Tkachuk’s Effect on Waddell

From the National Post:

Here’s some irony for you:

Atlanta GM Don Waddell in an attempt to save his job in Atlanta, simply had to make the playoffs. So he dealt a player (Glen Metropolit) plus first-, second-, and third-round choices to St. Louis for Keith.

As it turns out, the Thrashers rolled over in four games and Tkachuk had one goal in the playoffs — that all important, game-opening goal in Game 4, when your club already trails the series 3-0. So where’s the irony?

The trade that was supposed to save Waddell’s job is more likely to get him fired, if any of the suits among the Atlanta Spirit ownership group ever run into a hockey person who tells them what an absolute dog Tkachuk is as a leader. This guy has played in 85 playoff games in 15 NHL seasons. Do the math — that’s a career of first-round flame-outs. He hasn’t lead an NHL team anywhere, any time, and Tkachuk is due to play his 1,000th NHL game next season.

And Waddell gave up three picks for him? That’s called raping a franchise to protect your own gig.

‘Raping’ seems a little strong for the situation. It wasn’t the best deal ever made, but without Keith, would the Thrashers have even made the playoffs? Don’t think so.

Tkachuk Trade in Hindsight

From James Mirtle:

Here’s a question worth pondering now that seven (and, soon enough, eight) teams have bowed out of the postseason race: Did the Thrashers, Islanders and Predators seriously err in unloading picks and prospects for the Forsbergs, Tkachuks and Smyths of the world at the trade deadline?

With the benefit of hindsight, the short answer is unequivocally yes. All three teams would gladly reclaim their future building blocks instead of the big-ticket unrestricted free agents who are likely to move on, but the ‘go-for-it’ mentality made sense for some teams more than others — regardless of how it all turned out.

Atlanta Thrashers – It’s hard to hold this one against GM Don Waddell: With his team in prime position for its first-ever playoff berth, the wheels started falling off in February and the long-time manager dealt big to bring in veterans Keith Tkachuk and Alexei Zhitnik in the hopes of righting the ship. Their acquisitions had the desired effect — the Thrashers went 10-5-1 to close the year — but the birds laid an egg in the playoffs and were swept in what should have been an evenly matched series with the Rangers.

Waddell traded Glen Metropolit, a 2007 first- and third-round picks and a 2008 second-round pick for Tkachuk (and they’ll also forfeit a conditional 2008 first rounder if the big winger re-signs with the Thrashers). He also gave up top defensive prospect Braydon Coburn for Zhitnik, who is signed for two more years on a bloated, $3.5-million per year deal.

That’s an awful lot to unload for an extra two home dates, especially considered few Thrashers — save for perhaps netminder Kari Lehtonen — are poised to breakout next season. Waddell’s job, however, was likely on the line if the team missed the playoffs (and it still may be) and his team is due to shed six or seven key veterans as UFAs.

Keith Tkachuk on Respect

From the Canadian Press:

Only far too often this season, Tkachuk believes, tough play has given way to dirty play. And with a spate of recent ugly incidents in mind, the veteran power forward feels his fellow players need to be a little more considerate toward their opponents.

“I think guys are taking a little more liberties now whereas years ago you had to be held accountable,” Tkachuk said on a conference call Wednesday. “Now with more and more players coming in there’s a lot of guys who aren’t accountable. It’s not fair. You want to go out and do something but you can’t because you’re worried about the consequences.

“We all have to be a little more careful and have a little more respect for each other.

“That being said, if it’s legal to go out and finish a guy I don’t care who he is, if he’s a star player and it’s a clean hit, that’s what you have to do to win. There’s a fine line there and I think it’s been crossed way too much this year.”

Deadline Success

From Pierre Lebrun:

Trade deadline deals are often overrated for their actual impact on a team’s performance.

Don’t try selling that theory to the red-hot Atlanta Thrashers, who have gone 6-1-0 since the blockbuster acquisition of centre Keith Tkachuk. “If we had a crystal ball, I don’t think we could have predicted any better,” Thrashers GM Don Waddell said Wednesday.

Waddell credits Tkachuk for quickly finding a way to mesh with Kovalchuk.

