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
World Be Free
December 17th, 2010
11:59 am
Boo his ass out of the rink. I hope Bergfors gets a hat trick
Mike W
December 17th, 2010
12:00 pm
I personally think we all should cheer very loud when he gets the puck
Zombie Steve
December 17th, 2010
12:01 pm
bygones
J(Z)
December 17th, 2010
12:02 pm
Don’t boo him!!!! Just laugh at him!!!!
New Jersey 9-19-2
Kovalchuk 7 goals, 9 assists, -17!!!!!
That’s just funny!!!!!
The question is do we MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE if he plays and makes a save? I wouldn’t have a problem with that.
Red Light
December 17th, 2010
12:03 pm
To boo the all-time leader in goals and games played for this franchise would be a shame. Could he have been better while he was here, sure. Could he exited under better circumstances, of course. Would rather see people cheer for their current Thrashers rather than waste energy on former players in another uniform.
Be loud for your team, keep him off the scoresheet, win the game, get the two points and move on.
J(Z)
December 17th, 2010
12:03 pm
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO, Rawhide, can you get Trixie to recover my post?????
Alan R.
December 17th, 2010
12:03 pm
I still love and cherish that Kovalchump photo that Tony so kindly snapped and provided you with in April, Bill.
Alan R.
December 17th, 2010
12:04 pm
Be loud for your team, keep him off the scoresheet, win the game, get the two points and move on.
Pretty much the same sentiments we shared on Twitter this morning.
R. Stroz
December 17th, 2010
12:05 pm
How about we chant “Mickey Mouse…Mickey Mouse.”
Let’s see how many of you remember the reference to the Devils organization.
J(Z)
December 17th, 2010
12:05 pm
Thank you sir
Trixie (Rawhide's Secretary)
December 17th, 2010
12:05 pm
Mr. J(Z) – Your 12:02 pm post has been freed from Blog Purgatory.
h
December 17th, 2010
12:08 pm
I agree with Red Light….let’s focus on cheering really loud for our boys…..the ones in Blue. Thanks to Kovy for scoring all of those goals when he was here, but he’s gone. He’s a Devil for th enext 100 years, so let’s all move on. Seriously, he did us a favor in hindsight. Let’s focus on making our arena really loud and drowning out any Devils fans that dare to show up. Let’s win this game handily and then go up to Tronna and kick their butts too. 8 games left in 2010, and I expect us to win at least 5-6 in regulation.
Alan R.
December 17th, 2010
12:08 pm
do we MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE if he plays and makes a save?
He’s not wearing Thrashers colors, so he’s not worth cheering for. Applause for his years of service at the beginning of the game, sure, I’m all for that. Once the puck drops, though, he’s our enemy and we must violate his weaknesses.
AngryRedMarsWoman
December 17th, 2010
12:09 pm
I was in NYC recently and caught a game between the Devils and Flyers. In his own “house” they were booing him (at least the Devils fans in my section were) by mid-way through the second period. Throughout that entire game all I saw was “Kovy has the puck…excitement…he razzles…he dazzles….he loses the puck (or an edge)….slowly skates back into the defensive zone…skates to the bench.” That is what they bought for 10 years. Kovy’s problem is that when he is good he is great, but when he is not he really sucks and brings the rest of the team down…IMHO. Oh well…I never boo anyone on the ice except the zebras.
litz
December 17th, 2010
12:10 pm
I say we don’t bother … why waste the energy?
I’m sure he’s getting enough of that on his (new) home ice.
As for the team … we need to learn shootouts. We need to learn them FAST.
Otherwise the bird is gonna be in jail a long, long time …
World Be Free
December 17th, 2010
12:12 pm
I did not boo him either when he came back the first time. But the B.S. concerning the contract soured me on Kovy and Lou. I hope they in last place for a decade.
Mr. Heat Miser
December 17th, 2010
12:20 pm
Extreme heckling during warmups. Can’t wait!
