It’s Groundhog Day in Thrasherville
It’s here, gang…Groundhog Day, that is. No, not the annual celebration that comes on February 2 when the meteorology world turns it’s eyes toward rodents to prognosticate the weather. I’m talking about the Bill Murray movie in which a Pittsburgh weatherman experiences the torment of repeating the same day over…and over…and over…and over…and over again.
For three straight times, the Thrashers and their opponents have required the individual skills competition known as a shootout to determine the winner of an otherwise tied game. The past two, versus Tampa Bay and the New York Rangers, have seen them fail to protect a 2-1 lead at the second intermission and watch the visiting team skate away with the much-coveted second point in the standings.
Last Monday, it was they who snatched away two points down in Florida after trailing 2-0 late in the third.
I can just imagine radio voice of the Thrashers Dan Kamal as he brings the game to Thrasherville bemoaning yet again, “…and there’s the horn ending the overtime period. We’ll go to the shootout tied 2-2”
Then again, “…and there’s the horn ending the overtime period. We’ll go to the shootout once more tied 2-2”.
Once more last night, “…and there’s that BLASTED horn again ending the game before SOMEBODY can win it the old fashioned way…with an actual, honest to goodness goal. Instead, we’ll now go to YET ANOTHER stinkin’ shootout”!
…sigh…
Nic Bergfors reacts after failing to convert on his shootout try Saturday night. The Rangers left Atlanta with the 3-2 SO win after trailing 2-1 in the third...just as the Tampa Lightning had two days before (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Five times this month the Thrashers and their opponents have required extra time to determine a winner and seven of the last thirteen games have done so as well. They are 3-4 in those games dating back to the overtime loss to the Lightning one day after Christmas.
This morning, the Thrashers woke up in Tampa, Florida for a game later this afternoon with the Lightning. There’s no word yet if the song that greeted them as the alarm clocks went off was Sonny and Cher’s “I’ve Got You Babe”… but the way things have been going, I wouldn’t really be surprised.
What should also come as little surprise is that the previous three times these teams have met, it took longer than 60 playing minutes to find a winner. Twice it’s needed a shootout, once just took a little bit of overtime. In each case, however, the Groundhog Day effect took over and the Atlanta squad watched the Bolts skate away with the win.
Multiplying the Groundhog Day torment of repeating the same day…or game…over and over again, the Thrashers have lived the nightmare of watching the Lightning come out on top for ten straight times. As you all know by now, they haven’t beaten their division foes since opening night 2009, and today marks the last time they’ll get a chance to do so before next fall.
That’s assuming we don’t draw them in the playoffs, which is not only a distinct possibility…but the way things have gone lately, just might be fitting in the eyes of irony.
Now if I may take a stab at trying to find some sort of good in this Groundhog Day scenario that has befallen Thrasherville, it might just turn out that this stretch of games turns out to be a bit of a blessing for us.
No, really…stick with me on this.
If I may return to Murray’s character in the movie…remember, he was doomed to repeat the same day over and over again until he finally “got it” as far as just who he was and what the people around him really meant to him. He was forced into time’s revolving door until he was able to work things out that needed to be.
The Thrashers are struggling somewhat as they work their collective ways through a rough part of the schedule in which multiple key players are healing. They’ve been forced to plug in just replacements as Nigel Dawes, Freddy Meyer, Tim Stapleton and Spencer Machacek until players like Jim Slater and Evander Kane can mend properly…and Zach Bogosian can get figured out whatever it he needs to get figured out.
But through it, they’ve managed to procure 4 points in the three games that followed a four-game losing streak in which the Thrashers were outscored 24-9. That’s nothing to get all goose-pimply about, mind you, but it’s better than hanging another goose egg in the regulation loss column.
OK, maybe some of you might think that’s going a long way towards trying to find the silver lining in the dark cloud that hovers over Thrasherville after a second straight shootout loss. But if Atlanta does find there way into the postseason dance by just a point or two…or the difference between two of the playoff positions is won by the same slim margin…then we can look at this string of games in a better light.
Every team struggles somewhat and has to work through some issues during the course of the season. If you can get through those tough times while collection at least some points at the same time…well then, that helps.
But one thing is for sure. The Thrashers have to find a way, and soon, to hold these third period leads and skate away with the second point. This is especially true when facing division opponents and conference teams battling with them for playoff positioning. Otherwise, when spring finally makes its way here, another annual nightmare may repeat itself in Thrasherville…no playoffs.
And we don’t need any smelly groundhog to scurry back into his hole after seeing his shadow to tell us that.
