Thrashers’ Waddell aims to sway an audience of one
It’s an odd task. Don Waddell is making moves with the goal of improving his hockey club, which ordinarily would be a general manager’s highest priority. But this GM has something more in mind:
He’s trying to impress Ilya Kovalchuk.
The best player in Thrashers history is scheduled to become a free agent next summer. He has given indications he’d like to stay here, but his desire is conditional: The Thrashers must first get better. “I know for sure we need some more players,” Kovalchuk told reporters after the final game of last season, and that’s where Waddell comes in.
Known as the Teflon Don in some circles for his ability to avoid blame — and to stick like Krazy Glue to his GM’s chair — Waddell has had an impressive fortnight. The Thrashers appeared to do well in the NHL draft, picking a power forward in Round 1 who might soon be with the big club. (Waddell to Evander Kane on draft night: “You’re going to look good next to Ilya Kovalchuk.”)
And then, scarcely having returned from Montreal, Waddell authored two more big moves: A trade with Toronto that yielded defenseman Pavel Kubina, and the free-agent signing of right wing Nik Antropov, who has two things going for him: He’s a good player who’s an F.O.I. (friend of Ilya’s).
“They go hand in hand,” Waddell said Monday. “We’re trying to improve our team, and by doing that we’re trying to convince our best player to stay. This is a guy who has been part of two world championships with Russia. He wants to be part of a winning organization.”
About Kubina and Antropov: “We got a top-six forward and a top-four defenseman. Those are the two biggest acquisitions at this time of the year we’ve ever made.”
Are the Thrashers, as newly constituted, a playoff-caliber team? “Absolutely,” Waddell said. “We’ve got to make sure guys are healthy, but we’ve got enough depth at forward and defenseman. Goaltender is a key position in hockey, and we haven’t been able to keep our No. 1 guy [Kari Lehtonen] healthy early in seasons. It’s tough when you lose games early.”
Loading ...Approaching the draft, there was much speculation that the Thrashers were looking to offload Lehtonen. No so, Waddell said. “We got some phone calls, but we never initiated anything. He’s a key piece.”
Also of note: The Thrashers, who wound up spending the least of any NHL club on salary last season, just invested $16 million over four seasons in Antropov. Should that be seen as a signal that the Atlanta Spirit is willing to spend more to win at hockey?
Waddell: “It’s a positive sign for our team and our fans. Ownership has been very supportive. If you don’t have the resources, [improvement is] not going to happen.”
And now the key question: What does Kovalchuk think?
“I’ve had very good conversations with Kovy, and I talk more with his agent, Jay Grossman,” Waddell said. “And the best thing about this is that the core of our team is all young players. When we won our division [in 2007], we were a much older team. We took some lumps, but we’ve gotten younger.”
Is there a timetable for discussions about Kovalchuk’s extension to begin in earnest? “I’d say over the next six weeks,” Waddell said.
And take this for what’s it worth. On the day Waddell signed Antropov, the GM received a two-word text message from No. 17. The two words: “Good job.”
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
81 comments Add your comment
woody
July 7th, 2009
12:36 pm
No Alan I wont. I want the 113 milion for myself.
Boy, Do I feel bad for Colby Armstrong. Sorry Colby wish your were still with the PENS.
Alan
July 7th, 2009
12:49 pm
If you can’t give me the winning numbers, then I’m not quite sure I believe your predictions. Would you then care to provide some tangible evidence that says Atlanta will be as bad as, or worse than last year?
woody
July 7th, 2009
12:56 pm
I call upon Don Waddell and his past track record. I have been here for all those years and he has not produced and won’t produce a winning team. All those low draft picks where are they now? Atlanta is the Joke of the Hockey world and people like you support this crap year in and year out.
I am not buying it this year.
Brendan
July 7th, 2009
1:13 pm
18, 27, 36, 37, 52, with a power ball number of 8.
I demand HALF of the winnings.
Drawing is tonight at 11PM.
On second thought, nobody play those numbers. Those are MINE!!
In other news, I think it’s funny that I came here to post about Furman Bisher’s blog still being there. That’s remarkable. What’s the date on that thing? Furman couldn’t must one hockey-related article in all that time. The only thing I remember reading of his is “Trade Chipper Jones.” Honestly, sometimes I do think when it’s a slow news day, just do a column on trading the team’s star player … just to measure the pulse of the sport in the city.
Brendan
July 7th, 2009
1:14 pm
Make that, “muster one hockey-related article.”
Nate
July 7th, 2009
1:16 pm
Nice article Mark. Although I think Waddell may be trying to sway more than one audience. i.e. – sway the fans to come back to Philips. They are out there you know…
World Be Free
July 7th, 2009
1:22 pm
Mark, nice article, but there’s more to it.
