Thrashers make changes, but did they go far enough? (UPDATED)
Hiring John Anderson was one of Don Waddell's many miscalculations. (Jessica McGowan/AJC)
(Updated below with Rick Dudley quotes)
The man who has been in charge of hockey in Atlanta from day one (and failed) now has an even better title with less responsibility.
His close friend is now the general manager.
Together, they will try to set direction and hire a new coach.
What’s wrong with this picture?
Change is good. Change is needed. Change is the only thing that gives the Thrashers a chance for success and hockey an extended lifeline in Atlanta.
But did the Atlanta Spirit go far enough? Or did ownership just make the easiest, most convenient and least expensive fixes it could make, hoping that this all works out?
Let me start with this: Rick Dudley has a pretty solid reputation as a personnel guy. He acquired several of the players in Tampa Bay that ultimately led to the Lightning winning the Stanley Cup (though he wanted to trade Vincent Lecavalier, which ultimately led to him resigning before the title season). He did good work in Ottawa and Chicago.
But fixing everything here will be a chore. Under Waddell, there has been no consistency in objective or design. The pieces seldom fit. It’s not that every draft and every trade failed. There just seldom seemed to be a plan about what kind of team he was trying to put together. If there was a plan, it wasn’t working.
Worst of all, nobody seemed to care.
Great sports teams have a level of accountability – from owner to general manager, GM to coach, coach to player. This franchise lacks it. It was illustrated again this week when Waddell, in summing up the Thrashers’ ninth playoff-less season in 10 years and scrambling for something positive to say, uttered: “I think we did make some strides this year. I know we’ve heard that before, but we did finish above .500, which is something we haven’t been able to do.”
He should know better. The Thrashers’ record of 35-34-13 ranked 23rd in the NHL and, in reality, was anything but above .500. That third category in the NHL standings is a loss category, for overtimes and shootouts. If the Thrashers were above .500, then 23 of 30 teams were above .500.
Is that the standard now?
There are several problems here, problems bigger than the names on the door. Here are three:
♦ Player development is a problem because of the Thrashers’ dysfunctional relationship with their minor-league affiliate, the Chicago Wolves (AHL). The Thrashers don’t operate the Wolves. Their owner, Don Levin, is more concerned about winning games than helping develop players the right way for Atlanta.
♦ Coach John Anderson had to go. He’s a nice guy but he was hired on the cheap. It was obvious at the time, even if ownership and blind Thrashers’ loyalists refused to acknowledge it. He’s not an NHL coach and proved it. There have long been rumors about the Club Med atmosphere around the team under Anderson. Bob Hartley never should have been fired. The problem wasn’t Hartley, it was the players in the locker room. Dudley/Waddell need an experienced coach, a proven winner, with an edge. The team lacks discipline and structure.
♦ I want to see ownership make a true commitment. If it takes money to turn the Thrashers into a winner – be it with a coaching hiring, a free agent signing or improving scouting and player development – let’s see it. There’s a reason the good teams are always good and the Thrashers are always the Thrashers.
Give Dudley credit: at least he understands the issues. When asked about the team’s attendance problems and rumors of a franchise move, he said, “In Chicago that first year, I think I could shake hands with everybody in the crowd. Now you can’t get in. You can’t sell tickets to a bad product.”
Regarding the team’s on-ice fortunes this year and next, he said: “We thought we should make the playoffs this year so obviously we think we should make the playoffs next year. I think we’re at a point now where we can evolve into something pretty good.”
He also believes the team needs to acquire a top-6 forward to make up for the loss of Ilya Kovalchuk.
If the Thrashers ultimately move, it won’t be because the sport failed, it will be because the franchise failed. There’s no reason for that to happen. There’s no reason stars like Kovalchuk or Marian Hossa should want to leave. There’s no reason a team should be turned into a cartoon by bringing in a relic like Chris Chelios.
Change is needed. We’ll see if this was enough.
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160 comments Add your comment
Russ
April 14th, 2010
10:09 am
DW needs to be out of the organization completely. I would be fine with Dudley making all personnel decisions, but if DW is still there I don’t trust that he will keep his hands out of things.
Surely, Jeff...
April 14th, 2010
10:16 am
…you didn’t really just write an article on the Thrashers!?!?!!?
Yeah...
April 14th, 2010
10:16 am
…bring back the Count and his countdown…..
I'd like to see the team...
April 14th, 2010
10:17 am
…move out of Atlanta!
merculf
April 14th, 2010
10:17 am
I just hope it isn’t too late to save the team and keep them here in Atlanta. I know that there are some serious penalties if they try to sell and move them before the contracts run out but I would be really upset if they do make a change to move them. The fans here in Atlanta will support a winning team. 1 playoff berth in 10 yrs is not going to cut it. They need to make a statement with the hiring of the next coach in Atlanta to show the fan base that the ownership is committed to staying here. Otherwise, you will see the attendance fall.
LLOYD CHRISTMAS
April 14th, 2010
10:22 am
KNIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
holton
April 14th, 2010
10:23 am
Worst ownership group in hockey. Wish we could find one atlanta based millionaire (billionaire would be better) to take over and invest in the franchise. The year they went to the playoffs the team had energy, the city had some energy to it, I went to the most games I’d been to any season and each game had a respectable showing of fans. But when you have visibly uncommitted, apatehtic ownership group fans can’t support that.
Its why Turner and the Braves were so popular, Turner bred the passion and because he was passionate the fans were. Same goes for Blank and Falcons. Falcons fans know Blank wants to win above making money, thus is willing to put his money down to get the right personnel.
Brian Hunt
April 14th, 2010
10:24 am
I really want to see the Thrashers succeed. I think you hit the nail on the head when pointing out that DW had no sense of direction or design in how this team was supposed to be structured and no real accountability. IK didn’t leave because of money, he left because this franchise is the NHL equivalent of the Detroit Lions.
Smoothie
April 14th, 2010
10:24 am
Okay Jeff, I’ll give you credit for presenting not only a timely and pertinent blog just minutes after Vivlamore broke the news, but you did so in a fair and even-handed manner. Now if some of your journalist friends there at the ajc.com would ask a few more tough questions, perhaps we’d get Levenson to tell us why they treat Waddell like a son and not employee. Keep the heat on them and do not give them any quarter should they be stupid enough to hire an unproven coach without some sort of legitimate NHL track record.
Bob
April 14th, 2010
10:31 am
Look at the number of draft picks (excluding 1st rounders) that the Thrashers have developed over the last 10 years. Besides Enstrom, name another 2nd rounder or later that has had any impact. There are serious issues with player development and amateur scouting.
shadydave
April 14th, 2010
10:34 am
my brother says that Don Waddell has pictures of the Atlanta Spirit Group’s all-male orgies held at their owners meetings, and that’s why they can’t fire him… used to think he was just kidding, but how else to explain???
Bob H
April 14th, 2010
10:35 am
As far as I’m concerned, this sort of thing proves that the Thrashers are, and will continue to be, the Clippers of the NHL. A franchise incapable of getting out of it’s own way, sticking with management personnel (Clippers – Mike Dunleavy, Elgin Baylor……..Thrashers – Don Waddell) way, WAY too long. Waddell must have something dirty on someone (or ones) in ASG, because it’s become laughable that he’s retained after a decade of one playoff appearance and zero playoff wins.