“Ilya Kovalchuk is a great player. He’s not the easiest guy to play with because you got to get him the puck, he likes to shoot the puck,” said Waddell. “Well Keith has found a way to play with him and have success with him.”

Tkachuk, 34, says he’s having a blast. After a couple of losing seasons in St. Louis, spring time will mean something again for him.

“It feels great, it really does,” he said. “It was a no-brainer to get traded here, to waive my no-trade clause and come here and play. It’s an exciting time of the year and I haven’t had that in a couple of years.

“You want to go in the playoffs playing your best hockey,” added Tkachuk. “I think we’re doing that right now, and I know we’ve got another level to go at.”

Johnson Sprung a ‘Lik

I came up with that title after Holik’s goal in hopes that he would score some more, but he didn’t. Those of you who were at the game know why I would be thinking of headlines after such a goal. Holik scored the best goal I have ever seen live and didn’t even get one of the three stars of the game. I guess it goes to show you how well everyone else played. Eric Boulton definately deserved the first star with two assists and his first multi-point game ever. He is definately fighting hard for a regular spot in the line-up. Slater is going to have to fight even harder if he wants to earn his spot back after last night.

The other two stars of the game were Kari and Alex Ovechkin, in that order. I guess you can’t deny Alex his third star when he had both opposing goals. Kari deserved second star as well facing more than one situation in which our defense couldn’t keep up with AO and Semin, and they got some nice shots off (a few posts).

The four Thrashers goals were scored by Kozlov, Holik, Tkachuk, and Kovalchuk. It is great to see so many players stepping up and playing so well. Sim played well again getting a point last night with an assist to Kovalchuk’s goal. Hossa kept up his point streak (11 games) with an assist to Kozlov’s goal. Overall, he seemed to be having a hard time last night and couldn’t seem to hold on to the puck. I don’t think it is as much a reflection on him as it is a reflection of the respect other teams’ defense have for Hossa’s abilities. They know they have to shut him down which in the past might have shut down the Thrashers offense, but not any more.

I almost forgot to congratulate Slava on his 300th goal and 700th career point.

Tkachuk Fight

Keith Tkachuk’s fight from the other night finally made it up on YouTube.

Diary of a GM

Anaheim General Manager Brian Burke kept a diary through the last few weeks which was published in USA Today. It is kind of cool to be able to see behind the trade process.

Friday, Feb. 9

I speak to Los Angeles about Sopel. Trying to trade is like playing musical chairs. You are always afraid you aren’t going to have a chair at the end. You worry that if you say no on one deal, you may not get any. Also, there is a “keeping up with the Joneses mentality,” particularly in the Western Conference. Players, coaches and fans want you to add. The allure of making the right trade draws you in. Remember last season when Edmonton was on the verge of missing the playoffs, made some deals, including getting goalie Dwayne Roloson, and they go to the Finals. It’s the most pressure you face all year, and it’s also the most fun you have.

Sunday, Feb. 25

Tkachuk is finally traded to Atlanta for Glen Metropolit and first-, second- and third-round picks, plus another first-rounder if the Thrashers re-sign him. Davidson and GM Larry Pleau hit it out of the park on that one.

Trade Analysis

For the first time in franchise history, the Thrashers have decided not to save for the future but to make moves for here and now. The Thrashers traded Braydon Coburn in exchange for Alexei Zhitnik (player info) from Philadelphia on Saturday. Less than 24 hours later, they also acquired Keith Tkachuk (player info)from St. Louis for Glen Metropolit, “first-round and third-round draft choices in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, a second-round choice in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and a conditional first-round choice in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.” Here are a sampling of the opinions on the trades, and what I think.

	Keith Tkachuk	Alexei Zhitnik
Country	Melrose, Mass.	Kiev, Ukraine
Born	Mar. 28, 1972	Oct. 10, 1972
Weight	225	214
Height	6’2”	5’11”
Career (games, G, A)	958, 466, 445	1,002, 91, 358
Playoffs (games, G, A)	81, 27, 26	94, 9, 30

Pictures from Yahoo.com

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Scott Burnside:

Whatever happens now, whether the Atlanta Thrashers flame out in the first round of the playoffs, make a run for the roses or, heck, miss the playoffs altogether, GM Don Waddell has boldly emerged from his own shadow to prove he can play with the big boys.

