Could it be Thrashers are going nowhere soon?
According to this tweet by John Kincade, it would seem that there is possibly an ownership group interested in the Atlanta Thrashers…one that would be interested in not only taking the NHL team off the hands of the Atlanta Spirit, but keep them in Atlanta as well. Not only that, but this group is also interested in the Hawks and Philips Arena too.
I spoke with Kincade earlier this morning and he told me, “All I can say is I can confirm that there is legitimate interest in someone buying control of the Hawks, Thrashers and Philips”.
“Serious candidate”, the co-host of 680 AM The Fan’s Buck and Kincade Show went on to add. “Not like a guy like Rollins”.
When I pressed a little more for additional information, Kincade only said, “There are reasons of confidences shared as to why I am not naming names. I will let this scenario play out”.
OK John, you have our attention. Hopefully this story has some wings to it.
LeBRUN SAYS THE CLOCK IS TICKING
Also on the topic of the Thrashers and their current ownership crisis…last weekend, ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun indicated that the clock is ticking for new owners to be found for the Thrashers.
I did not listen to the “Hot Stove” segment on Hockey Night in Canada, but from what I’ve been told and have read, he indicated that the NHL league office is trying their best to keep the Thrashers in Atlanta, but that there must be new ownership found within the next 6-8 weeks.
Now, I don’t know if that means a deadline has been set to resolve this issue or the NHL will allow the team to be sold to anyone even if that means relocating them…or that the league will step in and take over the problem themselves. Maybe someone who did here the comments can shed some light.
What I do know is that the league is fully aware that the main problem down here is indeed the AS, LLC and they would like to be rid of them just about as much as we do.
NOW…ABOUT LAST WEEKEND
One thing we Thrashers fans have had to learn over the last several seasons is to govern our emotions. When the team is playing very well…as they were last fall…we have to keep reminding ourselves that they really aren’t that good. Eventually, things will moderate out.
The same is true when the team goes through rough patches, the kind every team experiences. Just like when things are going well, things will moderate out. 82 games is a long time and in the end, a team’s true talent level will emerge.
The Edmonton Oilers celebrate Taylor Hall's game winning goal Saturday afternoon. It was Hall's third goal of the period and first hat trick of the rookie's career (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, John Ulan)
However, when we witness a stretch like the Thrashers are going through for two months now…going 6-14-5 over 25 games, winning only three times in regulation since New Years and only once at all since the all Star game…you can’t help but wonder if what we are seeing is indeed the true measure of this squad. And it’s disheartening to say the least.
Saturday’s latest debacle only adds to the general sense of gloom and doom in Thrasherville. The schedule affords the team a matchup with the worst team in the league…points-wise at least…and did so at a time they really needed it. Those two points in northern Alberta were as close to “must have” as it gets for a team looking to turn their fortunes around and try to get back on the winning track.
But it’s not just that they lost to Edmonton in as much as how they did. It was once again a game where they played well enough to take a lead…2-0 and 3-1…but also found a way to allow just enough mistakes to cost then dearly.
SAME SONG DIFFERENT VERSE
That old familiar sinking feeling began as it normally does, in the latter stages of the second period. With Atlanta up 2-0, Chris Mason, (getting his first start since being injured in Dallas a month ago), failed to shut the five-hole in time to stop Magnus Paajarvi’s shot from the right side.
However, that sickening feeling in the pit of our collective stomachs was eased a bit early in the third when Evander Kane danced his way through the Oilers’ defense and deposited the puck into the net past Devan Dubnyk. And with a 3-1 in the third on the Oilers this season, most teams can pretty much fill out the deposit slips to take the two points to the Bank of NHL Standings.
Yes, most teams…but not these Thrashers.
Just 7 tics of the clock after Kane’s highlight real goal, Chris Thorburn then takes a tripping penalty in the offensive zone…and then the Taylor Hall power play show was underway. The unraveling commenced from there.
“We gave them life”, coach Craig Ramsay said of the third period collapse. “Everything was going in our favor and then we take three penalties and give them those power play chances and get behind”.
