Friday night February 25, 2011 at Philips Arena – Be there Thrasherville

Dammit! I wish I could be there! Maybe I will get an interview out there next week. If so, count me in. Go Thrashy, fill the joint!

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I’m not a Thrashers fan or a hockey fan, but, as an Atlanta sports fan, I wish you all luck in sending your message to all its intended recipients and hope you are able to keep the Thrashers here.

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I’ve got some money left in the Ticket Bank to use for that night, I’m thinking. Time to bring some friends out that keep saying “I want to go” but refuse to pony up.

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Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

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My wife and I will be there in our full season ticket seats with our Blueland Flag. 219 A1-A2.

Everyone should be there!

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I’ll buy a ticket, but I’m already going to the game on the 5th so yeah. I can’t imagine going out two weekends in a row. That’s crazy.

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POMPOM

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Bill, I linked your blog on the Thrashers message board here:

http://fans.thrashers.nhl.com/community/topic/16815-new-ice-man-rawhide-blog-on-the-need-to-fill-up-philips/page__gopid__335686

We should probably talk it up over there, too.

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I will bring a fourpack of rowdy people myself.

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I’ll be there! The birds WILL beat Edmonton tomorrow… they’re due for a win streak.

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I’ll be the loudest one there.

Heat Miser – I’ll take that as a challenge.

None of us should have a voice Saturday morning.

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Netminder – That is my row, see you there.

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FOR THRASHERVILLE!!

I got two already, I may buy 4 more and bring friends.

POM freakin’ POM!! And Baaaaaaaa-baaaaaaaaaa!

We are BLUE SHEEP!

FU AS,LLC

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Anything over 15k at a Panthers game would be a coup on our part. I bet that’s the least attended opponent of ours.

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GO TO HELL SPIRIT…..GO TO HELL

GO TO HELL SPIRIT…..GO TO HELL

GO TO HELL SPIRIT…..GO TO HELL

GO TO HELL SPIRIT…..GO TO HELL

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I look at the trade today as 2 1/2 players for 1 player. Duds traded Peverley for Wheeler and Stuart. Plus, he got Bobo’s NHL salary off the books. And off the 50-man roster.

We will keep Wheeler. But a d-man could need to have his clothes ready to pack….

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Great article Bill. Pinhead and I will be in our regular seats. I will probably loose my voice from yelling so much against the ownership. Sure do hope we get a big crowd.

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We need to show up with our jerseys on, with signs, and ready to let the hockey world know the problem in Atlanta has not been the fans! We are trying to get Atlanta’s leaders to lead on this issue. Please see the “Five Part Plan To Keep The Thrashers In Atlanta” via the link below. Please click on the “How Can Fans Help?” link in the left margin – contact community leaders and tell them to help keep the Thrashers in Atlanta – we have over 1,100 “likes” on FB in a day and a half – the NHL is watching – showing up on Friday is the most important thing to do:

http://www.keepthethrashers.com/fivepartplan.html

We have been on NBC, CBS, and FOX news this week in Atlanta trying to get the community leaders to take action before it is too late. We appreciate all the great calls, emails, and wonderful ideas to keep OUR team. We do have great and passionate fans in this town. face book!

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Its a 4 hour drive, but I’m still coming! I really hope we can fill the arena up!

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Rawhide for President…………..of the Thrashers. Send Donnie W. out for volunteer work in any of the provinces dreaming about “our” team…with him there they don’t have a chance.
23 games left….it could be possible to capture 8th….

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My frau and I will be there. Maybe we can vote on the Person Least Likely to be Liked by Thrash fans- Teflon Don or Greasy Gearon?

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I agree with Kevin that people should support their team no matter what…and I do….I am always there at the games…win or lose…but Atlanta is a GREAT city with plenty of things to chose to spend your money on…someone who doesn’t “know” hockey will never come to watch a team who is not winning,when they can waspend their hard earned money to watch the no 1 ranked Georgia gymdogs, or Tech B-ball, or well playing Falcons, or west side story at the fox. To get non hockey fans in the building and convert them…we need to be winning, we need to make the playoffs that 16 NHL teams make every year, and we need to do it by buildinng our team from our young core players…not renting a veteran, and go out in four post season games only to not sign him.Let’s go Thrashers….beat the crap outta the Panthers, and show those bunch of quitters who own us, that we are better than they are….

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You know, I never really thought about this until now, but…you can’t spell Sage without ASG.

Amazing.

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I want it to be so damn loud in there that it burns when I pee.

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How much are the tickets with the RawHide discount?

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Nevermore shall I return
Escape these caves of ice….

Wait a minute. Who am I kidding? Of course I”ll be there. I love hockey!!!!

…..For I have dined on honeydew
And drank the milk of paradise….

Go Thrashers!

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We can do this – we can pack the house: Ticket deals:

http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=64079

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Funny thing is you guys have like 200 actual fans… the rest are all people who were curious to see what ice looks like when it’s not in your drink. You guys are a bunch of zipperheads, better start cheering for nashville! A move to winnipeg is inevitable! Go jets 2011!

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Nick, you sir are an idiot. There are probably more Canadians living in Atl than there are in all of Winnipeg. Wonder why that is……

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Nck from Weener-peg, funny thing is…..you are an ass clown.

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hockeymom92 I can’t make the game, but I would certainly be willing to help a true fan get a ticket if you would like to go. If you wanna go, lemme know. My “dumpster-use-this-address-to-sign-up-for-spam-crap-on-the-internet email is bacchus.winez AT gmail.com. The more bums in the seats the better! Totally serious.

And if anybody knows hockeymom92 make sure she gets this message in case she doesn’t check back on the postings.

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Ah, don’t look now, but Kovy and Co. are only 8 points behind the Thrashers. Wouldn’t that be the ultimate downer if the Devils…? OK, lets not think about it!

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Thanks RL, that would be awesome! But I live in Denver right now and doubt I will be able to make it out, unfortunately that is one hell of a long drive . Damn I wish I could go! Always the chance of another interview in Atl though (crosses fingers). Don’t worry though, I will be at a local establishment being belligerent! I know hockeymom92 could use a ticket and I was going to help get her one if she wants it. We need that place ROCKING! Man I wish I could come and meet everybody (I met some of you, including Bill, during the playoffs at a bar in Buckhead) and get rowdy! Can’t wait to see the camera pan around a packed stadium!

Kovalchoke? Na, I wouldn’t worry about them because we are going on a tear here shortly and Brodeur is only going to be in a back up role for a while due to his knee (I hope – and he is still no Roy).

I very much appreciate the sentiment though, it will happen soon enough.

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Big win for the Canes on Brind’amour’s night in Raleigh. One of the true noble men of the sport and a really nice guy. Never took a night off and worked his tail off even after the injury that left him a shadow of his former self on the ice.

