To boo Kovalchuk or not to boo – That is the question for you, Thrasherville
To boo or not to boo, that is the question. Whether ‘tis nobler to make known a fan’s anger and frustration towards one player’s actions of a year ago with audible sounds of displeasure…or to cheer loudly for him to convey appreciation for his services when here…or to simply sit quietly as said player toils in futility as he currently plays for a once-proud franchise now mired in a troubled season.
Tomorrow night, Ilya Kovalchuk returns to Philips Arena as the Thrashers take on the New Jersey Devils. It will be the second return appearance for Kovy since last winter’s big trade. Last spring, Kovy and his new team made their way to Atlanta and the first overall pick by the Thrashers in 2001 then suffered the slings and arrows of a feisty crowd…most of whom were bent on letting the Russian forward just what they thought about how things went down two months prior.
While most booed Kovalchuk, some did cheer for him when he popped out of the visiting locker room…expressing thanks to him for the years of service to the team before heading out of town on the same rail Marian Hossa had two years prior.
Me…I did neither. My feelings were that Ilya Kovalchuk had made his decision, turning down as much as $10 million a season to remain here, and was simply a member of the visiting team the Thrashers were playing that night. It is what it is…and we move on.
Ilya Kovalchuk was then…and to me remains still…nothing more and nothing less than simply a member of the opposing team. Not worth booing but certainly not worth wasting any breathe on cheering for.
Of course, circumstances are somewhat different now then they were during the final week of last season when the Devils last made there way down to Georgia. Then, New Jersey was 45-26-7 coming into that game and currently on their way to yet another Atlantic Division championship. They earned the second seed in the east for the playoffs.
The Thrashers on the other hand…they were once more banished to viewing the playoffs from the comfort of their couch and planning early-spring golf outings. Same story…different verse.
New Jersey then used that lofty second seed position to win one whole game in postseason, being kicked to the curb by the Philadelphia Flyers in five games. They were the only team of the 16 that qualified for the playoffs to not win at least two games.
And now, as the current NHL campaign has unfolded, it is New Jersey that finds itself having to take up arms against a sea of troubles and look up in the standings to find the Thrashers. In gaining another shootout loss consolation point, Atlanta currently finds themselves ensconced in second place in the Southeast Division and sixth place overall in the Eastern Conference. They are but one point off the division lead and two behind the fifth-place New York Rangers.
This has many residents of Thrasherville looking forward to the much coveted spring campaign for Lord Stanley’s Cup, the portion of the season that only 16 teams are allowed to take part in…an undiscovered country ventured into but once by this franchise and even then, they returned from no games victorious.
Do you plan on booing Kovy Saturday night?
- Yes! Goodbye and good riddance (29%, 71 Votes)
- No! He's a great player and we were lucky to have him here (24%, 59 Votes)
- Ilya who? (47%, 115 Votes)
Total Voters: 245
Loading ...The Devils, on the other hand, carry with them a 9-19-2 record going into tonight’s game against visiting Nashville. And if it weren’t for the New York Islanders, they would be the bottom dwellers of the NHL. In beating the Phoenix Coyotes 3-0 Wednesday night…a game in which Kovalchuk potted a pair of goals…the Devils snapped a five game losing streak. They had dropped 9 of their last 12 as well prior to that win.
They are an offensively-challenged bunch, these Devils. The 56 goals scored to date are the fewest of any team in the league. The Islanders are on the next rung up on that ladder, having scored 62 but played one fewer game than has New Jersey.
For his part, Kovalchuk has 7 goals, 9 assists and is a –17.
In contrast, the Thrashers have 8 players on their roster that have at least 16 points…Dustin Byfuglien, 33…Andrew Ladd, 29…Toby Enstrom, 22…Rich Peverley, 21…Evander Kane, 19…Anthony Stewart, 18…Nic Bergfors, (who was a part of the Kovalchuk deal), 18…and Nik Antropov, 16.
