All-Trade Friday: Should the Thrashers deal Ilya Kovalchuk?
This has Marian Hossa written all over it, only in larger letters. The Thrashers dumped their second-best player at the 2008 trading deadline because they knew they couldn’t re-sign him. Their best player is about to enter the final season of his contract, and Don Waddell shouldn’t let Ilya Kovalchuk enter it as a Thrasher.
Kovalchuk was the NHL’s 11th-highest-paid player in 2008-2009, and some club will make him one of the top five come 2010-2011. It would be an upset if that team is the Thrashers. And if they can’t keep him, they should trade him.
Last month Waddell, the Thrashers’ GM, told esteemed colleague Chris Vivlamore he wouldn’t trade Kovalchuk this summer or at the deadline or ever. “[Both parties] will both know where we are way before the season starts, if it is going to happen,” Waddell said. “That doesn’t mean it can’t happen once the season starts. My mission is to keep Ilya Kovalchuk here.”
That, alas, seems a mission impossible. If you knew you’d have better options as a free agent, would you choose to remain a Thrasher? And for Waddell to proclaim he’ll never trade Kovalchuk only sets this franchise up for more disappointment and even deeper failure.
Loading ...Kovalchuk is coming off the best all-around season of his career. He finished sixth among league scorers and grew into his rank of team captain. But there’s no reason to believe a serious hockey player would seriously consider re-upping with the only team in the league that, at season’s end, had a payroll under $40 million — the big boys had payrolls over $60 million — and there’s no reason to believe the Atlanta Spirit is going to start splurging. Not on this sport.
We have to remember that the Spirit owns two teams, and the Hawks are demonstrably the better of the two. The Hawks face an even more momentous offseason: Four of their top eight players are free agents of some stripe, and the chief voices of the Hydra-headed Spirit — the Gearons — care more for basketball.
In an ideal world, Kovalchuk would stay here and everyone would live happily ever after. But this is a niche team in an uncertain market, and he deserves a bigger stage. And the Thrashers need to clear the air and start rebuilding around someone else. Grand as he is, Kovy needs to go now.
Other installments: Should the Braves trade Jeff Francoeur? And also: Should the Hawks trade Josh Smith?
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
84 comments Add your comment
Smoothie
June 13th, 2009
11:43 am
Bradley, Tex was a mercenary and we all realized quickly he wouldn’t be staying. If u think his presence was such a distraction and ruined the Braves chances of a post season, you’re delusional. Their lack of production from the outfield, poor relief pitching, injuries to hudson, smoltz and glavine are what ruined the braves.
Kovy is NOT Teixeira and its insulting for you to compare an 8 year vet with a mercenary FA who was only interested in driving up hid price tag to satisfy his inflated ego.
Stat Man
June 13th, 2009
11:43 am
I actually thought we should have traded him last year, when we could have gotten a TON in return for him.
For any Thrasher fan that disagrees, I’d just like you to give me ONE solid reason that he would stay given the fact that (a) there is no way Atlanta will make him the highest offer and (b) there is no way a team closer to winning the Cup won’t equal Atlanta’s offer. Period – end of discussion.
The only thing that stinks worse than a Hossa type deal is NOT doing a Hossa type deal and having somebody walk and get nothing in return.
Keep in mind – even if you trade somebody, you can always re-sign them after the season, as what happened with Tkachuk in St.Louis. This, to me, is the clinching argument to trade him this year (barring the team being in the playoff hunt at the deadline). Why? Because the ONE thing Kovy has indicated is a “must” to stay is to build a winner. Well, if you could trade him to get a big piece to accomplish that, then if you make the same offer, wouldn’t Kovy be more inclined to return since you would have a better team after trading him heading into the next year?
Anyway, I fear the ASG group isn’t even going to make a big enough offer regardless of other moves – so it will all be pointless.
Final thought speaking of Hossa leaving. That was the only reason I cared about the Finals – I was for the Penguins. Hossa is a great player and was my favorite while he was here – but in back to back seasons he TOTALLY spurned any level of loyalty wanting to be on a Cup winning team. The ulitmate “me” player. I was so glad that the team that offered him a multi-year contract was the team that denied him yet again. So Marian, now that you’re a FA again, you going to see if the Penguins want you again since you’re lack of any loyalty (4 teams in 5 years – and NEVER coming up big in playoff crunch time) prevents you from being anything but a front runner? Passing on the Pittsburgh offer last year was your biggest mistake you will ever make and unless you ever are on a Cup winning team – that move, thanks to last night (another Cup Finals pointless game for you) will haunt you forever.
