I, for one, am super excited about the new season. It is easy, in looking back through the past few seasons, to feel extremely nervous and unsettled when we see names flying everywhere, new management, new coaches. I mean, what do we have to hold our faith on? Within the last 5 years we have witnessed our team clinching the division, making it to the playoffs and winning home-ice. Only to watch the Rangers, of all teams, to sweep in and stomp every hopeful dream we had of continuing the march to the Stanley Cup.

We plummeted, we fell, we landed in the bottom of a murky pit filled with broken branches and unstable ground. It took just 6 straight losses into the next season for the Thrashers to cut Bob Hartley from the team. The murky air continued to swallow and stagnant the Atlanta ice. Waddell stepped in to hold the team together and act as interim head coach, which gave the team new light, but, without a solid foundation, the light flickered and diminished back into darkness.

We have witnessed years of dreams, placing them all in one (or a few) baskets. Hossa, no longer willing to try to climb through the pit, constantly getting snagged and falling back down, fought for a change, broke through his chains and took flight. Lehtonen, perhaps just not strong enough, more likely not trained well enough, finally was released after years of losing him as our starting goalie.If  our management team concentrated on finding a way for all the pieces to fit together, combined a chain could be created to create a way out, a way to climb out of the depths of the darkness created in this city…but instead, we continue to juggle goalies, go through almost an entire season with no captain (or head coach for that matter) and then find yet another ’star’ to put all of our hopes and dreams in. We find another head coach with promise to steer this team the right way and as we near the destination, the road collapses yet again. One of the most memorable moments of my most recent Thrashers history was hearing Waddell admit that maybe they were a little off by making this a one man team with Kovalchuk, and maybe they should have utilizing the entire team a little more frequently. Maybe that lightbulb coming on was the same one that moved Waddell out of the GM position, opening up a huge change, probably the only thing that hadn’t changed since our inception.

Suddenly, it is as though someone took the biggest branch, the one everyone used to plant their feet on as they reached up out of the hole, and tossed it aside…realizing it had become weakened throughout time. Now, they have discovered that, over time, different things have fallen in the pit, new tools have been uncovered. We now have a whole new root system creeping up the walls. We may possibly have more players standing outside on the rim of this ever growing pit, but these players are reaching their hands in, feet solidly planted, and I see the players still stuck in the pit gaining strength and climbing with light finally reaching their faces.

I think we have gone through a number of ground-shaking changes in the last, well, honestly, since inception. We have been an organization that, for the longest time, didn’t appear to really be learning the experience, just living it…now it seems like they have begun to take the challenge instead of letting it continue to beat them down.  Instead of letting this team fall into the depths of the earth, they are learning now. Severing ties that needed to be severed, opening doors that need to be opened. For some, they waited too long. But instead of crying in the corner, the Thrashers ARE moving forward.  There is a fan base here that loves hockey. This fan base has been screaming for change…and finally, they have started to hear…

There will be a time of adjustment, there will be a time of learning. And unfortunately, there will still be losses. But what truly makes an amazing team is not necessarily a mixture of the highest records and numbers. What makes a truly amazing team is a collection of talent, of all levels, willing to stick together, to do what needs to be done, all moving towards the same goal. A team that is willing to be on the ice as a team, not the backup for a one man show. A team is willing to be displayed as a team, with one goal, the same goal. We needed change, in the most severe of ways. Maybe, for this team, maybe it takes bringing on a few who have just spent a day with Lord Stanley…maybe they were spending that day reminding him that there is still hockey in the deep south and as our history has shown, you can always try to burn us down, but we will always re-build.

“Great moments are born from great opportunities…You were meant to be here. ..this moment is yours”

~Herb Brooks/ 1980 USA Gold

Just a few more weeks before we get to start seeing these guys on ice! I am ready to start witnessing the magic I know this new team is going to show!

