ESPN.com's Scott Burnside reports that Atlanta Thrashers general manager Don Waddell has been asked to step aside.
Waddell has been asked by the Atlanta Thrashers to give up his duties and accept another management position, ESPN.com has learned.
Waddell, one of the managers of the U.S. entry in the World Championships, will apparently make his decision after the tournament, a source close to the team said Friday.
Ownership is believed to have given Waddell a contract extension earlier this season, even though the team has never won a playoff game since entering the league in 1999. But even though ownership has been preaching patience and insisting publicly that it supports the work done by Waddell, multiple sources close to the team say that ownership has been rethinking that stance after the Thrashers finished 28th overall this season.
The assumption, the source told ESPN.com, is that if Waddell declines to take the as-yet-unidentified management position, he will leave the organization.
Considering how bad Atlanta was this season, and how bad they've been (outside of one playoff appearance), this move was probably inevitable. Burnside's article chronicles some of Waddell's bad moves, highlighted by the Alex Zhitnik-for-Braydon Coburn swap that looks bad for multiple reasons. For one, Coburn has emerged as a top defenseman for Philadelphia, and then there's the fact that Zhitnik is old, makes a lot of money, and didn't even play down the stretch.
The Atlanta franchise has one legit star in Ilya Kovalchuk, but there isn't much else happening. Whoever takes over for Waddell has a ton of work to do.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution (What is it with newspapers and long-winded names?) have jumped onto the blogging bandwagon by giving some white space to "Rawhide" Bill Tiller. His premise is simple: Rant and rave about the game from the perspective of ye olde average fanboy.
Thursday night you took the ice in Raleigh, North Carolina after having ONE HUNDRED AN SEVENTEEN HOURS OFF between games!!! Between this and the last game YOU played your opponents played TWO GAMES! And you guys STILL let up FORTY-SIX shots on the FREAKIN' GOAL!!! Did you give up 20 in the first again? NO...YOU GAVE UP TWENTY-ONE!! The man who faced, and turned away, all 21 shots called it, "a big joke". Only...no one is laughing!
You gave up THREE %$#@! Shots LESS on Kari then you allowed the Islanders given NINETY-SIX more hours of rest!!! Hey...maybe if we give you a %$#@& MONTH off you can get it back down to, oh I dunno ... THIRTY-FIVE??
Now, I understand that watching your team get thoroughly outplayed is a rather frustrating experience. The one aspect that any team should be able to control is the amount of effort they put out while on the ice.
The average fanboy, however, seems to leap to the conclusion that when their team gets badly outplayed, it's simply a lack of effort on part of their home squad.
Why is it that we (I am guilty of this at times as well) so quickly jump onto the 'lack of effort' bandwagon, instead of looking at the real reason why our team got smoked like salmon?
Looking at this photo snapped in Atlanta during All-Star weekend, I feel like I'm viewing a grainy snapshot of The Beatles and The Stones jamming together in a London pub back in 1965. OK, maybe it's more like a cell phone photo of the casts of "Knocked Up," "Superbad" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" sharing a hookah. Whatever you call it, I'm calling it historic: A Penguin sits between an orca and a polar bear, and survives to tell the tale.
Using the latest in CSI-style investigation and unabated snark, The Empty Netter has analyzed this photograph and came to some stunning conclusions. (Montreal Canadians Mascot: Looks to be flashing gang signals; maybe putting out a "hit" on the Maple Leaf mascot.) But only FanHouse was there to record the costumed conversation in this world exclusive ...
Every day from Monday to Saturday, The Ice Sheet will take a look at the biggest stories in the league that happened on the ice and elsewhere the night before.
Not a day goes by without another silly rumor coming from the dark depths of the Toronto sports media.
Normally, I don't give two shakes of a lamb's tail about what comes out of the orifices of the mainstream mediots in that section of Canada, but TSN.ca's Darren Dreger takes the cake with this nutso conspiracy theory. Put on the tin-foil hates and lock the bomb shelter.
A 3-2 loss to the St Louis Blues on home ice doesn't provide evidence of that, but if you scratch beneath the surface of the loss, there's a case to be made.
Jiri Tlusty's promotion to Toronto's top-line seemed a tad peculiar despite injuries to Alexei Ponikarovsky and Alex Steen. With 1 goal, 3 assists and a plus\minus of -9 in his last 27 games, did the 19 year old, who has struggled to earn a regular shift, all of sudden win over his head coach?
