Thrashers take on Coyotes as fans deal with ‘The Morning After’

GO TO HELL SPIRIT…..GO TO HELL….BANG BANG

GO TO HELL SPIRIT…..GO TO HELL….BANG BANG

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Let’s stick to hockey – we can’t or have limited control over what these pitiful excuses for ownership do. But, we can continue to speculate on what’s happening on the ice. We’ve been playing some good hockey without much success. We’re due for some better bounces. Buff steps up and earns his money.

One point and then I will forever hold my piece – the guys on Hockey This Morning were discussing the THrasher/Quebec/Winnipeg situation and from what I caught didn’t feel either market in CA was really viable due to various constraints that have been discussed here. Felt maybe Quebec would be ready in 2014. We’ll see.

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[...] I will let our folks who get paid for their opinion – Jeff Schultz, Mark Bradley and even Rawhide (hey, wait do we pay him?) – weigh in on who is at fault for the issues that face the [...]

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The collective moaning and groaning heard throughout town this morning was the sound of Thrashers fans rolling out of bed still feeling the effects of being kicked in the gut yesterday.

For me, it was more like the stiffness of joints and neck after putting myself into an alcohol-induced torpor.

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I have an idea for everyone…
To stop the incompetence of my posts and the mindless drivel that I spew I am asking everyone to BOYCOTT my blog posts. If you keep reading and responding you are funding the incompetence. We can’t take any more of the idiotic, mindless rants that I spew on a daily basis. I make the same point on every post – fire Wadell, ASG is awful, I am not funding this anymore, I will not go to one more game.

I think everyone has heard my point but I choose to drive it home everyday because I like to see my name in print. So please everyone BOYCOTT the incompetence that is SoB.

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Post deleted? I don’t think there were cuss words.

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“my only question is why did Gearon deliver his message while Dudley is trying to work his magic on the personnel side and they are in the middle of attempting to get season ticket holders to renew and right after the great news of the Buff signing. Nothing like throwing a bucket of ice water on positive happenings”

Precisely. Couple that with the crickets we hear chirping, instead of immediate admonishment of Gearon by Bettman and immediate assurances from the league office that they’re committed to the Atlanta market, and the writing is all over the wall here, folks . . .

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Sorry, I’m not feelin optimistic. With all the news of late I forgot WE STILL HAVEN’T MADE A GOOD MOVE. Guys, if they can’t pull a miraculous and sweeping win streak starting A.S.A.P. this organization is DONE. I just don’t see an (admittedly) unjustified response to save a team that didn’t want to save it’s fans. That said, I’ll be there, but I think that’s the concensus.

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i hate asg and dw guts, but let me tell you true, part of the blame should take folks in “capital of the south”, they care only about college football, however there’s dawgs pathetic losers thrashers like, second part of the blame – radio media personnel, instead to study the game and than educate Atlanta residents, promote the game, they just ignore because thinking only football in red neck state moving you rating. so i hate chuck and chernoff on 680 am and they in same category as asg, to drive thrashers out of town. i remember miracle on ice in 1980 olympic, now it’s late in the game and Atlanta on edge to lose. smell like 0:3 and 1 minute to play. this time need another miracle to keep team here. i gave up 2 years ago and a lot of guys been critical of me. looks like unfortunately i been right, but no satisfaction.

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We Thrasher fans have been long suffering. One thing we all have in common now is a “Sense of Urgency” to finally rid ourselves of these ASG a-clowns.
New marketing motto for playoff (hah!) push…”Sense of Urgency” for ASG to go!

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OH HELL YES SMOOTHIE.

I WILL COMPLETELY BLOW OUT MY VOCAL CORDS and I’ve never been hoarse the morning after a game.

THE STROZ EXPRESS IS COMING AND THE HORN WILL BE DEAFENING.

I’m going down swinging, there is no other way.

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Feel free to copy and paste this text and send it to the Mayor, Governor, and tailor it for the NHL front office:

email to: mayorreed@atlantaga.gov
fill out form for Gov: http://gov.georgia.gov/00/gov/contact_us/0,2657,165937316_166563415,00.html#
fill out form for NHL: http://www.nhl.com/ice/feedback.htm

Dear Mr. Mayor,

You are probably hearing from fans and media about the problems with the Atlanta Thrashers. The ownership group in control
knows little about hockey and has been losing money, and has mismanaged the team.

This has caused low attendance due to fans being turned off by the ownership group, a group who met with the fans and told
them to “deal with it!” if they didn’t like how the team was being run. Imagine if you said that during your campaign, the voters
would deal with it, by NOT voting for you. Fans have voted NO against the Thrashers’ owners by staying away.

But there’s fans in this town and I’m afraid that if you and other local politicians don’t use your bully pulpit to try to save the team,
that we’ll lose them. You may not be a hockey fan, and you may not care about them, but I’m sure they provide a good tax revenue
base for the city, and it will be lost if these current owners don’t find a new local buyer to buy the team.

Please look into this, I’m free to speak with you or your staff to answer questions, but please step in.

Sincerely,

Joe Friday

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Tell ‘em Stroz is coming, and Hell’s coming with him!!

I’ll see what my finances can muster, and my connections can work up in the way of freebies. I need to get some stuff off my chest!

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Winnipeg seems like the only viable option right now, other than perhaps Kansas City, but I don’t see Bettman allowing the Thrashers to relocate to the middle of nowhere, Manitoba after doing everything in his power to block the return of the CoyoteJets to Winnipeg. Yes, he was more motivated by blocking Basillie, but WPG was very close to swooping in when their deal to sell to Ice Edge fell through. Bettman does not seem like a man who is willing to give up a market without a fight and I doubt there is an amazing no-brainer of an offer, even from Canada, in this current (other than WPG) economic climate. Yes, the situation is much more dire and time is running short, but this is far from over I reckon.