Mark Bradley
June 13th, 2009
12:06 pm
I should also note there’s a greater precedent involving taking less money to play for a better team in the NHL, where there’s a salary cap and a maximum salary, than in baseball, where there is neither. Almost nobody in baseball ever takes less when there’s more available.
polskidawg
June 13th, 2009
12:18 pm
Succinctly put – I’ll not be surprised if/when he leaves, whether by trade or free agency, and regardless how it happens I’ll first puke, then cry.
Kovy is a top 3 ATLANTA team sports performer for me (Larry Jones and ‘Nique).
Ted Striker
June 13th, 2009
12:48 pm
I’ve read lots of comments over the months saying “The Thrashers need new ownership,” “ASG needs to sell,” “The ASG is a disgrace to Atlanta,” etc.
It’s naive to believe ASG can sell a team without a legitimate buyer willing to pay the money for the team. Have there been reports of a buyer coming forward to pay the big bucks for the team — so THEY can incur the losses being incurred by ASG?
ASG isn’t perfect but without them — right now — Atlanta would have neither a pro basketball team nor a pro hockey team.
World Be Free
June 13th, 2009
1:56 pm
Kovy is going to sign.
Let’s move on the the next point of business and that’s bringing in some players to help him. The 2 work hand in hand and will be pivot in keeping Kovalchuk.
This habit of trading Kovy is a waste of time, at least for right now.
Brendan
June 13th, 2009
2:51 pm
Ya know, rubbin’ my chin, I reject this argument that says Kovalchuk will be “lowballed” by the Spirit, LLC. I highly doubt that. Quite on the contrary, I think they’ll pay WHATEVER IT TAKES to keep him here. His departure reflects a very serious blow to the team’s ability to sell tickets in the future. I’m hoping, like B.Thenet pointed out, that Kovy is amenable to a 2-year deal, just to put a band aid on the on-going ownership dispute situation and to see how this all plays out.
Stop for a minute, okay? As World Be Free says, who the organization brings in goes hand-in-hand with Kovalchuk’s re-signing. No? Okay, then. Wouldn’t Kovy’s ability to go recruit players be a lot stronger with him having this 2-year contract in hand? I think it would. In other words, Kovalchuk helps out his own cause, in terms of making Atlanta a better contender, if he can show he’ll actually be there for the players he’s trying to recruit to Atlanta. Kovalchuk did say he’d be willing to help Waddell bring in players. But it’s Waddell’s unenviable task to pry open the Spirit’s purse strings for persons NOT NAMED KOVALCHUK. Good luck with all that.
Waddell doesn’t set the budget. The owners do. Waddell probably has “some influence” over that budget. Let’s just say, he says, “Instead of $45 million, with hopes of waiver wire acquisitions, and overachievement by draft picks, we could seriously compete for the playoffs with $48.5 million?” Well, the Spirit would have to buy that argument. They may not have the money. And that’s the end of that, I suppose. (Or, they aren’t confident enough in Waddell’s ability to design a playoff roster for the additional $3.5 million.)
And, sadly, that’s the HEART of the Kovalchuk dilemma. Kovy’s not stupid. He knows that there’s a revenue problem in Atlanta. I’m sure it didn’t go UNNOTICED by the Kovalchuk camp that the team went 76 games, in 2008, without naming a Head Coach. It didn’t go UNNOTICED by the Kovalchuk camp that there were “no sweeping changes” after the team got swept out of the playoffs in 2007. Kovy is acutely aware that Waddell is still the GM, despite 28th and 27th place finishes, at 76-points each, for the past two seasons. I’m sure it didn’t go UNNOTICED by the Kovalchuk camp that when Marian Hossa’s contract came due, that the organization didn’t make the moves to keep him (Todd White, Eric Perrin, etc.) I’m sure Kovalchuk would prefer that Atlanta be a larger market, whose ownership had untold cash reserves, to be at almost maxed cap, on opening night, EVERY BLESSED YEAR. That’s not the case here. And won’t ever be, is my guess. So, Kovalchuk has to take stock of how well the team drafts, trades, hires Coaches, etc., as these all bear EXTREME RELEVANCE for a smaller market’s ability to contend for the Cup, on a limited budget. Kovalchuk can’t come out and say, “Your problem is Don Waddell. Fire him.” That’s NEVER going to happen. It’d be career suicide. So, now what?