Stan Drulia
December 17th, 2010
12:20 pm
I don’t think he deserves constant booing… dude is probably about as down as he has ever been in his life. His scumbag agent is the one that deserves the boos and projectiles thrown. I have never personally met a pro sports agent… and for that I am very thankful. I am about 90% sure that Kovy really did think that he was going to stay here… it’s not cool that he wanted more money than we were willing to give, but whatever. His agent is clearly pulling all the strings – I mean, he came up with a contract that was flat out rejected by the NHL for being preposterous!!! All’s I know is that I totally enjoyed watching Kovy play here all those years and will not forget some of those highs. Nor will I forget the insane frustration I felt during some of his lows. A ton of fans booing Kovy everytime he hits the ice makes it seem like we are hurt by him leaving.. I was hurt – but not anymore with 19 points!!!
DWTOO
December 17th, 2010
12:22 pm
Moose gets polite applause when introduced. Kovy gets ignored. The team in the blue sweaters gets cheered loudly.
Side note – opinions as to what has put Bergfors in Ramsay’s doghouse. He has 18 points and at least appears to play effectively. And he only was on the ice for 7:40. Even at his worst Bergie’s a better option than Modin or Stapleton?
Chris
December 17th, 2010
12:25 pm
Kovalchuk made the supreme error of making a deal with the Devils without having read Goethe’s Faust beforehand.
At this point, booing would just be piling on.
R. Stroz
December 17th, 2010
12:30 pm
Anyone planning on tossing their Kovy jersey over the glass?
Vitamin Z
December 17th, 2010
12:33 pm
No booing. He is the guy who spend the prime of his career with this sh!ty “organization”, often pulling the team on his shoulders. Last year was an exception. Why boo him for that!? We should boo Don Waddell instead.
Riceowls
December 17th, 2010
12:37 pm
I’ll second the “Thank you Kovy” chant someone mentioned in a prior blog for giving us Bergfors, Oduya and the first round pick that helped us land the Chicago boys.
“Mickey Mouse” a close second. (Thank you Wayne)
Hoof Arted
December 17th, 2010
12:39 pm
Holy cow. Did the BlogMaster just drop some Shakespeare on us? Quite the sophisticated crowd he must feel we are.
As for Kovalchuk, I have but one word…..
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Joe Friday
December 17th, 2010
12:42 pm
Nope. This isn’t a Heatley situation. Kovy was driven away, like so many former season tix holders, by one Don Waddell. I think he would have stayed here if Waddell was removed as GM prior to last year, but whatever.
We’re a better team without him, I wish him well, just not tomorrow night.
Mrs. Zoomo
December 17th, 2010
12:49 pm
slightly off topic – do we have an update on Thrash? I thought it was cute that Freddy Falcon, Harry Hawk, and Homer subbed for him at the game last night!
AtlFlamesFan
December 17th, 2010
12:54 pm
The first time Kovy steps on the ice, the organist should play:
“Who’s the leader of the club that’s made for you and me?”
During breaks, they could put clips from the old Mickey Mouse Club shows! “ANNETTE!”
AtlFlamesFan
December 17th, 2010
12:55 pm
For the first 10,000 fans, hand out Mickey Mouse ears!
RS
December 17th, 2010
12:57 pm
You have to keep one thing in mind here. Kovalchuk plays his best when he’s pissed off. Why fire him up?
georg
December 17th, 2010
12:58 pm
To boo him is disgraceful just because the cheap owners we have could not make him a good offer so therefore you lost yourself a good player just like Hossa. This town sucks when it comes to Hockey the fans are sorry just like the media no decent coverage what more do you poeple want blood……
canofpeas
December 17th, 2010
12:59 pm
why boo? we have been better off without him. this is a much different situation than heatley.
Tony C
December 17th, 2010
12:59 pm
DWTOO-he’s not Canadian. Just look at who they sent out for the shootout-all North Americans (Antropov became a Canadian citizen while playing for the Leafs)-yes the Byfuglien is from Minnesota, but c’mon, that’s pretty much Canada…also nary a dangler after Antropov (who I don’t think of as a dangler per se)… I just don’t understand sending Little in during the skills competition (PLEASE let’s not bicker about that-it’s not fair to end a team game that way-but we are however stuck with it, I think you should do your best to win) the guy’s almost as bad as #17 in the shootout. A natural breakaway, I’d say Little is a lead-pipe cinch to score…the shootout? Not so much.
