Sports Columnists

By Brendan

April 17, 2006 11:48 PM | Link to this

Of course there’s a lot of frustration. The team just got eliminated by a non-playoff team, against whom they owned a 5-0-2 record coming into the game.

While Dunham is a consensus pick for blame, the Thrashers had plenty of chances. And they guys who are supposed to get it done, Hossa, Kovy, and Savard and Kozlov, didn’t wind up among the goal scorers. Again.

Savard missed a “golden opportunity” on the PP, at a time when Atlanta could have ripped the game wide open.

Now, it doesn’t really matter who scores, as long as the Thrashers win. But Holik, McCarthy, and Exelby should not turn into “go to guys” for offense.

Bondra scored. At the time, it was HUGE.

It put Atlanta up, 4-3. A lead they carried into the 3rd period. How do the Thrashers blow a third period lead against a “bottom five” team?

Well, I don’t want to sound too down on them. After all, I came in expecting them to finish 6-0-2 against a divisional opponent. That’s just not statistically likely. Sooner or later, the Caps are going to beat you in regulation.

I’m sure we’d all just wished it wasn’t now, at this critical juncture.

But it was a pretty great playoff run. In early December, this team appeared headed off to the draft lottery. So, all things considered, they had a very good second half of the season. That seven-game losing streak was just too much to overcome. And losing Lehtonen and Dunham for 36-games was tough, too.

I feel terrible for Garnett, who “finally” suffered the team’s obligatory “groin injury.” I wonder if they’ll start Adam Berkhoel Tuesday night? Why not give the kid another chance? Hey, don’t say “what if he injures his groin?” That would set some kind of “unofficial record” for groin injuries.

I said I wouldn’t cry if the Thrashers didn’t make the playoffs, and I won’t. We all knew this battle was uphill all the way. I’m surprised and delighted they even kept it going this far. It was a heckuva run.

Next year, the Capitals will be better. The competition for playoff spots will be very intense. It’s hard to pick a playoff team that is expected to be worse next year.

Montreal could falter. The Lightning are not the same team without Khabibulin. Those are two teams to expect to catch next year.

But what about Florida? They could be a playoff team next year, potentially. Buffalo, the Rangers, and Carolina should all be back. The Flyers and Senators have what it takes to return next year.

Perhaps the Devils will falter next year? They’re getting older. But, ultimately, Don’s draft picks have to materialize. Coburn and Valabik are needed. Alex Bourret should be closer to a roster spot. Goalies Dan Turple and Ondrej Pavelec should challenge Garnett and Berkhoel for backup duties, assuming Dunham and Shields are lost to free agency or trades.

It’d be nice to have Bondra back. Hopefully Havelid will be here. Nice to have Kozlov back. Maybe Marc Savard can return. I thought Savvy missed some glorious chances in the stretch run. He missed a penalty shot vs. Boston, but scored on another penalty shot.

Oh well. Maybe there’s some magic during the draft this summer.

By Bob

April 17, 2006 11:48 PM | Link to this

Dunham played a crap game, but the guys in front of him didn’t play that great either. Don’t blame them, it was too big hill a climb, but don’t lay 100% of it at Dunham’s feet.

By Howie

April 18, 2006 12:03 AM | Link to this

As a Caps fan that just got back from the game, it makes me feel really happy how your paper trashes the Caps as a member of the “dregs”. The Capitals have been competitive in many of their games (so many 1 goal losses) and are clearly on a plan to improve. The same cannot be said for the Thrashers, who have not. A couple of high profile free agents who are old - and will be older next year.

You complain about goaltending…

You should’ve kept Dafoe. He was one of the league’s best and seemed to be blacklisted as a result of the Boston fiasco - coming to Atlanta for only $1 million - he should never have had trouble getting a job. At that time Atlanta sucked… Looks like Dafoe got blamed and now look at the mess you’re in.

By B. Thenet

April 18, 2006 12:03 AM | Link to this

Blame the guy that signed Dunham, Shields, Hurme, Fankhouser, Maracle, Dafoe, Rhodes, Cassivi, etc.

This season was over when DW refused to sign a NHL caliber backup when Nurminen went down in the summer. Pavelec will be in the NHL in another year or two, DW needs to find someone who can start between Lehtonen injuries. And at this point I have no faith at all in DW’s ability to assess NHL goaltending talent.

By James

April 18, 2006 12:07 AM | Link to this

Well, the dream is finally over. For that’s what it was all along, a dream, unfortunately. There were just too many if’s to overcome. If Tampa and Montreal lose, if we win out our final games,….if we had just beaten Toronto once or twice…The Thrash had a great run, considering their past seasons. This one definitely goes down as the best ever, but in light of the expectations and talent, franchise records for wins and points just leave you feeling a bit empty after a seven-month, 82-game roller-coaster. It would be easy to sit here and point out all the problems that this team this season, encapsulated in 60 minutes tonight, but they were also too many good and happy memories as well. I am extremely proud of my Thrash, finally becoming a real hockey team this year. And as much as I hate to say it, just wait til next year!