Truly this Devils team has found itself having to grunt and sweat under a weary life in a manner we’ve not seen in many a year. And for some Thrashers fans, it’s almost a joyous sight to behold given the ransom paid for the service of Mr. Kovalchuk. Given the current state of affairs with the two organizations, there will no doubt be a great deal of those Thrashers faithful that will take tomorrow’s opportunity to not only boo #17…but rub things in a bit with their calls from the stands.
I take no issue with that, mind you…you pay your money, you cheer, boo, scream, holler as you see fit. It’s a fan’s right after all. But again, I will simply save my energy for rooting on the home team. Do what you will…do what you may.
However, if one Mr. Johan Hedberg gets the start tomorrow night…well, that’s one Devil I have no problem at all showing some emotion for. I’ll stand a clap for him with all the vigor I can muster up.
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196 comments Add your comment
AtlFlamesFan
December 17th, 2010
4:39 pm
Tube Alert. DW will be interviewed live on the air in a few minutes on CenterIce.
Stuck in NJ
December 17th, 2010
4:42 pm
There’s a Manasso article out there as well where he talks about the Kovy deal. Can get to it from FoxSports
Get The Puck Out
December 17th, 2010
4:48 pm
I’ll cheer Kovy as soon as he’s credited with the assist on the Thrasher’s first goal!!
Alan R.
December 17th, 2010
4:53 pm
Sometimes, we just need to move on from the old wounds. Make light, rather than throw salt. Just having a little fun with the “veteran defenseman” angle
litz
December 17th, 2010
4:55 pm
“I’ll cheer Kovy as soon as he’s credited with the assist on the Thrasher’s first goal!!”
A nice neutral zone giveaway following by a Buff slapshot goal would work nicely.
Followed by Buff pointing at Kovy, then the sleeve of his jersey.
(this will probably immediately lead to a fight … but I’d put $$$ down on buff if that happened … very few opponents could produce a result other than that like a car hit by a train)
JR
December 17th, 2010
4:56 pm
if he had been forthright before the season that he was not going to accept a contract with the thrashers, he could have been traded at that time and we would have gotten a lot more for him than we did late in the season. he hurt this franchise with his dishonesty. how can one not boo him?
hedburg, on the other hand, will likely be cheered as he was popular and didn’t leave of his own accord.
Smoothie
December 17th, 2010
5:09 pm
Okay, will the New Jersey game be a positive or negative turning point for this young team?
Last year, we were sitting pretty at 18 – 12 – 3 thru 33 games (this year 17 – 11 – 5 but also 39 points), but we blew a 3 – 1 lead against the Devils at home on December 19, 2009 to begin a terrible downward spiral into the depths of despair.
The blown game against Jersey was the first of 9 straight in which the Thrashers would fail to win in regulation. It took them until January 7th, 2010 to earn a regulation win over NYR in a shootout and gain points 43 & 44. Let’s hope they can erase that dismal memory and win 5 or 6 of the next 8. Five wins and 10 points gets us to 49 and a very favorable spot for the turn.
Here are some comparison stats that might intrigue you:
2009-10: 101 GF vs 94 GA (not counting SO & ENG); SV% of .918 thru 33 games; avg of 34.61 shots against vs 28.27 shots for (-209 overall)
2010-11: 100 GF vs 88 GA (not counting SO & ENG); SV% of .923 thru 33 games; avg of 33.91 shots against vs 31.18 shots for (-90 overall)
That’s the big difference. They’re consistently getting more shots this year to the net through the aggressive attacking style Ramsay desires and teaches. Of course, the shots against is still pretty high and they’re 29th overall in shots allowed. HOWEVER, over the last 20 games, with a record of 11 – 6 – 3, they have reduced the shots against avg to 31.65 for that span. In addition we have seen an increase in the number of shots on goal to 33.60 and they are a +38 in SOG at even-strength.
PROGRESS!! Now down with the Devils!!!
jen
December 17th, 2010
5:16 pm
Put me in the Thank You Kovy chant camp. At the time, I was very dissapointed he wasn’t willing to make a commitment to the team that brought him up, but things being what they are, I’m infinitely glad he chose not to do so, although he could have decided sooner and we potentitally could have gotten even more for him as a full year rental. I booed him at the Apr. Jersey game last year, but I won’t now, because he can’t cost us the playoffs by taking a month of the season off.
