Thrashers in position to play musical chairs for playoff spot
There are some times when you come away from a hard-fought overtime/shootout loss and you’re almost happy with the point earned in the standings. There are other times when, for a number of reasons, you just see that extra point as having been stolen away from you by the other team.
To me, Thursday night’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning was more like the latter of those two scenarios.
It’s not just the fact that the Bolts snuck out the back door of Philips Arena with yet another win against the Thrashers…their tenth in a row dating back to opening night of last season…but it was the third straight time they did so in overtime against Atlanta. It’s as if the Lightning have become the Thrashers personal tormentor lately…dangling the second, much-needed and highly-sought after second point in front of our faces only to snatch it away at the very last second. They then skank off the ice, chuckling under their collective breaths.
It’s almost cruel.
However, the overtime consolation “loser point” does indeed get added to the Thrashers’ ledger in the standings. In doing so, they continue to keep themselves two points ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes, who currently remain on the outside looking in to those holding playoff spots at this time.
Anthoney Stewrt knocks Tampa Bay's Nate Thompson off the puck during Thursday night's game. Unfortunately, the Thrashers failed to knock off the Lightning for the tenth straight time, losing 3-2 in a shootout (AP Photo/David Goldman)
A quick look at the standings show Atlanta with 54 points, which is good enough to remain in the eighth and final spot for postseason contention. Montreal goes into tonight’s game in Ottawa two points ahead of the Thrashers, but will have played one fewer game after they deal with the Senators. One point ahead of the Habs you’ll find the Rangers, who were beaten by the Canes 4-1 Thursday night.
When New York plays here in Atlanta Saturday night, it’ll be game number 50 on the season for both teams. While the two of them are going at it, Carolina will be up in Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins.
All this simply underscores just how tight things are at this time between spots number 6 and 9 in the east standings. Just five points separate the four teams currently holding those places, and things could even get tighter. And that’s pretty much how things are going to be for the remainder of the season I think.
The way I see it, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Washington are all but locks for this spring’s Great Hunt for Lord Stanley’s Cup. Their positioning may jostle a bit…but those four are in essence “in”. Add to that either Boston or Montreal as the Northeast Division champs…Boston more than likely, IMHO… and five of the eight Eastern Conference playoff spots can be classified as “occupied”. Do the math, and you see that leaves three still available.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, teams like New Jersey and the Islanders are out of it and have been for some time. It could be argued that Ottawa and Toronto are out as well. Not mathematically eliminated, mind you, but for all intents and purposes…yeah.
Then you have Florida and Buffalo with 46 and 47 points respectively. I don’t think one can totally count either of them out of the playoff picture just yet, especially with the Sabres going 7-2-1 in their last ten and having played three games fewer than the Thrashers. But unless they can find a way to shove there way back into within a couple of points soon, they can at least be considered on the postseason hopeful Endangered Species List.
What that leaves us with are the aforementioned Thrashers, Hurricanes, Rangers and Canadiens who I really believe will be the ones playing playoff musical chairs for those last remaining spots. Four teams, three spots…one will be left out. And that is why tomorrow’s matchup with the Blue Shirts has taken just that much more importance.
As far as head-to-head matchup with the other three teams in that group is concerned… this will be the second meeting with the Rangers for the Thrashers. Last October 27, Atlanta was 6-4 winners. They’ll meet again in Atlanta on February 11 and then once more in New York on April 7.
The Thrashers and Habs have locked horns twice already with the good guys coming out on top both times. There was the 3-0 win last November in Atlanta and then the 4-3 overtime victory on the second of this month up in Montreal. The Canadiens are in town once more on March 1 and then they’ll do battle in the Belle Centre on the 29th of that month.
Just in case the Canadiens overtake Boston on the Northeast and the Bruins find themselves playing postseason musical chairs for spots lower down in the standings, the Thrashers have just one more game with them. That will take place in Beantown on April 2. Atlanta has taken both games played here while losing in Boston just before Christmas.
We’ve gone up against divisional foes Carolina twice, losing in a shootout and overtime. Each will host two more games…February 5 and March 9 will be in Raleigh while the games on February 13 and April 8 will be in the friendly confines of Philips Arena.
The game in April will be the second to last game on the schedule for Atlanta and could prove to be quite a meaningful event. The game on the 13th of February is also the one that you can get seats in sections 203 or 204 and a free Thrashers replica jersey for just $26. Just call Kirin at 404-878-3781 or e-mail her at Karin.Beckman@atlantaspirit.com to procure yours.
By: Bill Tiller – AJC.com Thrashers Fan Blog
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94 comments Add your comment
Jason
January 21st, 2011
2:49 pm
A very depressed First….
B. Thenet
January 21st, 2011
2:51 pm
I feel bad for ya, you put together this well written blog article…and all everyone is going to want to talk about is the lawsuit bombshell.
Jason
January 21st, 2011
2:51 pm
I think we can sneak into the playoffs as a 7th or 8th seed. I don’t think it’s any coincidence either that the power of the mustache helped the team to that amazing November. Might be time to bring that back.
Red Light
January 21st, 2011
2:55 pm
Excerpt from what I posted on my site Dec. 8, 2010
NHL Relocation Rumblings Skirt the Real Issues
“No legacy is so rich as honesty.” William Shakespeare
In Atlanta, Thrashers fans were captivated with their new team and new arena for much of the franchise’s first seven seasons. In the 2006-07 season, the Thrashers averaged 16,240 tickets distributed per home game, which was better than established franchises like the Bruins, Blues, Capitals and Blackhawks. Two seasons after their only playoff appearance, the Thrashers average plummeted and it continued to dip even through the team’s first 15 home dates this season. That does not mean Atlanta won’t support its hockey club, it means that its fans want more than just a six-game winning streak.