We the fans also need to be convinced that the club is going in the right direction, that the commitment is there to get above the salary cap minimum. The Rick Dudley hiring is as big for me as getting Kovy inked long term.
The fans pay the bills, so remember how much we have to be satified too.
Alan
July 7th, 2009
1:37 pm
Atlanta is the Joke of the Hockey world and people like you support this crap year in and year out.
I surmise that since you know nothing of me, you cannot honestly say I have supported anything. I am merely calling you on your assumption that the Thrashers will stink this season for no other reason than you believe it to be so. You refuse to state why you believe it, just that you believe it.
And really, it’s not a problem that you believe the Thrashers will stink. A refusal to explain your position, rather, is why I’m even engaged with you here.
Please explain why you feel the Thrashers will stink this year.
woody
July 7th, 2009
2:16 pm
Past experience isn’t enough huh.
Future tangible evidence hmmm…let me see..ahh yes let me get in my Delorean and find a 2011 sports almanac for you. I’ll be back before you know it.
woody
July 7th, 2009
2:32 pm
I am back from the future. I was right the Altanta Thrashers do not make the playoffs and have yet another low round draft pick to squander in the 2009-2010 season.
Good news is Waddell finally is no longer the GM of the Atlanta Thrashers. He was finally dismised by the Atlanta Spirit and on his way out of Atlanta he was run over by a Marta train.
woody
July 7th, 2009
3:19 pm
Oh BTW…here is yet another little tid bit to get you Atlanta homeys upset.
http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=436380&page=NewsPage&service=page
Alan
July 7th, 2009
3:22 pm
Strangely, this seems apt right about now.
Bob
July 7th, 2009
3:28 pm
“Although I think Waddell may be trying to sway more than one audience. i.e. – sway the fans to come back to Philips. They are out there you know…”
Yes, yes we are. And while true that he’s trying to get Kovy to stay, the real reason for getting Kovy to stay is to retain the dwindling loyal fans the club has who would leave the team in droves if Kovy left.
I like it that the Spirit has opened up payroll again, although I find it mind boggling that they’re allowing Waddell to once again lead the decisions on how to spend that money. You’d think they would have learned after they already gave him max cap once, near max cap the 2nd year, and still didn’t get the results. One would think that if Antopov and Kubina don’t make a meaningful difference on our club, then they’d finally jettison Waddell. But we’ll see. But after the dust has settled, we still don’t have a legit #1 center and unless Bogosian turns into one this year, we still don’t have a legit #1 dman. And clubs aren’t serious contenders that are missing those two pieces.
World Be Free
July 7th, 2009
3:56 pm
Woody, get a life. You are taking things way too seriously. Do you own the team? No you don’t. There is reason for optimism in Thrasherland, all be it small but we are moving in the right direction.
I did not read the link posted, but I do remember when Pittsburgh and Detroit were horrible hockey teams and questionable hockey towns. Winning, guys like Mario and Yzerman have a tendency to change the way people feel about their teams.
As for Atlanta being a bad hockey town, well, nobody in any city would go to the games if you would have transplanted this team in another city 10 years ago. Thrashers’ fans have endured a lot. The fact that so many fans are still around is a testament to the fact that this IS a good, not great hockey city.
In the big picture, we still have to go to work at the end of the day and pay our bills. Get a grip.
Jay
July 7th, 2009
5:54 pm
Good piece, Mark. I think Kovy has shown remarkable loyalty to this organization given what he has had to deal with. This is a great step in the right direction. Keep up the good work-
scottbravesfan
July 7th, 2009
5:55 pm
Sam,
X was not our best defensiveman.
Woody,
You are an idiot if you think the moves that Waddell has made does not help this team. The Thrashers should make the playoffs this season I doubt they will win their division but they should be in the playoffs.
Sage of Blueland
July 7th, 2009
8:02 pm
X was not our best defenseman, and anyone who thinks so is a Communist.
Sage of Bluesland
July 7th, 2009
8:17 pm
Some sad little person ‘almost’ uses my name correctly…They cannot match my grammar, however…
I wouldn’t go so far as to say a person who thinks Exelby was great is a communist; I would label them, more appropriately, a ’sheep’…
World Be Free
July 7th, 2009
9:02 pm
Sage is back
Puck Headlines: A great gentleman, Sakic to say goodbye | Newstion.com
July 7th, 2009
9:03 pm
[...] -Interesting piece by Mark Bradley about Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell and his quest to impress soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Ilya Kovalchuk. [AJC] [...]
World Be Free
July 7th, 2009
9:08 pm
10 year, I agree with you on Dudley. That’s why I was pumped when they hired him.