Seems like Bergfors, and Burmistrov are/did displease Ramsay-Bergfors got maybe 8 minutes of ice time the whole game-the guy is trade bait; coach doesn’t like him, and front office didn’t really seem all that anxious about getting him signed…
but I betcha if Ramsay would’ve sent Burmistrov & Bergfors out for that shootout, we wouldn’t have lost it in the first three rounds-I’m all for rewarding/disciplining players via their ice-time, but with the game on the line? Let’s not put a guy who’s 3-for-15 (Little) out there as our 2nd shooter when the other guys are countering with THE preeminent shootout specialist in the league (Jussi) as their 2nd shooter. Especially when it’s a division game after we lost in the shootout against a division foe the night before.
As far as #17, I’ll cheer when he hits the ice, and then probably be too busy cheering for our boys to really worry about the guy standing at their blueline doing the ” !Ole’! ” defense he’s famed for.
Tony C
December 17th, 2010
1:01 pm
but booing Kovalchuk is tacky-try and resist.
Rawhide
December 17th, 2010
1:02 pm
Mrs. Zoomo – Thrash is still in the GWEEE-nett hooscow. But we are getting closer to his release.
Remember, if you wanna help the Thrashers raise his bail money…and get a great deal on tickets…simply click HERE and enter the promo code RAWHIDE.
…thanks for the setup, Mrs. Zoomo…
JB
December 17th, 2010
1:07 pm
i would certainly cheer for moose during warmups. i think in the interest of not instigating a reaction that would likely end up in the back of our net, it’s best to ignore #17 tomorrow. I appreciate his long and distinguished service to our team but I loathe the season or more of lies about wanting to re-sign here.
js
December 17th, 2010
1:08 pm
This team deserves our undivided attention. Cheer for them loudly and make all the others that left sorry for their decision. The building is slowly filling. Last night was not too bad for a Thursday night after the freeze warnings. It was probably the best mid-week attedance yet. Let’s keep the momentum going in the right direction. Go Thrash.
Toby
December 17th, 2010
1:09 pm
Dude went on for months saying how he loved Atlanta and wants to stay and then declines 10 years/$100 mill (even $10 each year, too). My love for Kovy is long gone.
Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matt
December 17th, 2010
1:09 pm
Some of you act like Kovy was your ex that slept with someone else… sports are a business, sorry your heart was broken when he left, but the man gave us many great years of his service. He wanted to win and the money and took an offer he thought would give him both. It hasn’t worked out like that for him yet, but I’m nothing but grateful for what he did while he was here.
Thrashers27
December 17th, 2010
1:12 pm
NO BOOING!!!
JUST POINT AND LAUGH EVERYTIME HE TOUCHES THE PUCK!
Imagine: the entire crowd stands, points and laughs hysterically at Kovy every time he touches the puck. We do this not out of spite to Kovy, but out of spite to those who thought this team would be nothing without the “legendary #17″ and out of spite of those who think this team isn’t backed by the fans.
Thrashers fans are here and we back our TEAM. We no longer have to back a team built around a player, we have a TEAM to back. So, let’s stand, point and laugh at Kovy and Lou and the entire “top-notch organization”…or whatever it was that Kovy called the Devils.
———–> #17 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Zombie Steve
December 17th, 2010
1:13 pm
“Hide – I see your blog got some love on the front page of AJC!! Congrats!
Matt
December 17th, 2010
1:15 pm
I’m laughing…. at Thrashers27’s idea… we aren’t even half way through the season, the Thrashers aren’t in the playoffs, yet… I’m not laughing at anyone until we are Stanley Cup Champions, when that day comes I might chuckle.. among 100 different other things.
Thrashers27
December 17th, 2010
1:16 pm
Oh yeah…Gotta cheer for Moose when he’s introduced. We still love you Moosie!
DawgDad
December 17th, 2010
1:18 pm
I never bought into the whole Kovalchuk superstar thing. Nice piece for the power play, but really, what else does he do? He’s a liability 5-on-5. Just thankful we have team management now that understands how to build a TEAM and get them to play together.
About as pitiful as Kovy and New Jersey’s current record is the image of Waddell holding a handwritten sign on TV encouraging people to buy tickets. So much for building your team around a figure skater, Don. Now you’re reduced to immitating the guys the local restaurants hire to put on clown suit and wave a sign by the side of the road.