Thrashers fans want, and deserve, a better ROI than has been present during the past three seasons. They want certainty that their emotional, financial and temporal investments are returned in kind. Before letting themselves drink from the new Thrashers goblet, they want to know that the newly-acquired Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien (and other pending free agents) will re-sign with their team for more than one year. They don’t want to get near another trading deadline to see which of their players will be unloaded.
They also want to know that if the current ownership group is looking to sell the team, and not just looking for investment partners, to please let them know in advance before they plop down several thousands for tickets.
Simply, Thrashers fans want an honest appraisal of what’s happening with their team off the ice, as much as they want to cheer for it on the ice. And when you think about it, it’s not so different from making any investment — where informed decisions are based upon due diligence. In any uncertain marketplace, lack of information tempers zealous investment. Thrashers fans aren’t looking for playoff guarantees or promises of a Stanley Cup, they simply want to know if they can rely upon a return on their investment from the current ownership group, and if in fact, their team will be in Atlanta long term. If no reliable information is forthcoming, and soon, head coach Craig Ramsay’s very solid hockey team will continue to make its playoff push in front of less than 12,000 fans per night. And that, would be a shame.
Matt
January 21st, 2011
2:59 pm
I am just beside myself with anger at this crappy, dysfunctional ownership group. Isn’t there SOMEONE with the money and passion to make this team what it could be?
Red Light
January 21st, 2011
3:01 pm
But, back to your post Rawhide…The Thrashers have had more success against the Rangers than any other team in the Eastern Conference except for Florida and Buffalo.
Florida 36-19-5-6
Buffalo 23-14-1-4
NYR 22-16-1-2
Mr. Heat Miser
January 21st, 2011
3:03 pm
Fire Waddell?
Red Light
January 21st, 2011
3:03 pm
And, oh by the way, last night’s extra session loss to Tampa Bay was the Thrashers 11th all-time to the Lightning in the OT or SO. Now, that’s frustrating.
JB
January 21st, 2011
3:07 pm
in light of the bomb dropped upon us today, I am THIIIIIISSS close to giving up all together and switching team alegiances. so close to my breaking point, i could reach out and touch it. (perhaps blind) optimism from the past 5 years? GONE
Red Light
January 21st, 2011
3:09 pm
The Thrashers are also 11-4-2 in their last 17 against the Rangers not including the 2007 playoffs.
Marvin the Martian
January 21st, 2011
3:11 pm
The earth shattering kaboom courtesy of Schultz:
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2011/01/21/atlanta-spirit-lied-to-us-about-thrashers-go-figure/
Joe Friday
January 21st, 2011
3:11 pm
Get ready for all Sage all the time. He has just been proven right. I know we all hate it, but it’s true . . .
With Bill Daly’s slip of the tongue last month, the stage is set. We can cry and deny and dream about Philips naming agreements all we want, but the writing is on the wall here, fellas . . .
thrashyou.......depressed
January 21st, 2011
3:17 pm
We need Mr. Blank! Put some ice down in the GA Dome.
Mr. Heat Miser
January 21st, 2011
3:18 pm
Sage=Schultz
LAC
January 21st, 2011
3:18 pm
My offer to whip levenson’s butt still STANDS, but as we all know, LIARS have No Guts and No Glory… So come on bruce you f’ing LIAR, try for one time in your WORTHLESS life “try” to be a Man… We ALL know you are not and cannot be one, so show some GUTS, take your A$$ Kicking like the little wimp you are !
Sage of Bluesland
January 21st, 2011
3:20 pm
“…so close to my breaking point, i could reach out and touch it. (perhaps blind) optimism from the past 5 years? GONE”
This ownership group–and leadership group (especially the embarrassingly incompetent Don Waddell)–deserves no financial support whatsoever. Finally, we’re getting what we’ve been OWED all along: the truth.
(Some of you SHOULD be ashamed for your mistaken bluster aimed at yours truly…but I know how sheep are; their minds are very weak and they are very gullible…as they want to bewieve so badly…It’s too bad, really…)
GaVaHokie
January 21st, 2011
3:25 pm
AJC must need more page hits… none of this is new information.
Just continue to understand that the team can’t (and has never been) able to move due to the agreement with the League. ASG has known that since they bought the team. The only thing the article fails to mention is if the potential sale of the team was to other local interests.
I see it as good news… if they win this lawsuit, they’ll get back all their losses.
R. Stroz
January 21st, 2011
3:29 pm
Tomorrow night, we should all show up and from the drop of the puck…just keep chanting
WE WANT ARTHUR BLANK…WE WANT ARTHUR BLANK…
Shame on Waddell and the Spirit Clowns.
Red Light
January 21st, 2011
3:29 pm
And, somewhere, David McDavid is laughing his @$$ off because the Magnificent Seven’s only recourse to save their own bacon comes through litigation, not trying to make the appropriate changes to cure what ails this team — which has always been the lack of competent managerial skill in the matters of personnel and player development.
R. Stroz
January 21st, 2011
3:30 pm
GaVaHokie – I’ve been to countless Towne Hall Meetings where Waddell said “there is no interest in selling the team, it wouldn’t make sense to sell the team”….SO YES THEY LIED.
ThrashDawg
January 21st, 2011
3:31 pm
You know it is kind of crazy because in a way I would like to see us fans show up and sell the place out every night and show a potential buyer that the NHL can and will work in Atlanta, if we had the right ownership. The reality is that if we don’t show up that just gives the bumbs the opportunity to blame the lack of fan support as the reason to sell the team to owners that would move the team. I really think supporting the team is our only option so these bumbs can get their money back by selling the team to a legit owner that will keep the Thrashers in Atlanta. What a bunch of pond scum and please somebody contact Arthur Blank. We need a savior ASAP!
