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
Brendan
January 24th, 2011
11:51 am
I don’t want to alarm anyone, but Bruce just got a “bad taco” at lunch today. It’s not sittin’ right. He’s just filed suit against that little Mexican dog that says, “Yo Quiero Taco Bell.” The Canine Community is rightly outraged. And P.E.T.A. has given them their full support. Film at 11.
Smoothie
January 24th, 2011
11:56 am
From Elliote Friedmann’s 30 Thoughts on cbc.ca:
“There is a feeling around the league that Ales Hemsky (who has concussion issues) and Dustin Penner are available for the right price. Of course, the Oilers need what everyone needs – centremen and defencemen.
A healthy Hemsky gets you more than Penner, but there is no doubt Penner’s play on a bad Oilers team over the past two years has changed a lot of the negative perceptions about him.”
Perhaps the rumors of our interest in Vandermeer also include an offer involving Penner or Hemsky? What would y’all give for either of those players? If EDM wants a C, do you dangle Little or Pevs to get a scoring winger that can help now? Obviously Bogosian would probably be an attractive option for a team like the Oilers who need young D-men.
Joe McGrath
January 24th, 2011
11:57 am
Joe, Bren, agreed. We know DW is probably good at heart, but didn’t make good personnel decisions. Personally, if I’m in a postition to where someone tells produce an inferior product because of budget, I’d quit. DW didn’t, he just kept on going. He could have left ATL and gotten a job with USA Hockey because he is HIGHLY regarded in hockey circles. He could be in Colo. Springs working Olympics stuff.
Smoothie, I agree. We are fast becoming wimpy. I thought Cormier was going to open up a can yesterday, but he didn’t. If you are losing like that, well I’m sorry, but that’s when could have used some Old Time Hockey, kind of a “yeah, we’ll see you around.” Our guys just disappeared. Ben “Stiffler” Eager would at least sucker punched someone. I’d like to have seen Bogo take a poke at Stamkos, just to, well, you know, get some grit into what should be a heated division rivalry. The fans come to see the Atlanta Thrashers, the toughest team in the national league, not this bunch of…..
Joe Friday
January 24th, 2011
12:02 pm
“If you are losing like that, well I’m sorry, but that’s when could have used some Old Time Hockey”
Yep, it’s the reason I kept watching the DVR of the game, even though it was out of hand, i thought “surely they’ll stand up for themselves here”. Nope.
Given the revelations of Friday, I’ll give Dudley a pass now for fiddling while Rome has been burning, but I’m afraid the time for a move has come and gone . . .
Red Light
January 24th, 2011
12:04 pm
LOL Brendan!
Tampa Bay, not only has more role-player talent than the Thrashers, they also have much more top talent (St. Louis, Lecavalier, Stamkos, Downie, Malone and Hedman to name a few). The line of Hall, Thompson and Tyrell has been magnificent despite what the stat sheets indicate (specifically plus/minus). That team has definitely benefited from the overtime/shoot-out, 11 wins and 5 losses, but 19 wins in 34 regulation games isn’t too bad either. Thrashers are 9-9 in the extra session, and that gives them a 14-19 record in regulation.
The reason the Thrashers don’t look better in the standings comes down to two words: Tampa Bay! Even Darren Eliot caught that one as the Thrashers finished minus 9 in standings points vs the Lightning in the six head to head meetings this season and were outscored 25 to 11.
Scott
January 24th, 2011
12:13 pm
Ran in to rawhide Saturday night before the game and thanked him for running Eager out of town (and T. White before that). We had a brief conversation and he asked who’s next, I said “Sadly, probably Mason” we both like him and both thought he was a good acquisition, but we both lack any confidence when he’s in goal – imagine how his teammates feel.
I’d add to the list Bogosian and Oduya. I feel bad for Bogo, he just obviously lacks confidence out there. I worry he will be like Coburn and mature / blossom elsewhere. I think he needs a move in order to reach his potential, I don’t think it will happen here – hopefully we can get someone good in exchange.
