Andrew Ladd is ‘true captain’ for this Thrashers team
On November 18 the Atlanta Thrashers found themselves with a record of 7-9-3. They had just come off a very disappointing 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers the night before, had lost three straight and six of the last seven games played. Atlanta was also looking at upcoming games against such teams as the Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadians and Boston Bruins, among others.
Times were tough and the waters ahead looked rough. Needless to say, there was much grumbling, griping, wailing and gnashing of teeth going on throughout Thrasherville at that time.
But that morning, the Thrashers also named Andrew Ladd as their team captain.
The Thrashers are 11-2-2 after naming Andrew Ladd team captain. But he's quick topoint out that has little to do with the recent run of success...rather it's the coaching staff and the team's chemistry (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
The next night the Thrashers went out and beat the division leading Caps 5-0, beginning the current 11-2-2 run they are currently on. It’s a run that had landed them, even if for just one day, atop the Southeast Division following Saturday night’s 7-1 slap down of the New Jersey Devils.
Let’s see…the Thrashers made Ladd the captain then they go off on a month-long tear. So, is this all just coincidence?
“It might be a bit of a coincidence…I don’t think it was me getting the ‘C’”, Ladd told me prior to the games against the Devils. But he then added with a wry grin, “But I’ll take the credit if you want to give it to me”.
In all seriousness, Ladd is quick to point to the men behind the bench as the main reason this team is experienced what many fans are calling the best stretch of hockey Thrasherville has ever experienced.
“Everyone starting here was brand new to the systems, coaches and players, and it took a little time to get everyone on the same page. But right about that time [when he was named captain] it started to click and it’s really started to come together since”.
“They’ve been good [with the team]. We’ve got a young group of guys and still learning a lot of little things it takes to be successful in this league. Rammer’s a patient guy. He takes his time and makes sure everyone understands what their job is and what they need to do on the ice.”
“It’s definitely been working well this year”.
Ladd, the fourth overall pick in 2004 by the Carolina Hurricanes, began his NHL career after the lockout playing for a ‘Canes that won the Stanley Cup…a team captained by Ron Brind’Amour. When I asked if that type of leadership experienced then is something he can draw upon now, Ladd quickly replied, “Yeah, definitely. I think being so young your eyes are really wide open and you look to some of the older guys to see how they hold themselves and prepare to games.”
“I don’t think there is anyone who prepared for games better and worked as hard as Rod did, so he was a big influence on me and what I do now”.
In his short time as team captain here, Ladd has already gained a great deal of the same respect from his teammates. Winning certainly has a lot to do with it, of course. But one can’t help but get the feeling that the guys in the locker room honestly feel that the right man was tapped for the job.
“He’s just a great person to be around”, Anthony Stewart said of Ladd. “He’s blends in with any group of guys or any one guy and I think that speaks a lot to his character”.
It may seem like the recent run of success has been as easy as a stroll through the park for Ladd, Johnny Oduya and the rest of the Thrashers. But the team is working hard for one another and it's been paying off the captain says. Here, the two celebrate one of Oduya's two goals against the Islanders (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
Continuing, Stewey added, “He’s a great guy. I played World Juniors with him and we won the gold medal there for Canada. We hang out together away from the rink.”
“He’s a true captain”.
To Stewart’s point about hanging out with each other away from the arena, Ladd feels this kind of comradery has played a big role in what this team has accomplished of late. Whether it’s on the practice ice, in the locker room or when they head out on the road, this group of players enjoy spending time together…and that can’t help but add to the team’s on-ice success.
“Everyone’s positive and upbeat and wants everyone to do good”, Ladd responded when asked about this team’s chemistry. “Everyone’s pretty close, fairly close in age”.
Then with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek he joked, “OK, we got a couple of old guys”.
“But we have a pretty good group who gets along really well on and off the ice” the captain pointed out as he returned to his natural serious demeanor. “Anytime you have that it’s a positive thing. It translates off the ice, on the road, to the game on the ice”.
Ladd has also noticed the fans in Atlanta are starting to take notice of the team’s good play. And he understand that Ws in the standing are what’s helping in the renewed sense of optimism around Thrasherville.
“[The organization] has been talking about getting people into the building and what we can do for them. The biggest thing we can do is winning and bringing an exciting brand of hockey. I think we’ve done our part and it’s fun to see the fans respond and get excited about it”.
11-2-2…not tough to get excited about that at all.
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149 comments Add your comment
Adam
December 20th, 2010
4:47 pm
Manley – Don’t know whether or not you have the ability to stream audio from websites in AFG but 680 has a link to the stream on their site. http://www.680thefan.com/index.php
If not I bet if you emailed Dan he could find a way you get you some audio files sent to you.