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Joe Friday, I don’t even live in the state (though did for a while) and I emailed the parties you mentioned and had the majority of my hockey loving pals do the same. Only way to get noticed is to make a stink. If people are really passionate about hockey in Atl, spend the 5 minutes and send some messages out!

That being said, there is hope. Somebody brought up the ‘Yotes situation, sitting atop their division. They were mired in mediocrity for YEARS, sucking big time, till the threat of relocation kicked them in the bum and they took action. More and more hockey is turning into a league where draft picks actually matter, rather than in pre-lockout years where if was a free agent frenzy league and picks were kind of a side thought. This is where PHX has really benefited is in the picks and not the UFA game. Problem is that we need the scouts that can differentiate the minute difference between a super star and a good player.

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I am sick to my stomach at the tought of losing our Thrashers. We do need a new ownership group……BUT what we need most at this point in time is to support our team. What would 17,000 plus in attendance for the last 12 games of this season say to any prospective new owners about the fan base? We do not need to be boycotting OUR team at this point in time………..that’s exactly the wrong thing to do. I’ve been a season ticket holder since day 1 and losing this team would put a big void in my life. I love hockey……….and I believe this team is on the verge of something great!

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We are so screwed.

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@ Smoothie – Is Schultz referring to Phoenix or Atlanta in his statement? And, as you pointed out, who ARE the sources to whom Schultz is referring?

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Mrs. DTWTOO, That is a good question. I think the league is saying that Winnipeg WILL get a team, but they are unsure whether it will be the Coyotes or the Thrashers. That is my take on it.

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Jeff Schultz boiled everything down to one word in his latest, and best, article.

Fraud.

This abomination has been a fraud from day number one (even with previous “ownership”, and I use that term very loosely).

I don’t subsidize fraud. It’s not in the fiber of my being. Two ‘wrongs’ don’t make a ‘right’, as it were.

As others have pointed out, this deal is likely done. The silence from the highest of authorities (i.e. the Commissioner’s office) is deafening indeed.

In retrospect, we have been subjected to a fraud of the highest order from the very beginning. The players can sense it. Many of the fans have already sensed it–and they have stopped supporting something which was a sad farce.

(Oh, and imposter “Sage”, it’s “Waddell”….and the construction of your sentences wasn’t quite right…Try again…)

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DWTOO – ya gotta read Schultzie’s article, it’s certainly worth your time. But his premise is that Winnipeg, per his sources, has already been promised a team (and Bettman has come out and said it will not be through expansion). So it follows that if PHX gets resolved and the deal goes through, guess who’s next in line for possible relo? You have to wonder if the NHL is worn out on repairing all of these fractured ownership situations and bailing out teams like Tampa, Phoenix, Nashville, Buffalo etc. Perhaps they want a quick fix and some big time money as Thompson in Canada is one of the top 20 richest men in the world or something by Forbes’ account.

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I’m with you Joe Friday.

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Not be a chauvinist, but can’t we all agree that we should at least try and subsidize the pretty ladies who shoot the tee shirts into the stands – if not the team?

On a serious note, Schultz has it right. Atlanta is a sports, and hockey, town, but we are discerning fans. I am not going to a restaurant and spend $30 for a pile of sh!t, and if I get fooled once you can damn well be sure it won’t happen again. This is different though. As per one of the poster’s cuisine analogies the other day – it isn’t the ingredients and it isn’t the venue. The team has the ability but the chefs suck. Honestly, I think it takes effort to suck so badly at your job. It is plainly obvious that A$$ LLC funnels Thrasher’s $ to that, ahem, other team who has sucked twice as bad for twice as long as the thrashers have even been around. If I were a Thrasher I would be pissed at being the financial proxy for a p!ss poor sport full of thuggery and egos way larger than their collective intelligence.

Just a thought here as to why that, ahem, other sport is by far inferior to hockey (just one of many thoughts); when the game is close and nearing regulation what happens in that, ahem, other sport? They slow it down, foul on every possession and grind the game into the most boring thing to watch on the planet. Hockey on the other hand speeds up, players take chances and the play gets frantic! So exciting to see a pulled goalie and rockets blast from the point. And the ELATION you feel when you score that late, desperate, goal to stay alive. Anybody see the Gold Medal game that was USA vs CAN? Of course you did. Tell me that wasn’t an instant classic!

I can understand if people like that, ahem, other sport, up to you, but you are seriously misguided.

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Tonight’s game between the Thrashers and Coyotes will determine which of the two beleaguered franchises will move to Winnipeg for the 2011-12 season. The loser will be forced to stay in their current city amidst the gloomy prospects, while the loser will finally get the appropriate funding necessary to operate as a real NHL franchise after years of underfunding and mismanagement by current ownership.

The NHL office is rooting for the Thrashers tonight, so that they can finally recoup the $125 million investment they made to purchase the Coyotes. Outside of legal fees, the NHL will net $40 million from the sale from True North!

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See I am still a complete douche! I again post the same stupid inane comment about not funding this fraud. Who is the fraud? ME. BOYCOTT THE SOB!
BOYCOTT THE SOB!
BOYCOTT THE SOB!
BOYCOTT THE SOB!
BOYCOTT THE SOB!
BOYCOTT THE SOB!
BOYCOTT THE SOB!
BOYCOTT THE SOB!

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@RH Ha! Well you tell the Blue Crew they have a big fan in CO! Tear it up tonight Thrashy!