“They walked them out and stuffed them in the net”, Ramsay continued. “It was really disheartening to see that. We didn’t get it done killing penalties and we didn’t get it done on the power play”.
“Disheartening” indeed.
It’s this type of loss in this type of fashion to this type of team that can kill off any hopes of climbing back into the playoff race. No they haven’t been mathematically eliminated, so they technically are not “dead” yet…but losing a game like that must certainly put them on life support. As such, whatever hopes they had of living life in the postseason is slipping away fast.
And while we continue to look for someone to step forward to make sure this franchise does not go anywhere anytime soon, it’s seems clear that the team is certainly going nowhere fast…at least as far as the NHL standings are concerned.
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367 comments Add your comment
Iron League 13
February 22nd, 2011
5:51 pm
Spudd, that’s rad I’m happy for Buffalo as I’ve always had a soft spot for em. The grit, the working class town, the old BOSS uniforms, I dunno what it is, but I’ve always kinda dug em. Sounds like an excellent candidate, a billionaire choking up because a former great showed up….what else do you need to know?
Smoothie
February 22nd, 2011
5:54 pm
Stroz – thanks man! You are ever the humble hockey servant!
R. Stroz
February 22nd, 2011
5:59 pm
That trade rumor is from Eklund’s site…NUFF SAID
glovesave29
February 22nd, 2011
6:59 pm
31 years ago today…
USA 4
USSR 3
Iron League 13
February 22nd, 2011
7:03 pm
GaVa – Sorry, been gone a bit…that place looks rad. I haven’t played in about ten years, but if I ever do again it’ll likely be inline due to cost and accessibility. I never practiced at 11:00 pm or played games at 4:00am like I did ALL THE TIME playing ice hockey either, those are two pluses for sure. I loved playing it, honestly just as much as ice hockey for sure. I love inline hockey and I think this town needs more of it too.
Iron League 13
February 22nd, 2011
7:27 pm
Ok, so what’s the trade rumor ATLFAN1?
Thrashers
February 22nd, 2011
7:45 pm
If Quebec and Winnapeg get an expansion team we wont have to worry about them poaching us. Who would want any of us? Will one team be in the East? At least they wont finish last. We hope to see a packed house Friday night. We think we will get the ship straightened out Friday night.
Iron League 13
February 22nd, 2011
7:55 pm
Thrashers – No chance on expansion and if there was every single fan of the NHL should have a problem with it. This league is too big already. I’m sorry I don’t follow other North American sports, but are there any other major league sports with over 30 teams yet? I don’t think so, but I don’t care enought to check. Anyways, if my asssumption is right, then just think about the NHL in 30+ markets, that’d be ridiculous to the umpteenth degree.
World Be Free
February 22nd, 2011
8:28 pm
Spud-yeah the folks back home are pretty happy right now. Almost seems like the 70’s when the Knox Brothers own the Sabes. Doesn’t mean much of anything with Darcy calling the shots. That team is not “Buffalo”; lacks grit, heart and desire, too small up the middle except for Goose. There’s no Rick Dudleys or Craig Ramsays on that team. So the work still needs to be done. Keep Lindy, jettison Darcy and drive Larry Quinn to the airport.
Red Light-to add to your post, on top of the snot nosed kids are the older players like Stapleton that don’t belong in the NHL. Freddie Modin is obvious past his time as well. Seems like most teams have guys who do not belong in the NHL, so the thought of expansion makes little or no sense. Current teams will not want to split their meager TV revenues amongst 2 new teams anyhow.
Johnny Cash
February 22nd, 2011
8:29 pm
Alright alright………. you Deadlantans win! “I walked the line.” Please sell out those games so we can add two/ three wicken players for Winnipegs playoff run next year (MAKE SURE YOU ALL ATTEND THIS FRIDAY AND THE NEXT 10 GAMES ATLANTA). Priceless…..Atlanta sounds lke a beautiful place with all the murders/ peachtree racing/ the people on this blog who hate Winnipeg. As for Edmonton coming here….. no chance……….. we need a rivalry next year! LOL
Tom Lysiak
February 22nd, 2011
8:30 pm
I’ve been busy searching for new owners this evening. According to Forbes, there are currently five billionaires living in Georgia. One other one kinda lives here too. They are:
Anne Cox Chambers – $12.5 billion
Her nephew James Kennedy – $6.2 billion
S. Truett Cathy (I mentioned him just the other day) – $1.6 billion
Bernie Marcus – $1.5 billion
Arthur Blank – $1.2 billion
Our part-time resident, Ted Turner, comes in at a smooth $1.9 billion. He is counted in their list as a resident of Lamont, Florida.
