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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
222 comments Add your comment
Boris
January 26th, 2011
4:57 pm
The Canadians act like they invented hockey…everyone knows the Russians did!
glovesave29
January 26th, 2011
5:23 pm
A big happy Five-0 to the Great One.
Anyone else notice he has not exactly high-tailed it back to Canada once his playing days are over?
So can anyone explain to me how exactly why anyone feels that Winnipeg should get a team back when the all time high season attendance average was 13,562 in an arena the held 15,565? Or that even though they made the playoffs 11 of 16 seasons – the attendance generally shot DOWN for the playoffs? Of the 11 playoff seasons, only TWO of them had full houses. Canada’s population growth is 5.7% as stated by their own census. Winnipeg grew by just 2.2%. People are leaving. A town of 750K is just where it should be – in the AHL.
Again – its a great town, but not of NHL caliber.
glovesave29
January 26th, 2011
5:23 pm
…oh, and POM!
Brendan
January 26th, 2011
6:08 pm
Glovesave29, I have no objection to Winnipeg getting a team, just not at the expense of ours. However, does Winnipeg edge out Kansas City, Las Vegas, Hamilton, or Quebec City? Hmmn. Probably not. I remember when the Hampton Roads Admirals won a couple of Kelly Cups (ECHL) and there was persistent talk of a team for Norfolk, VA, since the population is around 1 million people, and it’s far enough away from DC that the Capitals can’t whine and complain too much. There are lots of smaller markets where hockey could be *tried*, but the league probably already has something close to the best 30 markets that there are. Personally, I think the fans in Winnipeg are very knowledgeable and very passionate about hockey. Now that there is a salary cap, theoretically, the Winnipeg market, unlike its previous incarnation, might actually have a chance to win a Cup, provided that it had ‘committed ownership’ and ‘accountability’ over the GM and Head Coach, and Scouting Department. It’d be a tough job. But it wouldn’t be impossible, like it was before. With quality drafting, and player retention by ‘committed ownership,’ a market like Winnipeg could be viable in the NHL, precisely because it would be PROPPED UP by the larger revenue producers in the league. If I were the NHL, I don’t honestly think I would look long and hard at Winnipeg as my BEST CHOICE for an expansion team or a relocation. That said, I have nothing against Winnipeg. On a purely sentimental scale, I’d love for them to get a team. I just hope … that if it does happen for Winnipeg … that they get decent ownership and GOOD management, so it’s not just some ‘exercise in futility’ like it was before. Without a salary cap, it’s a long stretch to believe Winnipeg could be some annual contender for the Cup. The truth I believe is this: Without a salary cap, a market like Winnipeg is bound to become the ‘Farm Team’ for the rest of the NHL. That is, as soon as their high-end draft picks hit UFA status, they’re gone. And it’s back to ‘ye ol’ drawing board.’ So, for THEIR sakes, I hope the salary cap remains. Atlanta needs a salary cap, too. Not just to make winning plausible, but to FORCE US to spend to the FLOOR of the cap. Although, is that really happening?
glovesave29
January 26th, 2011
6:29 pm
Brendan – I have said all along I have no objection with Winnipeg getting an expansion team. But the more I looked into their history and the regional demographics – the more I feel it is unlikely to happen. They were the beneficiaries of the mid-80’s NHL where 16 of the 21 teams made the playoffs. Certainly much more difficult these days – and if they did not show up for playoff hockey, they’d be looking at a half full arena for those teams that collect 60-70 points in a season.
To be honest – the best place to put a new team would be (swallowing back the bile) another Toronto team. Hamilton is a suburb. Quebec and Winnipeg (everyone refers to Sacramento as the “cow town” of the NBA – and its over 3X as large as Winnipeg) are just too small. Seattle and Portland are WHL cities and unlikely to even bid for NHL hockey. Las Vegas? Fail! Kansas City – ditto – they have a terrible record of keeping hockey at ALL levels. Houston is certainly large enough, but is there interest?
Brendan
January 26th, 2011
7:19 pm
Glovesave29, I completely agree. The best option probably is another Toronto-based team. Clearly, there is interest. Clearly, there is sufficient population, especially considering that such a hypothetical team could draw from both Hamilton and Buffalo.
Glovesave29, what about Cleveland as a possible NHL city? Who do they root for in Cleveland, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Detroit or Columbus? My guess is … Columbus, being an Ohio-based franchise. I actually ATTENDED a Cleveland Barons game in 1978. It was Cleveland vs. Minnesota, and it ended in a 4-4 tie, if I’m recalling correctly. Funny, the Cleveand franchise would merge with the North Stars the next season (1978-79). The Barons were previously known as the California Golden Seals, which entered the league in EXPANSION, in 1967-68. That Oakland-based franchise is now located in Dallas, TX, due to the merger with Minnesota, and subsequent relocation to Texas.
In other news, Bruce Levenson is suing the manufacturers of those bubblegum machine dispensers that you sometimes find in the front of grocery stores. Apparently, Bruce stuffed .50 cents into one, and didn’t get a little plastic container. So, he tried again. But this time, the plastic container was empty. He’s suing, stating that, “The bubblegum dispenser CLEARLY states that there’s a GUARANTEED PRIZE inside each container.” So, he’s suing for the $1 he spent, plus his mental anguish and suffering. If only we could sue Bruce for “mental pain and suffering.” The jury would have to award damages to the entire city.