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FU ASG
I’ve Nothing left to say

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I think it is a shame that the fix for this fiasco is now being put on the fans A.K.A. the customer! Here we have a group of “business men” who chose to take the low road with their product. Rather than invest money in salaries to build a better product, which in turn would put cheeks in the seats and therefore produce more revenue which could/should off-set some of the $$$ losses (or maybe even create some profit); they choose to go in the opposite direction.

They invested little or no money to build a good product.This they succeed in as they created a less than acceptable product, which by any standard business sense would create the environment in which they now find themselves. If this was a public corporation these guys would fine themselves on the street. How can you not invest in the only thing that will generate a revenue flow? Now i understand why we lost Hossa dn Kovey; they weren’t stupid; we were.

Now these clowns have the nerve to say, because of their mis-management and their focus on things other than their business, we the customer have to bail them out. Clearly these “businessmen” must have realized that for them to be successful they needed a good product and in this town that product is a winning team.

I love hockey and I want to see this team stay here. I just hope and pray we get some local funding and with that funding comes with it a businessman who wants to build a winning franchise and for their investment, receive some control in making decisions.

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Hey Rawhide…I never comment, but I’ve met you a ton of times and we have several mutual friends. What do you think about this scenario: On Fri 02/25/11 or Sat 03/05/11
– we officially make this game the ” Help us Arthur Blank” or
” Hear us Arthur Blank” game to prove to him we are here and will support him as the owner of our great team. Saturday might be better for people that live out of town…I know I could get people from Augusta to come up for the game. I know a lot of fans that can’t make weekday games, but could make a Saturday game for sure. We all take signs etc with his name on them and maybe even wear our Falcons hats with our Thrasher sweaters. He will have to at least take notice of the situation and it may even spark some interest. If nothing else hopefully he will at least comment on the subject and let us know if there is even a chance. We have nothing to lose.

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JMT21 – Thank you for being polite and not dropping a big rude steamer on us as your countrymen often do when they stop by here. We in Atlanta would love it if the Peg got Hockey back, just not at our expense. I’d love a couple of more teams pop up through expansion.

Parker42 – Good to finally see you posting here!

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You can email the comish at nhlhour@nhl.com

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Aren’t we all having a “Brutally Good Time” today?

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Ignore the last line of the last comment – thought I deleted that and its a little out of context…

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JMT, ask a good lawyer what “can’t” means. Throw money at a “can’t” and suddenly you can.

We all know plenty about Mr. Balsillie. I remember it – I just want Pens fans to speak to the level of panic they experienced. The Pens were in more dire straits than the Thrashers are now.

Just tryin’ to give some perspective to those who see no future for NHL in ATL.

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Count on Machacek and Postma to be dressed in Edmonton in front of tons of family. Sets the stage for Spencer’s first goal and Paul’s first point!

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Isn’t is possible that Winnepeg is being promised a team through expansion?

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Shultz is right on the money. I have been in Atlanta since 1969 and I have suffered through the goods and bads of every Atlanta sports team. I have never been on skates but I got hooked on hockey when I was in highschool and my dad took me to see ” da Flames” as boomer would say. Seeing Lysiak, Clement and Plett skate in person was great and when they left, I was really bummed. When the Thrashers came back, I was excited and I have gone to 3 to 4 games a year since they have been here including the one and only playoff loss to the Rangers. The reality is that the ownership let a lot of talent go and never made a financial commitment to this franchise. Hockey is not cheap and I am discerning with my discretionary funds and times are tough. I can’t blame the players or the coachs. The effort looks like it is there, although you could definetly see Kovy dogging it before the trade. Hockey is a great game but I am not spending my money when I don’t see the commitment on the part of the ownership to bring a Cup to Atlanta. They can say whatever they want but the difference between ASG and Arthur Blank is like night and day. Atlanta suffered through Rankin Smith and then Blank came along and you can see the difference.

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Rawhide – That would take someone who is actually from Georgia to understand. Its always easy for someone to try and justify when they covet something instead of going back to the first grade and remembering their ABC’s.
The “Hockey isn’t natural to Atlanta” comments piss me off highly. Atlanta had no professional teams till the sixties, none of them have been “Natural” and all of them have had HORRIBLE ownership.

Of course anyone from here, living here or anyone who possesses the ability of rational thought would know what this town has gone through WITH EVERY SPORTS TEAM.

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Bob – if he were from Atlanta (or bothered to do ANY research) then he would have posted “Peachtree” and not “Peach Tree”. He probably things we have a race around trees, not knowing that its named after a street in Atlanta…. another clue was the lack of the first H in THRASHERS
A clue to any further Canuckleheads – if you are going to post like you are from here and want us to let the THRASHERS go, at least make an effort to sound like you are from here.

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Go Sage Go !!!! I agree 1000%, Why would ANYONE in their right mind give these LIARS money.

You are correct, too bad this “smoothie” can’t see it, But would you buy a product or service from a KNOWN LIAR ? NO, sports team or what, These Liars deserve to be dead broke when this is over, I just wish we the fans could SUE THEM !

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Hey “smoothie” let’s meet and settle our differences ? Got Game ?

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Not so sure it’s not the Isles. The Madoff scandal caused the cancellation of the proposed new arena in Queens. Then Wang’s “Lighthouse Project” was voted down by the city counsel. Their arena is DECREPIT. Contract on the NCC? Pshaw…sure a deep pocketed owner would gladly pay any fine for breaking it. The New York area has one team that draws and two that do not. Not saying that we are not in serious danger of losing our team, but personally I think we are third in line after PHX and NYI.

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It makes no sense to consider moving the Thrashers to Winnipeg, if, the Coyotes deal isn’t fully consummated in Glendale. Why move a team with no history to the place where the other franchise first vacated? I don’t think it does.

