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Thrashers Fire Coach After Slow Start

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 18, 2007

ATLANTA - A six-game losing streak to start this season put Bob Hartley's job in danger. A quick ouster in last season's playoffs did not help his cause.

Hartley was fired Wednesday as coach of the Atlanta Thrashers, the only NHL team without a victory. General manager Don Waddell will coach the team until a replacement is found.

Waddell said the Thrashers were playing as if they have not recovered from losing four straight games to the Rangers in the first round of the playoffs last season.

'The emotions were so high last year going into the playoffs and we went out quickly, and to be honest I don't know if we've recovered from that yet,' Waddell said. 'If you look, we've lost 10 games in a row, including the last four last year. That's where I believe a change has to be made.'

Waddell said he has no timetable for a hiring and indicated he may look for a coach who is less intense than Hartley.

'Maybe we've got to back off a little bit and let the players have some fun in the game,' Waddell said.

The Associated Press

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