Front Office Follies

If there has been one subject talked out over the last 5 years more than a change in the General Manager's position here in Atlanta I don't know what it is. I thought with the entire off season now staring us in the face that we should discuss the ups, down and all arounds of the general manager's position and what we'd like to see happen.

The end of this season marked the end of the 10th season of NHL hockey here in Atlanta since it's return and with it the 9th season with no post season. Now I'm sure that most of you guys were probably pretty realistic when hockey settled back in the A town that we wouldn't have a post season team for several years. After all we were an expansion club and were drafting from unprotected players and such..had no farm system...no depth...we knew it would be bare for a while. I really wasn't expecting much in the way of "winning" hockey for the first 4-5 years. After year 5 I expected to start being a contender for winning seasons and to make the playoffs. Honestly, for the most part, we were pretty much on that schedule. Somewhere along the way though we fell off the tracks.

I'm not going to go over some of the big disappointments and failures of the past..it's a storied history and any true Thrasher fan is well aware of the headaches and heartaches we've endured with this team. The big question is of course should the Thrashers retain the services of Don Waddell and if so, in what capacity?

I know like 99% of you are going to say send him packing, and I wouldn't blame you or argue with you. In the hyper competitive sports world to have the track record that we do would most certainly doom you to lose your job in any other market. Don has a special brand of kool-aid and the Octocluster loves the taste. The Falconer reported that a rumor is swirling that will send Don to the president's office and make Rick Dudley the GM. I think IF the Thrashers are to retain his services it should be in that capacity.

So...let's run with the premise that Rick Dudley is the new GM in Atlanta and that Don Waddell let's him take the control he needs to do the job..(i.e. staying the hell out of it)..so what should he do. Has he got a 5 year plan...I hope not...because he hasn't got 5 years. The fans may give him 1 year, but that's probably all the leash the fans are willing to give at this point.

What should Dudley do then? Well here's a few suggestions for him..

1) Sign Kubina and Afinogenov - Kubina was a top three leader all season in +/- and his veteran presence on the blue line was a highlight of an otherwise lack luster defense. Afinogenov was also a huge boost to the offense and with the huge 40 goal void that walked out of Atlanta when we dealt Kovy we're going to need some veteran scoring presence. C-Viv posted that both are receptive to staying in Atlanta and I think with a relatively young team that some veterans that have good skill would not be out of line. Give Kubina a 2 year deal at 3 million per and Afinogenov a 3 year deal at 1.5-2 million per and you should be able to seal both of them up.

2) Re-sign all RFA's - This goes without saying...and make sure we give each of them a good enough deal that it will be hard for any of them to get poached...not that we have any that I think are in danger of that happening to.

3) Replace John Anderson and his entire staff - I think a new start here is going to be essential. I like John Anderson..he's really a nice guy...but I don't know if his style translates to the NHL. I can only speak as a fan..but let me tell you something I got sick of hearing. I got tired of hearing "We're fragile" "You know you can only take so many blows to your constitution" "I don't know why we're starting off slow". I hate to say it...but dude...it's your job to get them ready every game...and when the bell rang...more often than not...they weren't ready.

4) Along with getting a new coach and very importantly...get a dedicated goalie coach. This Steve Weeks thing with doing double duty ain't working. I want to see a dedicated coach that works with the goalies on a daily basis.

After these 4 suggestions of course he'll have other UFA signings and decisions to make and then of course the draft and prospects to look at in Traverse City and then in Duluth in September.

As far as who to bring in a coach..well I'm not certain who all is even available (I know Rick Tocchet is...buuut) I'm also not a GM.

What I am, though, is a fan and I can tell you that as a fan..you know..one who pays to see this team that my patience in not being able to go to the post season is wearing thin. I'm sick of having to defend my team to others who think that hockey in Atlanta is a joke..and by extension those of us who follow the Thrashers are a joke also. I'm tired of seeing good talent walk away from this team, or flat out refuse it, because they know that they will not get an opportunity to play for anything.

I'm pretty sure that I'm not alone with what I just said...and I'm pretty sure that most everybody out there feels the way I do...Dudley...Waddell...doesn't matter...you don't have much more time to produce something before my entertainment dollars will no longer go into your wallet.

Coming up soon...we'll take a look at the UFA's and the UFA market and what we could do. The upside is we got plenty of money...the downside is we have a terribad reputation.