What will you remember about the Thrashers?
As Tim Tucker reported, the name and logo of the Thrashers will not relocate to Winnipeg when the team does. They were not a part of the deal when the Atlanta Spirit sold the franchise to True North Sports and Entertainment.
Also not a part of the deal apparently was team president/former GM/former part-time head coach Don Waddell. He served as general manager for 10 of the 11 seasons in which the Thrashers played in Atlanta.
“They bought the assets of the company, excluding name and logo,” Waddell said. “That remains with our ownership group, Atlanta Spirit…I’m going to stay here through the close of business.”
“Then I’ll explore my options”, he added. “Whether that is staying here in Atlanta or looking to move in another direction, I will evaluate that when the time comes.”
So, if anyone knows of any openings for those experienced in assisting the running of a professional sports franchise right into the ground…
I will always remember the time I was able to share a game with Peter Bondra...oh wait, that's just Big Shooter of The Blueland Chronicle. (Photo/Krisabelle)
Anyway… once the team does close up shop and Mr. Waddell’s work here is finally complete, the “Thrashers” will officially become no more and fade off into the memories the citizens of Thrasherville. But while these memories are still fresh in our minds, allow me to ask you just what you’ll remember about the team and the time they spent here.
I chatted briefly with my family about this very subject as we made our way back from Florida earlier this week. I found it interesting that we all came up with differing responses.
For my younger son Chris, his first thoughts went back to opening night of the 2003-04 season when we all gathered to not only begin a new hockey campaign, but also say goodbye to Dan Snyder. He recalled the bagpipes playing as 18,000-plus fans mourned the loss of one who left us far too soon.
For Matt, my oldest, he was quick to point out coach Bob Hartley. Not just for what he did behind the Thrashers bench, leading them to their two best seasons and one-and-only playoff appearance, but he also remembers how Hartley pulled him from a crowd of people during the open house prior to the 2006-07 season.
“Hey, I know you”, the coach said. “How is your skating comin’ along there, Matty?”
Only Coach Bob could ever call him that.
Nasty Nest tailgate parties always attracted some interesting folks. Fans from visiting teams were even welcome down at the Gulch, as these Caniacs can attest (Photo/Kracker)
He then asked about his schoolwork and how his Bantam team was doing so far.
My wife Judi told me that she would never forget what Philips Arena was like the night of the first playoff game in April 2007, and how the upper deck shook when Eric Belanger scored that fist playoff goal in team history.
Sadly, there would only be five more scored during the four-game sweep to the Rangers… one each by Greg deVries, Pascal Dupuis, Ilya Kovalchuk, Shane Hnidy and Keith Tkachuk. Both Tkachuk and Dupuis added a pair of assists and will forever hold the all-time playoff scoring record with three overall points.
Kovy had a goal and one assist while Nic Havelid and Brad Larson each notched a pair of assists.
Maybe you’ll remember that the Thrashers played to a record of 342 wins, 437 losses, 78 overtime losses and 45 ties in 902 regular season games. Post-lockout, their record was 222-212-58, but during the last four seasons it slipped to 138-151-39.
Perhaps the team’s first ever game on October 2, 1999 will come to mind, a 4-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils. If you were there, certainly you recall the team’s first-ever goal scored by Kelly Buchberger at the 11:26 mark of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Martin Prozchaka and the enigmatic first-ever draft pick in team history, Patrick Stefan.
Many will certainly remember the very first ever victory in franchise history as Damian Rhodes blanked the Islanders in New York 2-0 on October 14,1999. Twelve days later came the first home win, 2-1 over the Flames, the first team to depart Atlanta. The next month saw the team’s first-ever hat trick, courtesy of Dean Sylvester against the Vancouver Canucks.
Hanging out at Taco Mac after games with fellow Thrashervillians like Krisabelle is something I will always remember fondly (Photo/Smoothie)
Surely many will remember when this Thrashers organization employed two of the most promising young stars in the league, Ilya Kovalchuk and Dany Heatley. Or maybe you’ll recall the 2002 draft when then-general manager Don Waddell elected to go with a young Finnish netminder with the second overall pick, Kari Lehtonen.
And then there was the Bob Hartley era between January 15, 2003 and October 17, 2007. He took over the team during its fourth year after Curt Fraser was fired following an 8-20-4-1 start. The Thrashers finished that season 19-14-5-1 with Hartley behind the bench. Their 78 overall points that year were the most ever at the time and it was topped by 12 points the next…just prior to the lockout.
In all, the Thrashers went 136-112-13-24 during his time as head coach before the 0-6-0 start in 2007 cost Hartley his job.
Of course, since that time…well, we’ve already gone over that.
Many I am sure will recall the last goal ever scored by an Atlanta Thrasher…a power play tally by Tim Stapleton during the 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh in the season finale roughly two months ago. Or maybe what will come to mind is the last hat trick, courtesy of fourth-liner Eric Boulton against the Devils last December.
The last win came in New York as the Thrashers blanked the Rangers 3-0 behind Ondrej Pavelec’s 29 saves. The last win at home was a 5-4 shootout win against the Ottawa Senators on March 27. The last ever regulation win in Philips Arena came way back on February 11 when they knocked off the Rangers 3-2. Evander Kane scored twice in the third period to secure that win.
OK, so sometimes it doesn't exactly suck to be the Ice Man...even though I knew they only hung around me on the off chance they might meet Big Shooter (Photo/Mile Malak)
The most goals scored by a Thrasher was Kovalchuk, (328), followed by Slava Kozlov, (145), Marian Hossa, (108), Dany Heatley, (80), Bryan Little, (68), Marc Savard, (63), Patrik Stefan, (59), Ray Ferraro, (56), Jim Slater, (47) and rounding out the top-10 is Todd White, (43).
