Cleaning Up Waddell's Mess: An Atlanta Thrashers Dynasty (NHL 09)

[thrashman]

ATLANTA - After being General Manager of the Atlanta Thrashers hockey club from their inception, Don Waddell has finally been replaced after only one playoff appearance and zero postseason wins in eight years.

Alex Clark has been chosen to replace Waddell in Atlanta and clean up the mess that defines the Thrashers organization. Priority #1 for Clark is to make sure star forward Ilya Kovalchuk doesn't leave Atlanta when his current contract is up after next season.

The Thrashers have seen stars like Dany Heatley and Marian Hossa get away; they have suffered through brutal draft mistakes - Patrick Stefan taken first overall in 1999; and made terrible trades - Braydon Coburn sent to Philadelphia for Alexei Zhitnik.

It is now Clark's job to rebuild this disfunctional franchise with a new coach in John Anderson and some fresh thinking. Fans in Atlanta desperately want a winning team, and if Clark can get the job done it will be one of the best rebuilding jobs in recent memory.

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2008-2009 OPENING NIGHT LINES

Ilya Kovalchuk "C" - Erik Christensen - Vyacheslav Kozlov "A"
Jason Williams - Bryan Little - Todd White
Eric Perrin - Jim Slater - Colby Armstrong
Eric Boulton - Marty Reasoner - Brett Sterling

Niclas Havelid "A" - Mathieu Schneider
Tobias Enstrom - Ron Hainsey
Zach Bogosian - Garnet Exelby

Kari Lehtonen
Johan Hedberg

Scratches: Chris Thorburn, Nathan Oystrick

[thrashman]

Re: Cleaning Up Waddell's Mess: An Atlanta Thrashers Dynasty (NHL 09)

08-09 THRASHERS TRADE/FREE AGENT SIGNING HISTORY

-Signed free agent RW Lauri Tukonen to a 3 year deal: 2-way, $550K per

-Signed free agent LW Denis Tolpeko to a 2 year deal: 2-way, $475K per

-Traded C Todd White to Vancouver for LW Matt Pettinger

-Traded LW Matt Pettinger to New York Islanders for C Jeremy Colliton

[thrashman]

Re: Cleaning Up Waddell's Mess: An Atlanta Thrashers Dynasty (NHL 09)

08-09 NHL TRADES

New York Rangers trade:
C Joe Barnes
to Vancouver Canucks for:
C Mark Cullen


Toronto Maple Leafs trade:
G Justin Pogge and D Richard Petiot
to Colorado Avalanche for:
D Darcy Campbell and G Jason Bacashihua


Florida Panthers trade:
D Cory Murphy
to Los Angeles Kings for:
LW Kyle Calder


Montreal Canadiens trade:
RW Jonathan Ferland and G Marc Denis
to Calgary Flames for:
C Craig Conroy and C Warren Peters


Toronto Maple Leafs trade:
D Jeff Finger and LW Jason Blake
to Columbus Blue Jackets for:
LW Kristian Huselius and D Clay Wilson


Anaheim Ducks trade:
C Ryan Carter, LW Brad May, and C Petteri Wirtanen
to New Jersey Devils for:
C Michael Rupp, LW Chad Wiseman, and D Matthew Spiller


Los Angeles Kings trade:
D Drew Doughty and RW Wayne Simmonds
to Minnesota Wild for:
C James Sheppard and C Colton Gillies

[thrashman]

Re: Cleaning Up Waddell's Mess: An Atlanta Thrashers Dynasty (NHL 09)

08-09 NHL FREE AGENT SIGNINGS/WAIVER CLAIMS

Anaheim Ducks:

Boston Bruins:

Buffalo Sabres:
-Sign free agent D Mattias Norstrom to 3 year deal
-Sign free agent G Mattias Modig to 2 year deal
-Sign free agent C Randy Robitaille to 2 year deal

Calgary Flames:
-Sign free agent C Kevyn Adams to 2 year deal

Carolina Hurricanes:


Chicago Blackhawks:
-Sign free agent D Olli Malmivaara to 2 year deal

Colorado Avalanche:

Columbus Blue Jackets:

Dallas Stars:

Detroit Red Wings:
-Sign free agent RW Jonas Esbjors to 2 year deal

Edmonton Oilers:
-Sign free agent LW Marcus Nilson to 1 year deal
-Sign free agent D Mathieu Biron to 2 year deal

Florida Panthers:
-Sign free agent RW Kyle Wanvig to 2 year deal

Los Angeles Kings:

Minnesota Wild:

Montreal Canadiens:

Nashville Predators:
-Sign free agent D Chris McAllister to 2 year deal

New Jersey Devils:
-Sign free agent D Brad Norton to 2 year deal
-Sign free agent C Eric Boguniecki to 3 year deal