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On another note: with all of the player movement Boston has been up to (and I do not think they are done), they are looking like they could give Philly a pretty good run. That would be one hell of a series. Prediction: Vancouver vs Boston for the Cup. Right now I would put my $$ on the Canucks, but I will wait to see how the Bruins’ chemistry irons out with the new players. How nice would it be to be Vancouver and not have to make a single move trade-wise and still kick a$$?

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Lawn furniture, lol! But I don’t RL, I get the “opportunity”, if you will, to see the ‘Nucks quite a bit and they are more physical than you think. Not the Sedins of course but it would be interesting to see blazing speed vs huge bodies.

Vancouver’s GF/GA differential is +57 while Boston’s is +41. Basically a draw in my opinion.

Luongo is posting a .925 save % while Thomas is trumping Luongo with a .938 SV%. Boston has better D and is more physical. Vancouver has more prolific scorers. It would be one hell of a match up and anybody who would bet on that series is either filthy rich or a dumba$$.

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Tonight, Florida lost and Ottawa lost. So did the Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks. And Chicago lost in regulation time … to the Columbus Blue Jackets. I’m sorry, but those teams really have to be thinking about strategically selling off assets. Ottawa still has some much more to deal. Red Light, your thoughts on Chris Philips? Or even Alfredsson?

Buffalo laid an EGG, as in a GOOSE egg, against the St. Louis Blues, at home. Ouch! See, those are the games that teams in a playoff push just cannot lose. What a missed opportunity for the Sabres to really be back into the hunt. St. Louis, God love ‘em, are not going to make the playoffs. That game … has to be a win.

The effect? Well, now Carolina’s win over the Flyers really has the ‘Canes entrenched into the 8th spot, for a while.

Ya know, through a decade, I’ve never heard the chant, “Fiiiire Wa-ddell” resonate through the arena. I think I’d rather enjoy that. He’s earned that, from fans. Seriously, why does that man always get a pass from the hockey fans at Philips Arena? In Washington, when Head Coach Glen Hanlon faltered, the fans serenaded him with a chorus of “Fiiire Hanlon!” And the next day, Hanlon was gone. And Bruce Boudreau was in. It’s been three division titles, and counting, for the Capitals. Although, how many of us would bet against TB winning the SE Division this year? At the # 2 seed, I honestly think the Lightning could have a very deep run, this year. If they draw the NYR at # 7, and then draw the NE Division Champ in the CSF, they could find themself in the CF with either Philly or Pittsburgh. Even if they lose, that’s a heckuva year for the Bolts, who many thought would not be a playoff team this season.

Final thought: The Atlanta Spirit, LLC has been less than desireable as hockey owners. And it’s easy to dislike them, distrust them, and laugh at how litigious they are, and deem them “pathetic” in terms of their ability to understand the dynamics of running an NHL franchise. But do we really want to antagonize a group of people who have the power to (1) extend Don Waddell’s contract, AGAIN, (2) sell the team to an entity that would relocate it, and (3) lower the budget even more for next year and/or not add anymore payroll this year? Or even worse (4) move assets like Kane or Bogosian or Burmistrov out of town? Now, I honestly think this ownership has come to deserve to public humiliation. But I want them to do the ‘right thing’ … and that’s sell the team to someone who will CARE for it and KEEP it here. But to do that, they must surrender some of the venue’s proceeds, otherwise … the next owner is just (1) an idiot who will quickly realize how badly he got fleeced, then hold a “firesale,” or (2) a corporation or billionaire looking to acquire an offset asset for tax relief. In short, someone who potentially CARES LESS about the Thrashers than the Spirit Group does. And there’s a ‘chilling’ thought for a cold, February day.

Where am I going with this? Maybe the signs shouldn’t be so much, “Spirit Group Sucks” “I hate you, Spirit Clowns,” and “FUBAS, ‘Nuff Said.” I don’t encourage a sign that reads, “I don’t brake for Bruce Levenson in the crosswalk.” Instead, signs like “Save our Thrashers!,” “Calling all billionaire hockey fans, we’re your market” or “Arthur Blank, Coca-Cola, think it over. Be our new owners!” might be a better way to go. I think those kinds of signs might resonate better in the Commissioner’s office, too. Gary Bettman is well aware that we hate the owners, and we don’t hold Don Waddell in much esteem, either. But what he doesn’t know … is if the ownership were changed, if the attendance situation would improve. The answer is, “yes.” New owners would at least be given a “grace period” before we hold them in something resembling equal contempt.

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Be sure to look at the anti-Glazer campaign by Manchester United fans for inspirations! Fans vs. ownership.

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My best friend and I will be going to every game that we possibly can. And we’ll round up as many friends as we can. And we’ll be cheering as loudly as we can!

Sage and LAC, I really hope that you’ll come. We would love to meet our most vocal fans

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Going to be there and be there early!

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Puckhead, with all due respect I disagree. 1 game will show a lot, it will show that we CAN come, but at this point choose not to due to the tragedy that has occured over the last 10 years.

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Sharon, no way Sage and LAC will be there!! Too much effort required!

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@Puckhead

I agree with Spud Webb (how in the world were you able to jump so high?). Filling the building to the rafters this Friday will send a message to Gary Bettmen that there is a fan base here.

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I’m going to have to sit this one out, I’m afraid. I’m taking my oldest tax deduction to Savannah to check out the art college down there.

I agree completely with the “Boycott the Boycott” strategy. To sit out would simply justify the ridiculous notion put forth by Gearon that poor fan attendance is to blame for the team’s woes. He’s got it backwards; the team’s woes are to blame for poor fan attendance. I find it ironic that these clowns want to call themselves owners but they don’t take ownership of the problems they have created for this franchise.

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I’ll be there and hit the taco mac early to get my vocal chords properly lubricated.

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Brendan: The Leafs only get the Bruins No 1, not their own previously dealt No. 1, and the Flyers No. 1 pick for Versteeg. But, two first-round picks, no matter where they fall, are certainly better than none, particularly in a draft that is said to be more balanced than in some previous years. Wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Burke use them to move back into the top 10 on draft day if he found someone he really likes.

With only two games before next Friday Feb. 25, the Thrashers are guaranteed to return home in no better position than 9th through 61 games when facing the Panthers. Conceivably, if things go wrong and they lose twice, they could be as low as 11th.

Team Games Played Current Point Total Upcoming Games thru 2-24-11
Rangers 60/66 Flyers, at Canes
Hurricanes 59/64 Devils, Rangers
Sabres 57/60 Caps, Thrashers
Thrashers 59/60 at Oilers, at Sabres
Maple Leafs 58/56 Senators, Isles, at Canadiens
Panthers 57/55 at Lightning, at Isles, at Sens
Devils 58/52 at Canes, at Stars

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You can’t show up for just one game it means zip unless you repeat it for all remaining games – without wins the crowd is unsustainable. I say this as a loyal STH. One night is a start but does not get it donelong term.