Telfo
April 14th, 2010
10:35 am
all the people complaining about Waddell being GM should be happy, no?
i totally agree about both Anderson and Hartley, but i think both had to go. from the looks of it, the available coaches arent too great. if Tortorella gets fired we should really hire him
Adam
April 14th, 2010
10:40 am
Just ship the Trashers somewhere else. Waddell is a JOKE!!!! I thought Anderson was a good coach and was a good face for this franchise in Atlanta. What are you supposed to do when you have your best player shipped away in the middle of the season???? We can’t resign players and we continually go through coaches. What a joke of a franchise….
Thrash
April 14th, 2010
10:42 am
Maybe they should move to Calgary…no wait…
Horse hockey...
April 14th, 2010
10:42 am
…we don’t need no stinking hockey in this town…
R. Stroz
April 14th, 2010
10:43 am
Bring back Hartley.
When Hartley was canned because of the backstabing Bobby Holik, the only player who seemed truly upset was Ilya Kovalchuk.
Your Mammy
April 14th, 2010
10:47 am
What are you smoking Telfo? Bob Hartley was the best thing the Thrashers had going for them, a proven Stanley Cup winner. He was fired by Waddell as a scape goat for his own ineptitude. If I were the Atlanta Spirit, I would hire Bob Hartley back on as coach, put Don “the dummy” Waddell in a position under Hartley, so Bob could personally fire Waddell.
Tucker T
April 14th, 2010
10:50 am
It’s typical Jeff. A lot of companies promote incompetent people. Waddell gets a better title and probably more money. Sometimes it’s easier than just firing them.
thrashersfan
April 14th, 2010
10:51 am
Some of you are wrong about Hartley. He was a terrible coach. Never made enough line changes, stuck with players that were hurting the team…. ie Devries, and don’t forget his going to the bullpen for the shoot-out! A terrible coach.
dandylions
April 14th, 2010
10:52 am
What did Bobby Holik do?
Resign or Resign?
April 14th, 2010
10:54 am
holton-
agree with you, but if you were a millionaire/billionaire hockey fan, would you be living in Atlanta? ..or how many millionaire/billionaire hockey fans are there in Atlanta?
Otto
April 14th, 2010
10:55 am
What a shame if the Thrashers were in the playoffs like the Hawks their attendance would be better than the Hawks. Waddell has been the constant.
Otto
April 14th, 2010
10:56 am
Resign? Blank is not from Atlanta. Plenty of transplants down here.
I am a native and would rather see a Thrashers game than any other pro game.
Somaatl95
April 14th, 2010
10:56 am
TO ALL OF YOU SAYING “HOCKEY NEEDS TO GO” – FOOTBALL, BASEBALL AND BASKETBALL SHOULD LEAVE AS WELL, ATLANTA DIDN’T GIVE A SQUAT ABOUT THEM TILL THEY HAD CHANGE.
And maybe they should require an IQ test for watching college football in this town. Rednecks think hockey is a yankee thing – yet every hockey fan I know (and there are a lot) ARE ALL FROM HERE. Stop ripping on a sport that you are too bull headed or stupid to understand and go back to jacking it to whatever QB UGA decides to pick this upcoming season. Rather than slam it, why not just STFU?
Halberstram
April 14th, 2010
10:57 am
Why does Waddell continually get kept above the firing line? The guy has accomplished nothing in ten years.
Jeff, I agree completely with your sentiment that if there’s a move the franchise has failed. The Atlanta Spirit group is a joke.
Resign or Resign?
April 14th, 2010
10:59 am
Otto
I am a huge hockey fan, Georgia born. Just sayin’; if I was a millionaire/billionaire hockey fan and could live anywhere I wanted, Atlanta would be way down the list.
Resign or Resign?
April 14th, 2010
11:00 am
Otto:
and Blank does LIVE in Atlanta.
Kovy's Agent
April 14th, 2010
11:03 am
Hartley? Really? I didn’t realize so many people long for a return to the days of the ole dump and chase offensive strategy. Or, the rope-a-dope style of playing for the tie, or sitting on a tenuous one goal lead for the entire 3rd period. Or, the dogged determination to stick with grizzled veterans way past their prime. Hartley is not/will not be the savior of Thrasher hockey.
Barf
April 14th, 2010
11:06 am
They promoted Waddell??? Attention Spirit: YOU’RE ALL MORONS!
Good grief. Get a clue and sack the guy who in 12 seasons has won ZERO playoff games. And you find it hard to believe that we rank near dead last in attendance.
Matt
April 14th, 2010
11:07 am
It’s a START. Now, the real test will be in the hiring of a PROVEN NHL coach, signing the necessary free agents and drafting well.
Also, as mentioned, it would be a good idea to change minor league teams and dump Chicago. That is just not working. Thrashers prospects need to play and develop and not necessarily win.
Manon Rheaume
April 14th, 2010
11:08 am
Is there another GM in any other major sport who had the job for 11 years without winning a playoff game? If so it couldn’t be more than a few.
Ownership is a joke…
reebok
April 14th, 2010
11:08 am
man, I miss the Knights…
tom
April 14th, 2010
11:09 am
Your being too nice. You never once mentioned that Waddell should go in order for the franchise to succeed. Indeed Hartley was the only quality coach they have had. This club will not be in Atlanta in 5 years if Waddell is in charge of anything related to the Thrashers.
Reggie Dunlop
April 14th, 2010
11:09 am
The Thrashers web site states Waddell was promoted. What has Waddell done to deserve a “promotion”? What has he done to actually keep a job with the Thrashers?
Whitaker77
April 14th, 2010
11:10 am
Do I think these changes went far enough? No and yes. No on Waddell, Yes on everything else.
No, Waddell needs to be gone, the Thrasher’s front office should not be a “good-old-boys” club. What kind of influnce will he have on the team?
Rick Dudley as GM? Form what I understand (which is not much at all) he has a good eye for talent (players and coaches) and is not afraid of making extreme moves. To me any change will be better than what we had in the past. What makes me nervous is will he stand up to Waddell or give into him?
Bob Hartley should have never been fired. I said it on the day he was fired and I have said it since, the issue was Waddell not bring in the right players to play under Hartley.
I look forward to seeing what happens over this off-season.
One thing the Thrashers need to do is OWN their minor league team. This would be a HUGE step is making the team better I feel. There are plenty of cities that want hockey. Take New England you cannot throw a stone without hitting a AHL team Worcester (Sharks), Lowell (Devils), Springfield (Oilers?), Providence (Bruins), Manchester (Kings), the list goes on. For most of these teams the players come in and fit into the Parent’s team system of play every easy. If they want to exspand Hockey here in Georgia put the team South of Atlanta.
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
11:12 am
Surely, Jeff … Why surprised? I probably write more hockey than anybody else here (other than our beat writer).
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
11:12 am
Yeah … Next week. He’s been hungover. Hanging with Roethlisberger.
Fred
April 14th, 2010
11:12 am
Waddell needs to go before I come back and watch the Thrashers. He is a proven loser and for him to say they finished above .500 is a joke. The Thrashers true record was 35-47. Twelve games under .500. But when you have the worst ownership group in sports then you get a lacky like Waddell to do their bidding. Enough said.
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
11:13 am
Brian Hunt — I think you’re right. Kovalchuk never has gotten enough credit for how much he wants to win.
