Kulda should be in Atlanta this fall, but who else would, could, should?

Rawhide….Is Bob Hartley ever going to coach again in the NHL?

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I like Kulda’s future as a shutdown NHL defenseman over Valabik’s at this point.

From the sounds of things from Dudley, it would take an act of God to not have Cormier on the Atlanta roster as well.

I say Machacek gets the call as the final roster player, at the moment, although Pettersson could shake things up as a 2nd or 3rd line guy. Rissmiller seems like he would be a decent 13th forward type.

Stewart sounds like a bust to me. Aside from a good showing in the AHL playoffs, the numbers say his professional career has been a big disappointment.

I’d love for Espo to show the potential he was supposed to have when Atlanta traded for him, but he wrecks his knee the same time every year, so he’s got to quit doing that first.

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Cormier and Burmistoff

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Cement footed Valabik must go!

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EDIT: Third paragraph should read “Not to take anything from Eric Boulton, Ben Eager, or Chris Thorburn, but I believe all three have skill sets tailored to the FOURTH line.”

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I thought our pipeline of “talent” from the minors was a gusher–according to the wittle booklets, there are many “Legends of Blueland” just waiting their turn at the parent club?

That’s the fruit of Don Waddell’s first, second, and now third, “Five Year Plan”…Thank goodness he’s still involved with the running of this organization…I just can’t imagine what we’d do without him and his expert guidance…

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I’ve heard talk, or rather some articles on Dudley, that indicate he may have Big Buf on defense. That could mean we have a couple of (actual ice-time) slots up front up for grabs. For those who haven’t seen it,…

http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/08/02/dudley-believes-byfuglien-can-star-at-forward-or-d-for-thrashe/

There are a couple more positive articles to go with it,…

http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/08/09/rick-dudley-overhauls-thrashers-for-the-post-kovalchuk-era/

http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/08/04/rick-dudley-riffs-on-scouting-process-picking-alex-burmistrov/

Made me feel optimistic about the upcoming season. I have gotten similar “feel good” sentiments in past years,..so I’m taking this with a grain of salt.

For those who think the “sky is falling” after the Kovy contract ruling this is good reading,…

http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/08/11/nhls-contract-witch-hunt-is-quickly-turning-into-a-farce/

I stand by my belief that nothing more will come of the Bloch ruling.

Back on topic,..I like the idea of youth coming up and getting truely coached. I’m pulling for Postma to make the team,….but I guess that’ll only happen if Big Buf is playing forward. Seems like we have had so much potential in the minors that never gets realized.

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Postma, Cormier, Burmistrov… Need more puck movement in my book.

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Brendan, you seem to have this knack to dredge up the past in such a way that is depressing in the “up the road, not across the street” sense.

Stop that.

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I see the sentimental Sage is gone, stowed away for another season or two.
You need to get on Twitter so we can get your posts quicker.

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And I think Thorny’s roster spot is in deep trouble, especially if they sign another UFA. Anyone with an edge, may just edge Thorburn to the curb. I have no issue with Chris, I just think we can do a little better. I would love to see this team run over opposing players this season, so adding another player with an attitutde would suit me just fine.

Let’s have some body checks that break glass this season, watch opposing defenseman look back as they are chasing the puck like a rhino is pursuing them. Rick Dudley hockey and Craig Ramsay accountability at both ends of the rink. Time to drop the puck.

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WBF, if Sage warms up to Kane and Bogosian, you might see the ’sentimental Sage’ once again. With Heatley and Kovalchuk, we never really did see them fail to live up to expectation, in terms of performance on the ice. These guys went 1st and 2nd overall. I think it’s fair to say they achieved expecations. Bogosian, 3rd overall, had an injury and a sophomore slump. Kane, 4th overall, will try to avoid the sophomore slump. If Kane has a tremendous year, you might see the Sage say, ‘the sun is once again rising on the proverbial joke known as blueland.’

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WBF, is Thorburn that expendable? Only Rich Peverley (175:21) had more short-handed ice time than Chris Thorburn (173:20) on the CURRENT roster in 2009-10… that includes a surprising 7:47 on the penalty kill ALL YEAR for Andrew Ladd and just 6:06 from Dustin Byfuglien.

Thorburn has become a serviceable fourth line player with his ability to jump on the kill. Add in that Thor has put up no less than 13 points over the past three seasons (solid numbers for an average ice time of 7:40 per game in 09-10) and was a +6 last year.

The addition of Eager doesn’t make Thorburn’s roster spot up for grabs… it makes Boulton not a definite night-in, night-out player.

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Brendan — you see my man, Dudley and Ramsay could give a flying EFF-bomb about the past. As Alan says, stop dredging it up. There are what? 35 regular posters on this blog? We all know the history of the Atlanta Thrashers quite well. You know your stuff…we get it. But I can’t read your stuff because it’s just downright depressing and pretty much irrelevant for the time being. The only thing that is relevant is how well Bogosian, Kane, Bergfors, Little, Pavelec and the Thrashawks play this fall. If the young kids don’t progress like they need to, then we’re pretty much Eff’ed in the B. Pardon mon francais.

And lastly, Sage, just piss off with your crap. We’re all sick of it and I really don’t want to have to sick Eric Boulton on your wittle pathetic butt for all of your posturing and grandstanding about crap that really has no bearing on the future of the franchise. If you really hate Don Waddell, then why don’t you go down to the CNN Center and wait for him to walk over to Chick-Fil-A and ask him to a duel. I bet he’ll beat you handily in tiddly-winks or marbles. Jesus H!

Disclaimer: I’ve been drinking heavily on a golf course in 95 degree heat and my emotions are probably getting the best of me. But I fired a 79 today at Heritage and all you naysayers can suck it.

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Fair enough Brendan, I was being too reactionary and I assumed that you were writing about the past without reading cuz I saw very few paragraph breaks and my drunk mind said “nooooo, I can’t handle it”. Basically I shouldn’t have been allowed near a keyboard. But I still can’t stand Sage, drunk or sober. As for your trade proposal, I’d be wary of trading Valabik just yet. Hainsey? Perhaps, but only if it gave us a good young player and some xtra cap room.

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Brendan, you can’t blame Sage for his judgements of our last and the performance (and departure) of some of our high picks-the future of “Blueland”.

