The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that Hossa is not the only one being shopped. You can add Holik, Hedberg & Zhitnik to that list. If this is the case, I’d be willing to bet the only 2 players off limits are Kovalchuk and Lehtonen. Now I hate giving up on a season, but I honestly believe this is the only way to get the franchise back on track. The post lockout team has always been an enigma. The 05-06 season we were forecasted to be the best of the Southeast. After going through a record number of goalies, the season closed with Atlanta on the outside looking in. After missing the playoffs that season, the team was forecasted to be in the lower half of the standings in 06-07. Surprise, the Thrashers were one of the best teams in the 1st half of the season, and limped in to the playoffs atop the division. Here we are again this season. The new year limp has set in, and as I said in a previous blog we are at the fork. If Waddell has chosen to be a complete seller at the deadline, I applaud his decision. As we saw in Philly, sometimes the best choice is to choose to take a step back in order to push forward. Now, he needs to earn his money as a GM and get the pieces to build back this team.
1. Zhitnik – Here is the perfect example of a player that is no longer buying into whatever the coaches are selling. If we could get a puck bag for him, I’d be happy to get his salary off our books for next year.
2. Hedberg – He definitely filled the Odgers spot on the team as the player’s player. With that said, he is in the last year in his contract and with Pavelec at 23 – 9 in Chicago, Pavelec will probably be backing up Lehtonen next season. Hedberg has a lot of trade value as a solid backup netminder who could step in and start if needed.
3. Holik – With the rule changes after the lock out, Bobby has become outdated in the regular season. His value is in the playoffs and the playoff push. At $4 million a season in his last season, it is a fair thing to say Bobby will not be back. If he is he will be taking a pay cut. So if there are takers, I would think Waddell would be willing to listen.
4. Hossa – I hope we have seen the last of him this season as a Thrasher. Not because he is a bad player. He has been great all 3 seasons for Atlanta, but his trade value is high and what we do get for him will show us what this team will look like in the future. Heck, what we get for him might be enough to entice him to come back.
5. Coach – I know Waddell has said he was doing double duty for the rest of the season, but we need a full time coach and a full time GM. If teams worked better with the GM doing both, all the GMs would be coaches. If Beast (McCrimmon) is going to be the coach, make him the head coach. Let him run the team. Eventually if the guy running the practices is teaching one way and the guy running the team on game day is not on the same page, you can get the product that we are seeing.
The ramifications of this trade deadline could be more than a change of the on ice product of the Thrashers. I honestly believe if Waddell has a moment of indecision, and the changes at the deadline are subpar, we will be looking for our second GM. In my opinion, I would like to see a team built for a consistency, can weather injuries like Carolina recently, and still win. If this means sacrificing a playoff push this year, so be it. This franchise does not need another four and out. It needs to be around for seasons to come. We have enough free agents to attract attention and get value in return. So making the sacrifice this year, to me, makes sense. I have been a fan since day one. We have made the playoffs, and the next time we go back, I want to be a contender not a doormat.
So what team do you think will take the ice on Tuesday? Do you think we should still push for the playoffs?
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