Afinogenov can’t get no satisfaction
Recently Maxim Afinogenov was quoted by Dmitry Chesnoklov via twitter as saying, “I wouldn’t mind staying in Atlanta but the current offers from the team are unsatisfactory”.
To date Afinogenov has been unsuccessful in getting the Atlanta Thrashers or any other NHL team to offer a deal he’s willing to accept. And even though the soon-to-be 31-year old Russian forward isn’t quite to the point of being Too Proud to Beg, he has made known he’s willing to consider re-signing with the Thrashers. But the two sides are still yet to make a Connection.
Maxim Afinogenov reacts after scoring a late-game goal against the Boston Bruins last November. A former Thrasher looks to join in the celebration (AP Photo/John Amis)
Because of that, two weeks after the beginning of UFA signing season began, Max still Can’t Find No Satisfaction.
Last season Afinogenov netted a career-high 24 goals while in Thrasher blue and his 61 overall points matched his second highest total. But if there is a knock on Max, it’s that he still has issues with doing the Dirty Work in the defensive zone as he was Down in a Hole with a –17 rating last year. Only Zach Bogosian’s –18 was worse.
However, he’s certainly not alone in that regards as most Thrashers rosters have been prone to leave goalies crying out “Gimme Shelter”!
There were many last summer who said his skills would leave us High and Dry during the campaign…that his playing style would cause us to suffer our 19th Nervous Breakdown. “Don’t Cry to Me when he spins in circles, toe drags the puck only to lose it before shooting”, they told us.
But I think he really did put together a rather solid season last year…Honest I Do.
True, there were Good Times/Bad Times last season with Max…but to me, he gave a great effort in last winter’s campaign. Many times he would come to our Emotional Rescue by scoring a goal late in the third to win a game, or tie the score and send it to overtime. His speed often has him barreling toward the goal Like a Rolling Stone where he would then position himself with the puck and Let it Loose on goal. And while the playoffs eluded this Thrashers team yet again, he helped them win some very exciting game, although sometimes were found Winning Ugly ones too.
Now the last I heard, Rick Dudley and the Thrashers had offered Afinogenov another one-year deal…the dollars and cents I do not know. So apparently what Max is looking for is a contract that spans multiple years. That doesn’t have to mean Dudley and Co. need to wrap him up for a Long Long Time necessarily… but two or three at the least wouldn’t be too much to ask.
Certainly, re-signing Max wouldn’t be the Biggest Mistake the organization has ever made.
Would you like to see Afinogenov re-sign with the Thrashers?
- YES! It's Not Easy landing a talent like that! (50%, 152 Votes)
- Maybe - As long as the Money is right (47%, 141 Votes)
- NO! It would be the Biggest Mistake Dudley could make! (3%, 9 Votes)
Total Voters: 302
Loading ...But if the Thrashers are still interested in retaining Afinogenov’s services, I hope they don’t Play with Fire by dragging their feet. If so, they could soon find themselves Out of Time and see his services Slipping Away. After all…Time Waits for No One.
So, Tell Me Thrasherville… what are your thoughts regarding bringing back Maxim Afinogenov? Is he the final piece in the Thrashers offensive puzzle and without him the lineup is left Torn and Frayed?
Is he a player who you think could help get us Down The Road Apiece… but since You Can’t Always get What You Want he could go somewhere else and it’d be OK?
Or do you think We’re Waistin’ Time discussing the matter altogether and the team is better off telling Max “You Better Move On”?
Any Way You Look at It, the Thrashers still need another top-flight winger to help round out this offense. And it stands to reason that re-signing one we’re already familiar with could be better than bringing in New Faces. I for one would love to see him continue to provide a Little T&A around Thrasherville.
Uh…that would be Tallies & Assists.
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151 comments Add your comment
Jason
July 15th, 2010
9:21 pm
Beatles were better. First.
Gib Traf
July 15th, 2010
9:40 pm
i say that was a failed experiment…. the stones refs, that is
MysteryGutiarMan
July 15th, 2010
9:48 pm
Max we love you! Stay in the A please! dont ditch us your a starter star
Ron Wood
July 15th, 2010
9:49 pm
Certainly bringing Max back would provide the Thrashers offense with A Bigger Bang
Jack
July 15th, 2010
10:25 pm
I think Dudley like many GMs are awaiting the resolution of Kovalgate. My honest opinion is as long as we get another good scorer than I am happy. However it would be nice to have Max back.
kracker
July 15th, 2010
10:34 pm
I don’t know what to think, RH. I’m glad you picked this to write about. I saw the same earlier and I’m like pay up, ASG!! Except I don’t know if money is the problem, it may be like you suggest, more of a length of term difference of agreement between the parties.
Or it may be a Dudley thing: “I want tough two-way players.” OK. But we still need some scorers. I don’t know what the talks have been about…or even if any actual talks have occured. It just seems to me that these parties could maybe….maybe come to terms on a 2-year deal? If they wish to come to terms.
The Real Thrash
July 15th, 2010
10:52 pm
Beatles then Stones
The Real Thrash
July 15th, 2010
10:53 pm
Bring him back
Brendan
July 15th, 2010
11:25 pm
Well, we don’t have many Russians left. Burmistrov is far from guaranteed a roster spot. And Nik Antropov signed, at the prodding of Ilya Kovalchuk. Wonder how Antro views the move now?, with three years left on his contract. He’s not waiting on a lady … he’s Just Waitin’ on a Friend. Maybe that friend is Max Afinogenov?
My outsider opinion is that Max and the Thrashers would have a deal right now, if both sides would agree to a 1-year deal. Max probably wants 3-years. Max has probably fielded offers around the NHL for 2-years. GM’s would probably like Max on a 1-year deal. GM’s might be okay with 2-years, with Max. But they’ve SEEN Max on a 3-year deal, and nobody wants it. Unfortunately, that’s on Max, himself. Sometimes his ‘give-a-spit’ meter can get very low. And when he underperforms, he plays less minutes. And it’s harder to hit your numbers … when you’re not playing your minutes. Max may have to face the fact that … from here on out, he’s looking at 1-year deals. That’s what keeps him honest. Once a GM hands Finny a 3-year deal, he can’t hit the ‘undo’ button.
Rawhide, I think the worst contract the Thrashers ever did was Bobby Holik’s 3-year/$12.75 million deal. And if it wasn’t that one, it was Damian Rhodes’ 3-year/$10 million.
The Smooth Spark
July 15th, 2010
11:28 pm
One thing is for sure: if you bring Max back (for two years at the right price), then you have a lot more flexibility with your top 3 lines.
Let’s assume Max plays top line mins with Antro and Bergie. Then Pevs centers Big Buff and Little. That would allow you to play Kane, Slater and Ladd together against other teams top lines. They would be a fore-checking nitemare for other teams similar to what you had with Colby, Kane and Slates.
Ladd adds wven more grit and he has arguably better hands inside and below the circles. But most importantly, you have lots more options with your top nine forwards.
kracker
July 15th, 2010
11:40 pm
That’s some good stuff, Spark and Brendan.
Now if Max and his agent…and Dudley/DW will all agree on a two-year deal…well let’s party!
Flames
July 15th, 2010
11:52 pm
Brendan-You are exactly right about Max. I would love to have him back for a one year contract at 1 million. Nothing more! Sorry guys but I love the rolling stones.
volgrad1985
July 16th, 2010
12:29 am
I was happy when we got Maxie last year because I enjoy his Helter Skelter style of play. He offered the Help we needed while his presence was Fixing a Hole in our lineup. I had heard that he was a selfish player in Buffalo, always thinking ‘I, Me, Mine’ with the puck, but I Should’ve Known Better, Because he wasn’t like that at all.