By: Bill Tiller – AJC.com Thrashers Fan Blog
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169 comments Add your comment
SomaAtl95
January 23rd, 2011
8:21 pm
Did you guys hear that? Some annoying echo… could have sworn I’ve heard some idiot calling me a sheep yet again…
I don’t know what is worse – hearing people outside of Atlanta constantly troll in here or hearing the Newest Member of the ASG call us sheep. Gonna start referring to the ASG as “All of Sage’s Guys” since he is just as annoying and predictable as the ASG are. IF he were ever truly a fan his idiotic 1 man army approach would have given up by now but he just wont be happy until the team is gone. Then he will troll the Hawks forums as “Sage of Highlight Factory” in his ever continuing quest to stick it to the ASG… but something tells me he doesn’t have the stones to call all the basketball fans mindless sheep like he does to us…. for if he truly cared and wanted to support his cause he would be doing that, wouldn’t he.
So how bout it Sage? Why not start attacking Basketball players? The fans that go there further support your buddies in the ASG.Put you money where your mouth is. Start attacking Hawks fans too.
Everyone who supports SOB in his quest to “Bankrupt” the ASG by also attacking Hawks fans, raise your hand.
Lets see if he has the balls to go “full on” in his Anti- “All of Sages Guys” quest.
LAC
January 23rd, 2011
8:29 pm
GO SAGE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALWAYS RIGHT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This soma95atl thing… WRONG !
Sage of Bluesland
January 23rd, 2011
8:30 pm
Talk about an empty-blathering echo in here…I see the institution has left its computer lab open yet again…
mark
January 23rd, 2011
8:31 pm
Long time lurked, first time poster. I really love this blog – great commentary from Rawhide and – for the most part – intelligent debate from the posters. Thanks, Bill, for the great job you do, and it was great meeting you last night at the game.
I’m hopeful that something will happen to get our confidence back. The all star break comes at a good time, I think. We need injuries to heal and an infusion of new blood. Today’s game was pathetic, but without Kane, Ladd, Toby, and Slater while playing a hot team after a very short night, not too surprising. Now is the time that we’ll see what our Captain, our Coach, and our GM are made of. I’m not giving up, but the playoffs are slipping away.
Sage of Bluesland
January 23rd, 2011
8:31 pm
(Not you LAC; You’ve known the deal for many years now…)
Flagstaff
January 23rd, 2011
8:38 pm
I almost never expect trades… but I can’t see the following week go by without one. This ship is sinking; Dudley needs to break out the bail buckets… and throw the furniture overboard.
Flagstaff
January 23rd, 2011
8:40 pm
Heh… heh… Do you think you can fix those intended italics for me, please, Trixie? (All the years I’ve been reading this blog, and I still don’t know how to work the bold/italics/underline/strikethrough. Sorry!)
SomaAtl95
January 23rd, 2011
8:42 pm
Great. More insults my way. Now I am a sheep and considered crazy. Wanna keep insulting me? More people want to pile it on too? Fine. Everyone take you best shot, things couldn’t get that much worse.
Flagstaff
January 23rd, 2011
8:48 pm
Butting in on the fight here, I think we can all say that none of us are ever going to be able to convince each other: Sage and his buddies will never attend a Thrashers game until the removal of the ownership and of D.W., and the rest of us aren’t going to give up watching the team because people on the internet told us to. Therefore, it would be for the benefit of intelligent discussion if we all just shut up about it. (Not an insult/criticism of SomaAtl95, or even Sage, for that matter.)
SomaAtl95
January 23rd, 2011
8:49 pm
http://xkcd.com/386/
Understood.
Iron League 13
January 23rd, 2011
8:57 pm
Flagstaff, I agree that we need some moves, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there wasn’t either. I’m feeling more like the naysayer I was about this organization, which is silly, cuz I’m not surprised about any of this. Unfortunately, I see it all picking up way more hockey media attention, thereby making things worse. If there’s no movement by the deadline (I’m gonna tell you ahead of time and without getting all Sagish after) I think we’re pretty much damned for as long as ASG own the Thrashers.
Not trying to be a pisser, but I really don’t see us attracting any solid free agents in the offseason (not saying we would or could anyway) with this debacle now truly official. I also hate to say this, but I don’t know that Buff will want to stay. Ladd, well he’s a captain and that may weigh more on his decision. I just don’t know anymore, other than until the ASG or the NHL find a committed buyer. I think we’re screwed.