Now, all are good candidates. Seems like old Teddy could do the right thing here and clean up his mess. Everything got swallowed up by Time Warner and then the ASG swooped in. His son is one of the ASG group. His son-in-law is one of the ASG group. Gearon Sr. was GM, President and Chairman of the Hawks under Turner. Seretean was also a former GM and President of the Hawks, and a former board member of TBS.
I know Turner has supposedly given the UN one billion and pledges a ton for environmental causes. This is one stinking mess he should rescue as well.
World Be Free
February 22nd, 2011
8:31 pm
Glovesave-
I was loading planes at Buffalo Intl Airport – my boss stuck is head in the belly of the aircraft I was loading to tell us the USA had just beat USSR 4-3. We beat those commie bastards.
ZAvalanche
February 22nd, 2011
9:14 pm
Can’t believe some folks are talking expansion right now. Gotta clean the house up before we have people over. Many teams in rough straits right now need the attention more than we need more teams. As RL stated, the league is already diluted and spreading out the players would diminish the sport. I think that we already have too many teams and I am in favor of 28 or 26 teams, preferably the latter. But the damage has been done and it is fool hardy to rip 2 to 4 teams up and spread the wealth. The cities (I should say taxpayers) have already built the arenas and to ditch them would just be a slap in the face of the fans, and non-fans, who are still paying for the installations. Bettman, fix the mess or concede that you are not the right guy for the job. You have the power to do it, man up and do what you are paid for.
The league will not contract. I don’t ever recall hearing of or seeing anything regarding a major league in N America contract their team #s. Won’t happen.
On to hockey.
After watching many of Thrashy’s games this season I have made some observations – and it really hit home in the Edmonton game. We are not sticking with a solid defensive scheme. Even strength, with the speed we have, I think Rammer should routinely use floating triangle – 2 D and a C with the wings forcing quick passes. Buffy has the size to plow ppl out from in front but I don’t see it happen that often as he is looking for a break out – nothing wrong with that except he is probably the only guy with the size and skill on the team to move around big power forwards. For PK situations either a floating triangle or a floating box. The only problem with that is we seem to be pretty weak on zone defense transitions. If you are going to use the floating 3 + 1 you need the 1 to be the fastest player on the team, able to force the pass or shot. Playing man defense in hockey, and some of you may disagree with this, is a recipe for disaster and I won’t even address it. And of course, hockey is a game of 90% improvisation and 10% planning, totally opposite of football. There are going to be times that require you to break form and the special player is the one who recognizes when to do so.
I feel the PP, though not super productive, is set up fairly well. We lack one crucial piece to that puzzle: a big a$$ forward to plant his arse in front of the keeper and battle with the D trying to move him around. I am obviously no pro and couldn’t hold these guys’ mouth pieces much less their jocks, but why then, do I see D trying to move guys from the front of the net by using the stick on their shoulders? All the opposition does is bend over slightly and then is right back in it. One of the first things I learned was that if you want to move a guy, put your stick on his hips and push, guaranteed he will move, he has no choice. Give any NHL goalie a good chance to see the shot and they will stop it nearly all of the time. Gotta clear the net guys. Wait, no, HAVE to.
Another thing that gets me too: why dump and chase if there is no chase? The Avs do this too and it is so frustrating. I know those guys are talking on the ice, get on the same page. No, I don’t expect it to work right every time, but common. I will close with this: A losing attitude is as infecting as a winning one. What happened to us?