All these changes are making me eager to see this new team on ice! The Thrashers have now traded Todd White for two new forwards, Patrick Rissmiller and Donald Brashear. In addition to this, they have also solidified a third goaltender. There is so much super glue going down on the seams of this team, I can’t even quite grasp what we are going to look like this year.
I recall Bogosian’s first meeting with Brashear and I get goosebumps imaging what kind of lessons could be handed down to such a blossoming defenseman who has already show the strength and determination to lead this team. At such a young age, he has repeatedly shown the ability to not only stand up to veteran players, such as Brashear, but learn from them as well. And now the two will not only share the ice, but share the same locker room as well.

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Well, it seems as though one ex-Thrasher hasn’t quite figured out how to manipulate “The Man” just yet…seems the Devils haven’t quite won over everyone with the Kovy contract just yet. No worries Devils’ fans, I am sure, within time you will be confidently getting to witness the many sides of the Wonder Boy. Not that you will have it too rough, you also picked up our beloved Moose to back up Brodeur. (I still haven’t figured that one out yet…)

While I thought for sure we would eagerly keep Johan, if not as a solid backup goalie, at least for the backbone he continually has provided every team he has played for, unfortunately I was wrong.  Considering the Atlanta Thrashers will be starting another year trying to piece together a team, I would have thought Hedberg was a smart option. However, it is slightly reassuring to learn that, amidst all off the Chicago splurges, we did at least remember we would need a backup goalie after purchasing Mason and relieving Hedberg…so, here comes round 3 with Ondrej Pavelec. We fired the head coach and kept the goalie…amazing that Ondrej agreed with the knowledge that he will not be the starting goalie. Maybe the sting of last year has humbled him into accepting the fact that he does have work to do or maybe the reputation following Mason in the net is enough to settle for second. I hope that Mason can continue to coach the 22 yr old into a more consistent trend than we saw last year.  I am hopeful for a lot of things this season. Honestly, at this point, I am just ready to see some hockey!

Akim Aliu

I’ll be writing a more comprehensive report of my two days at the Atlanta Thrashers Prospect Camp, but I first wanted to get this article off my chest. Out of all the players there, one in particular made a very strong impression: newly acquired forward Akim Aliu. Unfortunately, it was a negative one.

I am well aware of Aliu’s checkered past (involved in a violent altercation with teammate Steve Downie while playing for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires), and maybe that tainted my opinion of him from the get go. However, I try to keep an open mind and a clean slate for forgiveness in case there were misreports and biased journalism. Now that I have seen Aliu practice in person, I can fairly confidently say that he is the same enigmatic psycho that he was in junior.

My first day there was on Sunday, Akim’s “good” day. At least he didn’t talk much. Instead, he skated on the perimeter, away from his teammates and their conversations. During drills, he almost injured his teammates twice. First because he was recklessly smashing his stick in a frustrated attempt to steal the puck, almost catching another player in the face. The second time, he and a teammate were skating in the same direction, and Aliu wouldn’t skate out of the way, like he was playing a game of chicken. Thankfully, the other player dodged at the last second.

On Tuesday, all the players skated routine laps. Not only was Aliu unusually sluggish compared to all of his teammates, but he didn’t skate backwards at the whistles. Either Aliu is deaf and blind, or he wasn’t following instructions. Neither scenario speaks highly of his future as a hockey player.

All these shenanigans are somewhat forgivable, but the worst was yet to come. During one particular drill, Aliu skated in front of newly drafted lightweight Alexander Burmistrov, plastering him on the boards with his rear end. The two exchanged some words and shoves before skating out for the drill. At the cool down stretch, Aliu picked a spot right behind Burmistrov and started yapping. Then slashing his skates and stick. Ivan Telegin got between them to seemingly mediate, but the two still went at it as people head to the dressing room, jabbing and pushing. At least Burmistrov tried to defuse it with a nervous smile, but Aliu wouldn’t back down.  When they came back for the scrimmage, Aliu was out there for a few minutes, then disappeared to the dressing room.  I’m not sure why.