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I`m wondering if Esposito will be at full speed when camp starts…….this kid has loads of talent and potential and I hope Dudley will be patient and give him another year. I say Kulda is like Cormier and has the his job to lose jersey on too……………Brendan.I sat on my lawnmower in the shade yesterday and decided it was too hot for a 56 year old man to be riding around outside in 95 degree weather……came back inside in the ac and had a beer a read the blogs…………life is good

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I have been and continue to be a fan of Boris. He has greatly improved since he first started playing NHL games for us. Some of the stuff he did at the end of last season pleasantly surprised me (the end of his season). He still needs to improve before he becomes a regular D man for us, but with some good coaching…

Burmistrov has looked good so far. He has a chance to make the team this year of he can preform well enough at the NHL level. He is young, but he is also fast, skilled, dedicated, has been putting on weight, and is really smart (he learned a lot of English his first year in the USA).

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Kulda, Cormier, and hopefully, Burmistrov is this years Kane. WBF-Thanks for being the only one who liked my “Buy a Thrasher’s ticket, if they don’t win, get a voucher for a free ticket to another game promo” yesterday. LOL

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IMHO – Kulda absolutely deserves to be here. I see him as the sixth defenseman and Boris riding the pine as cheerleader, or seventh man. Cormier has been getting a lot of publicity and will probably make the team. That would leave Machacek as the odd man as we’re strong on the third/fourth line. We need someone else who can play top six minutes. That would leave the competition to Esposito and Burmitsov. If either impress in camp think that would be the final piece. Otherwise would make a trade with a cap issued team.

Brendan – you’re very insightful and accurate, but, sometimes I too sense some negativity in your posts – as so and so doesn’t want to be here. You could get the impression no one on this team wants to be here. Granted that’s a result of the past mis-management. However, let’s hope this season changes some minds and makes Atlanta a favored place to play.

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Buckaroo Bonzai

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Oh, they don’t go to Traverse City this year, so we can mosey on over to DIF to see the kids. See if Burma has bulked up, see how Machacek, Espo look, get a look at the coaches, etc.

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Well stated WBF! See, it helps to avoid posting when “half-drunk and hollowed-eyed”!

Yes Sage, you’ve really enlightened us about our lousy ownership group by telling us the same thing written a slightly different way for about the 300th time. I feel so much smarter being in your company.

I think I’ll give back my deeply discounted tkts to watch the game I love because it’s so outrageous to pay $27 per game and only subsidize incompetence. Man they’re really foolin’ me. And here I thought I was only putting a price on my own entertainment.

You’re so hung up on the past that you can’t even give due credit for better decision-making that has taken place in the last couple of years. Unfortch, those marroons also gave Iso-Joe $120 M but I suppose there are enough little fwag wavers for the Hawks to pay the bills so we can keep watching subsidized hockey.

Sure, ownership helped get us to this point of mediocrity, but ownership has also gotten us Rick Dudley and his moves have put us in a better position to win. But starting 10/8, ownership won’t be hitting the ice to take on the Washington Capitals.
Its up to Bogosian, Little, Kane etc to raise their level of play and make us better. If you’re not excited by the prospect of our youth’s potential, then you are as narrow-minded and obtuse as you seem when you post your scripted words a different way.

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Rissmiller is AHL filler. He played his way out of the NHL and into the AHL. If he actually makes the Thrashers, I guarantee you all that this will be a very long and very bad season for the Thrashers. If you want to be scared, you can make a terrific case that’s he actually a downgrade over Todd White.

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Brendan – I don’t think the return for Esposito would be very high. Considering that he’s coming off two ALC injuries and his brief AHL career has been incredibly underwhelming, I’m not seeing how any team would give up much for him. He’s too high risk. Many observers have stated that he completely lacks what it would take to remake himself into a 3rd line player just to get into the league (think Marty Reasoner who was also a 1st round pick in his day). If they are correct, then Esposito will be all or nothing. He’ll either be a valuable top 6 forward or he will never play a game in the NHL.

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just taking the temperature of the population here… do y’all think dudley is done making moves? seems like if he planned to grab another goal scorer (which I think he should), he’d have done it by now. if he’s waiting for prices to drop to a new low, i think we’re there.

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Re: Sage’s rant: Imagine it is 1990 and a long suffering team fires its latest coach. The GM decides that it is his turn to try and manage the team. A new GM is brought in. Young talent is drafted – and yet there are people who read the paper and complain about how this team will never win and as long as ownership keeps making boneheaded decisions they will never get anywhere, etc etc etc.

That manager’s name: Bobby Cox. And yes, even though ownership made a lot of blunders in the previous decades he didn’t offload the team until AFTER their long string of success started.

The point is to never assume that a team that is making positive moves will continue to suck. All it takes is the right coaching, young talent to mold and finding a way to win. This is the year the Thrashers make the biggest dent in the NHL that they ever have. Naysayers and Fairweather fans will be following the Thrashers by the end of this season. It may not happen but I’d much rather say “This is our year” than saying “They’re going to suck again!”

Re: Players – I’d like to see Cormier and Burmistrov playing this year. I think if developed correctly Burmistrov could be a very fast and unpredictable scorer, like a mix of Kovy and Mad max. We already know that PC can hit, even if it was the horrible hit he landed that got him into trouble. We don’t need a “Matt Cooke” type player but it would be nice to make any team that faces us scared of all defensive lines. I keep sayin it (and quoting Joe Friday), but I want our black and blue birds to make their opponents black and blue when they leave the ice.
Just my 2 ¢

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“Would Boris/Sopel together be a good pairing?”

Tweedledee and Tweedledum! Neither one can move a puck up ice. In my perfect scenario, you want a stay at home guy (Sopel and Boris both are) paired with a offensive dman. Sopel is a stay at home guy all day long, and Boris is an offensive dman, but I mean he’s offensive when he’s out there, pee u!

We need a #1 shut down dman, Brendan, so while I like Campbell’s game and he was integral in the ‘Hawks offense, we can’t pay $7m for a guy who can’t eat 30 minutes a night against opposing team’s #1 line.

“But I fired a 79 today at Heritage and all you naysayers can suck it.”