Secondly, the True North people know hockey. Quite frankly, it’s not about the money for them, and they already offered $165 million to the NHL for the Coyotes. While they wouldn’t have to pay that for the Thrashers, if you look at the two organizations in their current state, which one has the better hockey operations staff, which team made the playoffs most recently, and which team has a better relationship with their AHL club? (The Coyotes operate the San Antonio Rampage).

As glovesave29 said, the NHL has more than just one worry about franchise solvency. Phoenix, Atlanta, the Islanders and possibly Florida all have issues. But, if it comes down to Phoenix or Atlanta, it makes more sense for them to make up with an old girlfriend then to start dating someone they don’t know or care about.

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With Daws and Postma being brought up, there could be a trade on the way. Who do y’all think are the most likely to be traded? Pick a d-man and a forward and/or rank a few players.

I think Bergforce is the #1 forward on the trading block and Hainsey or Sopel for d-men.

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Injuries to Burmistrov, Meyer and Modin. Deal should be coming soon but the two aren’t necessarily related.

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GS29 – Numbers can be tricky, you gotta figure the exchange rate between countries. 13,000 loonies = 10,692 real people.

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Soma – HA!

Let’s ask ourselves this. If two, supposedly well attended teams fled hockey-mad Canada in the 1990’s – what has changed in the decade since to now make these markets more viable?

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http://wikibin.org/articles/stephen-rollins.html

This is spreading, BUT IT’S NOT NEW NEWS. I stumbled upon this I don’t know how long ago now, but I smell total BS and am wondring how the AP and the AJC doesn’t. Have any of this guys hockey playing cred, film success or talks with the league been confirmed? Seriously how could this guy buy the team? Better question, when the Hell was this guy in the IHL? I definitely don’t remember him playing with the Knights.

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AH HA HA!!! Sorry, Glovesave beat me to it on this blog. Glad we’re on the same page this is total and utter BS. TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!!!

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2 calls back to back on Bettman’s radio show while I was in the car by Thrasher’s fans. Bettman and Esposito talked about the ASG and essentially said they were lost. Espo said, paraphrasing, it is hard for the Zamboni driver to do a good job with bad owners.

The next call got into a discussion on how Bettman has kept teams from moving but then he ominously brought up ownership groups that failed in Winnapeg and Quebec City and they were forced to move the team.

My feeling is the League office is as pissed at the ASG as we are and feel hamstrung.

I am so glad Turner sold the team to family and friends from the Piedmont Driving Club instead of a real owner… ugh…

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Geez, this Stephen Rollins thing is outta control. Glovesave says TSN and I know it’s on AP, and AJC, likely others….how is the professional media putting this out? Seriously I demand a page on AJC about Thrashers fan, Glovesave and his upcoming epic space voyage. Why not? I just told you I heard he was going all sorts of cosmonaut and that came straight from his mouth. I guess I shouldn’t believe much in the media anymore.

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Frosty, I listened till I got too pissed to listen anymore…

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I wrote Reagan’s Berlin wall speech when I was in 5th grade (I think it was). Anyway, run that story.

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Henry Rollins has a better chance of buying this team than Stephen Rollins…(If Henry Rollins did buy this team, would the team’s name change to the Black Flags?)

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Henry Rollins would make a fantastic power forward. Kind of looks like Lindross…..

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Also heard Bettman abd Esposito and didn’t think it was bad as descirbed above. Face it, he’s not going to go on radio and call these sleazebags names. Am more interested intereseted in what was said at the break. At least he said the right things and has the track record to back it up. Until we have more information we’ll have to play along.

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Wayne – if Henry Rollins bought this team then we’d annihilate…annihilate….all week long. Lame, I know sorry, I love most things Rollins and I’m a dweeb.

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From Slap Shot: “We Reeeeeeaaalllllly Need To Win This One!” Bring home two points from the the Phoenix desert (it’s a dry heat). This facebook page is growing fast:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/KeepTheThrashers/188894621145432

GO THRASHERS! KEEP THE THRASHERS in ATLANTA!!!

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Eric Belanger with a shorty. Sure wish we had a players like Belanger on this team.

Wait? What?

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I remember in the preseason Coach Ramsey saying we would see a lot of short handed goals this year. Didn’t realize he meant against us.

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Looks like the Yotes’ wanna stay in Phoenix more than the Thrashers wanna stay in Atlanta.

Oh well, it was nice going to Thrashers games once in a while..

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Last year at this time we were 60 games into the season and 2 points out of 8th. The coach is replaced, new players and GM are brought in to right the ship. Here we are 58 games in (losing #59 at this moment) and still 2 points out of 8th. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

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Some of you guys judge too quickly. Unless they are getting their A$$’s whooped it isn’t over till it is over: see – Pevs goal just now. 3-2 Thrashy. Buck up campers.

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Up and down kinda game here….lookin down. We’ll see.

The Dumpster – Not trying to sound bad, but I can pretty much guarantee that A.) players don’t care where they play NHL hockey or B.) Don’t wanna be in either PHX or ATL kinda towns, just sayin’. I dunno if you noticed tht the league is about 60% Cannuckian and they tend not to dig refrigerated ice down here for some odd reason apparently that’s more of a Great White North kinda thing.

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Iron League- hahaha i hear ya man. If I were an NHL player id pick a city with rich hockey tradition
like the red wings, bruins, blackhawks etc…

Its like: “You’ve just go traded to the Atlanta Thrashers”
Player: oh snap how much do i get paid.
GM/Owner: Oh less than $850 K (we are the cheap a$$ donkeys known as Atlanta spirit)
sigh… i wish i played for a better team.

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Canada ONCE again is controlling us. Common Toronto get the Call right!
That call was really poor and just comes to show how biased the NHL is against
teams struggling to coast through ownership, finances etc…

If the Maple Leafs played against the Yotes’ that would be a NO GOAL.