By Howie

April 18, 2006 12:09 AM | Link to this

Oh yeah, and Bobby Hartley should’ve been fired after this game.. The thashers had a penalty when down 5-3 with 4 mins left. Hartley waited until the PP was almost over to pull the goalie. I commented to my friend that he should’ve pulled the goalie at the start of that penalty. The Thrashers actually played very dominating during that PP and could’ve really had a chance with the extra attacker.

It’s ok, really, because the post-game cerimonies were awesome!

By Howie

April 18, 2006 12:10 AM | Link to this

Oh yeah, and Bobby Hartley should’ve been fired after this game.. The thashers had a penalty when down 5-3 with 4 mins left. Hartley waited until the PP was almost over to pull the goalie. I commented to my friend that he should’ve pulled the goalie at the start of that penalty. The Thrashers actually played very dominating during that PP and could’ve really had a chance with the extra attacker.

It’s ok, really, because the post-game ceremonies were awesome!

By B. Thenet

April 18, 2006 12:12 AM | Link to this

Hey Howie, if Dafoe is so good please tell us which NHL team he is playing for right now?

Thanks

By ben

April 18, 2006 12:19 AM | Link to this

I think Thenet is being a little too kind. Waddell canot evaluate tallent in the draft. There is a whole track record here to prove it. Kari is too brittle to stand up to an offense with our defense in front of him. No knock on him. Roy in his prime would have faltered. There were games when the D didn’t show up at all. Pay for some defense.

By LAC

April 18, 2006 12:23 AM | Link to this

Hey howie… I was stunned to hear the TOTAL CLASSLESS comments by kolzig, I always thought he had class, no more he is just a end of the line washed goalie with NO future.

I really, I REALLY hope he is speared next season for those comments, or run over with a tank, he SUCKS and so do the worthless caps, or craps… and hanlon as a coach…maybe a pickup street hockey game in Springfield would suit him much better, and for caps fans… NO playoffs now or any year before say…2020…

Just SUCKS to see losers gloat over the ONLY thing they did all season…

“But” they… are from the north too !!!!!!

By Brendan

April 18, 2006 12:39 AM | Link to this

I know it’s “too soon” to be talking about the Draft, but in a week or so, Don and the owners and Coach Hartley should have a “pow wow” over what to do this summer, in terms of the draft and free agency.

With that in mind, a “decision” on Marc Savard needs to be made. And, I would think, an assessment of all of Atlanta’s free agents, restricted and unrestricted.

This ownership group should focus on who they’re willing to bid over, and who they won’t. And some careful scrutiny over the SIZE and DURATION of contracts should be discussed at length.

For the “restricted free agents,” some thought to “holdouts.” Lehtonen is under contract, but he may feel “underpaid and underloved.” But as “injury-plagued” as he has been, I would hope he’d think twice about asking for more. Moreover, do you give an injury-plagued goaltender a new multi-year deal, in hopes of economizing a bit over the long haul?

Damian Rhodes got paid $10 million over three (3) years, and he only played a whopping total of 81-games over that stretch.

In hindsight, I’m sure DW wished he’d given him a two-year deal for $6 million.

This was, officially, Kari’s “rookie season.” But in the coming years, can Atlanta really afford to keep Kovalchuk, Hossa, Holik, DeVries, Havelid, and Lehtonen? Along with Bondra, Kozlov, “X,” and Stefan?

If Coburn and Valabik and Bourret are going to be on the rost, those are 1st round picks, and have to be signed at a higher amount, accordingly.

So, “financial decisions” are in order. I think summer vacations are great! These owners like Aruba, Jamaica, the Netherlands Antilles, Las Vegas … probably Seychelles. And that’s fine and good. But come back ready to make some decisions for the future of this franchise.

First and foremost, are you keeping Savard or what? If not, what are you going to do with the money saved on his contract?

The June Draft will be here sooner than you think.

By B. Thenet

April 18, 2006 12:50 AM | Link to this

Savard will be gone. Some team is going to pay him $4 million+, and the Thrashers can’t afford that with the Hossa, Kovalchuk, Holik salaries.

I know the re-sign Savard issue is going to be the next big thing to strike Blueland, I would recommend you just forget about it. Savard spent many years in the NHL wilderness before hitting Atlanta, and he just cannot afford to give a “hometown discount” when he is looking at the first, and probably only, big payday of his career.

