Game 3: All The Wrong Moves
I have nothing positive to say about last night's game other than Exelby should be signed to 7 year extension and I'm counting down the days until Sutton leaves Atlanta. Hartley's attempt to shake up the defensive pairings didn't work. Nor did Hartley's goaltending moves. Nor did Hartley's "tweaks" to the power play produce any discernible improvement in a moribund man advantage.
This team is certainly not the 1975 Islanders and I don't think they can rally and win four in a row--so this series is over. The only question left is whether the Thrashers will get their first post-season win tonight before they start their summer goal season or if they will suffer the indignity of getting swept out of the playoffs.
Personally I think Hartley should not be back next year. Coaching is about adjustments and he simply is not been making enough of them. Hartley was very late to adjust to the new rules last year. He still hasn't adjusted to not having Patrick Roy as his goaltender. He can't adjust our powerplay. He couldn't adjust our PK so we had to find new people. Frankly I think the GM assembled sufficient talent for this team to advance to the 2nd round and that is not going to happen. Hartley's moves to "shake up the team" did not work and now he needs to go elsewhere.
Then begins a summer of uncertainty:
Who will fired and who will be retained?
Who will own the team after the court rules?
If Belkin wins will he keep the team?
If the Atlanta Spirit wins will they spend up to the new cap level?
Who will fill all those holes in the roster left by free agency?
Will Hossa be extended after not showing up in the playoffs?
Do we want to resign Kozlov (who will be 34) after his invisible man show?
Will we get a coach who can work with kids (Sterling, Oystrick, Enstrom) next year?
Will we cease being the oldest team in hockey?
If nothing else it should be an interesting off season for this club. Stay tuned.
This team is certainly not the 1975 Islanders and I don't think they can rally and win four in a row--so this series is over. The only question left is whether the Thrashers will get their first post-season win tonight before they start their summer goal season or if they will suffer the indignity of getting swept out of the playoffs.
Personally I think Hartley should not be back next year. Coaching is about adjustments and he simply is not been making enough of them. Hartley was very late to adjust to the new rules last year. He still hasn't adjusted to not having Patrick Roy as his goaltender. He can't adjust our powerplay. He couldn't adjust our PK so we had to find new people. Frankly I think the GM assembled sufficient talent for this team to advance to the 2nd round and that is not going to happen. Hartley's moves to "shake up the team" did not work and now he needs to go elsewhere.
Then begins a summer of uncertainty:
Who will fired and who will be retained?
Who will own the team after the court rules?
If Belkin wins will he keep the team?
If the Atlanta Spirit wins will they spend up to the new cap level?
Who will fill all those holes in the roster left by free agency?
Will Hossa be extended after not showing up in the playoffs?
Do we want to resign Kozlov (who will be 34) after his invisible man show?
Will we get a coach who can work with kids (Sterling, Oystrick, Enstrom) next year?
Will we cease being the oldest team in hockey?
If nothing else it should be an interesting off season for this club. Stay tuned.
posted by The Falconer at
8:59 AM
4 Comments:
Hartley has to go. I'd be surprised if there isn't a player revolt in the off-season if he is kept as coach.
The series is over, but I sincerely hope the team can salvage some dignity before the final buzzer. A win tonight would obviously help do that. I'm curious to see, if we win tonight, what kind of attendance and reception we'll see at Philips for game 5.
I also hope the team doesn't equate cheap shots and needless fights with restored pride and dignity. I'd rather see us lose a well-played game with our gloves on anyday than see a fight-fest for the sake of making a "statement".
(Not that I don't enjoy a good hockey fight...)
I still have a knot in my stomach from last night's game. What a pathetic joke that was.
By
Anonymous, at 2:41 PM
Make that three votes for Hartley being out. He hasn't been able to meet any of the challenges this team presents, and judging from the performance last night, the team was not prepared to compete. We know they are better than they've shown, but what they displayed last night was totally pathetic. Total capitulation. They were coachless and captainless, from their demeanor.
As the season winds up, as it surely is, a big thank you, Falcolner, for one of the most informative Hockey blogs and the best Thrashers blog by my reading. Definitely envious of your statistical chops. As I reach some retrospective peace with this season, which is tinged by bitter disappointment, it is the emergence of the Thrasher fan community that lingers. Thanks for all you've done to make this space a great place to gather.
By
Hexagenia, at 5:16 PM
Thanks for the kind comments. More and more people have started reading the blog in the 2nd half of the season. Knowing that people are reading certainly encourages me to keep posting.
By
The Falconer, at 6:35 PM
I feel your pain Thrasher fans. I agree that it's time for a coaching change. What about Waddell? Should he be gone too?
By
Bubba, at 11:32 AM
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