So what’d you shoot on the back? You’re nuts. I put my skirt on and staying in my air conditioned office and skipped our weekly 4pm Thursday tee times, my wife ran into some of the boys at the local watering hole later last night and said they looked like a bunch of drowned rats, too freakin hot for me, Sally.

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Make that, “not purposefully” trying to be negative.

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SomaATL95

In 1990 the Braves finished in last place in the NL West, so going by your philosophy, the year of the Thrashers will come in 2011-12, not this year! And lets not forget that from 1990 to 1991, the Braves added Pendleton, Belliard, Nixon, Hunter, Bream, Stanton, Deion and Berenguer to the team. So, to your point, more moves are coming!

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Zim-I have no issue with Thiorny, I like ANY player with an edge. His edge and hustle have kept in the NHL. Maybe that is what kept him here over Arty, his ability to kill penalties, take the body and fight on occasion. But he has been here for awhile, I think the Thorny we see today is the best we will see. So at what point do you take the roster spot and bring in one of the youngsters, which is the subject of this particular blog. Take the Braves, at what point to you sit Troy Glaus and give Freddie Freeman a chance? You have to open spots for your youngsters; if you don’t then what motivates these players? I just look at Thorny as a 4th liner who has given his best. Can other players do what he did last year?

All aspects of our game have to get better if we are going to make the playoffs, this includes better penalty killing. Or on the flip side, will Rammer make Thorny a better penalty killer? Maybe I am wrong here.

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“I didn’t think I was coming across “negative,” ”

You’re not, by any stretch of imagination. It’s just that some folks feel that to be a “real fan” (wtf?) you have to see puppies and sunshine in everything, no matter the facts. As Jack Nicholson once famously said “you can’t handle the truth!”

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Joe… Re Valabik/Sopel… that’s why I’m keen on Postma over Kulda, with Boris as the 7th.

Re: Sage… I still find it odd he follows a team he’s never liked and thinks will never change.

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I like what Thorburn does on the ice because he is a versatile role player: fight, kill penalties, score an occasional goal and play well defensively. Is he an NHL lifer in that role? Probably not, but he can play. Is he expendable at some point? Absolutely. WBF is right on: he’s not part of the core.

Other keen observations today: DWTOO about Kulda; J-man on Esposito and Rissmiller; Zim on Valabik and Joe Friday about it being too hot for golf and Brendan. As for Smoothie, he’s digressing again!

Esposito will not make the team out of camp, possibly ever. He’s a less enthusiastic version of Burmistrov with not nearly as much upside. I’ve been told that he peaked at 16.

Machacek could crack the top six someday, but he’s more likely a responsible two-way forward or third-line type. Cormier’s game translates to the NHL. Initially, he’ll be slotted into the checking line center role, key face-off guy, penalty killer, in-your-face disturber and then could develop the offensive portion of his game with more experience. Postma is likely a year away, as he still isn’t solid defensively yet. Another year in the AHL or a mid-season call-up.

None of the young kids are going to stay up here unless Ramsay intends to play them 10 minutes per night or more. Time and experience is too valuable to sit them in the press box on a nightly basis. The press box is reserved for veterans with one-way contracts like Boulton, Rissmiller, Valabik, etc.

And, we do get it Sage! The past 10 years was deplorable and like you, we’re all hoping for better things to come. None of us liked the “promotion” and we all hope the personnel matters are left to others. Does that mean we can’t try to enjoy what we’ve got heading into the new season? I don’t think the off-season moves categorically mean that this team is 15-20 points better than last year, but when I watched the prospects this summer in comparison to previous years, there is much more depth than ever and no Lane Mansons on the ice. Personally, I’m not sold on the Extreme Makeover yet and have No Reservations that this team couldn’t finish in 9th or 10th again. There are some holes, no question about it (playmaking forwards for one), the Eastern Conference looks to be a wide-open race but this team still has a ways to go to catch the Caps in the SE.

But, we know you know and enjoy hockey, and so you don’t have to “subsidize” the organization, you pick the game and I’ll give you a ticket or two. Spud Webb could use the company in my seats!

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Alan R., we’re talkin’ about how to make the team better. I’m open to all sorts of ideas

The post preceding mine above started off innocently enough, but instantly fell into the “let’s see how many first rounders we’ve sent away.” I had to stop reading.

I know this team has a pretty crappy history. I’m pretty certain all of us here know. Do we really need to be reminded of that? Yeah, this is the offseason. Really slow and a crappy time to be a fan. I implore you, don’t make it any worse of a time than it already is.

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“…The point is to never assume that a team that is making positive moves will continue to suck. All it takes is the right coaching, young talent to mold and finding a way to win….”

You’re so incredibly wrong about the history of the Braves’ rising that it’s not even funny. I WAS there and the key to it all was the mid-1980s, when OWNERSHIP determined that they would revamp the minor leagues once and for all–and build the right way, with the proper funding.

Yes, that meant Ted Turner getting out of the decision-making process and getting Bobby Cox here as the GM (with Chuck Tanner as the coach). Yes, that meant Ted Turner witnessing years of pitiful on-field products while the minors re-tooled.

Yes, I was there–and yes, I knew what was going on. The timetable took a little longer than Tanner’s optimistic predictions–but the young core was apparent to all.

What’s the real point that you cannot grasp and thus the comparison is laughably ignorant: OWNERSHIP. Let me spell that out in capital letters so you can see it again: OWNERSHIP.

Get it? Feel like drawing some more comparisons? Please, I need the laugh…

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Interesting, now that Sage can’t continually whip-up on ol’ bumbling Donnie, he has decided that he’s just going to rail on our pathetic ownership group, which could be aptly referred to as a “mutant slob-child of corporate synergy” (courtest of Mortimer Peacock of the Blueland Chronicle), because he must direct his incessant negativity towards something, someone. What is the point? You’re not only preaching to the choir, you just sound like a whiny, petulant child who doesn’t get his way after being spoiled for 10 years as a pre-teen.

Bugger off!

“So what’d you shoot on the back? You’re nuts. I put my skirt on and staying in my air conditioned office and skipped our weekly 4pm Thursday tee times”

Joe, indeed it was a steamy, hot round of golf, but we were lucky in the fact that we had to play the little-played Tradition side, more target golf than the other two nines, where there was significant shade on just about every tee box save for the first hole. Perhaps the fact that my hands weren’t covered in sweat helped me keep from losing control of the driver.

