Posted by: Derrick on February 26, 2008 3:03PM EST Didn't see that one coming - who are these guys?

Posted by: Matt on February 26, 2008 3:05PM EST DW sucks. He just sucks.

Posted by: John on February 26, 2008 3:05PM EST and Dupuis too? Are you kidding me?

Posted by: T on February 26, 2008 3:05PM EST bunch of scrubs. Why not keep Hossa and try to make the playoffs. We just capitulated and threw in the towel

Posted by: JW on February 26, 2008 3:05PM EST "who are these guys? " - and that is why the owners won't ever need to build a real team.... come on!!! Are you serious? Do you follow hockey or not!?

Posted by: Hap on February 26, 2008 3:06PM EST Pit. also got Dupuis and we got their 1st round draft pick.

Posted by: puckfel on February 26, 2008 3:06PM EST and pascal dupuis. if hoss was leaving getting a first round pick last year and another one would be a good result. waddell clearly had many irons in the fire

Posted by: Jay on February 26, 2008 3:06PM EST WOW... Hossa and Dupuis for Colby, Armstrong, Esposito *AND* a 1st Round pick. That's amazing, simply amazing. (I've always liked the Esposito kid personally - we'll see how he develops.)

Posted by: AARON on February 26, 2008 3:07PM EST DW does suck. I and everybody else liked Dupuis and he is a big part on the penalty kill.

Posted by: keep the faith on February 26, 2008 3:08PM EST Wow. We get two kids who have riden Crosby's coat tails. YIPPY! Whatever Montreal was offering would have been better than this. LAME.

Posted by: mastiffgal on February 26, 2008 3:08PM EST Nice job Donnie. Good for now- good for the future. Kudos!!! Armstrong -- wow!

Posted by: Anonymous on February 26, 2008 3:08PM EST Is Dupuis a Free Agent this year as well? Not sure I am liking this trade much.

Posted by: Soon to be former STH on February 26, 2008 3:11PM EST Unbelievable. So we got a new 3rd line? WOW! Spirit Group is really into getting a tax write off.

Posted by: JW on February 26, 2008 3:11PM EST Yes, Dupuis is a free agent and might come back as his family likes the area, but wants a long term deal. Craig C. wrote and article about this a week ago. You people need to go look up the size, talent, age, and upsize to all these guys. Pittsburg OVER PAID us in a very big way! Those of you bitching need to go learn about this game!!!

Posted by: Derrick on February 26, 2008 3:18PM EST This is crap. We get a prospect, two guys who have combined for 44 points this season, and a first-round pick. We gave up two guys who combined for 71 points already this year. Throwing in the towel on 2008.l

Posted by: Riley on February 26, 2008 3:18PM EST We had to trade Hossa. Anyone who thinks we should have kept him for the playoff run is not looking at the whole story. This team is bad - they are overachieving like crazy to even be close to the playoffs right now. Just look at the goal differential. We have been so good in OT and shootouts, it has masked the inabilities of this team and made it seem like we have a chance. We need to accept that this team isn't mean for the postseason this year, and immediately focus on making it back next year. I don't know much about these guys we acquired, but I definitely think trading Hossa was the smart, long-range move.

Posted by: Michael on February 26, 2008 3:20PM EST This is a good deal for us because we had no leverage. Every GM in the league knew that Hossa wasn't going to sign here and I'm sure they held it over DW's head. We got two decent players and a draft pick along with the chance of getting Hossa and Dupuis back in July. We needed to be sellers this year and rebuild this team.

Posted by: T on February 26, 2008 3:21PM EST We are a worse team now than we were this morning. Thats the bottom line ((wonder if this post will be edit or deleted like my last one because the truth hurts))

Posted by: Nina on February 26, 2008 3:22PM EST Gee thanks for the "big return" Don...I am not sorry to see Hossa go (I feel he has been "out of it" for us for months)...but to really not get much in return was pathetic. I guess Don will be shopping for a new home, too? Thanks for quitting on us, Big D.