No, that was not a typo.
I’m certain many of you will recall certain favorite players…whether it is the likes of Kovalchuk, Lehtonen, Savard, Jeff Odgers, Hossa, Evander Kane, Pasi Nurminen, Garnet Exelby…the list goes on and on. I’m sure I’ll read about these players as well as many, many others in the comments section below.
As for me…well, I’m sure all of the above and many other things will come to mind when I reminisce about those Atlanta Thrashers many years down the road. Like my family, I will recall the electric atmosphere that surrounded the run up to and into the playoffs back in ’07, shedding tears with you all when we said goodbye to young Dan Snyder and getting to know such classy people as coach Bob Hartley, radio voice of the Thrashers Dan Kamal and others that crossed our paths between 1999 and 2011…and I’ll always get a chuckle out of the things that crazy bird Thrash would do to entertain us all.
But the very first thing I know that I’ll think about when reminiscing about the Atlanta Thrashers era is…YOU, the good people of Thrasherville.
I will remember the fun we shared before, during and sometimes even after games down at Philips. I will also recall with fondness the gatherings at places like TJs Sports Bar & Grill where we would meet to watch select road games.
Mr. and Mrs. Benning receive their 7th fan Award with Nik Antropov (Atlanta Thrashers)
I’ll think about the good we did here last spring when a small suggestion made on this blog exploded into a great movement to get the Bennings, a.k.a ‘The Kiss-Cam Couple’, selected as last year’s 7th Fan Award recipients. As I have many times before, I simply have to express my deepest and most sincere appreciation to all those who flooded the team’s office with e-mails, phone calls and letters on their behalf.
And a special tip of the hat to the Joint Chiefs of Staff members of Operation POM-POM for your efforts in making that happen for such a deserving couple that we all came to love and revere.
I will forever cherish the opportunity I was given to meet so many of you…whether it was at the games, viewing parties or even just here on this online forum I have been so blessed to have hosted for the last four Thrashers seasons.
Players, coaches, trades, draft picks, stats, records, goals, wins and losses may fade into the mist of passing time, but I will always remember you Thrasherville.
Atlanta Thrashers 1999-2011 - Thrasherville Forever
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242 comments Add your comment
Brendan
June 5th, 2011
1:18 am
Boston will now have to win four out of the next five games to capture the Cup. They were in this exact same spot, only WORSE, in the opening round vs. Montreal, for Games Three and Four were in Montreal, not Boston. This is a tough spot for the Bruins. They played well enough to at least have come away with a split. They had a lead, going into the 3rd period.
WBF, doesn’t this sound familiar, with the Sabres? Perhaps the Sabres best shot at a Cup was 2006, not 1975 or 1999. Why? A salary cap was in effect, at $39 million. The Sabres held a 2-1 lead on Carolina, in Game Seven, going into the 3rd period. Had they held on to it, the 8th seeded Oilers would have been waiting. And, I think, a Sabres Cup would have materialized there. And Miller, not Cam Ward, would have been the story of the 2006 playoffs. Bygones. This isn’t over for Boston.
A wise man once said, “You’re not in trouble in a best of seven series … until you’ve lost a game on your home ice.”
Mr Bill
June 5th, 2011
2:25 am
To R Stroz showing up for the Thrashers was the most important thing we could have done, if our attendance average was around 16,000 a game then I would say we would be in good shape. The ownership was screwed up I admit but how long do you think Arthur Blank would survive with the Falcons if they only averaged 13000 a game or even the Braves for that matter. I would say not that long, We didn’t show up and we can only atleast share in the blame. Any business can’t survive if they don’t have enough customers to help pay the bills and keep the doors open no matter who is running the show. Atlanta has to many fair weather fans, regardless of the qualifications or lack of qaulifications for the ASG we should have showed up reqardless and then perhaps a local buyer or investor would have showed up and things would have been different but I think anybody who could have bought the team or became an Investor got scared off because for the main reason lack of attendance. The upper section had a large curtain covering the empty seats this season and the upper bowl area where seats are 35.00 was very empty. Heck they did a promotion to sell atleast 5000 more tickets for one of the games to get Thrash out of jail and they accomplished that.I knew they were in trouble at that point. So I believe they did try to get people in but the fact remains we didn’t show up last fall the first half of the season when the Thrashers were winning and were on the road to the playoffs. The ownership had nothing to do with us not showing up. Heck there were 100- 200 people maybe if that many and I was there I didn’t see 200 people maybe 100 or so down at the gulch for a fan rally. 100 -200 people come on that translates into small numbers at the games. I went to the arena during the select your seat just to observe and there were only a handful of people showing if that much. Atlanta fans are flakey. Look at the Braves they had to beg people to come out to the playoffs last fall. For years when they kept making the playoffs the fans wouldn’t show up, even though they won one world series if your team makes the playoffs there should be no doubt the fans need to show up and not be begged to come. Even though they didn’t get past the first round it was an exciting series last year. We are showing to the world that we don’t care and we are a town of losers period. More people came to knights games and sometimes they didn’t play that well. The night they won the turner cup the Omni was sold out for a minor league hockey game and it was exciting to watch it. The next season they weren’t as good and the attendance went down, true it was a minor league team but still showed then they were a bunch of fair weather fans. Its been years since the Toronto Maple leafs have made the playoffs but arena is packed for every game no matter if they win or lose. We didn’t want hockey bad enough and that’s what happened.
