The Sadness sets in.

We're all sad. Admit it. I've tried to keep upbeat, but when I woke up literally, sick to my stomach, I thought it was just the giant math test looming over my head. Then it was over, and I hardly ate, and when I finally did, I just strated to cry.

I know, it's just hockey. It's a sport, but it's so much more than that to me. Hockey changed the relationship I had with my father from just a normal one to a very close one. Extremely close, to be honest. I thought it was strange that the farther away I was from my dad, the closer we were, and the more I wanted to go home every weekend. We formed such a great relationship because we both started to love hockey, love the Thrashers. He got me amazing seats, got me their early to see the warm ups and I felt so special to be that kid that I thought my younger sister was for so many years. So not only was last night the end of the season, it was the end of hockey games for months. The few months I'll be home, they'll be no Thrashers hockey, no driving into the city, no wearing my white jersey, no more hockey talk and I guess I thought, no more time with my dad. I know it's not true. I just wanted to go home for game five and be there one last time, win or lose. I'll be there next season, of course, but it seems so far away.

Hockey has made me think a lot about my career. I am seriously considering transferring to GSU to major in jorunalism with a minor in photography. We'll see what happens, but I would like to apogolize for posting this here. It's a Thrashers blog, but I can't help that my life has bleed over into the Thrashers. I just feel like I'm at home at Phillips Arena...don't you?

Free Agents.

Aw crap. I closed the tab, but I was on the Atlanta Thrashers Community Forum and someone (sorry, I closed it, I'll find it later, promise) posted a list of the free agents, restricted agents etc, etc. I thought I'd post it and give my thoughts.

Unrestricted:
Slava Kozlov - $2,014,000
Keith Tkachuk - $3,800,000
Scott Mellanby - $1,000,000
Jon Sim - $610,000
J.P. Vigier - $515,000
Eric Boulton - $500,000
Brad Larsen - $485,000
Eric Belanger - $1,300,000
Pascal Dupuis - $798,000
Greg de Vries - $2,052,000
Andy Sutton - $2,000,000
Shane Hnidy - $600,000

The following are restricted free agents:

Jim Slater - $901,000
Derek MacKenzie - $475,000
Steve McCarthy -$775,000
Garnet Exelby - $684,000

The following players are signed for the 07/08 season

Illya Kovalchuk - $5,500,000
Marian Hossa - $7,000,000
Bobby Holik - $4,250,000
Steve Rucchin - $2,400,000
Jason Krog - $500,000
Darren Haydar - $475,000
Niclas Havelid - $2,700,000
Alexei Zhitnik - 3,500,000
Mark Popovic - $535,000
Kari Lehtonen - $2,200,000
Johan Hedberg - $1,150,000
Fred Brathwaite - $500,000
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Long list right? I'm pleased...sorta with who has been signed for next year out of what we have now. I think XLB will be back for sure. I see Dupuis and Jon Sim getting signed too. Dupuis for his PK ability and his work with the PP, I think he could be really strong for this team if we keep him around. And come on, it's Jon Sim. Gotta Love the Simmer. I want Slava Kozlov, but I'm a little shakey on that after the playoffs. My dad said up to eight, so I'll list my eight.

1.) Scott Mellanby, since it's very obvious he's going to retire.
2.) Andy Sutton. He takes a lot crap from fans, but I like Sutton. Sure he does stupid things, but I still like him. Do I think we'll resign him? No, but I can wish right?
3.)Greg de Vries. I don't know, I don't see him resigning, sorry.
4.)Keith Thachuk. I don't want to say that, but he's a wee bit pricey and he was dead until Game 4. I want him to stay, but, like I said, pricey.
5.)Eric Boulton.
6.) J.P. Vigier. I'm really unsure of this, but he didn't play in the playoff games and to me , that was a red flag of "Bye bye"

Okay, so I only did six, but I think it's a fair amount. I don't know about Hnidy or Belanger or Larsen even. I think Slater should still be with us, but again, no idea.

Any thoughts?

See you in Blueland, baby.

"Fuel burning fast on an empty tank.
Reckless and wild, they pour through the turns.
Their prowess is potent and secretly stearn.
As they speed through the finish, the flags go down.
The fans get up and they get out of town.
The arena is empty except for one man,
No trophy, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no wine,
He's haunted by something he cannot define.
Bowel-shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse,
Assail him, impale him with monster-truck force."
- The Distance by CAKE

I thought of Scott Mellanby when I heard that this morning on my iPod on the way to school. I thought about the team, and I thought about how sad I was. My dad said there will be a major shake up on the team, which frigthens me. He said some are saying Hartley and EIGHT players will be gone next season or not signed. We know now that Hartley is going to be back, but I don't know who's contracts are up, and who may or may not be pulled from Chicago. We all know that Mellanby is going. I feel bad, because I feel like if the boys should have been playing for someone it should have been Scott. I wish him all the luck in the world in life, and I want to say sorry that it couldn't happen, it just wasn't the right time.

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Well, after my Saint Crispin's Day-esque speech the other day, I sort felt like I should tell you how I really feel. I suppose I thought if I could rally my own belief that it would rally the world, and that the hockey gods would give their blessing. What can I say? I'm a dreamer, and I always will be. I thought game four was our best game in the series. Gosh, I'm crying, stop it! I'm emotional. But, we couldn't do it. It wasn't right, but we tried. I hope this doesn't stick with some of them, especially Kari, who Keith Thachuk admitted to "hanging out to dry" in game 3. It will though, and that's so sad. I just would like to give a lot of props to those who deserve it for playing.
1.) Bobby Holik
2.) Garnet Exelby
3.) Pascal Dupuis
4.) Brad Larsen
5.) Moose
6.) Kari (Please, don't give me crap about this. Kari is a young goal, and he can't make the saves if everyone else plays like a kid that didn't take their ADD medication)

I think that's about it. Shane Hnidy did a nice job too. Kovalchuck and Thachuk and Belanger did all score, so props to that. But, their performances were less than perfect.

I'm done with that now. Because I'm just looking forward to next season with great anticpation. I plan to be there for the season opener. Taking pictues, being me. I can't really reflect right now, I've gotten about 0 amounts of needed sleep and the loss last night made me lethragic. I will post something later that you may find interesting that my dad (Looters Sr.) sent me.

See you in Blueland,
Looters Jr.