Oduya has always seemed like he didn’t want to be here give him his wish and get someone who does. Could get us over this slump and keep us in the playoffs.
Red Light
January 24th, 2011
12:15 pm
Please lets not get too caught up in the “injury” talk. The Thrashers are in the middle of the pack in man-game lost due to injury and suspension this season. As near as I can calculate, the Thrashers have lost 107 man-games to injury or suspension this season, which is certainly no comparison to their opponent Saturday night (Rangers currently with 171), nor the Avs 225+, Isles 270+ and the Devils 250+.
Heck, Nashville has lost 169 games, have only played 20 games at home of their first 48, have used 29 skaters and 3 goalies and still have 60 points.
So, while injuries have been a problem lately, all the injury talk here only points to one thing, and that is lack of organizational depth, long a problem with this hockey club. Dudley has done a good job with the 23-man roster but still has a ton of work to do — no fault of his own — to stock the AHL and ECHL rosters with players that hopefully one day can step into the NHL line-up as needed due to injury.
Kane (8 games) is a key component missing, no question, and Ladd and Enstrom cannot afford to miss further time, but outside of Cormier’s 24 games, Slater’s 13 and Pav’s 8 games, no other key player has missed significant time except for Modin (17) and for many here that was more blessing than curse.
All that said and the recent poor play, the Thrashers are still in 8th, and likely will be heading into the All-Star Break, barring two Carolina wins and an Atlanta loss to Washington on Wednesday. That’s actually a nice accomplishment (for now) that shouldn’t be overlooked taking into consideration the new players, new coaches, new systems, etc. Had they not gone on that long successful streak of fine play, I am sure some of us would have been very happy with 55 points in 51 games.
Yeah, there are a ton of problems that aren’t going away, but this team is still capable of playing some decent hockey. They are not going to win the division, they are not going to host an opening-round playoff series but they are capable of finishing in the Top-8 of the Eastern Conference. That might count for a lot with some bloggers here, but it’s a damn sight better than sitting around wondering where the team’s top players are going to be dealt at the deadline, isn’t it?
Just saying…
World Be Free
January 24th, 2011
12:18 pm
Some good posts here today.
Truth be told, I had a great time Saturday night until the last 5 minutes of regulations. The Thrashers were playing physical and going to the net. Rammer just needs to teach this team to hold a league, which was not an issue Sunday. Great meeting Scott Pearson, one of my favorite former Sabres of the early 90’s.
As for Sunday, all it did was confirm for Dudley what he has to do. As for the current team, get healthy and go out and get a left winger who can play on the 3rd line.
biscuit
January 24th, 2011
12:47 pm
Sigh, Our Thrashers of Hope. (Double Entendre intended)
Alan R.
January 24th, 2011
1:03 pm
Via Twitter:
EKaneATL9 Evander Kane
Great way to start the week with a good bag skate. Ready to get back!
54 minutes ago
Sounds like the boys had fun this morning. Hope they respond to it.
World Be Free
January 24th, 2011
1:05 pm
Red Light-teams like Nashville has the organziational depth to withstand losing man-games. I totally agree with the work Dudley has completed to shore up this team’s poor organization depth by signing guys like Modin, Meyer and Dawes. The poor player development is the fault of the first 10 years in business, not the man running the show today. We simply cannot afford to have our key players ont he sidelines. There were virtually no injuries during our surge up the standings earlier this season.
Dwayne
January 24th, 2011
1:12 pm
It’s not the amount of lost man games for the thrashers, it’s WHO.
Brendan
January 24th, 2011
1:14 pm
Wow, I can’t even believe the run of bad luck Bruce Levenson is having today. It seems his shoes were untied and he tripped and fell, cracking his knee cap. He’s suing the Teamsters Union for having commissioned a project that included cement. Per his Complaint, “Had there not been concrete present, the soft Georgia red clay would have merely stained my pants.” Still, he’s seeking damages for the dry cleaning costs of those pants, in a move that insults the word, “chutzpah.” Film at 11.