Keep it in the fairway on that nine and you’ve got many looks from 130 yards and in. Fun little nine. Just wish I hadn’t pushed my drive OB on 8 and made dbl bogey, otherwise I might have shot par on that side. Oh well, there’s always the next round. Hey, fancy that! Forward positive thinking! Cue Sage to crap on my golf game / addiction next! Can’t wait.

Oh yeah, where do you and your wife play? Live on a course?

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I think secretly Sage goes to every game……and cheers for the other team.

On a different note, nhl.com has an article on the importance of goalie coaches, and given that we are bringing in Mason and have youthful Pavs, anyone feel it is detrimental not having one here? If we only contract people to come in when needed as I believe was said before, does anyone know if the person(s) have been chosen or announced? I did hear Mason in his interview say he coaches some during the off season but also that a player doesn’t neccesarily make the best coach. Maybe they think he can coach Pavs???? Maybe we could get Vivs to see if no one knows….or perhaps even Flames?
GS (and other goalies),
thoughts or concerns you see with this?

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Sage, you do understand that NOTHING you write here about ownership will have ANY AFFECT whatsoever, don’t you? So why not relent? You’re like stendec’s less-retarded cousin.

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Same old song and dance with Sage…. every board needs at least one good Negative Nancy, right??

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Kovy asks: Can I subsidize my circumvented cap for a finnish goalie, 13,548 sheep, new ownership, and a magical spreadsheet?

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WBF – You and I are just at opposite ends this round, eh?

I’m one of the (few?) people that felt Boris turned a corner in his 27 games with Atlanta last season. Valabik was a +2 last season with an even or better rating in 24 games while never accumulating multiple minuses (only -1) in the other three contests.

Valabik also did a commendable job staying out of the penalty box with ’stupid’ or ‘lazy’ penalties. Of his 36 PIM, 20 minutes came on four fighting majors and six minutes on three roughing penalties (which aren’t good, but aren’t always bad either). Valabik had six technical infractions.

We can debate whether or not Boris Valabik will be a building block for the Thrashers franchise all afternoon, but there is no way to find out until he hits the ice again. However, putting a former first round draft pick with NHL-level physical attributes (size, strength) on waivers is poor asset management. Valabik most definitely would be claimed.

If Atlanta was able to get trade value out of former first round draft busts Patrik Stefan and Alex Bourret, then certainly Dudley could find a suitor for Valabik. The man traded an injured Todd White coming off his worse season in a decade! Running the risk of losing Boris to waivers would be irresponsible asset management.

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yeah WBF – perhaps Armstrong should have called Exelby before excepting that offer from the Leafs.

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I am personally ambivilent towards Thorburn,I think his ability to kill penalties and his grit is cancelled by his lack of offensive ability.I would have resigned R2 and put him on the 4th line. My real issue is with Doris, a defenseman needs to know how to skate. I truly believe that Waddell got tired of hearing about his love of smurfs and decided to draft a 6′ 7″ pylon regardless of his ability. He has had ample time to get to the NHL level based on being drafted in the 1st rnd. He still plays a “clutch&grab”type game and that is because he does not possess the skating ability to stay in front of faster skaters and position himself properly.It would not hurt my feelings to see a pkg of Thorburn and Valabik and maybe a pick to NJ for Zajac once the K-puke disaster is over. If he cannot skate by himself without breaking his own ankle or damage it to the extent of requiring surgery,then I sure don’t want him skating on even 3rd d-pairings. One last thing SAGE,one word to you THORAZINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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… This will be the first year since year one that the team won’t have any kind of “razzle dazzle”. What I always called “the dog and pony” show.

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This is probably Valabik’s put up/shut up year. He probably has one more chance to prove he can play at this level. He has been an enigma – sometimes he’ll make a play and in the next minute looks like he plays on the same Lower A team I did.

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Valabik is just a stronger version of Todd Reirden.

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“…Sage-the team is what it is from top to bottom. I think we have all determined the root causes of the last 10 seasons-they are all pretty clear. If you don’t like it, you can continue to stay home in protest, while most of us prepare to attend games this season.

I am subsidizing my love for hockey.”

But what I simply don’t understand is this is precisely what enables the ownership to continue with their ways; I wouldn’t change a thing, either, if I had paying customers who were just happy to be there while I counted my money!

I can understand what you’re saying–and at least you’re civil and comprehensible in it–but I just don’t agree with it.

However, I will continue to encourage others to stop putting money in places it doesn’t belong (at least my judgment on that point). I have done it many times and I HAVE had an impact, I can assure you.

I want a team to be proud of; I want truth, honesty, and accountability; I want to know precisely what the ownership’s plan is, be it happy-to-be-in-the-league to win-a-title-or-be-fired. As a (formerly) paying consumer, I don’t just want them, I demand them. I AM (well, was) the customer.

If you (all) like embarrassment and incompetence, then feel free to pay for it…I’ll choose to laugh at you when you complain, especially when you wonder aloud ‘why is it like this?’ or ‘why do I subject myself to this treatment’…I especially enjoy that, too! Heaven knows, with the folks and their hopes/dreams/fantasies around here, I have no shortage of material to work with and laugh at…

I actually believe in putting action into words–and not just following along like a lemming…It’s the ONLY thing which will get ownership’s attention. Cut the funds and watch how fast the change occurs.

And, if this ownership group just pays lip-service to winning the title, then we have a right to know this. If they sell to cut their losses, then I say good riddance. If the team moves, life WILL go on…So be it.

Not another dollar for incompetence. The folks who have ALL the power in the entire equation walk around saying ‘woe is me’…Yet, they can force the very change they want–but refuse to suffer short-term sacrifice for the longer-term good. That is a sheep, by its very definition.

I’ll never understand or support that mindset.

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Again, I didn’t think I was being negative. I was trying to show that trading away Valabik, potentially, isn’t something ‘way off the table’ simply because he was a 1st round pick. And I cited some historicals to support it. It really, truly wasn’t meant to be negative, Alan R. I’m surprised that so many people took it that way. I’ll say it again, if trading Valabik away makes us better a better team with the return, then how can that be a bad thing?? Or a negative thing.