Brendan
June 5th, 2011
3:12 am
“Losses don’t keep Atlanta fans away. A lack of committed ownership does. Fans notice when a team is “drifting aimlessly, ruddlerless at the GM position, for years on end, with absent ownership to hold it accountable.” That’s what Atlanta fans cannot, and will not EVER support.” Let’s play a little game, called “guess who’s responsible?”
Who hired Don Waddel, instead of returning Brian Burke’s phone call, to be General Manager of the Thrashers? It might surprise you to learn … that it was Sasquatch. Don’t underestimate the big guy. He gets around.
Who hired Dan Marr as Head of Scouting? It might surprise you to learn … that it was the Abominable Snowman, while on hiatus from his journeys around Antarctica. Who knew?
Who hired Curt Fraser as Head Coach? Lots of people get this one wrong, too. It was El Chupacabra, on one of his wild sojourns north from Mexico.
Whose idea was it to draft a goalie from Europe with the 2nd overall pick, rather than ‘earmarking’ a good chunk of the 2002-03 budget for a free agent goaltender, like Belfour, Hasek, Irbe, Kiprusoff, Nabakov, or simply claim Curtis Joseph off waivers, for the cost of nothing but his contract?” While passing on whoever was left between Rick Nash and Jay Bouwmeester in the 2002 Draft? Answer: Well, the architect of that ideology was a random AJC.com poster, who supplied the idea to ownership, who then gave Waddell his marching orders, to ‘Go Grab Lehtonen, or ELSE!!!” I’ll endeavor to find which which AJC poster was responsible.
Who waited until Christmas 2002 to fire Curt Fraser? C’mon, you know this one. That’s right. It was the Easter Bunny. People don’t know this, but the Easter Bunny uses Christmas time to gear up for his duties in March and April. He chose that time to fire Fraser.
Who sat on the Rules Committee during the lockout, where the rule changes would now favor YOUTH and SPEED in the new NHL, then promptly fielded the 2nd OLDEST roster in the NHL? And, in free agency, signed 35-year old Bobby Holik to a franchise crippling 3-year/$12.75 million deal, while adding Peter Bondra, retaining Scott Mellanby, and eventually adding Ken Klee to the roster? I know. This is a thinker. Take some extra time, if you need to. Okay, time’s up. Did everyone get “Terrorists from the Middle East, aged 17-41.” Good job, everyone! You’re really nailing these down!
Whose decision was it to pass up the 8th overall pick in the 2005, in favor of twice moving back to land at # 16, to select Alex Bourret, who’d never set foot in the NHL, aside from some preseason games? Yes, it was General Francisco Franco, despite still being dead. That guy’s just amazing. Who says people should rest in peace when they die?
Okay, who didn’t lockup Marc Savard during the offseason of 2005, so that Savvy wouldn’t be either a trade deadline casualty in 2006, or walk in free agency during the summer? Bearing in mind, that Savard was Kovalchuk’s pivot, and a consistent NHL leaderboard guy for assists? Yeah, time to put on those thinking caps. Did everyone get, “Alf?” Alrightee, then.
Who was in charge of ‘groins’ during the 2005-06 season? Yes, someone said. “Rosie O’Donnell.” Excellent, excellent work, class. Clearly, the direction of the team was squared away, with accountability in full effect. It was the ENTIRE training staff that returned for the next season, right? Okay, movin’ on.
Who made four (4) trade deadline deals that ultimately derailed the franchise, sending it into a tailspin of a 4-year rebuilding project? Hmmn. Yes!! That’s right!! It was the Iron Sheik, the former WWF World Champion! I was totally shocked when the Atlanta Spirit let the Sheik get away, over a simple contract dispute over “free cokes” for his office. I suppose that it was his constant use of the “Camel Clutch” on Rutherford Seydell that ultimately sealed his fate with the Thrashers. I really, really think the Sheik should have been given another year, to ‘try, try again.’ When I confronted Bruce Levenson on the subject, he said the following, “Well, email has been about 50/50 on the Sheik. But, really, I just can’t have any members of my staff eye gauging Ed Pescowitz, kneedropping Beau Turner, or clotheslining Michael Gearon. We frown on that kind of office place violence.” I guess he had a point. But we march on!! Yes, we do!
Whose idea was it to bluster about playoffs, at the commencement of the 4-year rebuilding project, that the ownership denied was occuring? Remember, “Alexei Zhitnik was a big part of the upcoming season.” It was Ellen Degeneres’ idea. Ellen said, “If you tell fans that there won’t be playoffs. They won’t buy tickets. So, let’s lie to them, rather than introduce a ‘policy of inclusion’ about our plans for the future.” That Ellen! She is a SAGE one!
Okay, it’s July 2007. It’s free agency, and Hossa’s future (pending UFA in 2008) is very much in doubt, after the playoff sweep by the Rangers. Who’s idea was it to land Tier I Superstar Centers, Todd “The Milk Carton” White and Eric “I have one move for shootouts” Perrin? Good job, everyone. It was the Tooth Fairy. Excellent. Movin’ on.
Who’s idea was it to nix a September trade of Marian Hossa, in favor of hoping trying to sell tickets with a “lame duck, trapped” Hossa? Actually, it was Bruce Levenson. That was Bruce’s plan.
Who negotiated the Angelo Esposito, Daultan Leveille, Colby Armstrong, and Erik Christensen trade with Pittsburgh, for Hossa and Dupuis? No, it wasn’t Sasquatch again. It was Santa Claus, taking a break from the North Pole to make some critical February decisions.