Smoothie
February 22nd, 2011
9:31 pm
Tom Lysiak – wow, very informative post, well researched sir! ‘Twould be nice if Mr. Turner did indeed ride back into town on his buffalo with his cowboy hat waving in the wind to signal to all Atlantans that he was back and that he will surely put an end to this fiasco by helping the circus of clowns out of town before they “run their carnival cruise of lies aground!”
Smoothie
February 22nd, 2011
9:34 pm
Z – when I went back and re-watched snippets of the DET game I have saved on my DVR, I noticed how much more physical we were and willing to pay the price to win battles and use our bodies as weapons. A lot of that grit and truculence has disappeared along the way. I guess it got thrown into the dumpster with the team’s confidence and swagger back in January after the Toronto game.
AG79
February 22nd, 2011
9:38 pm
tonyb, etc – You can debate the size of Winnipeg vs Atlanta but that’s not the issue. What you need to debate is the percentage or even number of hockey fans in those cities. You could have 10 million people but if they don’t care about hockey it doesn’t really matter. Personally, I find it crazy that a city of 6 million (you number) can’t find at least 15,000 people to go to a hockey game (even at below average NHL prices) but I understand there have been challenges in your market. Now I am not trolling in the least and I respect Atlanta hockey fans and wish you good luck but there is no sense sitting here saying Winnipeg is an outpost, no man’s land with only 750K so it’ll never work. True North is developing an entire city zone that would be to support an NHL team, including a hotel, bars, likely a casino (still rumour) so they are not relying solely on the hockey team. They know what they are doing and when they get a team it might not be the Leafs but it definitely won’t be losing 20 million a year. There is so much going on with that group and their plans it would surprise you.
Regardless defending Winnipeg and explaining here why Winnipeg will work as an NHL city isn’t of interest to this forum. Personally I would just like to understand how the NHL as a whole has gotten to this point where so many teams are losing money and there can be a fiasco like Phoenix where the league owned one of the teams for 2 years, and a little city of 250K is spending hundreds of millions to keep a team there, that’s scary that its come to that.
Atlanta isn’t in a situation like that which can be good or bad since Glendale will sell the farm to keep them since they built an arena and are convinced they would be doomed if the team left so they will do whatever it takes. Atlanta doesn’t have that crisis but that also means the owner could sell if he chose to someone outside the city. I don’t know that much about your situation in Atlanta other than it appear the current owners aren’t the best
. He doesn’t sound that reliable and I hope he doesn’t screw you guys around in the end.
It seems like certain people know bits of things and pass it along on twitter or blogs like they are fact, either depressing the hell of out the fans or giving them hope, up and down, repeatedly. It’s so difficult to know what the truth is anymore and just when you think you know what’s going on, a report comes out 20 minutes later that turns that around. I would just love 20 minutes alone with Gary Bettman and a polygraph!
ZAvalanche
February 22nd, 2011
9:49 pm
AG79, I would like to hear the reasons why Winnipeg will work (I am not being a jerk, I really want to hear a fan’s perspective from somebody who is reasonable and courteous – mainly…..you) and see if they match up with why I think a team will work there. Yes, Glendale, in-and-of-itself, is 250k, but it is only like 10 miles from Phoenix and the metro area is something like 4.3 mill people. Pretty good market seeing as most of the folks who reside there are retirees from the north (much like Florida)
– it is a dry heat!
Seriously though, I do value your perspective so feel free to chat with us!
Buff-n-stuff
February 22nd, 2011
10:27 pm
ZAvalanche – you pegged it.This BLOG is respectful because the demographics are “intelligent folks” that love and care about hockey in Atlanta.
ZAvalanche
February 22nd, 2011
10:34 pm
Agreed Buff, I was surprised when I moved to Atl to see how much ppl knew about the game and how much they were into it! Atl IS a hockey city and damn well better stay that way!
LAC
February 22nd, 2011
10:44 pm
ag79, You are showing you don’t know ALL the facts. When the Thrashers started here, They sold out game after game as an expansion team. They set records for an expansion team, beating Tampa and San Jose.