As for Moose, he’s welcome in my house anytime with a hearty hockey hello.I think if they knew Pavs was going to step up lilke this, he probably would have finished his career here. But he’s not a starter anymore, and we needed more of a 1A/1B type goalie situation.
Go Thrash!
cousin Eddie
December 17th, 2010
5:58 pm
Thinking about wearing my scuba goggles, flippers, booty shorts, and skin tight tank top and sitting right next to the penalty box. I plan on having at least 2 beers in my hand at any given time and obnoxiously taunting kovy when he visits the sin bin. I hate selfish players and people and especially ones that used to play for the Thrashers. Karma is going to bite Kovy in the a$$ tomorrow night!
GO TEAM THRASHERS!!!!!
Thrashy Thrashy
December 17th, 2010
6:16 pm
Kovy was never a bad guy. Trading him actually helped the franchise. I’d applaud the guy when he first touches the puck. After that, I’d boo him like he’s any other guy on the opposing team.
Cornbread
December 17th, 2010
6:20 pm
Just got my tickets for tomorrow night’s game using the Free Thrash promotion. Got two great seats in section 110 and 10 tickets to charity all for $100. Bringing a friend who has never seen an NHL game and only been to one hockey game before. Great promo and great deal!
See y’all at the game! I can’t wait! Let’s go THRASH!!!
godsmack69
December 17th, 2010
6:36 pm
i won’t waste my time booing for that loser
kovalpuke…..definition
“He’s a pecantic, pontificating, pretentious b#stard, a belligerent fart, a worthless pile of cow dung figuratively speaking”
chris16
December 17th, 2010
6:37 pm
Why Boo a guy who is playing like “You Know”. He is not happy he is playing the worse in his career so far,he not scoring goals, his plus/minus is crap and his old team is playing great hockey and does not need his help. We just need to beat the crap out of them Saturday and get our 2 points.
Savannah Blueland Fan
December 17th, 2010
6:53 pm
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
DOUBLE BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Moose, on the other hand, a standing ovation. Sorry….just how I feel.
razorneck13
December 17th, 2010
8:00 pm
I can’t imagine booing him, but I’m not against it do whatcha want. Honestly I’m sad for the guy in some ways not related to his personal finances. Kovy was the one consistently entertaining thing this team had going for it FOR YEARS!!! Yeah, yeah, I know he’s a one dimensional, figure eight skating, puck hog, no defense playing such and such, whatever…he pretty much carried this team for a long time and for that reason I won’t boo him.
Sean Grace
December 17th, 2010
8:16 pm
If you hadn’t noticed, and judging by the attendance, you haven’t, your home towns boys are off to a hot start… Harry Doyle, Major League
Personally I am going to give Kovy a quick hand and then route, route, route for the home team. We should not be focused on booing the guy who brought us excitement for many years. He was worth the price of admission for a long time. He made a series of mistakes over the last couple years and now Karma has got him good. Now he is trapped in purgatory pressed firmly to the rancid armpit of the Northeast. Short answer, don’t kick a man when he is down. Karma, it’s got a long memory.
Please come to the game on Saturday and support your team before we are forced to Gwinnett to watch the only hockey in town.
What we should be focused on is supporting our team by actually showing up for hockey games.
rob
December 17th, 2010
9:07 pm
WBF,
I will be unable to attend the festivities tomorrow…….in-law get together that I cannot talk the wife out of it. I had my daughter talked into skipping it with me…..too close to Christmas to test the wrath!!! LOL With that in mind……please, at the top of your lungs scream out, “KOVALCHUK YOU BUM!!!!” as often as you can for me.
Don’t be a hater you say? This is hockey I HATE every team we play…..and every REF that can’t do his job competently…..it ain’t a hard job, just do it! Show some passion people! CHEER for the Boys in Blue as loud as possible! Then BOO the other team too! Leave hoarse, works well the next day at work!