Sam
July 7th, 2009
9:44 pm
yeah, u got me. fire waddell, hire dudley, i ain’t that hard. dudley will make some smart decisions acuatly. oh!! thats a new word for waddell! oh um about kovy, if he stays cool. if not trade him during the season, cuz we won’t get anyone good otherwise
pond scum
July 7th, 2009
10:55 pm
Thanks for some “positive” coverage for the Thrashers….they need it.
What alot of folks forget is that Yzerman, Super Mario ect. didn’t win often when they FIRST joined the league with their teams as was pointed out. And they didn’t win it all ALONE,they had HELP. And it does take time to develop a “real” team. DW tried to hurry and band-aid this team to a postseason berth. And it costed him alot more than he realized.
If some will remember,before the cap,the Rangers would throw money at any and all “name” players…..only to flop. It takes the right formula-GM,coaches,system,players and support staff along with a little LUCK involved. And after Kovy was named captain,ours went from bad to good.
I do believe this team WILL take the first step in making the playoffs(barring major injuries) the RIGHT WAY. As time goes on,after making it this year,they’ll have the expectations of making it AND winning a round NEXT SEASON. Rome wasn’t built in 1 day or 1 night folks.
I do understand the frustrations of some and how they feel let down. BUT, do you think all the negativity is going to help? I’m NOT a fan of DW because of his past goofs,but I do believe in redemption. He hasn’t totally redeemed himself to my liking just yet,but he’s back in the right direction atleast. IF Kane does turn into the power forward he’s supposed to be(don’t know about all of the rest of you,but I’m not in that big a hurry to find out and ruin his development),Kubina the top 4 d-man we’ve needed forever ( remembering his days as a Bolt and not covering up Kaberle’s messes tells me he is very capable of this) and IF Antropov keeps his confidence and scoring going up…… then this is surely a great turn around for this team. And probably just in the nick of time.
Considering the tragedy of Dan Snyder,the demand by Heatley to be moved,the tease Hossa only gave us…… it’s time for us fans to enjoy some good luck.
As was pointed out, DW needs to take what pats on the back he might be getting in stride and keep working and not resting until this team has won more than a division.
And now resigning OUR captain. I DO BELIEVE Kovy resigns to a very long deal to stay here,cause so far DW has kept his word and I do feel Kovy feels obligated to the team that gave him a chance. He wants to LEAD his team to the promise land just like Gretzky,Yzerman,Super Mario ect. did AFTER the growing pains they had to go through to get there. Hopefully,Kovy seen what happened to Hossa (which couldn’t have happened to a better person) and sees that…….. there is NO guarntees.
Puck Headlines: A great gentleman, Sakic to say goodbye | Lancilo USA
July 8th, 2009
12:39 am
[...] -Interesting piece by Mark Bradley about Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell and his quest to impress soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Ilya Kovalchuk. [AJC] [...]
Sam
July 8th, 2009
9:42 am
waddell needs help!! dudley rules!
ps. i don’t blame sackic for retiring, the guy is like 42 years old!
ElRey30
July 8th, 2009
12:44 pm
Thrashers will never win a stanley cup. If you think Antropov and Kubina are the missing peaces you are way off. If Kovalchuk wants to win he needs to get the hell out of there. There is no reason for a team in Atlanta, that place is like a masoleum 99% of the time. Put another team in Canada where it will be appreciated. I give this franchise about 5 more years of hemrigding money before it’s up and moved.
kracker
July 8th, 2009
12:58 pm
ElRey30, whoever you are, if you go down and actually buy some tickets and go to the games, you’d see that what you wrote is utter nonsense. Or perhaps you’re carping from Canada, eh?
“that place is like a masoleum 99% of the time”!! lol Nonsense.
(PS it’s spelled mausoleum)
Sage of Blueland
July 8th, 2009
1:01 pm
Stop impersonating me, comrade. Meanwhile, the Thrashers are being run by a socialist GM funded by a legion of sheep. This is the worst business plan since The Great Society.
World Be Free
July 8th, 2009
6:43 pm
Elrey30-Another Canadian a–hole
Go back to Hoserland and stay there
Bradley's Buzz: Frenchy makes an impression in NY minute | Mark Bradley
July 13th, 2009
7:24 pm
[...] along the link.) I’d written that Thrashers GM Don Waddell is making moves in large measure to persuade Ilya Kovalchuk to re-up. Boylen thinks that’s bad policy. He writes: “Kovalchuk is a dynamic player whose [...]
There's competence in Atlanta sports, and woe is me | Mark Bradley
August 24th, 2009
7:35 pm
[...] week. I posted an item on the Falcons’ apparently successful offseason. I posted another on Don Waddell improving the Thrashers, yet another on the Hawks keeping Mike Bibby. And then I got to thinking, “This is Atlanta! [...]