Sage of Bluesland
January 21st, 2011
3:31 pm
“…I see it as good news… if they win this lawsuit, they’ll get back all their losses.”
For Heaven’s sake, that is the best bit of comedy since the earlier mention of lil’ Toby as having hall of fame potential.
Two sheeps; one mind.
My goodness….Some of you really do scare me…
Smoothie
January 21st, 2011
3:34 pm
The amount of their losses basically equates to the salary they’ve paid to their NHL franchise’s players over the last 4 to 5 years so at least there is solace in knowing they have not profited from this shameful endeavor and the players have been the direct beneficiary of our loyal allegiance and kindness in the application of our entertainment dollars.
DWTOO
January 21st, 2011
3:41 pm
If it wasn’t for bad news, we’d have no news at all. Guess we could all see this coming from this bunch of liars. Perhaps it will speed the process of finding decent ownership. Our only saving grace is that the NHL doesn’t like to move franchises or Florida, TB, Nashville, Phoenix, and even P-Burg would have been moved by now. Daly was playing to his audience and he’s just a blustering jackwagon.
R/L – think you expressed our feelings very well.
Stroz – How about “ASG, ASG, ASG YOU REALLY SUCK”.
DWTOO
January 21st, 2011
3:45 pm
SOB – if you were playing football you’d get 15 yards for piling on. We really don’t need your crud. Your litany is even more tiresome today. Please crawl back in your hole.
Joe Friday
January 21st, 2011
3:54 pm
Smoothie, your economics are a little off there . . . let me tell you that yes, every one of our ticket purchases has in fact “subsidized their incompetence . . .”. The players were getting paid whether you bought a ticket or not. The only difference is if the loss is bigger if you didn’t buy a ticket, or if the loss is less if you did buy a ticket.
Some of the news today is not news in a certain sense, in that Hokie is correct, but some of it is new news Hokie. If you’re paying attention, you’ve known all along that despite Waddell’s nose lengthening Town Hall talks, they’ve wanted to sell the team. I didn’t realize it had been for 6 years, so that’s new news to me. But what’s most worrisome to me is to take this news that they’ve tried for 6 years. Then, take that tidbit and couple it with Bill Daly’s remarks last month about looking at other options with the Thrashers and the writing is on a 50 foot high wall here, fellas.
They are going to sell the team to someone who will move them. And don’t cry about can’t do it with Philips naming agreements, their plan now is to recoup that in this lawsuit against King and Spalding.
Connect the dots, this sucks. I wonder if the deal is already done, why else tip your hand and file the lawsuit now completely alienating what was left of your fan base?
So, apologies to Sage, I’ll go first, you were in fact a Sage and were right all along, we have been subsidizing the incompetence.
There’s plenty of blame to go around, but Waddell’s inability to build the fan base in the early years has beaten down the season ticket base to where we are today. If he’d been able to build something early, we’d have kept the fan base up and someone would have stepped in and bought it by now to keep it in place. Now we’re down to needing a white knight to come riding in to save the day.
I bet the ones that stood behind Waddell in the early years preaching patience and that he was doing it the right way feel pretty silly right now.
Red Light
January 21st, 2011
3:55 pm
I wonder if Craig Ramsay is just a little bit pissed off too, since I am sure he came to Atlanta hoping to build something on the ice and is hamstrung from doing that by what has happened off the ice?
Isn’t it kind of like finding out that your supposed 18-year-old virgin girlfriend has been doing the nasty since she was 14?
Matt from MN
January 21st, 2011
3:57 pm
@Red Light-that is just a disturbing analogy.
Red Light
January 21st, 2011
3:59 pm
Thanks Matt. It was supposed to be.
Sage of Bluesland
January 21st, 2011
3:59 pm
Thank you, Joe Friday; you are likely the ONLY one with any guts or respect today…
(Now where did that wittle spweadsheet go? I know that one won’t show up for awhile…Oh well, no loss there…)
Sage of Bluesland
January 21st, 2011
4:04 pm
“…let me tell you that yes, every one of our ticket purchases has in fact “subsidized their incompetence . . .”. The players were getting paid whether you bought a ticket or not. The only difference is if the loss is bigger if you didn’t buy a ticket, or if the loss is less if you did buy a ticket….”
Indeed. This is why I take anything Smoothie blathers about with a very small grain of salt. He simply doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
(Based on his ramblings and inferiority-complex, I’m thinking ‘public’ education…)
ThrashDawg
January 21st, 2011
4:05 pm
What exactly are we saying Sage was right about? I think we all knew and agreed the ASG was a bunch of clowns, he just continually runs it in the ground! As for subsidizing the incompetence, what would you suggest we do if we like the idea of the NHL in the ATL? If nobody shows up then it just supports what the hosers in Canada already say about the Southern hockey fan or lack there of! Damned if you do, damned if you don’t!
GaVaHokie
January 21st, 2011
4:08 pm
I was being facetious… none of this concerns me. I can’t bother myself with such silliness.
I’ll follow the Thrashers until they sadly leave town.
R. Stroz
January 21st, 2011
4:17 pm
DWTOO – Good Idea. I’ve already subsized the incompetence for tomorrow night, so I might as well give the ASG hell all night long. Sunk costs are sunk, but my vocal cords are FINE.
ASG…ASG…ASG…YOU SUCK.
SomaAtl95
January 21st, 2011
4:17 pm
The only thing worse than a sore loser is a sore winner. Congrats Sage. You are correct. Now, do us all a favor and STFU. You made your point.
Now either find a new topic to talk about, join in the conversation or find a different blog to hijack.
We may be sheep but I’d rather be a sheep than a miserable blog griever any day.