I think there should be optimism heading into this season, not negativity. Craig Ramsay very well may be our best coach ever. And if he shaves off 30 goals for the Goals Against, it’ll be a nice achievement. Also, Dudley is better than Waddell at decision-making. I far trust him more to find the right fit at the trade deadline. And lastly, nobody should be depressed about a season that hasn’t started yet, when the season is 7 months long. It’s not like Dudley went out at saddled us with Ken Klees and Uwe Krupp/Jani Hurme rehabilitation projects. There’s nothing like that, even remotely, going on. It’s a new day in goal. The defense is probably better. But the losses of Finny and Kovalchuk will have to be dealt with. Maybe Bryan Little can get back to 31 goals? He did it once before. These comments are not meant to be negative.

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“That is a sheep, by its very definition.”

Uhhh, actually this is the definition of a sheep:

Main Entry: sheep
Pronunciation: \ˈshēp\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural sheep
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English scēap; akin to Old High German scāf sheep
Date: before 12th century
1 : any of various hollow-horned typically gregarious ruminant mammals (genus Ovis) related to the goats but stockier and lacking a beard in the male; specifically : one (O. aries) long domesticated especially for its flesh and wool

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Joe Friday. Thank you. The character Joe Friday always says, “Just the facts.” Sometimes facts are interpreted in a positive way, and other times in a negative way. But the facts, themselves, don’t do anything. They just are what they are.

“It is what it is” is not a catch phrase. “It is what it is” is an explanation of events or facts as they actually occured.”

What I cannot understand, is why people think it’s negative to point out that former 1st round draft picks have been traded. To me, it’d be far more negative for those same players to walk “for nothing but reclaimed cap space” as opposed to what we could salvage for them. To me, that seems pretty straight-forward. And it is neither positive nor negative. It it what it is.

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Thanks R.L and WBF. Just keepin it real….

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Remember – Don’t feed the trolls!

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Nurse Rachett

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I’m gonna be part of the herd Oct 8th. The Boys In Blue need to know the fans support THEM. That they care about hockey. Why? Because they are playing hockey and representing us. If we don’t support them, it’s no wonder no one wants to stay! You can go play on another bad team where the fans at least show up and support you. Why do the fans support bad teams? Because they love the game! You can’t enjoy the good times if you don’t have the bad times too.

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…I DO like the marketing idea of Serta giving out foam GaVa’s, rob’s, and smoothie’s! That is a great idea!

Don Waddell and the ASG sincerely thank you for your support! They’ll tell you so during the next town-hall meeting, where they empathize with the fans…and make you feel all good again…

Just like last time…

and the time before that…

and the time before that….

(You’re right–this time the words seem different; the words from Waddell and the ASG seem so sincere this time around! They really care! Uh-huh!)

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“The character Joe Friday always says, “Just the facts.” Sometimes facts are interpreted in a positive way, and other times in a negative way.”

Yep. You can face reality as it is, the good and the bad, and embrace the good and deal with the bad and try to effect change, or you can bury your head in the sand and make yourself believe fairy tales like “the boycott has had no effect” while going down to the arena night after night seeing empty seats and then watch the Spirit Squad move Waddell out of the way and finally make fan friendly concessions.

I’ve always preferred just dealing with the reality of how things are, but that’s just me . . . Happy Friday, fellas, beer thirty!

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You may call me a sheep,no matter,the one thing I will answer to is,”Hockey Fan”. If my support of a professional hockey team in ATL is “subsidizing the mediocrity” so be it!! I have lived in Ga all 56 years of my life,I am not a transplant. I became a hockey fan in the 70’s and I died a little when the Flames left for Calgary. I DO NOT WISH TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN!!!! So if knowing that more established franchises than ours has done considerably worse, SO WHAT, Sage, you go forth spewing this semen from your mouth about how you are the “ENLIGHTENED ONE”,all I can say is if you care so little and the thought of not having an NHL franchise in ATL means so little to you. By all means,stay home,don’t watch, holler at all the neighbors kids to stay off your lawn. Have you ever heard of the concept of an unexpressed thought! I am personally tired of hearing it. GO KICK A PUPPY AND LEAVES US THE HELL ALONE! LISTEN CLOSELY, THIS IS BY FAR AND AWAY THE BEST OFF SEASON I CAN REMEMBER AND IF YOU CANNOT SEE THAT AND CAN ONLY SEE GLASS HALF EMPTY ,WHO NEEDS YOU. IF YOU ARE NOT A PART OF THE SOLUTION,YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!!!

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DWTOO, yours is the quote of the day, “A friend of mine once said “Bad hockey is still better than good basketball.” Truer words never spoken.

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Guys, you’re really letting Sage get under your skin too much. It’s your lives. You lead them as you see fit, or as best you are able. If you want to go to games, then go. And enjoy yourself. If you don’t want to go to games, then don’t. If you’re in the position of financial pinch, try to look for game coupons and/or discounts. Or one of these online ticket hubs that sell tickets at fraction (sometimes just one-third) of what they’re worth. Somebody out there has a web link to it. Or cozy up to an STH and tag along for the ride! It’s no sin or crime to be economically disadvantaged, people. Remember, the only poor people … are those who lack knowledge. So, here’s some tips for you. If you go to a Thrasher game at the holidays, bring an unwrapped toy for the “Toys for Tots” campaign. Bring one each time you go to a December game. In previous years, the Thrashers will swap out your toy for two “fairly nice” seats for an upcoming game, usually in January or February. The Thrashers have a list the games that are available for your FREE seats, and preferred seating location. That’s right! You actually get to pick the game or games you want from that list! How sweet is that? You can rack up quite a few tickets this way. So, why not take the whole family? The toys don’t have to be expensive. But they do have to be in their original packaging. Your local Target or Wal-Mart will have affordably priced toys that still make nice gifts for a child.