Posted by: Ben on February 26, 2008 3:22PM EST Both Armstrong and Christenson are good young players with a lot of talent. Maybe we can actually see what they have when they get out from under Malkins and Crosbys shadows. Do some research on the players before you guys all ready throw them under the bus. HOSSA WAS NOT AND IS NOT COMING BACK We had to do something I am however a little disappointed to see Dupois go maybe he will be back during free agency. What did you guys think Waddell was going to pull Hossa for both Malkin and Crosby?

Posted by: Fred on February 26, 2008 3:23PM EST I like this trade!!! Keep in mind that both Hossa and Dupuis are UNRESTICTED FREE AGENTS. We can still sign them over the summer. The Penguins won't have enough cap space to sign him. Christensen and Armstrong will take Holik's and Dupuis place next year Plus the draft this year is really deep. As for Esposito he will develop maybe not as fast as people think but he will be good in the future.

Posted by: kovy17 on February 26, 2008 3:24PM EST i like certain aspects of the deal. Esposito was a great pick up so is Armestrong, I am not to sure about christensen but maybe all he needs is a change of venue to excel. Another 1st round pick sounds good to ut trading dupuis is the part i am not a fan of at all. I think hossa is worth all of the players i dont think dupuis had to be thrown in. I wish we got rid of Holik and Zhitnink and Kozlov. So will all these players be playing our next game (Not tonight?) and i hope esposito doesnt get sent to chicago i want him to play.

Posted by: MDH on February 26, 2008 3:24PM EST not dupuis.... crap

Posted by: HP on February 26, 2008 3:25PM EST Thrashers came out WWAAAYYY ahead on this deal. All of this in return for someone who would have had his bags packed on July 1st. Dupuis will only be gone a couple of months. We get 2 proven & young NHLer's, Esposito is a great prospect, and a first rounder this year which is one of the deepest, most telented classes in 10-15 years. Who ever thinks this deal is bad should trade their tickets in for Falcons Tix !!!

Posted by: John on February 26, 2008 3:25PM EST Honestly, I would be fine with this deal if Dupuis hadn't been a part of it. Two of our best three penalty killers just left. Eric Perrin is the only one left. On a side note, dosen't this leave us two bodies short in tonight's game? Did we plan ahead and have Colin Stuart or somebody sitting around by chance?

Posted by: Chief of Smoke on February 26, 2008 3:25PM EST Hossa had to be traded at least we get a first round pick and Pittsburgh first round pick (Esposito) from 2007. However, I am not sure how Colby and Armstrong help us either now or in the future At least it is not as bad as the Coburn/Zhitnik trade last year.

Posted by: mastiffgal on February 26, 2008 3:26PM EST I am glad Dupius is gone. I have no idea why you are all so enamored with him. I am glad Holik and Mooe are still here. Would have liked another big blueliner. I guess we are stuck with Zhitnik?

Posted by: Paminski on February 26, 2008 3:26PM EST At least the pressure is off and I can just get back to enjoying the game. Definitely attending practice tomorrow!

Posted by: George on February 26, 2008 3:26PM EST Y'all must not do much reading. Esposito was the Penuins #1 rated prospect. He has a HF rating of 8.5, which projects him as being a first line forward/elite forward. He is a 6'1" center, a position we are not exactly stacked at. He was drafted 20th in the first round. How was he described at that position? "an absolute steal" We are losing Hossa for a grand total of 20 games. He was leaving no matter what. Dupuis hurts. But we gave up 20 games of Hossa and Dupuis for three young players, and highly rated prospect that is projected to be in the NHL next year. Three of the four players are centers. Oh, and we get another first round pick.