R. Stroz
January 21st, 2011
4:18 pm
Red Light – To improve your anology, add, with her own brother.
SomaAtl95
January 21st, 2011
4:19 pm
Man this sucks – The ASG weren’t being truthful? /sarcasm
SomaAtl95
January 21st, 2011
4:20 pm
I think SOB will go through a whole bottle of lotion congratulating himself tonight.
Riceowls
January 21st, 2011
4:21 pm
If you won’t “subsidize the incompetence” don’t complain when they leave for greener pastures. Its still NHL hockey and beats having none.
SomaAtl95
January 21st, 2011
4:22 pm
I will support the team as long as they are here. I don’t care about ownership, management or coaching. Bad NHL hockey is still better than good college football any day.
R. Stroz
January 21st, 2011
4:22 pm
Sage – Would you like a pass for the next Towne Hall Meeting? I’ll provide one for FREE.
B. Thenet
January 21st, 2011
4:22 pm
Sage, based on your one track mind and constant repetition…I am thinking “home schooled”
SomaAtl95
January 21st, 2011
4:23 pm
Oh, and Sage, you’re still a douchebag no matter if you are right or not.
Iron League 13
January 21st, 2011
4:25 pm
Rawhide, it’s getting hairy and looks likte it’s getting harier. Which brings me to…
B. Thenet, that was a Mama Cleo moment of clairvoyance on your part. Kudos on that.
It’s a shame, but inevitable. We’re upset about the possibilities of more mediocrity under this ownership or worse (I don’t want to think about).
Red Light, spot on.
Red Light
January 21st, 2011
4:31 pm
Sage of Bluesland
Yup, you had it right about incompetent ownership and management and shouted to the rooftops, time and time and time again for all of us to read. But while you’d like to lay claim as the only Sage voice, alas, you were not alone. Others knew from Day One that this team was in the wrong hands, and I am not just speaking of the spinning and grinning leader either.
Residents of this city, former hockey men who know the game were used to carry the Atlanta torch only to be cast aside when ticket sales met a decent level in the early years (Years 1 and 2 too be specific). They knew the leadership structure here was at best, flawed. But, your blog leader, Mr. Bill Tiller, knew it also. There are countless others but Sage, you were the most boisterous and consistent — no matter how annoyingly repetitive it became, was or is!
At least you weren’t wishy-washy and you stuck to your guns (in your case the Henry Repeating Rifle)!
Take a look at the Jan. 6, 2010 blog (link below), and you’ll see that you were not the only Sagacious One. Others like LAC, Joe Friday, Zoomo, R. Stroz and several others shared similar sentiments along the way.
But, in this dark hour for some of the sheep, at the very least I wish you a very happy day and salute you for never backing off your trite tirades.
http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/2010/01/06/no-i-dont-think-anderson-should-be-fired-however
Sage of Bluesland
January 21st, 2011
4:32 pm
Thanks for the offer, Stroz….We’ll see…You have offered numerous times before–and it is very generous.
In a similar vein of Ensign Pulver (from “Mister Roberts”), I would probably be afraid of what I might do to the Captain/Don Waddell (as I go through the motion of choking a person).
Such nasty language from such weak minds; tsk-tsk….
In the end, it’s nothing but a shame to have given anything to those who have cared not a whit. I’m thankful I stopped subsidizing such utter and sheer incompetence many years ago…
SomaAtl95
January 21st, 2011
4:37 pm
Then stop subsidizing negativity. We’ve all been upset with the franchise but still support the team. Sometimes I would swear you are one of the “Owners” just trying to alienate as many fans as possible so the team can move to “Moose Dropping Point, Canada”.
That would be the most ironic thing of all – The great and “mighty” SOB – one of the owners of the team. It’s no coincidence that the seven owners left are SOB’s too!
LET THE NEW CONSPIRACY BEGIN!
jimbo
January 21st, 2011
4:39 pm
Unitl this team comes get of its timid, try not to lose, focus at home, it will not make the playoffs or draw fans. We are a pathetic team at home.
R. Stroz
January 21st, 2011
4:40 pm
Waffles Anyone…I’m not kidding..we’d get some attention
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=5nheftcab&v=001PEzLWYs7lNI1TM7vP_fyk4U24mWtZd9bCh3ZUG5zZnVSngdFAaNguQIeM9IPtFnXFWLM-ECjwDBDkU2pUGL4qe1xIDIXJTN1I2MJKrZT7×8UDEcznodPSVZLxHY8gAtXz8Y2-jsdxIdymmQq-wEdaLm-1Y-XW-tCii7YPiaMNjFPYV2OM40j-Jv7sNGIFC5b9hlFMB8OHxsfp0FEg3×35UxysVCWJXnwO3tmE3ATTKsS07NEmOWImMPP7yqB8zbrdP5Cz5Fk6ZA7PMiljGsaO_IDjTTGbN4rIo7Gz8kK2hAHsKcuUPoKqASDB8pUckt2HgYr6GD6MKo%3D
Iron League 13
January 21st, 2011
4:46 pm
Sage, no apologies. Enstrom will be a legend within ten years if he’s remained mostly healthy and playing at this level or close enough…A LEGEND. I’ll say it as many times as you call people “sheep” (i.e., the point of annoyance) so that when they’re constantly talking about Enstrom’s badassery on every hockey media outlet whenever they mention his name or just because they can’t stop talking about his TOI radness, I can come back and do a figurative happy dance and say “TOLD YOU SO, TOLD YOU SO”. Oh and I know that last bit was a run on sentence or something else incorrect, save it.
Two things:
1.) There’s more to life than dropping turds in punch bowls.
2.) When the Hell did I say anything nice about ASG?
