I don't know about you, but I just absolutely hate it when someone bad mouths a friend of mine. It makes me angry and my first instinct is to kick in the teeth of the guy who insults my pal. My pal in this case is the Atlanta Thrashers. Yeah I know, they had a horrible year last year, but they are far from being so freaking awful that no one wants to play with them. So Boyle and Campbell, this blog is for you.
During the 2006- 2007 NHL Season, the Philadelphia Flyers played 82 games. They only won 22 of them. They lost 48 of them and lost in overtime 12 times. That season they only brought in 56 points total. They were 15th in the Eastern Conference, dead last. They were 30th in the NHL, dead last.
So after this horrible season, did they call it quits, give up, start training for the ice capades?? NO. At the trade deadline in 2007, the Flyers acquired Scottie Upshall, Ryan Parent, Braydon Coburn, and Marty Biron. Then in the off season they added Kimmo Timonen, Scott Hartnell, Joffrey Lupul, Jason Smith, and Danny Briere.
In the 2007-2008 Season, the Flyers finished 6th in the Eastern Conference with 42 wins, 29 losses, 11 over time losses with 95 points. They were 11th overall in the NHL. Not only did they come that far, they took out Washington in Round 1 and Montreal in Round 2 to get to the Eastern Conference finals only to be knocked out by Pittsburgh.
That is a mighty good turn around. So why is it automatically assumed that the Thrashers aren't going to be able to do it?
After going 0-6 to start the season last year the Thrashers battled back and hung at or around .500 for the majority of the season, until the trade deadline. I do believe that everything with Hossa really screwed the team. The media frenzy, him dogging it all season. Hossa never wanted to be a Thrasher, it was something he was forced in to, tricked if you will. He never made the best of it, if he would have played like he was capable of, who knows how the season may have turned out. He was a negativity in the locker room, even if he wasn't meaning to be. The players knew, the fans knew, it was just a matter of time before he was gone. Though honestly he was gone a lot sooner than February. I can't say I blame the guy for wanting a Cup. That is the goal, but you still need to give it your all night ater night for the team you are with, honestly he checked out during the 2007 playoffs.
Yes I know Don Waddell didn't sign anyone on the first day of free agency, big whoop. He tried. He can't help that these players are so blinded by money and wanting to be in a traditional market that they do not want to give Atlanta a chance. I mean, did we really want Campbell? Yes he is a great defensemen, but he seemed to choke with San Jose during the playoffs. $8 million is a lot of money to take a gamble on him and for an extended length of time. I honestly think Campbell helped us out by turning us down.
I don't understand why everyone is counting them out when the team isn't set and the ice isn't even in place at Phillips Arena. It is only July. There are a lot of moves to be made. Do you honestly think that Tampa Bay, making all these moves, is going to be extremely better. In all honesty you can have all the talent in the world, but you don't know that the team will mesh. Players have egos and attitudes. Too many of those in the locker room can cause problems. So lets just wait and see what happens in Tampa.
Speaking on locker room attitudes. I think one of the downfalls of the 2007-2008 Season for the Thrashers was naming Bobby Holik as captain. A natural leader he isn't. Holik reminds me of a little boy and if he doesn't get his way he takes his ball and goes home. Did you ever notice when there was a questionable call or a penalty and the captain on the other team would go out to center ice to talk to the official, was Holik there for our team? Nope, it would be Recchi or Kovy. Did you ever notice when someone took a shot at our best player and the captain was on the ice, he just skated around like practicing for Disney on Ice and didn't try to help out his team mate? The only good thing about Holik was his face off percentage. His attitude was probably bad in the locker room and now he is New Jersey's problem.
I was a fan of Mark Recchi and I was glad he came to Atlanta after the way the Pens did him. After reading his remarks I lost a little respect from him. These remarks are because he didn't get an offer. So he is trying to play it cool, cause he wasn't going to sign with Atlanta anyway. Nice move Mark. Real classy. He got dumped and can't handle the rejection.
Then there is Zhitnik. I am honestly not sure what went down with him last season, but I think it was along the lines of Hossa-itis. Zhitnik didn't want to be in Atlanta either, so well, he played half assed. He must have said or did something to really tick of Don and the ownership. No love lost I am sure. I do not understand Don's denial of buying him out earlier in June, but I think this was a solid move to allow us to make a move for a more positive influence and someone that wants to play in Atlanta. Good Riddance. But do you think anyone is going to pick Zhitnik up and pay him the millions he THINKS he deserves? NOPE, I see him going to play in Russia.