The problem is these owners, the FANS are disgusted and fed up with their Lying among other things, They are THE WORST owners in professional sports ! The fans have been played as fools
by these owners, and they have finally had it. If… If there were to a NEW Owner, Attendence would soar again and the team would make money and start to grow again. don waddell has to be fired, as he is one of THE Biggest problems this franchise has ever faced. Between the owners and waddell, they have done EVERYTHING possible to ruin NHL hockey here.
So when you “canada” fans spout off, know the facts, realize them for what they REALLY are and
understand hockey WILL make it here, but a new owner is The First Objective, after that, it’s gravey !
JK Sockey
February 22nd, 2011
10:46 pm
Remember Thrashers fans Kincade is an Atlanta Spirit employee. “Need 17,000 fans at games!” He’s acting as a mouthpiece for ownership.
Tom Lysiak
February 22nd, 2011
10:53 pm
Thanks Smoothie. You don’t need “six degrees of separation” to tie Ted to this cluster#$%. Ted Turner, clean up your mess!!!!
Iron League 13
February 22nd, 2011
11:12 pm
Johnny Cash – Very good, know all about our insanely high homicide rate, hey I’ve been here 30 years and lived all over the city. Why don’t you come on downtown so I can show you around. I’ll keep you safe. We’ll walk down the running joke of Peachtree and beeline down North and south down Boulevard, I’ll walk you down to Metropolitan and such. I’ll even hook you up with directions to lovely Forest Park, it’s a park of course…a lovely park. You’ll love it. Just tryin’ to be a good ambassador.
If you take me up on this there’s one catch, if you don’t change your name I’ll show you the bad parts of town instead.
ZAvalanche
February 22nd, 2011
11:38 pm
Iron, I am thinking a good stroll down Bankhead Hwy around 1 or 2 AM will do the trick (if he doesn’t change his name). I had a lot of late nights at Tech and walked down North Ave to the MARTA for 2 years, not one incident except for an indigent person asking for $$. ATL isn’t bad, I love that city!
ZAvalanche
February 22nd, 2011
11:43 pm
I this a record for Blog Master RH? I don’t recall ever seeing 7 pages. Nice work Bill! Keep it rolling!
Jo-Bu
February 22nd, 2011
11:50 pm
Did we not learn from AS that this whole group ownership of multiple assets isn’t a good thing. Just bring in another group to spend money on the Hawks is what this sounds like to me.
First thing to do is move out of the Bulb and out into the ‘burbs — yeah, yeah, I know it costs too much money to build another NHL size arena but I’m really thing that is a big part of the problem with regular attendance unless we are playing very well consistently in the regular season or in the playoffs to attract the Buckhead crowd.
Wayne stuck in AL
February 23rd, 2011
12:23 am
Re Tom Lysiak’s 8:30 pm post:
Forget Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus: Blank’s money is tied up with trying to get a new, unnecessary outdoor stadium for the Falcons. Marcus will be 82 this year.
As for Truett Cathy, I think he and former Tampa Bay owner A. L. Williams run in the same religious circles, and judging by Williams’ run as Lightning owner, he’d tell Cathy to stay as far away as possible from the NHL.
I don’t know about Anne Cox Chambers or her nephew, but Ms. Chambers has to really be up there in years.
The only person I could somewhat legitimately see saving the team would be ol’ Ted Turner himself.
Brendan
February 23rd, 2011
12:35 am
Tom Lysiak, I was moved by your post. However, I do have trouble recalling exactly who installed Don Waddell as a “permanent fixture” in the organization. Was it Ted Turner? Did “billionaire” Ted chose the Wadster? Or was that Stan Kasten’s doing? Or was that “gem” the work of Harvey Schiller? Also the one who refused to return the phone call of Brian Burke, about the possibility of becoming the team’s 1st General Manager. Bygones.
So, I’m not really sure how “involved” Ted Turner was, or how likely he’d be to return to power. And even if he did, would he surround himself with the likes of Schiller, Kasten, and Waddell again? ‘Cuz if so, I’ve seen that. We’ve all SEEN that. But if “Billionaire Ted” wants to return, maybe this time he’ll actually have a plan. What a concept!