Well, perhaps the first, most immediate answer is to return to the topic of this lawsuit. Good GAWD! Has it really been 4+ years now that the Spirit has been unable to successfully ‘buy out’ an estranged partner? This has transcended ‘ridiculous’ now. Once this lawsuit ends, I think the Thrashers budget can BEGIN to move forward. That’s why this concept of a 2-year deal with Kovalchuk is actually starting to grow on me. Presummably, this lawsuit will be over by 2011. If Kovy reupped for 2-years, he’d hit the open market in 2012, as a UFA. Thennnn, perhaps, he could go for the ‘lifetime’ contract, at max dollars, wherever he chooses. If you were Kovy … what would you do? Would you blame him for saying, “Look fellas. I’ve seen enough of the way you do hockey business to know … that you’re not the pony to bet on, for winning Stanley Cups. And you’ve done nothing to show me ‘you could change.’ At least firing Waddell would be a demonstrable step towards ANNOUNCING that “status quo” will not do. Any of that goin’ on?
Mark Bradley
June 13th, 2009
3:14 pm
Let me get this straight: The Thrashers are so dumb they still have Waddell as their GM, but they’re so smart they’ll never let Kovalchuk leave. Maybe it’s me, but I see a disconnect therein.
Brendan
June 13th, 2009
3:50 pm
The Spirit, LLC doesn’t hold the cards on Kovy’s next deal. ‘Never letting him leave’ is not their option. If all it took to keep Kovy … were the dollar amount of his next contract, he’d get re-signed, at the league max. Is it only about money?????? Or, is it something more.
What I’m getting at here … is that Kovalchuk can’t make MORE than the league maximum. The Thrashers do have the budget and CAP SPACE to make a league maximum contract happen. Would Kovy accept the league maximum to stay in Atlanta?
I don’t think Atlanta will attempt to ‘lowball’ him. If anything, they’d be forced to ‘front load’ the contract for him. I just don’t see Kovalchuk’s re-signing contingent upon dollars and cents. He’ll get whatever the market will bear.
Hockey Biltong
June 13th, 2009
3:55 pm
Le Thrash threw a bunch of money at Brian Campbell. He turned us down. Le Spirit will choke out some change for a UFA who is deemed a good fit by coach and gm alike. Kovy will resign and we will make the playoffs next season. The crystal ball is now too hot to touch , so I’m taking a nap….
Sage of Bluesland
June 13th, 2009
4:49 pm
Mark Bradley is a mere puppet–and a pitiful one at that–for Don Waddell, folks. It’s so easy to read between these lines it’s not even funny.
What our bumbling, lisping, promise-making and defaulting-on GM (Waddell) has given Bradley I’d love to know. Mark’s price (for selling out) mustn’t be very high, I’m thinking.
The ‘foundation’ is thusly laid ahead of time by Mark Iscariot.
Folks, stop being such sheep and stop subsidizing the utter incompetence in Thrashersland.
indybravesfan
June 13th, 2009
5:47 pm
Who cares about soccer on ice???
Marian Hossa
June 13th, 2009
6:10 pm
“Soccer on ice?” Are you liberal??
O'brien
June 13th, 2009
6:59 pm
Mark, the Thrashers are on the way to irrelevance, and Waddell is leading the way (or is it the Spirit group?)
I am not a hockey fan, but I root for all the Atlanta pro teams. Even I know there is no reason for Kovalchuk to stay in ATL. Except for when the Thrashers made the playoffs (and subsequently got swept), they have been perennial losers, and consistently cheap. The GM (I thought he had a 5 year plan) sucks, and ownership sucks.
Kovalchuk can make more money and have a better chance to win somewhere else. Why would he stay here? My only concern is will Teflon Don get more for him now, or at the trading deadline?
World Be Free
June 13th, 2009
7:34 pm
The key here is the the fact that our star player, Kovalchuk called out the organization on the ice after the last game. “Let’s get some players in here” was his request (call it a demand) for an improved lineup that will compete on a nightly basis.
Nobody can deny what the star requested; he’s telling us what it will take to keep him in Atlanta. Can it be any clearer?
Management has to decide if they care about the long term viability of this franchise. The player is not the issue. Any decision to improve the team is a business decision, Kovy or not. Not caring means losing more money (less fans) and less value in their franchise-a double wammy. Kovy long-term will be a signal of commitment and improvement, or the franchise’s long term demise.