I must say I am excited about this season, so far we are having a great team shaping up. The D is coming together. Hainsey is an awesome addition, new blood, scoring on the Power Play. And he actually wants to be a Thrasher. He is excited about playing for Anderson. I really feel this is a good move and we have him for awhile. He could be our franchise D-man.
For a while I thought Exelby was, but after last season I am not sure. He seems to be gun shy now and he really needs a freakin hair cut. Let's hope Mama Exelby got out the scissors when he went home.
We have a great new coach with a proven winning approach, we have signed a new D-Man and taken out some of the garbage. If we can get Ilya Nikulin to come here and leave Russia our defense will have made a complete 180. We have young talents thanks to Hossa, Christensen and Armstrong. I really excited to see these guys play a full season and get their confidence in their new team. We just need to get Kovy a play making center, get Slava out of his funk and have two scoring lines instead of one. Not sure what is going to happen between Kari and Pavs, but either one will be solid and then we have Moose as the back up and mentor.
I see us making a play for the playoffs this year. I don't count us out. Things are shaping nicely.
As for Boyle and his comments about being picked up by Atlanta on waivers:
Boyle said he was pushed into waiving his no-trade clause after a member of Bolts management told him if he didn't agree to a trade, he'd be put on waivers and would likely have been claimed by the Thrashers.
"I've been a top guy in ice time the last few years. They call my work ethic into question? I work out to be in the best shape possible and things about me were questioned. It got to the point where my ass was threatened to be put on waivers and I was going to be picked up by a last-place team that wouldn't win for the next six years. You tell me, is that any way to do (bleeping) business?
Well, what goes around comes around buddy. How was it in the bottom of the South East, East and NHL last season? Did you enjoy only the 37 games you played last year and that -29 you had? Hmmm you must have been on the ice for a lot of goals huh? I wonder how many games you will actually be able to play in this year? May you have a wonderful season in San Jose. I can honestly say, Blueland is too good for you.
Atlanta can and will be a hockey town, and I will touch base on that in my next blog before now this is my closing. The Atlanta Thrashers are by no means the worse team in the NHL, they have potential and can have a turn around season just like Philly did last year. Before you pass judgement, wait until November, then lets talk.
Thanks for reading. Feel free to comment and look for my next blog.
During the 2006- 2007 NHL Season, the Philadelphia Flyers played 82 games. They only won 22 of them. They lost 48 of them and lost in overtime 12 times. That season they only brought in 56 points total. They were 15th in the Eastern Conference, dead last. They were 30th in the NHL, dead last.
So after this horrible season, did they call it quits, give up, start training for the ice capades?? NO. At the trade deadline in 2007, the Flyers acquired Scottie Upshall, Ryan Parent, Braydon Coburn, and Marty Biron. Then in the off season they added Kimmo Timonen, Scott Hartnell, Joffrey Lupul, Jason Smith, and Danny Briere.
In the 2007-2008 Season, the Flyers finished 6th in the Eastern Conference with 42 wins, 29 losses, 11 over time losses with 95 points. They were 11th overall in the NHL. Not only did they come that far, they took out Washington in Round 1 and Montreal in Round 2 to get to the Eastern Conference finals only to be knocked out by Pittsburgh.
That is a mighty good turn around. So why is it automatically assumed that the Thrashers aren't going to be able to do it?
After going 0-6 to start the season last year the Thrashers battled back and hung at or around .500 for the majority of the season, until the trade deadline. I do believe that everything with Hossa really screwed the team. The media frenzy, him dogging it all season. Hossa never wanted to be a Thrasher, it was something he was forced in to, tricked if you will. He never made the best of it, if he would have played like he was capable of, who knows how the season may have turned out. He was a negativity in the locker room, even if he wasn't meaning to be. The players knew, the fans knew, it was just a matter of time before he was gone. Though honestly he was gone a lot sooner than February. I can't say I blame the guy for wanting a Cup. That is the goal, but you still need to give it your all night ater night for the team you are with, honestly he checked out during the 2007 playoffs.
Yes I know Don Waddell didn't sign anyone on the first day of free agency, big whoop. He tried. He can't help that these players are so blinded by money and wanting to be in a traditional market that they do not want to give Atlanta a chance. I mean, did we really want Campbell? Yes he is a great defensemen, but he seemed to choke with San Jose during the playoffs. $8 million is a lot of money to take a gamble on him and for an extended length of time. I honestly think Campbell helped us out by turning us down.