Was the price too much?

The answer will unfold over the coming weeks — maybe months if the Flyers can somehow coax Coburn into learning how to skate and hit. But the immediate answer is a resounding “no” because hope and belief, in general, have no price tag, and that’s what Waddell bought this weekend.

Allan Muir:

While the addition of Tkachuk makes the Thrashers better on paper, the key aspect of this deal from Atlanta’s perspective is that it puts the onus on the players to win now. No more building for the future, no more small steps. The cavalry’s arrived. It’s time to mount up.
The Edge: At the moment, let’s give the edge to Atlanta. The Thrashers didn’t pull the trigger on this deal to win the Stanley Cup. They simply need to make the playoffs for the first time, and this deal gives them a better chance to accomplish that goal.

Wes Goldstein:

Waddell paid a heavy price to salvage his team’s season, and more likely his job with the organization. Whether it works remains to be seen, but you have to give the guy credit for trying.

Jeff Schultz:

Waddell in the past has been overly concerned about “mortgaging the future.” Apparently, the message finally got through: Dude, if you don’t improve this team, there’s a good chance you have no future.

Pierre Lebrun:

Waddell transformed his team over the weekend, signalling that the future is now for a Thrashers team trying to make the playoffs for the first time in its history.

Eric Duhatschek:

Still, it’s hard to quarrel with Waddell’s thinking – or overemphasize the state of his desperation. Once the Thrashers came up short in the Peter Forsberg sweepstakes (and the belief is that Forsberg didn’t want to go there for reasons that ranged from his assessment of their post-season chances to the presence of former Avs’ coach Bob Hartley behind the bench), Waddell landed the next-best available talent. It will be up to Hartley and his staff (notably hard-ass assistant Brad McCrimmon) to coax more out of Tkachuk than he’s been able to deliver in playoffs past. Otherwise, Atlanta gave up an awful lot of its future in the misguided view that they could accomplish something in the all-too-urgent present.

Craig Custance:

I’m sure the critics will emerge saying the Thrashers overspent to pick up these two players, but I would have been much more critical if they didn’t spend at all. What would you rather have — a guy like Anson Carter for a fifth rounder or Tkachuk and Zhitnik for the price the Thrashers paid?

Spector on Tkachuk:

For now, the Thrashers and their fans will be thrilled if Tkachuk can bolster their playoff hopes. If he can, it may be worth the price.

Spector on Zhitnik:

If the Thrashers were expecting this move to put them into the playoffs, they could be disappointed. And if Coburn goes on to a bright future in Philly, it could come back to haunt them.

James Mirtle
Coburn Interview
A Flyer fan’s view
A St. Louis fan’s view
Falconer’s analysis

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My opinion:
First, let me start off by saying that Glen Metropolit and Braydon Coburn were two of my favorite players in the franchise. I am not all that sad to see them go, however. For years, Thrashers fans have argued for and wanted that huge trade in the middle of the season that would catapult the team into the playoffs. Well, this is it. Last year Don Waddell used words and guaranteed a playoff berth. This year, he has used actions to do basically the same thing.

After years of stockpiling picks and young prospects, it was time to trade in for help now. Even though Coburn is a future NHL defensemen, and a good one at that, we have plenty of talented prospects in the minors. And all the picks we gave up for Tkachuk? Again, there is plenty of young prospects to cover us for a at least five or six years.

Do I think the price of the Tkachuk trade was a bit high? Yes. Was it worth it? Yes. As long as the team makes the playoff and can make a bit of noise in it, all the deals were worth it. If the team does not, Don Waddell will be looking for a new job. He mortgaged the future of the team for both today’s team, and his job. Let’s hope it works out. I will say though that I can’t wait to hear “KEITH TKACHUK!” introduced on Friday night.

Tkachuk Acquired

“The Atlanta Thrashers have acquired all-star forward Keith Tkachuk from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Glen Metropolit, first-round and third-round draft choices in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, a second-round choice in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and a conditional first-round choice in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell.”
Link

Analysis to come later