New York Islanders:
-Sign free agent G John Grahame to 2 year deal
-Sign free agent RW Glen Murray to 2 year deal
-Sign free agent RW Norm Milley to 1 year deal
-Sign free agent RW Per Aslund to 2 year deal

New York Rangers:
-Sign free agent D Mads Bodker to 2 year deal

Ottawa Senators:
-Sign free agent D Karel Rachunek to 1 year deal
-Sign free agent RW Nathan Perrott to 1 year deal
-Claims G Sebastien Caron off waivers from Tampa Bay
-Claims G Mikael Tellqvist off waivers from Phoenix

Philadelphia Flyers:

Phoenix Coyotes:
-Sign free agent LW Chad Kilger to 2 year deal
-Sign free agent RW Grant Marshall to 2 year deal
-Sign free agent LW Jeff Giuliano to 2 year deal
-Sign free agent G Hannu Toivonen to 1 year deal

Pittsburgh Penguins:
-Claims G Curtis Sanford off waivers from Vancouver
-Claims G Joey MacDonald off waivers from New York Islanders

San Jose Sharks:
-Sign free agent RW Trevor Letowski to 2 year deal
-Sign free agent LW Jan Hlavac to 1 year deal

St. Louis Blues:
-Sign free agent LW Martin Johansson to 2 year deal
-Sign free agent G Jordan Parise to 2 year deal

Tampa Bay Lightning:
-Sign free agent G Sebastien Caron to 2 year deal
-Sign free agent G Dan Cloutier to 2 year deal

Toronto Maple Leafs:
-Sign free agent RW Mike Johnson to 3 year deal
-Sign free agent G Gusten Tornqvist to 1 year deal

Vancouver Canucks:
-Claims G Craig Anderson off waivers from Florida
-Sign free agent RW Patrick Yetman to 2 year deal
-Sign free agent G Daniel Sperrle to 2 year deal

Washington Capitals:

[GoldenJet]

Re: Cleaning Up Waddell's Mess: An Atlanta Thrashers Dynasty (NHL 09)

pretty good job so far Thrash, keep it up.

[Madman55]

Re: Cleaning Up Waddell's Mess: An Atlanta Thrashers Dynasty (NHL 09)

Good luck with the Thrash. Atleast your 09 works. . My 360 went and ****ed up on me. Laser died. whatever - once it works again, I've gonna get a Coyotes dynasty up.

[thrashman]

Re: Cleaning Up Waddell's Mess: An Atlanta Thrashers Dynasty (NHL 09)

THRASHERS OFF TO GOOD START


Ilya Kovalchuk's early success has translated into wins for Atlanta.


WASHINGTON 1 ATLANTA 2 OT
-Ilya Kovalchuk game winning goal
-Bryan Little 1 goal
-Dave Steckel 1 goal

ATLANTA 5 FLORIDA 4
-Ilya Kovalchuk hat trick
-Colby Armstrong 1 goal, 1 assist
-Tobias Enstrom 1 goal
-Janis Sprukts 2 goals, 1 assist
-Nathan Horton and Cory Stillman 1 goal, 1 assist each

MINNESOTA 4 ATLANTA 3 OT
-Antti Miettinen game winning goal
-Eric Belanger, Marian Gaborik, Mikko Koivu 1 goal each
-Vyacheslav Kozlov, Jim Slater, Erik Christensen 1 goal each

NEW JERSEY 1 ATLANTA 6
-Brett Sterling 2 goals
-Eric Perrin 2 goals (1 empty net)
-Mathieu Schneider and Colby Armstrong 1 goal each
-Mike Rupp 1 goal

BUFFALO 2 ATLANTA 1
-Drew Stafford game winning goal
-Jason Pominville 1 goal
-Erik Christensen 1 goal


THRASHERS RECORD THROUGH 5 GAMES: 3-1-1 (6TH IN EAST)

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THRASHERS SIGN TUKONEN
GM Alex Clark announced the Atlanta Thrashers have signed free agent forward Lauri Tukonen to a 3 year, 2-way deal. Tukonen was a 1st round pick by Los Angeles in 2004 and was traded to Dallas over the summer. He had elected to play in his native Finland before signing with Atlanta. He will be sent to the Thrashers' AHL affiliate the Chicago Wolves.

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AROUND THE NHL

-Washington's Alexander Ovechkin, NY Islanders' Bill Guerin, and Vancouver's Steve Bernier all have 5 goals in their first 5 games played.

-The Philadelphia Flyers and Calgary Flames are both off to 5-0-0 starts.