Moving right along … if you’re a hockey fan out there … and you just happen to be reading this post … it would be my sincere suggestion that you give the Atlanta Thrashers some of your time and attention this year. This team is in a brand new situation. They’re going to try a whole different approach this season. It’s not a team laden with Superstars, trying to hit their numbers. This ought to be a much more TEAM-oriented strategy this year. There’s a new coach in Craig Ramsay. There’s new assistant coaches, including an Associate Coach, Torchetti, who came from the defending Stanley Cup Champions. The GM’s office has a name plate that reads, “Rick Dudley.” And he’s way better than Don Waddell, even if he is under Waddell’s purview. Dudley is doing more with this team than, frankly, Waddell could. So, it’s not exactly “the same ol’ same old.” The car ride home might not be so acrid, even after a loss. Then again, I’m not the sort of fan who expects Stanley Cups year-in and year-out. I’m not the sort who throws the team under the bus after every loss, especially in build-years. And I’m not the sort who flys off the handle when the team has a bad game. Or two. Or Three. I’m the sort who does get angry over accountability. I don’t ask for Stanley Cups, but I do ask for an “honest effort” at it. And any budget that is $8-10 million under the ceiling does bother me a little bit. But I understand the situation. I wish I could tell you that everything will be coming up roses. But the truth is … this team actually is … moving in a BETTER direction that it’s ever been. (I won’t say “moving in the right direction,” (Copyright, Bruce Levenson & Don Waddell, 2004-present,) as I’d wind up having to pay the Atlanta Spirit, LLC a royalty. So, with that in mind, I actually urge you to come out to a game, or more games, this year.

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Dear Rawhide:

Thanks for the advice, but the girlfriend just told me she could extract a tennis ball through a garden hose. Trashed the e-mails and and my GMail account. Have a good night!

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Sage, I have a question for you. If Dudley’s decisions, even while under the thumb of Waddell, who is ultimately employed by the Atlanta Spirit, LLC, make the team beter … and the team finishes HIGHER than 83-points this year, where does this leave the boycott? Still in full effect? Or should there be some easing of the economic sanctions?

Let’s tweak the example a bit … and the Thrashers, by hook or by crook, squeak in at #8, back into the playoffs, and while there … manage to win a game. Or two. What does this do to accountability? It’s difficult to imagine that anyone would be getting fired over those results, given the situation we find ourselves in 2010. Even at 84-points and no playoffs, the Thrashers would technically be making ‘incremental progress.’ In the AS, LLC world, that seems to be the ‘phrase that pays.’

I’m interested in your response. We cannot fire ownership. Ownership has not fired Waddell. Rick Dudley has done nothing worthy of his dismissal. Craig Ramsay hasn’t coached his first game for the Thrashers. If Dudley and Ramsay get the desired results … I know, the operative word being IF, would this change your mind about fans supporting this team, by attending in droves? Or, is the policy a hardcore one … where there can be no attendance while either (1) Don Waddell is still with the organization in any capacity or (2) The Atlanta Spirit, LLC owns the team?

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WBF, last year … the NY Rangers missed the playoffs because Brian Boucher was one save better than Henrik Lundqvist, during Game # 82’s shootout. The Rangers went home. The Flyers went to the Finals, bowing out in overtime of Game Six.

Todd White shouldn’t make anyone excited. Well, I can think of one poster who would be. But I’m not going there. Instead, I’ll point us all to some ‘perspective’ on the NY Rangers, when there weren’t any salary cap restraints. From the 1997-98 season through the last year without the salary cap, 2004, the Rangers missed the playoffs for ALLL SEVEN of those seasons. That’s astonishing, really. The NYR was spending between $72 million to $80 million something-a-year in payroll. That’s tens of millions MORE than what is presently permitted.

Through the five completed years of the current CBA, the Rangers have made the playoffs every year except 2010, where again, they failed to qualify for the playoffs on the basis of a shootout loss … in Game # 82. In 2007 & 2008, the NY Rangers advanced into the 2nd round. They hadn’t done that since 1997, when they ultimately lost to the Flyers in the Eastern Conference Finals, when they had Gretzky, I believe.

For as much as this blog rags on Ranger GM & Team President Glen Sather … they’ve had better results than the Thrashers, despite making, perhaps, stupider moves with respect to their roster. It is a puzzlement. Let’s see if Gaborik stays ‘happy’ this year. After all, he’ll be reunited with Todd White.

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Brendan, you are a posting machine! I think hockey alot, not like you. But your points in the New York Rangers bring up the difference between making playoffs and making an impact in playoffs. Again, we need to just ask Sabres fans-it is almost WORSE to make playoffs and not go very far than to not make the playoffs at all. Teams like Buffalo and the Rangers fail to make the necessary changes in their inferior teams to make an impact in the playoffs. Standing part, or changing “C” players for other C players is no improvement. No team throws good money at bad players more than the Rangers (Edmonton close 2nd). At least non-playoff teams get high picks, the chances to select quality players to improve their chances. The Rangers won the Stanley Cup in 1994-before the current CBA when they had a chance to “BUY” the Cup, which is exactly what they did.

Your point on Peverly-I was thinking about the need for quality centerman play this morning. The Thrashers have failed to improve their 2-way centerman play in the offseason. We still do not have a shutdown pivot that can win faceoffs and counter the other team’s top line in the last 10 minutes of of a game with a one goal lead. Belanger is about to resign with Washington.

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The BEST way to determine who makes the team and gives them the best opportunity to make the playoffs? Let’s go old school here and see how they perform in training camp. Does Valabik continue to improve (as he was before the injury)? Is Cormier capable of making the team? Is Slater the guy from 2 years ago, or the guy from the last half of last year? Does Esposito have anything left? Let’s see at camp and go from there.
Brief historical: Grew up watching the Islanders…from the beginning. They didn’t have a big scorer the first year. The big pick year one was Billie Harris who was their Patrick Stefan…never lived to the hype. Trottier came along and was great from the start, but they still searched for the big scorer. ‘77-78 they drafted Mike Bossy who was passed over by 14 teams (Actually 12 teams because the Rangers and Maple Leafs passed on him twice!). He was thought of as a scorer who couldn’t check. Al Arbour said it was easier to teach a scorer how to check than to teach a checker to score (of course, he never had to coach Kovy). First pre-season game…no one really knows anything about him (pre-Google)…everyone is chatting like a concert at Chastain. First shift he gets the puck on the right wing and one stride inside the blue line rips a slapper off the far post…goalie didn’t even move. The whole arena went silent and no one ever didn’t watch him after that. Bottom line is let’s see what they show at camp. If they’ve got the talent and did their off-season work, it will show. Reading other peoples “opinions” and what they think will happen is just filler at this point. Don’t get hung up on it.