Posted by: Anonymous on February 26, 2008 3:27PM EST lets think about this one we need a strong defenseman, we have great trading material in marian hossa. How about we trade for a strong defensman or two instead of three forwards . Wait that makes too much sense doesnt it. Waddell you suck

Posted by: TrueBlue on February 26, 2008 3:27PM EST Wow, so the big problem on this team was the fact we have awful defense...so what do we do...go out and pick up a 2nd line Center, a third line winger, and a "prospect" and a pick.. how does that benefit us? We still have awful awful defense....we STILL have Zhitnik and we still have Holik.. I know Dupuis wasnt producing, but he brought speed, grit, and a good defensive presence to this team.. yah, the guys we picked up have size (6 foot and 6'2)...but Armstron was on Crosbys line and did not have huge numbers...how are you on the best set up man in the games line and not have more goals...? I dont know how I feel about this honestly....maybe Hossa was a rental and will resign with us over the summer... Biggest thing from this post...the fact we got NO F'N D!!! argghhhhhh

Posted by: KJ on February 26, 2008 3:27PM EST LAME. DW showed his colors again. Dump the whole management group and get some real hockey guys in here please. What Canadian city are they looking to move this franchise to now?

Posted by: M on February 26, 2008 3:28PM EST "I have no idea why you are all so enamored with him. I am glad Holik and Mooe are still here." What?!? Dupuis was the hardest working forward on the team. More than can be said for Holik and his 30 billion penalties

Posted by: Nina on February 26, 2008 3:30PM EST I agree on one thing. At least this distraction is out of the way. Let's play like a TEAM again. GO THRASHERS!!

Posted by: Unhappy on February 26, 2008 3:30PM EST Bigger picture, The Thrashers get one trip to the playoffs a25-year old forward Colby Armstrong, 24-year old forward Erik Christensen and center Angelo Esposito, the team's first-round draft pick this year for Dany Heatly. Was it worth it?

Posted by: keep the faith on February 26, 2008 3:30PM EST I don't think anyone expected Malkin or Crosby. I would have preferred to have gotten a player(s) who has proven himself a little more than these two have but it wasn't my decision to make. Both Armstrong and Christensen are 6'1-6'2 and around 200 lbs. Someone above said something about the size they are bringing to the team. Neither of them are big guys. Also, don't forget these two have had the pleasure of playing with guys like Crosby and Malkin. They have not been in positions in which they are the ones who are heavily relied upon for offense. They will not be playing with those kind of centers in Atlanta. I hope they both prove to be good players and hopefully when we look back at this trade we will all be pleased. It is just a little hard to be excited when we just traded one of the best wingers in the game for two inexperienced players and a prospect. Not to mention we received no d-men in this deal.

Posted by: kovy17 on February 26, 2008 3:32PM EST arnt all of the deals not fully anounced until the confrence call has been made beween officials and both teams.....does that mean that there can still be anouncements of more trades.....Hope so cause i want Holik GONE as well as Zhitnik and i want i defensement. Dont worry dupuis will be back this summer. Penguins are sick now. I would laugh so hard if the Thrashers won the cup....i would be lauging at Hossa!!!

Posted by: TrueBlue on February 26, 2008 3:34PM EST how about...we give LA Zhitnik back...he was good as a king...and we get Visnovsky.... lol Maybe Hossa and Dupuis will resign over the summer.. all in all.. FAIL

Posted by: KJ on February 26, 2008 3:35PM EST Hey Kopvy17, what are you smoking? Dupuis isn't coming back to ATL. Noone who plays really wants to be in such a lame hockey town. We can only hope we can keep Kovy for any length of time. Or we just move the whole team up North.

Posted by: fokov on February 26, 2008 3:36PM EST Staal, Espo, 1st should have been the deal. Now we have a 3 line RW worse than Dupuis. I mean he played with Crosby and can't even get 50 points by handing him the puck? Christenson, projected top 6, but can't even get over 30 points in his 3 years in the NHL? I do like Espo, but he is only 19. A Late 1st round is also good. At least the playoffs will be interesting with teams like Rangers, Washington, Pitt, Ott, Mtl, COL, Ducks, Det, CGY. Too bad ATL won't be there this year, nor next year. No help for the one single problem we have: DEFENSE!!! Pathetic! Fire DW now!

Posted by: mastiffgal on February 26, 2008 3:39PM EST Hossa is not coming back and Dupuis is marginal. This was a great deal for us. Win win.