So, not two things at all really, just an opinion and a question, but whatever. You suck.
ThrasherTim
January 21st, 2011
4:47 pm
Isn’t there a game against the Rangers tomorrow night? What does all this drivel about lawsuits from rich men who got in over their heads have to do with two banged up teams that can’t score matching up for TWO POINTS?!
Smoothie – Where are your proposed line combos?
Iron League 13
January 21st, 2011
4:52 pm
SOB, I’ve got you pegged. I bet I
Fan from Carolina
January 21st, 2011
4:53 pm
Back to Rawhide’s calculations, I agree with most everything. The Panthers will fall short and it is possible Montreal may fade. The Canes have a nice club with Cam Ward on top if his game and a lot of playoff veterans like Staal and Cole for the final push. The Rangers just lost Fedetenko, still no Callahan or Dubinsky. Only Lundqvist and Gaborik (too streaky) will keep them alive in the hunt. The Thrashers really should win against the depleted Rangers or else when are they going to start making the push? Hope they don’t plan on Sunday in Tampa. NHL.com has a piece on them today about possibly winning their 2nd Cup. Can’t argue too much as it is possible with that line-up. Roloson has his off days but he is hungry and so much better than Smith or Ellis. A good chance of 4 SE division clubs getting in. Still so many games to go and injuries can change thngs for any team in a hurry.
Iron League 13
January 21st, 2011
4:58 pm
SOB,
You’re absolutely a conspiracy nut. Do you like Jason Bermas? Alex Jones? David Icke? Bill Cooper? Who? C’mon, admit it. Who?
Second, you love Neal Boortz (UNDEBATEABLE). Now who sounds like a sheep?
Honestly, how’d this public H.S. grad do on that?
Iron League 13
January 21st, 2011
4:59 pm
undebatable rather
Smoothie
January 21st, 2011
5:00 pm
I’m not sure why we’re so concerned about giving SOB his props. Who cares that he was “right”? The fact remains that there is a convenant in place to keep the Thrashers here for the forseeable future. If it were so easy to tank the ownership and move the Thrashers to the highest bidder in Canada, it probably would have happened the minute Belkin was bought out. No doubt the ASG is incompetent and foolish for thinking they could run both a hockey franchise as well as basketball team. If the losses keep piling up, perhaps the ASG will be forced into bankruptcy and the NHL can then intervene. Bettman is nothing if not a stubborn man and I don’t see any reason to think he won’t do his level best to keep the Thrashers in Atlanta as long as he’s Commish.
So, who wants line combos??
I got a good chuckle out of that Thrasher Tim.
Signed,
A guy who just likes to talk Thrashers hockey, eff all the other shizz
SomaAtl95
January 21st, 2011
5:04 pm
Point taken Smoothie. As of right now, SOB no longer exists to me. I’ve had my say about him, and I’m sure he is an insider if not an owner.
I’ll be at tomorrow nights game, section 214 I believe (don’t have my tickets handy right now)
Hope to see some of you there!
Smoothie
January 21st, 2011
5:09 pm
Soma – he’s probably the same guy posting as Joe Friday! Joe was awfully quick to start kissing his a$$ after the news broke.
For someone who has always pulled for underdogs, it’s likely not going to deter me until the team is gone. None of us know nearly as much as we think we do and this is nothing but a way to share some opinions via a vehicle for killing boredom. Not giving a damn about who can win the title of “Blog’s Most Persistent Pandering of a Point of View”. Yawn.
Otter from Animal House
January 21st, 2011
5:10 pm
We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons, but that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part!
moriler
January 21st, 2011
5:12 pm
“Levenson told the AJC in an April 2010 interview that when the Spirit bought the teams, the group signed an agreement with the NHL that they not be moved.
“Even if we wanted to talk to somebody who wanted to move it, it’s clearly stated in our agreements. We are forbidden from doing that. We’ve never had those discussions,” Levenson told the AJC.”
That little piece of factual information from Viv’s blog. Specifically: they’re forbidden because of the agreement they signed, and you can trust that _that_ isn’t a lie, as much as they may want it to be. I expect that is why we haven’t heard anything about Balsillie trying to buy us — even though he’d be one of the prime candidates, because the ASG would have warned him of the agreement up front.
In short: Sage is still just runnin’ his mouth with nothing to back it up, and Joe Friday has shown his true colors as nothing more than a fair-weather fan. Ownership sucks, and we’ve all known it for a long time — you haven’t seen any of us out there defending them. But in the end, the team will remain here — unless fans don’t show up. And Dudley is still running it, and Ramsay is still coaching it.
That said — I wouldn’t hold out much hope for anything at the trade deadline, this new lawsuit will just about guarantee that Dudley won’t be allowed to spend any money. On the plus side, the ASG will know that it can’t let the state of the franchise deteriorate, or it won’t be able to find any buyers. Things aren’t as bad as they look at first, kids. I thought about being pissed at the owners, but really, they’ve mostly just acted the way we all expected them to — they cared primarily about the Hawks, and the way they’ve spent has shown it (and I even called them out for it in one of LeBrun’s Monday articles on ESPN). So about all we do is keep going, enjoy the much-better hockey than the last couple years, and see who steps up to buy the team.
Iron League 13
January 21st, 2011
5:15 pm
Smoothie, don’t worry about me giving SOB props. It won’t happen. He sure as Hell didn’t tell me anything about ASG that I didn’t believe already. I’d rather get along with the other Thrashers fans, we should generally be unified.
That said, I don’t believe is losing what they say they are nor do I believe this team is going anywhere. To back you up all I have to say is Phoenix. Nuff said.
And in hopes it pisses SOB off, I’m likely going to the game tomorrow too.