Thrashers27
December 17th, 2010
1:24 pm
get a sense of humor Matt…and see Toby’s sentiments just above yours…If Kovy doesn’t blow smoke up our collective rears for a season before leaving then fine I hold no ill-will toward him, but he did feed us full of crap, even going so far as to do “signing” on the ice in celebration of a goal. Total BS.
We all went through this same argument with Hossa. Not really worth debating further, but you’re entitled to your opinon and everyone else theirs… but come on…You gotta see that Kovy bolting from a losing team in the Thrashers to go to what is one of the league’s perrenial powerhouses only to see them turn into a steaming pile on the ice is hugely ironic and comical.
Hokey P. Clisters
December 17th, 2010
1:25 pm
Crazy times……..Thrash in the jailhouse and Kovy in the doghouse.
Jeff
December 17th, 2010
1:29 pm
Seriously, if you could command that kind of money and play for a serious contender for the Cup year in and year out, would you really stay with the Trashers and their skin-flint ways??? I love the boys in Blue, but I didn’t blame Hossa and I certaly didn’t fault Kovy for bolting to better climes.
DawgDad
December 17th, 2010
1:34 pm
27: Ironic? Sure, but predictable. There are big-name players who make teams better (Chris Pronger immediately comes to mind, being a long-time Blues and Pronger fan), and there are those who pile up stats at the expense of shots and goals against. It was NO surprise to me when Philly knocked those guys off last year.
World Be Free
December 17th, 2010
1:37 pm
I think we will find that Kovy has 100,000,000 reasons to be able to take our abuse. Loudly cheering Moose will be like piling on Kovy. Moose deserves the cheers, that is for sure.
JB
December 17th, 2010
1:39 pm
Jeff – I see your point certainly. But isnt it funny that now he left a team that looks destined for the playoffs to join one that likely will be seeing the golf course sooner than later. Someone said it earlier… i don’t blame him for taking the money and running; it was all the equine excrement he fed to everybody about wanting to stay in Atlanta before he did skip town that ticked alot of us off.
OmniFan
December 17th, 2010
1:41 pm
1. Yes to big hand for Moose before game but not during.
2. When #17 skates out for NJ, PA should play “I want to be a billionaire”
3. Anybody playing the right side for Thrashers should be salivating over being able to enter the offensive zone uncontested. Buff especially should be able to unload from the blue line all night.
Rawhide
December 17th, 2010
1:43 pm
“Hide – I see your blog got some love on the front page of AJC!! Congrats!
Zombie Steve – Nice.
‘course…it could just be a slow news day…
Jlew
December 17th, 2010
1:47 pm
I will staunchly ignore Kovy, unless of course he does something especially laughable, stupid, or underhanded, in which case he gets the same treatment as anyone else – the appropriate laughing, booing, or even heckling. I sincerely hope, he gives me every reason to be simply silent.
As for the MOOSE, I will cheer at the beginning should he be introduced, he might even get a MOOOOOOOOOOOSE!!!! for old times sake, but for saves, I will do nothing.
Big Shooter
December 17th, 2010
1:49 pm
“Some of you act like Kovy was your ex that slept with someone else… sports are a business, sorry your heart was broken when he left, but the man gave us many great years of his service. He wanted to win and the money and took an offer he thought would give him both. It hasn’t worked out like that for him yet, but I’m nothing but grateful for what he did while he was here.”
Yep. Well said.
World Be Free
December 17th, 2010
1:54 pm
Omnifan-your #2
I was thinking more of suggesting they play Madonna’s “Material Girl”
Argyle
December 17th, 2010
1:59 pm
Not to change the subject (as I personally would cheer for him because our team is 10 times better not being centered around his ego), but does anyone have any stats on how many shootouts we’ve actually won since Anderson started benching Kozlov? 1? 2? Awful. And I’m sorry, I’m definitely on the Big Buff bandwagon, but he’s now 0 and 5 in shootouts. Can we give Burmy a try?? Or Bergfors? Let the kids have a shot! Heck, even Enstrom maybe! Of course, he’d probably try to pass, bless his heart…
Bite Me
December 17th, 2010
2:06 pm
I say we point and laugh at him.