I’m sure It Won’t Be Long, but I’ve Got a Feeling that until he signs the contract he wants, he will remain Free as a Bird, a real Nowhere Man. And his girlfriend can not rightfully say, Baby You’re a Rich Man.
However, I’m afraid that in The End, all we can do is Wait to see if We Can Work It Out and Maxie and Dudley can Come Together on a contract, or else he may end up Back in the USSR.
Let`s Start the Season
July 16th, 2010
1:39 am
So many song writing geniuses.
English Teacher
July 16th, 2010
2:28 am
White the BIGGEST mistake? Do you not remember Zhitnik for Coburn?
Acer
July 16th, 2010
4:40 am
Brendan, I don’t think it matters much to have Russians (or Russian speakers) around for both Burmistrov and Antropov. Just checked Barrie’s roster from last year and I didn’t find a second Russian on that team. Antro is a dual citizen and holds a Canadian passport.
I don’t want Max back. You have a sufficient scoring punch with Bergy, Antro, Little, Ladd, Buff and Pevs. Max stands for the smallish shifty and defensively liable player which the Thrashers relied on too much in the past without having much success. I’m not concerned about losing offensive without Max. Here’s were the hiring of Ramsay also comes into play. I’m hopeful that he’ll successfully work with the blueline corp.
World Be Free
July 16th, 2010
5:23 am
Bring Max back, 2 years at $1.5M / year-he earned it with his play last year. I had a major issue with Max his last 2-3 years in Buffalo, but not last season in Atlanta. Agree on Beatles over Stones but I can’t imagine my youth without the Stones. The Beatles had already broken up and I saw the Stones twice.
lola-congrats on the autograph-made your week, maybe even your year! I expect to see you with a #36 jersey when I see you next.
We could dedicate an entire week of blog to Thrashers’ mistakes including the biggest one. But the good thing about all the mistakes is that we all know what it’s like to be down. We now have the right man calling the shots. Hopefully we’re on the way up.
Alan R.
July 16th, 2010
7:22 am
Yo Teacher. We remember. We don’t want to be reminded constantly.
DWTOO
July 16th, 2010
7:38 am
Bring back Max on a two year deal, and give him a little more than WBF wants to. Don’t think Max was the defensive liability some make him out to be. Not a stalwart, but, he hustled back on D all the time. Just wasn’t very effective sometime.
On a side note just heard on the radio that a NJ girl was arrested for causing a car wreck while performing oral sex on a man she had just picked up in her daddy’s car. Will wonders never cease.
kracker
July 16th, 2010
7:56 am
That’s one heck of a side note DW!
Putting On The Foil
July 16th, 2010
8:04 am
No more than two years for Max. See if he can duplicate last year. Otherwise, it’s time for Max to ramble on. Everyone knows Zep rules.
Not Blind
July 16th, 2010
8:11 am
I would rather bring up a young guy than have Max back.
Any free agent that is not signed by now needs to face facts, ie, NOBODY thinks you are worth what you are asking.
Rawhide
July 16th, 2010
8:13 am
Jason – Actually…I’m a Beatles man myself too.
Volgrad1985 – Very, very well played!
English Teacher – True…but I was thinking more about signings than trades.
DWTOO – Um….er….ah…well, thank you for sharing.
rob
July 16th, 2010
8:13 am
I think Antropov’s play spoke for itself about if Kovy leaving affected him. I actually hope he plays harder just to spite Kovy for F@ing him like that. Everything is up in the air as we await the drama queen to realize he won’t get what he wants. Sign with LA or go to the KHL already.
glovesave29
July 16th, 2010
8:23 am
I wouldn’t call Nik a Russian to his face…ya might not like the response. Sure, Kazakhstan was an SSR in the Soviet Union when he was born, but it is a sovereign country now.
I want Max back on a two year deal, $3M total. That is fair. We also need to reward loyalty and hard work, and we got that last year. I am sure other players around the league are looking to see how we handle this.
Brendan Morrison says he’s rejected one offer from a team he did not want to play for…wonder if that was us.
Add Max, and either Stempniak or Frolov and let the rooks fill in the gaps. Let’s get the season started already!
d
July 16th, 2010
8:28 am
Interesting how no other NHL team will apparently come close to the $70mil/7 year contract the Thrash offered to Kovy. In hindsight, this further illustrates they lack of judgement from DW. Also, do we know if Dudley attempted to talk DW out of the final Kovy offer?
World Be Free
July 16th, 2010
8:29 am
Max had an impact on opposing defenses last season. He is one of the fastest players in the league and he comes to the net from the off-wing. That makes him an offensive asset that we cannot discount. I like the new players we have acquired, but none of them have the speed that will disrupt a defense. Speed is more disruptive than strength, especially with some of the pedestrian defenseman in the game today. Antropov and Bergfors benefited from Max’s speed.
If Max isn’t working out at the end of the season, he is the type of player that will bring value at the trade deadline. He can add life to a lineup with his speed; other teams may want him for a lift if they are trying to make playoffs. He would fetch at least a 2nd round pick at the deadline, if we needed to dump him.
Rawhide
July 16th, 2010
8:34 am
Interesting how no other NHL team will apparently come close to the $70mil/7 year contract the Thrash offered to Kovy. In hindsight, this further illustrates they lack of judgement from DW. Also, do we know if Dudley attempted to talk DW out of the final Kovy offer?
d – Yes, is is interesting indeed. But there is this theory out there that Waddell knew Kovy was not going to re-sign here…not no-way, no-how. So DW went into CYA mode and threw near-max dollars at him. Again, he knew Kovy wouldn’t take it, but it cave DW the cover needed to convence the Thrasherville masses that he did all he could.
shrugs…
schroeder
July 16th, 2010
8:37 am
I’m with gs29,sign Max for 2 yrs and I would say either Stempniak or Ponikarovski, fil the gaps with rooks and lets drop the Freakin puck already!!!!!!!!!!!
World Be Free
July 16th, 2010
9:02 am
Stempniak will want at least $4M/season. He is the highest scoring right winger left on the UFA market. Folks in Buffalo are pushing for him cause he’s a local boy, but I doubt the cheap-o Sabres will pony up for him.
The Smooth Spark
July 16th, 2010
9:04 am
WBF – ’sho ’nuff! Speed kills and its worth the risk. Marc Savard didn’t exactly match the hard fore-checking scheme in Boston, but we need his skill and speed despite some of his shortcomings. Perhaps Ramsay can break him of the habit of dropping the puck at the blueline, take it / get it deep! But no way we get him inked unless we pay him over $2 M per year.
Red Light
July 16th, 2010
9:18 am
If two young forwards make the team, there is no room for Max. I think that ship has sailed. Consider that Atlanta was able to sign him for $800k last season, he turned down their offer and no one else has signed him in the first 16 days speaks volumes to me.Translation = no one wants him at his price. As WBF said, based upon his performance of last year, he deserves more than $1 million, and in fact, with Alex Tanguay getting $1.7 million from Calgary (down from $2.5 in Tampa) for a 37-point season means that Max is likely asking the price Smooth Spark suggests, if not more.
The offer should be $1.8 million plus bonus for this season. Nothing beyond. Do you want to pay that price? Not me. I’m with Not Blind on this one if Max won’t accept a one-year deal. Play the kids before they get lost in the Chicago Wolves shuffle.
The Smooth Spark
July 16th, 2010
9:23 am
For Christ’s sake! We paid Slava and White $6 M last year to sit in the press-box and play spot mins after Dec. and y’all have a problem paying Max, who plays hard almost every shift, a little over $2 M??
FormerIslesFan
July 16th, 2010
9:23 am
Volgrad, with comments like that, you should consider becoming Something of a Paperback Writer! Because, your version was almost a Revolution! Almost makes Rawhide think “I Should Have Known Better.” Or maybe we should just Let It Be.