In 2008, who decided to target TOP BLUELINE candidate Brian Campbell in free agency, stating, “I think we know how to sign free agents!,” believing that simply throwing money at a player would make them sign in the train-wreck organization that was the Atlanta Thrashers, for the PRIME of his career? Okay, it was Levenson, again. Good job. Atlanta wound up with Ron Hainsey, on a 5-year deal, at $4.5 million per year.
In 2008, whose idea was it to force Kovalchuk to play out his remaining two years of his contract, knowing that he would not re-sign here, without major ownership changes, and an utter housecleaning, forgoing a major deal for him at that time? It was tuxedo’d dolphins, who wandered inland from the Coast of Savannah, supporting themselves as Blackjack dealers. Eventually, the dolphins returned to the ocean, swimming all the way to Cuba, where they made a deal with Fidel Castro, to open up a chain of Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in Havana. Eventually, they were driven out by local mafia.
And there you have it. That’s why Atlanta fans are fickle, and SUCK, and are responsible for the team’s relocation to Winnipeg. It’s not as if the NHL could have, and should have intervened at some point. Heavens no! That’s sheer lunacy! No, the management of the restaurant wholeheartedly endorsed employees ‘blowing their noses in the bun’ before serving up a hot dog at Blueland. MMM. Yummy. Too bad they didn’t embark on a earwax campaign for Nachos. ‘Cuz that’s a million dollar idea, right there! Bygones. Maybe the Spirit will try it, for Hawks games? I do have to thank the Spirit Boys for one thing. We do have a wonderfully environmentally-friendly arena. It wasn’t Tinkerbell who did that, ya know. Also, I think the Spirit, LLC, also laid down a perfect “blueprint” for what NOT TO DO with an NHL franchise.
I wish this had all taken place in Toronto, instead. I would have enjoyed watching those soldout Air Canada Centre events on Centre Ice. It would have been great to watch Leaf fans endure all that, at $120 nose-bleed seats, while supporting their franchise like they should. Certainly, Toronto media would have acquiesced that all these moves by Sasquatch, the Abominable Snowman, El Chupacabra, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, Terrorists from the Middle East, aged 17-41, Santa Claus, along with the assistance of Rosie O’Donell, the Iron Sheik, and Ellen Degeneres, and incomparable and invaluable NHL experience of Bruce Levenson, were for the best! I know Toronto fans don’t like being in the playoffs. They long to drift aimlessly, for decades. And certainly don’t embrace Stanley Cups. They do, however, like LEED-certified arenas. So, they’re still utterly disappointed in their venue. Chin-up, though, Leaf fans. Your team isn’t relocating to Hamilton, Ontario. Well, until Leaf ownership experiences a “sense of urgency” to sell to Jim Balsillie, while the NHL pockets a $60 million relocation fee, and a totally inflated purchase price. But, who can deny that Hamilton, Ontario, Candada won’t snatch up 13,000 season ticket holders, with Balsillie buying up nearly half of them, especially those high-dollar ones along the glass, and behind the benches, and pretty much everything between the blue lines.
The NHL is awesome.
Relocationist
June 5th, 2011
6:07 am
Put an arena where it belongs and the NHL will be a success in this market. Simple. I’m not buying a full season ticket package and having to navigate traffic/MARTA from the north side for all of the weeknight games. Don’t even bring the NFL/Falcons into the comparison. An NFL team has what, a max of 12-13 home games (preseason and play offs included) the majority of which are on Sunday afternoon??? Not to worry Thrasher fans, with 30 NHL teams, one will ALWAYS be available for relocation. Get a major league arena on the north side of town and everything else will take car of itself. The NHL doesn’t care how many times a market failed as long as teams are available for relocation and the prospective new owners have the cash it takes for the deal. Atlanta, Phoenix, Miami are important for the NHL owners and the NHL players association. The TV revenue and player salaries are much higher if the sport doesn’t become regional. Hamlets like Winnipeg won’t get the players the salaries they are currently getting. And, TV ratings have traditionally been low enough without a city like Winnipeg being involved in a Cup Final series. Can you imagine a Winnipeg-Quebec City Stanley Cup final on NBC primetime? The Canadians may have claim to hockey being ‘their’ sport, but they’d still be making peanuts without the American markets.
mat"T"
June 5th, 2011
6:43 am
I choose to remember the 342 wins. Specifically, the win to clinch the Southeast Division in 2006. Also, I loved the Third Period win against Philthydelphia where we came back from a 4-1 deficit to win last season in Philly.
Get Over It
June 5th, 2011
7:03 am
Mr. Bill……………don’t waste your words on the sheep. What they fails to mention is even during our rise to 1st place this past year we were lucky if there were 7k in the seats. They like the other sheep prefer to place blame around except where it belongs.
Erin
June 5th, 2011
8:33 am
I will always remember Erin Andrews before she got her start with ESPN mispronouncing every other name in the Studio on the Turner South games!!
Kovy's Agent
June 5th, 2011
8:34 am
Just heard Duds won’t be the Peggers GM. Apparently, TNSE will be instituting a complete housecleaning, something the ASG wouldn’t or couldn’t bring themselves to do. I guess that spells the end for Rammer too. I am getting annoyed at the coverage including the phrase that Winnipeg got “their” NHL franchise back. No, your franchise still plays in the desert in Phoenix. You “took” our team for the healthy price tag of $170mm. Small distinction obviously for the Canadian media who are doing a victory lap on the grave of our franchise. And I even heard them talking about the up and coming nature of the team. Boy, funny we never heard those comments when they were the Thrashers.