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All I can say is ‘guarded optimism’. Thats all. Dammit, Stewart was a special player, very special. Grrrr – bad mood commences……

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McClement is an excellent third-line center, but he, Stewart and Johnson have expiring contracts after next season. Shattenkirk is in his first season of an entry level deal.

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Red Light, why did the Blues ’sour’ on Erik Johnson? They give up the former 1st overall pick, plus a 1st rounder, and McClemment … just to get Shattenkirk, a 2nd rounder, and middling Chris Stewart? Ummn. Were the Blues “drunk” when they made this deal?

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I guess I just don’t understand why the Blues “quit” on Erik Johnson. I like Chris Stewart. But a Tier I guy, he is NOT. We’re talking about the loss of a 1st overall pick. I wouldn’t begin to categorize Erik Johnson in the same boat as Patrik Stefan. I think Johnson has had some injuries, but at 22 years old … is really time to abandon ship, on what was supposed to be a “franchise” player? I do think Shattenkirk will develop into something good. But is ANNNNY of it … commeasurate to what a 1st overall pick should be??

Let me rephrase that … are we prepared … to call Erik Johnson … one of the “biggest BUSTS in NHL Draft History.” To me, that’s what the St. Louis Blues are implying. He’s 22, and they’ve already seen enough. Or, they believe Shattenkirk’s better.

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I think “Nick” from winnipeg must be a typo. Have a nice day “DICK” from winnepeg.

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Shattenkirk has only had 46 NHL games, so lets not write him off just yet. Stewart is seen by Blues GM Armstrong as one of the best young power forwards in the game, and they need someone to score dirty goals. They have plenty of skilled forwards, but fewer gritty ones. Johnson isn’t a bust, but the Blues expected more of the No. 1 overall pick. He may do very well in Colorado, but this is pure and simply the Blues reach to get what they feel is a dynamic power forward. I wouldn’t read anything else into it. The media likes to say you can’t give up on a former No. 1, some GMs feel the same way. Talent is in the eye of the beholder. Blues like Stewart and the Avs probably liked the return of Johnson and a No. 1. Segmenting the deal, Shattenkirk for McClement? Sure, why the heck not?

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Shatt and McClement neither pleases nor displeases me, a wash. But now I am in the situation of not having a power forward. Sherman made a poor choice for our team. I expect we will aggressively pursue UFA power forward in the off season. We have to if we are going to do any damage.

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ZAvalanche, I think you should be ‘dancing’ rather than ‘depressed’ over this trade. Okay, Stewart is a good player. But he’s a 3rd line center. His game may be intense, and that’s GREAT, but you got Erik Johnson and the Blues 1st rounder, which could wind up being a lottery draft pick, for his departure. Plus, McClemment, for however long he stays.

I’m sorry, I really think Colorado won this one. For the Blues, heavy sigh … it’s 0-for-everything since 1967. Several Years ago, they hired John Davidson to oversee operations. Now, I like John Davidson, as a human being. His heart’s always in the right place. He tries very hard. He’s very passionate about hockey. But how long did he leave Larry Pleau in charge?? And then, the big move in the GM chair … was Doug Armstrong, whom the Dallas Stars had quite seen enough of. I don’t know why God doesn’t seemingly like the Saint Louis Blues.

Pleau took over the Blues in 1997. Things started out pretty well. Seven straight years of playoffs. St. Louis won the President’s Trophy in 2000. They did win 5 playoff series under Pleau’s stewardship, including reaching the CF in 2001. But really, and can we be honest?, what has Larry Pleau done since the Lockout?? The Blues made the playoffs once since then, and that was a divinely-inspired “miracle” run from 13th in the Western Conference to sixth (6th) on the final day of the season. But in those 2009 playoffs, they were promptly swept out by Vancouver, outscored by more than a two to one (2:1) margin. The NHL Network had that “big Draft Special” on the Blues, that they ran ad nauseum. Well, for all their plottings, all their schemings … all their ‘best laid plans,’ where are the St. Louis, through this MAGNANIMOUS rebuilding project? Cripes!! They might be worse off than the Thrashers, under Waddell’s reign of power. And the Blues had umpteen picks in that draft special. And a lot of them did manage to find their way in to the NHL. But are the Blues … today … one of the most feared, youngest, most highly-skilled teams in the NHL today?

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Hard to tell at this point as all involved are young and unproven. Stewart will be a fantastic role player, quite possibly much more, in his coming years. And who knows, Johnson could turn into the Ryan Leaf (sp) of the NHL, certainly StL thinks so else they wouldn’t ditch him. I guess I will just have to wait and see.

Thrashy should clean up on Edmonton tonight, good luck. And I am interested to see if we play our new keeper, Elliot, and to see how our new guys do. One thing you can say about this time of year: it definitely isn’t boring!

Anyhow, installing new OS, chat with you all in a while.

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Sign Idea Number 3

Dispose the Spirit

Save The Thrashers

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Our own version of William Wallace has asked us to show up to fight the English. Sharpen your tounges and be prepared to battle!!!!

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ATLANTA TO WINNIPEG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOT!!!!!

GO JETS GO!!!!!

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Blues are still looking for ownership help, are they not? EJ was overpaid relative to his impact and moving him now to get a very reasonably priced Stewart (who won’t have much leverage for a huge raise after this injury-plagued year) and Shattenkirk who is still on his ELC. Blues may try to move even more salary if they keep fading further and further behind the pack. I’d love to swoop in and get either D’Agostini or Sobotka but alas, those two have very cheap contracts.

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A history lesson about the St. Louis Blues.

Franchise opened for the 1967-68 season for $2 million expansion fee and the owner bought the St. Louis Arena from the Wirtz family (Blackhawks) for $4 million.

After a financially devastating 1976-77 season that saw the Blues pare down their staff to three employees, general manager Emile Francis (former coach and GM of the Rangers) was able to convince Ralston Purina chairman R. Hal Dean to invest in the team.

In 1981-82, Dean retired and Ralston Purina soon lost interest in hockey. Citing losses of $1.8 million per year, the company put the team up for sale. When the league blocked the sale of the Blues to Saskatoon interests in 1983, the company padlocked the Checkerdome and left the franchise on the NHL’s doorstep. The Blues, with their ownership unresolved, did not participate in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. Entrepreneur Harry Ornest bought the franchise off the scrap heap.

In 1986, he too decided to move on and sold he team to a local ownership group led by Michael Shanahan during the 1986-87 season.

The team’s success in 1990-91 inspired the top St. Louis corporations to come together, buy the team from Shanahan and build the new Kiel Center (now the Scottrade Center), which opened in downtown St. Louis in 1994.