Tom Lysiak
July 16th, 2010
9:25 am
Seems that everyone (GM’s and agents) is stuck until “Days of our Kovy” is settled. At that time the dominoes will start to fall. Duds probably has a couple of other people who intrigue him more, and will fall back to Max since he is not being bowled over by offers. The last couple of spots might be the most important to Duds. Just a guess…
I’ve seen the Beatles and the Stones live. Totally different, both awesome.
Alan R.
July 16th, 2010
9:27 am
So DW went into CYA mode and threw near-max dollars at him. Again, he knew Kovy wouldn’t take it, but it cave DW the cover needed to convence the Thrasherville masses that he did all he could.
It’s also made Kovalchuk and his agent look pretty bad, too.
Grossman, this past Tuesday morning:
“Hey Dudley… about that 7yr/$70mil contract offer from last year…”
“HAHAHAHAHA!!” *CLICK*
Red Light
July 16th, 2010
9:29 am
Back in pool again Maxwell plays the fool again. GM gets annoyed. Wishing to avoid an unpleasant scene!
Buzilla in CT
July 16th, 2010
9:31 am
That was worse than Gene Shalit…please don’t do that anymore Big Willy Tilly
kracker
July 16th, 2010
9:35 am
I will trot out the old Carol Burnett recurring skit and name the Kovalchuk saga “As the Stomach Turns.”
Buzilla in CT
July 16th, 2010
9:37 am
…and leave Max on the scrap heap. I thought we were trying to get rid of one dimensional players and form a more defensive team
Russian
July 16th, 2010
9:39 am
It is very interesting post, much more interesting than All Stars Baseball
Anyway, I am very confused right now. Do we need Max? or NOT?
We need forward who can score. Max can do it. But we saw what happened with White last season. He did not score lot of goals. Also I always like to Detroit red Wings system. They work together every game, every shift. If they attack, 5 players are going crush the net. If they defense all 5 stay in zone and cover man by man. In Atlanta system we always have Cherry Picker (Kovalchuk, Max, Heatley) It is a wrong play. I hope Ramsay will fix it.
At this point Max is not a good with defense skills. He has a speed and good hand, but he does not care about own zone (Kovy syndrome). I hope we can bring all our RFA and let’s see roster now.
Berg-Antro-Little
Buf-Pever-Kane (I like to give him more minutes)
Ladd-Slater(White)-Mc Arhtur(Eager)
Thorburn-White(Slater)-Bolt
Also we can get Bura, Comrie or Akim to the Roster.
We do need Max Afinogenov!!!
Rawhide
July 16th, 2010
9:48 am
Red Light – LOL!!! Ya know, when I read your comments I sometimes wonder How Do You Do It? It seems like you are grabbing from hockey knowledge Here There and Everywhere in you mind.
FIF & ‘Zilla – First of…Good Morning, Good Morning to both of you.
When I post up blogs like the one I did Yesterday, I know there will be some who will Ask Me Why I did so and want tell me, “You Can’t Do That”. Some will simply think of me as A Fool On The Hill…I can Dig It.
However, I post it up anyway Because I like What Goes On around in the comments section after such blogs… even though it sometimes provokes too much Monkey Business. But in The End, I know We Can Work It Out and Come Together in agreement in the fact that we all want to see the Thrashers succeed.
That, plus I do enjoy Every Little Thing you all post up and discuss.
Now, I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party, but I’ve got to Get Back to work now. It’s been so Helter Skelter around the office lately that I sometimes think I’m working Eight Days a Week.
But don’t worry…I’ll Be Back.
Badger Bob
July 16th, 2010
9:53 am
Anyone wanting more than one of Max/Frolov/Stemp needs to re-read Smoothie’s 11:28 PM post. With one of them we’ve got a very solid top 9 (and his line up already has no place for Charmin or the General). With more than one? Then we’re not getting a look at Mach/Cormier/Petterson.
I think our final move at forward will be a trade, possibly involving MacA after we beat him up in arbitration for even considering a raise after not earning his salary last year.
Tincup9
July 16th, 2010
9:58 am
I can’t keep pace with the song references, but I do want to comment on the d – Rawhide Kovy Oberservations.
DW may have had the last laugh after all. Throwing out a max contract and a 10yr/100M deal have Kovy believing he is all that and a bag of pucks. No one else is offering the same and he can’t get a deal done. Reading the blogs from NJ and LA, fans are already questioning his desire to play for their city and are ready to move on.
Finally, unless the Thrashers have gotten permission to roster 25 players, how are they going to sign Max to a multi-year, give the rookies a look and hit the roster #. They already had to trade prospects just to get the last trades approved. Says something when you have 5 lines under contract and are stil looking for your top 6 forwards.
World Be Free
July 16th, 2010
10:06 am
Tom – you are dating yourself if you saw the Beatles! I saw McCartney last summer and it was one of the best concerts ever!
The Kovy situation is a joke-people around the league now see why we are happy to see him go!
five_hole
July 16th, 2010
10:09 am
I’m sure Max is going through his 19th Nervous Breakdown with contract deliberations. But we saw him at Wimbleton, watching his Honkey Tonk Woman play. Personally, I think Max Ain’t Too Proud to Beg regarding his contract. Personally, I have a little Sympathy for the Devil myself. I know it just feels like you’re 2000 Light Years from Home. But he’s just a Monkey Man.
Red Light
July 16th, 2010
10:11 am
Bill:
It’s Just a Day in the Life of one possessed by hockey.
Found my coat and grabbed my hat, found the blog in seconds flat. Found my way upstairs and had a smoke, And Smooth Spark spoke and I went into a dream…
My goal is to bookmark every Internet page I can with applicable lyrics, quotes and statistics and other hockey related information to quickly rebuke any comments attributed to Joe Friday, The Smooth Spark, DWTOO and FormerIslesFan. LOL
Another signing to make World Be Free’s day: Tim Conboy for the Sabres 7th defenseman spot. All they need are Nos. 3-4-5-6 now.
Tom Lysiak
July 16th, 2010
10:13 am
WBF – I can’t deny being an old fart. Saw them at Atlanta Stadium (what it was called back then) June 1965. I was ten and my mom took my sister and me. Had the stage set up around second base and you couldn’t see them at all. But, it was still cool considering what they became….
R. Stroz
July 16th, 2010
10:34 am
I saw Ringo last Saturday night at Chastain. He really dances like a white man.
And, as a side note, voting is a political activity, and unlike a member of ACORN or a Chicago democrat, I could only place one vote on the blog poll. DRATS!
Someone should tell Dudley and Max, Love It Don’t Come Easy.
kracker
July 16th, 2010
10:45 am
Ben tweet – BenThrashers Good news for NHL GameCenter Live subscribers. In 2010-11 you’ll be able to choose between road and home video feeds.
More options…
The Smooth Spark
July 16th, 2010
10:53 am
Y’all better stop it or else this young whipper-snapper is gonna start dropping Metallica lyrics on My Friends of Misery…
Now anyhoo, thanks for the vote of confidence Badger Bob. Having depth of talent in the NHL (13 forwards deep with capable call-ups) is essential to success over the long, rigorous NHL season. While I think Cormier, Machacek and Kulda have a really good shot to make the team this season, I would not be surprised if only one of them is truly ready with Macho ending up the 13th forward. I’m pretty sure I read somewhere there is another buy-out period later this summer so we can probably expect Whitey to end up as one of the Unforgiven, Sad But True.
If we don’t sign Max, then look for someone like Pettersson or the General to challenge for a wing spot in camp. And while I don’t see the harm in re-upping Max for 2 years, please don’t perceive me as being Holier Than Thou when it comes to my stance on the matter. I’m okay with letting Max’s career as a Thrasher Fade to Black.
