a new team. The “promoting the Gladiators” and “kicking the ECHL guys to ________ city” doesn’t jazz well with me. We should want to grow the sport here in every way possible, not shuffle teams and players around.
Just my take.
Zoomo
April 15th, 2010
4:04 pm
>>It was, in their words, easier to play in front of a packed
>>house than an “empty nest”.
I guess that explains the 4-0 drubbing in the 3/23 game, the biggest game in years. 14,000+ wasn’t enough to get them pumped up. geeez…
Smoothie
April 15th, 2010
4:16 pm
Bill – I don’t doubt that they felt a lack of “inspiration” if you will, but at the same time it’s there job to win and create excitement. The fans that are left don’t want to hear that crap. They want to feel appreciated when they are skewered constantly for actually wanting to see the Thrashers be successful. The players know this I am sure and won’t ever come out and say that they can’t get pumped up to play in front of 9,000 people, but they also better know that it’s up to them to play 100% no matter what and keep butts in the seats.
glovesave29
April 15th, 2010
4:18 pm
Alan – I understand your trepidation. The ECHL version does well here, so why fix what is not broken. But if you think of it from a logistical standpoint for both the player and the team, and throw out all of the other issues, it does make total sense. Have the AHL boys practice against the NHL team. Keep a closer eye on prospects. Have easier access to call ups…
JB – went to a home and home series between the Whoopee and Cottonmouths a few years back. I had a blast! They have a loyal fan base – which of course was a figment of my imagination, because according to all Canadian media – we down south cannot understand or appreciate hockey.
Rawhide
April 15th, 2010
4:22 pm
Smoothinator – Oh, I agree with your point regarding the players should always give 100%. I was just pointing out that there are some players that openly expressed that feeling.
Ya know, when I heard JA make that type of comment, my first thought was…”Well, OK…wouldn’t that then be the job of the head coach to properly motivate them”?
Smoothie
April 15th, 2010
4:31 pm
Big Willy – so true, so true. Perhaps John is only hurting himself by disclosing this little nugget of info. He may be viewed as someone who can’t motivate his troops in the face of adversity.
I just want to know though, what happened to the team that came off that bus on Feb 6th after nearly getting stranded on I-95 before their game against Fla? For awhile, I thought they were becoming a tight-knit bunch of guys who were rallying around each other to overcome such obstacles as an empty Club section later on in the season.
Got news for them: even if they are good next year and play well, there will still be tons of empty seats in the Club section and upper end zones during the week. People just don’t like dealing with the traffic and headache of a a 7 pm game in this town. Look at how many off “travel” days the Braves have on Mon and Tues t/out the season. Their marketing dept knows that its a tough sell no matter how good you are…money is made Thurs-Sunday in this town.
Alan R.
April 15th, 2010
4:32 pm
I completely agree with all that, glovesave. I just see no reason to oust a league that does well here. Atlanta is a big city, so why not have both minor league affiliates here? That’s all I’m saying
World Be Free
April 15th, 2010
4:55 pm
Smoothie-thanks for the info on Anderson’s interview.
On the one comment bout not enough fans-as a former player I have to tell you that line is a bunch of garbage! The player is affixed on his game and his opponent’s game I never heard the fans, unless there were a few (handful) in the stands and someone was yelling at me personally or all the opposing team’s fans were being hostile. Other than that, you don’t really notice the fans too much.
Player better and win and people will show up. That’s been this team’s problem for years and why soooo many people have left. You can list a good number of our fellow bloggers.
Rawhide
April 15th, 2010
5:40 pm
I completely agree with all that, glovesave. I just see no reason to oust a league that does well here. Atlanta is a big city, so why not have both minor league affiliates here? That’s all I’m saying
Alan R. – The Cobb County Wolves? I’m down on that!!
Alan R.
April 15th, 2010
5:49 pm
Or Peachtree City, Bill! Or McDonough, Conyers, Douglasville, etc. No reason for the northside to have a hockey monopoly
Lee
April 15th, 2010
6:06 pm
The Dekalb District Devils.
R. Stroz
April 15th, 2010
6:47 pm
The Woodstock Wolves sounds like the best idea.
Hokey Clisters
April 15th, 2010
9:52 pm
How bout the Fayetteville Figure Eights?
ben
April 16th, 2010
1:09 am
THE ATLANTA SPRAWL
DWTOO
April 16th, 2010
10:18 am
When the Gladiators had the “Name the Team Contest” submitted:
GWINNETT ROAD RAGE