Posted by: unhappy on February 26, 2008 3:40PM EST hey mastiffgal win win is something we won't be doing soon

Posted by: Matt on February 26, 2008 3:44PM EST Get a clue people... this is a very good deal. We are getting three players that have a lot of upside and are all really young. The Atlanta Thrashers are one of the oldest teams in the league and they're not looking like a playoff club AT ALL. time to give up on this season and build towards the future. Dupuis is not all that good of a player and his services on the PK are easily replaced. Hossa is a world-class talent, but he had no desire to play here... reading through these posts, I can see why. This is a very good deal for Atlanta. We're getting Pittsburgh's first round pick from last year and their first round in the upcoming draft. Atlanta will also have a high pick. Dany Heatley really screwed the direction of this team over. It took us three years to realize this... This deal gives us a strong foundation for the future. Now we can spend the off-season getting Lehtonen signed long-term and hopefully finding a free agent defenseman. Our problem in Atlanta wasn't a lack of stars, it was scoring depth. I think this deal brings it. I hate to see Hossa go (what am I going to do with my jersey?), but he HAD to go or we would have gotten NOTHING in return. As far as Jordan Staal goes, Pittsburgh weren't about to give him up. This pretty much does us in for the remainder of the season, but it frees up a lot of cap space, gets us younger and puts us in position to acquire a better defense through FA... now if the Atlanta Spirit will DO that, is a different story.

Posted by: AT on February 26, 2008 3:49PM EST We were aweful with hossa - adding good talent can only help this team. Good deal for a player that didn't get us there and didn't want to be here anyway. Why no D? This team loses because it can't defend...

Posted by: Squires32 on February 26, 2008 3:50PM EST What I don't understand is why this is the only deal... It's not like we got back enough to help us win today. Holik, Recci, Zhednik and Moose should have all been traded if we are going this route. Not doing anything else leaves us in limbo. If we had gotten Staal & Espo, I would have less of a problem not doing anything else.

Posted by: jb on February 26, 2008 3:51PM EST Terrible..What is it with you fans...building for the future?? Wadell has been saying that since 1999 !! Gimmie a break...none of these players will help us this year...36 goals - Hossa|DuPuis vs. 9 by our new players...do the math !!

Posted by: aroha on February 26, 2008 3:54PM EST First off, Squires32, you CAN'T trade Recchi as we claimed him off waivers earlier in the season. Second, we don't have Zhednik. We have a Zhitnik, is that who you mean? And exactly why would we get rid of our solid back up goalie who's a FA at the end of this season anyway? We don't need help in the Goalie department. Do you watch the Thrashers at all?

Posted by: squires32 on February 26, 2008 3:55PM EST On the plus side, season ticket prices are going up...

Posted by: KovyRules on February 26, 2008 3:55PM EST All I need to know is the hockey gurus at TSN are questioning whether Pittsburgh overpaid and how much the depth will help the Thrashers. I'm sold! My tickets are on the 10th row, but I'll move on up as you early commenters turn you tickets in! And I do expect Pascal to be back come July. Good luck, Marion!!

Posted by: sickofKNIGHTS! on February 26, 2008 3:56PM EST If one more person on here blames the ownership for trades and the reason we lose a game or someone not signing with us I'm gonna lose it. He wasn't going to sign here! It's a business and Don got the best deal that he could get. Please don't say "good job Atlanta Spirit" That's such a lame, I don't know any better, response to breaking news. Instead of posting on the nasty nest all day, read up on the sport and realize it's a business like any other.

Posted by: Baz on February 26, 2008 3:58PM EST This was a GREAT trade- Waddell does it again. Perhaps we can get some more of those stupid cheerleaders & Ice Girls, since we obviously are more interested in them than we are in actual hockey! (That must be why Darren Idiot & Sports South only shows half of the face-offs.) Don Waddell must go. Trade him for a coach than can create a few new plays- maybe 1 or 2 that include actually carrying the puck into the offensive zone, at least on the power play!