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TRU Dumpster! I will say though that making a high stick call in real time is difficult to do correctly. No excuse though.

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Dumpster, I can’t totally agree with your player’s desirable location thoughts. More than one has said playing somewhere that you can golf in February on an off day is a plus. Okay, maybe those aren’t the most dedicated players, but some prefer not to be under the microscope and/or in the COLD weather.

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I normally hate it when out of town people post their insights on another city’s paper so feel free to let loose on me but I wanted to say that I feel your pain. As a Winnipegger born and raised I was about 16 when the Jets left for Phoenix and it was a brutal experience I wouldn’t want to wish on anyone. As stupid as this may seem to people, sitting in the living room with my father (with whom I went to Jets game since I was 10, he went since the 70s) and listening to the press conference announcing they were leaving (after over a year of rallies and kids emptying their piggybanks and ups and downs) was actually one of the few times I’ve ever seen him with tears in his eyes. Maybe it was him seeing me cry that pushed him over, who knows (I am a girl so crying so ok!).

We loved that team and continued to go to games that last year KNOWING it was the last year and it felt like a season long funeral. So I feel your pain of the unknown and the rumours and the rollarcoaster. I’m sure you get a lot of Winnipegger being jerks on here and other sites, sometimes because well they are just jerks but mostly because the bitterness of Gary Bettman seemingly doing nothing while our team left has endured all this time. It was like a knife to the heart to take our team and plunk it in the desert no less, where the fans had to be given hockey rules lessons, killer . And now seeing them go above and beyond to save the struggling southern teams kind of brings out the old bitterness. So I apologize for those Winnipeggers that run their mouths off, it doesn’t help anything, but that bitterness can run deep.

So would I love a team again, absolutely. To what extend I want that? I’m torn between wanting a team so badly but not wanting to take it from somewhere else. But in the end its out of all of our hands. If the NHL and Winnipeg/Atlanta has already gotten this worked out since Winnipeg got Glendale to sell the farm to keep their team, then that’s what it will be. For the sake of Atlanta fans I hope you guys get your miracle and an owner that knows what they’re doing. I don’t know much about your situation but from what I saw here, it hasn’t been good. So good luck and hopefully we’ll get our team another way!

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Time is getting short, and we’re killing a penalty with 4:10 left in regulation, down 4-3.

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Arryn79 did a good job, that’s for sure, SomaAtl95.

Pavelec just made a great ‘high-slot’ deflection save. The Penalty has been killed. 2:53 left in regulation time. C’mon Thrashers. We’ve all stayed up late. How ’bout a pity-point comin’ our way??

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PP!!! Enstrom upended. Drew the call, on an EXCELLENT keep, at the blueline. Inexcuseable for Phoenix not to clear the zone, there. Then Doan takes the plenalty. 1:35 left, all of it on PP time. Pull Pavelec, right here, for the 2-Man Advantage???

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Gimme a 6 on 4!

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Sh!t.

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Once again, Bogosian misses on a shot that HAS to be ON NET. The result is another clearing of the zone by Phoenix. And that does it. Another regulation time loss. So, where are we now? Six wins in the last 23 games? Is that right? The record is 6-17, straight up? It’s slippin’ away. A 4-3 loss isn’t a horrendous loss, but it’s still not good enough.

Who thinks 17-7 the rest of the way is going to happen? If the ownership CARED, or wasn’t broke, something would have, could have, and should have been done … weeks ago.

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In Michael Gearon’s 680TheFan interview with John Kincade, Gearon said, “I don’t like losing. I hate losing. I feel every loss. I was hurt by that last loss, after a great win over the NY Rangers.”

Buffalo has three (3) games-in-hand over Atlanta, with 60 points. Toronto has 56-points, with two games-in-hand. Which means?? If they win those games-in-hand, they’ll tie the Thrashers, which could find themselves in 12th place. We’re running out of games.

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Lame-o. 10th spot, yippy-doo.

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Back to the promised land….another lottery pick.

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ZAv- We’ll never know how they funnel these funds, but again it’s sooo obvious from the gut feeling, but the interview on 680 was all the proof I needed. Seriously I went through half a decade of this crap at my last gig and I already told you something about it. It’s very very real and the F.A.S.G. is doing it, they have 3 organizations, 3 sets of books, but only two interests.

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Yeah, “Big Buff” is worth every penny….Nice “play” in the last minute (including the puck going over his stick; I guess the pass was too good while on the attack with the game-tying goal desperately needed)….

Sure, whatevery Joe-Bob-Friday says…If his form holds, he’ll waffle back on that signing and say he “knew it all along” [that it wasn't worth the money]…Then again, in about three years or so, will it even matter here in Atlanta?

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Iron, I remember your explanation about the whole “umbrella” thing. As you just stated, it is plainly obvious that something is going on there with the books. Makes me angry as hell (sorry Trixie, I have used a bit of language tonight

Seriously, the Hawks have sucked for so long and had less than half full stadiums, miserable records and yet, seem to be able to afford talent. In this case, one plus one doesn’t equal two. It just doesn’t add up. And correct me if I am wrong, but I listened to the interview with Partial Owner Gaeron and he talked more about the Hawks than he did about Thrashy. Horrible interview, serious lack of balls on the part of Kincade. Grow a pair if you are going to call yourself a professional.

Unfortunately, A$$ LLC is hoping that Thrashy fan ditches the team so it is easier to move. Stick a foot in their A$$ and support the team and prove them wrong. Oh, one last note, I love how Gaeron got upset at being called cheap. LOL! Truth hurts doesn’t it buddy?

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Rawhide – I have a “new poll” or over/under, will the team we currently call the Thrashers be playing in Atlanta during the 2012-2013 season?