In September, 1999, the consortium of 19 St. Louis companies which owned the Blues and the Kiel Center announced that the team and the rink had been sold to Bill and Nancy Laurie.

Dave Checketts and SCP Worldwide (SCP) were officially introduced as the new owners of the St. Louis Blues and Savvis Center on June 30, 2006.

Meaning: It ain’t over yet!

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Red Light, I totally forgot that Wendell Clark went 1st overall. How’d I forget that? He was one of my favorite players. Why would anyone trade him, I do have to wonder. Also, what idiot GM traded Dale Hawerchuk?

Good research though. Unless the GM is trading a player for “mitigating circumstances,” such as “character issues-trouble with the law or drugs or booze,” “player refuses to play or re-sign,” or “excessive injuries,” I just can’t wrap my head around trading a former 1st overall. Either the NHL Central Scouting was just plain, flatout WRONG on Erik Johnson … or the Blues got fleeced. I guess time will tell. And that 1st rounder … could very seriously be a Top 10 overall pick coming back to Colorado. Coughing up a Top 10 pick for Shattenkirk and Chris Stewart is a hefty-enough price, before they threw in Erik Johnson. They essentially gave him away.

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Bill, I understans exactly what you are getting at 100%. But in ALL honesty how can you go to
an event at Philips after his comments against the fans of all people. Can those jerks not admit any guilt ???

Trading Jack Johnson would be like trading zach B. No different. If you can get a solid asset in return, then do the deal. Plus Johnson is a lot like zach B. watched a Blues game recently and Johnson was a half step behind and could never hit the net from the point. Plus he, like zach B. would never hit anyone with any degree force. I see a lot of the same in zach B. Stewart was injured when we played Colorado, so we did not see him and the D-man they got set a Colorado franchise record for consecutive game scoring earlier in the season. I just wonder who might get left behind in Edmonton, at the VERY least, asg would not have to pay for a plane ticket to Atlanta… That way it could pay for my seat at the game.

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It’s my opinion that Doug Armstrong can’t and won’t fix the St. Louis Blues. I don’t have an answer for that one. Despite what we saw in Calgary, I always thought that Darryl Sutter was a good hockey man. Understands the dynamics of running an NHL team. He overpaid for a few players, and it sank him. I’m not saying Darryl Sutter could fix the Blues, either. Is Dale Tallon still looking for a job?

I don’t know what to say. I wish the St. Louis Blues every success. That franchise needs to catch a break, and soon. Their last trip to the Finals was 1970, back when 12 teams were in the league, and one conference was exclusively that of the Expansion teams. I guess the thinking there was … the six new teams wouldn’t have anything to cheer about for a decade, if they had to be going up head-to-head with the “Original Six” teams, so … they made a Conference where the expansion clubs would battle each other … for the right to be annihilated in the Finals. The result? St. Louis won all three years, and went 0-12 in Finals. The experiment was declared “over” at that point. The Finals were a foregone conclusion, that nobody cared about.

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Red Light, I always know I can count on your for a great history recap of the St. Louis Blues. That, was well done, sir. God Bless the Saint Louis Blues.

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Thank you for the very generous offer, Red Light….I just may be there already (i.e. on my own dime)…I haven’t decided. I’m certainly tempted for all the good reasons listed.

I’ve also thought about this “one last time” sentiment.

I got so mad at Kincade and Gearon a couple of days ago, I was against even that.

I’ve got to think about it some more. I do agree that the ’sustainable’ part has merit (i.e. it should be for all remaining games to make an impact on a potential investor)….but, then again, I want this ownership to lose as much money as possible. I abhor filling the coffers for those who don’t deserve it. But, this team does provide an entertainment option and I do not want it to leave, in the end.

I’ll see what my original hockey-tutor is doing (who lurks here and may even post a time or two)….maybe my wife….It’s great food-for-thought…

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Another reason to Save The Thrashers: Read the Last Two Comments

http://bluelandblog.com/2010/04/11/kiss-cam-couple-wins-7th-man-award/

Don’t let the Spirit Clowns break the Benning’s hearts.

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Oh, I don’t know, but I kinda like the Blues roster going forward. Jackman is the oldest d-man at 29, and McDonald is the oldest forward at 33. Insert the injured David Perron, Basil McRae’s 20-year-old son Phillip, defensemen Ian Cole and Brett Ponich, and this is a young roster that can grow together.

Oshie, Backes, Stewart, Pietrangelo, D’agostini, Berglund, Steen, Polak, Shattenkirk is a pretty darn good young group if they can stay healthy!

T.J. Oshie • Alex Steen • Patrik Berglund • Chris Stewart • Brad Winchester • Andy McDonald
• Vladimir Sobotka • Brad Boyes • David Backes • B.J. Crombeen• Matt D’Agostini

Alex Pietrangelo • Barret Jackman
Kevin Shattenkirk • Carlo Colaiacovo
Roman Polak • Nikita Nikitin

Jaroslav Halak • Ty Conklin

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Boycotting is stupid unless you want the thrashers out of here

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OMG! The “wizard” behind the curtain DOES have a heart!

I. AM. STUNNED

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Sage, here is your alternative.

Go to Stub Hub and get your tickets there. This way you will not be giving any new money to the Thrasher’s organization and you can attend the game and raise your voice.

A win win…

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Quote = Rawhide “I will also invite you to return next winter and explain why the Thrashers still are not in Winnipeg.”

Why would I wait that long? I’ll be back within the next 60 days when you will be writing the Thrashers postmortem. I promise to hold off partaking of my morning beverage until after I do so though. Otherwise, I’d be likely to snarf hot coffee through my nose while trying to hold back an outburst of uncontrollable laughter. And doing something like that would constitute taking a shot at your own fine city.

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2-0, Thrashers!! Goals by Byfuglien and Ladd. Mason, performing adequately. So, here it is. We’re playing a bottom-feeder “lottery draft” team, we have the lead … and we’re 38 minutes from regulation. This is our season. Why ’sugarcoat’ that? If we lose this team, when will our next win matter? Carolina is already at 64-points. The Sabres still have games-in-hand.

We’ve already squandered so many, many, many chances at this point. Honestly, six wins in the last 24 games?? That’s 6-13-5, for a .354 clip. There’s no way that kind of percentage can get it done. We basically have to go 17-7, the rest of the way.

Rawhide, I’m with you. I don’t think this team is gone. Certainly, not by next season. That’s a pipe dream. Could 2012-13 be elsewhere? Maybe. But I still wouldn’t bet on it.

Re: One game vs. selling out the rest of the way … we gotta sellout the rest of the way. But, how does public perception change? Not really on a dime. It takes time, and “positive reinforcement” that the AS,LLC is actually TRYING again. For this ownership, they’re in “show me, don’t tell me” status with most fans. Saying things like, “We’ve got cap space” doesn’t matter. What matters is making the trades that bring in the payroll. These acquisitions of Stuart and Wheeler are a fine start. Two weeks too late??? Better “late” than never?? Well, not if we miss the playoffs. Then “too late” MATTERED.