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Old Time, Trotts and Potvin are two of my favorite palyers of all time. Isles had some great teams in the late 70’s, though I was never and Isles fans I certainly did respect them alot.

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Brendan–I’ve had my fill of the “incremental” progress that kept the sheep in love with Don Waddell for about six years…That phrase means absolutely nothing to me anymore.

You’re either serious about fielding a winning, respectable team with the real goal of winning a title–or you are not. There is no middle ground.

The continued employment of the man who has single-handedly burned all goodwill and run this team into the ground is but Exhibit A to the case this organization is the latter. Exhibit B is the spending-pattern. Exhibit C is the minor league(s) feeder system and its state.

But their propaganda is nothing but an insult to my intelligence; and when the sheep continue to jump in (in droves, too) and continue to defend the indefensible–it becomes maddening…but also comic.

It’s funny how some of the louder sheep of years past have gone away–or have kept significantly quieter these days. I guess being so wrong so often for so many years takes its toll.

But, fear not, there’s a whole new wave of ignorant little sheep ready to take up the Crusade…We’ll see them disappear and silence over the next few years, as well…

Nope–not a single dollar for incompetence. But, Brendan, you made one statement that does bother me: “You can’t fire ownership”. This is true–but you can force them to make a decision. Unfortunately, too many are subsidizing their behavior for them to even want to change their ways.

That has got to stop for there to be any progress–or any real chance of winning consistently…Titles aren’t won by luck; their genesis lies at the very top of the organization.

With this current group, we have NO CHANCE. None whatsoever.

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Sage, you just can’t get it through your head that nobody here disagrees with what you have stated about the past. Like I said yesterday, you can stay home in protest all you want – good for you. But most of us are hockey fans that will PAY to see the game we love. There are plenty of fans in the league that can apply your beliefs to their local teams. Some choose to go to games, others stay home just like you. One of my best friends in from New Zealand-he’d get a kick out of the sheep references.

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What I fail to understand is if you hate the team so much and are tired of “subsidizing” losers, why do you feel the need to come here and constantly bitch about it? The conversation, no matter what the topic, has someone who holds a poster up in the air that says “The End is near – REPENT”. Everyone has viewpoints, but for crying out loud Sage unless you’re just reposting your propaganda repeatedly for the lurkers and new commentators that come along its pretty clear where you stand. My wife is half Jewish and some members of my family are hard-core Christians and it gets uncomfortable when anything turns into a chance to thank Jesus for everything (and I MEAN EVERYTHING) and they talk to her like she will rot in hellfire because she is Jewish. The irony is that my wife was raised Catholic, the only way people think she is Jewish is based on her maiden name. If my family members would drop trying to hit her over the head with Jesus and engage in whatever the topic of conversation is they may actually learn that my wife has the same basic beliefs. We get it man, we really do. You hate D-Wad. You despise the ASG. You think that no matter what happens on the ice the men behind the curtain will be the downfall of the Thrashers. We all understand it and most everyone will even comment on the fact the we are more than aware of your viewpoint. I’ll even admit that 99% of the time we all share your viewpoint and if we all sat down at a game could discuss the game itself and engage in the debate about the business side. If Rawhide talks about what players will make the Atlanta roster I’m sure everyone would like to have your views on the PLAYERS. Take your hate filled blinders and contempt for management and ownership out of the equation – honestly – who do you think will make it? When the blog topic is about the business, management or ownership side then I’m sure you will notice all of us “sheep” actually agree with you.
Come on man, relax, drink a beer, rub one out, do whatever relaxes you and join in the conversation. I honestly think if you stop treating the rest of us posters as idiots there wouldn’t be so many people so fast to wonder what the hell your problem is.
We know where you stand on one topic. How about joining in on the rest of the conversation?

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Don’t get me wrong, I’m full of “Sheeple Pride” Just trying to pass out an olive branch to sage and actually see if he has opinions other than his usual ones.

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Red Light – Out of curiosity, I looked up faceoff statistics for Eager and Rissmiller to get an idea of how much ice time either have as a pivot in the NHL. Rissmiller took over 200 faceoffs for the Sharks two seasons ago and was fifth on the team. Eager has only taken one faceoff in the last three seasons with Chicago.

I didn’t get to prospect camp, but aren’t the scrimmages 4-on-4? Burmistrov didn’t take any faceoffs?

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From a Zim comment: “….though Dudley hinted that Carl Klingberg will likely head back to Frolunda, I’d guess that Klinger is probably above Stewart and Aliu on the depth chart for grinding wingers.”

Zim is probably correct.

However, I am wondering if Klingberg is familiar with the old M*A*S*H television program? Or worse, do today’s NHL fans of opposing teams remember it? Jamie Farr’s attire (as Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger) on the TV show could make for some interesting posters….signs, that is.

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“Sage, interesting this is your first example. Would this be the non-acknowledgement of the Atlanta Flames? Is that the root of your hatred?”

No–I thought my illustration was clear: it’s one Don Waddell. No double-meanings or hidden points. I was a kid when the Flames were here; went to a couple of games every year–and liked them well enough…but wasn’t ‘crushed’ by any stretch of the imagination when they left for Canada.

WBF is more correct on the source of my current ire than not. To see the mug of this incompetent buffoon and to have him blustering about ticket sales makes me absolutely sick to my stomach. It just proves to me that he is more control than previously believed. I know some will say the team president has jurisdiction over such matters; I don’t care, to put this idiot front-and-center of the organization proves what the ownership thinks of the Atlanta fans.

No respect given–and none has been earned despite the mere window-dressing of GM and coaching changes. It’s the same old shell-game.

Yet some idiots defended this clown for many years–including creating spreadsheets of delusion which ‘proved’ that he was doing a better than average job! I still laugh at that perfect storm of arrogance, ignorance, and pretentious lunacy! (and you know who you are, despite not showing up as often as you used to–well, I don’t blame you, either–I’d be embarrassed too)

Unfortunately, Soma, I can’t discuss the players because they’re just the peripheral picture to me. I’m not a technical grognard like Brendan and many others (I don’t mean that in a bad way, either), where analyzing the faceoffs won means we should play this guy or that, etc. ad nauseam.

