Thrashers Now Have Justin Bieber Street Cred

Guess who really likes the Thrashers?? I mean reeeaaally likes us?

Twitter-based hockey pimp and former goalie Kevin Weekes!!

Check zee quotes via Craigy Custance of the Sporting News:

SN (Custance): Which team has improved the most this summer?

(Kevin) Weekes: "I would say Atlanta. I just like the fact that they got winners in Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Sopel, Ben Eager and Andrew Ladd. G.M. Rick Dudley is reshaping the culture down there. They have young, hungry players who play well, and they’ve brought in winners."

Weekes: "I like some of what Tampa has done. It would be Tampa or Atlanta. The key thing Tampa has done is get (new G.M.) Steve Yzerman. I really like that. I like that they were able to re-sign Marty St. Louis, and it seems like Vinny (Lecavalier) is happy there. Both those scenarios had a chance to go sideways."

And then there's this little twit-nugget in reply to the following question: "@KevinWeekes Kevin, in your opinion, who is the most underrated gm in the league?"

Kevin's reply? "@gotitotti Jim Rutherford, David Poile, and Rick Dudley."

Okay, so Weekesie isn't without his faults in his mention of Tampa (snicker). But in order to keep his press credentials, he is required to ride the Stevie Y bandwagon because it's the chic thing to do. But the Thrashers? They're never chic. K-Dub knows his hockey and he knows an up and coming team when he sees one! Just like that plucky bunch from Tampa for whom he netminded in 2000 before some guy named Khabibulin came along and stole his, well, thunder. Regardless of whom he hangs out with in airports, I like the fact that Kevin thinks the Thrashers can catch some "lightning in a bottle" this season, Phoenix Coyotes style.

Now if we can just talk Justin Bieber into blowing up the twitterverse -- like he did with Kevin Weekes' twitter account -- with proclamations and exhortations about the Thrashers and their "tightness" as a hockey team....

That may be just enough to bring down more than the twitter.com servers. It may be enough to open a gaping hole in the universe large enough to swallow up Gary Bettman's ego!

UPDATE: Kevin Weekes is universally known as a nice guy. And this is why:

@KevinWeekes - @j_barty_party "Thanks! You guys have made some good moves this summer!"

ATBT will make a point to conduct its first official twitter-based interview with Kevin Weekes.