Paging Don Waddell!
Posted 2:48 PM ET | Comments 0
March 15, 2002: The Atlanta Thrashers trade Ruslan Zainullin to the Calgary Flames for Marc Savard. In 182 games with the Thrashers, Savard went on to score 63 goals and 196 points. After the 2005-2006 season, Savard priced himself out of Atlanta, signing with the Boston Bruins for 4 years, at $5 million per season. Since that point, Thrashers GM Don Waddell has continuously attempted to bring in centers that will match Savard's surprising production.
2006-2007 season: Atlanta brought in Steve Rucchin, Glen Metropolit, and Niko Kapanen. Rucchin was slow...really slow. Actually, he made Scott Mellanby look like he had Andy McDonald's speed. Metropolit performed decently, scoring 12 goals, and assisting on 16 others. He was definitely not Marc Savard. Kapanen was a major disappointment, registering only 16 points in 60 games, and being placed on waivers.
2007 offseason: Atlanta signs Todd White, who scored a lowly 44 points in Minnesota, and Eric Perrin, who scored 36 points in Tampa Bay.
Don Waddell, what the hell are you doing? Yes, I understand that the team has a self-imposed cap of $40 million, but you could've done a lot better than Perrin and White. You still didn't aquire a center for Ilya Kovalchuk! Who's going to play on his line? Bobby Holik?! Holik can't match Kovalchuk's speed, he can't set Kovy up with "pretty" passes, and he can't score at his age. You've been screwing up for a long time, and these past two offseasons have been the worst. Last year you should have re-signed Marc Savard and Peter Bondra. You could've done so much better. Look at the salaries Drury and Briere brought in, and look at Savard's $5 million. It looks like a bargain for a guy who's put up two straight 95+ point seasons. This year you should've looked at the big name guys, and brought one in for Kovalchuk. Don't be surprised if you're fired at the end of this season, because on paper, it doesn't look like we'll be back in the playoffs.
2006-2007 season: Atlanta brought in Steve Rucchin, Glen Metropolit, and Niko Kapanen. Rucchin was slow...really slow. Actually, he made Scott Mellanby look like he had Andy McDonald's speed. Metropolit performed decently, scoring 12 goals, and assisting on 16 others. He was definitely not Marc Savard. Kapanen was a major disappointment, registering only 16 points in 60 games, and being placed on waivers.
2007 offseason: Atlanta signs Todd White, who scored a lowly 44 points in Minnesota, and Eric Perrin, who scored 36 points in Tampa Bay.
Don Waddell, what the hell are you doing? Yes, I understand that the team has a self-imposed cap of $40 million, but you could've done a lot better than Perrin and White. You still didn't aquire a center for Ilya Kovalchuk! Who's going to play on his line? Bobby Holik?! Holik can't match Kovalchuk's speed, he can't set Kovy up with "pretty" passes, and he can't score at his age. You've been screwing up for a long time, and these past two offseasons have been the worst. Last year you should have re-signed Marc Savard and Peter Bondra. You could've done so much better. Look at the salaries Drury and Briere brought in, and look at Savard's $5 million. It looks like a bargain for a guy who's put up two straight 95+ point seasons. This year you should've looked at the big name guys, and brought one in for Kovalchuk. Don't be surprised if you're fired at the end of this season, because on paper, it doesn't look like we'll be back in the playoffs.