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ZAvalance, Gearon would say, “I’m not cheap, I’m broke. I aspire to be cheap.” I think it’s a shell game with their money.

Truthfully, and I’ll never know this, but I’m dying to know how much Belkin got in his ‘buyout.’ I know what the minions of the team will say. “What’s it to you, Brendan? Why should you care about how much Belkin got?” I get it. It’s none of my business. But, I’m curious to know … because next question would be, “Why couldn’t [that figure] have been offered six weeks into the lawsuit? Why was it necessary to spend $20 million-a-year in attorney fees, for 5 years, for $100 million in money lost? No wonder they’re suing for $200 million. They hope they get half, and recoup the legal fees, at a minimum. But if they get all $200 million, that probably covers Belkin’s settlement, whatever it was.

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Good News Everybody: I have all my precious picks and prospects since I have not made any trades, good thing because we will be in 12th or 13th in the East before you know it.

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R. Stroz… Holy hell, if that doesn’t say it all. That’s an incredible disparity in payroll and commitment, yet the owners have the nerve to blame us fans for the Thrashers’ woes? We are 29th in payroll in the NHL. And it’s our fault?

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First they blow the obvious high-stick goal, and then the imaginary slashing call against Buff in the last minute. The hockey gods are definitely against us; kicking us while we are down.

I’ve always supported instant replay, but why bother if you are not going to overrule something as clear cut as that?

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ZAv and others – That precisely it, the Hawks DO NOT make that much more but the payroll is 10s of millions more per year, with much less players mind you. I personally think this town is as much or possibly an even better market for the NHL than the NBA. I’ve been here a very long time and NEVER heard anyone talk about the Hawks, NE-VER (I know they do, but when?).

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The only reason the Hawks BARELY outsell the Thrashers on Average is their success, but that’s my point they’re a good and have been for a little bit. NO ONE CARES ABOUT THE NBA IN ATLANTA, at least not about the Hawks. Pouring money into them ahead of the Thrashers is asinine from a business point. If the Thrashers get hot you’ll have more home games from them with 16k in attendance (more than the NBA), and less payroll overhead…wider profit margin.

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Do you think games are being “thrown” on purpose? Maybe we are losing for a reason. Maybe not because we cannot score, but because we are more valuable losing than winning. Funny how a team goes from 2nd place to 10th in 2 months in the conference. Or is it?

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Dudley, please trade Oduya, Stewart and our 1st rounder for Dustin Penner, a 2nd and a prospect.

It doesn’t add any salary other than Paul Postma’s ELC. We have three small Swedes and that is two too many. We have several big wings who actually use their body to hit so let’s get rid of one who scores lucky goals every 4th or 5th game. Our defense CANNOT get any worse so why not try to unload Oduya since EDM needs a puck-moving D-man. If you need to, give them Peverley too since he apparently has forgotten how to play at both ends of the ice. Then again, our 1st rounder might end up a lottery pick.

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diminish (rather) sorry happy fingers

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Back to on-ice affairs?

Byfuglien Wants To Improve His Overall Game

http://sportssoutheast.com/index.php/red-light-report/59-nhl/247-thrashers-byfuglien-wants-to-improve

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Not sure how losing makes the team more valuable Tony? But, as long as you want to go down that road…the video officials in Toronto have it in for the Thrashers. So do the referees. The schedule makers (imagine making them play in Phoenix after three days off?). Perhaps because it was a full moon last night?

It couldn’t possibly because they haven’t learned to win close games could it?

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Five sets of books? Lets turn the Spirit Clowns into the IRS and get a 10% whistle blower fee.

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Last 11 games (Tampa blowout not included), the Thrashers have essentially lost every game by 1 goal and by an average of 3 to 2. Here are the pertinent figures:

GF Avg – 2.27*
GA Avg – 2.81*

*shootout and empty net goals not counted

SF Avg – 30.91
SA Avg – 31.10

Shot % – 7.3
Save % – .910 (although Pavs has a SV% of only .877 in his last 7)

It’s been obvious since the late December swoon that we’ve needed another 20-30 goal scorer, but once again A$G has stood by idle and (as Ranallo used to say) “fiddle while Rome burns”. Obviously Dudley’s hands are completely tied as his M.O. has always been to wheel and deal and long before the trade deadline. And to think these fools might have made a little money with a legitimate playoff run and some home playoff games. What a bunch of idiots.

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**to Red Light**
Dudley is not going to do any trade until February 28. Look, we have 4 games to play in February. If we lost all 4 games we can be stay around 10-12 position in East Conference. That’s mean we will be came a Sellers, not a Buyers. He is waiting and see what happend. I like to see Ladd sign to few years. That can be a good thing for Future. If we have a Future.

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Good Point Smoothie. End of December and January we had to get some help.

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In full Bewitched mode I am wiggling my nose and calling for help to Uncle Arthur [Blank]: Our team needs you to save us. Let’s get him hooked on Hockey! and specifically OUR THRASHERS!

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Proactive dealing has never been a strong point for any Thrashers GM!

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I honestly don’t see a huge difference in talent between the Thrashers and Flyers (#1 in the East)

Flyers just have belief in their system and will do anything to grind out a win.

Our thrashers, meanwhile, continue to let games slip by them with poor shot selection, poor o and d setup, and terrible defensive zone efforts.

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No matter what the situation is players need to step up when needed the most.

I can’t understand how the thrashers had 3 days to correct repetitive mistakes and didn’t do that.

Its called having some pride and the thrashers haven’t had it AT ALL (7 wins last 20 games)

Pavelec did his best that game but the D was horrible!

How about a Bogosian and Oduya trade for a 1st round & 5th round pick?

