If confidence counts, Dudley has Thrashers on verge of Cup
Rick Dudley believes the Thrashers are in the same spot as Stanley Cup finalist Chicago was two years ago.
The new guy has a plan. The new guy has a resume. The new guy certainly isn’t short of confidence.
“I like to think I can do things better than somebody else,” Rick Dudley said. “If you want to call that arrogant, I think I’m as good as it gets at what I do. I like to build. I like to put the pieces together. I like to anticipate. I like to be able to look at a situation and say, ‘That human being could do better in a different situation.’ I’m good at that.”
Rick Dudley leaves you with the thought: Why is he general manager of the Thrashers? Shouldn’t he be in Washington? Maybe NASA? At the very least, he would rock on Celebrity Apprentice.
He is the new guy in charge of hockey in Atlanta. It’s his job to make people believe that an organization with one playoff berth (an abbreviated one) in 10 seasons is suddenly going to become relevant. He has done it before.
What do words count for? Not much. But he talks a convincing game. He has revamped the way the scouting staff evaluates players. He thinks too many scouts get it wrong, partly because of laziness, and he’s probably right.
Soundbite: “They say, ‘Oh, he scored 46 goals, he’s going to be a good player.’ But he may be dumber than a sack of hammers.”
He has raised the level of accountability. Comfort is gone in the building.
He refuses to use a potentially low payroll, which is to be expected from an uninterested ownership group, as an excuse for losing.
“Give me the payroll and we’ll make it work,” he said.
And then this: “We can have the greatest city in the world with the best sports fans and if we don’t win we’re not drawing flies. I know everybody in Atlanta will say this city is not a hockey city. Bull. I look at Washington – it’s a hell of a lot better than Washington. But they put something together that excited the people.”
Are you ready to run through a wall for him yet?
The organization was overdue for a new start. There had been too many false starts, too many excuses. Dudley’s job begins in earnest with the draft June 25-26. He also needs to hire a coach (Chicago assistant John Torchetti is the perceived overwhelming favorite.) But that decision likely will not come until after the draft.
Shouldn’t the coach have some input if, say, Dudley wants to make a trade involving veterans at the draft?
“I prefer coaches who don’t care what their personnel is,” he said. “If a coach wants to be part of the personnel decisions, then he’s always going to hate his team.”
Dudley didn't make it onto the team photo when Tampa Bay won the Cup.
The Chicago Blackhawks are on the verge of clinching their first Stanley Cup since 1961. Dudley helped get them there. He was the Blackhawks’ assistant general manager for three years before coming to Atlanta last summer. Things got ugly in Chicago. General manager Dale Tallon was demoted the month after Dudley left. Tallon goofed when he failed to submit qualifying offers to eight restricted free agents before the deadline, resulting in the team having to pay higher salaries than probably necessary. Still, Tallon’s demotion was unpopular. He eventually left and now is the GM in Florida.
Dudley did most of the ground work for the Lightning’s 2003-04 Cup team. But he resigned late in February of 2002 after a feud with ownership over whether to trade Vincent Lecavalier, who was in the midst of a salary dispute. Dudley wanted to deal the player. His assistant, Jay Feaster, sided with ownership. There went that relationship. The Lightning reached the second round of the playoffs the following season and won it all a year later.
“Would I like to have a ring? Sure,” he said. “But I take satisfaction in the process.”
How close are the Thrashers in that process?
“We’re as close as Chicago was two years ago,” Dudley said.
So Rick Dudley predicts . . .
“We won’t win it this year,” he said, laughing.
Just move in that direction. That’s all anybody wants.
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77 comments Add your comment
JD
June 9th, 2010
7:23 am
Yes…and I don’t want to hear D-Wads name mentioned or see his fat face for a very long time. Thanks for listening.
Overweight hillbilly Gladiators fan
June 9th, 2010
8:23 am
Who cares about the Thrashers. I’m a Gladaitors fan. Tickets are cheaper and I don’t have to drive my broeken down pick up truck downtown were all the bums, thugs and crime is at.
Barack Obama
June 9th, 2010
8:29 am
If the Thrashers are in need of hope and change I’m the man they need to see. I like the idea of playing on frozen water with no oil on it.
rob
June 9th, 2010
8:31 am
It is about the attitude. He expects to win. He is saying he wants to win and it is his responsibility to win. He knows the limitations with the Octoidiots and dumbwad and still says it will happen.