Red Light
December 20th, 2010
4:47 pm
That would be one of the other “Red Light” posts, not mine. Wish I could take credit for flying the Rawhide flag on Si.com
Cornbread
December 20th, 2010
4:51 pm
What Joe Friday said at 11:39AM.
Manley
December 20th, 2010
4:54 pm
Adam – That’s how I listened to the games back when I was in Iraq and when they weren’t televised at Ft. Campbell, KY. I just don’t have the same consistent access to the internet this time.
No worries, though. The experts here keep me informed. Plus, if they keep playing this way, the mainstream sports sites will be forced to give them more attention.
Flames
December 20th, 2010
4:59 pm
The team is trying to sign both Ladd and Buff to long term contracts. I believe the Captain will be the first signed and then Buff. These guys truly like each other. Duds wants another scorer that tough and physical.
Red Light
December 20th, 2010
5:14 pm
Leafs TV reporter tried to make a point about the lack of big crowds in Atlanta. MacArthur took the bait…
…”playing here, it’s as good as it gets for excitement and stuff like that. In Atlanta, during the week, you get between 5,000 and 10,000 people for games and makes it tough to get up for games. It’s just a totally different atmosphere.”
Byfuglien on LeafsTV…”the room is real loose and it’s good to have people joking around.”
Little on LeafsTV…”It’s a more positive atmosphere. We’ve got guys coming to the rink every day believing that we can beat any team, and we’ve beat some pretty good teams this year and the energy in the dressing room is unbelievable.”
When asked about the guys from Chicago, Little singled out Ladd, Byfuglien and Sopel as providing great leadership and experience, but never once mentioned Eager.
Smoothie
December 20th, 2010
5:15 pm
Ahh good ‘ol Flames! I was hoping we’d hear from you! Good stuff.
Thanks and hope all is well. Look forward to seeing you at a game sometime soon. Actually, saw you from our section Sat nite as Bill pointed you out going up the stairs but I couldn’t tell where you were sitting. Hope the boys stay focused and drill the Loaves into the trash compactor!
Badger Bob
December 20th, 2010
5:15 pm
One nice thing about playing in TO is coverage. Good piece about Versteeg joining our Thrashawks at the Hockey Hall of Fame to see their Cup. Also, it is entertaining to read comments from the hundreds of Sages they have in TO:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=346263
Go Thrashers! And here’s hoping a link to a webcast appears on these pages tonight
Red Light
December 20th, 2010
5:16 pm
Watch them for yourselves if you want to…
http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/videocenter
Badger Bob
December 20th, 2010
5:18 pm
Good stuff, RL and Flames. Also like the TO jokes – they’ve now been e-mailed to my family and friends (so please don’t lose, Thrashers, or I won’t be able to answer my phone tomorrow).
Smoothie
December 20th, 2010
5:27 pm
Wow, asshat Beauchemin thinks the Laughs are still chasing us for the 8th and final playoff spot. Think again Frenchy, we’re chasing first, not the 8 seed. Not to mention you’re a long way back from the 8 seed so perhaps focusing on 2 pts would be more advisable.
Rawhide
December 20th, 2010
5:27 pm
Red Light – What’s this…a little national exposure on SI.com? Nice.
OK everyone…tidy up around here andbe on your best behavior.We may have some company.
Ya know, I was out and about this afternoon running some holiday errands, and I was wearing one of my Thrashers warmups. Anyway, I was surprised at how many people pointed at the logo and said, “Hey, they are really doing good this year”. People behind the counters and just randomly passing by were commenting about ‘em. Must have happened a dozen times. I can’t remember that ever happening before.
litz
December 20th, 2010
5:29 pm
Interesting in that amongst those comments, are a lot of comments about how the thrashers are 1) a lot better and 2) a lot better since getting rid of a certain #17 …
And very few of them expect the Leafs to win (general consensus was 6-0 or 6-2 in factor of ATL …)
Now we just have to do our part and make that happen.
2 pts tonight = division lead
2 more pts tomorrow night = we KEEP the division lead.
litz
December 20th, 2010
5:30 pm
erk, I can’t type … put a “favor” in place of “factor”
cousin Eddie
December 20th, 2010
5:49 pm
Also 24/7 (first episode) can be seen on yahoo sports in it’s entirety for those with no HBO.
Cornbread
December 20th, 2010
6:02 pm
Rawhide- On my way to ATL Saturday I stopped by Little 5 Points to go to a few of my favorite record stores. I took my friend into Junk Man’s Daughter and the two guys at the bag check commented on my Thrashers T-shirt saying, “have fun at the game tonight” and wishing they could go but had to work. They seemed a bit surprised when I told them I expected 15-16,000 for the game. They thought that would be great if it was that well attended. Even better that 17,000 + showed up. Better still when a couple of hipsters in Little 5 notice and comment positively on a Thrashers shirt.