Posted by: Jordan on February 26, 2008 3:59PM EST my name is jordan, and i am fourteen years old. i play AAA hockey for TPH Thunder, so i know alot about hockey. Paschal Dupuis was my favorite playerr at atlanta since he has come here. he isnt the best player on the team, but he is the hardest working one. Hossa is very good, dont get me wrong, but he doesnt always have the same mindset as dupuis and some of the other guys have. No matter what, Dupuis skated his hardest every single shift. he won the game for the thrashers the other night in the ninth round of the shhotout. opeople dont give him enough credit. next ime you what a pittsburgh game take a look at dupuis and his work ethics. Hossa didnt want to be here the in first place, so why have him around in the playoffs anyways. in my opionion, we should've gotten ride of zhitnik or someone of that nature.(people who dont do much for the team) This was a win lose situation. Pittsburge is going all the way this year. I know there is nothing that we can dop about it now, but don waddell neeeds to get his head straight and take a look at what he is doin. He doesnt relize that this organization needs a playoff run. DUPUIS NEEDS TO COME BACK.. as for hossa, if he doent want to be here, then he can leave. Pittsburg is a total power house now. Im not happy, and as far as im concerned, mr waddell made a horrible decision as not only the head coach of the atlanta thrashers, but as well as GM.

Posted by: JB on February 26, 2008 4:04PM EST Jordan has more hockey sense than all of us..Good job with your blog Jordan !!!

Posted by: squires32 on February 26, 2008 4:06PM EST aoha, debate the arguement, not the spelling. My point is this trade does nothing for us today. We are not going to the playoffs this year. We have other assets like Holik & Moose that would have brought us more picks and young players, since that seems to be where we are heading. Your right, we don't have Goalie problem. With Kari and Pavlec and even Tupple, we look to be set there. What's wrong with getting something for someone who won't be with us in two months anyway? I have been a season ticket holder for 5 years who has watched this team never settle the problems at center and d-man and made on one significant signing (Bobby Holik, please don't mention #12). All I want is a surefire direction, are we going for it or rebuilding? This team is not good enough to tread water...

Posted by: Steve on February 26, 2008 4:08PM EST This was a terrible deal for Atlanta. We are only 7 points behind Carolina for the division lead, with two more games to play then they have. We end the season with a slew of games in the division and a chance to extend a lead, if we could ever get one. Trading Hossa now was stupid. Not only will we not make the playoffs this year, but we won't make them for at least the next three. Armstrong and Christensen are solid players, but they are not playoff quality. I thought we were playing for the present and not for ten years down the road. Again another wonderful trade Don. Maybe put finding a new coach next on your list. This team could be good if they would spend money. Hossa would have stayed in Atlanta if the team would have actually been willing to pay him what he was worth. Don't worry, we will now have the cap room this summer and won't do anything but sign a bunch of mediocre players. I wish Atlanta understood how to be a hockey town.....

Posted by: George on February 26, 2008 4:09PM EST Hmm...TSN questions whether Pittsburgh overpaid for Hossa. Sportsnet complements Don Waddell on getting more back than expected, and used words such as "excellent" to describe it. Let's see..TSN and Sportsnet love the trade, a few Thrashers fans hate it. Who could be right?

Posted by: Anonymous on February 26, 2008 4:09PM EST heres an idea lets trade klee and Zhitnik for an ok defensman i am sure nobody would take it

Posted by: Kovy17 on February 26, 2008 4:11PM EST i am happy with what DW got. What most of you (not all) are missing is that DW doesnt have as mutch leverage as you think he did on this deal cause all the GM's know that Hossa had to go so they new they didnt have to give BIG trades. Now if hossa had 1 year left and we were going to trade him then we might of gotten more. I hope hope Espesito starts playing as soon as he gets to the team i hope we dont send him to chicago. I am guessing we wont I just wish we had more activity before the deadline. Like trading holik. All of you saying trade Zhitinik seeing as we know how bad he has become why would other teams make a deal to get him. As for this summer we need a solid draft and i think resign Kari to a long term deal as well as kovy and Enstrom.

Posted by: Kovy17 on February 26, 2008 4:15PM EST I bet Habs Fans are pissed. Although i am happy with the trade i would kinda like to see Ryder and Higgins in atl

Posted by: Shawn on February 26, 2008 4:15PM EST Dupuis will be back...Hossa was not coming back regardless of what deal he got put in front of him by Atlanta. Not the deal we needed ( still need some D!!) but what choice did we really have...let him walk and get nothing or trade him for something....seems pretty basic to me. Now that he ( Hossa ) is gone perhaps the team can re-focus and go as far as thier desire will take them.