TheAntiMe
April 14th, 2010
11:14 am
The Thrashers are a very sad organization (and I use the term very loosely). The only way things are going to turn around is for those cheapskates (pun intended) that are the ASG to actually spend some money a hire a real GM and a real coach.
This seems to me like nothing more than a title switch and Don Waddell will most likely be the de facto GM. The hockey fans of Atlanta really deserve much better than this.
Joe McGrath
April 14th, 2010
11:14 am
I got a good deal for those boys…..Scouts say they show a lot of promise.
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
11:14 am
Smoothie — Thanks. And that’s a great question about the Levenson-Waddell relationship. Bruce doesn’t talk to me. But there’s a chance he’ll be speaking at some point today or tonight with Chris and I’m sure that question will come up (though probably in another form).
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
11:16 am
R.Stroz — I like Bob a lot. But I imagine too much damage has been done there. Not sure if you can go back to that well again.
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
11:16 am
Tucker T — Yes, some companies do promote incompetent people. And what happens to those companies?
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
11:18 am
Halberstram — Thanks. And were you a fan of David H.?
Back to Kolvuchuck
April 14th, 2010
11:18 am
Or however you spell his name……What does it say when he turns down a HUGE contract to play elsewhere? Remember when Dion bolted on the Falcons? Same thing. They both saw the chance of long term winning was NOT going to happen.
On to Anderson. What does it say when you hover at the 8th and final play off spot for a month and can’t get over that hump? The lost to teams they should have beat.
Section119
April 14th, 2010
11:18 am
There’s no reason a team should be turned into a cartoon by bringing in a relic like Chris Chelios.
LOL! Jeff – This line caused me to spit my coffee. Don’t always agree with you, but enjoy your take on my team. Please keep doing what you do.
Whitaker77
April 14th, 2010
11:18 am
*Random Question to the crowd* What kind of coach/system do you want for the Thrashers, and no “a winning one” is not an answer?
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
11:19 am
Section 119 — Thanks. Send me the cleaning bill.
Darkhorse
April 14th, 2010
11:21 am
Step in the right direction. The only way Waddell is gone is if the owners are too. That’s at the top of my Christmas list. Best case scnerio about today’s changes are if the ASG don’t let Waddell get in the way of what Dudley wants to do. Waddell needs to be McKayed like the Falcons did.
Smoothie
April 14th, 2010
11:21 am
I like “hi Bob!” as a man and he was / is a solid coach. But it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to bring him back. Dudley’s promotion to GM hopefully will mean a paradigm shift in philosophy. We’ve already seen that in some of the moves he’s made since becoming Assoc GM with the drafting of Klingberg, the acquisition of Kubina and the flyer they decided to take on Patrice Cormier. Hopefully, a player like Nino Neidereiter, a 6′2″, 210 lb net crasher, will fall to us at # 8 and then Duds can do something with NJ’s first round pick from the Ilya trade. Of course, we’ll need some help from Philly in the form of a first round upset of the Devils.
Mr. Heat Miser
April 14th, 2010
11:21 am
Working for the ASG is kinda like working for the government. Screw up enough and you get promoted.
Hollywould
April 14th, 2010
11:22 am
Well, I guess it is time for me to show the pics of Waddel and the asg. Seriously, how does the guy keep a job here? Hopefully, as president(PRESIDENT, CAN U BELIEVE IT) maybe waddel is no longer involved in drafting, free agents, coaching, blue crew, philips tv’s that don’t work and fill in the blanks.
I still believe Anderson got a raw deal. perhaps he could not make changes on the fly but if you have new players all the time it does handicap certain things just like in every other sport.
first?
April 14th, 2010
11:23 am
There is a hockey team in Atlanta. Who would have ever thunk it…
first?
April 14th, 2010
11:24 am
Where do they play?
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
11:24 am
Whitaker77 — Discipline. Accountability. Doesn’t have to be a complete hard-a** but can’t be soft like Anderson. Also needs to understand the players he has on the roster. I know, that’s generic. I’ll throw one name out there of a guy who did a pretty good job in Edmonton: Craig MacTavish. Not saying he’s my first choice (or if I have a first choice) but their teams attacked and you always knew what you were getting game to game. I attribute most of Oilers’ problems to a lack of personnel. They had NO money for players. But they did make it to the finals one year. Just a thought.
JT10
April 14th, 2010
11:28 am
Good 1st move.
One more thing. If you want this to be a great hockey town, an NHL hockey town, enough with the Knights already, OK? Good grief, from the National Anthem to this blog. The KNIGHTS WERE A MINOR LEAGUE TEAM.
LET’S ACT LIKE A MAJOR LEAGUE MARKET, OK! WE HAVE AN NHL TEAM PEOPLE!
The only hockey history we have here is the Flames, and they were dang good!
Jim007
April 14th, 2010
11:31 am
DW needs to go too…
Simply need a new direction
Whitaker77
April 14th, 2010
11:36 am
The Knights were a fan favorite for those that could not afford to see the Flames and after the Flames left.
The fact that they are back speaks volumes of how Hockey is growing again here in Georgia, which is great.
But I have to agree ENOUGH with the KNIGHTS crap during the Anthem, there is no class to it. It used to be that people did not even clap after the Anthem as they felt it shows disrespect. Now we have Monkeys yelling KNIGHTS! Because there happens to be the word NIGHT in the Anthem… sad.
polskidawg
April 14th, 2010
11:45 am
100% correct assessment.
The ASG LLC was close, but no cigar.
Smoothie
April 14th, 2010
11:45 am
Jeff – MacT would be a very good hire IMO. The ‘06 Oilers would be a good team after which to model a team. We’ve got the young players to do it and we may have better goaltending depending on a) Pavs’ continued development and b) free agency. Would Turco come to ATL as a mentor and back-up for Pavelec? Then again, perhaps Hedberg’s determination to finish “unfinished business” would be sufficient for the back-up role. I just don’t know if Pavelec is ready for 55-60 games as the starter. That’s a tough one. I say bring in a guy like Dan Ellis and let him challenge Pavelec…let the best goalie win in camp.
Sherry Taylor
April 14th, 2010
11:52 am
I can honestly say I am surprised they aren’t retaining Anderson, et al. Who would’ve thought that? Not me, the Atlanta Spirit seems so unattached to the Thrashers I’m surprised they allowed such a move. That said, they need to get someone BEFORE the draft! Otherwise the coach won’t have any input as to the players they take. I have to agree with Kozlov to an extent in that it seemed everyone in the league knew what the Thrashers were going to do coming up the ice, except the other Thrashers players. I think Anderson tended to ‘tinker’ too much with lines, example, when Kane got hurt, instead of finding someone else who could fit into the line with Slater and Armstrong which was going guns ablazin’ at the time, he tore it all up and messed with all of the lines. You don’t rip something up completely if only one part needs repaired. I also agree that rotating all of the lines all of the time hurt, when you see tow or three are really hot or it is a tight game, you go with what is working. I’d like to see someone, coach, come in that will be able to kick some pads when they get out there on the ice and are lagging. Anderson didn’t seem to be able to rally the troops when they came out under-performing. They would play brilliant (final game against Pittsburgh) for one or two games and then play like amateurs for seven or nine games. That goes to coaching. It would be nice to think that these moves, which seem drastic on the surface, will make a huge difference, but we won’t know that until November. We need someone who is not afraid to lead this team and not bend to personalities. One of the biggest mistakes Waddell made was making the team about Ilya Kovalchuk. Team play is not encouraged when you day after day admit that it is all about one. We need a coach that does NOT have a minor league mentality, which Waddell has and so did Anderson. He, Anderson, favored players who had played with him in Chicago. There’s a reason those players are in Chicago. We need a major league, if you will, minded coach who has a plan and a passion for the sport. I hope Dudley can show us some skills that look even a little bit like Thomas Dimitroff of the Falcons, he has an eye for talent and not afraid to take a chance. (It will be interesting to see what happens in the goalie coach position–well, all of them, really.) Hartley couldn’t coach effectively because of big egos, Kovalchuk and Holick, but on the pro level a great coach finds a way around that. Whatever the results, I think the TEAM is better off and played better after Kovalchuk than with him. But, that’s just one former sports broadcasters humble opinion.