Oh the times they are a changing in Blueland and the ATL. No Team For You!
Red Light
December 20th, 2010
6:03 pm
Wanted to share with you a couple of quotes about Boulton’s night from Thorburn and Oduya from the other night.
I asked Thorbs if Bolts’ three goals and his own three point night was the ultimate reward for fourth-line types who are counted on for other things…”We put the time and the work in, the extra stuff, but not always does it pay off. Boulton works hard. He brings a lot to the hockey club. He’s not just a role guy or a fighter. He does his job well and he’s definitely got some skill as you saw Sat. night. It’s nice to contribute offensively, obviously!”
Oduya on Boulton…”He’s always trying to get other guys into the game. He’s always pushing and he’s a good guy to have around. It’s very satisfying to see him have a night like that because I think people in the stands and outside the room don’t see or really know how much he contributes to the team.”
Just so you know, I cannot get Oduya to say much of anything about his own game. He is selfless and constantly talks about the team concept and how well the team is playing and how that helps his own performance.
An example… when I asked him if he felt like he was playing some of the best hockey of his career.
“We feel like we are more solid, that we can win every night and I feel it is something that I am a part of too.
Cornbread
December 20th, 2010
6:19 pm
Any waffles tonight?
Tom
December 20th, 2010
6:21 pm
I don’t know about you but I am excited about tonights game! 40 minutes to go and we get to hopefully kick Toronto’s behind.
GO THRASH!
Badger Bob
December 20th, 2010
6:24 pm
RL, nice stuff on Oduya. Do you hear that kind of stuff from the other Devil on our roster? Is Bergie salvagable or trade bait?
LAC
December 20th, 2010
6:28 pm
I look for another WIN and taking First Place again tonight !!!!!!!
Devils vs Caps Tuesday night, can “they” pull another upset ????
Then we lead by THREE if we win against St.L, who has slipped quite abit since our OTL in St.Louis.
Go Thrashers !!!
Red Light
December 20th, 2010
6:32 pm
Badger…in fairness to him, I haven’t spoken with him this year and only a couple of times last year.
From what I am hearing, don’t expect to see much of him.
Flames
December 20th, 2010
7:38 pm
Smoothie-Thanks for the kind words. My boys are playing great hockey and so is our Thrashers. If you don’t mind I would like the address to your website. Its a great time to be a Thrashers fan.
Tom
December 20th, 2010
7:44 pm
2-0 Thrashers after 1
Thrashers were all over the Leafs in the first few minutes. Got 2 goals 28 seconds apart and could have scored 2 more into empty nets.
Then they lost it for the 2nd half of the 1st period and Toronto took it to them. Pav’s was strong and they boys did protect the front of the net, but it was very sloppy with many failed attempts to get it out of the zone along the boards. The Thrashers have to attack up the middle in the 2nd period.
Smoothie
December 20th, 2010
7:57 pm
R/L – Bergfors or Oduya? Don’t tell me Oduya is outta here when his contract is up!
Smoothie
December 20th, 2010
7:59 pm
http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/category/teams/eastern/thrashers/
Flames – here you go, a link to the Thrashers page which is mostly my stuff. Feel free to “heat things up” whenever you’d like!
C’mon Thrashers! Tighten up!
Thrashers27
December 20th, 2010
8:26 pm
Total BS call on Buff led to Toronto goal. Weak! 2-1 Thrashers.
Hoof Arted
December 20th, 2010
8:35 pm
Modin tipped that.It should be his second of the night.
3-1 heading to the third. Come on boys, bring home those 2 points.
Smoothie
December 20th, 2010
8:37 pm
At least it wasn’t an even strength goal!! Swedee Modinee havin’ the game of his life. Guess he knows Bergfors can’t have his job back. I think Stapleton’s gonna get one next. That line is getting matched up a lot but Kessel or Versteeg will turn it over trying to do too much and Stapleton gets a goal on an odd-man rush. Just a hunch!
Tom
December 20th, 2010
8:38 pm
Imagine if you will that the Thrashers got favorable calls like the Maple Leaf’s do.
They really must suck if they get that much referee love every night and still have such a bad record.
That call on Buff was just because the guy he was going against was weak. Even the Leaf announcers were amazed at how bad a call it was.
Great job by Toby and Modin to get the 2 goal lead back.
Tom
December 20th, 2010
8:42 pm
Listening to the Leaf’s between period guys, every compliment of the Thrasher’s starts out with, believe it or not. I think they can not believe that the Thrashers can be that much better than their boys.
Face it, their better players are now our discards. We were not going to resign Coby and we did not want McArthur.
iamtheratio
December 20th, 2010
8:55 pm
Stewarts shot is so freaking fast, he definitely needs to shoot more!