LAC
January 23rd, 2011
8:58 pm
Sage, You have called it STRAIGHT as an arrow for years. I love hockey, but I want to see the team WIN, like you and all the others. But these who can only complain because WE see the issues and expose them and THEY refuse to open their eyes and see them…. Well Sage, Who is Right and Who is Wrong…. ???? You and I both know the rest of the story….
Cornbread
January 23rd, 2011
9:13 pm
That was probably the worst game of the year. I say probably because at least during the 9-3 Toronto loss, the Thrashers took it to and outplayed them in the first half. The only other game I can think of this season where the Thrashers had absolutely nothing the whole game was the 4-1 loss against Buffalo back in October.
If you did not watch tonight’s game, you can’t comment on it. It was a team loss and not an individual one. The injuries are really affecting them right now and that had as much to do with this loss as anything. Ladd, Enstrom, Kane, Slater, and Mason all out. Banged up Modin and Antropov, a confidence killed Bogosian, rookies, and AHLers forced in. That has disaster written all over it against Tampa.
If the Atlanta Thrashers have been losing like this all year, then I’d be with some of you and agree that they are the same old same old Thrashers. But the fact is, they have not lost bad like this as they have repeatedly in the past including last year when they were in the hunt. In 06-07 when they won the SE they lost to Tampa 8-0. Tampa, who definitely had the Thrashers number this year, have lost more spectacularly more often. The Bolts have given up 6 or more goals 8 times this year, the Thrashers just 3.
The Thrashers have a lot of good things still going for them. The first is the All-Star break where they will have time to heal and regroup. The second is they are still in a playoff spot heading into the All-Star break. The second half of the NHL always starts after the showcase game. Third and most importantly, they still have February to play. This is where I have always expected them to make their move and solidify a playoff spot. If your a skeptic and have not already done so, do yourself a favor and take a look at the schedule. It is that favorable.
If the Thrashers are playing like tonight or not getting over the hump in tight games come February, then it really will be Groundhog Day – from the first year on. But, that’s not going to happen Thrasher fans. They’ve got too many good things going for them this year.
Brendan
January 23rd, 2011
9:16 pm
Sage, I do have a question for you. “What, precisely, would the AS, LLC, do differently, if the attendance were 1,300 per game?” I used to think … it would do something like … force Waddell out, make them embark on a genuine vision for the club, etc. But, really, wouldn’t they just keep Ramsay as Head Coach? I think, probably, yes they would. Would they keep John Torchetti as Associate Head Coach? I think, “Yes, they probably would.” Would they keep Don Waddell on the payroll? “Yeah, probably.” Why? They own the team. And they care about the team in the manner which they’ve displayed.
In my view of things, Sage, the Atlanta Spirit, LLC, simply DOES NOT CARE about the Thrashers. They are quite content to ‘appear incompetent’ to anyone willing to believe that they are. To me, it appears as if the Spirit Group was forced to take on a team they had no intentions of managing, longterm. Because they did not care, they never bothered to treat the franchise with anything resembling accountability. When the lockout happened, and the ice surface was leveled to a ‘rather manageable’ $39.0 million, and the ownership ‘greenlighted’ a MAX CAPPED budget to try to earn playoff revenue, as well as making the Thrashers a more attractive sale. When they couldn’t sell it, something they’re now suing counsel for, they did the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM that the league required. In 2007, they did feel the team was close enough to the playoffs to justify spending to the $44.0 million league max by season’s end, but their energy level about a potential sale was fading fast. Then, I believe, they embarked on a 4-year rebuilding plan, designed to sell the team in 2011, which would then be, ‘according to plan’ LOADED with lottery draft selections, with a low payroll. Think about it. Low overhead. Young, fast, highly-skilled team, ready to push towards greater things. Attractive selling price. It all sounded good back in 2007, in terms of a re-sale strategy. Trouble was, the litigation wasn’t resolved quickly or easily or inexpensively, due to that terrible clause, “Or Belkin has the right to buy out his partners AT COST.” I don’t know what Belkin was eventually bought out for. Whatever it was, I think it might be reasonable to think Belkin would have accepted that figure back in 2007. But if the AS, LLC is suing for $200 million, it’s got to be to offset some of that payout. I’m sure the ownership is upset about their $20 million in legal fees that they were paying. Then the economy tanked. And the picks of Bogosian (2008), Kane (2009), and Burmistrov (2010) are still developing.