One more thing Mark – Frenchy and Josh Smith should not be mentioned in the same article with Kovy. Kovy is a star, captain and leader. I ragged on Frenchy in my last post. Josh Smith cannot hit a 15 foot jumper! If it were the 70’s (the era of real NBA Basketball) he wouldn’t even be in the NBA. Today, these clowns cannot pass, shoot or play defense.
Brendan
June 13th, 2009
8:37 pm
I have to toss this question out there … for ANYONE’s reply. “In your estimation, what’s more important to the longterm future of the Thrashers, in the EYES of the OWNERSHIP: (1) retaining Waddell as GM or (2) retaining Kovalchuk, as Captain and player?
Obviously, I think they’d like to have both. But I suspect, ownership values Waddell moreso than Kovalchuk. Speaking frankly, the time to make a move to KEEP Kovalchuk was after the 2007 playoff sweep. That was the time to ‘clean house,’ fire Hartley, fire Waddell, fire Dan Marr, etc. What we’ve seen since then have been something close to league minimum payrolls, resulting in lottery draft finishes.
Allright then. Kovalchuk has been “doing what the little slip of paper says he must” during these past two seasons. He’s going to honor his contract, so he’d also like to have better players in the final year, I’m sure.
For my $0.02, I think the reason the Spirit, LLC likes Waddell so much resides in his ability to adhere to budgets, while bargain hunting for players like Reasoner, Metropolit, Sim, White, and Perrin. Perhaps they also think it will be difficult to attract another GM to this market, in this situation (lawsuit), so why ditch the one guy who’s willing to sacrifice his reputation, to deliver the lottery draft finishes, that allow the team to reload and make it very attractive for re-sale? If the goal really is re-sale, loaded with high-end draft picks and low payroll, to attract a buyer, does a league maximum contract for Kovalchuk make that sale easier or harder?
I don’t Waddell’s going anywhere.
Mark Bradley
June 13th, 2009
8:51 pm
If I owned the team, I’d keep Kovalchuk over Waddell. As calls go, Brendan, this one would be — to borrow from John Ward’s radio call on Tennessee’s goal-line stand at Kentucky in 1987 — “not … even … close.” I’m reasonably certain the Thrash can find a general manager at least as good. I’m reasonably certain they’ll never find another Kovalchuk.
But I’m guessing the Thrashers will wind up losing Kovalchuk for nothing because they’re the Thrashers. And I’d rather get something in trade than have zero to show for the loss of the best player in franchise annals.
World Be Free
June 13th, 2009
9:15 pm
Let’s be more positive Mark. I just don’t think they can afford to lose Kovy, via trade or for nothing. There’s my 2 cents Brendan.
This is the critical stage of the franchise; they have run out of Mulligans.
Other owners, like Mike Illitch have proven that you can get back on your investment if you are willing to spent. This IS a hockey town, look at all the suuport visiting teams when they come to town. If these people all come out for the Thrashers, with a good product this franchise will be fine.
But hockey fans are no dummies. They want Kovy’s wishes fulfilled.
Ogie Oglethorpe
June 13th, 2009
11:10 pm
Eklund questions why hockey fans always boo Gary Bettman. Detroit has GREAT hockey fans, but they booed Bettman to death last night. What do Wings’ fans have to be pissed about? Why Bettman?
Very silly to me.
Brendan
June 14th, 2009
12:13 pm
Mark Bradley, I’m going to go ahead and declare you SMARTER than this ownership. If I owned the team, Kovalchuk would be my ‘no brainer’ answer, as well. But since none of us are Levenson, Gearon X2, Peskowitz, Turner or Seydell, we’ll endure what this ownership hath wrought. Waddell, I suspect, isn’t going anywhere. What I EXPECT … is Waddell to be re-signed and Kovalchuk to maybe not be.
You, me and World Be Free make 3 votes for Kovalchuk over Waddell. But is that what will happen? Any moment now, (poster) Sage of Bluesland will appear to tell us “we can get Waddell fired.” Well, in counter-viewpoint, “What WOULD get Waddell fired?” Can’t be the results. (I won’t rehash them; your dog knows what they are.) Can’t be the lack of team identity. Can’t be the dwindling fan attendance. Can’t be that Tier I free agents like Campbell turn down LESS GUARANTEED TOTAL CONTRACT money when presented with contracts to be in Atlanta. So, what gets him fired, then? You’ll never see less than 6,000 fans in attendance. That’s the 4,000 “diehards” and an absolute mininum of 2,000 fans of the opposing team. Can’t be WHATEVER Hossa might have told them. Can’t be the losses of free agents like Kaberle, Savard, Hossa, etc. We’ve seen the answer to that, and yea, the answer to the potential loss of Kovalchuk already “explained away” with this statement from Waddell, “This is going to be happening all the time (now), referring to Jay Bouwmeester leaving Florida with ZERO compensation back to the Panthers. We can’t go trading players just because they’re in their contract year.” That’s paraphrased a bit.