I think they get a marginal C, which is all they need with the wingers we have, and spend a bit on a 2nd tier Dman with the $$ saved on Savard.

By Russ

April 18, 2006 12:58 AM | Link to this

Tonight’s game was certainly symbolic of the things that have hurt the Thrashers all season, and in fact their entire existence: bad goaltending, goalie injuries, poor defensive zone coverage, and sloppy turnovers. In the end this team didn’t deserve to make the playoffs, poor goaltending or not, you just don’t give up six goals in a playoff type game. Teams are supposed to tighten up their defense and play a little more conservatively in games like this. My guess is throughout the entire playoffs there won’t be more than a couple of times where a team reaches six goals and that is because that is the style of play winning teams play in the playoffs or playoff type situations. Looking back on this season there are so many games that you could say “that gave cost the Thrashers the playoffs”, but I just want to forget about it right now because it is just too frustrating to go over again and again.

I am not going to rip on DW, I am simply going to say it is time for him to go. My choice would be to hire Dean Lombardi as the new GM, but the Thrashers would have to swoop in and grab him fast because he is reportedly the front-runner to become GM in Boston.

I like Hartley as coach, but I have to question one of his decisions at a key time in tonight’s game. All year long we have been told how Holik does all the little things that help teams win like fight for loose pucks along the boards and win key defensive zone face-offs (and he has been playing extremely well since coming back from his injury). So my question is why after the Hossa penalty put the Thrashers down two men was Larsen taking the key face-off in the Thrashers zone rather than Holik? There were 33 seconds left when that puck was dropped, had the Thrashers won the face-off and gotten a clear they probably would have only had to kill off about 15 seconds of 5 on 3 by the time the Capitals would have been able to re-gain possession in the Atlanta zone. Instead the Caps won the face-off and shortly after put home the game winning (and season ending) goal.

Lastly, I am with Brendan that I hope the Hockey blogs are continued throughout the playoffs I would like to make my predictions of how the playoffs will unfold and see what others have to say. Despite the unhappy finish it was fun this year, and I have enjoyed the opinions shared on these blogs wether they agreed with me or not.

By Tony C.

April 18, 2006 01:18 AM | Link to this

Amen. and now…. Tony C.’s Post-Season To-Do memo for DW and other Thrasher front-office types:

(1)Get me some D!!! Keep Havelid, McCarthy, Big X…re-work Sutton’s contract with mad incentives for better-than-average plus/minus ratings or trade him. Get me Scott Stevens (or someone else of a similar ilk that will have the respect of the guys in the room. This means a guy with some hardware on his mantle, and in his mouth)as a special assitant D coach.

(2)Although this clearly should be #1; GET A GOALIE TRAINER The team has suffered from one after another goalie groin injury. If some kid from the burbs of Atlanta can realize the need for this, surely the great hockey minds of blueland can see it as well! Also, I would make a new rule that all goalies must attend summer workouts with physical therapists/trainers who specialize in the core/groin conditioning. This has got to stop.

(3) RE-SIGN NUMBER 9!!! (I believe Brendan has posted about 3 different, fair scenarios on this very blog if yall need some inspiration)

(4) Cut Modry. He’s an awesome guy, I’ve seen him be very cool with fans, especially kids, but he was more and more of a liability down the stretch.

(5) Make sure that our grinders get the recognition they deserve. Larsen, Boulton and especially Aubin played brilliantly down the stretch and should be compensated accordingly. I realize that there’s only so much money, but these guys should be taken care of. Suprise me.

(6) Offer Vancouver Dunham, and a prospect plus a 2nd round pick for Bertuzzi and a prospect. Again, surprise me. Bert’s clearly in a funk in BC, and maybe the warm weather would agree with him. Also, his value has gone way down since the ‘03-‘04 season. I know I’m dreaming but I bet there’s a way to swing it….don’t give them Garnett, but maybe one of the other goalies in the system???

(7) Get a better TV package. Media exposure always helps sell your product. Winning compounds the return on your investment. See Atlanta Braves Baseball.

(8) Continue two-for-one promo nights, Lord knows you’ll need it to get butts in the bleachers after the dissapointing end to the season.

(9) DO NOT SIGN ANY F.A. OVER 27!!! We already have enough age and experience on this club. It was painful to watch Mell’s body betray him at times during Monday’s game. We may or may not have made the playoffs with a yearlong dose of Lehtonen, but honestly, it’s a fast fast league now. That being said, keep #19, he’s a tremendous competitor, and despite his body’s betrayal, he showed more than a couple of the younger members of this squad how the NHL game should be played! I’m p!ssed we didn’t get him a better shot at having his name in silver.

