The State of the Thrasherville Union address
The Speaker of the House gavels open the State of the Thrasherville Union address. The assembled representatives take their seats as Rawhide makes his way to the microphone.
Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, dignitaries and everyone tuning in throughout the Thrasherville blogosphere…
The Atlanta Thrashers are well into the latter half of their eleventh season of play in the NHL. Last summer saw great change in the front office, coaching staff and roster…all of which led to an overall sense of hope from the fans as they entered into the current campaign last fall. And while there have been some stumbles along the way, this team has managed to maintain a playoff position in the standings for the better part of the first half of the season.
It is with that in mind, that I am proud to proclaim that state of the Thrasherville union is strong.
applause erupts from the assembled masses in the chamber
Together, the new GM and coach have made a New Beginning. But we have only just begun.
There clearly lays before us certain challenges and hurdles that remain in place for this organization to overcome. The team’s play of late has been stagnant, going just 4-8-4 in their last 16 games and winning just one time in regulation during this month of January. So as you can see, there is much work that needs to be done.
Of primary concern is our department of defense. Though they have performed admirably at times, they are allowing an alarming 34.4 shots on goal and allowing an far too many goals… 3.14 per game. In the last eight outing, no less than 35 goals have been allowed. That number rises to 37 if you count the gimmick shootout goal proved to teams winning in that manner.
This level of performance simply must not stand and must be addressed immediately.
Offensively, they are producing goals at a rate of 2.90 per game. That’s down somewhat from last falls numbers, but under the circumstances is still in the acceptable range. The same can be said of the 30.5 shots taken per game.
a smattering of polite, if not obligatory, applause
Health care has become a paramount concern at this time, specifically speaking the health of certain key players that have kept them out of the lineup of late. Once the likes of Evander Kane, Jim Slater and most recently Toby Enstrom and Andrew Ladd are able to return to active duty, it surely will go a long way to curing the ills of this squad right now.
But it’s clear that this team is in dire need of a collective shot in the arm. One that comes in the form a significant new deal which brings in a player or two that can help this team the second they set foot off the plane at Hartsfield/Jackson Airport.
And so, I call upon the office of general manager to move forward with negotiation with other NHL teams to see about procuring that which is necessary to remedy the lagging defensive indicators and help boost the GNP, (Goal Notching Production).
thunderous applause erupts from the assembled masses in the chamber
And I also call upon the ownership group to allocate funding so that the office of GM can do his job accordingly. Certainly there is room not only in the league-imposed salary cap budget mandates, but also the in-house budget that you’ve instructed the organization to operate under. This would-be funding is not just an investment needed for short-term gains, but for the overall health and prosperity for all of Thrasherville.
And the time to act is now!
applause once more erupts along with a few shouts of approval
While we are on the subject of the current collection of individuals that make up the Thrashers ownership group…
a member abruptly rises from his seat and shouts…”THEY LIE”!
the speaker gavels the chamber back to order
Please, please…let us maintain order and conduct ourselves with an air of civility. Yes, it is true that the ownership group have proven themselves to be less than truthful with the citizens of Thrasherville. And while all but a misguided few now see them in the less than honorable light that they now stand in, we must understand that they still control the purse strings of this organization. Until that changes, it is they that must understand that certain investments must be made if the team is to continue…with all due respect to Mr. Levenson…”moving in the right direction”.
But let my pleas for calm and rational debate not be mistaken as false praise. For if there is one thing we have learned over the last half-dozen or so years, it’s that the ownership group is not the answer to the problem. The current ownership group IS the problem.
leaping to their feet, the gathered throng explodes in thunderous applause and bellows out multiple shouts of approval
Lastly…but certainly not least…I want to address the citizens of Thrasherville. You have worked hard to show you support and undying loyalty to this team. You have shown up at games and spill your emotions out on a continuous basis. And you have endured many, many hardships and heartaches along the way.
The path over the last few seasons has not necessarily been littered with a multitude of success and we are still feeling the affects of some of the decisions brought forward by the previous general managerial administration. These are decisions that drove many away in anger and disgust.
Be we…the citizens of Thrasherville today…cannot escape history. We of this city’s hockey fan base and its current administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves. The trial through which we pass will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation of hockey fans.