Flames
January 21st, 2011
5:15 pm
We all knew that the ASG were liars…I’m just as pi$$ed as the next guy, but I do know one thing for sure. I love MY Atlanta Thrashers. I will continue to support MY team and pray that a new owner will come in and purchased this team. I cannot worry about things that I can’t control. All I can do is support the team that I love and pray that they don’t get sold to someone who wants to leave Atlanta. I will be at the bulb Saturday night with my Thrashers uniform on cheering on MY team. I will not let the media or a group of idiots like the ASG take away my love for hockey and the ATLANTA Thrashers.
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Iron League 13
January 21st, 2011
5:15 pm
ASG is losing money rather
SomaAtl95
January 21st, 2011
5:17 pm
But I wanted the “BMPPPOV”!
Its a bonus that the team would get 2 points for doing so.
I’ll watch till their last horn sounds. I was there for one of the first Thrashers games, you bet I’ll be there for the last. Just hoping that we can get an owner like Arthur Blank, if not AB himself, so the only last we will endure when it comes to the NHL in the ATL is the “last horn of the season”
Hoping for a Rangers loss tomorrow, nothing is as sweet as watching any New York team lose
Smoothie
January 21st, 2011
5:23 pm
Yeah, I’m more worried about reversing these 3 trends in the next 3 games before the ASG:
1) SOG differential of -4.00 (-6.25 at even strength) over the last 9
2) PPG disparity of -9 (6 GF vs 15 GA) over the last 9 games
3) Shooting percentage of 7.55% which is about 2% lower than any other 9/10 game stretch so far this season.
This team is capable of making the playoffs and I would like to see them do it. Let’s hope the players take this as a personal affront and decide to circle the wagons and prove to the rest of the league their much better than their $42 M payroll would indicate.
moriler
January 21st, 2011
5:34 pm
Problem: They’re not _that_ much better than $42M. We have some players who have more talent than we’re paying them, but the standings are more a tribute to Ramsay’s talents as a coach than anything else. But it’s pointed in the right direction — after all, we could be Edmonton or Tronna, both of whom are faceplanting as franchises even as we speak. Edmonton especially will have a hard time recovering, which is a shame for a time-honored franchise such as that.
ZAvalanche
January 21st, 2011
5:43 pm
LOL! @ RL’s comment about “the nasty”! I’m going to tell you all what happens here next. Thrashy goes on a bit of a slump, then Pavs totally starts to dominate and you get the 7th seed. Win the first round in 6 (because Pavs is on a roll) and most likely lose in 2nd, but hey, it is progress.
glovesave29
January 21st, 2011
5:48 pm
Let’s cut it out with tossing softballs to SOB. If anyone here (like me) feels that $150 for tickets for me and my daughters to go to the game and spend time together is money well spent, then it’s our right to make that decision.
The guy isn’t going to be happy until the team leaves town. So stop giving him the attention he so desperately craves. He always passes up hockey questions – he obviously knows little to nothing about our sport.
To make the comments that he does about a team with no playoff wins in their entire history does not make him a sage. It means he has a firm grasp on the obvious. Everyone here knows the ownership is a bunch of yahoos.
Smoothie
January 21st, 2011
6:06 pm
glovesave – he pontificates about knowing so much about economics, but he doesn’t know that much about economics either. It is simply the study of the choices society makes with their money and / or time. If, like you say, I value the experience of live hockey enough to spend X dollars on the 3 hours of entertainment, then I will spend the disposable income I have on that choice. It’s simply an opportunity cost as I would rather spend $40 on hockey tkts for 3 hours of hockey rather than spend $40 on movie tkts and concessions for 1.5 hrs of crap acting and / or politically biased storylines out of Hollywood.
The point is that there a lot of folks who go to hockey games who aren’t die hard fans and would make the choice to spend their entertainment dollars on hockey over something else if it provides enough perceived value to them given a wide array of entertainment dollars. While it’s unfortunate that our money has to pass through the hands of the ASG on its way to the players, employees, vendors, suppliers etc, that is not something I can control so I’m not going to let that affect my purchasing decisions. But I’m also not going to give credit to someone for beating us over the head with information that we all (at least the ones here who take the time to read about the team) readily have and have realized since the lawsuit / feud with Belkin started.
Smoothie
January 21st, 2011
6:08 pm
“…a wide array of entertainment alternatives” not dollars.
But let’s hope that we all have a wider array of dollars to spend as the economy picks up, but that probably won’t happen anytime soon either. So we might as well enjoy our 3 hour diversion on ice and not complain about the ASG not loving us enough.
Sage of Bluesland
January 21st, 2011
6:13 pm
“… I cannot worry about things that I can’t control….”
Oh, but you can–yet your sheep-helmet is on too tight for you to think properly. You, the fan, controls EVERYTHING. You see that green-stuff in your wallet (or that shiny plastic card)? THAT is how you control any organization in this world (well, those that are run ‘for-profit’, that is).
Let me guess: You don’t have much of a background in either economics or business?
It IS funny watching some of the sniveling ignorants around here scurrying around…As for the Iron-League guy, I don’t even know who that is–but he is particularly mental….The internet-time at the institution must have been extended…That goes for the guy who thinks I’m an owner or Joe Friday! Wow–this is precisely why I prefer to stay in the shadows, Stroz…I don’t want to get any ’stupid’ on me….
Oh well, don’t worry folks, I’ll keep ‘educating’ you on things you obviously cannot see…I’ve never professed to be an expert in hockey–but I do know a fraud when I see one, I can assure you…
(It’s too bad some of you cannot–but that’s ok, that is precisely why some of us are here, thank you very much….Now WHERE did that wittle spweadsheet go?….)