Red Light, re: Blues … don’t we always say that about them? Things like, “Look at their potential!” “Look how young they are!” “Things are certainly headed in the right direction.” “The sun is rising in the ‘Show Me’ State!” All that works ‘just fine’ when a franchise is less than a decade old. But into their 5th decade, that talk wears thin. The Don Waddell classic, “I think we’re close, real close” to being a playoff team is like hearing … “Tomorrow’s forecast … sunny to party cloudly, a slight breeze, with a 10-percent chance of rain.”

What does that forecast really mean???? It’s not saying ANNNNYTHING. If it’s sunny, it’s sunny for 2 hours. If it’s partly-cloudy, it’s partly cloudy. A breeze always comes and goes. And a 10-percent chance of rain means … that when you get soaked, because you left your umbrella at home, that the meteorologist is off the hook. After all, he did tell you … there was a TEN PERCENT chance of rain. That’s the history of the St. Louis Blues. Shining moments of wonderfulness, followed by disappointment, and improper planning. And bad luck. That’s it, in a nutshell, Red Light. I wish St. Louis the very best. But it never happens for them. The Blues are in their 43rd season. Makes the failures of the Atlanta Thrashers tolerable. Just think, Thrasher fans, 32 more years of failing to win the Cup, and we’ll tie the Blues!!! And L.A. Kings. And Toronto Maple Leafs.

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I didn’t catch it, so who is Bettman sitting in the stands with? They seem to be having a lively conversation.

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What we need now, is guys to stand up for the goalies. Pavelec and Mason have been run many times this year.

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Well…..crap….

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Do not give up!!!

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No lead is safe with this crew.

It sure would be nice to see some good hockey here just once before this team skips town. Just once, dammit.

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I was about to buy tickets to Friday’s game until it went from 3-1 to 3-4. F!@# this team. There is no effort. They had no effort. If your going to let Tyler Hall walk in front of your net twice in the same fing periord then I’m not coming to support you.

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Our ownership may lack for testicular fortitude, but some of our players need to go see the Wizard and get a brain. We lost the game today because we were stupid.

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FAIL!

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That was awful.

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After this, I am DONE with The Atlanta Thrashers, Good-Bye, It has NOT been fun. I will never attend another game ever in Atlanta, with a gutless preformance like this, Totally Disgusting !

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Somebody alert the defense, Oduya especially, that this isn’t an all-star game, putting a body on your man is allowed. Pathetic, absolutely pathetic.

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this is what 680 the fan just posted on thier facebook page…The Thrashers lose a tough one in Edmonton. After being up 3-1 in the 3rd, they lose 5-3. The Post Game Show with Mitch Evans and Dan Kamal is up next. Only on the Trashers Radio Network……680 the fan CALLED US THE TRASHERS!!!! GOD I HATE THAT STATION!!!!

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And that, Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Stuart, is Thrasher hockey, welcome to the club!

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How many coaches could blow a 3-1 lead in the 3rd period vs. the worst team in the league.

You many not like what I am doing, but you have to admit can do things that few coaches are capable of.

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I can’t believe the Thrasher FANS lost another away game.

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Edmonton has 30 sellouts in a row despite having a lousy record.

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Un-friken-believable. 3 3rd period PP goals to the WORST PP unit in the league. But if you let thier guy come from the corner to the net without touching him, then what can you expect.

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Please sold a TEAM and move them somewhere, I will sleep quitly and peasefull. I could not take it anymore.

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Brendan – This season is over. We aught to be a seller at the deadline… starting with Oduya. Hainsey, Antropov, Stewart and Bergfors would be the others. Picks and prospects would be the price. Whatever Dudley can get. We need to start moving salary to have room to resign Ladd, Wheeler, Kane, etc. on the CHEAP ASG budget.

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We just traded a 28 year old @ 1.3 mil a year that can play. Think any owners will be at casino night?

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A new start here in hockey mad Winnipeg, a sold out arena every night, and the team being front and centre in the limelight, should give them a bit of a moral boost and a jump in their step.

Lookin’ forward to this fall boys!

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Forget about the playoffs; think more about what we can get for the future:

Oduya, Modin, Mason to Anaheim for a bag of pucks and (hopefully) at least a 5th round pick.
Stapleton and Stewart to Canadiens for a 2nd and 3rd round pick.
Bogosian (AKA NHL BUST) to the Senators for 2 1st round draft picks (2012 & 2013 nhl draft)

People this team can build around:
Kane,
Enstrom,
Buff,
Burmy,
Pavelec

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Just watch the Winnipeg jets win the Cup next season guys then we will all realize these
fat a$$ l#rds we call owners ruined this team.

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Ya know, we should also talk about Chris Mason’s performance. A lot of times, when a player is in that low, there’s just not much net at which to shoot. So, the only viable option is the five hole, to see if the goalie will open the wickets. Mason, to me, was at fault for four of those goals, starting to the MPS goal. Mason must make that save. Two of the Taylor Hall goes were on Mason, period the end.

Remember something about Nik Antropov, he’s played the whole year hurt. Another organization probably would have longterm IR’d him for the season, bringing in a player at $4 million salary, to take his place. Antropov might be just fine next season, when healthy.

Lost in this game, is an utterly beautiful goal by Evander Kane, short-handed, that put us up, 3-1. That should have been the GWG.

Fan, re: Edmonton. True or false, you couldn’t remove hockey from the fabric of the Edmononton lifestyle, if you dropped an atomic bomb on it? You can lose in Edmonton. What ELSE are people going to spend money on? Those five Cups were unquestionably … the single most important thing that ever, ever happened to the community of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Is there any chance … kids would ever stop going to pee-wee hockey in Edmonton? Is there shortage of sheets of ice in Edmonton? There are probably more rinks in Edmonton, than in the entire State of Georgia. In this market, the product has to have the BELIEF of the townspeople to be successful. This week, the hockey fans of the region learned that its ownership have been trying to sell this teams within five minutes of acquiring it. Not exactly ‘confidence-inspiring’ in the “committed ownership” department. Which begs the question, “If the owners don’t care, why should the fans?” Fan, can you imagine … the Edmonton market going a DECADE without a playoff win, with the SAME General Manager in place? Think the Edmonton media would gloss that one over, burying hockey on the back page of the newspaper? C’mon. You can lose in Edmonton and sellout for 300 straight games. Going to Hockey, for Edmonton, is like breathing for the rest of us.

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Yep- Rawhide is a flat out genius. Show how upset we are by filling the joint. The owners are laughing in their sleep. Remind me never to invest in anything this crackerjack recommendsWhat a joke. Bet he is on their payroll.