-Boston's Manny Fernandez (separated shoulder), Buffalo's Jaroslav Spacek (back spasms), Los Angeles' Patrick O'Sullivan (neck strain), and Tampa Bay's Gary Roberts (fractured ankle) are among the notable injuries early this season.

[star king3]

Re: Cleaning Up Waddell's Mess: An Atlanta Thrashers Dynasty (NHL 09)

is it just me or are your second three posts the trades and fas empty except for the titles?

[Madman55]

Re: Cleaning Up Waddell's Mess: An Atlanta Thrashers Dynasty (NHL 09)

Posts 2-4 have no content other than the titles.

[thrashman]

Re: Cleaning Up Waddell's Mess: An Atlanta Thrashers Dynasty (NHL 09)

Yeah those are empty, as trades and signings go on throughout the season those posts will be updated so people can go back and check on things at one location rather than having to hunt throughout the whole dynasty.

Sorry for that confusion, I should have been more specific.

[thrashman]

Re: Cleaning Up Waddell's Mess: An Atlanta Thrashers Dynasty (NHL 09)

ATLANTA SHAPING INTO A SOLID TEAM


Vyacheslav Kozlov looks to be back on track in 08-09 after an injury filled 07-08 season.


ATLANTA 5 TAMPA BAY 2
-Bryan Little game winning goal
-Jim Slater and Erik Christensen 1 goal each
-Vyacheslav Kozlov credited for Jussi Jokinen own goal
-Colby Armstrong empty net goal
-Vincent Lecavalier and Jussi Jokinen 1 goal each

ATLANTA 2 DETROIT 3
-Jiri Hudler game winning goal
-Henrik Zetterberg 2 goals
-Vyacheslav Kozlov 1 goal, 1 assist
-Erik Christensen 1 goal

ATLANTA 2 BOSTON 1 OT
-Vyacheslav Kozlov game winning goal
-Colby Armstrong 1 goal
-Chuck Kobasew game tying goal with 7.8 seconds left in 3rd

PHILADELPHIA 2 ATLANTA 1
-Jeff Carter game winning power play goal
-Mike Knuble 1 goal
-Vyacheslav Kozlov 1 goal

ATLANTA 4 NY RANGERS 1
-Jason Williams 2 goals
-Ilya Kovalchuk 2 goals (1 empty net)
-Markus Naslund 1 goal


THRASHERS RECORD THROUGH 10 GAMES: 6-3-1 (6TH IN EAST)

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TOLPEKO INKS DEAL WITH ATLANTA
The Thrashers picked up another young free agent as the team added former Philadelphia Flyer Denis Tolpeko to the organization. The 23-year-old Russian signed a 2 year, 2-way deal. Tolpeko is expected to bypass the AHL and could appear on Atlanta's 4th line very soon.

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AROUND THE NHL

-Patrick Eaves of the Carolina Hurricanes currently leads the league in points with 17 (2 goals, 15 assists) in 9 games.

-The Islanders' Kyle Okposo leads all rookie scorers in points with 11 (5 goals, 6 assists) in 9 games.

-Anaheim's Scott Niedermayer (1 goal, 8 assists) in 11 games and the Rangers' Wade Redden (2 goals, 7 assists) in 13 games are tied for the league lead in points by a defenseman with 9 each.

[thrashman]

Re: Cleaning Up Waddell's Mess: An Atlanta Thrashers Dynasty (NHL 09)

THRASHERS STAYING THE COURSE


Niclas Havelid has provided some unexpected offense for the Thrashers.

ATLANTA 2 NEW JERSEY 1
-Colby Armstrong game winning power play goal
-Vyacheslav Kozlov 1 goal
-Travis Zajac power play goal
-Martin Brodeur 43 saves

FLORIDA 4 ATLANTA 2
-Rostislav Olesz 2 goals
-Nathan Horton 1 goal, 1 assist
-Michael Frolik 1 goal
-Brett Sterling and Ilya Kovalchuk 1 goal each

NY ISLANDERS 2 ATLANTA 1
-Brendan Witt game winning goal
-Glen Murray 1 goal
-Rick DiPietro 42 saves
-Niclas Havelid shorthanded goal

ATLANTA 3 BUFFALO 1
-Bryan Little game winning goal
-Ilya Kovalchuk power play goal
-Brett Sterling 1 goal
-Derek Roy 1 goal

ATLANTA 3 CAROLINA 1
-Niclas Havelid game winning goal
-Ilya Kovalchuk 1 goal
-Bryan Little empty net goal
-Sergei Samsonov power play goal


THRASHERS RECORD THROUGH 15 GAMES: 9-5-1 (5TH IN EAST)

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PETTINGER ACQUIRED FROM CANUCKS
The Atlanta Thrashers recently sent underachieving forward Todd White to Vancouver in exchange for forward Matt Pettinger. The move gives Atlanta even more cap space as they save around $1.25 million with the move and pick up Pettinger's expiring contract. Pettinger knows the Thrashers well since he has spent most of his career with the Washington Capitals.