GO THRASHERS!
glovesave29
December 20th, 2010
8:57 pm
5 -1
(Kicks back with a satisfied smile as I hear the Leafs fan booing)
glovesave29
December 20th, 2010
9:01 pm
…and someone wanna tell Mitch Evans of the teams own radio network the Tomas Kaberle was never a Thrasher? It was his brother Frantisek who was here.
Tony C.
December 20th, 2010
9:04 pm
I noticed the very complimentary words from the leafs studio team…and yeah they seem to be more than a little shocked to be saying “Atlanta Thrashers” and “fundamentally sound” in the same sentance…truthfully, I am still having trouble with it myself. But The Byfuglien has shut me up about him being a value on the blueline, Pavelec has stopped leaning up on his tippy-toes and is now daring shooters to see if they can beat him glove-high.
Ok that goal by Stewart was just about as pretty a takeaway-to-goal as you’re going to see-that’s also a play that a timid team doesn’t even attempt.
Nice to see our team going from laughingstock to “for-real”…they keep playing this way and they’ll be going from “for-real” to “winner”…so nice to see.
Smoothie
December 20th, 2010
9:05 pm
I know I’m late, but what a gorgeous pass by Bryan Little!! Incredible hustle and then wonderful presence of mind.
BTW, Thrashers have already blocked 29 shots tonite! There are going to be some black and blue legs tomorrow. Very fitting since we’ll be playing the Blues. Hope we skate better tomorrow than we did in the middle portion of this game.
iamtheratio
December 20th, 2010
9:08 pm
Smoothie: I agree completely, we’ve been rather sloppy tonight. Its crazy to think we’re up 5-1 and we’ve played THIS sloppy, haha.
We need to tighten some things up tomorrow night that’s for sure!
I wonder if Modin or Enstrom will get the hatty??
litz
December 20th, 2010
9:11 pm
I hope Washington realizes that whooshing sound is that big Delta jet that just overflew them with an Atlanta hockey club on board … barring a catastrophic meltdown, we will be back in 1st in the SE after this one.
Another notch in the belt tomorrow night, and we KEEP it.
BTW, the Big Buff article in The Hockey News can be previewed here : http://www.zinio.com/reader.jsp?issn=0018-3016U … you get a limited number of “zoom”’s to zoom in on a page, but if you select a page, you can print it and not worry about the zoom limitation.
Buff’s article runs from page 22 to page 27
Tony C.
December 20th, 2010
9:15 pm
Sloppiness is starting to be exploited…hopefully they make use of the min-timeout here to re-focus
Badger Bob
December 20th, 2010
9:15 pm
More bogus reffing – 4 minutes for clipping Army – what a baby!!
Matt
December 20th, 2010
9:16 pm
OK, that is it…I am now convinced that Rammer is some omnipotent being from another dimension. How else to explain scratching Bergfors and getting TWO goals from Modin??? Divine inspiration is the ONLY explanation.
Paraphrasing Mel Brooks…”It’s good to be the Thrashers Coach”
Badger Bob
December 20th, 2010
9:28 pm
SWEEEEEET!
Badger Bob
December 20th, 2010
9:30 pm
So everyone in TO knows everything about hockey, and ATL fans know nothing? Hmm, their announcers made so many mistakes tonight it is comical, capped by their final statement that Laddy has done a good job as captain “since being named at the start of the year”.
Nate
December 20th, 2010
9:32 pm
Severely outplayed tonight. Thank you Gustavson and of course an especially big THANKS to Ondrej Pavelec!
JT from Columbus
December 20th, 2010
9:33 pm
Many bogus penalty call tonight against the Thrash. Almost allowed the Leafs to come back. Can’t believe we got 0 power plays tonight.
iamtheratio
December 20th, 2010
9:34 pm
Oh Hello First Place (again), my have we missed you for 24 hours.
litz
December 20th, 2010
9:35 pm
I’ve found that “mistakes” like that are common and endless from Canadian announcers.
It’s like they go “oh, a southern hockey team … what’s the name of that hick town again?”
Matt
December 20th, 2010
9:35 pm
Another one bites the dust. Gave up 3 PP goals, but frankly that double minor on Tobias, I don’t know about that one. Need to tighten up, but nice to see we can win when not hitting on all cylinders.
Thrasher since 05
December 20th, 2010
9:35 pm
Woop 1 st place baby
Tom
December 20th, 2010
9:39 pm
What really amazed me was that the Leaf’s announcers kept seeing the missed calls against the Leaf’s and the bad calls against the Thrashers.
This team really has it going on. This was probably the worst game they have played in the last month. Loose in the zone, careless with the puck, and we still crushed the Leafs with hostile officiating.
Next time we play them the refs might just make us play with 4 skaters to be fair about it. Hosers!