Truthfully, I don’t know what’s occupying Ted’s time these days. A girlfriend? A wife? Galloping across the plains, and pretending it’s the 1800’s, in his own little world? I can’t say. When I think about rich, powerful people who know hockey, this guy doesn’t appear on the radar.
But … but … he doesn’t have to be a hockey genius to be a GOOD OWNER. All he has to do … to be a good owner … is fork over the money to someone who is competent and capable enough to oversee an NHL franchise. To be a good owner, he has to ‘get out of the way’ of the GM and let the GM do his job. If the GM falters, then the GM gets fired. That’s called accountability. If the GM hires bad scouts, hires a dunderhead of a Head Coach, or just plain makes bad trades and contracts … he’s got to answer for that. What owner would really want to let a buffoon waste his money? And it issss the owner’s money. So far, my running total of NHL owners who don’t think a GM should be held accountable for wasting all their money is … pretty much just the Atlanta Spirit, LLC. But their plan was … (1) to sue their own counsel to recoup the financial damage that their inaction and irresponsibility has done to the “value” of their NHL franchise, while (2) cutting the budget to below the floor of the cap. Interesting strategy. I can’t name another owner that has endeavored down that path in the past. Who knows? It might work. Maybe the AS, LLC are pioneers! From now on, when franchises lose money due to poor decision-making and no accountability for results, the team attorneys should BRACE FOR IMPACT!!!
Wayne stuck in AL
February 23rd, 2011
12:39 am
Turner always said one of his biggest regrets was not buying the Flames, but you have to remember: he was heavily in debt at the time due to buying the Braves and Hawks and he had this startup just around the corner called “CNN”.
Wayne stuck in AL
February 23rd, 2011
12:42 am
Scratch Anne Cox Chambers off your list, too…she’s 91.
Acer
February 23rd, 2011
5:02 am
AG79, I think that one of the central problems here in the unfortunate combination of bad ownership and the location in a none-traditional market. Little to mediocre media coverage makes seem that ownership and management are given a blank check.
Where was the critical media in Atlanta…
…over the recent revealings about the Atlanta Spirit efforts?
…when Waddell promised the playoffs in 2006?
…when Brunette, Savard, Hossa and Kovalchuk left?
…after Don Waddell said that Alex Zhitnik part of the future of the Thrashers only to bought out shorty afterwards?
…when Don Waddell once again had a mediocre draft?
Others can probably add more. The Atlanta Spirit doesn’t care about hockey and therefore you didn’t you saw a critical analysis of Don Waddell’s work. How do you feel as a fan when the elephant in the room get’s a promotion? That’s a slap in the face!
EA
February 23rd, 2011
7:11 am
Moose Hedberg is on a roll. I wish we had paid him the extra money to stay here.
Alan R.
February 23rd, 2011
7:21 am
Acer – Part of the “media” problem is an unwillingness to be critical of decisions made at the team level. That is likely due to policies inside the Atlanta Spirit and the team themselves. Or, the belief the reporters have that they’re there to report, not be critical. I’m really not sure which.
Schultz is a good read. He’s not for everyone, though, because he is a critical reporter. Bill, here, is a good read as well. Unfortunately, he’s not a paid reporter. The title of the blog even says it’s a fan blog. He’s under the AJC banner, though, which gives the blog a pretty good pedestal to stand on.
Alas, you won’t see meaningful change in the way our reporters report on the team, until those policies change. We won’t see that until we get new owners, at the earliest. Unfortunately, meaningful change will only come from the outside.
Red Light
February 23rd, 2011
7:48 am
For the first time in a very long time the Thrashers don’t have to worry about games in hand. That said, the rest of the Eastern Conference teams are now in a logjam. While Tampa Bay is now 15 points up on Atlanta, the Caps are 14 up on Atlanta, and the Hurricanes are 5 points ahead of Atlanta, the Thrashers shot at the playoffs are compromised more than ever because of those teams that are now well within striking distance: Buffalo-even, Toronto-one point back, Florida-3 points back, and the red-hot Devils now only four points back. I hate the terminology “must-win” games, but if there were ever three that fit that bill- the next three certainly are.