Sage of Bluesland
June 5th, 2011
9:14 am
“…We are showing to the world that we don’t care and we are a town of losers period…..”
No, “Mr. Bill”, it proves that the good folk in Atlanta are remarkably discerning with their disposable income and refuse to throw it away on an unkempt and unexciting product, especially when there are so many more options in such a beautiful place to live.
You really need to learn that paragraphs are, indeed, your friend. Based on your writing “style”, I’m guessing “public” for you?
Braves? Please. I’m still not over the 1996 World Series debacle. They haven’t been close–mentally, to me–since then. Smoke-and-mirrors, pipe dreams, and the same-old Bobby Cox strategy. Intelligent folks–and not sheep–can spot a legitimate contender. Intelligent folk will adjust their spending habits accordingly, too.
Brendan–thank you for that quite unpleasant walk down memory lane. It boggles the mind there was anyone at all at the arena considering the horrific decisions which kept begetting….and begetting…and begetting. Most “real” teams/organizations will relieve an incompetent buffoon of a GM when it becomes proven that their initial “Five-Year Plan” is shown to be a shambles….but, not the Atlanta Thrashers…We actually had to endure another rebuilding plan with the very same architect–with a promotion on top of it in the final year.
frenchy
June 5th, 2011
9:18 am
Just read Dudley won’t be retained as GM for Winnipeg…what a mistake!
Joker
June 5th, 2011
9:33 am
13,000 season tickets sold in minutes. Read it and weep boys and girls, this team is where it belongs.
Moose
June 5th, 2011
9:40 am
First, folks how about some common decency for once regarding comments on people about to loose their jobs as Thrashers employees. Yes, we can always sit here and second guess Don Waddell on a lot of his decisions but I’m still convinced this franchise never gave him the full green light on anything, even when Turner and AOL owned the team. The Thrashers were part of the selling point to get a new arena, never forget the Hawks were and always will be the main emphasis.
Now, Rawhide I do want to thank you for keeping a great blog and while I may not have always agreed with your statements at time, they have made me see things from a different perspective.
One of my favorite games was the first season and the Maracle on Ice when we shut out the Flyers. The game had a playoff feel to it.
Take care all!
woodie
June 5th, 2011
9:43 am
I’ll remember that they were abysmal.
Mr Bill
June 5th, 2011
9:47 am
Thanks Get over it for backing me up, there is plenty of blame to go around that is for sure but the main problem is we didn’t show enough and that is why we don’t have a team today. Even when they televised a home game and the attendance was so low that the cameras were pulled back far enough as not to show that when it was in between periods and Darren Elliot was making his coments.
When the game started up they all ways focused on the areas down low behind the glass where it looked like there was a lot of people. The fans didn’t show enough passion last season when we got off to a great start, instead they kept blaming Waddel who I think did his best under the circumstances going all the way back to Ted Turner who knew nothing about Hockey, the guys hands were tied nothing he could do.
This ownership didn’t spend the money I agree but perhaps they didn’t have enough of it to invest to get a return on their investment. We didn’t show up period and we are to blame.
Red Light
June 5th, 2011
9:50 am
Kevin Cheveldayoff, former Wolves GM who has been with the Blackhawks the last two seasons, is set to become the GM in Winnipeg and True North has received permission to talk with him.
I don’t think this is a bad decision at all. Dudley doesn’t negotiate contracts, prefers the scouting aspect of things, doesn’t like to fly, has the NHL’s worst wardrobe and was rewarded by Waddell just one week after Gearon’s announcement in February with a four-year extension. Does anyone find this just slightly coincidental (cynicism alert)?
This is a complete purge as Winnipeg wants to completely erase any ties with the Atlanta failure, and who can blame them? Ramsay might be next, and then (FINALLY) the scouting staff. There may be one scout retained, but I wouldn’t count on it.
Good to see TJs hopping on a Saturday night! Enjoyed it.
Cheveldayoff is only 41 and can keep the job long term.
woodie
June 5th, 2011
9:56 am
Remember- If you support the HAWKS you will be supporting the ASG. They must be playing with daddy’s money.
ZAvalanche
June 5th, 2011
10:49 am
Brendan – yes, Boston overcame their deficit with Montreal, but Montreal is sure as hell no Vancouver this year. As far as I am concerned, the cup metal-smith can start putting Vancouver on there. Don’t get me wrong, I like Boston a lot, but they don’t have the depth to compete for 60 (+) minutes. They were the better team for the first 40 but they could not roll 4 lines like the ‘Nucks did and they got tired. I don’t know what the team cook is feeding Vancouver, but I want some of it for my next game.
13000 season tickets in minutes? My respect goes out to you MB. Though I am thinking that much of that was corporate $$……
Mr . Bill's Mom
June 5th, 2011
12:07 pm
My son still lives in the basement.
1Thrashers
June 5th, 2011
1:30 pm
I remember my whole family becoming avid Thrasher fans soon after moving to Atlanta in 2005 from Florida. We went to many games and my kids knew every fact about all the players. When the Thrashers went to the playoffs my wife bought groceries with nothing but blue in it (drinks, food, etc). For the next 2 days we saw nothing but blue when we went to the bathroom!
On December 22, 2008 my 8 year old son was diagnosed with leukemia. Knowing he would be in the hospital for awhile, he wanted all his Thrasher gear brought to the hospital and we kept it in his room. Three days later on Christmas day I walked outside his room only to see Thrash down the hallway visiting the kids. Our whole family was so excited to see him and Thrash was surprised to see all the Thrasher gear in our room!