I have honestly forgotten what line of work these owners are in. But, clearly, it wasn’t in sports ownership/management. When I think of this ownership, I think of a Simpsons episode, where Bart, Milhouse, and Martin pool their money to buy a very rare and expensive comic book … that they couldn’t possibly afford, individually. In the end, they found they couldn’t work together, collectively, in a manageable way, over the stewardship of this comic book. In that episode, the comic book is ultimately destroyed. I don’t think the Thrashers franchise will be ultimately destroyed. I don’t think it will move prior to 2019. But I do think it would be a good idea for the NHL to step in and run the team. It’s important for this club to have ownership that cares and is accountable. “Nobody washes a rental car,” if you know what I mean. The NHL would certainly CARE what happens with respect to the Thrashers. And the NHL is ‘concerned’ about how its fans perceive their franchises. They’d prefer to have HAPPY fans, who love to support their team, rather that disgruntled fans, who see ownership on a par with cartoonish super villainy.
Sage of Bluesland
January 23rd, 2011
9:37 pm
Brendan–I think 1,300 in the stands would have the desired effect of getting the NHL to step in and do something about this abomination. That is precisely what I want.
Playing ‘nice’ simply won’t do. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary actions. We’ve gone down the ‘Smoothie’ route and see where that has gotten you (absolutely nowhere).
Try mine–just for a couple of weeks…and watch how fast things start happening…
(but, I’m afraid there are too many sheep to implement a fully effective boycott-strategy…Oh well, that’s where they have become part of the problem, as well…So be it–if you ‘buy’ this product, I don’t want to hear a complaint at all…)
Restless Native
January 23rd, 2011
9:39 pm
Atlanta Thrashers ticket purchasers (2005-2011) file a class action lawsuit against Atlanta Spirit LLC for false misrepresentation and seek damages of $200 million so that they can purchase the team. Also named as a defendant, Waddell, for blatant impersonation of a vice president and general manager.
Cornbread
January 23rd, 2011
10:15 pm
I expected Tampa to be improved this year but not the SE leaders. They are my biggest surprise team and, I must say, a little more than lucky. I thought they’d be where the Thrashers are now, fighting it out for the 8th spot. That they have grabbed all 12 points is the difference of where they stand. It has been that way all year. If the Thrashers take just 3 more points then it is a much closer race for the SE.
Sometimes teams do not match up well with certain teams and their style of play. I think that is the case this year with the Thrashers against Tampa. Tampa plays a horrid 1-3-1 trap. A team like Atlanta pushes their D up through the Neutral Zone. It’s 5 up and 5 back. Tampa’s game is to force a turnover and go on a quick counter attack. When you have all 5 guys going one way, fail to get it deep, and turn it over to a team that has 3 and 4 lined up on the center line facing the other way, bad things can happen.
For 3 of the games ATL did a good job countering it. Tonight was an abberation. Earlier in the season they were still learning their system and turnovers were more frequent and costly.
Why does Tampa play that way? Because they are so weak in net, on D, and forward depth. They have got to keep other teams out of their end because they are so bad in it. When they don’t they often lose spectacularly. It sucks that Atlanta was not able to take advantage of that when they did outplay them in the 3 OT/SO losses.
The Thrashers are a good young team. They are still learning their system and each other. Unfortunately, they are not at the same elite level of Philadelphia or Detroit who can change their game on the fly. Still, I like their system and think it will serve them even better than Tampa come playoff time.
Cornbread
January 23rd, 2011
10:36 pm
Correction: The Thrashers have given up 6 or more goals 5 times this year and not “3″. My point still stands, Tampa the SE leader has lost worse more often.
alex
January 23rd, 2011
10:45 pm
i will keep it simple as possible. if asg couldn’t find anybody with desire to buy the team and keep in atlanta it going to be end of nhl in atlanta. it’s not looking good so far. i suspect that brendan for example unfortunately don’t have enough money i am in same situation. what this mean obviously with asg weasels hockey done here. end of story.
R. Stroz
January 23rd, 2011
10:49 pm
WOW, I just returned from the Fox Theater after watching Blue Man Group. Looks like I picked the right “Blueland” to watch tonight.
Did the Thrashers “give up”?
Thrashy Thrashy
January 23rd, 2011
11:06 pm
It’s up to the team to figure out whether it wants to make the playoffs or not. Despite the awful stretch of play (especially in terms of points gained), the team is in position to make the postseason. Regardless of whether this team is in Atlanta next season, the season after, or many years beyond, I care about winning. Win some bleepdamn games, guys. Make us want to come to the rink for good hockey, dammit. Stop playing like a bunch of frauds. We’re sick of it. Man up. Your coach knows of what he speaks. Do what he says and win.
Thrashers27
January 24th, 2011
12:11 am
Kinda makes you wanna say “AHH, #@&% IT!”
