Next time a doom-and-gloomer Capitals fan cries out, “Why! Why didn’t the Capitals acquire [Veteran X]?” refer them to this cautionary tale about just-swept divisional rival the Atlanta Thrashers. The Thrashers are a team not dissimilar to the Capitals; one can only hope that the Caps’ management makes better decisions than the Thrashers’ did.
Lest we forget, the Thrashers bulked up for their first trip to the postseason at significant cost. Defenseman Alexei Zhitnik came from Philadelphia for standout prospect Braydon Coburn, and forward Keith Tkachuk was acquired from St. Louis for veteran forward Glen Metropolit, first- and third-round picks in 2007, and a second-rounder in 2008.Add it all up, and that’s a lot of future gone out the window.
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Warning received.
Mike Philbrick of ESPN on the Thrash:
Just Say No to Winning: Atlanta Thrashers
Winning the Stanley Cup — that’s one way to make a name for yourself. Being the only team not to win a game in the first round of the NHL playoffs — that’s definitely another. And the Thrashers did just that, losing their opening series to the Rangers 4-0, giving New York its first playoff series win in a decade. Oh, and being outscored 17-6 in the series — well, that’s just showing off at this point.
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