Brendan
January 26th, 2011
7:22 pm
Capitals 0, Thrashers 0, mid-way through the 1st period. Any “hat tricks” tonight?? My guess is Ovechkin, if we’re going to start making guesses.
Brendan
January 26th, 2011
7:24 pm
Thrashers just had a great chance on a 2-on-1, set up by Little. Can’t remember if it was Byfuglien or Thorburn he set up, but the puck bounced off his skates and went right into Varlamov. Varlamov “fumbled it” and it trickled over the goal line, WIDE of the net. D’oh!!
glovesave29
January 26th, 2011
8:03 pm
Problem with Cleveland is the arena is too far from the city. They have a long history in the AHL, and with Columbus being nearby, I cannot see that happening.
The Barons – that’s going back a ways – I liked watching them as goalie Gillie Meloche was certifiably looney and Denis Maruk had the classic 70’s porn stache.
TECHNICALLY – the expansion team was the Oakland Seals, with their Dali-esque logo.
Hoof Arted
January 26th, 2011
8:30 pm
glovesave29, I think you mean POM-POM. I follow the BlogMaster on twitter too.
Brendan, I would think Cleveland would be a good city for an NHL team if not for Columbus and Detroit being so close. But I know some people from that area and they love hockey.
Brendan
January 26th, 2011
9:39 pm
Glovesave29, loved the 70’s porn stache worn by Dennis Maruk. I think Maruk played with the Capitals, too. Ahh, the Oakland Seals, with their WHITE skates, and yellow home jerseys. That team had APOLOGY written all over it.
Re: Cleveland, Lake Erie is well represented by Detroit and Buffalo. Why not Cleveland, too? I think you guys nailed. It’s an arena situation and proximity to other teams. I guess the benefit to the league to be travel money saved. What a region it would be! Buffalo, Cleveland, Toronto, Detroit, and Pittsburgh! And maybe toss in Columbus, too. That’s a short flight, any way you slice it.
Hey, hey!!, says Krusty the Klown. It’s a regulation-time win!!! Woo-hoo!! Is that the first of the month of January? Did we win the season series with the Capitals? For Pavelec, that’s career shutout # 5. Sing it, … one, two … three, four, five, everybody in the house, c’mon let’s jive. Decent crowd for a Wednesday night, even if Ovechkin was in the house. I think we’re assured of being in playoff position, come the All-Star break, thanks to this win. But I’m not entirely sure of that. Someone double-check it. Red Light, I’m looking in your direction.
Zoomo
January 26th, 2011
9:41 pm
Gut check – passed! Heck of an effort with that line up.
SomaAtl95
January 26th, 2011
9:48 pm
Nice to see a W tonight. I guess you can say that Pavs subsidized the win with his stellar play, Also nice to see the rest of the team supporting OP. Hopefully this is the start of another decent streak – the last one started with a home win against the caps.
Brendan
January 26th, 2011
9:50 pm
As one of this blog’s biggest Nik Antropov advocates, I feel I must say something. Hoooray!! GWG, for # 80. Still, I’ve always said that if Nik isn’t 100-percent, and can’t get there this season, why not longterm IR him and backfill his salary with a trade? That offseason surgery has taken its toll all year. I consider Nik to be an asset worth protecting. Obviously, the medical staff knows best. Let’s just hope for a healthy Nik, and more GWG’s from him, down the stretch.
Stuck in NJ
January 26th, 2011
10:15 pm
WTH? Bogosian got the third star? It must have been a consolation for not have a minus rating for the night
glovesave29
January 26th, 2011
10:18 pm
Brendan – white skates came when Finley bought the team – first they were the Oakland Seals, The California Seals – then (GULP) the California Golden Seals in glorious light teal and gold white skates.
You are correct – Maruk was a Cap. Luckily he missed out on the great years when the Cap wore white pants with the red sweater on the road.
EA
January 26th, 2011
10:42 pm
I was at the game and I can tell you Bogo played a great game. The hit on Brooks Laich was one of many great plays he made. He really stood out tonight for all of the right reasons which is a nice change compared to his recent play.
Dwayne
January 26th, 2011
10:46 pm
bogo looked good…miracle….paired wit hainsey, over 21 minutes ice time, pretty muched rolled 3 lines. Rammer did what it took to win the game….intresting concept.
Brendan
January 26th, 2011
10:55 pm
Glovesave29, that takes me back! I remember when the Caps came into the league … I honestly didn’t think they’d win five games, out of 82. They won eight. True Cap fans can probably name those wins, and the dates of those wins.
I remember, in the mid-1980’s, when the Caps were starting to have 100-point type seasons, that it was ‘about time’ that franchise got to taste some success. Still Cup-less, though, through 36 seasons. I think I picked the Capitals to win the East this year, in preseason. It’s always fun to look back and look at what we thought, back in September and October.
Rawhide
January 26th, 2011
11:00 pm
OK kids, here’s a new blog to discuss tonight’s win…one that came just in the “Nik” of time.
glovesave29 – #POMPOM back at ya. We needed that one!
Brendan
January 26th, 2011
11:01 pm
Okayyyyy. When the Caps entered the league, it was an 80-game season. Not 82, as I erroneously posted.
R. Stroz
January 29th, 2011
3:15 pm
LAST!