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Tony, There is no way the games are being thrown on purpose. No hockey player I know would do that, they just have too much pride.

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Hmm, Anderson for Elliot. Don’t usually see keeper for keeper trades. Anderson had a lights-out year last year and carried the team, Eliot was decent. Anderson has lost it this year, big time. This trade confuses me, but honestly doesn’t change much. I guess there is just the hope that a change of scenery will benefit both – so basically this is an even-across-the-board trade. The Avs still need a power forward and a big stay-at-home D, and oh yeah, we need some healthy players. Currently 2nd in the league with man games lost. Brutal year for both of my teams.

On to the Thrashers. Lots of comments since the game last night but surprisingly most are not that negative. I thought Thrashy played a good game last night. Should have gone to OT at the least, but as has already been mentioned, Toronto sh!t the bed on high stick call. But every team knows that the calls don’t always go your way and it is YOUR JOB to overcome that. Good teams do. I liked the effort last night though.

Wow Iron, you went on a tear this AM! I totally agree with the IRS audit. But as A$$G owns both is it legal for them to funnel the $, I do not know. All I know is that I am pissed and I can only imagine how Rammer and the team feel about it. And the only reason the Hawks outdraw the Thrashers (barely) is because their tickets are dirt cheap. Have you seen some of the advertisements for game packs for Hawks games? If Thrashy had those deals, hell, it would be worth it for me to fly out for a couple of weekend games. Hawks fans are the definition of fair-weather where as Thrashy (when I say Thrashy, I refer to the whole Thrasher nation, including the team) sticks with it. Yes a winning team is more fun but a true fan can appreciate any game. I know we b!tch about losing and watching a losing team, but common, I will take a losing team ANY DAY over having no team at all – and I think you all agree with me on that.

DW should be hesitant to trade his first pick and I hope to god he doesn’t. The NHL is becoming much more like the NFL when it comes to the draft. Used to be, years ago, that the draft was pretty much of a joke and the big moves came through RFA and UFA signings and trades. That paradigm is slowly changing (I heard and interview with some of the national broadcasters talking about this). Picks are very important. Just imagine if Thrashy picked up somebody like Kopitar? How f-ing amazing would that be? DW, don’t trade your 1st pick, please.

I may get bashed for this, but it is time to move Buffy up to play a hybrid power forward position. The D can’t get worse and the only way we are going to win games is by scoring 4 or more per game.

@Smoothie
Liked the stats you listed, minus the Tampa game. I don’t think Thrashy is as bad as everybody thinks, they are just a step behind. Those numbers you posted tell the truth, SO close! Our problem isn’t offense, it is D. Here are a few UFAs that could be helpful. We have the cap room – tons of it – just have to get A$$G to spend. Oh wait, that shouldn’t be a problem right?…..because Gaeron isn’t “cheap”. Nope not “cheap”, perhaps just a F-ing idiot. Anyhow:

Brewer, Kaberle, Pitkanen, Erhoff, Wisniewski, Mark Stewart, Shane O’Brian. Though Kaberle is getting long in the tooth so I would shy away from him because of that and the salary expectation. The rest on that list are 27 or younger and solid D. Apologies if some of them have already signed, I don’t know how often the site is updated. Anyhow, pick up some D, Pavs will love you for it DW and play lights-out. And for the love of Forsberg, stay healthy!

Trade Stewart to CO, maybe the two Stewart Bros playing together could be good for the AVS. I am thinking Stewart for O’Byrne – a good, BIG, stay at home D.

Anyhow, fun to chat with some of you during the game last night. I think Calgary will roll Montreal on Sunday, picks?

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Sad fact and I think one day we will all find out that the reality is the Hawks are having the same issues unfortunately they have carte blanche (high school french coming back) but they are being subsidized on by Thrasher fans.

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Z – I’d probably do that Stewart for O’Byrne trade in a heartbeat if I could get a 3rd rd pick back from COL as well. But that may be asking too much. We should probably trade Sopel for a 2nd rd pick if possible or package Sopes+Bergy to ensure that 2nd rd pick plus a scoring wing who actually has some size and fight in him (Chicago?? for Kopecky).

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Let me rephrase that: “…a wing who can score and actually has some fight in him.” And Kopecky could really help out on the PK and keep Ladd from getting so worn down doing everything. Not like CHI would probably part with any other forwards unless it’s a younger guy like Bickell. But did Kopecky or Bolland become expendable now that Frolik has been added?

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Smoothie,

That is an interesting point. Perhaps the audit is already happening. I cannot imagine that Bettman would not try and save a market with as much potential as Atlanta. There are some many transplants from traditional hockey markets in Atl, Bettman has to know this, else we wouldn’t have gotten the team in the first place. We are not going to move, it isn’t going to happen.

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I was thinking back to Bettman’s radio show last night. His tone and attitude towards the ASG was one of polite disgust. He is the Commissioner, essentially the owners representative for the league, and his job is not to call out ownership publicly. Steer maybe, but not denigrate.

However if I had to guess, Bettman thinks the ASG is a pimple on the ass of humanity.

Like we all do…

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WOW, Boston just traded Wheeler to Atlanta according to the 4th period.

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C-VIV – I’m hearing the #Thrashers have acquired Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart from Boston for Rich Peverley and Boris Valabik.

That would be a HUGE win for us!

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And we managed to dump Boris’ big butt in Boston!! Woo hoo! Didn’t even have to give up a real prospect!!

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Pevs – Thank you from the fans for everything you did since being picked on waivers – good luck to you in the future.
Boris – please continue to play the way you have for Boston. They need to be slowed down and you can help them with that!