Will future generations look back upon us and ask why we failed to show up and represent our team, our franchise and our city well? Or will they look back at this time and see that we helped forge a unique bond with this team and together pulled one another through?
If we choose the latter, then when our children take their children to Thrashers games, they’ll be sharing with them the experience of the greatest professional sport on this planet. And then they will speak of us with pride, saying that we met the test and preserved for them their day in the sacred flame of NHL hockey in this fair city.
Thank you.
By: Bill Tiller – AJC.com Thrashers Fan Blog
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222 comments Add your comment
Geddy Lee
January 25th, 2011
7:01 pm
Hey Greg,
TAKE OFF!
World Be Free
January 25th, 2011
7:07 pm
Tony C-chin straps yes, but if you want to help reduce the number of concussions, make mouth guard mandatory too. These have been proven to prevent concussions.
Winnipeg and Quebec City-I have been to both places in winter and summer. In my judgement, neither city has the financial means to support an NHL franchise, in this or any age. Arguments to support either city for an NHL team are not based on the $$$ facts of what it takes to support a profitable team. The only Canadian city that does not have an NHL franchise that might make it is Hamilton, becuase of the close proximity to Toronto. All this depite the fact that Hamilton is a city, scummy city. I grew up near this lovely town, I can tell you from experience.
So discussion of the Atlanta Thrashers or any other franchise moving to these outposts is a waste of time.
Cornbread
January 25th, 2011
7:09 pm
Smoothie – The Elliot article was a good read. It also gets to my exact point I was making yesterday about Tampa. They play that way – and others like Florida – because they are covering something up. In Tampa’s case it’s because they are so weak in their end and in Florida’s case because they can’t score. It is very ugly but effective hockey – sometimes. Come playoff time it will be one of those times when it is not.
Sage of Bluesland
January 25th, 2011
7:32 pm
Smoothie and his ignorance once again gets in the way of a comment….I’ll say again, more slowly this time: If the loss of lil’ Toby causes this team to go into a tailspin, then that is–without a doubt–one of the worst excuses I’ve ever heard for losing.
Period. End-of.
If lil’ Toby is the margin of difference between winning and losing, then we’re done.
Pure rot. Just accept that you’ve been caught with your pants down; accept it; make an apology for being such a drama-queen; and move on.
Do you think we fell off of the truck yesterday? Lil’ Toby? REALLY???
Just wow.
Buzzeng
January 25th, 2011
7:42 pm
Jeepers! I can’t read this blog and comments fast enough to get ahead! So…pardon the late reply to one of Smoothie’s post, but the “Atlanta Suing Group” made me laugh out loud! Bravo!
American Psychiatric Institute For Stupid Rich Kids
January 25th, 2011
8:11 pm
As of January 1, 2011, we have added incessant suing disorder to our current list of addictions, incessant lying disorder, and incessant incompetence disorder.
We would like to thank the ASG for creating a new volume of disorders, but please, don’t sue us as well…..you stupid idiots.
Badger Bob
January 25th, 2011
8:26 pm
If Winnipeg is such a surefire market, why have so many teams failed there (Jets, Warriors, Monarchs, etc.)? No wonder the NHL avoids the place like the plague! I suspect the number of people in Atlanta who grew up in “traditional hockey markets” is about 4 times the total population of Winnipeg. But keep dreaming, Greg. What else is there to do?
Alan R.
January 25th, 2011
8:40 pm
I suspect the number of people in Atlanta who grew up in “traditional hockey markets” is about 4 times the total population of Winnipeg.
You might not be that far from the truth, there. Winnipeg population is ~695k, while Atlanta is close to six million. In both figures, I used the 2009 estimated metro population.
Lastly, let the record show that I would love to have an igloo with a pond out back for me to play shinny on whenever I felt like it.
American Psychiatric Institute For Stupid Kids
January 25th, 2011
8:40 pm
Greg has been diagnosed with “I suck so bad at World of Warcraft that my cyber friends kicked me off complex.” As a result, he must annoy adults on hockey blogs.
There is no cure.
Hockey Biltong
January 25th, 2011
8:43 pm
Well how about them apples, WBF. ?? I might eventually catch you at a game! I have The R. Stroz vuvuzela, which totally rocks….. and yes, Calgary does seem like a trade partner right now. Although with so much speculation flying around it’s really hard to play match maker, until more pieces of the trade puzzle fall into place…..