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I’m thinking the vibe at tomorrow’s Casino Night will more resemble a wake than a festive charity event. At least the boys should look good given the lack of physical play today.

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Red Light, the Devils have been 14-1-2 in their last 17, and have won six in-a-row. In your opinion, can the Devils make the playoffs? Follow up question, will the Devils finish AHEAD of the Thrashers?
Follow up question, still, would a Devils run to a playoff spot be the greatest comeback ever?

Rawhide, do you think the 2011 Thrashers will equal the mark of the 2008 and 2009 Thrashers, at 76-points? At present, the team is playing at a .340 clip over the past 24 games. If the team continues at the present rate of a .350 clip, they’ll bank between 15 and 16 points out of the remaining 46 that are possible from 23 more games. 60 + 15 = 75-points. 60 + 16 = 76-points. My gosh, what if we don’t even bank that? We’d actually be BELOW where we were the season after being SWEPT by the NY Rangers, in 2008. Well, 2009, too. Both seasons saw 76-points, when Waddell blustered that the Thrashers were “close, real close” to a playoff spot. It was also the time when Levenson said, “We’re way ahead of where Philadelphia was in 2007, before they went to the CF in 2008.” So, if we finish below the point total for 2008, are we worse off then where Philadelphia was? Yes!! Clearly. The Flyers beat Washington and Montreal before bowing out to Pittsburgh in 2008. The Flyers were again, a playoff team, in 2009. They were bested by the Penguins in six games. Last year, the Flyers defeated New Jersey, Boston, (after rallying from down 0-3,) and Montreal before bowing out in Game Six of the Stanley Cup Finals.

So, we’re still right on pace with the Flyers, right? And the rebuilding job that Philadelphia’s GM, Paul Holmgren did, after the team finished DEAD LAST in the NHL, and to make things WORSE from them, the Flyers also LOST the lottery draft to Chicago. Chicago took Pat Kane 1st overall. Philly took Jame van Riemsdyk. Painfully enough for Flyer fans, Pat Kane scored the OT winner on Leighton that clinched the Cup. How ‘big’ was that lottery draft win for Chicago??

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Fan, post early. Post often. Where have you been, before?

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“Saaave Our Thrash-ers!” clapclapclapclapclap “Saaave Our Thrash-ers!” clapclapclapclapclap

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FREAKING BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…….

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Well I would love to be there but my closed its doors a month ago and the Atlanta job market is not good. I think 10% unemployment may have alot to do with empty seats. The Team started out well but has since gone into the tank. I have to worry about keeping my seat in my house on unemployment. If employers in Atlanta would get off their duff and start hiring more then more people will have money in their pocket to buy tickets and support the rest of the local econmony. I don’t that a group of owners like the ASG is keeping people away its more like the enconmony. I have been to games when there 17000 this year and when there were 12000. Going downtown during the week is hard with the traffic and the start time of 7pm. Spending $35 on a ticket on unemployment is tough.I hate to say but it looks like this team is headed to Canada at some point but I hope not.

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The Thrashers effing stink. It’s like watching a guy in a corolla race a guy in a camaro or some other more clever analogy…whatever. I’m sorry, but kiss this season good bye. This dip is comparable to the pre-Kovy/Heatley era, IMO and just utter garbage as expected. I hate to go on like this, but what a tragic tragic end to a tragic tragic tale.

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Y’all might not wanna read Pierre LeBrun’s latest Hot Stove column. Looks like the end may really be drawing nigh unless a new investor comes out of nowhere. 6 to 8 weeks??

Why does my gut keep telling me we’re off to Winnipeg so Nashville can move to the Eastern Conference where they belong?

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Per LeBrun:

Also, blueliner Johnny Oduya (one more year on his deal at $4M) is generating lots of interest. If the Thrashers feel they’ve fallen back in the playoff race by Feb. 28, they might move him.

Get him the hell outta here.

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Brendan: The latest sellout = Michael Gearon!

Devils still have a long way to go but confidence is a dangerous thing, and they have it, and when Parise comes back, look out!

Blues 9, Ducks 3!

Detroit, not Nashville will move to the Eastern Conference.

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“Thats it! Back to Winnipeg”

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Smoothie, Agreed on the Nashville to the southeast thing and the Peg to the central. Looking like it’ll happen more and more with every game…anywho. Divisions and Conferences ARE POINTLESS. Here’s why…

There’s nearly always in every league teams filed so to speak under the wrong catagories due to them being grouped according to location. So for my OCD personality, I hate seeing it. It’s like filing things alphabetically, but cheating on a few when you can’t make room for them in the correct areas. Stupid.

Look the new all-star format helps. The schedule can stay similar in order to cut travel expenses. The playoff format could remain except all 30 teams would compete against each other all year in the standings, that’d make the post-season more credible too, IMO. Why not we already went to inter conference play and changed the names of both the divisions and conferences. I say do it.

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equivalent (rather)

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I’m going to support this damn team until the bitter end… whether I like it or not!

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Tampa Bay sold out last night. Nashville sold out last night. Raleigh sold out Friday night. All with current competent ownership. Two Stanley cups in the last ten years. Yeah that sunbelt experiment has really failed.

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IR13 – its a shame really but I’m not sure the NHL is viable as a 30 team league. At least in markets like Nashville, Raleigh and Columbus, its the only game in town after football ends as college football is huge in the latter two. The NHL probably should have never gone away from the history rich division names of Adams, Patrick, Smythe and Norris. Six teams in each might have been better with less dilution of the product and perhaps a better TV deal that focuses on rivalries more than Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.

Honestly, do we really need hockey in Atlanta, Columbus, Miami, Nashville, Phoenix and Tampa? Hockeys expansion to the south has done nothing to help TV ratings on the national whole and big numbers even the Olympics have been driven by huge markets in NY, Philly, Chicago and Pittsburgh’s crazed Crosby-sniffing fans. Kudos to Carolina for building a decent fanbase, and Nashville too, but it’s not like the NHL is really thriving BECAUSE of expansion. At some point the NHL is gonna wanna make some money and the short-term success of Winnipeg, aided by a huge relocation fee I bet, will help the league recoup some of the dough it lost in the PHX fiasco. The economic playing field will never be more level with the dollars being almost equal and its tough for Atlanta and Miami to compete with Canada’s govt subsidized national TV deal. Really, in this case, none of the variables favor Atlanta. So I say:

Screw you Ted Turner and the bison you rode off on. And eff you Time Warner for making a crooked deal to a group of a$$ clowns who have no business near a sheet of ice and go to hell AS, LLC for making the destruction of Calumet Farms look like child’s play compared to ur litigious BS!

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The front page of the AJC.com has a story on Chic-Fil-A (locally owned, and a personal favorite!). How about Truett and Dan Cathy rescue our franchise? If they can’t do it alone, how about them and Bernie Marcus? I know, I know…..one single owner is the only way to go, but I’m looking for any viable local options now since Arthur Blank seems uninterested.