Irish-Heel
April 14th, 2010
11:56 am
Hey Jeff that Oiler team had a lot of young talent that caught fire. Edmonton had talent The Trashers have little to no talent. The term I think that is appropriate is No-Talent @#$ Clowns. As a Canes fan I would like to see the Trashers get Melrose. He can compete with Craig Sager for the shiniest suit in the Atlanta area.
Ace
April 14th, 2010
11:57 am
Bring back the Knights! That was fun to watch live (do people really watch hockey on TV?) and affordable.
Supes
April 14th, 2010
12:00 pm
Fire Don W. What is it going to take? Unreal.
Happy with the other moves. Anderson is a nice guy but not NHL Head Coaching material.
ASG is a JOKE of an ownership group. This team needs ONE individual owner, passionate and committed about building a winning NHL team here in ATL. Not some group of faceless people who were forced to buy the Thrashers b/c it’s the only way to purchase the Hawks.
MrHughes
April 14th, 2010
12:04 pm
This move seems a lot like the Rich McKay GM –> President move. Honestly, I don’t have a problem with this. DW is no longer making personel or drafting decisions. This isn’t a promotion. That’s just marketing talk. He’s lost most of his power and responsability. Only only a promotion in title and/or a lateral move. It’s like running a lemonade stand and counting $ to being the president of marketing and making signage and keeping the books.
The jobs require completely different skill sets.
Moreoever, there’s been a hole since Bernie Mullin left ASG, so there’s a need to have someone that looks over the other aspects of running the Thrashers that is full time and inhouse. I think DW can excel in that role. Clearly, he cares about the team and building a winner. So, I wish him well.
I think JA got jobbed tho. 5 games under .500 isn’t that bad.
Hartley lost the locker room. It was time for him to go. In the end, the team played harder for JA than it did for Hartley. And, my 2nd team is the Avs, so I love Bob Hartley as a coach and jumped for joy when DW brought him to Atlanta.
TheAntiMe
April 14th, 2010
12:05 pm
John Anderson was the coaching equivalent of the player who finally breaks into the pro’s and is just happy to be here. Hopefully, whoever is hired as coach for the Thrashers will be someone who has been around long enough to not just be happy with the status quo.
Oh, and I totally agree. Waddell’s remark about the Thrashers having finished above .500 is pathetically disingenuous. Does he really think that people in Atlanta are so hockey illiterate that they wouldn’t realize that his statement was totally inaccurate? Waddell needs to go back to selling used cars.
JT10
April 14th, 2010
12:09 pm
For you fans that love minor league hockey, go see the Gladiators.
Bob
April 14th, 2010
12:17 pm
The overwhelming response of Atlanta Sports Fans is “Who cares?” We will never support hockey enough to make it a wise investment to be here.
Pi$$onaDAWG
April 14th, 2010
12:17 pm
Let the Hawks and Thrashers go. Football and Baseball seasons are long enough. There are many teams that could your support. UGA, GT, and now GSu have football. UGA, GT, GSU, Kennesaw, and Gwinnett Braves offer Baseball and Softball. UGA, GT, GSU, and KSU have Basketball. There is Hockey in Gwinnett in the burbs were the fans are anyway.
Bruce
April 14th, 2010
12:18 pm
1. Murphy’s Law: In every hierachy each member rises to his own level of incompetance.
2. Somebody get Pat Quinn on the phone, or grovel and get Hartley back!
Flames/ Knights/ Thrashers Fan
April 14th, 2010
12:29 pm
Please get off the Knights fans. Some of us remember when the Flames left, and left a void of hockey for us die hard fans. The Knights were a well run organization that won on the ice (1994 Turner Cup) and won fans in the community. They filled a big gap in the hockey fan’s heart. There were nearly 15,000 of us at the Omni when they beat the Ft Wayne Komets for the Turner Cup.
Now we do have an NHL team, and now that Waddell is “out of the picture”, let’s pack the place next season!
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
12:32 pm
Irish Heel — Edmonton scouted and brought in great talent but never could keep it because of economics. And a comment on Melrose: Ugh.
Smoothie
April 14th, 2010
12:33 pm
Why in the hell would I support UGA, GaTech or GSU with my hard-earned dollars? College sports is going to hell in a hand-basket. At least with pro sports, there’s accountability, well most of the time unless you are Don Waddell, and you can rightfully criticize paid professionals for screwing up. I’m not going to get caught up in the ups and downs of teenagers playing a sport. I did that in college and now it’s time to focus my appreciation and rancor, if need be, into being a pro sports fan for the city I live in. Too many college fans in this town, most of which don’t even know what the hell they’re talking about when it comes to the team they follow.
Ornery
April 14th, 2010
12:36 pm
Things will not improve until Waddell hits the train tracks. Who has any brains left in the Thrasher organization? Loyalty only buys so much credibility but in this instance, it makes the franchise a joke of major contention. CLEAN HOUSE. Or you’ll wind up like the Flames.
JASon
April 14th, 2010
12:39 pm
Jeff, glad you called him on the b.s. about finishing above .500. Even I know that means nothing in hockey: its points that matter. This nimrod doesn’t realize that in shootouts and ot no loss registers for the losing team. Just look at the standings. What a dope
AtlThrash4404
April 14th, 2010
12:39 pm
Simply spend the cash to make this team what it needs to be lets start spedning at least near the salary cap the Hawks are doing well how about making the Thrashers a priority instead of the stepchild to the Hawks that they have been since day one. Hockey can work in Atlanta and be extremely successful with the ownership supporting it the way they should
Joe Friday
April 14th, 2010
12:40 pm
Well, there’s good news and bad news here. Good news first. Anderson isn’t an NHL coach, it was patently obvious to me from the first time I saw his system that it wouldn’t work in the NHL. It was rinky dink and reeked of Don Waddell’s minor league handling of this club from Day 1, minor league players, hiring minor league coaches in Fraser and Anderson, the one strong guy, Hartley, got the boot because he was given young players, and he’s not a veteran player guy.
Good news also is that we have a new GM, but please be realistic. This is a PR move that we, the fans who have boycotted and left as season ticket holders forced the owners to make, but they didn’t go all in, they did this as PR to blow more smoke up our rears. Waddell is the problem, promoting him to team President is a joke, a horrible business decision further proving these guys have no ability to run pro franchises.
I do not suffer under any delusion that Waddell is going to out of the personnel decisions. Read Dudley’s own words “I look forward to building this organization even further and working closely with Don”
Dudley himself said he’ll be working closely with Don, and that’s the bad news. Waddell is still going to call the shots, all they did was change the title of Dudley by removing associate from the front of GM and they changed Don’s GM to President, but the hierarchy remains the same, Dudley still reports to Waddell and Waddell is still in charge.