Tom Lysiak
January 24th, 2011
1:17 pm
ASG = Atlanta Suing Group
ThrashDawg
January 24th, 2011
1:24 pm
Maybe a better idea would be to not support the Hawks if you want to hit the ASG where it hurts. There is an idea SOB, go to the Hawks blog and give them hell.
R. Stroz
January 24th, 2011
1:48 pm
Bruce Levenson – You and your cohorts have been caught speaking out of both sides of your collective mouths again.
DEAL WITH IT. SMARTASS.
Associated Press Reporting
January 24th, 2011
1:59 pm
Bruce Levenson has filed suit against an AJC blogger. In the lawsuit, Mr. Levenson claims he is not a smart a$$, but instead a dumb a$$.
News at 11:00
Red Light
January 24th, 2011
1:59 pm
Dwayne: That’s just the point.
Rangers lost 4 key forwards a significant amount of time and just lost Dubinsky last week (Gaborik, Prospal, Drury, Callahan)
Colorado (Chris Stewart, TJ Galiardi, Craig Anderson, Kyle Cumiskey, Kyle Quincy, Milan Hejduk, Adam Foote and Peter Mueller)
Nashville (David Legwand, Martin Erat, Lombardi, Cal O’Reilly, Pekka Rinne, Steve Sullivan and Ryan Suter)
Alan R.
January 24th, 2011
2:13 pm
Associate Press – I think we can all agree that Mr. Levenson is an ass. Smart, dumb, fat or flat — it does not matter.
BlueThrash
January 24th, 2011
2:17 pm
“Maybe a better idea would be to not support the Hawks if you want to hit the ASG where it hurts.”
Serious question – do people who follow the Thrash actually care about the Hawks? Seriously? I went to a Hawks game once last season – they aren’t allowed to check or apparently even touch one another for that matter…WTF is up with that? I know they play in the same arena, but talk about worlds apart. I would rather have a foot fungus and watch paint dry before I ever attend another Hawks game. Oh, and the folks there were just about as rude as the people who regularly attend Falcons games. Nope, give me Thrashers and Braves (and their fans) and I am happy.
Thrashers27
January 24th, 2011
2:23 pm
Eklund saying Enstrom is on the block…Whaaaaa??? I don’t believe it.
Cornbread
January 24th, 2011
2:40 pm
Smoothie – There is not a better fourth line in the NHL than Boulton Slater Thorburn. It was pretty clear with the naked eye that in December they were one of the best lines for the Thrashers all season. That they were playing third-line-like minutes is a testament to how good they are. They hit, block shots, win face-offs, don’t turn the puck over, take it away, cycle, fight, score, and don’t get scored on. They do all the little things right. What more could you ask of them?
Too bad Slater has not played a single game in the month of January. (Move Cormier down to center them and Dawes up in Kanes place.) I’ll take Thorburn any day over the guys you mentioned. Hell, throw Slater in there too. Both of them are equally as good or better in third and fourth line roles.
The third line has been a weak link for the Thrashers all season but that does not mean the individual pieces are weak. Remember, Dudley wants his third line to be more scorers than checkers and the second line to be heavy checkers and scorers. Individually, Antro fills that role nicely so do Modin and Burmistrov but it has not been a good match as a whole. Still, they have equal or better numbers than Tampa’s bottom 6.
In net the Thrashers are better and on D they are better and deeper. When Zach Bogosian has been by far the worst D-man, you know you are pretty good on D. Comparing Dawes, Stapleton, and Cormier to Tampa’s bottom 6 is not a fair comparison. They are call-ups. That they have performed well in that role is further organizational depth.
Top 6 guys Lecavalier, Gagne, and Downie have all been out of the line-up but so have Kane, Little, and Bergfors who all are playing as well or better. Ladd, Stewart, and Peverly have had even better production.