He won't call it tanking, and admits that one game doesn't provide proof, but he devotes an entire article to the subject. Uh-huh.
Every day from Monday to Saturday, The Ice Sheet will take a look at the biggest stories in the league that happened on the ice and elsewhere the night before.
The NHL's 56th All-Star Game is now in the books. And what can we take away from the Eastern Conference's last-minute, 8-7 victory over the Western Conference?
Well, if you believe Bruce Garrioch, the one thing more than a few people in the league are taking away is wondering whether or not it's time to shut down the whole shooting match:
While some league officials privately are wondering why the NHL continues to have the all-star game, there could be changes after next year's game is held in Montreal to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Canadiens.
Though cancelling the game seems a little harsh, there are proponents of that route in the NHL headquarters.
At the very least, it would appear the skills competition is going to become a victim of the changes once the league figures out what direction it wants to take.
All-Star Weekend has come to a close and it's finally time to make the long drive back home. But wait, hold on. First I need to put my foot in my mouth ... After what I wrote following the second period, the game did a complete 180 and the third period ended up being pretty entertaining. Maybe it had to do with all the energy Halftime Live and Ne-Yo brought into the building during intermission (told you they would rock), but someone must of hit the button to change the game from a snooze fest to fun fest in the third. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it was an epic game. Far from it. But the third period was a nice cherry on top of the weekend. Lots of goals and some late heroics to send the majority of fans home happy (after all it was a pro-East crowd).
At the end of the game, the PA announcer left us off with the line "thanks for coming, we'll see you next year in Montreal."
This led me to ponder two things: 1) is there actually anyone who exclusively follows the ASG around? and 2) Montreal is an awfully long drive for me.
Sorry to let you down Mr. Announcer, but I may not see you in Montreal, as much as I would like to. Wait. I didn't even see you in Atlanta but you saw me. Does that make you a stalker? Eh. I digress.
Let's see what we learned from this weekend:
The sign said "affleho." Between my place in South Carolina and Atlanta, I must have passed about 732 Wafflehouses including a few on both sides of the same expressway exit. Nothing like the American South.
Let's not pull a Barry Melrose. I've been to Atlanta, so that at least gives me the right to comment on it. I haven't seen enough of it and don't want to make any sweeping generalizations, but it seems like a nice city. I'm told the crime rate is high. I've seen the downtown area and the I-85 area, and they're good enough for me. Screw the crime rate.
Willie O'Ree is a P.I.M.P. The man was without a doubt the best dressed person in the arena at all times. He also knows everyone (and by that I mean EVERYONE) and has an assistant. That is ballin.
Might as well of had it in Canada. For a southern city, Atlanta was freezing the entire weekend. Not freezing by Canadian standards, but cold nonetheless. The Phil is also easily the coldest building I've been in -- and I was sitting up at the top! I thought the urban legend was that newer buildings were warmer ... Maybe not.
We're Eduhcated. From what I could tell, the fans in Atlanta knew their stuff and were really a great group.** It was always easy to tell where their allegiances lay. They also took up the distinct sound of serious sports fans by booing anything that was even remotely against them. Thrasher fans, you convinced me that you don't fit the southern hockey fan stereotype.
And that about wraps it up for my coverage from the 2008 NHL All-Star Game. Thanks for reading along and I hope you enjoyed the ride. I'll be back tomorrow with more and of course you can always check in with the other FanHousers or if you need more of me, which at this point is kind of unhealthy, you can always find me at Barry Melrose Rocks.
** - The Western Conference goalies may have a different opinion.
But what the media thinks isn't at all relevant here. The players seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves. The fans sure were. Thousands lined up to get autographs on the "red carpet" to see the players before the skills competition. Thousands were at Saturday's practice, which included a rock concert with teen sensations the Jonas Brothers. There were popular musicians and celebrities. The Hives and Ne-Yo performed Sunday, while other celebrities like Matthew Modine, Alyssa Milano, Garth Brooks and Tom Glavine were at Sunday's game.
Right on, Burnsie. Who needs poopers of parties like Joe Starkey when we've got that kind of star wattage? As the gallery below proves, NHL All-Star action attracts all kinds of entertainment legends, from a guy who looks like Eddie Vedder to someone who used to be Matthew Modine.
I'll be honest. I never really bought into the argument that the All-Star Game was boring and pointless. That is, until now. The best way to describe the second period would be just that -- boring and pointless. Are the best players in the world out on the ice? For the most part, yes. But it's hard to get worked up about it all of this. Maybe that's why there are mascots roaming what looks like every section of the lower bowl. After all, someone has got to try and keep us all awake.
