Lets Face It, Iyla Might Not Re-Sign

Let's face it Thrashers' fans, our boy, our shining star, might not resign. I know what your thinking, I'm crazy, why would he not resign? Well their are a list of reasons why he might not re-sign, but I list three:

1. The team itself: While the roster itself is better at this point in the year than this time last year, this team is not a legitimate Eastern Division contender. Todd White is not a legitimate number one center, Slava Kozlov is too old, Kari Lehtonen is not the number one goalie everyone thought he would be, and I don't see their young players, guys like Little, Slater, Kane, Bogosian, Esposito making a huge impact (though the three of those players had good years last season).

2. Don Waddell: Let's face it, this man should have been gone with Bob Hartley. In what is this team's 10th season, this franchise has had one playoff appearance, one close call, and six or so top 10 draft picks.

We've also had star players like Dany Heatley (who I don't blame for wanting out, but not necessarily Waddell's fault either) and Marian Hossa, and role players like Pascal Dupois, Keith Thachuk, and Eric De Vries, and again, we've only gone to playoffs once. He's also traded away other forms of young talent (*cough* Brayden Coburn *cough*) for players who've done nothing since (*cough* Alexi Zhitnik *cough*). Even though he will try his hardest to keep Iyla here forever.

3. Ownership: Do I really need to explain this? Everyone around the Thrashers, fans, and writers included, knows that the Atlanta Spirit Loves Litigation Company spends more time in the courtroom than they spend around the team. And I don't need to remind season ticket holders about the Bruce Levenson incident.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love the Thrashers, being that I'm a hockey player in Atlanta myself. I want to see them succeed, so I'll give my three reasons why Iyla will re-sign before July 1st of next year:

1. The future: I don't forsee Kari "Let-em-in" as the number one goaltender for too much longer. I think he and the Thrashers need to part ways at some point. I think Ondrej Pavelec is too good to wait on. And those young players that I mentioned before, not to mention the ones on the way in Chicago. I also like the signing of Nik Antropov and the trade for Pavel Kubina.

2. Don Waddell: I know what your thinking, I just bashed the guy in the previous section, so how can you say he will be a reason he stays? I say this because if he is the Don Waddell who acquired the likes of Marion Hossa, Dany Heatley, Keith Thachuk, and Iyla Kovalchuk himself, then there is reason to believe that Iyla will stay in Atlanta.

The most important reason, 3. The Fans: The fans are the most important thing in Atlanta. They are the reason there is still a team in Atlanta.

Now you may not agree with my reasons, and you may not agree my opinions on the team's situation, but that's how I see it.