Tampa takes advantage of their top 6. They have to. The Thrashers don’t have a world class sniper and leading scorer in the NHL to bank assists off of. They have to take advantage of their depth and they have from the top 6 on down to the goalies. It’s time they get everyone healthy and back in the line-up again and go on the run that they are very capable of putting together. But like I said earlier, come play-off time, I’ll take the Thrashers game over the Bolts.
Brendan
January 24th, 2011
2:49 pm
*Breaking News!* *Breaking News!* Thus far, Southwest Airlines has not returned any calls, but it has been learned that Bruce Levenson was recently hassled on a Southwest Airlines flight by a passenger who migrated from Coach. Bruce placed the airlines under suit. Per Bruce’s Complaint, the affiant writes, “The problem is that curtain. That’s no security. What’s needed, is a locking door.” Film at 11.
Joe Friday
January 24th, 2011
3:11 pm
Brendan on the roll, but should we worry? Levenson might sue us first for not all joining the Pom Pom squad for all these years . . .
Nice to see that Ramsay was channeling Herb Brooks today, anyone there? I bet he made Torchetti run it . . .
BlueThrash
January 24th, 2011
3:13 pm
“Enstrom is on the block”
Please God NOOOOOOOOOOOOO…… to paraphrase the great David Letterman (when he was funny), “we look like a monkey screwing a football”
Cornbread
January 24th, 2011
3:16 pm
RL – I don’t think there is a lot of blame being placed on the injury bug. But, last night’s game was definitely a result of it paired with the back to backer. I think the Thrashers have played well considering who has been out in January – Kane, Slater, Modin – and who has taken their place. That is depth. Still, I believe it is one of the reasons they could not get over the hump in those tight games or play a complete game. An all rookie line of Cormier Burmi Machacek against Philadelphia and Dallas? Come on. That hurt.
BUT, when you lose your top D-man and top forward at the same time, you get an ugly result like last night.
Alan R.
January 24th, 2011
3:25 pm
Please God NOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Consider the source: Eklund.
‘Nuff said.
Would you take Wall St. futures advise from Mr Levenson? That’s up the same alley.
Smoothie
January 24th, 2011
3:37 pm
“Smoothie – There is not a better fourth line in the NHL than Boulton Slater Thorburn. It was pretty clear with the naked eye that in December they were one of the best lines for the Thrashers all season.”
I think there’s pretty good agreement around these parts that the Greek gods line is one of the best, if not the best, energy lines in the NHL. But they are stuck at 20 or so ES goals and have like 1 in the last 16 games — and that was Thorburn’s tip-in in the FLA comeback. I’m not so sure there any better than top 5, which is still pretty good, when they are forced to play 12 & 13 mins / game.
Your point about the 3rd line is the most salient one. We can ill-afford having the likes of Boulton, Burmistrov and Cormier playing 3rd line minutes. Without Slater, our depth distribution breaksdown. But this team was showing cracks before Slater went out with a concussion, but you seem reluctant to admit that. I’d say your on the very optimistic side of things were as I’m more pragmatic. That’s fine, we’re going to disagree on some things. But no way would I expect us to win more than 1 game in a playoff series against the Bolts. Pavs would have to steal us one at home. I hate Tampa as much as the next guy, but it’s time to give them their due. They are flat out better than us.
Also, if our defense is so much better, being on pace for 267 goals against isn’t looking all that good now is it? That’s hardly what I call “pretty good”. Our 3rd pairing is “pretty good”, our top line can be excellent against the right teams (Buff is too cavalier against top-flight players like Stamkos, Crosby etc) and the 2nd pairing is pretty much a disaster regardless of who’s fault it is. And that is especially true on the PK as Sopes/Oduya give up the majority of our PPGA. I don’t know why Buff isn’t out there clearing the crease on the PK.
Smoothie
January 24th, 2011
3:44 pm
Man, talk about a lot of typos!!