Lastly, take a look at the poll, only 4% of the 132 people who have voted think it would be an absolute act of The Frayed Ends of Sanity to bring Max back into the offensive Battery. But then again, some of you still think of Max as a Leper Messiah or just some Disposable Hero to throw onto the scrap heap like a Thing That Should Not Be.
Sorry, just had to do it.
Alan R.
July 16th, 2010
11:00 am
kracker – That’s a step in the right direction. Now, let’s allow people in-market to watch their team. I can’t always get to a TV, and I’d rather subscribe to something like GameCenter Live than to watch the games via myp2p.eu.
Lee
July 16th, 2010
11:01 am
If Finny is trying to make “Kovy Money”, I don’t want him here. He’s good, but he’s not worth the big bucks. I’d love to see him back though.
Lee
July 16th, 2010
11:01 am
……That is, only if he gets a fair deal.
glovesave29
July 16th, 2010
11:11 am
If I can only have one, I take Stempniak first, Max second, Frolov third and Ponikarovsky fourth.
schroeder
July 16th, 2010
11:13 am
GS29, Gotta love the way a goaltender thinks!!! Amen to ya my brotha!!!
well played
July 16th, 2010
11:25 am
when I came across this hockey blog from Atlanta I thought for sure I’d look down at the comments section to find This Place Is Empty. I thought hockey in the south was dead but I guess that was Just My Imagination. most blogs read more like a Turd On The Run and are very boring but I can see now Where The Boys Go in Atlanta to talk hockey.
World Be Free
July 16th, 2010
11:35 am
Tom-way too cool! Stroz-Ringo is an OLD white man!
On another subject, can anoyone else understand Kiovu’s deal in Minnesota? That’s a Shawn Horcoff contract to me, he’s in Minny forever. I am not saying he’s as bad as Horcoff, but he is certainly not as good as other guys making that much coin.
Flagstaff
July 16th, 2010
11:49 am
Matt McConnell said yesterday that he doubts that the Thrashers will acquire any more UFA forwards for a while. He thinks that Dudley wants to wait until training camp to see how players like Burmistrov, Cormier, Machacek, etc. do.
Badger Bob
July 16th, 2010
11:52 am
Excellent point, WBF. With all the disasterous contracts and trades and drafts the Thrashers have had, we sometimes forget how many other clubs are making similarly bad deals. Many of the worst deals have been happening in the “traditional” hockey markets like Edmonton (everything they’ve touched in the past 2 years), Tronna (a cap max team that looks like an AHL team), Calgary (trading for Alice? Re-signing Ollie?), Ottawa (the return on Heatley from San Jose). We’ll be happy NOT to be paying Colby $9M for a few big hits and little else, Kovy $100M for very exciting singles figure skating, and Campbell $7M for less than top pair play. Bet Duds keeps everyone on a short-term contract, unless you prove you show up regardless of what your contract reads.
Sage of Bluesland
July 16th, 2010
11:55 am
Great comments and twisting of some great music…Beatles among my all-time favorites…”Gimme Shelter” among my all-time favorite songs…Good stuff.
Enjoyed the diversion–but then reality came crashing down on me when I thought of both the ownership and senior leadership of this franchise.
Futility–and insincerity of goals…Happy to just be in the club…Lip-service to winning the title…Really content to just be schedule-fodder for the real teams in the league…
Such a shame. It’s actually worse than Revolution Number 9…
Bluenote
July 16th, 2010
12:00 pm
Not a lot left to work with crew, but…
When the Whip Comes Down I think there will be Rough Justice.
Max will have Far Away Eyes as he sees an expectation for more responsible, 2-way D move his payday claims Down the Line.
You Can’t Always Get What You Want….but a 1 yr deal with bonus is the Max for Max.
Stones rule at my house. JFK in ‘78….great if somewhat out-of-focus memories.
lola
July 16th, 2010
12:00 pm
WBF: Great idea for my next jersey! I will do my best to make that happen!
World Be Free
July 16th, 2010
12:05 pm
lola-you need to get the jersey signed too!
lola
July 16th, 2010
12:07 pm
And I can wear it with my hat that he signed last year — Yep! I’m obsessed!
World Be Free
July 16th, 2010
12:09 pm
Max thought he had a new contract but it turned out to be “Just my Imagination (Running Away With Me)”.
Sage-good to have you back, keep the faith dude-no I really mean it.
I heard DW was looking for a house in your neighborhood.
alex
July 16th, 2010
12:11 pm
i am talking asg (dud can go as far as asg let him) OK if asg commited to vinning, making playoff run, they should bring at least one real offensive veapon on this team (max, stepniak, poni) if they intend to continue play cheap and fall short of playoff like previous 11 years expect announcement ” we are happy where we are” or idiot dw going to garantee something. we all got experience with this organization. let see.
J.B.
July 16th, 2010
12:14 pm
Time for Flames to weigh in again…
Red Light
July 16th, 2010
12:20 pm
For the first time in franchise history, this team has a lot of young depth, and now it’s up to the team to develop them in the right way. Hopefully, once the younger kids leave the Junior ranks and sign their first pro deals, that they will actually be developed. I have never understood why Gwinnett gets the non-prospects for the most part, while the real prospects are forced to play a more limited role in Chicago behind the older pros who are good hockey players but just can’t find a spot in the NHL. That Chicago roster has been laden with those types in the past. To develop, coaching and ice time are imperative. If you look over past numbers in that regard with the Wolves, you’ll see what I mean. I hope that is another thing Dudley can help change during his tenure here.
World Be Free
July 16th, 2010
12:31 pm
Red Light, add to this the fact that both teams, the Wolves and Thrashers need to play the same style and be coached in similar fashions to allow players in Chicago to make the seemless transition to the Thrashers. I know that’s a run on sentence English Teacher.
FormerIslesFan
July 16th, 2010
12:48 pm
Red Light: Rebuke my comments??? What have I ever done to you!!
On Max: I’m just not sure that he’s the Everyday Glory that we need. Sure, he has offensive Bravado and his skills can Animate a crowd, but sometime I wonder if he is Driven. He certainly does like the Limelight, though. I guess with a player like him, you have to tell him to Show, Don’t Tell. Maybe he will take the message Closer to the Heart and Stick It Out in Atlanta,. Maybe he’ll take his chances, Roll The Bones and end up somewhere else. If he can be a Working Man with a Mission on defense and not just a Fly By Night goal hanger that we treat with Kid Gloves, then I would say he’s worth a Ghost Of A Chance and could become The Weapon. But, you can’t say that after what we’ve already seen that we haven’t had a Distant Early Warning.
If he willing to show some Vital Signs on defense, then Presto, we should sign him. If he won’t, the take The Pass on him and Leave That Thing Alone. I’ve had enough of The Main Monkey Business.
My hope is that this team will be a Far Cry better than we’ve seen in the past.
Yes, Rawhide…that was just for you.
Red Light
July 16th, 2010
12:52 pm
World Be Free: No question about it, but I’m not sure that will ever happen.
Red Light
July 16th, 2010
12:53 pm
It’s the Isles portion that I object to!
Monkey
July 16th, 2010
1:02 pm
I like Max. Bring him back.
DWTOO just misses the old days.
World Be Free
July 16th, 2010
1:11 pm
Red Light-the Wolves/Thrashers’ relationship is a good question for Dudley. His ability to bring synergy to this relationship is a true test of how much power he really.
3stripes
July 16th, 2010
1:12 pm
“Kovy $100M for very exciting singles figure skating”
OK, that was funny.
BlueSpark
July 16th, 2010
1:22 pm
Stempniak. Do it, Duds. I’ve been waiting for that announcement for 2 weeks. What’s the hold up? We still have to spend a bunch just to make the floor, don’t we?