I will also remember all the Thrasher players who would visit Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta hospital every December. My son was in the hospital again in December 2010 when the Thrasher players were scheduled to come in again. However, he was released a few hours before the players showed up. He convinced us to stay in the hospital lobby for 3 hours after getting released until the players showed up. All the players were really impressed that he did not want to go home and that he waited for them.
I remember Eric Boulton taking time to visit the AFLAC Cancer Center to take pictures with my son and other children that were getting treatment that day. One week later after practice my son saw Eric leaving and asked if he remembered him. Eric said he did and that he had something for him. He jumped out of his truck, grabbed one of his hockey sticks and signed it for my son!
Despite an inept organization as far as hockey goes, I will remember all the help the Thrasher organization give Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta and the AFLAC Cancer Center.
Thanks to all the regular bloggers who have been so informative. A big thank you to Rawhide also. I really got so much Thrasher information from you and the fellow bloggers.
Brendan
June 5th, 2011
2:52 pm
ZAvalanche, I guess the real bottom line is … though Boston has played well enough for at least a split, the simple fact is … they didn’t get it. And right about now, they’ve got to worry about getting swept.
Red Light, I’m happy for Chevaldayoff getting his long awaited shot at a full-time GM job in the NHL. Too bad Atlanta wouldn’t fire Waddell and give Kevin that shot. But, we had a ‘perfect storm’ that led to this. But just think, if the NHL had interceded, none of this would be happening. The NHL would either be running the Thrashers or a new ownership would have been found. We saw what happened in Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, and Phoenix. It wouldn’t have even taken that long to get the Atlanta market resurrected. Bygones.
Re: Rick Dudley … it’s definitely Waddell taking care of his buddy. There’s a long history there, dating back to minor league days. I think Dudley at least deserved the chance to make it work in Winnipeg. I suppose Craig Ramsay and John Torchetti are next. What a miserable mess the AS, LLC has left to clean. This is like selling your house, and the first things the new owners do … is bring in bulldozers to level the place, and rebuild it from scratch.
Re: Zach Bogosian … let’s see how Winnipeg develops him.
Re: Evander Kane … he should do fine in Manitoba.
Re: Bryan Little … he’s definitely a Thrasher holdover, being a Waddell pick from 2006. Let’s see how long he lasts.
Re: Ron Hainsey … gosh, he could be gone, soon. Winnipeg might try to package him at the Draft.
Brendan
June 5th, 2011
3:12 pm
Sage of Bluesland, it was a sickening trip down memory lane, no? The thing that bothers me the most … is this notion that Waddell wasn’t responsible for his drafting? Or his free agent signings. Or his lack of vision/identity for the team. Or his trades. I mean, did ownership ever say, “Don’t take Setoguchi, Staal, or Kopitar, we’ll be better off with Alex Bourret at # 16?” Heck, no. Drafting Lehtonen? Two picks (Pavelec and Nurminen, both goalies) after 11 years of drafting, between the 2nd and 6th rounds? I’m sorry, but Kevin Chevaldayoff would have done more with nine (9) Top 10 overall picks with which to build the franchise than Waddell. I know, the GM can’t go sign a top name in free agency, because he doesn’t have the money. But that has no bearing, whatsoever, on his drafting. Or his ability to re-sign an RFA. The rules are set up to prevent RFA’s from leaving. And if there is an RFA offersheet, at least Atlanta would have been compensated. Ya know? It’s just incomprehensible … the manner in which the Thrashers were run. I mean, really. This franchise never stood a chance, with the business model it was following.
I think there actually were fans willing to throw ‘blind support’ behind this team, had there been some accountability. But when the voice of the season ticket holder is steadfastly ignored, demanding Waddell’s head, then they made their bed. Markets in Canada, like Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, and Ottawa … well … they make changes to PLEASE the season ticket holders. Yeah, everyone shows up. They are sellout games, even in losing seasons. But there’s also accountability for failure. That’s the difference here. To retain the hockey fan in Atlanta, GA, you’ve got to make changes to retain their fiancial support. If not, you get what we saw: A divorce. Tell me again, how Waddell could have survived 10 seasons in the provinces of Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, or Manitoba? C’mon. Beeee honest. He couldn’t have. The fans would have been heard by ownership, and changes made. But not here. Ownership heard the disapproving voices, and decided not to make changes. I have to believe … that there would be a revolt in Canada, over Waddell as GM.
Guess what the response was in the NHL TV studios in Toronto, to Waddell’s decade of failure in Atlanta? Answer: Rubbing their hands together, “it’ll soon be ours. All ours! Keep that Waddell in Charge!! Open the ticket windows in Canada, a franchise is comin’ our way.” Of course they didn’t utter a PEEP about it. They wanted to take our club, not give us ammunition to SAVE it. NHL Network never once said, “Atlanta, to save your club, you better make wholesale changes, top to bottom.” Instead they said things like, “Things are difficult in Atlanta. But perhaps the draft will help them.” Gee, thanks!!!! If the Thrashers had been the Oilers, Flames or Senators, the NHL Network would have been ALL OVER the necessity for changes to be made.
JT
June 5th, 2011
4:15 pm
I just enjoyed going to NHL games with my two sons, and sharing the greatest team sport on earth with them. Nothing can compare to NHL hockey. It will be sorely missed in this town. Thanks to the solid 10,000 fans that supported this franchise. And special thanks to Joe Johnson, who is the main reason this team has gone to Canada.