I’d like to see a sign with Kovy wearing a Dunce cap.
alex
December 17th, 2010
2:09 pm
i am no big kovy fan, i can name more than 20 nhl players playing on different level, but why nobody wanted play here, ask kovy, hossa, heatley, savard, etc., why people happy to be out, army, mccartur, kubina. i don’t know, probably need to ask bosses dw and asg i tried, they replied you are incorrect we resigned slater, boulton and thorton, we are chep and happy.
Rawhide
December 17th, 2010
2:10 pm
Argyle – Since the win against the New York Rangers on January 7 last winter, the Thrashers ar 1-7 in the individual skills comeptition known as the shootout. That lone victory coming in Anaheim last October.
R. Stroz
December 17th, 2010
2:13 pm
If Kovy ends up in the penalty box, I would love to hear It’s A Small World After All.
J(Z)
December 17th, 2010
2:16 pm
Ooooh, a penalty box skit just for Kovy would be awesome!
Anyone else suspicious that Harry the Hawk and Thrash are actually the same person? Has anyone seen them in the same place at the same time? Obviously they never have home games at the same time, and Harry skated pretty well last night. I’m suspicious!!!!
J(Z)
December 17th, 2010
2:16 pm
Trixie – I just lost another one…what am I doing wrong?
Boortz & Royal Fan
December 17th, 2010
2:17 pm
Boo?
BOO GOT SHOT!
BOO GOT SHOT!
Shakespeare
December 17th, 2010
2:18 pm
Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot that it do singe yourself.
Tom Lysiak
December 17th, 2010
2:19 pm
Interesting comments. Reminds me of the usual yelling of “Knights” during the anthem discussions. Bottom line, who cares what someone else thinks you should do? Pay your money, do what feels right to you.
Having said that, I am thrilled Kovy didn’t resign here and hamstring our team budget for a decade. You can buy stats like his for pennies on the dollar. People who think the current situation in Joisey is coincidental to his contract and it’s ramifications amuse me.
I will be there tomorrow wearing my “somewhat altered” old Kovy jersey. Go Thrashers and free Thrash!!!
Trixie (Rawhide's Secretary)
December 17th, 2010
2:19 pm
Trixie – I just lost another one…what am I doing wrong?
Mr. J(Z) – You’re not holding your jaw correctly.
Your post has been freed….again.
ET
December 17th, 2010
2:30 pm
Some are calling the Thrashers front office cheap. They offered a fair contract to Kovy. All pro athletes are grossly over paid. They get millions on top of millions to play a game for a living. My wife teaches school for peanuts while Kovy gets what again? Our priorites are so screwed up in this country it is pathetic. There is a good reason why America is crashing & burning. Just look around everywhere & you see a convicted felon leading the pro bowl in football, socialist are leading our nation, we can’t buy American because everything in our stores is made in China, we can’t stop Iran from getting nukes, etc. It goes on & on. You want me to believe that a hockey player was disrespected by the Thrashers for a muli-million dollar a year offer. Please…
Thrash
December 17th, 2010
2:31 pm
Please, cheer loudly for Moose!!! He’s always been great in Thrashers with his attitude and work ethic. And he still love Atlanta. I think he would like to be part of our current team. He deserve all the support and respect from Thrashers fans.
And what about Kovalchuk? Whatever! We don’t need him! And we are actually better without him. But I admit he did great job there in Atlanta.
Smoothie
December 17th, 2010
2:38 pm
Ooooo, can’t wait to read the comments on this blog…even gets an appearance by the ghost of Big Shooter. Where’s my popcorn?
To hell with Kovy, just freakin’ win Saturday! Must beat the lesser teams and get two points if we want to play hockey in mid-April.
WBF – sorry for not responding earlier, but your comments about Zach (”The talent is there, he’s just not getting it. Trading him is not the answer, getting a strong personality to look him in the eye and get his stuff in one boot is the answer.”) are spot on.
Bogey needs a mentor, but I’m not sure who can do it. It’d have to be a left-handed D-man in Ramsay’s scheme, and I’m not sure Enstrom is vocal enough to get on Zach and give him the tough love. Hainsey would gladly yell and chirp at him, but not sure if he’s the right message-sender. Meyer? Of course not. Oduya? He’s too quiet and he just goes about his business consistently cleaning up Zach’s messes. One of these days, Zach is gonna get Oduya’s clock cleaned in the corner.