Now most of you fellow astute hockey fans also noticed what I did in the past year, and that’s some better personnel decisions being made and we figured it was Dudley giving Waddell some better advice, but some of the same dumb decisions were made (not trading Kovy when it was obvious to everyone but Sara that he was out of here, and it ruined our season, letting the minor league coach run his minor league system, allowing dissent in the locker room).
Mickey Mouse got promoted, and the new GM is still reporting to the same guy and states today that he’s looking forward to working closely with the guy that is the problem.
Oof.
O'Brien
April 14th, 2010
12:44 pm
I will preface this by saying I am not a hockey fan. but as a fan of ATL teams, I would like to see the Thrashers do well.
But why is Waddell still on payroll? 1 playoff appearance in 10 years, and he’s been calling the shots since 1998 (day 1). Hiring and firing different coaches, questionable drafts, questionable trades and questionable signings. And look at where the Thrashers have picked in the first round.
1999 – #1,
2000 – #2
2001 – #1
2002 – #2,
2003 – #8,
2004 – #10
2005 – #16
2006 – #12
2008 – #3
2009 – #4
And this year, they will pick #8.
If this was basketball, the GM would have been fired a long time ago.
I’ll hang up and listen.
Smitty
April 14th, 2010
12:45 pm
Can Waddell stay out of the picture? Dudley is a tough guy. Hopefully he will tell DW to stay upstairs.
Christina Harlan
April 14th, 2010
12:58 pm
We NEED to fire Don Waddell!! I love hockey and really want to support the team. Is anybody listening? I want to love the Thrashers.
TheAntiMe
April 14th, 2010
1:00 pm
Just for the sake of thinking outside the box, how about Darren Eliot as coach? I’m sure you’ll love that one, Jeff, based on your Barry Melrose comment.
heartofdarkness
April 14th, 2010
1:03 pm
And the answer is… this is Georgia, and mediocrity is good.
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
1:13 pm
TheAntiMe — Actually, I have a lot of respect for Darren. He’s a bright guy and knows hockey. But I see him more as a guy with GM potential one day than coach because he knows where the problems are, big picture, in the organization. I’ll leave it at that.
Wayne stuck in AL
April 14th, 2010
1:16 pm
The only reason Waddell was bumped up to Team President is because he was the only person the dysfunctional and absentee Atlanta Spirit knew and trusted…Trust me, if Bernie Mullin were still around, not only would Waddell be gone, it would’ve been gone years ago.
TheAntiMe
April 14th, 2010
1:20 pm
lol – Thanks, Jeff, for not calling me stupid.
DWTOO
April 14th, 2010
1:25 pm
Anderson had to go. Dudley will want to bring in his man.
oldfart
April 14th, 2010
1:25 pm
Who does Waddell have pictures of?
Sherry Taylor
April 14th, 2010
1:39 pm
Hey Jeff, How about a Scotty Bowman? Is there one around the league that isn’t retired?
Archie
April 14th, 2010
1:41 pm
Jeff, you asked what becomes of companies that promote incompetent people… well they become the Falcons. Does the name Rich McKay ring a bell? The Falcons made the EXACT same move two years ago and everyone praised the move as the smartest thing the Falcons ever did, yet when the Thrashers do it people say it’s nothing but a dysfunctional ownership group making bad decisions. There’s a severe double standard at play here. The similarities between Rich McKay and Don Waddell are astounding, and that’s before the moves announced today. Both made bad decisions in hiring/firing coaches. Both made terrible late round draft picks. Both traded away first round picks for aging or marginally talented players. Both are well liked and known around the league for being great administrative and business minds, but not so for their personnel decisions.
What I’m getting at here is what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. If the move worked for the Falcons, then it can work for the Thrashers. The latest chapter just isn’t finished yet because Dudley hasn’t hired a coach and staff yet.
Also, as for minor league affiliates, while the Thrashers may not have the greatest relationship with their AHL team, it’s less common than you think for NHL teams to own their minor league affiliates. There are less AHL teams than NHL, and many AHL teams have two NHL affiliates. So not owning your AHL affiliate isn’t the biggest handicap in the world, plenty of NHL teams are successful without it. The Buffalo Sabres don’t own theirs (they were one of the double affiliates), and they’re regarded as having one of the best development systems in the NHL.
Hindu Elvis Pimp
April 14th, 2010
2:08 pm
Is Boom Boom Geofreion still dead?
Hindu Elvis Pimp
April 14th, 2010
2:09 pm
I think I spelled his name wrong…..I can’t help it…..I’m Hindu Elvis Pimp!
Flintstone v Rubble
April 14th, 2010
2:11 pm
Be easy on McKay. He did quite a bit of good. He got two second round picks for a QB that was never going to play here. It’s all too easy to pile on someone. If you do, make it a point to state why instead of following the crowd.
who cares
April 14th, 2010
2:13 pm
They need to chagne their name to the KNIGHTS. No BIRD team has ever won a championship. Hawks-No Eagles/Cardinals.Seahawks/Falcons-NO.
Get rid of the Basketball team-it’s a thug league anyway. Don’t need the gold club hip hop boys with their pants on the ground coming to atlanta any way. the KNIGHTS won a Championship and if it weren’t for teh omni being blown up-they’d still be here. Atlanta is a COLLEGE town just like the college towns of alabama and NC. The bobcats? give me a break-there are more peopel at the Charlotte Checkers game than those clowns.
timthebrave
April 14th, 2010
2:20 pm
What’s the next 5 year plan? Hopefully it involves 1 f%^$^$& playoff win
timthebrave
April 14th, 2010
2:21 pm
Build a winner and people will come
Duke in Dahlonega
April 14th, 2010
2:24 pm
W.I.N.N.I.P.E.G.
Paul From Milton
April 14th, 2010
2:24 pm
One of the best columns I have ever read from you, Jeff. The analysis is spot on, especially the section on accountability from the top to the bottom of the organization. Atlanta may well lose the Thrashers and its a shame because it doesn’t have to happen.
Archie
April 14th, 2010
2:24 pm
I wasn’t even being hard on McKay, or Waddell. I think they’re very similar in that their skillsets are more suited to administrative and business aspects of pro sports and not as much on the personnel and scouting aspects. That’s not a knock on either guy, I think they were both in positions where they were excellent at one half of their job duties and sub-par at the other half.
However, because this town isn’t a non-traditional football market, nobody ever blamed the Falcons struggles on not being a “football town”. So it’s a double standard when the hockey team in town has the same trouble that every other team in this town had at one point or another yet blame it on being a non-traditional hockey market.
Duke in Dahlonega
April 14th, 2010
2:26 pm
In Fact, Rick Dudley used to play for THE JETS!!! Interesting???
J Hughes
April 14th, 2010
2:28 pm
Mr Schultz;
So they improve this year in points and many statistical categories after trading their most recognizable player. They appeared to be better this year as players were more comfortable with Anderson’s system. Why do you think any decent coach will come here (not on the cheap) if the leadership has consistentlty proven they won’t spend the $? Why is there no accountability for the GM? Peter Principle in evidence. Good thing I am a Flyers fan otherwise it would be painful to watch.
Delbert D.