Posted by: Anonymous on February 26, 2008 4:16PM EST My god, fire him now, fire him NOW. He has already wasted enough of our draft picks and talent on nothing but scrubs. The Atlanta Spirit Group needs to fire Don Wadell and then resign themselves, I'd rather have Bil Gates owning this franchise, at least he'd care MORE than the ASG, and he probably doesn't even follow hockey. Goodbye Don, just remember, if you don't go, Kovy will probably shake his head, finish out his contract, and leave just like Hoss did. Pathetic, just pathetic.

Posted by: Anonymous on February 26, 2008 4:18PM EST pittsburgh over paid us. armstrong is going to go along great w/ recchi and kovalchuk so i hope he ends up on that line. christensen is an incredible shootout shooter (and one of my cousin who lives in pitts favorite player). i knew we were going to trade hoss i just didnt see us giving up dupuis. i also thought that waddell would try to bring in some good defenders... as we are desperate for our defense to step it up

Posted by: KovyRules on February 26, 2008 4:19PM EST The class of our Division, Carolina, wins by having 10 solid North American forwards with heart and decent skill. We just added 3 guys like that. And anyone bemoaning the loss of this years playoff run has either not seen many games or is seriously deluded - we go nowhere this year with this team, no doubt. Well done, Don! Jordan is right that Dupuis is a hard working gem that was a steal by DW last year and I'm sure he'll go after him in July. GO THRASHERS!!

Posted by: Kovy17 on February 26, 2008 4:22PM EST Many of yall hating on wadell dont realize that we were overpaid. Will Army Christensen and Esposito be playing in our next game, not meaning tonight. I hope they dont send Esposito to the minors. oh and all of you fans that hate this trade look at all the pens fans that are mad at their GM http://msgboard.pittsburghpenguins.com/index.php?showtopic=21997

Posted by: RFF on February 26, 2008 4:23PM EST We needed help at the BlueLine the most and got nothing. I like the kids we got, but we already have that kind of talent in the minors, STERLING, HOLZIPFEL, LITTLE. WE need to get better on D, thats the bottom line.

Posted by: JW on February 26, 2008 4:23PM EST Wow, ignorance is bliss.... Plain and simple, what in the hell would you have gotten from Montreal? or Ottawa? or San Jose that equals up to what Pittsburgh over paid for today? Kovyrules is spot on!

Posted by: Thrasherbunny on February 26, 2008 4:25PM EST CRAP!!!! I knew Hossa was going, he hasn't played like he wanted to be here for a while. I am upset about Dupuis. He was great on the penalty kill and worked really hard on the ice. I can only hope the new players will play better for Atlanta than they have for their respective teams during this season.

Posted by: kovy17 on February 26, 2008 4:25PM EST Chris Higgins and Ryder would of been sweet from the Habs. But this deal is much sweeter

Posted by: JW on February 26, 2008 4:26PM EST "have that kind of talent in the minors".. Again, what D was out there that DW could have gotten... ALL of you people that are going off on the deal, come up with a better one! Give me a break, you ignorant fans in that city are pathetic! Go, play with ATL and get out of the hockey world!

Posted by: KovyRules on February 26, 2008 4:28PM EST Thanks, JW. As far as needing Dmen, no doubt that's our main weakness, but that is almost EVERYBODY'S weakness! Even Detroit is desperate for D, so who were we going to trade with to obtain Dmen?? Other than Toby, our best Dman, all the others grew up in the clutch and grab era of hockey and few have adjusted. We improve this team by drafting more Toby Enstroms. And thanks Kovy17 for the Pens fans link - seeing what they are saying is very encouraging!

Posted by: Anonymous on February 26, 2008 4:32PM EST ok, hossa. he had to go. and we got some great stuff in return. but Dupuis?? why why why? that makes me sad. i never saw him leaving. :( i'm glad all this trade stuff is over. now we can just go back to hockey and not all this "trade so and so" crap after every loss. wonder how the lines are going to look tonight...