We need to trade Bergfors for a veteran D-man who can give Zach the right direction. Problem is, we have too many D-men who can play. And who’s gonna take Hainsey’s salary off our hands? NO ONE! I dunno, guess we’ll just have to live with Zach and hope he starts to evolve. But yes, benching for a few games would be good. Meyer can hold down the fort on the 3rd line while Hainsey and Oduya get reacquainted. To heck with lefty/righty combos for a little while!
Smoothie
December 17th, 2010
2:39 pm
Is Mathieu Schneider retired yet?? ;-O
bravesfan
December 17th, 2010
2:40 pm
i am going with a group of 70 Thrashers fans (section 302) and i can gaurantee that we will boo every time he hits the ice or touches the puck. he made it clear he does not want to be in Atlanta so he gets BOOOOOOOOOOOD!
Go Thrashers!
Thrashers27
December 17th, 2010
2:42 pm
Stroz, if Kovy ends up in penalty box and we score a goal on the ensuing PP, somebody on the ice has to point at him. That would be hilarious!!!…Can you imagine: Buff unloads a laser from the point and turns to Kovy with the pointed finger. Awesome!
DWTOO
December 17th, 2010
2:43 pm
Was discussing the Bogey situation with a co-worker over lunch. Notice that Zach played his best game when paired with M. Schneider, even after the leg break. We need someone like that.
Rawhide
December 17th, 2010
2:43 pm
THIS —> Stroz, if Kovy ends up in penalty box and we score a goal on the ensuing PP, somebody on the ice has to point at him. That would be hilarious!!!…Can you imagine: Buff unloads a laser from the point and turns to Kovy with the pointed finger. Awesome!
Thrashers27 – Now that’s funny. I don’t care who you are…that IS funny!
Alan R.
December 17th, 2010
2:44 pm
Smoothie – It’s nothing you’re doing or saying that’s wrong, it’s just that everytime someone says we need to trade [promising young player] for a veteran defenseman for [whatever reason], I always think of Alexei Zhitnik.
Always.
It’s given me nightmares. Cold sweats. Night terrors, even!
World Be Free
December 17th, 2010
2:45 pm
Alex-my issue with Kovy-he should have just told amanagement he wanted out before last season, it was obvious he had already decided on leaving,. Instead we went through this stupid courtship dance for 2/3 of the season before it was clear to all he wanted out. Making it know last summer would have help him, the team he was going to and the Thrashers. I can’t blame Kovalchuk for wanting to leave, it’s the dishonest nature of how he handled the situation that bothers me, along with the contract garbage over the summer.
Smoothie – I think schneider is done, maybe not official.
Bogo-he’s a kid,20 years old and as you stated he needs a mentor. We keep looking at his as a vet, but he is not there yet. I believe Bergfors will be traded for another forward though I prefer to see him stay. He’s in Rammer’s doghouse, maybe Dudley’s too.
Matt
December 17th, 2010
2:49 pm
I must say, that I am filled with the most warm and tingly sense of “Schadenfreude” at this time. I say Boo Kovy until your vocals cords burst at the introductions, or when he first comes on the ice, and then ignore him for the rest of the game.
LAC
December 17th, 2010
2:54 pm
He played Atlanta and Lied to all of us. Besides he playes for THEM not us !
English Teacher
December 17th, 2010
2:55 pm
Boo him? I sent him a thank you card and a house warming gift.
FormerIslesFan
December 17th, 2010
2:57 pm
@Riceowls:
That was me that made the suggestion of the “Thank You, Kovy!” chant, and I stand by it. By forcing the trade he did more to help this franchise compared against the rest of the time he was here (okay, a stretch, but you get the point).
Lilibeter and I will be there tomorrow night (and making a Toys for Tots donation). Will you?
SomaAtl95
December 17th, 2010
3:01 pm
I think it would be more disturbing to him if the entire arena pointed to him if the Thrashers score while he is in the box. Could you guys imagine that?
Red Light
December 17th, 2010
3:39 pm
So, in effect, everyone wanted Kovalchuk to either…
a) re-sign with the Thrashers, or
b) say to the organization and its fans prior to the 2009-10 season that he had no intention of re-signing a contract in Atlanta, that he felt like the franchise was going nowhere and that he would test free agency July 1, 2010.
