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
Devils_fan
December 18th, 2010
2:09 pm
Superiority complex? lol Show me where I posted anything about the Devils being superior. I took offense to calling the Devils a Micky Mouse organization considering we haven’t add a truly bad season since the 80’s. And yes the more I read your comments the more it proves you haven’t watched jack sh!t of any Devils game. Langs and Rollie are quitting on the team? Are you F’n serious? These guys are 35 and 38 their age is catching up to them and if you want the truth Langs only had a good couple of years because of Parise. Why would Langs quit when he’s a fee agent after the season? Wouldn’t that hurt his chances of catching on with another team? You just sound like a bitter Trasher fan who’s mad cause Kovy left. Don’t worry though, I’ll root for this team when they move to Quebec. It will be nice to have the Nordiques back.
glovesave29
December 18th, 2010
2:11 pm
It’s Brophy over at Rogers Sportsnet that is feeding the story. He is a VERY lazy writer. It’s an easy story to write to fire up the masses in Canada, giving them false hope that they will get a team soon.
Smoothie
December 18th, 2010
2:14 pm
Truth hurts don’t it?
Devils_fan
December 18th, 2010
2:15 pm
You wouldn’t know the truth if it hit you in the face.
Tom Lysiak
December 18th, 2010
2:41 pm
The only truths that matter are the standings and team stats. Read ‘em and weep…..
Joe Friday
December 18th, 2010
2:43 pm
“It’s an AP article, regurgitated from the many we saw last week, with a few additional inane comments. Nothing new.”
I don’t know, apparently Daly was interviewed again and made these additional comments just yesterday. I saw Bob McKenzie twitter the quotes last night before I hit the hay and wondered what was up that was new. Daly’s comments are very concerning as they’re saying that the writing is on the wall here, that they need a new investor to come in or they’re going to have to look at moving the club. It’ll be a year or two out, but I’ve never heard this come out of the NHL front office under Bettman’s regime. It’s always been “we’re keeping the team in place”. The NHL even ran Buffalo and Phoenix, didn’t they? No talk of that here . . . it’s “other alternatives” . . . not the NHL stepping in to keep them in place. That is very concerning.
I wonder if the reason the Belkin thing isn’t resolved is if they would like to buy him out but don’t have the $ to do it? I tell you what will fix things, continued winning, which will sell tickets, and then have a playoff run that makes the current owners some money. Let’s pray Pavs stays healthy and hot . . .
For tonight, I agree with Smoothie, this is a pivotal kind of game. If we’re to continue this run, we need to come out and dominate tonight and take two pts.
Red Light
December 18th, 2010
3:10 pm
The Devils will win tonight. No need to attend the game. It’s going to be a completely dominant performance from New Jersey from start to finish.
Red Light
December 18th, 2010
3:13 pm
Sorry, I’m using a new keyboard today and the new keys are really confusing. What I meant to say is that I hope that turncoat SOB and the Swedish goody-two-shoes that everyone forgets also left for “greener” pastures, get beat by six goals and that the sold-out building gives both the rudest welcome possible. He caused our current blight off the ice. Thrashers win 8-2.
Red Light
December 18th, 2010
3:19 pm
Oops, screwed up again. Darn keyboard! Meant to say, we’re all going to join arms and sing Kumbaya…to welcome the dearly departed back to the place they belong.
Someone’s laughing, Lord, kum bay ya
Someone’s crying, Lord, kum bay ya
Dwayne
December 18th, 2010
3:20 pm
Devils fan, i never watch the Devils play, but they used to win all the time. As a Thrasher fan, I was jealous. Now they have Kovy, and they are losing, all his fault? No, but his contract is going to kill yall, and thats just an opinion, we all know what that is like. Marty wont be around much longer, another opinion, how’s your D? Can you turn it around this year? Doesn’t look to good for yall, might take 90 points to make playoffs, yall would have to win 37 more games? Not going to happen. So, if Moose is in net tonight, a 2-1 Thrash win will do. If Marty is in net…6-0 Thrash. Martin Broduer + Johan Hedberg = Marty Moose.
alex
December 18th, 2010
3:44 pm
i got bad dream last night. what it’s mean? thrashers going to lose. 100%. if thrashers win i am going to punish myself for wrong prediction by suspending participation in ajc thrashers blogs for one month.