If there was ever a time that this team needed strong play from Antropov and Bergfors, this is it! The two have combined for 2 goals and 3 assists in the last eight games in February. Obviously, that’s not good enough. Blake Wheeler could be a key factor in these next few games and hopefully he’ll rise to the occasion.
However, much of this is going to depend upon Pav and the defense in front of him. Tonight, watch the number of quality chances Buffalo gets, and see how many shots Pav has to face on second, third and fourth attempts. Keep a running tab yourself and don’t rely upon the game stats. In my mind, that will determine whether the boys are up to the task, both tonight and over the next three to four games. Every defenseman on the team has a minus rating since Dec. 26, and that should tell us all we need to know. That has to be reversed, and quickly!
Iron League 13
February 23rd, 2011
7:50 am
I think it’s time for a new blog, Mr. Rawhide Sir. I know there’s nothing going on and most everything is drainingly pessimistic, perhaps a blog about why yellow boot laces are distasteful and goofy. I kid I kid.
So…who’s trolling and what smorgasborg of topics are we moaning about today?
Iron League 13
February 23rd, 2011
7:51 am
Sorry, Rawhide I was kidding. Yet again the refresh and the page/show all icons couldn’t get me to the end of the posts.
World Be Free
February 23rd, 2011
7:58 am
Time for all the Winnipeg trolls to head on back home to the frozen north. You have taken enough of our time and space. Have a good day, ay?
Red Light-so disappointed in Bergfors. He has good hands, you wonder would it would be like to have him on a line with someone like Max. He played well with Max and antropov late last season, just havs not found the mates to make it work this year. Good players hide his inefficiencies.
Eeveryone needs to stop dissecting the Atlanta market. This city is loike most others, win and people will show up. The team was horrible the 1st 4 years and people showed up anyhow. People don’t show up because you just can’t fool them anymore. New regime is needed, new leaders, new uniforms, new slogons, new team name.
Reggie
February 23rd, 2011
8:01 am
I hear there’s a retirement community in Florida who is interested in buying the team…
GaVaHokie
February 23rd, 2011
8:22 am
I highly doubt it’s Ted Turner… according to Kincade’s numerous tweets yesterday, he said “I could give you a free guess with a pile of my cash on the table for the right answer and you would not know the prospective buyer”.
So, we might as well sit back and watch.
winniphlegm
February 23rd, 2011
8:22 am
World Be Free – I’m in Winnipeg but unlike most trolls I support that your team stays in Atlanta. As said previously, Winnipeggers are just jealous and envious so most speak immaturely. It’s the only way they get by. And don’t worry…if Bettman has anything to say about this, he’ll keep the team in Atlanta. There’s no way he wants a team back in Winnipeg….and I can’t say I blame him. Sorry Winnipeg, time to face up that we’re just a minor league city and always will be. We don’t even have single-A ball here. Sad…
Iron League 13
February 23rd, 2011
8:28 am
Jo-bu – Moving out of Philips sounds great, cuz let’s face it downtown SUCKS. I can easily elaborate. Over the course of 5 years living down there I have stories that would blow your mind. In fact I’ve got a couple from right in that area. Hell I have teeth marks, yes I said TEETH MARKS on my left shoulder from fending off an attacker on Ponce, which is close enough to that part of town, but NOT the stories I was referring to. Needless getting sick of that part of town was very healthy and the reason I’ve got a wife and kid. I LOATHE downtown.
That said, it’d be a pipedream to think either the Hawks or Thrash would leave downtown anytime in the next 10 years. Philips is what going on 12 years old this year? The building just isn’t gonna get left behind, with or without naming rights.
The other thing is where would a new major legue arena go? I love the Gwinnett facility for what it is, but that only caters to North Gwinnett really maybe some of North Fulton and Souther Forsyth too, but that’s a small chunk of this market. Atlanta is SPRAW-LED, when I was a kid only them counties that bordered the city (think I-285) were considered the metro Atlanta area, now it’s something ridiculous like 26 counties.