April 14th, 2010
2:29 pm
They need to sign a couple more linebackers.
Tucker T
April 14th, 2010
2:32 pm
Jeff
I think it depends on where you promote incompetent employee within the company. Sometimes you just give them a no responsibility job with a nice title like Vice President of something or another and they can’t do much damage. I have seen it work both ways.
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
2:38 pm
Archie — On Falcons’ analogy. Rich was moved completely out of FB decisions. Dimitroff took over and hired the coach. But it should be noted Rich has his strengths also and also that he did win a Super Bowl as GM of Tampa. Don doesn’t have that on his resume (sorry, not counting that Red Wings won the Cup during his one year as assistant GM).
For the record, I’m not declaring this won’t work. Just don’t quite understand why DW was kept. But we’ll see.
On affiliates: I understand not every situation if perfect. But also know teams like Detroit and New Jersey that are good every year have different situations with their affiliates.
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
2:38 pm
Paul from Milton — Thanks.
UGASlobberknocker
April 14th, 2010
2:54 pm
No this isnt enough…increase the payroll or it wont matter who the coach is.
UGASlobberknocker
April 14th, 2010
3:01 pm
To the guy above who thinks our “bird” nickname is the problem..Actually, the “bird” teams have done quite well in the NHL.. The ” bird” nickname didnt seem to be a problem with the Penquins last year. Wasnt a problem whern the Ducks won it a few years ago either. Just a hunch, but bad players might be more responsible for the Thrashers record than their nickname.
Cut to the Chase
April 14th, 2010
3:06 pm
Difference: John Anderson would have resigned a long time ago(as coach, GM or whatever)if he knew he would have one playoff appearancein 10 years.
If I ever attend another game, you’ll spot me in my Daffy Duck costume showing my loyalty to ASG’s cartoon network and their president, Duck Waddle.
RG360
April 14th, 2010
3:08 pm
You’ve got to be kidding me. Don Waddell survives the catastrophe that he has created over the past 10 years. Whatever happened to accountability … virtually no results and they make him President ? This is ridiculous. Waddell is incompetent and has proven it with his lack of results in the win column, box office and quality of consistent product. Get rid of him he is a joke in the league and as a result so is the team, the fans and the city. My goodness !!
sugarfoot
April 14th, 2010
3:08 pm
Oh, well. You know, I love hockey. I went to every Flames and Knights game. But, I never got to a Thrashers game. I live right up the road and have not been to a Gwinnett game, either. I am starting to believe that Atlanta really is not a hockey town. I am sorry; but, send them all packing.
just saying....
April 14th, 2010
3:13 pm
Hockey? In Atlanta? Hahahahahahaha. This is a football first city/state and then baseball. Every other sport is, well, just another sport, like it or not.
Birdman from Atlanta-traz
April 14th, 2010
3:19 pm
to the nickname guy who says bird teams are losers..Not really.
teams with Bird nicknames have done well in the professional world in places other than Atlanta.
just in the last 8 yrs or so: Penguins and Ducks have won the Stanley Cup, the Cardinals won the World Series (they have won more Series than any team except the Yankees). In the 2000s, the football Cardinals made the Super Bowl, as did the Seahawks. Thre Eagles made it to 5 NFC Championship games this decade and one Super Bowl. Going back to the 90’s, the Penguins won 2 titles, and the Blue Jays won the World Series. Go back a little further, the Orioles have won the World Series.
I’m thinking now maybe just the Atlanta bird teams suck.
Flintstone v Rubble
April 14th, 2010
3:20 pm
Jeff, I was the first one to praise Mckay…..You owe me a Beer….I want one of those new Gubna’s from Oskar Blues….
Birdman from Atlanta-traz
April 14th, 2010
3:22 pm
Forgot about the Ravens..they won the Super Bowl in 2000
bugman
April 14th, 2010
4:29 pm
Great read, Schultzy.
I am completely dumbfounded and incredulous.
waddell is it
April 14th, 2010
4:53 pm
Waddell is the problem—he’s incompetent and should have been fired long ago. Instead, he gets a raise and a new job to screw things up even more. When the thrashers get good, I’ll go to a game.
Ted Striker
April 14th, 2010
5:37 pm
The affiliate situation can’t be understated, if only because of the many, many other franchise shortcomings.
It’s like fighting a war when you’re buying all guns at K-Mart. They just don’t care what they sell you.
p.s. Awesome to read a column where no goof ball bloggers are going on and on about players being “thugs.” For the record, hockey players are no more well behaved than anyone else. They just have less tatts, fewer teeth, and hotter (European) girlfriends.
JD
April 14th, 2010
6:11 pm
Is Rick reporting to DW or Owners?
How long is DWs contract for?
Thrashers make changes, but did they go far enough? | Jeff Schultz | Providence Bruins AHL Announcer
April 14th, 2010
6:13 pm
[...] Continued here: Thrashers make changes, but did they go far enough? | Jeff Schultz [...]
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
6:40 pm
JD — Reporting to both really. Both would have to sign off on budgetary matters, though DW takes marching orders from owners. … As for things like trades, draft, I imagine it’s Rick’s call. …. As for DW’s contract, not sure. Probably lifetime services contract. Kidding. Sort of.
Brendan
April 14th, 2010
7:23 pm
Jeff, this move is not NEARLY ENOUGH change. Waddell has named four coaches, including himself, and now, APPARENTLY, he’s even named a GM!!! When does it STOPPPPPP??????
Waddell decisions are crap. And until he’s removed, Rick Dudley is a “figurehead” GM, who swapped offices, but nothing more. Heaven Help Dudley if Don disagrees with his Draft Day selection at # 8. And see, right there, is the problem. Do you know what a “camel” is, Jeff Schultz? It’s a “horse” as drawn up by a committee. And that committee contains Don Waddell, the “constant” through all these years.
This move is reshuffling deck chairs. If Dudley’s to be the GM, Waddell has to be shown the door. If you work at the offices of the Atlanta Thrashers, and you see Don walking down the hall and Rick Dudley doing the same. Who do you think is in charge? The answer is Waddell. Which means? Nothing has changed.
It’s like Government “reinventing” itself by calling itself by a different name, and modifying its mission statement minutely. This move is pathetic. If you’re going to make Dudley the GM, get rid of Waddell. That’d be ‘real change.’
urm...
April 14th, 2010
7:45 pm
We will have a new GM and a new coach. That is a great improvement. And to you losers who say hockey cannot work in the Atl… I am a huge fan of football (pro and college) and other sports and hockey can easily survive in a town like Atlanta!! I’m sick of people saying that. They just need to show us improvement and the place will fill!
Sage of Bluesland
April 14th, 2010
7:58 pm
I’m almost at a loss for words…almost, that is.
Whoever thinks this is “real change” is the very definition of an ignorant ’sheep’.
This is beyond disgusting.
Nope, I’m still not going to subsidize this incompetence. I refuse to have a single dollar of my money support Don Waddell. It’s simply not happening.
Nice try, ownership–do you actually think we’re that stupid?
(Look in the mirror for the answer, sheep)
74 Dawg
April 14th, 2010
8:01 pm
Jeff,great read. On your 11:19 post,a subtle dig at any current or former employer? Just kidding. I worked for a big bank for a few years,that stuff happens a lot. Particularly with guys who are buddies with the upper mgmt and can’t seem to produce anything…hmm sounds like DW, huh. Wait,maybe the Thrash can get bailed out.