And please, nobody bother complaining when we do overspend on a UFA. That’s the only way anyone signs here.
glovesave29
July 16th, 2010
1:24 pm
Flagstaff…I hope Matt is wrong, that’s a risky proposition considering Duds is getting a slight reprieve from the disgruntled masses after 11 years of getting Waddelled. Why not take a flyer on Stempniak, Frolov, Max, Poni, etc to make the team really deep? Some veteran leader ship never hurt…and Lee is only 27! Has the makings to be a 30 goal scorer. One of those younger players shows up at camp and is not ready for the big club yet, then it is too late…we are screwed (again).
kracker
July 16th, 2010
1:37 pm
Yeah, Glove, I.D.W.T. is a nice tag line but it’s going to be a nervous time between now and camp if Duds doesn’t acquire another forward. What’s the likelyhood that any of those four will remain unsigned in the NHL or KHL when pre-season games are underway? Very little chance of that , IMO.
Cornbread
July 16th, 2010
1:38 pm
I’m ok sending Max to Exile. I want for once to see a Thrashers team that gets their Rocks Off every night and Rips This Joint not with one or two players that just Shake Your Hips. The Thrashers are playing Casino Boogie with Max and Tumbling Dice. Sweet Virginia and I are Torn and Frayed over this. We do love that we have more than one Sweet Black Angel on the roster and hope that the local kids are listening to this record. We want this team to drink from The Loving Cup and makes us Happy instead of another Turd On The Run giving us the Ventilator Blues. On Kovalchuk, I Just Want To See His Face when the Thrashers Let It Loose, All Down The Line, and Stop Breaking Down when the NHL will finally Shine A Light on the Thrashers as the Soul Survivor thanks to Kovy’s choosing his own Exile On Main Street.
Adam
July 16th, 2010
1:46 pm
WBF & RL – I’ve been thinking about that very topic myself the last few days. Funny you bring it up now. I was at PC on Saturday and was sitting right behind Dudley & company. It didn’t seen like the right time to ask any questions… Maybe we can get C-Viv to ask them for us.
The ECHL just doesn’t have the same talent level as the AHL which is why we don’t see more players down here. I sure would like to see some kind of a move to put an AHL team in Gwinnett Arena. It’s just whether there would be enough support locally to make it profitable. I just don’t think you could find a better setup in sport than having your minor league affiliate less than 2 miles from the training barn.
Zombie Steve
July 16th, 2010
2:02 pm
I hate to think that there is a Communication Breakdown between Max and the Thrasher mgmt. I think Max proved himself last season and deserves a piece of the Custard Pie.
But if he’s asking for a 3 year contract, he’s going to leave the mgmt saying “Hey, Hey, Want Can I Do?” It will be interesting to see if Max with be shown a Whole Lotta Love or be stuck like a Fool in the Rain. Whatever the outcome, the only thing Max can say in the end: “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”.
Ten Years Gone since this team came to be….we’ve had Good Times, Bad Times….we’ve been Trampled Under Foot….and we’ve Rocked and Rolled…. I look forward to the time when this team has a Celebration Day. Is Our Time Gonna Come or will the Song Remain the Same??
One thing is for certain about this up coming season: We’re Gonna Groove
FormerIslesFan
July 16th, 2010
2:16 pm
Zombie Steve…seems to me that your message tended to Ramble On.
Russian
July 16th, 2010
2:40 pm
Hockey Buzz said:
1. Modano will be in Detroit for 2 years
2. Kovy will be in Kings (85%). Deal might be done today or Sunday evening. I hope it is happend. It is taking sooooo Looooong!
Zombie Steve
July 16th, 2010
2:41 pm
yes, Friday afternoons typically have most folk Dazed and Confused…. where’s a cold beer when you need one?
Zombie Steve
July 16th, 2010
2:42 pm
Kovy’s Goin’ to California….. (ok, I’ll stop!)
J-man
July 16th, 2010
2:51 pm
More Stones references than I’ve ever seen anywhere that wasn’t about the Stones. Some of those are pretty obscure too. If you can name songs on _Metamorphosis_ then you know your Stones.
No, the biggest mistake in Thrashers history was signing Steve Rucchin. At least White gave them one good year and one mediocre one. Or you could make a great case that the Coburn trade was far worse than signing White. Dudley could have bought out White this summer or placed him on waivers and hoped for a pickup (at 50% of his salary, some team might actually be willing to take a chance on White). Those are possibly bigger mistakes than signing him in the first place.
Joe Friday
July 16th, 2010
2:55 pm
It seems that some help is needed in determining who the two greatest rock and roll bands are and since we haven’t broached either yet let me breach the Communication Breakdown that has left all including Kovy and Grossman Dazed and Confused. I still think the Lombardi will risk being raised on the Gallows Pole and that Hot Dog is still Going to California. If he doesn’t it’ll be Nobody’s Fault but Mine for overvaluing his worth 2 years before the impending lockout, but I still believe that Heartbreaker is going to Rock and Roll In The Evening and bring a Whole Lotta Love as he endeavors to bring the Kings on the Stairway to Heaven.
Back home, I think Dudley Won’t Get Fooled Again by Max and is standing by his one year offer or he is prepared to then run with his belief that The Kids are Alright and give Cormier et al their shot in camp. Back in My Generation we didn’t have Pinball Wizards like Kovy and Max doing their Sister Disco figure skating around, and I pray that Dudley sticks with building us a squad with boys ready to show him The Real Me.
Either way I’m treading water here in the Summertime Blues and wiling away the time with the Squeeze Box to keep me happy until we are ready to ride The Magic Bus back down to Philips this fall hoping to see a brand new tougher squad when we look at our new guys and happily exclaim “Who the $#%@ Are You?!?”
Alan R.
July 16th, 2010
3:22 pm
The Hurricanes are making their 1 October 2010 game against the Thrashers open to the public. That’s right, free hockey! I’m sure some of the Atlanta fans would find an excuse to road trip to NC to see that.
Hey ASG, how about a free exhibition game at Philips, eh? These practice games should be free, anyway, you know.
kracker
July 16th, 2010
3:22 pm
Hockey Gods
Please send us some hockey news quickly.
Amen.
Zombie Steve
July 16th, 2010
3:25 pm
yes, the heat is starting to get to us
The Smooth Spark
July 16th, 2010
3:35 pm
Only 6 votes out of 174 saying ‘absolutely NOT’ w/r/t Max…hmmm. Might just be enough fodder for a petition to give to Duds, dontcha’ think?
Anyway, to help myself decide once and for all, I did a bit of analysis of Max’s stats from last season. Here are the interesting tid-bits:
1) Plus/Minus in Wins = +11
Plus/Minus before trade: -8
2) Plus/Minus in Loss = -29
3) Plus/Minus in OTLs = + 1
4) PPG before Kovy trade: .800 in 55 games
5) PPG after Kovy traded: .630 in 27 games
6) SOG Avg before trade: 2.27 SOG / game
7) SOG Avg after trade: 2.07 SOG / game
9) Plus/Minus after trade: -9
Footnotes:
1) Team Wins = 35
-10 in December when entire team swooned
2) Team Loss = 34
3) Team OTLs = 13
4) 17 goals scored before trade (.31 / gm)
5) 7 goals scored after trade (.26 / gm)
9) – 6 in April (in 3 gms) after team was pretty much eliminated
Keep in mind the entire team was a combined -16 at even strength (not counting EN goals or SH goals at all). I somehow doubt Max was completely responsible for the -16 as a team even though his -17 would seem to indicate that. But keep in mind that Afinogenov had the misfortune of playing with White and Kozlov a lot of the year and outside of a miserable stretch with Kovy and Antropov in early December, played well when playing top line minutes. While Afinogenov was terrible with a -10 in December, here are the +/- numbers for the rest of the “top 6″:
Antropov: -4
Little: -7
Kozlov: -8
White: -2
Peverley: -7
Kovalchuk -3
I think Afinogenov’s worst hockey was late December into early January when he found himself playing with Kozlov and Peverley. That line was an absolute disaster as Kozzie and Pevs were a -15 combined during that stretch of the season. Brutal.