There is no word on the coach yet because he wants Torchetti and has the decency to not talk publicly about it til the Hawks are done! And his comment about being responsible for the players on the team being his call and NOT the coaches speaks volumes about who is in charge here.
I love reading all the comments on Shultz when there is a hockey article. All the morons come out. If you don’t like hockey or the Thrashers, why are you wasting your time posting on a blog about them? Sad really.
Schultz,
Any chance we may hear more about what Dudley thinks the team needs in terms of players to complete the roster to his liking? Obviously Kubina signing or not will be key as we need him or someone like him on the blue line. And a center for Antropov is needed. Sounds like they are looking at going with Pavs in net again which may make for an interesting season, but a more defensive oriented system could well help him there as well.
Thanks for a good look at what the future here might hold though.
bugman
June 9th, 2010
8:47 am
Nice article. It’s great to see a new face with the same message (sarcasm folks).
I hope that Duds can get the job done but am with several of you thinking that talk is cheap.
Sonny, Duds wears those striped suits in hopes that he looks a tad slimmer.
Ain’t werking tho.
kracker
June 9th, 2010
8:58 am
I really like the idea of Ramsay as assistant coach. The winters in Atlanta are a lot nicer than in Bhaston.
Jeff Schultz
June 9th, 2010
9:34 am
Just Curious: Picked Lou’s pockets clean? No. Obviously it didn’t work out for Devils because they flopped in the playoffs (although that wasn’t Kovy’s fault if you watched the series, but Kovy-bashers might not agree). As for what the Thrashers got in return, let’s wait and see how the players develop. You can’t judge much on 6 weeks (or however long it was after the trade). The real key to the deal is Patrice Cormier — will he be a player or a felon? Dudley thinks the former, obviously. Just my opinion.
Jeff Schultz
June 9th, 2010
9:35 am
365 days — Obviously Don is on hockey decisions but it’s still Rick’s call, his structure, his plan.
Jeff Schultz
June 9th, 2010
9:35 am
Thanks Bugman.
Jeff Schultz
June 9th, 2010
9:37 am
Overweight Hillbilly — Love the Glads. Actually, I love all minor-league sports teams. Different feel at the games, no question.
Putting On The Foil
June 9th, 2010
9:37 am
Wow. Schultz writes a positive article on the Thrash. Things must really be changing.
Joe Friday
June 9th, 2010
11:15 am
“I prefer coaches who don’t care what their personnel is,” he said. “If a coach wants to be part of the personnel decisions, then he’s always going to hate his team.”
I love hearing Dudley’s my way or the highway attitude and his obvious confidence. Hi-ever counselor, I do not like that quote above about the quote. You have to have a coach that matches your skill set, or you can say players that match the coach’s scheme. This is especially true in hockey. Let’s hope he’s blustering there and really will match his players and coach’s scheme up.
Jeff97
June 9th, 2010
1:11 pm
Jeff – I have criticized you in the past, but give credit here for a good article. Based upon Dudley’s past resume, i think that there is hope for this franchise. We do have some good young players and I think that we will see that the Kovy deal will be beneficial for us in the future. Don’t be surprised if we end up with a few of the Blackhawk players from this year as Chicago is only a few million from the cap for NEXT season already and have a lot of FA and UFA’s. (not too mention Dudley’s ties there and if he hires Torchetti) Versteeg/Sharp/Bolland etc..some of those players have to be avail.
I grew up with hockey in the Northeast and there is nothing like playoff hockey. If Dudley’s succeeds in bringing in a winner, we will pack Phillips…I went to both those playoff games in 2007 and there was nothing quite like it
Brendan
June 9th, 2010
2:43 pm
Rubbin’ my chin, I don’t know folks. Call me crazy, but I think the coach should be involved in the personnel decisions. Just hear me out. If the Coach is asked to make Thankgiving Dinner, he should at least be able to make out a shopping list for the ingredients he needs. And it should be the GM’s job to go get what’s on the list. Bearing in mind, that the GM hired the Coach. (At least, most times.)
Did the GM hire Julia Child or Rachel Ray? See, that matters. Me, I might hire Giada de Laurentis. But, no matter what cook I hire, I know that when I go to the store known as “The Draft” and “Free Agency” that I should get the ingredients the cook needs to make dinner.
