Trade focus (Part I): Thrashers need help but will they get it?
Rich Peverley and goalie Ondrej Pavelec celebrated a 1-0 win over Washington, but the team needs scoring help.
With the Atlanta Spirit once again busy litigating and lying, I thought this would be a good time for the rest of us to actually focus on their teams.
The Hawks wilted in the fourth quarter in Milwaukee last night and lost. Later today, I’ll post a column on the biggest concern about the team and whether they need to make a trade (answer: yes). But this morning, we start with the Thrashers, the franchise that the Spirit/Team Pinocchio has been trying to sell since roughly five minutes after purchasing it.
On the ice, the Thrashers have been a nice little story. The personnel decisions of Rick Dudley and coaching of coach Craig Ramsay have been impressive. When the team went 19-11-5 in the first 35 games, it was stunning. Some would call it overachievement.
But recently there has been a market correction. Prior to the 1-0 win over Washington Wednesday night, the Thrashers were 1-4-3 in their previous eight games and had only one regulation win in their previous 16 (4-8-4). There have been injuries. There was a difficult stretch of the schedule. Mostly, they just came back down to earth.
They need a trade. They need help. They need a top-six forward. I spoke to Dudley Wednesday night and he agreed. But will an ownership that clings to nickels, except when it comes to paying attorneys, dare to raise the team’s anemic $41 million payroll, which ranks 29th out of 30 teams?
Dudley thinks yes. We’ll see. If the object is to sell or “dispose” of the team — “dispose” is an actual verb from the latest suit — why would Team Pinocchio agree to raise its costs?
Here are some comments from Dudley:
♦ On the team’s salary cap space: “We’re in a great position. A lot of teams are looking to make a run at the playoffs but most are up against the cap in some form or another.”
♦ On whether he believes he’ll be handcuffed in trade talks: “No. I’ve talked to [the owners] about it and talked to Don [Waddell] and there doesn’t seem to be a problem. If there’s a piece out there that makes sense, I think we’ll do it.”
♦ On how he’s affected by the ownership situation: “One of the nice things is I think there’s a little bit of resolution [with Steve Belkin leaving the group]. I think it was a bit of a pain in the [rear] for everybody. Now at least they can make decisions without input from anybody else of any kind. … I’m sure [owners] would like to part with part of the team or all of the team. That’s what I read. That’s what you write. But I don’t think any of us in the hockey operations department can concern ourselves with that. One thing I do know is whether they sell part of the team, all of it, whatever, we can make it a much more viable product for whomever.”
♦ On perceptions that the team was overachieving before: “I don’t believe in overachieving. I believe there are teams where guys play at close to their optimal level. We had been playing as close to an optimal level as any team in the league and that made us a force. Right now we’re not at that level. We were at 90 percent before. We’re probably at 70 or 65 percent now.”
Dudley’s preference is for a right winger but he would take any goal scorer. (Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien continues to lead the team in scoring but he has gone 10 games without a goal.) The NHL trade deadline is Feb. 28. The team needs help.
Can another $10 million be spent on players. Or has that been earmarked for attorneys fees?
Coming next: The Hawks’ biggest concern.
By Jeff Schultz
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83 comments Add your comment
Darren
January 27th, 2011
12:49 pm
And to follow up, both will be UFAs at the end of this season.
Matt from MN
January 27th, 2011
12:52 pm
Let’s not bring back any former Thrashers. Need to move forward and not look back (looking back is really, really frightening).
Smoothie
January 27th, 2011
12:53 pm
Antro to Boston for Blake Wheeler. We need a RW, they need a C. Assuming Slater is well enough to return by mid-Feb and Cormier & Burmy can continue to handle the rigors of 3rd line C, then I think you do something along these lines. Wheeler is exactly the type of player Ramsay wants on the 2nd line because of his ability to play both ends of the ice. He’s fast (perhaps not as fast as Stewart) but has much better hands than Stewart, who should be playing 3rd line mins.
Ladd-Pevs-Bergy
Kane-Lits-Wheeler
Corms\Modin-Burmy-Stewy
Greek gods + Dawes
Freddie's Falcon
January 27th, 2011
1:01 pm
Pretty cool a lot of Dawg fans like hockey. UGA grad here and Thrashers season ticket holder.
