Count former Atlanta Thrashers head coach John Anderson among those laying blame for the Atlanta Spirit Group's struggles at the feet of the ownership group itself. Anderson was quoted as telling SiriusXM's NHL Home Ice show, "Ownership in Atlanta doesn't want to be committed to hockey."
Current Thrashers player Chris Thorburn would likely agree, having accused the ASG of already "turn[ing] their backs" on the team and its players. Former Thrashers players and former Flames players alike have also joined in on slamming ownership for one mistake or another.
He was also asked whether the potential relocation was used as a reason for failing to re-sign Ilya Kovalchuk, which he strongly denied.
As more and more hockey people associated at one point or another with the basketball-centric ownership group continue to tell their stories -- and believe me, they will -- Atlanta's hockey fanbase will continue to be vindicated in its grievances against the ASG. Too little, too late, of course, but there's something to be said for being right all along.
Anderson coached the team in 2008-09 and 2009-10, achieving one of the franchise's three winning seasons in his second year.
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