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And to Rawhide stating NHL can’t give up on this market… The vast majority of the market have given up on the NHL and this is ATLs second try at making it work. The fine city of wpg will gladly welcome the Thrashers. And, yes, as Uncle Milty stated, you need to inform yourself on the history of the jets demise which had nothing to do with lack of fans, spirit etc. With the latest news out that “ATL needs to find an ownership grp willing to keep team in ATL in 6-8 weeks” suggests they already have someone in mind or the team altogether has been sold…. I am leaning towards they are already spoken for and TNSE will be scooping them up.

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It must really suck to be from Winnipeg. You don’t have anything anyone else would want.

The only thing Winnipeg has is one rich guy that everyone sucks up to.

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This is our team and we aren’t going to let snobby Canadian fans
take them away from us!!!!!

RISE UP ATLANTA!!!! Be there for the Panthers game!

We will get investors or a new owner. Mark my words, you Winnipeg snobs!

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On a mini-vaca to Orlando and went to the Lightning-Panthers game last night in Tampa. All I can say is this — so THAT is how to run a hockey franchise? Can someone bring the ASG folks to Tampa Bay for a game so they can see this? A team-sponsored 5k run in the morning. Events outside in the Fan Plaza before the game. Concession stands in the arena that were not only open, but selling good food with cheerful people. Oh yeah – did you know that Philips doesn’t have to remove the caps from the bottles of soda and water even though they tell you it is an NHL rule? I too was shocked….the vendors there seem to not have ever heard of such foolishness. I just always believed the vendors when they said that – but I looked it up today and lo and behold can find nothing from the NHL mandating that arenas remove bottle caps. Stupid ASG…one more annoying thing to inconvenience fans. Anyway, not only does Tampa Bay put a great product on the ice, they really seem to care about the fans and trying to pack that arena. From ticket prices, to specials, to give-aways, fan events…I had a great time even though I hate the Bolts. ASG Sucks.

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quote = Smoothie “Screw you Ted Turner and the bison you rode off on.”

The Provincial symbol for Manitoba is…. a bison!

The stars have aligned my friends. Stay thirsty.

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I’ll drink to that Uncle! Wpg has waited far too long for the return of the jets. GB put NO effort in keeping them in wpg. GB was quoted as saying we will do everything we can to keep the NHL in wpg… 5 days later they were sold to clowns in PHX. The deal is done. The Buff signing is no coincidence… the guy just elevated his NHL status to god-like here in the peg. TNSE saw him as quality player and prime marketing asset for jets fans….it’s a cold icy and sunny afternoon in wpg and the jets are about to land.

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Portage – I haven’t read your posts and don’t know if you’re here to troll…hope not. Anywho, I agree, you guys are getting this team. I’m happy the NHL is likely returning to the Peg and maybe Quebec City in a little while, but I’m not happy you’ll likely be getting this team which never had a chance instead of a team like Phoenix (ie, the return of the Jets) who deserve it.

Anyways if you’re here to thumb your nose like a pre-k brat and say “nanny, nanny, boo, boo” then go *#$@ a duck.

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Iron… just responding to some bad comments posted here about wpg and “Bombing Canada”. Not trolling. This will more than likely be my last post. Just wanted to see what fans were thinking about all of this. I wish it was phx instead and Thrashers were staying…. Thats on GB. All the best anyways.

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“Not trolling. This will more than likely be my last post. Just wanted to see what fans were thinking about all of this.”

See, that’s where you lose all credibility. If you REALLY wanted to see what the fans were thinking, you would simply READ the blogs, no name or email required. Your town already went through losing a team once and so did we. How do you think the fans feel? You and your Uncle are doing nothing but rubbing it in people’s faces and enjoying yourselves. Just being the pricks that you are.

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Portage – I won’t say anything about bombing ANYONE, but I would suggest going through some of the archives on the AJC, be it Chris Vivlamore’s or Rawhide’s to see just how wonderfully we get treated by jealous and elitist Cannucks in the Peg and Frenchies in Quebec. Again, I won’t excuse anyone talking about bombing Canada in order leak in your Count Chocula, but there’s definitely good reason why we’re defensive down here and unjustly so. Lot’s of Canadian trolls forget or have no clue what demographics live down here and love the Thrashers. I can assure you we’re not like a bunch of Froghorn Leghorn sounding Hee-haws with chunks of old chaw dried to the toes of our boots. Atlanta’s not exactly a southern southern city at this point.

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Going to the box office tomorrow to get three tickets and four tickets for Sunday

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Yeah P&M, the NHL is DYING to go back to Winnipeg – despite what you may “remember” of the Jets, the facts are they never were a top drawing team and averaged about 13.5 K. The final season – they were under 12K …and thats with Khabibulin, Tkachuk, Selanne, Zhamnov, Janney, Doan, Teverdosky, Drake and Olczyk on the roster. This during a time in the league where 16 of the 21 teams make the playoffs. Winnipeg’s playoff attendance was atrocious. You have a city with a shrinking populace. We are a top 10 market. Makes so much more sense from a BUSINESS perspective to grow your product in new markets. If done right, it will succeed here. No city would support these moronic owners.

Enough with the troll. Anyone got any thoughts on Souray out there on waivers for $2.25M?

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You know on the move Buff up front bit….

Without the numbers in front these last two months have been a complete reversal of our November December run. It’s been much worse than that strtch was good. This team’s facing mission impossible here, so It’s time to roll the dice. Yeah the trade deadline is coming fast, and SO WHAT? There’s not so much hockey left how much worse could we possibly lose?

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Iron League 13 – All Canadians on here are trolls. What do you expect? They’re salivating at watching the Thrashers fail. I’m from Winnipeg…I get sick of almost every Canadian shooting down the U.S. If Portage and Main isn’t trolling, then I’ve got some desert to sell you in Manitoba. Bottom line is that for months Winnipeg watched like the piranhas they are to get Phoenix. Now, a day after Glendale agrees to keep the team for the 20th time in 6 months, Winnipeg turns their attention to Atlanta. Whatever. I’m sorry about the lack of ownership in Hotlanta and I wish you guys the best. Just know that not everybody from Winnipeg is an @$$hole. I am watching your story with interest, hoping that you can keep your team. I love the city of Atlanta and think it’s a great sports town. Even though I haven’t been there for almost 20 years, I still vividly remember the Hawks battling the Heat at the Omni…with Van Earl doing the P.A. Good times. Visiting GT and the college girls there wasn’t bad either!