Brendan
January 24th, 2011
12:42 am
Alex, you are correct. I do not have the money to buy the Thrashers. And even if I did, I’d need a minimum of 33-percent of the profits of all events at Philips Arena just to keep the team solvent. And that’s before we address the fact that I’d be a minority owner in the arena. In short, I’d have to have so much long green … that losing it by the tens of millions annually … didn’t concern me at all, on the Thrashers front. Even winning the lottery can’t fix that. Unless I kept on winning the lottery. And if I did that, there’d be an investigation about how ‘lucky’ I am. With good reason and suspicion.
Alex, let’s be honest, what are the odds that the lawsuit-crazy Spirit Group wouldn’t try to sue me, also … over something about the arena, perhaps? What if I DARED OBJECT to the LEEDS certification standards for Philips Arena? These guys just love litigation. That seems to be their ‘game plan’ for seemingly everything. I’m just waiting for them to sue the National Hockey League, next. Oh, they’ll find something to levy against the league. My guess? “It was UNFAIR of the league to forbid us from entering into negotiations to relocate the Thrashers.” Then they’ll fabricate that Balsillie had interest and was ready to go, but the league policy forbade it. Stop. That’s made-up, hypothetical non-sense. But it’s about par for these owners.
I wouldn’t put it past the Atlanta Spirit, LLC, to serve ex-President George W. Bush and current President Barack Obama, over the state of the economy as hindering their operations and profitability. If Bruce Levenson got a bad cheeseburger, Ronald McDonald might be subpoenaed to testify as a defendant. These guys just don’t know when to stop and take a long, hard look at themselves, and their policies. Almost every other owner, in the NHL, clamors for and NEEDS playoff revenue for financial survival. These guys have been “A-okay fine” with missing the playoffs. Oh, they’ll cite some lip service of accountability over the firings of Bob Hartley and John Anderson, and his staff, but how does one properly defend Dan Marr as head of scouting and Don Waddell’s involvement and retention in any capacity of the club since 2004? Right about now, someone will chime in, “Well, Heatley and Coburn have appeared in Stanley Cup Finals. How bad could Dan Marr really be?” If you mention Alex Bourret, Boris Valabik, and Chad Denny, plus the absence of 2nd rounders except for Pavelec throughout our history … that suddenly becomes Don Waddell’s fault, since he ultimately makes the call over who is drafted. It’s pretty easy to make insulating arguments for a GM and Head Scout alike. But, as Don Waddell once said, back in 2005 when the initial lawsuit broke, “As GM, I’ll answer for wins and losses.” Funny, though. He never did answer for those wins and losses. And, truthfully, he didn’t need the money after the first 5-6 years as GM. GM’s get paid pretty well, in the NHL. Don Waddell, barring a lifestyle issue, or caring for the medical treatment of a gravely ill family member, should be “set for life.” In other words, barring one of those exceptions, he was willing accomplice. He had the ability to simply walk away, citing “personal reasons,” for his departure. And no one would have blamed him. His working conditions were terrible. Someone would have given him another chance … somewhere the in the league, in ’some capacity’ or other. Even if it was to be an Assistant GM or Associate GM.
Smoothie
January 24th, 2011
12:46 am
SOB – why don’t you send a couple of your sage e-mails to Gary Bettman. Or better yet, hit him up on the twitter and share with him your wisdom. Or are you afraid of appearing like nothing more than a jaded lover who blew his wad on unrequited love?
Michael "the abbreviation"
January 24th, 2011
1:58 am
this team is an absolute joke.. i cant believe this team still has supporters…truely sad I hope they move the team tomoroow
Dwayne
January 24th, 2011
6:05 am
we got our asses handed to us…..bummer, lets get healthy and see what happens.
Kevin
January 24th, 2011
6:52 am
Why has the Ice Man not comment of the atlanta thrashers sale of team now is paid to lie too.Why we trade that fellow we got from chicago Ramsey made into centerman n he had 20 goals that bearded feloow…to San Jose did Ramsey say No and Don(We in Quebec)Waddell worst GM now President of Team.Run to ground by Waddell n friends My idea for Don Waddell is he be fired if was else where why hell u think Redwings were laughin at Us!It was nice stay for NHL hockey we go we also lose ECHL Gwinnett team too…Way to go and please ask Fox 5 in atlanta found the story of Thrashers pendin sale n move..No more hockey here because u folks blew it under Teflon don and friends!
Kevin
January 24th, 2011
7:00 am
Oh they win the stanley cup when they moved to Quebec city in in Quebec the Provd. in Canada too become the NorQ. againskate the cup around while a Phillps arena lays empty n left alone. Waddell be here runnin the empty stands cause the new owners will tell waddell U fired.And he cry and blame atlanta for his job lost n never be able to GM any hockey teams..well maybe Pee wee hockey!