Now, I can’t be sure what happened. Maybe it was just innocuous goofing. I only know what I saw and what I heard, but the only thing I heard was Aliu calling Burmistrov something like “little birdie” (sharp wit, I know). And if Aliu has ever seen a cartoon, he would know that the little birdie always comes out on top.

-by Rach

I don’t know about anyone else, but I am pretty tired of the “Kovy dilemma”. Honestly, one of my fondest memories of last season( besides the obvious trade) was making my smart mouth comments while Ilya Kovalchuk  was on the ice with  my husband ‘clucked’ me for my poor sportsmanship. The woman in front of me turned around chuckling and said, “wow, you sound just like my daughter.”

It was an amazing day when Kovy was made Captain. Our voices pulsated with the fire breathing Thrash as the announcer belted the news. But, it was an even more amazing day when Thrashers management wiped their hands and walked away from the ongoing battle to try to appease a man who, really, when all was said and done, just wanted out…

Maybe it was because of the practice rink…it is truly about as amazing as the staff that employs it.  Feet propped up behind the counter, half asleep, no attempt even to smile, let alone greet the people as they hurry in the door, eager to see their Thrashers practice.

Maybe it was because of ‘management’, lack of organization, desire, drive…no real desire to add a spotlight to the ice for the moments Ilya was on ice, to accentuate his every move and show the world how amazing he was. Maybe it was the other players, actually stepping up and trying to score on their own, trying to please the fans, pushing us one step closer to a redemption visit to the playoffs. Or, maybe it was just a genuine lack of belief that, as a Thrasher, he could make it through the journey, hoisting that cup over his head, while the fans went mad, those flames shooting out of Thrash, and bringing that grail home to the land that bleeds blue. Whatever the case may be, I bid thee farewell.

I believe Ilya is going to miss the ride…for there is this spark igniting in Blueland, and the man holding that lighter is none other than only our second General Manager in Thrasher history, Rick Dudley. There is no one better to reach for the stars that someone who believes the stars are all up there for grabbing…and grabbed has he!

When the Blackhawks were desperate to start shaving some of their extra salaries down, Mr. Dudley stepped to the front of the line. I will take one 6’4” right winger, compliment that with a 6’2” left winger, throw in a 6’1 defense-man, give me  a minute to let that settle and I will most likely be back for  an extra left winger before I am through with Chicago. I mean, come on, you just showed the world what a talented team you had going. We would be fools to let this opportunity pass us by! And that was just the beginning…

Players or Prisoners?

Atlanta Spirit has been telling Thrashers fans the same things for years: although they are involved in legal fisticuffs, they are committed to icing a playoff contender. Although one can point at their lack of interested involvement and refusal to hold management accountable for failure, the most tangible piece of evidence is the putrid stench of sweat and disappointment emanating from Duluth IceForum. It’s the smell associated with a Minnesota high school rink, not with an NHL team. And if the annual pollen invasion is still stuffing your nostrils, just look at the shoddy boards, fixtures and overall miserable atmosphere.

One of the biggest myths perpetrated by sports broadcast talking heads is that a player’s interest in playing for a team can be reduced to a simple formula. You know… something involving money times years times how good the team is. But when a player is signing a multi-year contract, they are committing themselves to an organization and the financial backing it has to keep its players productive and happy.

So is it any wonder why marquee players leave Atlanta as soon as they can? Or why free agents can’t be lured to Atlanta without paying them far above their market value? If the ownership isn’t willing to shell out cash to improve the facilities, staff, and the quality of life for its players, why would anyone choose to play for the Thrashers?

I realize that some locals may have a fond, nostalgic attachment to the practice rink, but perhaps it’s time to move on. If the ownership wants to be taken seriously, then they should not treat an NHL team like a peewee club.

PS – I was at the Thrashers rookie camp today and will be going back on Tuesday.  I’ll write a detailed review and scouting report later this week.