BTW, my 20 goals includes 5 from Modin when he was playing with Boults and Slater. Pretty much the only time I want Modin on the ice. And NO PK FOR FREDDY MO!! I have no idea why Rammer thinks he’s still capable of killing penalties, if he ever was to begin with.
Trixie (Rawhide's Secretary)
January 24th, 2011
3:49 pm
Tonight at 9:00 pm, Mr. Rawhide will be addressing the State of the Thrasherville Union.
Thank you. That is all.
Associated Press Reporting
January 24th, 2011
3:51 pm
The ASG, after hiring two law firms to represent them, have filed a lawsuit against themselves. After the lawsuit is settled, the ASG intends on suing the losing law firm for damages.
Brendan
January 24th, 2011
3:51 pm
Joe Friday, just remember one (1) thing about Bruce Levenson. It’s ALWAYS someone ELSE’s fault. Yours. Mine. The Tooth Fairy’s. Bettman’s. The Refs. The City of Atlanta. The Mayor! The sun was in his eyes. He thought he’d written that check LAST week. Belkin’s! My Gawd. It has to be the meddling Steve Belkin’s fault. And now, Joe Johnson’s locked up on one of the most ridiculous, ham-stringing contracts ever written. In the fine print, it reads: “This contract GUARANTEES the Hawks will never reach the Conference Finals.” But, both parties signed it. I’ll have to consult FIF for a ruling, but I think that makes the “mediocrity” binding..
litz
January 24th, 2011
3:58 pm
Southwest Airlines only HAS coach class, therefore there is no curtain to sue …
As for yesterday … if the prior two games’ shootout losses were like Groundhog Day … then yesterday was like standing outside the White House, looking up at the alien spaceship, as the green light came out its bottom.
any word on Slater’s concussion? We need him, Enstrom, Kane, and Ladd back badly … when I saw both Enstron and Ladd were going up to the pressbox yesterday, all I could do was groan and prepare for the slaughter-to-come.
Brendan
January 24th, 2011
3:59 pm
After the AS, LLC sues the losing firm for damages, they plan on making multiple appeals. Film at 11.
Brendan
January 24th, 2011
4:01 pm
Litz, that’s what makes Bruce’s lawsuit so baseless and frivolous.
Joe Friday, remember, when it comes to Bruce Levenson, everything is always someone ELSE’s fault. Yours. Mine. The economy. The refs bad calls. The sun was in his eyes. He thought he wrote a check, LAST week.
Associated Press Reporting
January 24th, 2011
4:16 pm
The ASG has filed a lawsuit against Thrash for damaging the reputation of the Thrashers franchise when he procured the zamboni and was subsequently thrown in jail. In court papers, the ASG has asserted that Thrash’s actions devalued the franchise by five billion dollars.
When interviewed concerning this matter, Thrash called the lawsuit frivolous and referred to the ASG as a bunch of worthless vultures.
LAC
January 24th, 2011
4:26 pm
Great post Brenden, Guess bruce will try to sue his neighorhood association for not removing the recent snow ! Or the state when he gets behind one painting the yellow lines and crosses the stripe and gets yellow on his car…
Sorry stan drulia,You must be levenson in drag, So funny !
Joe Friday
January 24th, 2011
4:37 pm
If Levenson owned the Bears, he’d be filing against Cutler, Martz, the refs, and me (for booing them all through the TV yesterday).
Will you guys please stop reading Eklund? Think about it this way, when’s the last time anyone, much less Eklund, called any trade right? The best you get is a guy like Bob McKenzie may catch wind of the trade about an hour before it hits the wires, none of these GMs is letting it out to anyone, much less a random blogger or some Eklund character what he’s up to and who’s on the block.
I can’t wait for 9pm, that’s a State of the Union I’ll tune in for . . .
Fan from Carolina
January 24th, 2011
4:38 pm
Smoothie, you are right. Cornbread is a solid optimistic Thrashers fan ( I love his attitude) but it is time to face reality after 6 losses to the Lightning this year. I just don’t see Atlanta being a better playoff team than Tampa Bay all of a sudden. Lecavalier, St Louis, Gagne, Roloson, Kubina all solid playoff veterans.
