Levenson Discusses Decision To Retain Thrashers GM Waddell

Atlanta Spirit Co-Owner Says Waddell Cannot Be Blamed For Thrashers' Disappointing Season

In a Q&A with the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION's Craig Custance, Atlanta Spirit co-Owner Bruce Levenson discussed his decision last week to retain Thrashers GM Don Waddell for next season despite the team owning the second-worst record in the NHL's Eastern Conference. When asked if "all the big choices this franchise faces ... [are] a direct result of mistakes" by Waddell, Levenson said, "I think like any organization, or like any executive, mistakes have been made and really good decisions have also been made. I think that this franchise is moving in the right direction. ... I don't think it's any secret we were disappointed in some of our veterans this year. Had they performed at the level they performed at last year, you and I would have a different conversation now." Custance asked, "But Don Waddell signed them and then he coached them. Isn't he accountable for them?" Levenson: "I think it's easy to point a finger and say this is the source of all the problems. It's always much more complicated than that." Levenson said of possible organizational changes, "We talked about bringing in a Scotty Bowman-type, sort of senior hockey guy. ... That's something I will bring up with Don at the appropriate time." Meanwhile, Custance asked if recruiting free agents will be affected by the "perception around the league [that former RW Marian Hossa] didn't want to stay in Atlanta," and Levenson replied, "We've had success in the past. ... we've already begun to have conversations about some of the potential free agents we'll target" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 3/16).