(The following is the final submission of this season's Fan Correspondent, Sean Grace. We've thoroughly enjoyed having Sean help us out and he is without a doubt one of the two best fan correspondents we've ever had.)

Playoff Post Mortem

The season was over with a little over two minutes elapsed in the 2nd period of game three of our playoff series with the Rangers. The score was 5-0 and our team was beaten in every sense of the word. I turned off the TV and didn’t watch another second of the series. Watching this nightmarish game for me was like witnessing a close friend getting attacked and not being able to assist. This was the abyss of the emotional roller coaster that was the 2006-2007 season.

For every team but one, in every competition, the end is defeat. The key to losing well is taking a lesson from defeat. This is what I hope our franchise can take from this 4-0 trouncing:

Accessing the season as a whole has been difficult considering the manner in which it ended. But with time comes perspective. The Thrashers 2006-07 season consisted of five distinctive sub-seasons.

Part I - Emergence
October

Out of the gates, we were tough. In October the Thrashers failed to gain points in only two games. On the morning of November 1st our record stood at 8-2-3 and every facet of the game was clicking, including special teams. The Thrashers scored clutch goals, made the key plays and there was joy in Blueland.

Part II – Helter Skelter
November – January

During this prolonged stretch, our boys displayed all the symptoms of a deep-seeded personality disorder. Take a look at this little run:

The holiday season consisted of consistent inconsistency. (I dare you to say this five times, fast, without lisping). During this period, the trend that would eventually bite us firmly in the behind, emerged. Both our power play and penalty kill began to deteriorate. Coach Hartley’s inexplicable “box” PK formation was born. I renamed this strategy “stand around and watch the other team score a power play goal.” But the team also displayed prolonged periods of brilliance. Blueland was rocking as some of the most exciting games in team history were played in this timeframe. We managed to stay in first place in the Southeast. Also, the Thrashers lost 5 games in OT during this time and picked up a point in those games. This was another key to our season, accumulating points from OT losses.

And then depression set in…..

Part III –What the $%#@?
February

It started with a three game home losing streak. Included in the “lost weekend” was yet another defeat at the hands of the mighty Flyers who finished last in the East with 56 points. They owned the Thrashers, (4-0), this season. Expectations were high for this home stand. The unexpected thrashing sent the club into a miserable 1-4 west coast tailspin. From February 1st through 24th, the Thrashers won 2 more games then you and I. Our special teams play brought back memories of the 1999 season. On the message boards the sky was indeed falling. Blueland demanded the public flogging and beheading of “Don” and Coach Hartley. First place was a memory and the Thrasher faithful, accustomed to wretched tragedy, had the feeling of ‘here we go again.”

Bring in the reinforcements….

Part IV – Don Waddell is a God Among Men
February 6th – April 6th

Around the trade deadline, the most maligned man in our organization became a hero. Mr. Waddell, (no longer just “Don”), made moves that injected immediate life into the franchise. The addition of most unpronouncibly, (I made a new word), named players in team history ignited Atlanta. Tkachuk, Dupuis, Belanger, and Zhitnik along with Kari, carried the Thrashers through the thrilling home stretch. It started innocently as Belanger immediately contributed a goal during a 3-2 road victory in Boston. From March 2nd on, Kari and Moose allowed more than 3 goals in any game only once. We won often and the new guys were the key more often than not. A highlight of this season occurred on the weekend of March 16th as the Thrashers won two heart-pounding games over the Rangers and Sabres. We held a precarious lead over Tampa during the final weeks of the season but the boys came out on top of the Southeast, winning their first division title in franchise history.

Part V – Why We Are Fans
April 7th and April 12th

The final game of the season was a celebration. The division was clinched and the atmosphere was relaxed for the first time in a long time. The Thrashers came back from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 over Tampa in OT in front of a full house in Blueland. Fans lingered in the bulb after the game and took in the satisfying flavor of victory. There were smiles all around and a sense of accomplishment. I stood in the club section, waiting for the post-game party, and took it all in. The journey, (painful at times), was worth it. Seven years of allegiance to our franchise paid off at this moment.

A few days later, 10 minutes before the puck dropped in our first playoff game, the cheer of “Let’s go Thrashers” enveloped Blueland. Chills ran through me and still do when I think about it. This was the finest moment in our history.

The Greatest Accomplishment

It wasn’t the division title although it is the most tangible measure of the success of the 2006-07. But that’s not it. Our greatest achievement is the birth of you, the true fan. Atlanta has long been criticized as a sports city that lacks passion and dedication. You changed that perception this year. You multiplied and the resulting army in blue energized the team. You screamed your guts out and wanted it badly. You stuck with it and now you’re stuck with it. You’re going to care about this team more now. It’s going to be hard on you. Being a fan is taxing. But you’re in and you can’t get out anytime soon.

We’ve a planted a seed and it will grow. There will be playoff victories and greater moments next year. And you will be there. There will be crushing losses, and you will be there. You will be there because it’s entered your heart and become part of you. It happened this season, you bought in and that is the greatest accomplishment. I am very proud to call myself a Thrasher fan, just like you.

It’s been a pleasure representing you as the Fan Correspondent. I want to say thank you to the Thrasher organization for this unique opportunity. I also would like to thank all of you who read my rantings and sent comments throughout the year. I’ve learned that this is something I’d like to do more of in the future. My time in this role is over but maybe my begging will persuade the Thrashers to keep me around in some capacity.

But I’m not going anywhere. God willing, I’ll be sitting in my seat in section 119 for 50+ games next season cheering on this team, which I have come to love.

You’re up next. A new Correspondent will be named for the 2007-08. If you enjoy writing and have a passion for our team, I strongly suggest you enter the contest next year.

See you in September!

Your Loyal Servant,
Sean Grace