LAC
January 24th, 2011
7:05 am
smoothie, WHY don’t You and all your “so called” wisdom contact the commissioner, but the hide and seek you play is so childish, Sage has done nothing except tell it like it is and people like you, have NO defense except resorting to little childish stuff like your last comment. Just GO AWAY !
Dwayne
January 24th, 2011
8:08 am
we will be in 9th by the allstar break.
Smoothie
January 24th, 2011
8:17 am
What’s that I hear? A pot calling a kettle black?!
So does it make your pathetic life better to know that some pontificating stooge on an internet blog likes you for how you threaten Levenson and Gearon with an invitation to violence? Are you really serious? That’s the problem, y’all take this crap way too personally and serious apparently. Get over yourselves! Its a fan blog for people to talk hockey and y’all think you’re more important than everyone else because your “message” has been so redundant and vociferous. Kinda sad really how big an internet ego can be.
Stan Drulia
January 24th, 2011
8:39 am
Awwwww…. so sweet! We are all getting to witness this budding romance between Sage and LAC. What a perfect match made in heaven!!! I guess that Sage will be the top… but who nows. LAC seems almost as passive aggressive as his new boyfriend.
Flames
January 24th, 2011
8:41 am
I will be there Wednesday night… We have to turn this ship around and put her in the wind. I haven’t given up on this team. I will go down with this ship if I have too. I have already witnessed the Flames leave town. I will be damned if I will sit at my house and not support this team and watch another leave. I am just as frustrated as the next guy. I hear everybody talking about how we can all go to the Gladiators games. Well, the Gladiators don’t play the Penguins or Canadians the last time I checked.
R. Stroz
January 24th, 2011
8:47 am
Flames – Hearing anything thing that would shed a ray of hope despite an ownership group determined to destroy the franchise?
Larry E
January 24th, 2011
9:07 am
Yeah we have injurys,but the guys just plain gave up last night. There was no heart shown. I am a loyal fan but this crap is hard to watch. The dump and chase is bull.You actually have to have someone chasing when you dump. Kane is the only one with any real speed. If you notice, the Bolts had no trouble skating into and around our zone.
Trixie (Rawhide's Secretary)
January 24th, 2011
9:11 am
Mr. Flagstaff - I fixed the italics issue for you in your post last night. You really should review my “Text Enhancements” class found on my blog page. You may find it quite useful.
Joe Friday
January 24th, 2011
9:17 am
Well, at least yesterday’s game broke the Groundhog Day syndrome . . .
You know what’s really pathetic? After watching the Bears try to impersonate an NFL football club, I watched that game on replay, all 7 Tampa goals.
Couldn’t take my eyes off of it. Mid-season implosion seems to be in full force, that’s the real long term Groundhog Day syndrome with this group. Whoever keeps guessing that they built the arena on a Indian burial ground may be onto something.
Sara, nice to meet you, these owners due surely stink, of that you are spot on. Stroz, your sign was a hit in the clubs, lots of thumbs up and I think I got it on camera once as well. I don’t know what the solution is here, folks, but prayer always helps, let’s try that . . .
Fan from Carolina
January 24th, 2011
9:23 am
Cornbread, good posts overall. The injury bug finally came home to roost. Forget this one. Let’s face it, there really was no offense left to face the Lightning line-up. Other than Malone, no one was missing from Tampa’s impressive forward lines. I will disagreee about the statement on their depth. Moore, Thompson would look pretty good in Thrasher uniforms right now. I wish Boulton didn’t do that ‘chicken’ thing. He looked pretty foolish. Actually embarassing. I know he was frustrated but why would any Lightning player fight him in a blowout game? They don’t even have an enforcer on their club, just agitators like Downie, maybe Moore. I wish Groundhog day did happen. The point would have been nice. The Thrashers will bounce back on home ice against the Caps provided some players return from inury, otherwise it might be tough.
Cornbread
January 24th, 2011
9:25 am
I’m hoping Ramsay skates the boys today. No day off if one was scheduled. Yeah they could use the rest but the Wednesday game just got a whole lot more important. Rest and heal during the All-Star break.
I’m reminded of the many Old Time Hockey stories after a team’s particularly bad game. One minor league coach made his team stay in their wet gear, pack up their gear, and listen to his lecture on the two hour bus ride home. When they got back to their home rink after midnight, he skated them for another hour. Practice was held again the next morning at 10AM.