ThrashDawg
April 14th, 2010
8:01 pm
I believe that anyone who says the Thrashers are “just reshuffling the deck chairs” is selling Rick Dudley short. Why would he agree to simply be DW’s puppet? This is in essence what you are saying. I do not believe a man of Dudley’s character would allow himself to be in that situation. Of course Dudley will have to get DW to get approval from ownership, that will be his role. It will be up to DW to sell ownership what Dudley wants to do. Just my two cents.
ThrashDawg
April 14th, 2010
8:05 pm
Sage, real change would be new ownership. If you really think having DW’s head on a platter would make a difference you are nuts! It’s the ownership dude.. I am not sure Scotty Bowman would make that big of a difference with these clowns.
Dave Bliss
April 14th, 2010
8:05 pm
Is there another GM in any other major sport who had the job for 11 years without winning a playoff game? If so it couldn’t be more than a few.
Ownership is a joke…
Admiral Ackbar
April 14th, 2010
9:13 pm
Too much credit is given to Dudley for his, alledged, role in making the Tampa Bay Lightning winners. GM Feaster and Coach Torterella and Captain Dave Andrechyck were the reasons why. Dudley is a d-bag. No progress will be made on the Thrashers next season. We will be in the same place next year contemplating what went wrong.
GT Fan
April 14th, 2010
9:25 pm
Don is the one that should have been fired. Thanks Jeff for info.
Don is like that nut at GT that’s a disgrase to the program, Paul Hewitt. Fire PH !
Thrashfan
April 14th, 2010
9:31 pm
I like the move Dudley built winners in Tampa and Chicago why would we complain about him here? Moving DW up like a McKay move makes sense because he kept a team some what profitable in a market like Atlanta. The fact that our own posters say to move the team and would rather talk football says this is not hockey country. That’s why he has been here so long. So let him do what he does best and focus on the profit margins which is what ownership cares about for the hockey side.
Finally please do not call for Hartley back. No one pines for him in Colorado after they fired him also. We can finally move on from the DW years and now we want to go back to one of his coaches? Makes no sense. I want to see who Dudley brings in as coach. IF it is someone from his days in Tampa or Chicago I am sold. If it is a fresh face outside of the box I am probably going to be sold as well.
Jason
April 14th, 2010
9:42 pm
Your right, Jeff. They didn’t go far enough, what they really need to do is move to Macon and change their team name to Whoopee.
LAC
April 14th, 2010
9:45 pm
Jeff, You ARE the ONLY constant on the AJC Sports staff that holds the Thrashers Owners/GM’s feet to the FIRE.
It is much much better to read your point on comments rather than that A$$ Kissing that asg TOOL chris whatever his name is does. He should be FIRED at once, the WORST ever to cover hockey here… Just a total WIMP.
You bring out true facts and points that NEED to be addressed and it brings out concern among the fans who want to see the team WIN.
But when you have Idiots as owners and a complete LIAR as GM… well it is a disaster in the making and has been for ten+ years now.
Things WILL NOT CHANGE, not one bit, as long as waddell is here the team will stink.
Ted Striker
April 14th, 2010
9:46 pm
Maybe Rick Dudley should call up Suzanne Yoculan and see if she wants to coach a new sport. She’d be as likely to get the team to “.500″ as the last guy.
Krust
April 14th, 2010
9:55 pm
I think the time is now to hire Bob H Back. I loved when Bob would bench Kovy for poor defensive play. Bob had a seat for him at the end of the bench. Priceless. To watch Kovy Pout was great. Maybe anither season ticket holder could comment
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
10:05 pm
74 Dawg– Naw, I was just responding to Section 119 saying I made him spit up his coffee, laughing. So I actually was sort of thanking him for the compliment, in my own strange way.
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
10:07 pm
Admiral — Dudley put most of that team together (including acquiring Andrechuk and hiring Tortorella). Just sayin’.
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
10:07 pm
LAC — Thanks.
Jeff Schultz
April 14th, 2010
10:08 pm
Striker — Playing the Suzanne Yoculan card? Admit it: You’re obsessed with her, aren’t you?
Brendan
April 14th, 2010
10:28 pm
Thrashdawg, I think Dudley’s here because he was being pushed out of Chicago, and Duds and Waddell are pals, going way back, who could work together for an NHL paycheck. If Dudley were to actually be given full autonomy over this club, I’d say it’s a step in the right direction.
But this ownership didn’t even … put out a job announcement!! No candidates were considered for the Thrashers GM chair. Instead, Don Waddell appointed his successor. Where ELSE does that happen??? Bizarro World? Where hamburgers eat people and fish live on land? Look, I think Dudley can be a capable GM, if he’s given the tools. And really, here are the only tools any GM really needs to be successful, from ownership.
1. Give him the money.
2. Get out of his way … and let him manage. If he doesn’t do that properly, fire him. Accountability works.
If the AS, LLC does these things, and abandons this “by committee” approach, I’ll declare them to be FABULOUS owners, who learned from past mistakes.
So, and here’s a brutal moment of truth … “Has the Waddell Administration ‘officially closed’ with ZERO playoff wins?” Gasp. What’s that I hear? The sound a GIGANTIC pause, as you contemplate if the “Waddell Administration” is truly over? See … that’s the problem. And there’s just no ’sugarcoating’ that. Who’s really in charge? Who has the FINAL, FINAL word? Isn’t it still, Waddell?
Brendan
April 14th, 2010
10:33 pm
Jeff Schultz, I know one thing for certain. Rick Dudley will MAKE SURE that the qualifying offers to RFAs Bergfors, Little, Pavelec, and MacArthur will be tendered in a ‘timely manner,’ so as to avoid those players becomes unrestricted free agents, like what happened to Dudley’s former team, the Chicago Blackhawks, last Summer.
Another dissatisfied customer
April 14th, 2010
11:02 pm
Here’s to hope and change and another President that I have absolutely no confidence in. At least this guy won’t screw up my health care.but will probably affect my blood pressure. With out a major change at the top, evern Bowman would not be able to turn this team around. AS, please sell the team to someone in Atlanta that knows and loves hockey. Stick to the crap you know, like bad hairdoos, green arenas and Jexebel parties. Btw, I want a recount, there may still be some hanging chads. Back to watching the playoffs and wishing the Thrashers were there.
Frannie Kookla
April 14th, 2010
11:17 pm
Our hearts are sad as our playoff hopes sank
To our friend Waddell, we owe many thanks
Ole “stendek” was right
With all his apocalyptic might
That DW skates a good figure eight to the bank
Tim
April 14th, 2010
11:26 pm
For all of you who think that DW should be run completely out of town… GET OVER IT AND YOURSELVES WHILE YOU’RE AT IT! I read somewhere in this blog that WE need to fire DW. If WE had that power, WE would’ve taken care of it years ago. Move the f_c_ on people!
Be happy that change, real change is upon us. When was the last time any of you actually heard from Rich McKay. Look, DW make actually have some skills that the Thrashers can use… and AS are too cheap/poor to pay a guy to sit at home.
I guess you just won’t be happy until he lays bleeding in the gutter and his children are sold into slavery. The only other explanation is that you just need something about which you can complain. Let’s all start complaining to AS about that silly “no bottle cap” policy. Has anyone actually ever witnessed a bottle being thrown on the ice or seen one used as a weapon?