Now I'm probably being a little harsh. This weekend has been exciting and I liked the action on Saturday night, even if I'm the only one. But when all the events -- the giant trading card show, the youth tournaments, etc. -- are supposed to lead up to this one, grand culmination of the game of hockey it leaves something to be desired. I'm not saying that we should get rid of the All-Star Game. Maybe we need to tinker a little, I'm not sure. All-Star Weekend as a whole is enjoyable and the packed house here in Atlanta is loving it, even if the folks watching on TV aren't. Maybe those folks are loving it. I don't know. We may have to wait and see how those television ratings come back in a few days before we make any grand judgments about the whole event. You know, give it a little time to settle and digest before we complain to our server. There's a lot to debate, but no matter if you liked the game or not I think we can all agree that the playoff run should be a good one.
I won't be posting anything directly after the game is over, as I'll be getting in the car to make the drive home in time for Monday morning. I'll have my final thoughts on the game and this weekend posted sometime tonight, though. So look out for that. And before I sign off I'd like to give a big thank you to Eric McErlain for letting me come to Atlanta and eat all the free food as well as Mark Fischel, the NHL's Media Coordinator, for being a huge help this weekend. I'll see you all later tonight and, as always, drive home safe. Or if you're watching at home, be safe when you walk upstairs to bed.
There was a nice heartwarming moment that took place at the All-Star Game between the first and second period where Willie O'Ree was honored on the ice on the 50th anniversary of breaking the color barrier in the NHL. It was then that the captains of the Eastern and Western Conference teams, Vincent Lecavalier and Jarome Iginla presented O'Ree with a commemorative stick.
But as everyone applauded, I couldn't help but think of another moment during the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals where Iginla and Lecavalier dropped the gloves:
Thanks to David Singer of Hockeyfights.com for the reminder. And be sure to check out his lists of all the fighting majors the players in the All-Star Game have rung up. Click here for the East and here for the West.
To try and pass time while two guys sit in the back of a Dodge Nitro and play video games at center ice (I kid you not), I'll start off my Sunday All-Star coverage with some news and notes from the first period.
Did that really just happen? So far the intermission entertainment consisted of watching two guys play video games on the big screen. The winner took home the aforementioned Dodge Nitro while donning an Islanders fisherman jersey of all things ... And it turns out that's it for the first intermission entertainment. Seriously. I feel gypped. At the very least I wanted to see some fans sumo wrestle in those big blow up costumes. Or maybe anything at all involving Alyssa Milano.
More flamethrower, please. We're not seated in the actual press box upstairs, we're in an auxiliary box at the top of section 317. It's a great vantage point, which for those of you watching at home is directly above and behind where The Hives performed. All I can say is that it was really warm and toasty when the flamethrowers were going off during introductions. Those things sure produce a lot of heat and in a cold arena, I miss them dearly. Keep me warm, laptop! Keep me warm!
Atlanta is not a fan of Ozzy. If you remember, last night the fans rode Chris Osgood the entire time that he was in net. The same happened all throughout the first period, and boy was it loud. Here in press row we can't figure out if the fans just hate Detroit or they're going to go after every Western Conference goalie. I'll guess we'll have to wait and see. Any ideas?
That's a lotta hooch. Guess how much an authentic All-Star jersey costs here at the arena. I'll give you a second to think ... Got a number? If you said about $1200, you're correct. I couldn't believe my eyes, but sure enough you would have to spend over a grand for one. That is some serious mark up.
I'll be back with more after the second period, but for now hold on tight -- we might see 15 goals tonight. It's a heck of a pace to keep up, but stranger things have happened.
ESPN.com's Scott Burnside reports that Atlanta Thrashers general manager Don Waddell has been asked to step aside.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution (What is it with newspapers and long-winded names?) have jumped onto the blogging bandwagon by giving some white space to "Rawhide" Bill Tiller. His premise is simple: Rant and rave about the game from the perspective of ye olde average fanboy. 
Every day from Monday to Saturday, 
OK, so not everyone's a fan of the NHL All-Star Game. Like 
I'll be honest. I never really bought into the argument that the All-Star Game was boring and pointless. That is, until now. The best way to describe the second period would be just that -- boring and pointless. Are the best players in the world out on the ice? For the most part, yes. But it's hard to get worked up about it all of this. Maybe that's why there are mascots roaming what looks like every section of the lower bowl. After all, someone has got to try and keep us all awake.