I can’t imagine NHL millionaires in this day being forced to endure that kind of message. Last night was just one of those games that happens when a team is as banged up as the Thrashers are. But, a practice day on a scheduled day off would set the right tone as well. A sense of urgency needs to be sent to the team. I hope to read about the Thrashers practice later today.
Joe McGrath
January 24th, 2011
10:22 am
Brendan, I’m actually starting to feel bad for Waddell. I think he had a “father complex” with this team from day one and wanted what was best, but his hands have been tied. I can see him now sitting on the GM side of the ownership’s desk, looking down at the red lines marked through his proposals and then saying “your kidding, right?” And then walking our and thinking “Eff, ‘em, I’ll do what I can with what I’ve got.” And then as the door closes, ASG winks at each other with a “Ha, we’ve got us a sucker who’ll do what we ask.” I think DW is a man of his words. He said he wanted a play off spot in four years, and dind’t get it, so his pride kept him going as long as he had the job. ANd he had kept the job because he was the perfect enabler. I any other ownership ran this franchise, DW would have been gone by mid-decade. But it’s ASG. Just saying, DW lied/misled us too, but I really think he had hope–he probably still does.
Hockey Biltong
January 24th, 2011
10:34 am
So what if hockey left Atlanta? I think events leading up to that possibility include fans rejecting the concept of supporting hockey by attending games. Ownership losing integrity and direction.
And then what are we left with?
I do enjoy the games. The highs have been very high, the lows, pathetically low.
I can do very little about the surreal situation we find the ASG in.
But I can and will pay to go and see the Thrashers take the ice. If they go, I would be incredibly morose. My wife and I are not happy with what we hear and read about the ownership, but we enjoy the hell out of a good match and the camaraderie of the folks on the blog and around us at the arena…
So in defense of hockey staying in Atlanta, I and my betrothed will go as much as possible to enjoy this crap shoot we are in…..
ThrashDawg
January 24th, 2011
10:35 am
“Brendan–I think 1,300 in the stands would have the desired effect of getting the NHL to step in and do something about this abomination. That is precisely what I want.”
SOB you may have already outlined what you were hoping for with your boycott before, but I must have missed it. I tend to overlook your posts in order to keep my sanity. I aplaud you for at least stating your objective. I just happen to disagree because I do not believe that fewer people in the stands will do anything other than giving these clowns an excuse to petition the league to sell to an owner that will move the franchise. I DO NOT want that to happen and feel the best way to prevent this is to put more fans in the seats and allow these idiots to do what they planned all along and sell the team to somebody that will keep them in Atlanta. We have a difference of opinion, but at least I understand your thinking as to the results you seek.
Joe Friday
January 24th, 2011
10:39 am
“I think DW is a man of his words.”
I think Waddell is a good man. The way he handled the Snyder death was first class. He also never threw Heatley under the bus for the way he stabbed the organ-I-zation in the back, class act in handling that as well.
But these revelations from Friday showed that he did misrepresent the facts to the fans, I guess that’s his job. There’s an old adage about GMs, “don’t listen to what they say, watch what they do” and that’s true. But I think he’s a good man, still, but an awful GM (which is proven by what Dudley has been able to do under the same crappy ownership and same crappy financial constraints).
Flames
January 24th, 2011
11:04 am
R. Stroz- I was hearing that they were trying to make a trade last week. I haven’t heard anything else about it. I’m not sure about the particulars, except that it was with a Canadian Team.
Cornbread
January 24th, 2011
11:26 am
FFC – I think the Thrashers have more scoring depth than the Bolts at this point and more overall talent as a whole. The stat sheet also indicates that. I do like what Coach Boucher has gotten out of most of them with their system though. That they are capable of implementing it as well as they have is a credit to the team. But, at the same time, that they rely so heavily on clogging up the neutral zone tells me where they are weakest. Keep guys out of their own zone and go on the counter attack with your two big weapons.
Ugly hockey but it’s smart and affective use of the tools they have. A lot of teams with less depth or talent play that way. Look at Florida. Just think what they could do if they had two big guns.
Brendan
January 24th, 2011
11:36 am
Joe Friday, I totally support your 10:39AM post. Don Waddell, believe it or not, is WELL LIKED in ‘hockey circles.’ When you meet him, he’ll win you over. He’ll talk to you. He’ll discuss teams matters with you in something resembling depth. You’ll walk away … wanting to buy season tickets, convinced that all is suddenly well. That’s what all good snakeoil salesman do. Or they wouldn’t be snakeoil salesmen for very long. Someone ELSE, in the NHL, would have given Waddell another chance, if he’d simply walked away from this club. But he couldn’t, because of the reasons outline by Joe McGrath. Segue.