Don’t boo him because he plays better mad?!?!?!?! Then you should have booed his A$$ every game he EVER played here……maybe then he would have actually played hockey instead of whatever it is they call what he does.
To those of you who said he gave so much for this franchise……..ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!?! He did nothing, he scored some goals for himself, but what did he do for the TEAM?!?!? Only good thing he ever did here was not except our offer and find another team so retarded as to think his slapshot is worth that much money. If I had the cash to blow I would by a NJ shirt and get a Mickey Mouse logo on the back with Kovy’s name on it just for every time his sorry arse came to town. Might be worth investing in anyway as long as his stupid contract is for.
As for why Bergfors/Burmi didn’t play much….I am sure they have to thank Eager and his 10 minute misconduct for that. Eager sat for a reason before, and while I like his in your face ness….you have to stay in control for your team. Benching him for 2 games didn’t seem to get his attention much, so maybe sitting the other guys on his line will????
And as for benching…..it has to be Stewart’s turn, plain and simple. Big guy plays like a freakin puss! Staal’s goal should have had a Stewart assist. Stewart hears footsteps coming behind him and instead of taking a hit for the team and keeping it on the BOARDS where it belongs…….he does what every coach in the HISTORY of hockey tells you what NEVER to do……and dumps the puck into his own slot. I screamed WTF! at the TV and could only imagine what Mason must have thought after such a sweet setup. He has some goals…..but most are garbage that any other warm blooded body can get. Maybe it’s just me, but I just don’t like the guys game.
Hate to see so few people out at the games, and Thrash’s stunt comes at a time when people just aren’t here or have extra cash. Great gimmick though. Headline could have been:
“DIRTY BIRD GETS CAUGHT RIDING DIRTY!”
Play Hard and kick the snot out of NJ tomorrow!
LET’S GO THRASHERS!!!!!
rob
December 17th, 2010
9:12 pm
Savannah,
Well put!!!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
KOVY YOU BUUUUUUUUMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hanson Brothers
December 17th, 2010
10:27 pm
I, for one, will be cheer for Kovy when he makes his first appearance, as a thank you for his years here, then will proceed to cheer for us to send the Devils down in flames. I wore a Kovy sweater to his first game with the Thrashers and every game thereafter until he was traded, and its been put away since. But I will bring it out tomorrow as a tribute to my favorite Thrasher during his term here. I totally blame DW for Kovy leaving, not Kovy. If we had a well run franchise he never would have left or had a reason to leave. But I don’t begrudge any player wanting to get away from DW and the octocluster. Moose is also a class act and I hope he starts and gets the applause he deserves too.
R. Stroz
December 17th, 2010
10:30 pm
rob – Section 222 has seats that need your energy.
james
December 17th, 2010
11:15 pm
Kovy was fun to watch. If the current coaching staff was there at the time , he would not have left. I was fed up with the prior regime. Try to imagine the Thrashers without him all those years. It is not his fault. Anybody would get tired of losing. The Thrashers made a lot of poor decisions. Dany Heatley did not help.
Cheer him as the greatest player in the history of the Thrashers. Maybe he will come back towards the end of his career.
Take the high road. Show class and integrity. 2 wrongs don’t make a right. What is the downs side of making him feel good about his time as a Thrasher.
james
December 17th, 2010
11:16 pm
Hanson Bros . You are right
Kovy Shakespeare
December 17th, 2010
11:31 pm
Now is the winter of our discontent.
Devils_fan
December 18th, 2010
2:37 am
Some of you Atlanta Trash fans are delusional. Calling the Devils a Mickey Mouse organization? What the hell does that make your organization for the past 10 years? One playoff birth and you got swept by the Rags. Keep enjoying how great your team is this year I’m sure when this team moves to Canada you’ll appreciate it looking back.
SGT. Stryker - USMC
December 18th, 2010
7:59 am
BOO the inept MBAs who came up with this ignorant ” Thrash got arrested ” garbage. You ASG marketing morons have finally reached the apex. I can promise you Madison ave is NOT in your future.