Does anyone seriously think ASG is going to pull the trigger on a trade. Those clowns are hiding out in a cave with Osama bin Laden since their lies have been exposed.
JSS
January 27th, 2011
1:04 pm
This team just screams “We need an explosive center!” Well among other things of course…
Darren
January 27th, 2011
1:10 pm
I know what you mean Matt.. just seems surreal that ANYBODY from that team would still be in the league and worth a damn. But in all seriousness, he wouldn’t be just another, say, Clarke MacAwful-type waiver pickup.. I think he’d still have something meaningful to add, even at this stage of his career.
That said, I like Smoothie’s idea but for the fact that the Bruins don’t have the cap space for it.. Atlanta would have to take more salary back even IF Boston wanted to do that deal.
Smoothie
January 27th, 2011
1:19 pm
Darren – glad you mentioned that. Actually they would because in all likelihood Savard is going right back on LTIR and that will free up and additional $1.5 M or so this season on top of however much they’ve already saved on him up to December. They could always flip Antro in a separate trade this summer to get some picks or some lower line depth if they just want Antro for the stretch drive. I’m not so sure Wheeler will be sticking around BOS in a couple years when he becomes a UFA.
Jeff Schultz
January 27th, 2011
1:22 pm
Darren — Brunette never should have gotten away in the first place.
Darren
January 27th, 2011
1:24 pm
Good point.. forgot about the additional Savard savings. Apparently they’ve saved about $377k or so already, but that wouldn’t have been enough to cover the difference of the pro-rated Antropov versus Wheeler salaries.. but if Savard’s out again for a long stretch, it might be enough. I just wish we could have the healthy, productive Antropov from last season again.. he had stretches where he was not going to be denied.
Moulson might be the best fit, although I’d prefer they sign him long term if they trade for him.. he likes to shoot a lot, which is exactly what Ramsay wants.
LAC
January 27th, 2011
1:26 pm
College football is an interesting as watching grass grow. BORING as the day is long. Wnet to college and NEVER attended a football game, and to see these kids acting like wild animals over such a NOTHING sport, well, it is shocking.
Hockey much tougher than football, much much more skilled and THE most enertaining sport out there, always action, hitting and scoring, except last night, in a game that never quits.
Football, well I’d rather mow my grass !
Matt
January 27th, 2011
1:41 pm
No, they won’t. There won’t even be a hockey team in this town for much longer.
Matt
January 27th, 2011
1:46 pm
LAC- you must be a northern moron. Football has and always will be #1 in the South. Hockey is tougher than football?? How many 6′4 260lb guys play hockey?!?!?! Scoring??? Please. It’s soccer on ice. Just because they are allowed to fight doesn’t mean it’s a tougher sport to play. The QB is the only player that isn’t physically engaged every single play they are out there.
This is exactly why I hate these blogs. Filled with morons.
bring back furman bisher
January 27th, 2011
1:47 pm
Jeff, just because the owners have refused to talk to you for years because you are a proven untrustworthy snake, why don’t you grow up and start reporting on sports issues instead of your little personal relationship problems with the owners? Nobody cares about that and it’s getting real tired.
Smoothie
January 27th, 2011
2:02 pm
Matt – have you ever attempted to ice skate? If not, then shut it cuz you have no idea what you’re talking about.
daugherty72
January 27th, 2011
2:09 pm
Matt, what’s wrong with liking both hockey and football…….I grew up in the South, been in ATL since ‘95 and have always loved football…… but why do we have to pick one sport to love and then hate and trash all others?…….why in the world would you WANT a local team to relocate ?……if you don’t like it, don’t pay attention to it………
Road Trip
January 27th, 2011
2:13 pm
Does anyone know the status of Dudley’s contract. My recollection, which could be wrong, is that this is the last year of a two year contract. If that is the case, has ownership taken any steps to lock him up for the future?
Cp8
January 27th, 2011
2:17 pm
How about we let Dustin play some wing and call up a d-man, since we finally have some depth there?
Also@ Hockey sux, Football games are 60 minutes as well as Hockey, but their clock runs in between plays. Hockey teams go at for the WHOLE 60!