Posted by: Anonymous on February 26, 2008 4:33PM EST Atl does have the first round pick for a defenseman. People are upset about losing Dupuis who skated hard but was out of position in alot of situations as well. I think it is not a great move(need a defensman now) but a good move overall. I mean we could have just keep Hossa and got nothing..........to many haters in ATL to be a hockeytown

Posted by: RF on February 26, 2008 4:36PM EST JW you talk about fans like you are one. Look at the kids we have at Chicago and Holzepfel and then talk like you know something. Im noit knocking the kids we got and the draft pick if he uses it. He had an opportunity to get a blueliner and didnt make it happen. Higgins and Komisarik would have been just fine.

Posted by: Matt on February 26, 2008 4:37PM EST With Holik probably leaving in the off-season as well, these three new players and the 2 firwt round picks... we're really setting ourselves up with a better foundation. You people should be THANKING Don Waddell, not hating on him. There's NO WAY Montreal would have given up Ryder AND Higgins for a rental Hossa. Considering that Hossa wants to pick his team in the off-season, this is a great deal for us. Hossa and Holik (assuming we don't re-sign him) will free up around $10 million in cap space. This is supposedly a deep upcoming draft too and we have two first round picks. PLUS, Pittsburgh's pick from last year. We also addressed our issues with offensive depth. In some ways, this deal may just make us better now and not just the #17 and #18 show.

Posted by: bryan on February 26, 2008 4:41PM EST This was a rediculous move. Hossa was the best player we have. Granted, he is not as prolific of a goal scorer as Kovy, but he was great. Maybe next year at the deadline, Waddell should trade for a new GM! We went from Heatley to Hossa, and Hossa and Dupuis for a couple of scrubs. Hey Waddell, you are making it real difficult to remain a fan of the game when you make boneheaded moves like this. Thanks for a wasted year you bum.

Posted by: Josh on February 26, 2008 4:41PM EST You guys think we could'a got some D from the devils?

Posted by: rf on February 26, 2008 4:42PM EST Im not a Holik fan at this point in career. Yes he plays well in the playoffs but thats a long shot. He's not winning faceoffs like he used to which is a big reason he was brought back. I could be wrong but i read a future first round draft pick, not next years first round pick. Is that right?

Posted by: KovyRules on February 26, 2008 4:47PM EST Let's say Atlanta traded everything (Hossa, Dupuis, Holik, Moose, plus all our Chicago forwards) for the best six defensemen that moved today. We'd now have Foote (good, but old, old old), Salei (I would like him), Campbell (who would be gone come July), and pick three out of Backman, Skrastins, Ruth, Davison and Salvador. Is that D really much better than our current D?? My point is to all the airchair GMs - a good Dman is a rare commodity, so don't blame Don so harshly for our lack of it.

Posted by: .. on February 26, 2008 4:48PM EST Does anyone know anything about Joe Motzko who we got from the Caps???

Posted by: KRye on February 26, 2008 4:49PM EST I like it! We get 3 solid young stars, plus a pick, and Pittsburg will get rid of Hoss next year because they can't afford him with Sid and Evgeny.

Posted by: Thomas D on February 26, 2008 4:57PM EST 3 teams in the south east improved the thrashers are not one. Don did not pick up enough to make it to the play offs this season. And he did not pick up enough draft picks to give the thrashers a chance of building next year. So what is it that all of you Don Waddell fans think he has done for this team or do you work for the thrashers. What this organization needs is accountability for it's actions. When season ticket sales and single ticket sale drop way off next year and the team makes more cut backs please come back and tell me again what a genius Don Waddell is and how lucky we are to have him. Winnipeg Thrashers I guess that sounds ok.

Posted by: Josh on February 26, 2008 5:03PM EST Thomas seriously just go home. The thrashers arnt moving. Do you even watch the thrashers? This was a good trade.