So it still would have to be around the Norhtern Perimeter and I don’t think it would help much with traffic either way.
Now if I were to build one in a real life Sim City situation, then I’d shoot for around the Cobb Energy Center/Galaria area. Perhaps right around the lower bit of GA 400 just before 285 or something like this. The northern burbs is the place to be, vastly safer, more money and let’s face it that’s where most of the development has gone in my lifetime. That’s also where ALL the ice rinks are so that’s gotta tell you someting too.
Iron League 13
February 23rd, 2011
8:37 am
WBF – I think it’s amazing how many of us agree on the need for a make-over of sorts for this tem. That’s exciting to think about actually and in and of itself would attract a lot of positive attention.
Yes, we need to change the look, but having a contest to pick the name would go far and because of that I’d support it. New roster or not it’s funny how humans perceive things.
Iron League 13
February 23rd, 2011
8:39 am
only those counties rather, woops
I said them counties…I swear to you I don’t talk like that
Iron League 13
February 23rd, 2011
8:40 am
galleria rather too geez
Acer
February 23rd, 2011
8:55 am
Alan, “reporters have that they’re there to report”…that’s my pick.
Isn’t ironic how everything falls back to ownership? Hopefully, this entire mess doesn’t drag on for months like in Phoenix.
Flagstaff
February 23rd, 2011
9:13 am
Has Kincade (or anyone else in the know, for that matter) indicated that the potential buyer is not a group or corporation, but a single PERSON?
Iron League 13
February 23rd, 2011
9:15 am
Feeling optimistic this morning, so…WHEN we get new owners who’s on board for petitioning them to do a COMPLETE BRANDING make-over of this franchise? I don’t think I’ve done this, but let’s see some Yeas and Nays.
I vote, Yea. Full on re-branding, new name, new colors, new uniform, new logo, yada, yada.
Alan R.
February 23rd, 2011
9:23 am
Has Kincade (or anyone else in the know, for that matter) indicated that the potential buyer is not a group or corporation, but a single PERSON?
There’s currently no published clues as to whether the interested party or parties are corporations or individual(s).I just hope the buyer is willing to spend some dough to make our team what it should have been from the very start: Winners.
Yes, there will be those “expansion team blues” that we had during the first couple seasons. After that, we should have at least been competitive. Instead, we had some horribly low salaries under AOLTW. Now, we find ourselves with …horribly low salaries under AS, LLC.
We need stability, first and foremost. I sure as hell hope whoever buys this team makes it a stable franchise here, in the city of Atlanta.
Joe Friday
February 23rd, 2011
9:31 am
“according to Kincade’s numerous tweets yesterday, he said “I could give you a free guess with a pile of my cash on the table for the right answer and you would not know the prospective buyer”.”
guys, JK Sockey is right. Step back and think about it. What are the odds that as of one week ago today, there was no local buyer per one of our owners, after 6 YEARS of looking, but now there’s a white knight, who no ones ever heard of, coming in to save the day?
Kincade’s just trying to rally the troops, would be my guess, but rally them, don’t plant false rumors to get people jazzed up.
Has anyone heard if Friday night is close to a sellout? if it’s our standard 10k for the Panthers type of draw, it’s say goodnight, Gracie.
Alan R.
February 23rd, 2011
9:36 am
Kincade’s just trying to rally the troops, would be my guess, but rally them, don’t plant false rumors to get people jazzed up.
Incorrect.
This is from C-Viv himself:
ajcthrashers Chris Vivlamore
For those asking on #Thrashers ownership: I’m told someone “kicking the tires” but any deal would not come together quickly.
16 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply
Kincade isn’t trying to “rally the troops,” however, he might be a little too enthusiastic about it all. Obviously, Vivs knows something, too. We’re just not privy to such information as yet. I imagine we’ll know more if something materializes.
Has anyone heard if Friday night is close to a sellout? if it’s our standard 10k for the Panthers type of draw, it’s say goodnight, Gracie.
Tried to get a response from Ben on that via Twitter yesterday, but mum is the word. If I’m feeling adventurous, I may call the ticket office and ask. It can’t hurt to try, right?