Matt
January 27th, 2011
2:48 pm
Smoothie and Daugherty 72- yes as as a matter of fact I can ice skate. I never said to pick one. I never said I didn’t like hockey. I’ve attended many Thrashers games. The fact is they have no marquee players and attendance sucks. You can’t even compare the popularity of hockey and football in the South.
Never said hockey players weren’t tough either. I played hockey as a kid. It’s very tough and you have to be skilled to play it. I also played football and it was my experience that football was the tougher, harder, more physical game.
I also played baseball and trying to hit a 90 mph FB while trying to not get fooled by the CB or the Ch with a round bat from 60 ft a way with a baserunner moving in your field of vision is the most skill of all.
Trades (Part II): Should Hawks deal Josh for point guard? | Jeff Schultz
January 27th, 2011
2:58 pm
[...] (It’s trade talk Thursday. For Part I on the Thrashers, click here.) [...]
ken
January 27th, 2011
2:58 pm
Jeff – I enjoy your reporting. You present the facts and are not afraid to call it like you see it. Keep up the good work. As for a trade, Dudley will have a top 6 forward deal done by the trade deadline. How about picking up Alfredson from Ottawa??? He is disgruntled and they are going to be sellers.
Hockey Rocks
January 27th, 2011
2:59 pm
Hockey is one of the best sports to watch live. Southerns do like hockey. GO THRASHERS!
Gary
January 27th, 2011
4:21 pm
Man am I tired of seeing your outrageous remarks. Seriously what credibility does this man have? You’re a writer covering sports teams that gives the most slanted and subjective point of view….each and every time you hit the keyboard. I mean its gotten to a point where you should almost be a writer for TMZ or something. People come on here to catch up with the teams of Atlanta, not to hear what you THINK is going on behind the scenes…because we all know you are totally clueless as to what’s actually going on.
Secondly, don’t tell people to do something that you’ve never done…like actually go to the arena and spend any money with the hawks or thrashers. they’re both exciting teams to watch and it’s not always about championships but yet actually going there and having a good time- I go out to about 15 games of both Hawks and Thrashers each season with my family and every single time we leave, we wish we could’ve stayed longer. You say everyone over at Philips Arena is liars…you’re a liar. I work with an outstanding ticket sales/ and a service rep that has shot me straight from Day 1. I’ve actually been to events with the front office members who are also stand up guys and never once was I lied to.
The city of Atlanta hasn’t had a hockey team like this…forever. yea they made the playoffs once before but that team can’t be compared to what’s out there now. Give these guys a chance. Not to mention, I’m pretty sure you were the one who was high and mighty on the team when they were actually doing well. Whata know, they hit a little slump and the first one to bash them is the man with the keyboard sitting in his lazy boy chair- typical bandwagon shenanigans Schultz. I expected better out of you but then again, I really didn’t. Maybe if the ASG owners saw you and some other people in the seats for once rather than complaining about what they don’t have, maybe they would be more inclined to spend on others. it’s just a thought for your one track mind.
you’ll probably sit back and laugh at this… and then brainstorm for your next article about a bogus trade proposition that’s not even possible or an article bashing the teams, yet again. That really seems like a sweet life Jeffery, ripping on other’s decisions and how they run things. Well guess what, nobody cares about what you think and you can guarantee that I won’t view your articles ever again because I would hate to put another “hit” in the back of your back pocket.
Report the facts like you’re paid to do or go work for Hard Copy…
Sincerely,
Your biggest hater
Twisted Wrister
January 27th, 2011
5:15 pm
Looks like Levenson or his son is blogging again. I wonder when they will sue each other.
Too harsh
January 27th, 2011
6:05 pm
Jeff
So harsh and unfair! I personally know MG (along with have a nice family) he is one of the finest and ethical people I have been around. As for Bruce I do not know as well but he has put a lot of his personal net worth into the organizations. I know the group is not perfect but the way you are coming down on them is unprofessional and does not serve our community well. You are too good of a writer to go down this road.
I know your bloggers don’t want to hear about
Jeff Schultz
January 27th, 2011
6:44 pm
Bring back furman bisher … You really think this is all about someone not talking to me?
Jeff Schultz
January 27th, 2011
6:47 pm
Too harsh …
1) I don’t know Michael Gearon’s family (other than his father) and agree he’s a nice guy.