@ Devils_fan Jersey is a Mickey Mouse State so why not the hockey team too ?
Get The Puck Out
December 18th, 2010
8:06 am
I’m just glad you devil fans are happy with him, cause i’m happy he’s on your team! I don’t hate him, but he’s gettin what he deserves. I don’t think i’ll boo him, the devil’s fans will take care of that. He’s got a heck of a shot, but you gotta play both ends of the ice and that will be the downfall of Kovy. GO THRASHERS!!!
Dwayne
December 18th, 2010
8:15 am
The same idiots that holler knights during the anthem will be the same idiots that holler Mooooooooose, if in goal, and he makes a save. I would cheer Kovy and moose during warm ups, but when the puck drops.
At Devils_fan….no one disrespects what yall did in the past. This year, and you have to admit, someone messed up by signing Kovy to that retarded contract. If he would have accepted when our idiot GM offered him here in Atlanta. Yall would be where we are now, yes, we had alot of mickey mouse years, thank goodness its yalls turn for awhile. Good luck with Kovy, I hope he turns into a defensive force, sorry I just laughed, and yall turn it around, but not at the expense of the Thrashers.
Dwayne
December 18th, 2010
8:16 am
…but when the puck drops, they become the enemy.
jimbo
December 18th, 2010
9:15 am
Dwayne- Rignt on Man. It is the idiots who disrepectfully holler “Knights” during the anthem who will be booing the loudest. But since they choose to live in the past, let em. Good suggestion to applaud Kovy and Hedberg during warmups but cheer for our guys during the game. Time to move on folks. We’ve got something to cheer about and the Devils don’t.
glovesave29
December 18th, 2010
9:33 am
Hey Devils fan – you’re obviously not too hip on hockey history. No one here was saying the Devils are a Mickey Mouse operation…someone was just quoting Wayne Gretzky. And he DID once call your team by that same name.
Reason number 584,349 I live in the south…sheez
Tom
December 18th, 2010
10:37 am
Looks like Eager and Bergfors are on the bench again. They sat most of the 3rd period against Carolina and not Bergy is not going to play against his former team.
Can we say Dog House?
World Be Free
December 18th, 2010
10:43 am
Red Light-I take “b” becuase it would have worked for all parties and it would still have been in Kovy’s bets interests
World Be Free
December 18th, 2010
10:52 am
Devils’ fan-I remember NJ games when the team stunk and the house was empty. Your glass house has a big rock in it, he’s Kovy and you can have fun with him for 10 seasons. Congrats on 3 Stanley Cups too.
Stroz-it is appearing a little like Yashin isn’t it?
rob- I am in the same boat tonight, gotta tend to non-hockey matters with friends so I will not be there either. Let’s hope we have a good, loud crowd for MOOSE to appreciate.
kovyoverrated
December 18th, 2010
11:21 am
Article in Gainesville times today about Thrashers leaving.
Not good…
Red Light
December 18th, 2010
11:33 am
Not trying to be an apologist for the NJ state of mind, but playing without Parise since Oct. 30, through Broudeur’s injury, Volchenkov’s injury, and working in a lot of first-time NHL’ers into the lineup is the major reason the Devils have been out of sync through the first 30 games. Now, you can aptly point out that the Kovalchuk contract caused the roster manipulation in the first place, but I don’t think the Devils are nearly as bad as they have played so far. They’re going to go on a hot streak at some point, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened soon. They’re still capable and dangerous, but without Parise, they’re just not the same.
Wonder what would have happened if they had walked away from the Kovalchuk deal?
Always Hoping
December 18th, 2010
11:37 am
“Article in Gainesville times today about Thrashers leaving.
Not good…”
Wow….good to know as I get ALL my news from the Gainesville Times…………….
rob
December 18th, 2010
11:58 am
Stroz,
I have sat in many areas of the rink at games and have found few with much enthusiasm throughout the game……maybe it is time to try 222. LOL Though can’t commit to season tix…..will try to land that section soon for some tix. Wonder if the toy drive vouchers would allow that?