I don't understand why everyone is counting them out when the team isn't set and the ice isn't even in place at Phillips Arena. It is only July. There are a lot of moves to be made. Do you honestly think that Tampa Bay, making all these moves, is going to be extremely better. In all honesty you can have all the talent in the world, but you don't know that the team will mesh. Players have egos and attitudes. Too many of those in the locker room can cause problems. So lets just wait and see what happens in Tampa.
Speaking on locker room attitudes. I think one of the downfalls of the 2007-2008 Season for the Thrashers was naming Bobby Holik as captain. A natural leader he isn't. Holik reminds me of a little boy and if he doesn't get his way he takes his ball and goes home. Did you ever notice when there was a questionable call or a penalty and the captain on the other team would go out to center ice to talk to the official, was Holik there for our team? Nope, it would be Recchi or Kovy. Did you ever notice when someone took a shot at our best player and the captain was on the ice, he just skated around like practicing for Disney on Ice and didn't try to help out his team mate? The only good thing about Holik was his face off percentage. His attitude was probably bad in the locker room and now he is New Jersey's problem.
I was a fan of Mark Recchi and I was glad he came to Atlanta after the way the Pens did him. After reading his remarks I lost a little respect from him. These remarks are because he didn't get an offer. So he is trying to play it cool, cause he wasn't going to sign with Atlanta anyway. Nice move Mark. Real classy. He got dumped and can't handle the rejection.
Then there is Zhitnik. I am honestly not sure what went down with him last season, but I think it was along the lines of Hossa-itis. Zhitnik didn't want to be in Atlanta either, so well, he played half assed. He must have said or did something to really tick of Don and the ownership. No love lost I am sure. I do not understand Don's denial of buying him out earlier in June, but I think this was a solid move to allow us to make a move for a more positive influence and someone that wants to play in Atlanta. Good Riddance. But do you think anyone is going to pick Zhitnik up and pay him the millions he THINKS he deserves? NOPE, I see him going to play in Russia.
I must say I am excited about this season, so far we are having a great team shaping up. The D is coming together. Hainsey is an awesome addition, new blood, scoring on the Power Play. And he actually wants to be a Thrasher. He is excited about playing for Anderson. I really feel this is a good move and we have him for awhile. He could be our franchise D-man.
For a while I thought Exelby was, but after last season I am not sure. He seems to be gun shy now and he really needs a freakin hair cut. Let's hope Mama Exelby got out the scissors when he went home.
We have a great new coach with a proven winning approach, we have signed a new D-Man and taken out some of the garbage. If we can get Ilya Nikulin to come here and leave Russia our defense will have made a complete 180. We have young talents thanks to Hossa, Christensen and Armstrong. I really excited to see these guys play a full season and get their confidence in their new team. We just need to get Kovy a play making center, get Slava out of his funk and have two scoring lines instead of one. Not sure what is going to happen between Kari and Pavs, but either one will be solid and then we have Moose as the back up and mentor.
I see us making a play for the playoffs this year. I don't count us out. Things are shaping nicely.
As for Boyle and his comments about being picked up by Atlanta on waivers:
Boyle said he was pushed into waiving his no-trade clause after a member of Bolts management told him if he didn't agree to a trade, he'd be put on waivers and would likely have been claimed by the Thrashers.
"I've been a top guy in ice time the last few years. They call my work ethic into question? I work out to be in the best shape possible and things about me were questioned. It got to the point where my ass was threatened to be put on waivers and I was going to be picked up by a last-place team that wouldn't win for the next six years. You tell me, is that any way to do (bleeping) business?
Well, what goes around comes around buddy. How was it in the bottom of the South East, East and NHL last season? Did you enjoy only the 37 games you played last year and that -29 you had? Hmmm you must have been on the ice for a lot of goals huh? I wonder how many games you will actually be able to play in this year? May you have a wonderful season in San Jose. I can honestly say, Blueland is too good for you.
Atlanta can and will be a hockey town, and I will touch base on that in my next blog before now this is my closing. The Atlanta Thrashers are by no means the worse team in the NHL, they have potential and can have a turn around season just like Philly did last year. Before you pass judgement, wait until November, then lets talk.
Thanks for reading. Feel free to comment and look for my next blog.