Alan R.
January 25th, 2011
8:47 pm
I now know who runs the American Psychiatric Institute For Stupid Kids, and wish to place a resume for employment with this firm.
BMF
January 25th, 2011
9:32 pm
Man oh man, I get home from work and there are like a hundred new posts on this blog, good stuff, even the Greg-Winnipeg banter. But let’s get back on the subject of possible trades. I read CViv’s latest post after today’s practice. Those line combos leave a lot to be desired. Bottom line, when you remove Kane/Ladd/Toby from the combos, we are weak. Just perusing some scoring stats…who comes to mind? Who could we add to shake this team up? I mentioned Iginla earlier because we’re one of the few teams that can take on that salary, hardly anybody else can. Too bad Calgary is making a run, fooling themselves into thinking they can make the playoffs now. But what would Calgary want in return, besides the obvious benefit of salary dump? How about a guy like Vanek from Buffalo? Matt Moulson from NYI? Would the Oilers trade Dustin Penner? Any of those guys would be a HUGE jolt to the Thrashers. Who on the Thrashers would you consider untouchable? I suppose my list of untouchables would be Ladd (if he’s going to sign an extension here, a BIG if), Buff (same thing), Toby, Little, Cormier/Burmy (they just got up here), Pavelec. Guys that we could trade if the offer was good: Bergfors/Stewart/Oduya/Bogo (yeah right)/Peverley. Just thinking out loud here…and changing the subject from the Winnipeg Thrashers.
Hoof Arted
January 25th, 2011
9:36 pm
Wow. It looks like even President Obama was impressed with the BlogMaster’s state of the union address. So much so that he decided to give one of his own tonight.
Alan R.
January 25th, 2011
9:39 pm
For once, I’d like our president to give a State Of The Union address that tells it like it is, instead of bloviating for a couple hours. Something like “My fellow Americans: We’re f@&%$d.”
Red Light
January 25th, 2011
10:56 pm
So, just how important is tomorrow night’s game with the depleted line-up?
Tampa 67
Wash 63
Atlanta 55
Carolina 54
Buffalo 51
Florida 49
Brendan
January 25th, 2011
11:07 pm
WBF, I hope our trading partner, if there are to be trades, is NOT the Calgary Flames. The Flames have one mission: To ditch as many of their bad contracts as they can. Trouble is, I think they have 13 no trade clauses. They’re stuck. Now, I know what you’ll say. “Then they’ll just give it away for a song, just so they can move forward.” The player won’t waive that NTC to go JUST ANYWHERE.
For Calgary, the players they have might just be their best option. Kiprussoff doesn’t suck. But he’s not getting any younger. Neither is Iginla, who also doesn’t suck. These players may be overpriced a bit, but they are THERE, and you can build around them. Calgary can’t just give them away, and then try to backfill those vacancies via the Summer Draft. And getting J.P. Vigier-type players back in the trades … won’t help them any, either. Calgary has to sell tickets, too, even though they are a CANADIAN city, full of knowledgeable and very passionate hockey fans. There’s no worse feeling in the world … that following a team that you know isn’t headed in the right direction.
Try to remember back to 2003, WBF. Calgary hadn’t won a playoff series since 1993. They had just completed their 7th-straight year OUTSIDE of the playoffs. Those weren’t happy days, up in the Southern half of Alberta. Jerseys weren’t selling. Attendance wasn’t great. But the next season, the Flames made an improbable run from the # 6 seed all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. They beat Vancouver, in an UNFORGETTABLY AWESOME 7-game series that was decided in overtime, then Detroit (!!), and finally, San Jose in the CF. They were an OT winner, in Game Six, from winning the Cup over Tampa Bay. That deep playoff run … netted the Flames ownership $24 million in pure profits, called playoff revenue. It also re-energized its fanbase for a number of years. The Flames remember those 7 years without the playoff revenue. And their fans reminded them, back in 2004, that the club hadn’t won a playoff series since ‘93. Last year (2010) … was the first year, post-lockout, that the Flames didn’t make it in. If they blow it up, it could be many years until they get back in. It could be a hard sell for Calgary to attract Tier I free agents to their market, while they are rebuilding.