EA
December 18th, 2010
11:59 am
I will cheer for the Moose. For Kovy, no boos because we are a better team without him.
World Be Free
December 18th, 2010
12:07 pm
What the heck does the Gainesville Times know about hockey?
World Be Free
December 18th, 2010
12:11 pm
Red Light-add to the Devils’ troubles, the fact that Parise is up for a BIG raise and oipen to an offer sheet after July 1. Devs have no cap space to improve their club, they have aging goaltending and a largely immoble team for the future. Injuries to key players have hurt, no doubt.
Dwayne
December 18th, 2010
12:14 pm
gainesville times has seen the diques in canada, very “small” minded people.
Red Light
December 18th, 2010
12:17 pm
It’s an AP article, regurgitated from the many we saw last week, with a few additional inane comments. Nothing new.
Devils_fan
December 18th, 2010
12:31 pm
@Red light
You pretty much it the nail on the head with the Devils problems this season. Also add an inexperienced coach to that mix. None of these have been Kovy’s fault. We Devils fans look on the bright side of losing. We’ll have a top five pick in the draft and that guy can be added to the core of Parise, Kovy, Volchankov, Zajac, and some rookies who have looked good this season.
“Wonder what would have happened if they had walked away from the Kovalchuk deal?”
We would still have the same team minus Kovy. That in itself is a scary thought considering he got us two wins with OT winners.
Smoothie
December 18th, 2010
1:08 pm
“None of these have been Kovy’s fault. We Devils fans look on the bright side of losing”
Ha! That’s priceless. NONE of the Devils troubles are Kovy’s fault. So his -18 means nothing and has no bearing on the chronic losing and underperforming. Do you really think Langenbrunner, Rolston and Elias are working as hard as they would be if they didn’t resent the fact this guy plays absolutely little to no defense? The whole franchise was built on defense and responsible hockey so to say Kovy’s woes are just coincidence is laughable. While he isn’t to blame for everything, his continued thumbing of the nose at the defensive side of the game is hurting a franchise that doesn’t have much room for error!
Of course, now that I’ve written this, Jersey will light us up for 4 goals and win 4 to 2.
Devils_fan
December 18th, 2010
1:26 pm
Have you watched a single Devils game this season? I wouldn’t comment on something if you’re ignorant about what’s going on.
R. Stroz
December 18th, 2010
1:34 pm
Devils_fan – I believe Sweet Lou traded that pick to the Thrashers, who then traded it to the Blackhawks.
Smoothie
December 18th, 2010
1:35 pm
Uh yeah, I have and everytime I see Kovy without the puck, he’s usually skating figure 8’s or doing a late drive-by after a shot and save off an odd-man rush. Get over your lust for Kovy’s goal-scoring and see the reality that is Kovy’s incomplete game. Don’t get me wrong, he can be electrifying and take over games on occasion, but he isn’t a leader of men nor an example for young players who are expected to play the game the right way.
Devils_fan
December 18th, 2010
1:41 pm
@smoothie
Sure you have.
“I believe Sweet Lou traded that pick to the Thrashers, who then traded it to the Blackhawks.”
That was last seasons first round pick. They still have this seasons.
Smoothie
December 18th, 2010
1:54 pm
I saw Langenbrunner give up on a play last nite in front of the net on a loose puck scramble. NOT the Jamie L I know from years past and the Olympics. Face it, some of your vets have quit. Why else does a Brian Rolston end up on waivers when no one in their right mind would claim him and get Luscious Lou off the hook for his salary, or even half of it.
You’re pretty delusional about your team’s state of affairs eh? I, and many others here in Thrasherville, call it like we see it, and we are not loathe to criticize our own team for poor play. Get over yourself and your “Devils are better cuz of their history” superiority complex. The windown is closing and if they don’t figure out a way to keep Parise, it will shut for a long time. That is all.
Tom
December 18th, 2010
2:06 pm
Parise is to rats as ___________ is to sinking ships.
Your next SAT question.