Brian_Johnson
April 14th, 2010
11:59 pm
I hope the Thrashers don’t move. The ownership needs to change if we will ever expect to get a winner here. But who is going to buy the Thrashers and play in “their” arena? I’m worried.
gcs
April 15th, 2010
12:11 am
This is NOT good enough. I will not attend another Thrashers game as long as Waddell has a position with the team.
.
Slarno
April 15th, 2010
12:21 am
NHL insiders are saying the team is for sale. Is Waddell a short term President during a potential transition this summer?
Eugene
April 15th, 2010
12:40 am
The Thrashers need to hire a coach that can communicate with the younger players and still garner respect from the Veterans. Craig MacTavish fits this role perfectly but if they were to go on the cheap, they should take a chance and give a guy like Kirk Muller or John Maclean a shot.
LAC
April 15th, 2010
6:17 am
Good Heavens tim… waddell IS the problem here and it will NOT change until he and his foul odor
are out of here for good. He has single handedly killed hockey in this town and if for a second you
think things will change with him looking over Dudley’s shoulder… Then sir you are SADLY mistaken.
Nothing changed yesterday, the lying THING is still here !
Thrashers' search: Pondering Chicago assistant (and Hartley) | Jeff Schultz
April 15th, 2010
6:31 am
[...] Previous post: Thrashers make changes, but did they go far enough? [...]
LAC
April 15th, 2010
6:37 am
One last thing… did you hear what Mr.POTTY MOUTH levenson said about waddell, made me throw up ! He needs to go to a mental hospital as well !
Jeff, any Hope to get a NEW Hockey beat writer who is NOT a tool of asg ?
This vilimore, whatever, is TERRIBLE and his coverage this season, as well as NOT addressing the fans demands, has been disgusting. Did you see his interview on the NJ TV side last week, he was SICK, studdering, could not answer direct questions and on and on.
Old Stan made him look like a complete FOOL. Please get a REAL hockey guy here and get rid of this moron, he is THE Worst in The NHL !
Jeff Schultz
April 15th, 2010
9:24 am
Brendan — I’m not aware of Dudley being pushed out of Chicago, though I’m sure his friendship with Don had a lot to do with him coming to Atlanta.
Jeff Schultz
April 15th, 2010
9:27 am
LAC — I haven’t read Levenson’s quotes, but I’ll check them out. … And I think you’re being too hard on Chris.
I. McNugget
April 15th, 2010
10:03 am
John Anderson is a good coach, Atlanta will never know it until he’s hired by a team that will give him players to work with. A coach is only as good as his players. It’s cheaper to fire a coach than all the players! As far as Chicago is concerned, they have very good players there, they constantly are in the playoffs and win championships. Atlanta just chooses to not use them. Yes the team needs to do better scouting and signing but don’t blame it on Chicago. look at the Mighty Ducks, they don’t have an AHL team and they’re ok. Other NHL teams have weak AHL teams, why are they in the playoffs??? Wake up Atlanta!!!
Scottish Ale
April 15th, 2010
5:30 pm
Jeff,
I thought what you wrote about the Thrashers player development situation is spot on. I’ve been saying for years that the Thrashers don’t do enough to attract un-tapped regional fan interest. I really believe if the Thrashers were to move AHL squad to Birminham, Ala., they would be marketing to a regional fanbase that might actually begin following the Thrashers (after college football obviously). Bham has 18,500 seat BJCC and a large metro area with hockey history. It couldn’t hurt, could it?
Brendan
April 15th, 2010
11:42 pm
Jeff, I definitely agree with you there, that Waddell’s friendship and long history of working with Dudley, brought Rick Dudley here. But, I had heard that the whole Stan Bowman and Scotty Bowman thing left Assistant Blackhawks GM Rick Dudley out of the picture for possible GM successorship in Chicago. Whereas, the Associate GM position in Atlanta, working with his friend Don Waddell, could lead to Dudley becoming the GM. Which now has happened.
Cleaning the Bird Poop…. « Chris Collick
April 16th, 2010
1:21 pm
[...] have been fired as coach of the Atlanta Thrashers. Jeff Schultz, another columnist for the AJC, maintains that the players in the locker room tuned him out and were responsible for the slow start ……to which I wholeheartedly agree. Do I see Hartley return behind Atlanta’s bench? I [...]
Thrashers hacer cambios, pero ¿es suficiente? (Actualizado)
April 17th, 2010
3:07 pm
[...] Contratación de John Anderson fue uno de los errores de cálculo muchas Don Waddell. (Jessica McGowan / AJC) (Actualizado a continuación con Rick cita Dudley) El hombre que ha estado a cargo del hockey en Atlanta desde el primer día (y no) tiene ahora un título mejor incluso con menos responsabilidad. Su mejor amigo, es ahora el gerente general . Juntos, tratarán de establecer la dirección y contratar a un nuevo entrenador. ¿Qué hay de malo en esta imagen? El cambio es bueno. El cambio es necesario. El cambio es lo único que da la Thrashers una oportunidad para el éxito y el hockey sobre una línea de vida extendida en Atlanta. ¿Pero el Espíritu Atlanta va lo suficientemente lejos? ¿O es que la propiedad sólo hacer más fácil, más conveniente y menos costosa fija que podría hacer, con la esperanza de que todo esto funciona? Permítanme empezar con esto: Rick Dudley tiene una sólida reputación como un tipo muy personal. Adquirió varios de los jugadores de Tampa Bay que en última instancia condujo a los Rayos de ganar la Copa Stanley (si quisiera comercio Vincent Lecavalier, que al final llevó a … URL del artículo original http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/04/14/thrashers-make-changes-but-did-they-go-far-enough/... [...]
Thrashers d'apporter des modifications, mais sont-ils allés assez loin? (Mise à jour)
April 17th, 2010
5:06 pm
[...] Embauchent John Anderson a été l'une des erreurs de calcul de nombreux Don Waddell. (Jessica McGowan / AJC) (mise à jour ci-dessous avec des citations Dudley Rick) L'homme qui a été en charge du hockey à Atlanta d'un jour (ou négatif), dispose désormais d'un meilleur titre, même avec moins de responsabilités. Son ami est maintenant le directeur général . Ensemble, ils vont essayer de régler la direction et d'embaucher un nouvel entraîneur. Quel est le problème avec cette photo? Le changement est bon. Le changement est nécessaire. Le changement est la seule chose qui donne les Thrashers d'une chance de succès et de hockey sur une ligne de vie prolongée à Atlanta. Mais est-ce l'Esprit Atlanta va pas assez loin? Ou bien la propriété juste faire le plus facile, plus pratique et moins chère fixe qu'elle pourrait apporter, en espérant que tout cela fonctionne à? Permettez-moi de commencer par ceci: Rick Dudley a une solide réputation jolie comme un gars du personnel. Il a acquis plusieurs des acteurs de Tampa Bay qui a finalement conduit à la foudre remporter la Coupe Stanley (s'il voulait le commerce Vincent Lecavalier, qui a finalement abouti à … URL article original: http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/04/14/thrashers-make-changes-but-did-they-go-far-enough/... [...]
Thrashers News Roundup « The Rawk Shop
May 3rd, 2010
4:02 pm
[...] Jeff Schultz chimes in Schultz has a few concerns, even with the shuffling of names & positions. [...]