Posted by: KovyRules on February 26, 2008 5:07PM EST Thomas D, the Thrashers wisely did not try to improve this year because it is a lost cause. I've been defending DW, not because he's the best GM in the world but because he's a lot better than most give him credit for here. Draft picks beyond the top 3 or 4 DO NOT improve your team for AT LEAST 2 years. That's a fact. Now if all he did was get draft picks, I'd be with you. And if the Thrashers ever move it won't be because of lack of fan support (we outdraw two of the original six teams!!), it will be because the ownership has a fire sale like Cousins did with a well-supported Flames team 25 years ago.

Posted by: A Non-Mouse on February 26, 2008 5:10PM EST Overall, this was a good trade for us. We didn't get any defensemen because very simply, there are none to be had. None. Zero. Zilch. If there _were_ any, there are teams with more to give who would have outbid us. We didn't get many draft picks this year because, again, there are none to be had. 2008 is a big, deep draft. Everyone wants to keep their picks. We _did_ get a lot from Pittsburgh for what they have to treat as two rental players. Dupuis will not resign with them, so we have the option to pick him back up on a long-term contract; Hossa was gone forever. Not all of these three kids will be stars (one won't be even CLOSE), but they are _young_, something this franchise really needed. Think more closely.

Posted by: Howard on February 26, 2008 5:18PM EST We don't have the same young talent that these guys bring. These guys are bigger and make us better upfront. While our D has been awful, it is a team game and make no mistake that the lack of our fowards play in both ends hurt us defensively. Toby, Mac, Havlid and Ex (if he cuts down on the hits that take him out of position) could be a good core to add one or two UFAs and one or two Chicago call ups. My concern is DW and his scouting staff have not done a good job on assessing draft and UFA talent. Either DW needs to go or we need to look at our scouting team and fire the bunch. Bottom line, this trade was a good rebuilding step, yet after 9 years of DW, we should be beyond the building stage.

Posted by: JAmes_kovyboy on February 26, 2008 5:18PM EST Whoz playin tonite????

Posted by: the_ratio on February 26, 2008 5:27PM EST Howard, All I can say to you is HIGH-FIVE! I agree 100% I will also say that I'm really pumped up to see what Armstrong can do here.

Posted by: Robbie P on February 26, 2008 5:28PM EST If you have never heard of the players who we got today, then you shouldnt be writing in this blog because you dont follow hockey.

Posted by: Dustin on February 26, 2008 5:33PM EST When this was announced on TSN I thought it was only gonna be for Armstrong and Chistensen, but then when they said Esposito and a first round draft pick I was happier. I think we got a fairly good deal. My concern is that we only made the one trade. I was expecting Holik to be traded, maybe to San Jose for a young d-man like Ehrhoff. Or maybe a #1 centremen could have been brought in. That would have been very nice. But all we can do is see how this trade works out. Maybe Amrstrong and Chistensen will be great fits. Does anybody know if they will be playing tonight?

Posted by: JAmes_kovyboy on February 26, 2008 5:35PM EST Ben, are you aware of the line combinations

Posted by: Ben Wright on February 26, 2008 5:37PM EST There's a new post that answers a lot of questions.

Posted by: JAmes_kovyboy on February 26, 2008 5:37PM EST ...and for DustiN' information, we also got Joe Motzko for Alex Giroux

Posted by: Dustin on February 26, 2008 5:39PM EST Yeah I know, sorry I meant another trade for roster players.

Posted by: JAmes_kovyboy on February 26, 2008 5:40PM EST thanks ben

Posted by: Chippy on February 26, 2008 5:41PM EST Waddell made a trade for more 3rd and 4th line players. Did Pittsburgh overpay? Yes. Did Atlanta get anybody that wouold help them? Not unless they trade them for a top flight forward and defenseman. We know the draft pick is a joke because Waddell will just draft someone like Coburn or Stefan or one aof any number of poicks that did not work out for the Thrashers. Look at the Blackhawks. They tried the whole thing with all 3rd and 4th line players and they are still trying to get out from under it. Of course their reason was cheap owner not an uninformed GM.

Posted by: ej on February 26, 2008 6:03PM EST hhhmmmm fire coach who gets you to the playoffs last year... have the GM play coach for rest of year..... trade player who can actually produce AND sell tickets.... more than likely miss playoffs THIS year... make new commercials without Hossa.... belie