Correct?
Why, there are just so many instances of that kind of honesty in sports (and business for that matter) particularly entering the final year of a contract, that you can count them on your…, ah, finger!
jimbo
December 17th, 2010
3:42 pm
Even though he showed little class with his constant, phoney, “I want to finish my career in Atlanta” BS, let’s show the class that he doesn’t have and politely thank him for the many highlights that we gave us over his time here. I plan to applaud when he and Moose are announced. WE ARE CLASS!
Party Pooper
December 17th, 2010
3:49 pm
Two weeks ago, I had my rant about food service at Philips.
Here I am to poop on the party once again, with the generous help of your Philips Arena/Thrashers ticket sales people!
Thursday night, I am ready to do my part to Free the Bird. Before the game, while in Philips, I show up to the ticket counter inside the arena. There are 3 windows. One is clearly closed with the blinds on – probably has been closed since 2007. One appears to be open but when people approach, they are told that it’s closed, to get in line at the other window. So, really, one window is operational.
We can clearly see at least 2 or 3 employees picking their noses back there (in addition to those actually working their window facing outside of the arena) but hey… selling tickets might not be a priority for Atlanta Spirit! The way things are going, I’d think that they’d be all over people ready to shell money for tix but… Naw.
So, I’m 3rd in line at the sole window. Not bad, huh? How long before I have my tix? C’mon. Guess.
Well… 25 minutes! 25 minutes to process the simple orders of 3 people. I heard what was going on in front of me and there was no real special request. Basic: I want tix; you sell tix; I have money; you have money; thanks!
The guy at the window looked like he had not operated a computer since Windows 95. If you thought Waddell was terrible at his job, you’ve got to see the people working (or d*cking around) that ticket window!
Smoothie
December 17th, 2010
3:52 pm
I wish folks would stop comparing trade rumors (that may happen to involve a certain young defenseman) with the Zhitnik trade. That was an isolated occurence and there is no doubt that our PP needed a jolt at the time (February was a miserable month back in 2007 just look at the game logs) and Zhitnik was tabbed to do just that. And HE DID! 14 pts in 18 games or something like that. Rentals cost A LOT! That’s why we have Bergie, Oduya and eventually Cormier. Heck, you can include Big Buff and Sopel in that if you want since the #1 draft pick pried them loose. I wish folks would stop whining about the Coburn trade cuz no one could tell that he was going to be as good as he is now since he never got to play under Hartley. And he’s pretty much above-average, nothing special. The best blueliners in Philly are Pronger, Timmonen and O’Donnell with Carle, Meszaros & Coburn all serviceable to good.
That is all.
Thrashers27
December 17th, 2010
3:54 pm
RL, I’ll go with option C) Kovy saying to the fans and/or organization “I don’t plan on making any decisions until after the season is over.”
I think it’s more a matter of “if you’re not going to sign, don’t blow smoke up our arses and tell us you’re hopeful and everything’s hunky dorey.
Kovy continually said that he “hoped a deal would get done” and that “he wanted to be here”. As I pointed out before, he even taunted fans with a signature on the ice as a goal celebration. That’s the douchey part of it all.
I can’t say that I’d have blamed anyone for wanting to leave over the last few years, but if I did want to leave I would give no indication at all that I wanted to stay.
Party Pooper
December 17th, 2010
3:54 pm
BTW, anyone wants to bet that Sopes is traded before the end of the year? Did I really see that on a Friday, between home games on Thursday and Saturday, he flies back home to Chicago to spend the day? On the day after the Thrashers looked like they were going to fall asleep on the ice after the 2nd period?
Nice guy. Nice family guy. But I bet that they won’t tolerate his choice to commute like that.
Alan R.
December 17th, 2010
4:01 pm
It wasn’t a comparison, Smoothie. You know better than that.