Joe Friday
December 18th, 2010
3:48 pm
How bout this Red Light, someone takes a run at Kovy and we get a good ol donnybrook going: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1-25s4uwFQ
Smoothie
December 18th, 2010
4:11 pm
Wow, me and Joe Grouper agree on something!
What does it mean?!
We’ll either come out with vim and vigor and take the Devs to the woodshed or we’ll have some early lulls and lose a tight one 3 to 2 or worse yet 2 to 1.
Watching the Canes game on the DVR and now I see why Bergie can’t get out of the dog house. Its not that he’s being lazy or not working hard, but he’s not working smart or he’s not sustaining the compete level thru
the play from start to finish, even on a wall battle. Also, I still don’t know how someone as accurate as Nik Antropov missed the net on some wide open looks. Shuda won that game 5 to 1 for sure. Let’s hope they saved their goals for Kovy and his rag-tag band of Devils.
Nate
December 18th, 2010
4:15 pm
Team can move to 2nd in the conference with a win tonight. Anybody else notice this?
Thrashers27
December 18th, 2010
4:52 pm
I just noticed that too, Nate.
Come on boys, play tough! Do not let us down tonight!
Michael "the abbreviation"
December 18th, 2010
4:57 pm
go kovy!! bergfors out again makes me wanna root for devils, im fed up with this crap!! Hey lets keep one of our most talented scoring forwards out 3 outta 4 games, whatya say? absolute bullshet
alex
December 18th, 2010
6:17 pm
like i said before berg on one leg and drunk still better than modin, but what i am understand in hockey compare to ram – zero. doesn’t matter, bad dream, kovy going to win.
cracked puckhead
December 18th, 2010
7:10 pm
Is Thrash out of the pokey?
glovesave29
December 18th, 2010
7:42 pm
Hey Devils Fan – lovin’ this game as much as we are? 3-0! Go Thrashers!
iamtheratio
December 18th, 2010
7:46 pm
Gotta love the fact that Big Buff is playing such good hockey and he wasn’t on the ice for any of the 3 goals in the first period. That’s how good our TEAM is. Unbelievable. GO THRASH!
Get The Puck Out
December 18th, 2010
9:34 pm
Can you say a$$whippin? Heck Bolton beat the Devils!!!!
iamtheratio
December 18th, 2010
9:36 pm
Eric Boulton got a hat trick. HOLY SH*T Then that unbelievable forchecking shift of Kane for that Thorburn goal. My OHHH My. 1st place in the south east. MERRY CHRISTMAS
Get The Puck Out
December 18th, 2010
9:44 pm
I betcha that beatdown will stick in Kovy’s craw for some time. Ohhh the irony!!
iamtheratio
December 18th, 2010
9:49 pm
It seems Moose has the worst luck ever behind the net. I remember him surrendering at least 5 goals when he played for us by mishandling the puck from behind the net. He should probably stay in the crease forever
jimbo
December 18th, 2010
10:04 pm
7-1.Leader in the SE Division. Time to start fighting off the Superiority Complex.
Matt
December 18th, 2010
10:04 pm
Is it just me, or does “Abbreviation”=Stendek??
Anyway, what a beatdown. THAT’S the way you take out an inferior team. Put the pressure on early and don’t let up. Only thing better would have been to get an 8 in honor of all the figure 8’s Kovy skated for this franchise. Suck on that #17!!
Great to see a solid crowd that was in the game tonight. Got my tickets for the Rangers and Leafs next month. Cannot wait.
Matt
December 18th, 2010
10:08 pm
I believe I’m stuck in the filter. Help?