Yung JB from Montreal
June 5th, 2011
5:56 pm
Pasi being Pasi
Exelby three straight hits on Colorado players
Kovalchuk just being the best player on the ice. He was so good.
Pavelec being Hasek and the whole NHL not noticing it
Kozlov and Schremp SO moves
Our young guns (Little, Kane, etc.)
Having Maxim Afinogenov (fav player with Erat and Buff)
Learning to know Byfuglien and him becoming my idol after i hated him in CHI.
Chris Thorburn playing his heart out.
I love you my Thrashers, I really do.
Yung JB from Montreal
June 5th, 2011
5:57 pm
And when the Thrashers beat the Habs here in Montreal, my day would be perfect. I will miss you guys, please come back soon.
Cornbread
June 5th, 2011
6:07 pm
Augusta State University repeats as National Champions!
Finally something to be happy about with sports in the state of GA these past few weeks.
Congrats to my alma mater on their incredible victory and to UGA for their fine tournament. Lots of sports, entertainment, activities, and culture to be proud of in our state.
FormerIslesFan
June 5th, 2011
6:40 pm
I’ve been thinking about this for a while recognizing that it will probably be my last Thrashers’ related post ever.
For me, my fondest Thrashers’ memories are not ones that occured on the ice. My oldest son was born just before the Thrashers’ first season and my younger was born three years later. Over the years, I have taken absolute joy in not only introducing my sons to the game I grew up loving, but watching their love of the game take root and grow as well.
What will I miss?
The look in my older son’s eyes when I surprise him with Thrashers’ tickets for that night.
Coming downstairs on Saturday morning to find my younger son already awake and before I can even say “Good Morning,” he is already telling me about which plays from the Thrashers’ game the previous night NHL on the Fly has highlighted and what the statistics are from that game (and every other game that was played the previous evening).
The aplomb with my wife shouted “Let’s Go Thrashers” at each game we attended together and how scratchy her voice would be the next morning.
I will miss going to practice on Columbus Day, knowing that my sons are off from school and our tradition of me taking off from work so that we can sit and freeze in the bleachers and watch the Thrashers practice up close. Then, after the practice is over watching my sons work up the nerve to ask the players coming off the ice for an autography (or even the one year that my older son worked up the nerve to ask Exebly for his stick — and X then coming out of the locker room a few minutes later and handing my son an autographed stick!).
So, if you were to give me five minutes alone with the ASG or Gary Bettman, that is what I would tell them that their greed has removed from my life.
RH – I want to take a moment and thank you. Both for being an excellent online host and for being a friend. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and your both Online and RL families and wish you and yours nothing but the best in the future.
To everyone else out there, who knows? Maybe, just maybe, we’ll all get a chance to root for an Atlanta NHL team again. I’d like to think that I’m an optimist that way.
–FIF
Mr Bill
June 5th, 2011
7:40 pm
The Florida Panthers are the next Target wouldn’t that be something if we can get a new owner we have an NHL arena that won’t be doing anything for awhile and the spirit kept the Thrashers name. We could end up buying the Panthers and they maybe on their last legs next season in Florida thats why the have Dale Tallon and just hired Kevin Dineen sounds familar. If they don’t draw much next season then who knows what could happen. It would just like the Thrasher players moving to Winnipeg we would have their players. But we need somebody to step up and not the ASG thats for sure. Anything is possible. I think Hockey will come back sooner than we think.
SoutherFriedHockey
June 5th, 2011
8:43 pm
I would love more than anything than to see an ownership group come together in Atlanta. Redevelopment of the GM site in Doraville to be easier access for the majority of the fan base. Until the economy turns I doubt it though but I guess I can have my wishful thinking.
There is nothing people in the south hate more than being told they can’t accomplish something.
Atlanta Flames Fan
June 5th, 2011
9:15 pm
If you think about it, the way we got to this situation is due to an incredible number of bad things happening. So let’s dream futher. The Canadian dollar returns to its historic levels; the price of oil plumments, and the economy of Calgary goes to the toilet. Resulting in….. The Return of the Flames!
If we’re going to wish, let’s wish for the max!
Atlanta Flames Fan
June 5th, 2011
9:18 pm
I believe that the Panthers are tied to their building. I think that it would take bankruptcy to get them out of it.
Big Wally
June 5th, 2011
9:49 pm
Dang Brendon. I had forgotten two thirds of that. Now I’m pissed again. Thanks. Rather funny that it took the Winnipeg owners all of what two days to realize they didn’t want Waddell, while the ASG could never figure that one at.
Brendan
June 5th, 2011
9:56 pm
Ya know what the difference is about Pittsburgh, Buffalo, TBL, Phoenix and Atlanta? Don’t say attendance, ‘cuz attendance was terrible in those places during lean years, too, when ownership was in the tank. No, the difference is … $60 million in relocation fee, and the unwilliness to TRY TO SAVE the Thrashers, on the part of the NHL. From the lack of intervention since 2007 on, to the “cover up” about plans to relocate this team.
And with proper ownership, the Thrashers would be saved. Yeah, still buried in the sports section, but it’d only take 18,545 to pack Philips Arena. Atlanta would be just fine, if an owner interested in winning emerged. And that could have happened, if the Atlanta Spirit,LLC had offered operating rights to Philips Arena in their negotiations.
It’s just a whole slew of pathetic. Everyone else gets NHL intervention, but us. Thanks a lot, $60 million relocation fee. It wouldn’t have mattered if we’d sold the place out. The Spirit wasn’t including operating rights to the venue in the “attempted” local sale of the Thrashers. And such, even soldout, the Thrashers are a money pit that no one would touch, while the league still collected its $60 million. But, it’s all the fans fault, right????