See, if you put Afinogenov with the right line-mates, then he can be effective. Perhaps not as effective as a .8 points per game, but he could probably muster a .6 to .65 for 50-60 points and 20 goals with hopefully no worse than a -5 or so. Heck, he could be a positive player if playing alongside Antropov and Kaner / Big Buf.
Red Light
July 16th, 2010
4:08 pm
The Smooth Spark: Just like hitting in front of Henry Aaron, right?
Nice rendition Joe Friday!
May I add? Poor Tom, work’s done, been lazin’ out in the noonday sun. Ain’t a thing that you can hide from Tom.
Beware of future Brendan lyrics. Could be as long as American Pie!
Hockey Biltong
July 16th, 2010
4:16 pm
Joe Friday, I’m gonna Ramble On over to Talk about my Generation.
HIt It.
Beer, Beer, Beer…..
World Be Free
July 16th, 2010
4:37 pm
I am glad someone remembered The Who; can we throw some Kinks in there too?
Max Is Fun To Watch - KEEP HIM
July 16th, 2010
4:48 pm
Yes, he makes some silly and dangerous backwards passes, but he is an exciting player who seems to love playing the game. He was my favorite Thrasher last year. With a little discipline and some good coaching, Max can help us win and sell a few more tickets – GO THRASHERS!!!
Red Light
July 16th, 2010
4:56 pm
One from the Kinks for you World Be Free
My girlfriend’s gone off with my car
And gone back to her ma and pa
Telling tales of drunkenness and cruelty
Now I’m sitting here
Sipping at my ice cold beer
Lazing on a sunny afternoon
Joe Friday
July 16th, 2010
5:14 pm
“Could be as long as American Pie!”
Arrghh, my ears! I hate that freakin song, every time it came on, I dove for the knob on my Zenith Quadrophonic . . .
World, I never understood this tune until one night walking down the wrong street in Chicago after too many beers and my buddies laughing their butts off when I start chatting “her” up:
“Well I’m not dumb but I can’t understand
Why she walked like a woman and talked like a man.”
Happy Friday fellas, all this way back machine has me ready to head home for the beer fridge and my ipod
Jack
July 16th, 2010
5:57 pm
Another week another week that Kchoke does not know which team he will go to.FIRE your Agent idiot!!! You are messing up Free Agency!!!!!
Hockey Gods
July 16th, 2010
6:57 pm
Kovy signed in Florida. All other Russia free agents signed in Swedish Elite League. Waddell fired. There ya go, kracker. And yes, we do have a sense of humor!
Badger Bob
July 16th, 2010
6:58 pm
101st nervous breakdown…
Flames
July 16th, 2010
6:58 pm
Max or Sharpe? Max needs to come off a year or so on his counter offer. We can sign him and lose nothing except a third year. Duds isn’t going to be stuck with a multi year contract on a player. The team will have to give up a lot to get Sharpe. It is wait and see mode. The team is in the drivers seat for once. Torch wants Sharpe! Duds wants the stakes lowered for him. He isn’t giving up the kitchen sink for him. The thrashers are in a perfect position thanks to Duds.
Brendan
July 16th, 2010
7:03 pm
Anyone want to take a bet that Opening Night will arrive in the NHL with Kovalchuk still un-signed? Kovy’s agent would be telling him, “Let some team pay you the $10 million-a-year figure, prorated, in December.” I can see it now. Kovalchuk as a mid-season signing.
Putting On The Foil
July 16th, 2010
7:22 pm
Has anybody seen the bridge?
Hokey P. Clisters
July 16th, 2010
7:42 pm
Duds
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles…………………………………….
Rammer
I’d like to be
under the sea
in a octopus’ garden
in the shade
DW
You see I’ve been through the desert
on a horse with no name
it felt good to get out of the rain
In the desert they can’t remember your name
cause there ain’t no one to give you no blame
AtlFlamesFan
July 16th, 2010
8:12 pm
Worst Mistake: Drafting Patty Stefan instead of one of the Sedin twins.
As for the Thrashers relationships with the Wovles and Gwinnett, I’d love to see the Trash end their contract with Chicago, and move the Glads from the ECHL to the AHL. This way, our top prospects would be across the street from our practice facility, and more importantly, they would be played the way we want them played. However, I suspect that economics would make this cost prohibitive. With the current Chicago relationship, we only have to pay the salaries of half of an AHL roster. If the Glads were our AHL team, I think we would have to pay the salaries for a whole AHL team.
n. gwinett
July 16th, 2010
8:14 pm
after all the money they offered kovy, who is as bad defensively, they should resign even if they have to overpay a little bit. besides they won’t have to give up any players or draft picks.
rob
July 16th, 2010
8:51 pm
I’m thinking after reading all of this that the beer must have started a little too early for some. I agree with something I think Red Light put up. If we fill too many spots here, the young guys won’t have any room to move up……then they get stuck lurking in Chicago indefinitely. A lot of you moaned and groaned about how none of the Crabb, Mach, etc etc etc got no chances here, and yet you are going straight back to it. They need a chance to play here, but if we continue to sign people…….where are you gonna put them? Just my thought, but I think we are good where we are now. I know a lot of you don’t, but I see this as a hungry team who are going to be fun to watch….that should make up for true talent in heart and determination. The test will be if they get off to a slow start…..do we leave them hanging and cry wolf, or stand behind them and give them our support?
TrueBlue
July 16th, 2010
9:00 pm
Hmm…Max or Sharpe? I would say Sharpe 100 percent. Unfortunately, I really feel like we would have to give up just SO much in order to land him. Are we willing to do that? He really has so many components to his game that are beneficial. Looking back at all the trades that the B-Hawks have made, I feel that Sharpe would be the absolute highlight. I like the players that we got from them, but I think Sharpe could have been the best piece. But honestly, how much is TOO much in order to get him? Are we willing to part with some of our young talent? I would really rather not do that. Who knows though…Dudley sees and knows more then we all do.
Tony C.
July 16th, 2010
9:16 pm
I wouldn’t be against re-signing Max, it’s not like the squad we have assembled TODAY really strikes fear in opponents hearts…true there is potential, however, ifs and buts don’t normally skate in May.
Not saying that Mx alone does it, but a top-6 of Antropov, Bergfors, Byfuglien (??? really??? don’t think this guy is going to score more than 12-15 goals-I’ll be delighted to be wrong about this), Kane, Peverly & Little just doesn’t really seem to have the “oomph” needed.
There’s a lot of “ifs” out there; IF Esposito comes back healthy he has serious skills,and I see him as a legit 20 goal-a-year guy.. IF Burmistrov hits a good cycle and can maintain it over the season-IF White returns to 2K9 form…. IF Byfuglien decides to play to his abilities…..
Mad Max Fan
July 16th, 2010
10:02 pm
Please bring him back! He will make this team that much faster and better to watch. Sign him to a 2-year deal and let’s get ready to get back to Blueland!!!!!
World Be Free
July 16th, 2010
10:42 pm
Joe-always liked the Kinks cause they weren’t like anyone else. I have wobbled in Chicago too. Come to think of it, I have wobbled in many U.S. cities, a couple in Europe too. No hockey talk in this post.
World Be Free
July 16th, 2010
10:49 pm
Red Light-that happens to be my fav Kinks tune.