2) I agree that Bruce Levenson has put in a lot of his personal net worth into the organizations.
3) They lied.
Steve - Thrashers Fan
January 27th, 2011
9:30 pm
Ditto Gary…very well said! It is becoming more and more apparent with every article that you clearly have a personal issue with the owners. Last night’s game had a play-off like atmosphere with a rowdy crowd supporting a team that shut out the Capitals. Dudley has built a young and exciting team and it’s a shame that someone like you can’t get behind this team and ultimately support our city. Someone needs to unleash the fury on you…Go Thrashers!
Brendan
January 27th, 2011
11:28 pm
Bruce Levenson was given a math problem to solve. It was 33 divided by 4. Since the answer contained a remainder, he sued the instructor over the hassel of it all. Film at 11.
Brendan
January 27th, 2011
11:42 pm
But this morning, we start with the Thrashers, the franchise that the Spirit/Team Pinocchio has been trying to sell since roughly five minutes after purchasing it.
That’s not Jeff’s opinion. That’s been something uncovered in court documents. I honestly don’t mind that FUBAS has been trying to sell the team. I just wished they’d been successful! Imagine if a local billionaire had acquired this team? At least this team would be cared for enough not to allow a GM without a playoff win to persist for decade, then get PROMOTED. It is what it is.
So, what’s the truth? As best I can surmize, we had 8 guys who wanted a NBA team, but couldn’t afford one by themselves. So, they pooled their money together, to prevent David McDavid from getting them. They had to acquire an arena and be FORCED to take on an NHL franchise, to make it happen. That they didn’t want to own the Thrashers is clear. I just don’t understand … how the NHL couldn’t do a better job of vetting their ownership around the league. Atlanta is hardly an isolated incident. There’s been the Phoenix saga, for seemingly ages. There were the bleak, dark days of John J. Rigas, with the Buffalo Sabres. The Tampa Bay Lightning came to be owned, briefly, by Len Barrie and Oren Koules, two bozos who ran the team like it was a ‘Fantasy League.’
Hopefully now … Commissioner Bettman will further scrutinize who owns teams in his league. He’s got to be disappointed by the Columbus and Atlanta franchises, now in their 11th seasons, without a playoff win. It’s one thing to make a mistake with an established franchise, in a traditional market. It’s quite another to make that mistake as an expansion team … in a non-traditional market.
Jeff, keep on doing what you do. Things are what they are. These hockey fans deserved better than what they got … after the Atlanta Knights left to pave the way for the NHL to Atlanta.
Too harsh
January 27th, 2011
11:53 pm
Brendan. You have no idea what you are talking about… You write from a point of view that makes absolutely no sense
Brendan
January 28th, 2011
11:10 am
Too Harsh. You’re right. You’ve argued persuasively. I retract all my statements. Team ownership is irrelevant. And so are results. And markets.
Matt
January 28th, 2011
1:46 pm
“Hockey is terrible. Face it, noboday here cares unless you are a Yankee transplant and foreigners. Football is KING, i could careless about a bunch of figure skaters with sticks. This is the worst time of the year for sports because all that is really going on is Hockey and Basketball. #1 and #2 worse sports in my opinion. Can’t wait until April, so we can atleast get some baseball to hold me over until August when the Dawgs and Falcons start gearing up for the best time of the year. FOOTBALL SEASON. What i can’t wait to see for this Thrasher’s team, is when they pack their bags and head North were Hockey belongs.”
Lol he could “careless” wow… that’s about all you need to know… way to show off that education hockey suxs… clever with the “x” instead of the “ck” too, so original and witty. Damn, if I could only be as cool as you… or perhaps you’d type it “kewl,” I don’t know, please help me, I’d love to learn from you!
DawgDad
January 31st, 2011
1:36 pm
I think there might be some money on the table for a good player returned in a trade; I don’t think the owners want to try to market a basket case for a team. I don’t think they want to load up with a franchise-player contract, either.
Thrashers have youth; whether or not it will pan out remains to be seen, but theoretically they can part with a #1 draft pick and be fine as long as they receive a multi-year performer in return. They need to get someone in here right now who can make a difference in securing a playoff spot. Is Staal available? St. Louis? (just joking)