Or am I horribly offbase here?
rob
June 9th, 2010
4:26 pm
if Duds is really gonna take responsibility for the team, I think that means he finds a guy to coach the way he wants it done, and picks the players he thinks fit that style. That way a failure is on him, not the coach or the players. Now their actions have accountability….to him, and I bet he holds them accountable…that is a good start IMO
Raymond
June 9th, 2010
5:45 pm
To say that Dudley built the Lightning is fiction at best, out right lying at the worst. Let’s talk draft. Dudley had the number 1, 3 and 5 draft choices the 3 years he was with Tampa. How many of those are playing in the NHL? None. How many players did he acquire with those picks that played in the NHL, none. Second rounds, none, 4 – 9th, none. He has 1 NHL player for a total of 33 draft choices, Artyukhin. And drafting is supposed to be his strength. 7 of the players on the stanley cup champion team were acquired by Dudley. That’s 1/3 of the team. But let’s not forget, he was also the guy who didn’t want to sign Brad Richards and let him reenter the draft. Think the Lightning would have won without the Conn Smyth winner? Oh, and he was the guy who had traded Vinny Lecavalier for a bag of pucks before management stepped in. Think they win without Lecavalier? He was the guy who was given the choice of Kevin Weekes and Luongo in a trade and picked, you guessed it, Weekes. Had the choice of Chara and Biron (no, not Martin, Matheau.) Picked Biron. You will quickly learn. This guy is someone who has no talent, screws over his team and then tries to take credit for what others do. As a Lightning fan, I thank God every day that Dudley is back in the division.
Brendan
June 9th, 2010
5:54 pm
Raymond, you must not hold back. Tell us what you really feel. By the way, I liked the passion in your post. And I enjoy all viewpoints on Dudley, whether “rah-rah” types or sharply critical. I’m coming in with an open mind. I want to see what Dudley does. And I want to see if he’s inhibited by Waddell and/or the ownership.
In my “dream reality,” a GM has total control of a team, while the ownership works on its tan, on the beach, somewhere in the Carribbean, where they serve drinks with little umbrellas in them. And a good stiff breeze …. uhh, duh, cut! Cut! I’m just bail right here on this post.
Raymond
June 9th, 2010
6:06 pm
Made a mistake – Kudroc was the selection over Chara. He gave up Aucoin for Biron – in another one of his deals that built the Lightning. Aucoin is still playing in Phoenix, Biron, well he’s not playing in the NHL anywhere.
Brendan
June 9th, 2010
6:50 pm
Raymond, every so often we have the debate in Atlanta about whether it’s better to have a 3-5 year “window of opportunity” vs. a one-n-done, but Championship season, essentially over the same period of time. All Lightning fans should rejoice in the fact that … YOU DID IT!! You won the Cup. No small feat, really. Ask Vancouver, St. Louis, Washington, Buffalo, Phoenix, etc., who’ve all been in the league a minimum of 30 years.
I think, at the end of the day, however you get there, winning the Cup is the most important thing. It’s what every team strives for. The Florida Marlins have sucked for most of their existence. But, it’s also true that they’ve NEVER LOST a playoff series. And they hold more World Series wins than the Braves. (It’s a sore subject; I won’t dwell on it.)
My point is this. Look at all the ownership incarnations of the Tampa Bay Lightning. They’re up. They’re down. They’re up. They’re down. So, when you’re on an upswing, you’ve just got to hope your team delivers the goods. Segue to tonight’s game. Imagine how much it would suck if the Blackhawks lose the Finals, for their fans? Cupless for 49 years. Ruddlerless for several years at a stretch during those 49 years. Chicago has to come away with this Cup. They’ve come too far to fail. Yet again.
On the other hand, Philly was not expected to be here. Not really. But the fact that they are … coupled with the reality that they are writing, perhaps, the greatest Cinderella story ever told, makes this 2010 Cup one of the most important Finals in many, many years. No matter what team any hockey fan might follow.
What does this have to do with Dudley? Well, he may not have to endure this ownership for all his time at the helm. We don’t know what will happen, in that regard. If Dudley sees new ownership come to power, and he survives the transition at the GM post, then all sorts of potentially wonderful possibilities open up for him. Including, having a respected, accomplished advisor in his corner.