Sign Max, he’s free, wants to be here and he will be alot cheaper than Poni or Stepniak. Though it would be nice to sign Stepniak so there would be another Polish person in Atlanta besides me.
Tony C.
July 17th, 2010
12:09 am
Refreshing to see that I’m not the only one surprised by the lack of activity with UFAs not named Kovalchuk….somebody get Dudley his agent’s number please.
Tony C.
July 17th, 2010
12:10 am
I’m cool with either Stepniak or Max to add some scoring punch.
Badger Bob
July 17th, 2010
6:55 am
Brendan, I’ll take Thursday, October 14th as Kovy’s signing day.
That allows Kovy to: 1) avoid that pain-in-the-butt training camp thingy; and 2) stay in the limelight as long as possible.
It also allows the unlucky successful GM to: 1) claim he got Kovy at the best possible price by waiting him out; and 2) save $365,000 by not paying him for the first 3 games, yet still have him signed in time for the home opener.
glovesave29
July 17th, 2010
8:08 am
AFF – I have been advocating moving the Glads up to the AHL for years. It is just the smarth thing to do. In addition to your points, think of the personal logistics that nned not be addressed when a player is called up or sent down…no packing, finsding an apartment, situating the family, getting transportation…only thing on the players mind is hockey. And now that the Charlotte checkers have moved from the ECHL to the AHL, there are at least teams in the south to play…Charlotte, Norfold, Houston, Texas, San Antonio…
glovesave29
July 17th, 2010
8:09 am
Brendan – I say they announce that Kovy is signing with LA on Monday.
World Be Free
July 17th, 2010
8:23 am
Having the Glads be in the AHL would be great, especially for northern fans that cheered for their AHL teams when they lived in the snow. There’s a large number of Rochester American fans here in Atlanta. Having the Glads in AHL would make it alot easier for Dudley to ensure they are playing a similar styles with both the AHL and NHL teams.
Looks like Pierre LeBrun agrees with many of us concerning the NHL All Star Game-get rid of it!
Get The Puck Out
July 17th, 2010
9:35 am
I agree glovesave. I think Kovy will announce Monday. It certainly wont be $10 mil per year, but he will get somewhere around 7.5 per. And yes, do away with the all star game. It’s a joke. I’m still seeing that some predicters say the Thrashers are interested in Ruslan Fedotenko. Any thoughts?
Alan R.
July 17th, 2010
9:50 am
glovesave – While I sincerely agree with you wrt moving the Gladiators up to the AHL, there are a couple things preventing it. First, there are now 30 teams in the league. As such, there is no room for additional AHL franchises. Second, from what I understand, the Gladiators aren’t even interested in such a move. From what was posted on the blog via comment last season, the management is content with the ECHL.
I’d personally love to see the AHL establish itself in Atlanta, though, either by way of the Gladiators, or through expansion. South Atlanta is ripe for such expansion!
Not Blind
July 17th, 2010
9:56 am
Ruslan was the guy that really stood out for me back when TB won the Cup. We didn’t have Center Ice back then so I didn’t get to see his regular season play. Since we started getting CI and I get to see lots more regular season games Ruslan’s play doesn’t impress me.
I hope Buf doesn’t turn out the same way.
kracker
July 17th, 2010
12:30 pm
I see a possible Sunday late afternoon or evening time on a Kovy/Kings announcement of a deal and a 10AM Monday press conference in LA.
A while back there was the idea by someone of drawing on the old Birmingham Barons fan base and putting a Thrashers affiliated AHL franchise in Birmingham. Makes sense if the AHL adds a couple of teams.
They would be nearby for easy and fast call-ups. Also, those playing in Atlanta on two-way contracts could be sent down when the Thrashers have a few days off, thus saving the Thrashers a few dollars and keeping the kid(s) playing.
I don’t know if North Atlanta could support an AHL franchise along with the Thrashers but I really doubt anyone looking to start a new AHL franchise would to try it in Gwinnett Arena. So if the Glads aren’t interested in moving up to the AHL, Birmingham looks like the best place for a Thrashers affiliate to be located.
glovesave29
July 17th, 2010
2:05 pm
Alan…I am sure the AHL would be happy to expand to Gwinnett. Chicago would just lose their NHL affiliation. As for South Atlanta…not sure that will work – the CHL was going to move into that market about 5 years ago, and the area just showed no interest in it.
Kracker…Birmingham is certainly more attractive than Chicago, but still lacks some of the advantages that Gwinnett has. Huntsville seems to be the hockey hotbed of Alabama with UAH being NCAA division 1 and the SPHL’s Hunstville Havoc. The last couple of ventures in Birminham failed…the ECHL Bulls and the WHA2 Alabama Slammers.
Russian
July 17th, 2010
2:29 pm
This is Hillarious Video. Kovy is Funny Person on whole World. It is very embarasing to be in his Place rigth now.
Injoy the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lcTKe_EUNg&feature=player_embedded
Red Light
July 17th, 2010
4:06 pm
World Be Free: Authentic Polish food and beer is available at Gimza Polish Restaurant on Medlock Bridge Road in Norcross. The real deal and worth the trip if you’re in to what grandma used to make.
DWTOO
July 17th, 2010
4:16 pm
Great video Russian. Really makes Kovy look like a drama queen. It also beats cleaning the garage which is where I’m now heading.
Tony C.
July 17th, 2010
4:17 pm
yeah Gimza is good food
kracker
July 17th, 2010
4:17 pm
I have eaten at the Gimza, I work near there. I don’t remember the name of what I ate. It was some kind of glob cakes of potato, a leafy vegetable and some meat. It’s been open for several years so it must be doing ok buisness.
kracker
July 17th, 2010
4:19 pm
I echo DWTOO’s comments. I can’t wait for the second video of the next 15 days. The task watching the vid kept me away from is cleaning the tub/shower. Ugh, gotta go do it.
Brendan
July 17th, 2010
5:04 pm
If Kovy signs in L.A., on Monday, or whenever, he and Grossman must have come down on the price. It’s that, or Kovy got the money, and Jack Johnson and his agent said, “We’re not re-signing here in L.A.. You might as well trade me now. We’re playing out a contract, then leaving.” That still leaves Doughty, however. And still more.
I hope Badger Bob’s guess of October 14 is correct. Kovy, by no means, is sweating it out. I doubt he even has a mortgage payment on any of his properties. He’s set for life, so it really doesn’t matter when he signs. The truth is … Kovalchuk’s last paycheck was back in April. And even if he were under contract, his next payment won’t be until October. So, by not signing anywhere, he hasn’t lost a dime of income, in terms of “money owed to him” or “possibly earned by him.”
I don’t know why, exactly, but I somehow don’t want Kovy to wind up on Los Angeles. Okay, I suppose I do know why. It’s because that’s where he wants to be. Just once, dagnabit, I want to see a Tier I UFA NOT GET what he wants, WHERE he wants, in Free Agency. I want a ‘go to’ example of a marquee guy who didn’t get what he wanted when the choice of where to play became exclusively his. Let Kovy go to the Islanders. Let ‘im go to the Devils. Let ‘im let Brian Burke offer him the moon and stars to play for the Leafs! None of those places are where he wants to be. He wants Los Angeles, and he wants a cap hit higher than Ovechkin’s. I’ve said, in the past, that I don’t care what Kovy’s contract is, or where he goes, I just wish him well. I think, after this long “Brett Favre-like” indecision, I do suddenly care. My new official stance is … “Kovy can go anywhere he wants, but Los Angeles.” I want somebody to look Kovy in the eye and say, “nyet, pal. Try somewhere ELSE.”
ex-STH
July 17th, 2010
7:03 pm
The Trash need to re-sign Mad Max for 2 years @ $1.5 each. If he won’t take it, grab Poni (but you may have to pay more!) for the 2 years. ATL needs that final “established” offensive piece. And as I said before, re-sign Max and I will take the “ex” off my name!!!
glovesave29
July 17th, 2010
9:18 pm
Someones updated Ilya’s page on wikipedia and has him as a Ranger…HA!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilya_Kovalchuk
Kracker…work near Gimza too…never been there. We should grab lunch one of these days and talk hockey.