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I.D.W.T.-finally we have hockey to talk about

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I’ve always like Stuart as a solid, defensive d-man. It would be nice if he would re-sign beyond this season. Wheeler has the tools to be much better than he has shown so far. Hopefully Ramsay’s system brings out the best in him. Overall, a good trade for the Thrashers, but I don’t see it being enough to get them to the playoffs. Maybe Dudley has something else up his sleeve.

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Don’t get too excited people. The last time a bit of good publicity came out, the ASG drop the moving stuff on us. They love to rain on their own parade.

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From cbcsports canada – Wheeler has 11 goals and 16 assists in 58 games and can play centre or right wing. The 6-5 forward was originally drafted by Phoenix but never signed with the Coyotes. The Bruins outbid other teams to sign him as a free agent in 2008, and while the 24-year-old has progressed as a two-way player, he’s been criticized for a perceived lack of toughness.

Stuart has been a gritty defenceman for Boston since 2007-08 but fell out of favour this season due to injuries and the emergence of other young blue-liners.

Great lack of toughness just what we need on the front line. All the detractors were wrong about Peverley when we picked him up – hopefully this will work out to be the same.

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Well, I for one am certainly happy that his hands are not tied considering I wrote about this scenario as my preferred trade option. I’ve always been a big fan of Wheeler’s as I feel he’s gotten lost in a numbers game playing 3rd line minutes sometimes. His blend of size, speed and hands (and they are much better than Anthony Stewart’s that’s for sure) are a perfect fit in Rammer’s system assuming Ramsay doesn’t get himself fired (j/k). Dudley obviously wants to give Ramsay players he can work with and it certainly helps to have such familiarity with the likes of Wheeler and Stuart. That should help us re-sign Stuart as well unless Dudley’s hands are tied in the way of a $40M p/r budget again next year. But Sopel should come off the books for certain.

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Lets see, Virginia Highlands or a chance to play with a team that can do some damage in the playoffs? Pevs has played in only six playoff games in his career, I don’t think he’ll be too upset.

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Flames / RL – I reckon Natalie and “Bear” will be more upset about this than Rich. But I am sure Pevs really liked it here as well. He seems like a great guy and I know Flames was quite fond of he and his family. Now if we could just get Marty & Kate Reasoner back here!!

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Pevs is a great guy, just like losing Marty-you gotta give up something to get something. But we are a better team this afternoon than we were this morning. We recvd 2 NHLer’s for 1 NHLer and did not give up future picks or a real prospect. Just just gave up a big girl who can’t skta ebackwards. He ain’t no Chara.

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Who knows Brendan? There is no guarantee that both Wheeler and Stuart won’t go into deep depression at the news, and even if they don’t that doesn’t necessarily translate to winning. We have already seen Peverley’s zenith, but Wheeler’s play might go to a higher level here. I can see him playing with Kane/Ladd and Little and he should benefit.

I’m not sure Dudley is done either. He still needs a center!

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R/L – JINX!

Hey bud, wanna play golf Sunday?

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Can’t do it Smoothie. Would love to but will be celebrating second-oldest daughter’s birthday. Rain check!

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Hate to see Rich leave, He liked it in Atlanta and always had good things to say. Saw on the Boston NHL site, both Wheeler & Stuart, did not come off with the famous quote, “It is what it is”.
They both sounded like they were ready to come here and try to win. They both, esp Wheeler, spoke of being in the playoff hunt. Would rather seen Bergfous go before Peverley.
Wish smoothie could have been sent to winnipeg for a few rolls of toilet paper, Good one for us !

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LAC – someone’s gotta be here and predict the trades for Duds, and keep your ego in check! At least you’re an actual fan of the team as opposed to SOB so bygones. Then again, you probably still want to fight me but who cares? I’m just happy we got 2 assets for an undrafted, journeyman waiver pick-up. We can thank both DWad and Dudley I spoz.

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Thanks, Rich…and good luck. He went from a “who is this guy and he better not try to take Dan Snyder’s #37″ to a real fan favorite.

Valabik – basically going from Chicago to Providence. Ol cement shoes is not going to sniff the NHL.

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Duds on NHL Network at approx. 4:35pm. Blake Wheeler up next.

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#*&%^ – Tampa just got Eric Brewer

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Apparently, Wheeler was very excited at the prospect of having a bigger role on a team still with a shot at the playoffs. Better start than Bergfors so far!

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Who said that Frosty? Whoever they are they have some damn good Kool-Aid. Philly has a top-notch club.

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the dumpster 1104 am post

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So we received some good news, when will the ASG ruin it?

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Thanks for the memories and for being a class act, Pevs.

I do like the fact that we got another big body and a young one at that. Always thought Mark Stuart was a solid D man and a guy that ain’t afraid to hit. Should help the D.

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I’m with Stroz, here. What comes up, must come down, and our hearts have been raised up, then dragged through the mud, ever since these morons bought the team.

What’s going to come later tonight or tomorrow?

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Aw, common Rawhide, mix it up a bit

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Red Light, can you clarify something for me? Did Brian Burke just get back the 2011 1st round and conditional 2nd round pick that he gave up to get Kessel? If so, what a frekkin’ coup by Burke!! That’s probably a lottery draft pick, and high-end 2nd rounder!! Or, was the 1st rounder … that which traditionally belonged to Boston? Meaning? Well, let’s just say the Bruins win their 1st round series, and that means pick # 23 to # 26 in the Draft? Let’s just say the Bruins reach the CF, is that what “kicks in” the conditional 2nd rounder? And is THAAAAT the pick the Maple Leafs originally held, but traded to Boston for Kessell? Or, again, is that pick # 53 to # 56, that would traditionally belong to Boston, assuming the Bruins win a round of playoffs? Actually, if the Bruins went to the CF, then we’re talking about a 2nd rounder at # 57 or # 58.

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