Pathetic.
Brendan
June 5th, 2011
10:04 pm
Big Wally, that’s why hockey fans in Winnipeg are cheering. Look at what they’ve got going for them. The 17th richest man in the world as a part-owner, no hint or trace of Waddell, or his employees, Dudley and Ramsay. Okay, wait. I don’t think Ramsay or Torchetti have been canned yet. But, don’t be surprised when they are.
This is about wiping the memory of the Thrashers from the NHL landscape. What Manitoba wants to do … is pretend this is an expansion club. Don’t be all that surprised to see players drafted by Waddell and Marr to be traded out, just to further distance the memories of ex-Thrashers.
So, what is the legacy of the Atlanta Thrashers? I think … it’s that of a minor league team masquerading as an NHL club, run by a crew of minor league management. Awful. Still, within that mess, were some good times and excellent memories. You didn’t have to like hockey, or know anything about it, to have a good time at Philips Arena, with the “Philips Experience.” You could take a date there. You could bring your kids there. It was totally interactive. The food was decent. The beer was cold.
Last one out, turn out the lights. Don Waddell, I can leave without saying a bad word. And that’s just what I’ll do.
R. Stroz
June 5th, 2011
11:14 pm
Well I’m running a little behind schedule, so here we go:
1. Watching the Bennings win the 7th Man Award, in particular, Mrs. Benning rising to her feet refusing to be encumbered by her wheelchair.
2. The energy in the building for the first playoff game.
3. My introduction to Cowbell Corner, otherwise known as Section 222. They are truly some fine men.
4. The third period comeback versus the Devils with Brodeur in goal. I never thought the Thrashers had a chance down 4 to 1 in the third period. Not only did the Thrashers comeback, they took the lead, lost the lead, and won in overtime.
5. Winning “a dollar” from Rawhide on a bet that I wouldn’t ask Buzilla’s fiancé if she could read. Buzilla had stated in the blog that his fiancé couldn’t read so why not take a “triple dog dare” bet.
6. Reconnecting with a member from the church I attended years back. I had “fought” for her to be appointed a Sunday School teacher many years ago. Now, she is a certified teacher with a Master’s Degree.
7. Naming Todd White “Charmin.”
8. Asking Don Waddell to resign at the March 2010 Towne Hall Meeting.
9. The fan support as I walked around the arena holding a sign with “Atlanta Spirit Group Brutally Bad Owners.”
10. Meeting so many great Thrasher fans who participated on Rawhide’s blog. What an awesome group of individuals that I always hope to stay in contact with over the forthcoming years.
11. The number of “dates” the wife and I spent at Thrasher games.
#POMPOM
litz
June 5th, 2011
11:33 pm
BTW … Dan Kamal on WXIA toinght … adamantly defending the fans, stating they’re taking a bum rap.
More and more media is starting to dig into this cesspool, the more the merrier. I’m sure there’s some great dirt yet to be dug up and unleashed.
Back on topic … a few more items …
This year, watching Burmistrov develop … man is that kid fun to watch.
The first half of the season, with so much hope for the team – tons of fun hockey to watch.
Meeting all the good folks on this blog … great bunch of folk.
Maybe, just maybe, sometime in the future, the NHL will deem us fit to host a franchise again. If – and when – that occurs, we’ll be ready. And we’ll be waiting.
Meanwhile, I’ll see y’all up in Gwinnett.
R. Stroz
June 5th, 2011
11:46 pm
A Tale of Two Men:
One man stormed the beaches of Normandy freeing the world from a genocidal maniac; the other stormed around Towne Hall Meetings showing contempt for his customers.
One man proudly prepared himself to showcase his love for his wife at each Thrashers game; the other hid in the shadows pretending to care for a team while defiling its very existence.
One man demonstrated constant chivalry happily assisting his encumbered wife to as many games as possible; the other crippled a team with a low payroll while pretending he wanted the team do well.
One passed on a legacy of love to his wife, the other left the honorable man’s widow out in the cold, taking away her ability to honor his memory which she did by placing his hat on the seat next to her.
One man will never be forgotten, the other will never be forgiven.
Would you like to guess which is Mr. Benning and which is Mr. Levenson?
Thrashers27
June 6th, 2011
12:50 am
PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI,
PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI,PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI,PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI, PASI!!!!!!!!!!!
Thrashers27
June 6th, 2011
12:56 am
…donkey kick. I know I’m not the only one to remember that one.
Bacchus
June 6th, 2011
7:45 am
Good: 2006 Season up till the Rangers.
Bad: Expired, skunked beer on draft at the club level in 2010. On more than one occasion. I should have seen it as an omen…
steve brown
June 6th, 2011
9:15 am
I’m creating a new memory-a boycott of the Hawks and Philips arena so long as they are owned by the current group of neanderthals.
litz
June 6th, 2011
9:59 am
“Bad: Expired, skunked beer on draft at the club level in 2010. On more than one occasion. I should have seen it as an omen…”
There was an investigation by one of the TV stations several months back about watered down beer @ major venues around town … Philips had the most watered down of any venue.
Rawhide
June 6th, 2011
10:25 am
There are far too many comments/memories to respond to here. However, I do want to thank those of you who shared them with us all. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who appreciated reading them.
Also, thanks to all the people who showed up at TJs Saturday night. The place was packed and it was a blast as always. It’s always great to spend time with quality people and true hockey fans. Hopefully we’ll get a chance to together again soon…or some time further out in the future.
Oh yeah, one more thing….
LAST!