Nope, at center-stage is the all-mighty dollar. The item that the ownership craves–the item that the mercenaries (i.e. players) crave…the item which resides in the element which gets the least respect in the entire equation: the FANS. This ownership has proven time and again what they think of the fans–and to see some of them buy into it hook, line, and sinker is simply unacceptable to me.

I will still encourage as many as I can through my means…We all have to play with the tools we are given, right? The players on the team? Nah, I stopped caring a long time ago–and, based on our retention rate of the ‘good’ ones, it appears they have, too…

I don’t blame them in the least…Winning a title is everything…That will never happen under the ASG, period. Unless they change their ways, which they’ve shown no inclination whatsoever…

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Furthermore… Levenson did a pretty good job of killing “goodwill” with STHers, so I hardly think Waddell gets “single-handed” blame if any at all. I’m not exactly sure what your example is for “Exhibit A” anyway. Do share?

… and I hardly think Sara cares about your opinion.

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Rawhide – How are the other Thrasher RFA contract talks going. I especially like Afginy Acrhtukin (sp). What a load coming down the wing!!! Would love to have him back.

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Leave me alone Sage, I’m not into you.

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Sage, I did cringe at my own post, “you cannot fire ownership.” I admit that. Pushing things to their hardcore limit, if a thousand or less showed up for every game, I think that’d be enough to force something to happen. Either (1) the team goes out of business entirely or (2) NHL steps in to run it or (3) the team is sold to someone else. If it’s the third option, the issue of relocation versus winning back this market comes to the forefront.

In a certain sense, who wants the NHL to think Atlanta is a waste of time market? A thousand fans a night makes me think of the Montreal Expos, who were getting six thousand fans in a stadium that sat tens of thousands of them. Major League Baseball had seen enough, and the team ultimately wound up in Washington, DC. At least in the case of the Expos, Alou ran the team pretty well. There was a team with no budget, no market, and no chance … and YET … they managed to go about .500 most of the time. That’s astonishing, given their set of circumstances. The Expos wound up being MLB’s “farm system.” Okay, enough of that. I agree with you, Sage, that the Octocluster more than had its opportunity to see the error of its ways, and to once again treat the Atlanta hockey fan with respect. Instead, Bruce Levenson told STH’s to essentially “shut up and pay full price,” in the midst of an indefensible lack of accountability … and game day discounts to people sitting right next to them.

Admittedly Sage, it took me a long time before I stopped going to a lot of games. It wasn’t until the 2006-07 season before I stopped attending 20 or so games a year. I still couldn’t believe that Waddell got his contract extended. Deep down, I wanted to believe that it was Kari Lehtonen’s fault that the 2006 Thrashers didn’t make the playoffs. Arguably, we saw a very nice winning percentage once the glass groined wonderkind actually made his return, under Head Coach Bob Hartley. On the surface, missing the playoffs by just 2-points certainly points slings and arrows at Kari. But really, Atlanta was the 2nd oldest roster in the NHL that year, coming off of a Lockout where our GM sat on the Rules Committee, and surely must have known that the “new NHL” was one that emphasized youth and speed. Center Marc Savard would not entertain returning to Atlanta, in a season where the Thrashers had a MAX CAP for “Opening Night.” I remembered thinking, “That jerk, Savard! Why won’t he re-sign? He’s a vital part of our future. We’re spending a level that reflects serious pursuit of the Cup.” In the end, whatever his reasons, Marc Savard left. And the organization got nothing for the asset, as they opted not to move him at the trade deadline in favor of the stretch-run for the playoffs. At the time, trading him in a “salvage mission” probably would have been met with an irate fanbase. It was a close run. It was arguably worth taking a shot at it.

To me, Sage, my epiphany … occured in 2006. Which was, admittedly, “a little late” not to realize the score. Truthfully, I was surprised that Waddell survived the Lockout as GM. Then there was the Heatley trade. But prior to that, the wooing (and eventual signing) of Peter Bondra and the signing of Bobby Holik as out “big free agent move” of 2006. And, of course, the Ilya Kovalchuk “RFA holdout.” I was extremely upset at the time … that Kovalchuk wasn’t the very first move made by Waddell, the moment the Lockout was resolved. I posted in anger, back in 2005, “With this kind of treatment, this guy will be gone the second he can hit the open market in 2010.” Boy did I hear about it!, from the other posters. People called me a “hate monger,” among other things. I really didn’t want to be right about that. I never wanted to be more wrong in my life. But, as it turns out, Kovy’s departure could turn into a blessing in disguise. I’ve certainly cut the cord, embracing more of a depth strategy. But I’m off point. In 2007, it was an utterly indefensible move to renew Waddell until 2010 as GM, after mortgaging the future for a division title and playoff berth that resulted in zero wins. That was it, for me, in terms of even thinking of going to 20 games a season. When I heard Bernie Mullin get on “680TheFan” to spout some “John Wooden longevity theory” about why retaining Waddell was essential for the future of the team, I lost it, man. It was that, “You’ve got to be kidding me! .. you CANNOT be serious” John McEnroe moment. As in, “That ball was on the line. There’s chalk flying everywhere,” towards the umpire. In October of 2007, it was Hartley, not Waddell, who got fired. I found it completely exasperating that there wasn’t an utter housecleaning in April of 2007. To even try to make it all “Hartley’s fault” seemed really distasteful. Waddell, ultimately, fared not much better, after coaching the team for 76-games to 76-points. With, mind you, bluster about the playoffs still in full effect, in December. Allright, I’m just gonna stop there. We all know the history. And very soon, I’ll be accused of negativity for presenting facts about the team. Sage, I don’t know what to say. I’ve wanted this ownership fired for a long, long time, in favor of one that would honestly and properly care for this franchise. To an extent, I certainly agreed with them that, back in 2007-08, the proper course was to engage in a rebuilding project, which others corrected me in saying was a “building, not re-building project.” I just couldn’t conceive that we’d have the same architect holding the blueprints. Fan attendance has been ‘what it is,’ Sage. Philips Arena got bluer and bluer with the empty seats at Blueland, while the PA declared 14,000 seats purchased for tonight’s game. The ownership survives, Sage. Propped up by revenue-sharing dollars and league minimum budgets, the Thrashers survive. They endure. It’s rather remarkable, especially when one wonders, season-in and season-out, just how “committed” this ownership is to winning a Stanley Cup.

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