Re: Winnipeg Jets. I knew a Jets fan, who cared very deeply for his team. And he told me, with total sincerity, that he felt … like the ONLY REASON the Jets were in the NHL … was to give Gretzky someone to play and defeat in the opening round of the playoffs. I felt his pain. That’s a terrible situation, truly. In fairness, no one ELSE was stopping Gretzky’s Oilers, either. In the 30 completed seasons … that the Winnipeg/Phoenix franchise has existed … they’ve made the playoffs 17 times. Their record? In 19 total series played, they are 2-17. It is what it is. The sad truth about the Jets/Coyotes is … if they were to make the playoffs and reach the Conference Finals this very year … they’d DOUBLE their entire franchise’s history of playoff series wins. Imagine if the Yotes were to reach the Finals! When you put it into the big picture, Atlanta’s foibles are miniscule by comparison. But the point is … every team needs to have ownership that inspires confidence in the “lifeblood” of their existence. And that’s their PAYING fans. If the fan perceives that the situation is “hopeless, hopeless, so utterly hopeless,” is doesn’t result in ticket sales.
Smoothie
January 25th, 2011
11:52 pm
SOB – yes that was EXAAAACTLY what I was saying! Nice job in taking my words and creating an illusion of what I meant. The injury to Toby, albeit quite a severe blow as he is our best D-man and one of our top puck movers, is not the SOLE “margin of difference for winning or losing” as you put it, but rather an inopportune injury that this team in its current state (with a rash of injuries to key players such as Kane, Slater, now Ladd perhaps, Antropov who hasn’t been anywhere close to 100% all year, Modin and Big Buff, who is most likely playing hurt since his awkward collision with the end boards in Florida) can ill-afford to sustain right now.
The offense from the backend by Toby and Buff has been the “straw that stirs the drink” all season and now, mired in a terrible slump, this team, that is relying too heavily on fill-ins and young players who are not as effective as the players I’ve mentioned, cannot afford to lose one of its top 3 players when the margin of error for making the playoffs is shrinking rapidly. But to you, all hope was lost from day one, so why are you arguing with me about the margin of error for winning and losing? No, you’re just here to continue to belittle people who want to see a team they follow do well.
And you love to try to make an example of my supposed “ignorance” because you can’t actually form a cogent argument that will tackle any of the questions I offer up to you. I certainly don’t care what you think of me and I would never apologize to your condescending, arrogant butt for anything. Why would I do anything of the sort when you do nothing but attack people on this blog for expressing their enthusiasm for support of this city’s hockey team?
So thanks for giving me a distraction from the lunacy that is the analysis of our POTUS SOTU address on TV. Perhaps you should direct your “sage” wisdom in a more productive fashion on a political blog or the like as jackwagons like you abound in such forums.
World Be Free
January 26th, 2011
6:32 am
Smoothie-I have not issue makig a deal with Calgary because they have to make a deal AND they would prefer to make one with an Eastern Conference team, Their long list of no trade clauses make them open to what I call “desperation discounts” because they need to move guys to move $$$ contracts. Hagman does not have a NTC in his deal so he is open.
Sage of Bluesland
January 26th, 2011
7:44 am
“….State of the Thrashers just went straight into the toilet of Sage’s house with Enstrom out for possibly a month…..”
These were YOUR DIRECT WORDS. Deflect and obfuscate all you want–this is a direct quote.
I laughed at you for it; I’m still laughing…
World Be Free
January 26th, 2011
7:44 am
Biltong-I am “out” for tonight’s game for sure-see you next game.
Brendan-Calgary is making a run, just like Buffalo. Neither team has a chance to move forward in the playoffs, but neither team can deep six the season with the hope of trading and building for the future. Teams cannot give up in front of their fan bases. That’s why I think trades will become less and less as time goes on, that and the salary cap restricting players movements. Getting a vet player will become more of a wish than reality.
World Be Free
January 26th, 2011
8:28 am
Flames-I think most missed your “Josey Wales” reference-
“Endeavor to persevere!”
I reckon so.
Remember Smoothie-don’t feed the weasel
Smoothie
January 26th, 2011
9:05 am
WBF – ha, can’t help myself sometimes! When I’m bored sometimes I end up in the garden of my mind antagonizing the weasels who like to dig up and undermine its root system! But I digress.