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AROUND THE NHL

-The New York Islanders have a shocking league best record of 12-2-0.

-Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf leads the NHL in goals with 12, and his teammate Teemu Selanne is tied with Ilya Kovalchuk for 3rd in the league with 9 goals.

-San Jose's Joe Thornton has a dismal 1 goal and 4 assists in 12 games. Pittsburgh's stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are also struggling. Crosby has 3 goals and 5 assists in 14 games, and Malkin has 4 goals and 3 assists.

[thrashman]

Re: Cleaning Up Waddell's Mess: An Atlanta Thrashers Dynasty (NHL 09)

WINNING STREAK UP TO SEVEN


Ilya Kovalchuk has been on fire recently as the Thrashers rack up the victories.

CAROLINA 2 ATLANTA 3 OT
-Ilya Kovalchuk game winning goal
-Jason Williams and Bryan Little 1 goal each
-Justin Williams 1 goal, 1 assist
-Eric Staal 1 goal

ATLANTA 5 PHILADELPHIA 2
-Marty Reasoner 2 shorthanded goals
-Ilya Kovalchuk 2 goals
-Eric Perrin 1 goal, 1 assist
-Scottie Upshall and Ossi Vaananen 1 goal each

PITTSBURGH 2 ATLANTA 4
-Brett Sterling 2 goals
-Matt Pettinger 1 goal
-Ilya Kovalchuk empty net goal
-Matt Cooke and Jordan Staal 1 goal each

COLUMBUS 1 ATLANTA 6
-Vyacheslav Kozlov 2 goals, 1 assist
-Ilya Kovalchuk, Brett Sterling, and Erik Christensen 1 goal, 1 assist each
-Jim Slater 1 goal
-Niclas Havelid 3 assists
-Raffi Torres 1 goal

ATLANTA 5 TORONTO 0
-Ilya Kovalchuk 1 goal, 1 assist
-Vyacheslav Kozlov, Jason Williams, Colby Armstrong, and Bryan Little 1 goal each
-Kari Lehtonen 16 saves


THRASHERS RECORD THROUGH 20 GAMES: 14-5-1 (5TH IN EAST)

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LEHTONEN IN DOMINANT FORM
The Atlanta Thrashers' top priority in the offseason will be to re-sign star goaltender Kari Lehtonen. The 24-year-old Finn is off to an amazing start to the season with a league best 1.78 goals against average (minimum 5 starts) and 13 wins which is second in the NHL behind Rick DiPietro who has won 14 games.

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AROUND THE NHL

-Anaheim and Washington are the NHL's two best teams right now, and they have the league's top two scorers. Ryan Getzlaf is 1st in the league with 29 points (16 goals, 13 assists) and Alexander Semin is 2nd with 28 points (15 goals, 13 assists).

-The St. Louis Blues have a league worst 16 points with a record of 6-9-4.

[thrashman]

Re: Cleaning Up Waddell's Mess: An Atlanta Thrashers Dynasty (NHL 09)

CURRENT PLAYER STATS

                GP   G   A   PTS   PIMS   +/-
I.KOVALCHUK     20   15  9   24     0     14
N.HAVELID       20    2  15  17     8     18
V.KOZLOV        20    9  7   16     4     11
M.SCHNEIDER     20    1  15  16    22     14
B.LITTLE        20    6  6   12     4     -1
E.CHRISTENSEN   20    5  7   12    21     13
G.EXELBY        20    0  9    9    20      9
B.STERLING      20    7  1    8     8      5
Z.BOGOSIAN      20    0  8    8     2     10
J.WILLIAMS      20    4  4    8     2     -2
C.ARMSTRONG     20    6  2    8     4      9
T.ENSTROM       20    1  7    8     2      0
E.PERRIN        20    3  4    7     6     11
J.SLATER        20    3  4    7     8      5
R.HAINSEY       20    0  6    6    31      0
M.PETTINGER     16    3  0    3     0     -2
M.REASONER      20    2  1    3     4      8
E.BOULTON       13    0  0    0    15      2
D.TOLPEKO        7    0  0    0     2      1
 
                GP   W   L   GAA   SV%   SO
K.LEHTONEN      18   13  5   1.78  .926   1
J.HEDBERG        2    1  1   2.48  .902   0

[GoldenJet]

Re: Cleaning Up Waddell's Mess: An Atlanta Thrashers Dynasty (NHL 09)

real good job Thrash.