ZAvalanche
January 21st, 2011
6:21 pm
Holy crap, Peter Forsberg is practicing with the Avs again. Sorry, but in spite of my man-hood, I love that guy! Look out Vancouver, if Foppa comes back you are in big trouble.
Smoothie
January 21st, 2011
6:23 pm
SOB – you have a really inflated ego to think that anyone here cares about you enough beyond making fun of you. I guess you’re not a very good read on internet sarcasm and humor. Why would anyone take you seriously is beyond me? You my misguided blogging “friend” are quite delusional in your visions of self-proclaimed grandeur, aren’t you?
Sharon
January 21st, 2011
6:26 pm
Rawhide, thanks for posting the ticket and jersey promo on the previous blog. My friend and I snagged that deal so maybe we’ll see ya’ll at the game.
ASG? No surprises there, just more confirmation of their clownishness. They have really put the fans in a pinch… we’ll have to hand over ticket money to these much-maligned mofos if we want the team to stay. And even then there’s no guarantee. Great, a dilemma.
Smoothie
January 21st, 2011
6:31 pm
BTW, thanks for telling me its okay to worry about things I cannot control. But I’ll play along cuz I’m bored. Who pray tell is going to come along and snatch up this wonderful franchise EVEN IF IT COULD BE SOLD!!?
It can’t be sold to anyone who would like to remove it from Atlanta, at least not as long as the covenant with the league and the naming rights deal is in place, and beyond that, who is buying hockey franchises right now? It took forever for the Coyotes to find someone willing to pony up the dough and they are probably worth no more than the Atlanta Thrashers depressed value. In this market of contracting wealth, high unemployment, stagnant capital investment etc, who in their right mind would invest in this franchise right now when they can wait and buy it in 10 years when there is at least a chance of moving it where they want it to be?
So beyond the goal of depriving myself of NHL hockey in the short-term and the long-term prospect of eventual relocation of this franchise in 5-10 years, why should I boycott something I enjoy altogether? What should I spend my money on Sage? Porn, just like you? I’ve got enough worthwhile hobbies and pursuits, and for some wicked, ridiculous reason, one of them is arguing with an idiot like you!
Joe McGrath
January 21st, 2011
6:32 pm
Look at what NHL teams have moved where, when they moved, and why they moved. Atlanta is the #9 largest market in the U.S., and Bettman and the other owners won’t let the Thrashers move. They got duped by a bunch of a-holes, and as embarrassed as they are, they collectivley need it to work in Atlanta. The league ousted President Gil Stien and replaced him with Commissioner Bettman in 1993 with a commission to Americanize the sport mainly by taking it to larger markets with new facilities. First thing Bettman and the other owners did was sign off on the sales slips and move Winnipeg, Quebec City and Hartford, all of which we’re WHA franchises of which NHL ownership really didn’t want in the league anyway, but were forced to agree upon a merger to get a grip on escalating player’s salaries. Oh, AND because either their buildings were anitiquated or their market size was too small and obsolete or both (sup Winnipeg?) Bettman then went forth with the expansion process, which included ATL because the league knew Atlanta would support hockey because: a. It’s the 8th largest market in the U.S. and b. they supported hockey in the past(y’all older folks remember the Flames who left town when Zeigler was NHL president–see Zeigler was a hockey guy, not a business man, that’s why they moved him out because he was old school and couldn’t get a handle on team stability and player’s salaries). Since Bettman took the reigns, NO franchise has moved since the Whalers left for Carolina in 1997 and we now have a salary cap (Sup NFL, MLB and NBA?) Bettman and all the other owners know they have a stinky situation in Atlanta, but they’ve collectivley weathered storms in Phoenix, Nashville, Miami and even original six expansion Pittsburgh. Bettman will market this team and someone, I don’tknow who, but someone is going to meet with Bettman and the league accountants and look at spread sheets and see the potential. After Bettman and league lawyers and accountants scrutinize finances, that new owner, who may be from Dubai, Russia, Canada, Texas or Atlanta, will ride a white horse down Peach Tree and save the day.
Iron League 13 (the Artist formerly known as razorneck13)
January 21st, 2011
6:43 pm
SOB, here I am let’s go chickenbleep. Say something intelligent, let’s hear it. How am I looney? Please elaborate on that one for me. Spell it out, c’mon you’re not from public schooling apparently (otherwise your a hypocrite) so draw me a line from point A to point B, but make it nice and straight-like so my public educated ass can wrap my pea-brain around it.
You’ve been pegged man, I know what you are you transparent chickenbleep.
So, c’mon and stick up for yourself. Say something profound.
injunjoe
January 21st, 2011
6:46 pm
We still have a professional hockey team…….so we still have a team to support. ‘Nuff said!
JT from Columbus
January 21st, 2011
6:48 pm
I agree Bettman CANNOT let this franchise fail! The expansion of the league will be his legacy and I don’t think he will let any movement happen unless ther is absolutely no other alternative. I for one will continue to support the team in person and watching on television. GO THRASH!!!
Iron League 13
January 21st, 2011
7:12 pm
JT – Rad, that’s the right attitude. The Thrashers are going to be fine IN ATLANTA of course. It’s only a matter of time before they succeed and attendance stabalizes at a high or higher level. I remember more “traditional markets” that went through this. It’s just not as easy as calling it a matter of the market, when it’s for MANY markets (a la ATL) the quality of team that dictates it’s success.
Just saw a caller (Ron, I think) on Powerplay bring up the ASG debacle and watched it’s Cannuckian hosts pull the typical crap about attendance, Winnepeg, Hamilton, Quebec City. Talk about not thinking it through, we’re absorbing this game all over this country and they need to get over it. It’s at this point not an organic-ish regional sporting event exclusive to frozen wintery locales. That’s the way of the modern world, tough break guys. Lighten up, I don’t see Norwegians getting pissed off about snow skiing in Dubai.