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Sure the NHL and the players really want a team in Winnipeg. “That’s The Ticket”

The why are players specifically putting no trade clauses in their contracts so if the Thrashers end up in Winnipeg they will not go there…

And this is from the Canadian Hot Stove Show

Via Birdwatcher’s Anonymous:

Tonight’s “Hot Stove” segment on Hockey Night in Canada (CBC) discussed the Thrashers ownership situation as well as possible trades for Zach Bogosian. Pierre LeBrun (ESPN) and Ron Maclean (CBC) did most of the talking: both are major media figures with decent credibility. HNIC is the top rated tv show in Canada and given the large Canadian audience was surprisingly negative towards Winnipeg as a possible new location for the team: Glen Healy (CBC) went so far as to say that Winnipeg was such an undesirable destination for players around the league that they were rushing to have Atlanta added to their “no movement” contract clauses so they wouldn’t wind up in WPG.

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this team will move but within the area. the league oughta go after asg. I’m no lawyer but i’ll just gaurantee there’s a crap ton of illegal stuff up in here. i’ll bet this has been going on for a while and it just broke for some reason

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Greetings from the Great White North. I am sorry to miss Friday’s game (will still be skiing), but will be at plenty down the stretch cheering for players and booing owners. Watching the Heritage Classic from this side of the border allowed me to see that pinhead xenophobe Don Cherry spew his opinion that ATL to Winnipeg was a “done deal”, so look for the Canatrolling to only pick up steam.

For perspective, however, go to the Winnipeg Free Press page devoted to Jets rumors and you’ll see numerous such predictions and indications for Phoenix’s iminent relocation over the past two years. Keep the faith, Blueland! Hockey is not moving away soon, and our right to a team is worth fighting for! Even a maddening team is better than no team at all!

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Unfortunately, it’ll probably be the last game I attend until 2012. Shipping out for Basic Training at the beginning of April….

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Wish you the best of luck Mike, take care of yourself.

I have a gut feeling, and it could be just because I want it so badly to be true, that Thrashy will be in Atl next season. I really do think so. Based on everything I have read (from both sides of the coin) I don’t see it happening this year. Not to say it won’t ever happen, but not this next year. We as fans are doing pretty much everything we can to prevent this and doing a pretty damn good job I would say. If it does happen it isn’t because of us and it isn’t because of the Canadian fans, as riling as some of them can be. It has been mashed over to a pulp as to why it would/could/should/shouldn’t/wouldn’t happen and it all points (with pronounced middle fingers) to the League and A$$G.

People who have never visited Atl or even GA have a disparate misconception of what the city is like – dirty, run down, rampant crime, civic unrest, uneducated, poor, redneck, and of course, no hockey fans. And of course they are wrong. Point is, Atl is a fantastic city and Hockey needs to be there. A good owner – hell – a decent owner, could turn this around in a single off season, guaranteed and make a freaking killing. Fact: the players like it here. Just look at Pevs, a northern boy who fell in love with the “Dirty South” as many northerners call it. They have a top-notch facility, die hard fans and way better weather to boot, eh. Not to say Canada isn’t awesome, I love it up there, but I will take an Atl winter any day over the nip up north.

I see no reason why Winnipeg shouldn’t have a pro team, same as I see no reason why Atl shouldn’t have one. You gotta think that Bettman is pulling his remaining hair out at the possibility that he might lose 5.5 million person market that has proven to support any well managed sport that calls Atl home. I emphasize ‘well managed’ because that is what it is really coming down to and we all know it, sh!t, the whole hockey world knows it. A$$G has been ‘outed’, but the question is; does anybody have the balls to do anything about it? I want answers and solutions. I want to KNOW definitively, right now so I don’t keep getting p!ssed about guessing, if it will happen. Is there already a deal? If so, just f-ing tell me and don’t string your fans along. Yeah yeah, if you tell us you are going to move the team we won’t show up is your thought GB. Maybe. Or perhaps you misjudged the fans and they will clamor to see every last minute of in person hockey that they may ever see in Atl. Don’t be a wuss, grow a sack and do you job – which at this point is to try and NOT move a beloved hockey team out of a potentially very prosperous market.

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I hope Kincade is right!!! Tweet….
John Kincade
Attention Thrashers fans! Hope for new ownership partners to save team exists. Expect story to surface. REAL, Seriously interested party

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Well, it isn’t over in the race for seventh and eighth in the Eastern Conference because there isn’t a single team on this list that is playing its best hockey right now in this crucial stage of the season except for the Devils and Islanders. And, there is no way that kind of strong play can continue over the next 20-plus games. A three-game win streak before the trade deadline would be essential to have a realistic shot, however, since Buffalo, the Panthers and the Leafs all are chasing rather than leading, and Atlanta has had success against two of the three. The time is now!

NHL Rank Team Record in Last 10 games Points earned in last 10 games
18 NY Rangers 2-7-1 Lost 2 5 out 20 points
20 Carolina 3-5-2 Lost 1 8 out of 20 points
22 Buffalo 5-4-1 Lost 3 11 out of 20 points
23 Atlanta 2-7-1 Lost 3 5 out of 20 points
24 Florida 3-5-2 Won 1 8 out of 20 points
26 Toronto 6-2-2 14 out of 20 points
27 New Jersey 9-0-1 Won 7 19 out of 20 points
28 NY Islanders 7-3-0 Won 1 14 out of 20 points

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Oh I’m sorry, Kracker. Morning reading comp sucking on my end.

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GOOD NEWS!!!! I was at the Thrashers Casino Night at Club Opera last night and I spoke with several friends. There are SEVERAL local people interested in buying the team and/or investing in them. I also spoke with Andrew Ladd and he told me that he wants to stay in Atlanta for a long time and that he loves it here. He told me that his agent is currently in negotiations with the Thrashers for a long term deal.

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Rawhide! I spoke with Jon last night as well. I heard the same information from another source inside the organization! Plus I will be at the game Friday night. I can’t wait to read your post!

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Did anybody watch the presser last night of Bettman speaking after the Heritage Classic? I watched and it and Bettman was really pissed off at this question and walked off the stage after it. Who else saw it? I don’t know how to take his reaction, he was so visibly pissed off at it (he seemed to get even more pissed after the reporter asked a follow up, not listed below that was something like “in reference to what Gearon said”, here’s the question and answer:

Q. A question about Atlanta, lots of talk about Winnipeg on CBC tonight, everywhere. What’s your take?

COMMISSIONER BETTMAN: I don’t think there’s any new news about Atlanta. I know there was an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, but I hate speculation. I hate the stories, because it raises people’s expectations when they shouldn’t be.

If and whenever we have something to announce I promise you I’ll announce it. But let’s keep our eye on the ball. We just had a great event. And I don’t know what the CBC said. But if that’s what they were spending attention on during this game, I think they’ve taken their eye off the puck.

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As I mentioned earlier on CVIV blog,I spoke with Andrew Ladd and he told me that he is close to signing a long term contract and that he loves Atlanta… He wants to make this his home. Last nights Thrashers Casino night was a big success.

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