Joe McGrath, I definitely think you’re right about the “Father Complex” with this team. Especially, as it related to Kari Lehtonen. He tried and tried and tried to keep him, until … in the end … it was just too many letdowns and injuries. When Waddell announced the Coburn for Zhitnik trade, I honestly thought, “that man’s gonna barf. He’s almost green.” He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. And I have NO DOUBT … that he DIDN’T WANT to make that trade. But he had to, or there probably wouldn’t have been any playoffs in 2007. Waddell KNEW it was “short term gain, longterm loss,” but at the same time … he HAD TO KNOW … that the status of the team wasn’t the fault of the Abominable Snowman, the Easter Bunny, or the Sugarplum Fairy. If a ‘move of desperation’ were needed … it was because the team had been mismanaged. By him. We can talk about Budgets all day long. But give Red Light an $11 million budget, even in today’s NHL, and GUARANTEES that he won’t be fired for the lottery draft finishes that would surely ensue, he’d have built a better team that Waddell did. Well, that’s my opinion, anyway. Don Waddell, like William Hung, thinks himself to be a GOOD GM. William Hung is tone deaf. And that he thinks himself a quality singer, is laughable.
In General, folks, this is the team we’ve got. We’ve got to love it for what it is. How I wished it had been given an HONEST AND FAIR CHANCE to succeed. But that falls on the NHL offices to ensure that proper ownership is installed for its 30 markets, especially those in non-traditional markets. The NHL did not do its due diligence when it came to putting expansion teams in Columbus and Atlanta. Those markets needed to win, and straight away, to get off to that good start.
Smoothie
January 24th, 2011
11:36 am
“except that it was with a Canadian Team”
You would have to think Dudley’s been burning up the phone lines to places like Ottawa, Calgary and perhaps Toronto, but no way they let Versteeg go. Feaster will play cat and mouse till the deadline and will make his old rival sweat it out. I reckon a deal with Ottawa could be in the offing…wish they would can their coach and GM already! The type of player we could really use if not a top 6 guy is someone like either Milan Michalek or even Jarkko Ruutu. We need more sandpaper, but at the same time we need big, ornery guys who have good enough hands to score 8-10 goals in 30 games.
BlueThrash
January 24th, 2011
11:37 am
At least the crowd on Saturday night was good. I think the Thrash should advertise a bit more about their pricing – I have been attending regularly (former STH) since the first game played at Philips and was pleasantly surprised to walk up to the window on Saturday and get lower bowl at the we-attack-twice end for only $70 (I think those same seats were $92 if you used the Rawhide code..so I got a good deal by waiting). Anyway, people didn’t seem to care or really know about the ASG stuff….before the anthem I hollared “Atlanta Spirit Sux” and nobody got it I guess because all night long I waited for a sign or a chant or something. At least I got to yell “hey Avery, you suck” for the rest of the night, so I was satisfied. BTW, Paul Devorski is a freaking disgrace and has been since the mid-90s…almost the level of suckage of Dan O’Halloran or good old Bruce Hood (POS). Now let’s go beat the Crapitals…..woohoo
Smoothie
January 24th, 2011
11:41 am
the Thrashers have more scoring depth than the Bolts at this point and more overall talent as a whole. The stat sheet also indicates that. I do like what Coach Boucher has gotten out of most of them with their system though
Despite the lack of 10+ goal-scorers, it is pretty obvious to the naked eye that the likes of Sean Bergenheim, Dana Tyrell, Nate Thompson, Dominic Moore (WBF and I stated all along he was a guy we should have gone after) and Adam Hall even are better than Boulton, Thorburn, Slater, Burmy, Modin, Stapleton and the like. Dawes and Antro on their best days are better players, but not with these line mates. Our bottom six has sucked (compared to November) utterly for the last 15-16 games. Without. A. Doubt.
Brendan
January 24th, 2011
11:47 am
Is it true … that Bruce Levenson is now suing Gary Bettman for not realizing how incompetent the Spirit group was when they acquired the Thrashers? And that, ultimately, it’s Bettman’s fault the team has floundered in Atlanta, depreciating in value. And that Levenson seeks to collect $50 million worth of the team’s depreciation for League’s failed oversight of the franchise.
Kidding. That was kidding. It just sounds like something he’d do. When Bruce Levenson dies, he’ll sue God for not blocking the Devil’s intervention in his life. He seeks reclamation of his immortal soul, falsely confiscated in the Locker down below.