On this blog, we all speculate. It’s fun. It’s what we do. We put on imaginary GM hats and Coaching hats. But the truth is, if any one of us were actually made GM of a franchise, we would all do well to have some trusted allies in the business, with whom to consult regularly. I wouldn’t even trust myself to be a GM. I’d want to run a trade past someone whose opinion I trust before pulling the trigger. I’d need a Red Light to slap me across the face and say, “Brendan, you make this trade for Brian Campbell, giving up the 8th overall pick. Have you lost your mind?” Then I’d say, “By God, you’re right! Good thing I ran this past somebody.” I’m not really worried that “The Emperor isn’t wearing any clothes” with Dudley, just yet. Do I think that about Waddell? YES. I have some belief that Dudley will do a better job, even if Waddell is advising him. But rest assured, if Dudley makes stupid moves, that are truly of the “calculated variety,” and not say missing on a “consensus draft pick” by NHL Central Scouting, I’ll be all over him like white on rice. Stupid moves are stupid moves. Moves that “seemed right at the time” that didn’t pan out are excuseable, to some extent. Right now, there’s a debate about Tyler or Taylor, at 1st overall. What if one of them is the next Patrick Stefan or Daigle? Then, EVERYBODY ELSE was wrong, too. I can forgive that sort of mistake. That’s an honest mistake. But bad contracts and bad trades are something over which a GM has more control. With that in mind, we will begin the evaluation process of Rick Dudley. So far, his only contract is a Jim Slater re-signing. Reports in the AJC say that the Kovalchuk trade, for Cormier, a 1st rounder (#25), Bergfors, and Oduya, along with swapping 2nd round picks (#55 for #38) was all Dudley’s doing. As was the Artyukhin acquisition, at the deadline.
That’s not a lot to go on, just yet. But I will be optimistic, moving forward. The draft will tell us a lot. And free agency, or a lack of movement in free agency, will also tell us what the score is. I don’t really favor going hog wild in the Frenzy, as that’s how teams get into cap trouble quickly, along with Buyer’s Remorse.
Brendan
June 9th, 2010
6:54 pm
I don’t remember if Dudley was the architect of the Lehtonen trade, with Dallas. Does anyone know? But the AJC reported that the Kovy trade was all Dudley’s doing.
Sage of Bluesland
June 9th, 2010
7:48 pm
Thanks for that much-needed dose of reality, Raymond. Post of the year–and one that should be bookmarked for two or three years from now to see if the sheep are changing their tunes on the “In Duds We Trust” mantra going on around here…
As I’ve said before, I’m not buying the bluster…Been there and been force-fed that before…Fool me once and all…
(Some sheep never learn…but I guess that’s why they’re sheep…)
Brendan
June 9th, 2010
11:10 pm
Congratulations Marian Hossa. Chicago wins the Cup in overtime, on a goal by Pat Kane. Final Score: Chicago 4, Philadelphia 3, 1OT.
rob
June 10th, 2010
8:03 am
Sage,
Do you just cut and paste the same old tired a$$ post? Doesn’t it get old? Or are you just that unoriginal? Do you even like the game of hockey? All this hostility you hold towards the Thrashers and their fans can’t be good. Didn’t you post a while back you were going to follow some other team? (can’t remember which one it was and don’t care) You should do that, maybe a new team to follow will give you a new outlook?
Brian Rudisel
June 10th, 2010
7:26 pm
Does Dudley know the mess he has to clean up? Don not only was an inoperable cancer, but he destroyed any chance of quality free agents wanting to play for us. Our future is in the draft and prospects, young talent, and hidden gems similar to what we got in Peverley.
Dudley has to do everything. Find an entire coaching staff, find the missing pieces of the puzzle in our roster, find the right kids to draft. He IS the organization, and his to-do list is pretty daunting. He’s pretty confident, but given the track record of the organization, there’s a lot of talk every year, and another long offseason.
rob
June 11th, 2010
8:34 am
Dudley watched from inside the organization for a year before becoming GM. Not sure he would have accepted the spot if he didn’t feel he could do it and that it would really be his calls being made instead of a puppet. I could be wrong, but I hope not. Hockey can succeed and grow here given the right leadership, and hopefully this is a step in the right direction.
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