World Be Free
July 17th, 2010
11:29 pm
Red Light-thanks for the tip on Gimza; my grandparents had a Polish bar in South Buffalo near the waterfront. I know Gimza’s cooking will be close to grandmother’s. Appreciate the suggestion.
ex-STH-right on with Max and Poni-let’s see if these guys are really serious about winning.
Brendan
July 17th, 2010
11:48 pm
WBF, I don’t remember if you mentioned it or not, but I see Josh Harding got re-signed. There’s another goalie off the market.
World Be Free
July 18th, 2010
8:10 am
I saw that Brendan, he received a raise too! But it is only for one year so Harding will be back on the market next season. Looks like the 2 young goalies in Edmonton will both be signed this summer. So where does that leave The Bulin Wall?
kracker
July 18th, 2010
10:06 am
That’s great, glovesave29 ! Get my email from Rawhide and let’s do that.
kracker
July 18th, 2010
10:34 am
Bill, Please use my gmail account as my email in your records. It goes to my phone.
Greg
July 18th, 2010
11:22 am
I think ASG should pack up and leave town…..under cover of the night…..
Hockey Biltong
July 18th, 2010
12:28 pm
Lawyers, guns and money….
World Be Free
July 18th, 2010
1:49 pm
Biltong, now we are quoting Warren Zevon?
Brendan
July 18th, 2010
2:00 pm
Do my eyes deceive me, or did Joey Crabb just get picked up by the Toronto Maple Leafs a few days ago?
Brendan
July 18th, 2010
2:32 pm
Okay, as I was confirming that Joey Crabb was a Leaf, I stumbled onto this article on Ilya Kovalchuk, at the Leafs website. http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=534472. And no, Ulmer didn’t insult us. He took a slight poke though, not wanting to discuss the actual NUMBER of Thrasher fans who wanted Kovalchuk back, while jabbing Kovalchuk more than a few times about Atlanta’s $101 million offer. I think he used words to the effect of, “Imagine Snow White at the ball encountering Prince Charming, then declining his offer to dance, in favor of looking for another suitor.” He said Kovy is the type who stops paying attention on the Interstate, slams into the car in front of him, making everyone else wait behind them, for the next 2 hours.” We went through league scenarios that Kovy is potentially impacting. That the Devils will have to move players to make room for him. And that if the Los Angeles Kings don’t sign Kovy, they’ll still be in the market for a quality forward. And that the Flyers may yet be trying to move Simon Gagne and his $5.25 million. And, of course, he talked about Kaberle as a movable piece, there in the “Epicenter of the Hockey World,” that’s waiting on Kovalchuk to do something. He did something else, unexpected, in my view. He implied that Atlanta was Kovalchuk’s best option. You don’t see that much. From anyone. Much less a Toronto-based hockey writer. He told us not to buy into “looking for a contender” tripe, as he Kovy’s options include Los Angeles (which has NEVER won a Stanley Cup, and only been to a Finals once in 42 years). The Toronto-based writer says, “If it’s about lifestyle, the choice is L.A. If it’s about contendership, it’s New Jersey.” He didn’t mention the Islanders offer, however, which … let’s be honest … was Kovalchuk’s best offer. $10 million-a-year, for 10-years, equals $100 million. It bests Atlanta’s offer of $101 million over 12. Ullmer says Kovalchuk is looking to save face, having turned down “Prince Charming,” with Prince Charming being the Atlanta Thrashers offer back at the trade deadline.
Oh yes, here’s the link to the Joey Crabb signing by Toronto. http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=534442
Hockey Biltong
July 18th, 2010
2:42 pm
You betcha, WBF!!!
Badger Bob
July 18th, 2010
3:17 pm
Yep, TO has Crabb for 1 year at 525k to become their 25th highest paid forward. While he may play in Tronna, I suspect it will be with the Marlies.
Brendan
July 18th, 2010
5:49 pm
And I suspect Badger Bob is correct. But, he might see some “call up” action. Especially when Atlanta comes to town. Which is always a hoot, since the Thrashers are NOT, historically, a goon-it-up, thug-it-up type team … except then they travel to the Air Canada Centre. It must be something that triggers that. Maybe they’re treated rudely by Canadian Customs? Maybe they’re incessantly razzed by Leafs fans as they enter the building? Maybe they get a “chilly” reception at the hotel?? But WHATEVER the reason, the Thrashers come into Toronto angry, with something to prove. Hey Brendan, could it be that their media, at TSN.ca, has been running “Why NOT Canada?” expansion/relocation articles all week long at their website? And the Canadian media views the Thrashers as a logistical mistake by the league? Yeah, that could have something to do with it. I guess there’s little regular season satisfaction BETTER than going into Toronto and coming away with a win. As in, “That stupidly misplaced SE Division team beat us????” Toronto’s media has been angry with the Southeast Division ever since the Hurricanes defeated the Leafs in the Conference Finals, in 2002, to earn a berth in the Finals. Can you even begin to imagine how that car ride home went? In case anyone’s not that familiar with that series, Carolina won three of its four (3/4) games in overtime in that series, including the series clincher. Worse yet for the Leafs, two of those three OT wins came in Toronto. The goal scorers for Carolina were Niclas Wallin, Jeff O’Neill, and Martin Gelinas, with Gelinas’ tally being the final dagger in Leafs’ heart. Gelinas would go on to score several more OT winners in the coming years. Gelinas ended Game 7, in overtime, in the 2004 opening round series between Vancouver and Calgary, on the Power Play. Later in 2004, Gelinas ended Game Six of the CF vs. Detroit, to clinch the series for the Flames. Not too many players can say they scored three (3) series clinching overtime winners, but Gelinas can. There was debate whether Gelinas had clinched the Stanley Cup for Calgary in 2004, in Game Six, with a goal-line review. The replays did not conclusively show the puck entirely over the line, past Khabibulin’s skate. Marty St. Louis would end that game, in double overtime, to force Game Seven for Tampa Bay.
World Be Free
July 18th, 2010
8:21 pm
The Tronna/Thrashers rivalry will be pumped up even more this year with Colby Cheese with the Buds. Add to it all the muscle the Thrashers added this year and the games at the A/C should be fun. I have never been to the Air Canada Centre, but I did make it a few times to Maple Leaf Gardens.
The “Why Not Canada” stuff makes me sick; Quebec City and Winnepeg did not have modern facilities to support an NHL team. Hamilton is a scummy steel town; Saskatoon? Halifax? Why not Macon or Ocala?! Put a second team in Tronna, now that makes sense as long as it isn’t the Thrashers!
ben
July 18th, 2010
10:03 pm
I bet the next Commish will have to expand into the 51st state twice. Pay off TML ownership and put a second team in metro TO. This SHOULD get that craven media to STFU. Also, for the LOVE OF GAWD, PUHLEASE PUT A TEAM FROM THE 51st STATE IN THE WINTER CLASSIC EVERY YEAR! This will get them to shut up!
Tim
July 19th, 2010
12:47 am
Yes the Thrashers need to re-sign Max. At times last year he carried us on his back.
R. Stroz
July 19th, 2010
1:27 am
I think the NHL should move into a new market: Mexico, well if Mexican immigration would allow the work visas. They aren’t friendly toward foreign workers.
The team would be named the Mexican Cartels.
Sports Climax
July 19th, 2010
7:35 am
The day Kovy left, I thought Afinny would wait to see where he went then follow Kovy wherever he goes.