Twisted Wrister
January 21st, 2011
7:52 pm
The ASG has been playing a shell game for years moving revenue between the two sports franchises and the arena operations unit. I’m sure King & Spalding are aware of the ASG’s shell game and will subpeona the financial records for the arena operations unit. At that time, King & Spalding will make the arena operation unit’s profits available as part of their case. The ASG will be exposed for “creating” greater losses by directing revenue and profits to the “arena operations unit” and losses to the two sports franchise units.
And, in the end, the ASG will, once again, be exposed as a bunch of “white collar” trust fund babies “con men.”
glovesave29
January 21st, 2011
8:47 pm
“I’ve never professed to be an expert in hockey” – SOB
Well then, where do you get off criticizing those who do? I mean your arch nemesis took the title GM – and you, the now self proclaimed hockey-know nothing takes the arrogant name of “sage”. You make fun of Sara’s spreadsheet of – what? 4 years ago? She can talk CIRCLES around you when it comes to hockey.
You can spot a fraud. Well, wow…aren’t you a big boy now. Now go look in the mirror and see another one.
Joe – good capsule on recent NHL history. I always liked John Ziegler. Canadians threw the same wrath (now aimed at Bettman) at long time president Clarence Campbell after the expansions of the late sixties and early seventies. Let us not forget, he rained in the TML’s moron owner Harold Ballard as he was running the Leafs into the ground, where they played in front of a half full MLG. I liked that the NHL was in Winnipeg and Quebec. But the cities called the leagues bluff (and lost) when they asked for new arenas. I’ve been to Le Colisee…it is a dump (and a tiny one at that). I’d like to see NHL hockey someday return to those cities and Hartford – just not at the expense of a current market until every last attempt is made to succeed there.
With the recent news, I feel we now move to the FRONT of the radar in the league offices. They found solutions in PIT, PHX, and TAM (2X). Ahem – Mr. Bettman? OUR TURN!
Joe Friday
January 21st, 2011
9:48 pm
“Isn’t it kind of like finding out that your supposed 18-year-old virgin girlfriend has been doing the nasty since she was 14?”
Dude. As a father of 13 and 10 yr old daughter, thank you very little for the crappy sleep I’m getting tonight. Beware the payback.
Smoothie, are you a Gorin’s early beer guy? Red Light, I may have to go buy Smoothie a beer, hold him there and I’ll see if I can get there early . . .
Sage, so you got enough grief the other day that you let it out that you’re an auditor . . . so let me guess, you’ve seen the books somewhere over the past year, who did you vet the books for? McDavid? Anyone remember the timeframe Sage showed up in? Brendan? Brendan? Bueller?
Twisted Wrister
January 21st, 2011
10:08 pm
Tomorrow, Coach Ramsay should sit the team down and make them watch “Major League.” Afterward, Ramsay should pull out a stand up figure of Laura Turner Seydel and reward the players by taking off the pieces after each win.
Joe Friday
January 21st, 2011
10:20 pm
NHL continues the Mickey Mouse league crap. If it’s not the refs, it’s Campbell, or it’s approving the Atlanta Spirit Squad to own the Thrashers, and now it’s watch the replay as Tampa steals another extra pt. tonight in the shootout against Florida. Horrible call, reviewed by the drunks in “Toronto”, and they let it stand, it was stopped by Vokoun and then shoved in by Tampa after he stopped it and they let it stand . . . a perfect cap to a farcical day in hockey
Sage of Bluesland
January 21st, 2011
10:49 pm
“…Sage, so you got enough grief the other day that you let it out that you’re an auditor . . . so let me guess, you’ve seen the books somewhere over the past year, who did you vet the books for? McDavid? Anyone remember the timeframe Sage showed up in?…”
Nope–no inside-information at all; that’s not my arena, so to speak…I was just a fan from the beginning who began to connect the dots on my own–and smelled a rat about three years in…
It’s humorous to see the vitriol (mis)directed my way…A couple of newbies as well as the usual sheep…
Troll Food
January 21st, 2011
10:58 pm
This is what happens when you feed the Troll.
Jake
January 21st, 2011
11:25 pm
Listen, the Thrashers have a good coach and GM, and they’re still learning a new system and what to expect of each other. Given the liabilities of the past several years, starting at the top, this team could be in a lot worse shape than it is.
Tampa Bay is a good team, and the Thrashers played them tough. If they trust Ramsey and keep working hard, good things will come.
Twisted Wrister
January 21st, 2011
11:46 pm
Karma at work…ASG earned this punishment
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/hawks-set-record-low-811932.html
sisu
January 22nd, 2011
1:51 am
what ever the case I DO NOT WANT TO LOSE HOCKEY AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As much as it might pain some of you go out and support this team, stand behind them as they will qualify for the playoffs!
World Be Free
January 22nd, 2011
7:09 am
The more you talk to Sage, the more he stays around. Do what I do and walk past his stupid posts.
Thrashers’ fans get to know what it is like to be Sabres’ fan. After playing a great game in Boston maybe their best of the season they come home and lay an egg against the New York Islanders. This is the 2nd egg against the Islanders in less than a week. Mr. Miller, have you asked to be traded yet?
Talk about suibsidizing incompetence
Rawhide
January 22nd, 2011
7:22 am
B. Thenet - Thanks you….yeah once I posted this yesterday then read the news of the new AS, LLC lawsuit, I know where the conversation was going.
…sigh…
The Atlanta Spirit – Lies, Lawsuits and Contempt.
R. Stroz
January 27th, 2011
4:08 am
LAST!
Rawhide
January 27th, 2011
9:29 am
R. Stroz – Nope.