With All-Star game canceled, Thrashers still hopeful for season

<p>Having the National Hockey League All-Star game canceled came as no surprise to the Atlanta Thrashers front office, which now hopes the entire season isn't lost over lack of a collective bargaining agreement with the players.</p><p>"We're taking it one day at a time," Thrashers general manager Don Waddell said. "Obviously, we're following the lead of the commissioner and supporting him very much. We're all hopeful something is going to happen."</p><p>If all the logistics can be worked out, the next available All-Star game could be scheduled in Atlanta in 2008.</p><p>"We're disappointed about it," Waddell said. "We're more disappointed where we are with the season, but the All-Star game was going to be an opportunity to showcase our city and great venue, Philips Arena. We know we're going to get it back here in the next few years."</p><p>As early as the scheduled start of training camp, Waddell talked about the possibility of losing the league's All-Star game, which had been scheduled for next Feb. 13 at Philips Arena.</p><p>The league and players association haven't met since Sept. 9 and no bargaining session is scheduled.</p><p>The organization has kept its staff on the job despite having no product to put on the ice.</p><p>"We have not laid anyone off, but when people leave we don't fill those positions," Waddell said. "We're trying to cut every expense we possibly can. The last thing is always to save the people, save the employees."</p><p>That likely won't be possible if the entire season is canceled.</p><p>"If the whole season is canceled, it's going to be a different story," he said. "We're not getting close to (layoffs) yet. On Jan. 1st, we'll see where we're at. Hopefully both sides will get back, negotiate and hopefully salvage something from the season."</p><p>The Thrashers will have the assistance of the Atlanta Sports Council in trying to get the game in Atlanta in 2008.</p><p>Gary Stokan, president of the council, said it knew the possibility existed that the '05 game might have to be canceled.</p><p>"The NHL was very up front due to the potential for a lockout or strike," Stokan said Thursday. "The Thrashers and everybody else said we need a backup date if this happens. '08 was the date we honed in on. Now what we are doing is working through that."</p><p>"Things have to happen," Waddell said of 2008. "But certainly we're going to push for it."</p><p>The league wouldn't want to have a date colliding with the NFL's Super Bowl and its massive television coverage.</p><p>Stokan said there are several dates in late January and February of 2008 he thinks will work.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/11/157473