Brendan
December 18th, 2010
10:12 pm
I haven’t read any comments yet, so I apologize if I’m repeating anything, but I just peeked out my window, looking for signs of the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and found none! But yet, Eric Boulton did have a “hat trick” tonight! Some people thought the end of the World might happen first. They were wrong. And all 3 of Boulton’s goals from practically the same spot! (Somewhere, Pat Quinn is vomiting. Pat Quin once opined, “Nobody wants to see him (Boulton) play,” refering to fan attendance. Quin was angered by what he perceived as a chippy play by Boulton on one of his Leaf players.) Red Light, did anyone pick Eric Boulton in the hat trick contest??
As for the booing of Kovalchuk, I really didn’t care for that. Go ahead! Get mad at me! Call me names. Bring it on. It’s pretty petty and small to blame a marquee player, who hasn’t even hit his PRIME YEARS yet, for wanting to leave a team owned by the Octocluster, who kept a failing GM in place, for a decade, without a playoff win. Knowing full well, I might add, that accepting his “fair market value” would greatly hinder the Thrashers, as owned by the Octotards, to fill out the roster around him. No, instead, I thank Ilya for his many years of service, and the exciting brand of hockey that he consistently delivered. His marching orders from Don Waddell were “pedal to the metal offense,” fill the net with pucks. And he delivered how many 40+ goal seasons? So, the way we treat him upon his return is to “boo” him?? Grrreat. That’ll make players want to come here. Actually, I cheerfully withdraw that comment. Players wanting or not wanting to play in Atlanta have absolutely nothing to do with whether they’ll be “booed” upon their departure from Thrasherville. I did hear “Moose” calls for Hedberg, though. So, we love the Moose, but he hate Kovalchuk? Is that about the size of it?
I am never pleased when the opposition scores on us. But I bear no grudge against Ilya. I am happy for whatever success he may have in his career. I’m just sorry that we couldn’t develop him into a “complete” player, nor give him the kind of committed ownership and ‘accountable’ management that an NHL franchise needs to flourish. To pin New Jersey’s woes, this season, solely or principally on Kovalchuk seems misplaced. The Devils blueline is not nearly what it has been in their championship years. The Devils have been without Zach Parise, one of their very best players. And it’s spiraled from there. Look at Brodeur’s performance tonight. Not very impressive. Brodeur doesn’t seem to bring his “A” game to Atlanta, all that often. Marty got pulled after the 4th goal, and I kinda feel bad that Moose got tagged for 3 more, in relief. But not too much. I revel in a 7-1 pasting of NJ. It was great too see, minus the Kovy booing. Great to see 17,000 in the house, and Thrash back on the street, after some trumped up charges were dismissed.
Thrashers27
December 18th, 2010
10:17 pm
Way to go boys! Don’t stop now. Great to see Boults get the hat trick!!!
In Boulton’s post game interview with Kincaide he said “this is only the beginning, so here we go.” Great to hear!
LAC
December 18th, 2010
10:21 pm
Everyone needs to read the artical on the TSN site. It appears the NHL is NOT going to stand by NHL hockey in Atlanta, Like they did in Phoenix. Shocking… I really believe if attendence DOES NOT REALLY PICKUP, I really believe BAD things could happen.
I, like most, do not like these Awful owners, or don waddell and the damage he has done over the years. But… The team IS WINNING, I Mean WINNING. Look at the standings… SECOND Place
in the Eastern Confrence, Leaders in Southeast, What more could we do ? I love it and plan a return trip to Philips tuesday night !
If anyone ever saw THE look of dejection of #17 tonight it was Fabulous, just worth it ALL !!!!!
He looked STUNNED, the Devil announcers went from excuses at the start of the game, to FINALLY
praising the team and saying GOOD things about The Leaders in The Southeast Division.
I hope hbo Wash/Pitt 24/7 is having fun, because it is there to see the deer in the lights look
of the people in D.C. While WE WIN AGAIN !!!!!! OUTSTANDING !!!!!!!!!!!!! hbo 24/7 can kiss my A$$
with their stupid show, It’s all Atlanta folks.
Lastly the STUPID hnic goons say Bergfors is on the trade block ???? True ???
I wish they would get someone other than that A$$HOLE p.j.stock, the littl boy they have on with highlights…. They saved the Atlanta highlights for last. Why would they put Idiots like dumb cherry and pee-jama stock on their show ???