I reckon we will only have limited choices when it comes to making a deal early. It might not be a bad idea to look at a winger like Hagman who has speed and hands that can help this team. But it will all depend on how desperate they are to unload contracts and what they want in return. I keep forgetting we don’t have a 1st rounder so I’m not sure if our prospect pool will be attractive enough for a trade. And no I’m not saying we should use a 1st rounder for Hagman, but obviously I know you, unlike some sages who need to have everything spelled out word for word.
Smoothie
January 26th, 2011
9:10 am
*understand where I’m coming from.
Ah the dangers of using my BB to write more than a sentence or two!
Get The Puck Out
January 26th, 2011
9:13 am
Obama says the government is going to have a five year spending freeze. Heck, the thrashers are wayyyy ahead of that.
goose
January 26th, 2011
9:42 am
I’ve forgot when did we trade our first rounder in this years draft?
World Be Free
January 26th, 2011
10:13 am
We have our first round pick-we traded our 2nd round pick to CHI for Ladd. and no matter what, don’t feed the Weasel!
Smoothie
January 26th, 2011
10:16 am
Damn it, keep getting this mixed up as we did give up a 1st and 2nd last spring, but we had extras thanks to IVK.
Dustin Byfuglien trade:
“The first- and second-round picks that Chicago gets in the deal were acquired by Atlanta in the trade that sent Ilya Kovalchuk to New Jersey last February.”
Andrew Ladd:
“The Hawks received Ivan Vishnevskiy and a second-round pick in next year’s draft”
So we still have our first, but not our second round pick. Of course, Dudley was apparently seeking to replace this second rounder by floating Bergfors with his “intent to trade” memo per Kevin Allen’s “Mucking and Grinding” column a month or so ago. So while we still have our first, not having our 2nd does limit our trading options unless we do off-load a forward to a team with an extra 2nd rounder.
It’ll be interesting to see how Dudley pulls this off if / when they do decide to make a move, which I reckon could come as early as the next week during the All-Star break.
Pauly Shore
January 26th, 2011
10:21 am
Did somebody ask for me, the weeeeazzzull!! You can feed me, I won’t bite, I praaahhmmisss!
Thrashers
January 26th, 2011
1:17 pm
We feel like those kids at Camp Crystal Lake.
Alan R.
January 26th, 2011
2:39 pm
Thrashers on the ocean.
Thrashers and Fans at Philips.
The AS LLC at Philips.
AS LLC, when the walls fell.
The river Chattahoochee in winter.
Fans, their faces black, their eyes red.
Fans, their army with fists closed.
Fans and Lawyers at Philips.
Iron League 13
January 26th, 2011
2:56 pm
Just looked up the definition of obfuscate since Sage dropped that one on my public school educated a$$ (actually I went to private school until a semester of 8th grade, TMI, whatever). Anywho, here’s what I found…
Ob-fus-cate
(ob-fuhs-keyt)
-verb
1. a word used by people who probably wear ascots everywhere and talk with an old-money New England aristocratic accent not unlike the late Katharine Hepburn’s
2. uber-duber dweeby psuedo intellectual posers that likely pronounce words like rath-er as (rah-th ur)
Red Light
January 26th, 2011
2:57 pm
The fourth part of the Chicago trade, forward Akim Aliu, has been reassigned from Chicago to Gwinnett.
ThrasherTim
January 26th, 2011
3:06 pm
Smoothie – Sad when you get drawn into a tirade due to some bloggers. After all, why feed the incompetence?
World Be Free
January 26th, 2011
3:06 pm
Red Light-is this to egt him more playing time or is he washing out as a prospect? I think Dudley must feel he has more developmental control in Gwinnnet than he does in Chicago.
Thoughts?
Iron League 13
January 26th, 2011
3:26 pm
pseudo rahth-ur
GaVaHokie
January 26th, 2011
3:39 pm
Both Eklund and Fourth Period are showing that Atlanta has serious interest in Ales Hemsky.
… would love to have him.
JB
January 26th, 2011
3:43 pm
eklund probably read the fourth period and posted it on his blog…
Alan R.