Nothing gets him fired, Mark. Nothing. I don’t know Don Waddell, but I’m willing to wager he’s not a violent alcoholic, likely to commit vehicular homicide, in some drunken rage. He’s not a crack user, likely to be caught in a crack house, with a crack “damsel,” while doing crack. He’s not a child molestor, either. In fact, I doubt there’s a violent bone in that man’s body, towards anyone. These, perhaps, would get Don Waddell fired. But barring something of this impossibly outrageous magnitude, Waddell is here so long as this ownership is. And Kovalchuk … will probably be the odd-man out, if he’s not willing to re-sign out of the goodness of his heart. For whatever it’s worth, I think Kovalchuk likes playing in Atlanta; he just wants the team to be Cup competitive, every year. Well, who could blame him for that? But how likely is Kovalchuk’s wish … to become true?
Either the ownership must experience an epiphany, or they must sell to someone who CARES about player retention and fan retention, and winning Championships. I called Vegas. They wouldn’t even give me odds on that one.
Brendan
June 14th, 2009
12:23 pm
Ogie Oglethorpe, I think fans in Detroit “boo” Bettman because they see him as an impediment to their future successes. Strange, considering that Detroit has been in the CF for three years running, and the last two Cup Finals. But here’s what I suspect Detroit fans want: $70 million cap limit.
Why?
Well, obviously, so they can sign up all the top free agents they need, as well as keep their own players under contract, and continue to stockpile Championships.
Gary
June 14th, 2009
4:05 pm
Maybe we should trade Bradley?!?!
WC
June 14th, 2009
7:56 pm
Enter your comments here Bobby Cox is the biggest problem the Atlanta braves.all these player been thur Atlanta they only have one championship why.because of Bobby Cox managing close game he don’y know how bigs leads he bring the wrong pitcher in. Kelly Johnson who a third string period just gave him a job. jeff hitting got him here they done tickle with it til he don’t know what to do.Chipper
worried about batting avg but not RBI.how many time a player make a mistake and get bench check out Kelly ,Chipper how many played they have to bosh before they sit none.but if i call it racist then y’ll got something to say ypu tell me what is it.
World Be Free
June 14th, 2009
10:01 pm
Check out this piece I found on the net. Here are 6 good reasons why the Thrashers should not get stupid on July 1. 3 of the 6 are ex-Sabres, I guess Darcy Regier isn’t as stupid as we thought-
In an era when the salary cap will flatten this year and shrink next year, one man’s view of the 10 worst contracts in the NHL right now.
1. Wade Redden, Rangers: His six-year, $39-million contract would not have been unreasonable compensation for an in-his-prime Redden who – for a five-year period between 2001 and 2006 – was a cumulative plus-123, while playing 25 minutes or so per night. But Redden’s play fell off dramatically in his final two years with the Senators and everyone imagined he’d be looking at a hefty pay cut, until Rangers’ GM Glen Sather came along. Don’t these guys scout any more?
2. Scott Gomez, Rangers: Gomez’s annual salary-cap charge of $7.357-million is ninth-highest in the NHL – he will earn $8-million in each of the next two seasons, before the numbers drop off to $7.5-million, $5.5-million and $4.5-million in the final three years of the contract. The Rangers signed Gomez, who led the league in assists in ‘04, to act as a set-up man for Jaromir Jagr, but the two never found any chemistry – and there isn’t a pure sniper on either the current roster or in the system that would help maximize what Gomez brings to the table.
3. Chris Drury, Rangers: About the only saving grace with Drury’s contract is its term – five years, which means there are only three years remaining. A cap charge of $7.05-million, any team interested in Drury would pay him $8-million in each of the next two years and then $5-million in the final year, a lot to pay for a player that has never scored 70 points in the NHL and conveniently managed his one-and-only season above 30 goals in his contract year with the ‘07 Sabres.
4. Brian Campbell, Blackhawks: At least, GM Dale Tallon was honest with reporters on the conference call announcing Campbell’s signing, noting that he overpaid and saying: “On July 1, you always overpay.” Did he ever. With an annual cap hit of $7.14-million for eight years, Campbell was, at best, a No. 3 on the Blackhawks behind Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, and had they been able to predict Cam Barker’s improvement, might have given Campbell a pass.