Fan from Carolina
January 24th, 2011
4:40 pm
I even fogot D Moore who was unreal last year in the playoffs.
Stan Drulia
January 24th, 2011
4:47 pm
Nope LAC…. I’m just a Thrashers fan. A real fan. I regulary “subsidize the incompetancy” that is our franchise and will continue to do so until I die. You are not a fan and neither is SOB. I assume you simply have a really boring job that requires you to troll a message board that discusses something you don’t really care about… therfore you talk smack for lack of anything better to do.
I repeat…. I AM A THRASHERS FAN.
Sage of Bluesland
January 24th, 2011
4:48 pm
I think Cornbread is Don Waddell….The optimism is cute and all–but it starts to transcend reality after awhile…
Looking forward to Rawhide’s State of the Union address!
Smoothie
January 24th, 2011
4:51 pm
FFC – indeed, only way Tampa will fade a bit is if their aging defense wears down a bit in the 2nd half. But they’ve got 11 more games in a row at home into deep February so they need not worry about fatigue from travel (how in the hell does this happen by the way…playing favorites with Stevie Y and Stevie Stamkos in Tampa??). But they are very experienced and play their system almost flawlessly. They will have slip-ups but looks like they are built for a deep run. If I were Bruce Boudreau, I’d be a bit worried about losing one of the top 3 seeds this season.
Associated Press Reporting
January 24th, 2011
5:03 pm
Reports are surfacing that Thrash has given the ASG the bird.
Eileen
January 24th, 2011
5:18 pm
What is a bag skate per EKane? I have not heard that before.
Tom
January 24th, 2011
5:20 pm
Did the Thrashers season ticket holders get the email promising to explain everything today?
Yeah, I know, ASG was caught flatfooted by the ASG filing a lawsuit against their attorneys so they did not have time to inform the ASG to do damage control with the fans.
But, if you look at this from 30,000 feet, you could not try to sabotage the team and it’s relationship with it’s fans any more if you tried. Oh wait, maybe you could by trading one the teams most loyal players who is heading to the All Star game…
Tom
January 24th, 2011
5:23 pm
Another question, will anyone from ASG attend the Casino Night this year? It might be worth getting a ticket to have some quality time with these guys. Find out what makes the Spirit Group tick…
Sage of Bluesland
January 24th, 2011
5:28 pm
I find it simply amazing that we witness ‘other’ teams rise and fall–yet we remain mired in the muck of pathetic.
Even as an expansion team, we used to do very well against the Lightning–likely the only team we seemed to consistently beat (at least early on).
Then, after a number of years, they become very good–winning the ultimate prize. They unravel to the point of being terrible…have a couple of lottery picks…but here they are AGAIN, starting on the ascent again…
Unreal.
I guess that’s where drafting and development makes a difference? I guess that’s where committed ownership makes a difference? It never ceases to amaze me, how far behind we truly are….
(but then I think of Don Waddell and his countless failed promises…and I wonder no longer why we are in the position we always are: on the outside looking in….with nothing but the excuse-makers still trying to defend the indefensible….Stan Sheepia proudly proclaims he is a “Thrashers fan!”….Uh-huh–my definition of ‘fandom’ is completely different, I guess….I actually want–no, make that demand–a committment to excellence….oh well, different strokes for different sheep…)
Tom Lysiak
January 24th, 2011
5:34 pm
What a shock. Now the SOB thinks Cornbread is Waddell. How many posters who aren’t an SOB sheep have been identified that way? I know a year or so ago he announced that he thought he had found another ASG employee or insider – ME. As I told him then, he couldn’t find his rear end with his own two hands, much less accurately “find” an insider here. Speaking of transcending reality…..
Eileen
January 24th, 2011
5:37 pm
The answer to my queston -which is the one I suspected- is on an NHL website. Thanks anyway. I hope it worked.