January 26th, 2011
3:46 pm
Oh, Gods. One guy mentions Eklund last week, and now this whole charade starts all over again. Can we filter posts that include that name? Those can not only go to purgatory, they can go to the pits of hell and burn in the maker’s fire.
World Be Free
January 26th, 2011
3:48 pm
I’d take Penner instead Hemsky is still out with a concussion
GaVaHokie
January 26th, 2011
3:50 pm
The fourth part of the Chicago trade, forward Akim Aliu, has been reassigned from Chicago to Gwinnett.
… for more ice time.
According to CViv, a few more may be heading down to get more time.
Smoothie
January 26th, 2011
3:53 pm
Tim – so true, so true. But sometimes I’m just a glutton for punishment. Good way to kill some time I guess.
GVH – wouldn’t that be nice? But it’d also be nice if he didn’t have those nagging concussion issues. Would love to see his skill on the right side of Kane & Peverley.
WBF&RL – you get the feeling from the quote in CViv’s blog that Dudley is growing impatient with the fiasco in CHI as Esposito, Freddy P and Akim Aliu are all getting the shaft on PT. Something needs to give at some point and perhaps Duds is trying to set the stage to point to the possibility of Gwinnett making the jump to the AHL at some point?
GaVaHokie
January 26th, 2011
3:56 pm
Oh, Gods. One guy mentions Eklund last week, and now this whole charade starts all over again. Can we filter posts that include that name? Those can not only go to purgatory, they can go to the pits of hell and burn in the maker’s fire.
Sorry… I’ll try and make more relevant quotes, like Star Trek.
Red Light
January 26th, 2011
4:11 pm
We can only hope that the light has shined concerning the Wolves and their lack of development as it concerns the Thrashers prospects!!! They have done RICHARD in the development of the Thrashers draft picks overall. The kids that have played there in the past and were called up were some of our best players — but thankfully they didn’t sty down there too long to be sat at the AHL level. When you have to send a “prospect” to your ECHL team to get them more ice time, then you simply have the wrong AHL partner. But, that’s a very, very long subject for a different day, er blog!
World Be Free
January 26th, 2011
4:11 pm
Smoothie-we need to end our relationship with Chicago. All good teams have a say in how their talent is developed, even the style of play the minor league team plays. We have no such control, the Wolves could care less about our kids’ development. This is not Dudley’s way, I see us out of Chicago real soon.
That’s my take…..
Alan R.
January 26th, 2011
4:18 pm
Sorry… I’ll try and make more relevant quotes, like Star Trek.
At least no one is going to mistake anything I say as claiming we’re shopping Rich Peverley. We had one person on the blogs do the whole Darth Vader “NOOOOOOOO” thing. It made me depressed.
Oh, and at least my post is relevant.
smelly turd
January 26th, 2011
4:26 pm
I am not getting my hopes up for a trade, at least not a decent one. Decent would mean a true top line player.
Iron League 13
January 26th, 2011
4:42 pm
WBF- I like the out of Chicago, Glads promoted to the AHL kinda stuff. Chicago’s too far away and a timezone behind too that’s gotta suck when you need fresh legs in a jiffy. I dig.
AlanR. – If Pevs goes at any point in the season or offseason I’ll be very upset, he’s a keeper and I also think he’s probably very greatful for the opportunity he got here (ie, RETAINABLE). I’d definitely put together a combo of players to make up for his value before I’d give him up.
World Be Free
January 26th, 2011
4:47 pm
I-R 13-Wolves are not developing our players or playing Atlanta’s style. Having them in Gwinnett in the AHL would be great, give us a chance to go see the kids too just like the Braves’ do.
Alan R.
January 26th, 2011
4:52 pm
AlanR. – If Pevs goes at any point in the season or offseason I’ll be very upset
Right. We all know this. However, Eklund posted on his blog sometime last week that Atlanta was allegedly shopping him on the market. That info was posted by a long time reader of these blogs. A new reader took the post seriously.
Eklund is about as relevant a name in hockey as a full moon is to a proctologist. Take nothing he says seriously.
GaVaHokie
January 26th, 2011
4:54 pm
That’s why Ed Pasquale got sent to Gwinnett a week or so ago, I’m sure… Mannino gets all the playing time in Chicago.