But we need attendence, I hate the owners too, but when they finally got a REAL coach and GM and at “least” moved Dumb don out, thing are getting much better, would hate to improve, then lost the team….
Dandylions
December 18th, 2010
10:34 pm
All I want for Christmas….. is to say SUCK IT KOVY – Thrashers ROCK!
Tom
December 18th, 2010
10:48 pm
What a great game to attend. This is the year of limited budgets so we have been absent from Phillips but I have to say it was electric tonight.
Thanks Rick Dudley for trading Ilya Kovalchuk
Get The Puck Out
December 18th, 2010
10:54 pm
I’d really like to see ‘em beat Tronna like a drum too.
Alan R.
December 18th, 2010
10:56 pm
Hey lets keep one of our most talented scoring forwards out 3 outta 4 games, whatya say?
Pretty sure Eric Boulton played tonight…
litz
December 18th, 2010
11:01 pm
Don’t look now … but the Thrashers are the LEAD STORY on ajc.com … yes, not just an article, but the prominent upper left corner, to boot.
Last time that happened was when Kovalchuk was traded.
goose
December 18th, 2010
11:07 pm
Kovalchuk is now a minus -21. That is almost as good as good as Bolton’s hat trick
litz
December 18th, 2010
11:10 pm
For anyone who wants to watch the shellacking again, it’s on FSSO at midnight
jen
December 18th, 2010
11:30 pm
Wow, wow wow…..what a game to be at tonight. Great atmosphere at the BIulb tonight. Could not believe Boults got a hat trick. Who in the world ever saw that one coming….I think the issues the Devils have with with Kovy is that here, the offense was comnpletely built around him and designed to mesh with his skill set. He’s had to come in and fit into a system in Jersey that wasn’t specifically designed around him. He’s still a dynamic talent, and has a wicked shot. (although I loved that he broke his stick on the 1st shift of the game. That always frustrated the heck out of me, set up pp, get the point shot we were looking for, broken stick, other team chips it out). The trade allowed us to become a team with a team system which involved everyone, and when everyone buys into it, everyone has the opportunity to be the hero. This was a VERY successful model in Buffalo for a long time (until they had an issue signing their key components, but they still have consistent playoff appearences, so can’t argue with that). I don’t know if this is a team that can win a Cup, but its definitely a team that can get into the playoffs.
Does anyone else think we have the best 4th line in hockey right now? hard to argue with their success. They do all the little things well and they perfectly complement each other in their respective roles.Gonzo energy
Flames
December 18th, 2010
11:36 pm
Thats my boy! Eric Boulton has always been a great Guy…Im so Happy for him…
Wayne stuck in AL
December 18th, 2010
11:57 pm
Eel-ya scores a goal, makes #9 on SportsCenter’s Top 10; Boulton doesn’t even get a mention…
SomaAtl95
December 19th, 2010
12:16 am
Hey! Where is Devils fan now? Oh yeah, enjoying that nice cup of STFU that the Thrashers gave his team tonight. TSN’s recap focuses on how #17 doesn’t want to talk about being beat. Thats “First Class” of him since joining his “First Class Organization” last year. Must be nice that his former city gave a big F-U to him tonight
Hockey Biltong
December 19th, 2010
12:30 am
love dem Trashers!!!!!!!!!
Rawhide
December 19th, 2010
1:00 am
I heard the Devil called looking for sweaters and coats…because Hell has frozen over.
ben
December 19th, 2010
4:26 am
stop feeding the relocation rumors by acknowledging them. they’ll most likely move within the area at some point. I mean anyone who knew anything about the area around here would say that. They should have put this team up 400 and they will eventually. There are more people in Fulton County than there are in Winnepegg (sp). Honestly, this is a bigger market than a lot of other places, and once the team exploits a better locale, fans will show.
R. Stroz
December 21st, 2010
1:10 am
LAST BOO!
Chainshaw
December 21st, 2010
9:22 am
Ben – step away from the crack pipe. Isolating 2/3 of the metro population is not going to happen. The Thrashers have the nicest arena in the NHL and they are not moving from downtown.