5. Shawn Horcoff, Oilers: His new six-year, $33-million contract is going to start next year with a $7-million payout, or what Iginla will earn with the Flames – too much in other words, for a player coming off a so-so 53 point season. Edmonton is paying him like a No. 1 centre – his cap number is higher that both Getzlaf’s and Perry’s – on contracts with similar terms. Presumably, Horcoff will get a chance to prove he is that under new coach Pat Quinn.
6. Daniel Briere, Flyers: The annual salary-cap hit is $6.5-million, but that’s because the final two years of the eight-year, $52-million contract are cheap – $3-million and $2-million respectively. But any team interested in Briere’s right would need to pay him $8-million and then three years at $7-million to get to that light at the end of the tunnel. Small and coming off abdominal surgery that limited him to 29 games, Briere will be difficult to move, and not just because he has a no-movement clause in his contract.
Ogie Oglethorpe
June 14th, 2009
10:13 pm
WBF-only 6 of 10 listed, but we get the idea.
WC-why is Pendleton still on the job?
Yes Brendan, very strange.
Detroit has had it made in the shade for a long time.
So why are they pissed? Wings fans, help us out here.
Brendan
June 15th, 2009
12:40 am
The only theory I have left, Ogie, is that they believe Bettman instructed the zebras to swallow the whistles, and play the Finals “pre-lockout” style, to give the Penguins a better chance. And, uhhh, even that’s stretching things a bit. Would Bettman really intervene in matters of officiating, just for the Finals? I wouldn’t think so, but has anyone asked Commissioner Bettman this question? And, as a follow up, would he submit to a polygraph while answering?
Ogie Oglethorpe
June 15th, 2009
6:01 am
It has been stated before that the Red Wings get away with more sublte interference than any other team in the league. Even the idiots on NBC talked about it. Where this is the case or not can be debated for the balance of the summer. So the fact that calls werre or where not made are really a wash in this series. There just weren’t that many calls in the Finals to make a difference.
It’s really simple-Detroit is normally the better team. This time they were not. I think the difference in the series was Kennedy, Staal and Max Talbot. They were the best line for either team in the series.
The refs never really matter that much.
Alan
June 15th, 2009
11:02 am
Should the Thrashers deal Ilya Kovalchuk?
No.
Brendan
June 15th, 2009
5:21 pm
World Be Free, I never thought Regier was stupid. In fact, I’d love to have him here. And love it even more, to have him here with ‘committed ownership.’
NHL Rumours - The Score
June 15th, 2009
6:29 pm
[...] + Thrashers beat writer Mark Bradley examines whether or not it would be best for the organization to trade Ilya Kovalchuk this off-season. [Atlanta Journal Constitution] [...]
Correction and Questions Chi-town Thrash
June 17th, 2009
12:22 am
[...] for the questioning. A few days ago, Mark Bradley posted a blog suggesting that the Thrashers trade Ilya Kovalchuk before the beginning of the season. I acknowledge Mark as a fine writer, but I heavily disagree, [...]
TYLER
June 21st, 2009
2:40 pm
HOCKEY NEEDS TO LEAVE ATLANTA FOREVER. THERES NO MARKET FOR IT, MOVE IT TO WINNIPEG WHERE THE ARENA WILL BE SOLD OUT EVERY NIGHT, INSTEAD OF WASTING ANOTHER NHL TEAM
Kyle
June 30th, 2009
11:55 pm
He fills up the seats. I’ve seen him in over 100 games in my life between season tickets, and partial season tickets. If you get rid of him, you might as well replace him with a rock: it would already be too late for the franchise. We did our share of waiting: weeding out the Stefan’s and building around young stars like Kovalchuk. Now that he’s in his prime, it seems we should…get rid of him? Try someone else? Unless Evander Kane is the next Gretsky, we’re throwing away the Thrashers, and gift-wrapping them for a trip somewhere else (say Ontario). Just kill off the few Thrashers fans that have watched the team grow from egg and hatchling.
Removing Kovalchuk, if not on his own terms, would be like saying “We are not interested in being a Play-off contender. We’ll do that in five or six years. Sorry, but with a unpredictable market and a town that is hardly a “Blueland” we don’t have five or six years to create another Kovalchuk. Thank you
anonymous
July 1st, 2009
2:37 am
i wish we could trade mark bradley for any other journalist