Thrashers27
December 17th, 2010
4:02 pm
Smoothie, speaking of Cormier…it’s nice to see that after eight games in Chicago he is +5 with a goal and two assists. Only players with a higher plus/minus are Machacek(+7) and Jared Ross (+6). Not too shabby considering he’s probably just now getting into the groove.
glovesave29
December 17th, 2010
4:10 pm
I am ambivalent about Kovy. I’d be a hypocrite to boo as I have left jobs in the past to move on to greener pastures. But he lost me with his posturing last year of wanting to stay. I wish he’d have just been honest…tell us he’s been here 8 years and he wants to try something new. I have no problem with that. The simple fact is he is gone, and we are actually in a better place without him.
Slapshots RARELY work on shootouts. In a game, the goalie must consider it may be a fake and the player passes the puck after he commits to the shot, thus leaving the net open. You have to be concerned about screens and deflections too. In a shootout, as soon as he lowers his head to address the puck, the goalie goes into the butterfly and cuts down the angle…takes a PERFECT shot to score. Its one on one and the goalie gets the upper hand.
SGT. Stryker - USMC
December 17th, 2010
4:11 pm
The time and place to BOO this dude was when he dogged it for that month and cost the Thrashers the 7 or 8 slot in the post season last year. If you BOO him now it makes the game about him instead of about the good club we have here. Let North Jersey BOO him. He’s their problem now.
Smoothie
December 17th, 2010
4:16 pm
Alan – then don’t lose sleep over a trade that happened 4 years ago for a player that was/is mediocre/above avg at best. If you’re gonna lose sleep, save that for the Tkachuk deal that set back our draft 2 years!
Zhitnik turned out to be a bust, but we got what we paid for at the time. Then again, perhaps it would’ve been better to just barely squeek into the playoffs as the #8 seed. Who was the Prez Trophy winner that year? New Jersey or Ottawa? Or was it Buffalo? Oooo, okay, never shoulda traded Coburn! 
Smoothie
December 17th, 2010
4:18 pm
Thrashers27 – thanks for the update on Corms! Good to see he’s progressing well. I’m kind of intrigued by a third line that features him at C with Burmy on the LW and perhaps Antro on the RW. Or maybe a Kane-Cormier-Stewart line so Little can go back with Ladd & Bergie.
Sherry Taylor
December 17th, 2010
4:19 pm
You people booed Dany Heatly when he left for far more understandable reasons. Kovy left because he is a spoiled child who didn’t get what he wanted. he spent Bob Hartley’s time here pouting about one thing or another and never gave John Anderson the tie of day. He probably doesn’t deserve to be acknowledged because he did make it very clear what he thought of the team and the fans, but I might boo a few times. (I’m not bitter or anything. Moose on the other hand was and is a gentleman, he will only get applause from me if he plays. Actually, when I think of it, maybe I won’t boo Kovalchuk, if it wasn’t for his tantrum and gold digging we wouldn’t have the team and coaching staff we now have. Hmmm, I may have to give this more consideration. Perhaps, I should scream out a very loud, ‘Thank you, Kovalchuk!’ during warm ups.
hockeymom92
December 17th, 2010
4:19 pm
There was a time last year when I would have booed until I could boo no more. Now I consider Kovy’s game and all his divaness – Much Ado About Nothing! We are definitely a far better team without him.
Alan R.
December 17th, 2010
4:24 pm
Smoothie – You apparently missed the amusement in my post. I know I didn’t include any smileys, but I would have thought the “night terrors” would have been an indicator…
R. Stroz
December 17th, 2010
4:28 pm
We could chant….Yashin…Yashin…Yashin
Thrashers27 – I’ll join the pointing party.
The Hockey Way
December 17th, 2010
4:31 pm
BOOOOOOOOOO! and pelt anyone who cheers for him with ketchup covered frenchfries (ok maybe not but I would like too)..
Laughing and taunting are strongly encouraged as long as it doesn’t tilt the KARMAtic balance against us.
Hoof Arted
December 17th, 2010
4:32 pm
Point at Kovy as he exits the box after we score on the PP? YES! Do that! Love it!
Smoothie
December 17th, 2010
4:33 pm
No worries Alan, I guess I should know better!
I just get all twitchy when people keep picking at old wounds! LOL But losing Coburn was not nearly as bad as losing 2 draft picks, 1 of which could’ve been a pretty good player (David Perron perhaps?). Then again, maybe not.
Rawhide
December 17th, 2010
4:36 pm
100th!!!!
And it took less than 5 hours, Red Light….
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.
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.