(10)I know Kozlov got all sorts of bonus money, but I can think of no-one more deserving. Should #13 still be playing at a productive level come february ‘08, extend his contract. Re-sign Petr Gun! But at the same/similar terms we got him for this year.

(11) Get more of Atlanta’s metro population involved. This means paying Travis Tritt’s, John Smoltz’, Lil’ John’s, Goldberg’s and Ludacris’ appearance fees. This means advertising the hits to a potential fan-base that loves to see somebody bring the lumber….also in the TV spot that shows the highlight reel of big hits, play some down-south CRUNK hip hop…almost everybody under 35 in metro ATL loves that stuff, only about 48-57% of the total population dig the metal-style music in your current promo spots. I know it sounds crazy, but I bet it’d work at least as well as what you’ve been doing.

(12) Hire me.

By kevin

April 18, 2006 01:20 AM | Link to this

I agree Holik has to take that draw on the 5 on 3. Hartley has repeatedly had Larson taking 5 on 3 faceoffs and he loses everyone of them, that was a critical mistake.

By Tony C.

April 18, 2006 01:27 AM | Link to this

OK.

I realize that there’s a lot of pipe-dreaming in my above post.

That being said, if we don’t re-sign #9, I’d like to see us get a SOLID long-term F.A. on the blueline. Or go with the Bertuzzi dream scenario.

By Willie

April 18, 2006 06:01 AM | Link to this

I missed Olie the goalie’s comments. Exactly what did he say that prompted Lac to wish that he gets speared and run over by a tank next season?

By Willie

April 18, 2006 06:03 AM | Link to this

I missed Olie the goalie’s comments. Exactly what did he say that prompted Lac to wish that he gets speared and run over by a tank next season?

By Kevin

April 18, 2006 06:11 AM | Link to this

Well i see bull durham played his Game…No show n poor garrett hurt self when saw a young lady’s boobs n pulled a groin.So another season of goalies n where is devoe at also no see him any where. Okay waddell lets get a Goalie who will play n not think of sex alot.And be sure keep garrett remember him he had 4 shutouts on time n was 9-2-2..Then u sent down to minors for doin to well u all remember Him coach,

By Kevin

April 18, 2006 06:12 AM | Link to this

Well i see bull durham played his Game…No show n poor garrett hurt self when saw a young lady’s boobs n pulled a groin.So another season of goalies n where is devoe at also no see him any where. Okay waddell lets get a Goalie who will play n not think of sex alot.And be sure keep garrett remember him he had 4 shutouts on time n was 9-2-2..Then u sent down to minors for doin to well u all remember Him coach,

By Kevin

April 18, 2006 06:12 AM | Link to this

Well i see bull durham played his Game…No show n poor garrett hurt self when saw a young lady’s boobs n pulled a groin.So another season of goalies n where is devoe at also no see him any where. Okay waddell lets get a Goalie who will play n not think of sex alot.And be sure keep garrett remember him he had 4 shutouts on time n was 9-2-2..Then u sent down to minors for doin to well u all remember Him coach,**=thid test will be bolded

By Dave

April 18, 2006 08:12 AM | Link to this

Get Brad Richards!! He is a free agent. We need proven winners in Atlanta. Everyone is expendable except Kovalchuk to free up cap room for Richards. Look what he and Lecavalier did for the worse team in the NHL, a Stanley Cup. (Yeah St Louis helped a lot too.) Proven winners in juniors and in the NHL. SIGN HIM!! How about Sarich or Kubina on the blue line where Atlanta is seriously lacking. I believe they are also free agents. Raid the Stanley Cup champs and bring that Cup to Atlanta with a healthy Lehtonen in net next year. Now wouldn’t that be exciting??

By Mike

April 18, 2006 08:38 AM | Link to this

News flash for LAC…here’s a reporter’s view of what prompted Kolzig’s comments, which weren’t at all classless…by the way, how many times have the Thrash made the playoffs?

“Blueland North – Atlanta dubbed itself “Blueland” this season, obviously having no idea how cruelly appropriate that moniker would become in game No. 81 of the season. After going 5-0-2 in their first seven meetings with Washington this season, the Thrashers fell in the one that mattered the most. Washington came from behind twice and rallied from a 4-3 deficit going into the third to hand the Thrashers a bitter 6-4 setback, ending Atlanta’s playoff hopes.

“There are no secrets,” admitted goaltender Olie Kolzig after the game. “We hate that team. It started at the beginning of the year. They push the limits on how hard they play, and they spanked us a few times earlier in the year. [It’s] sweet revenge. We had the last laugh and we don’t feel bad about it.”

The Caps played a home-and-home set with the Thrashers in the second and third games of the season. Atlanta won 7-3 at MCI Center and 8-1 at Philips Arena, running up the score with glee and deploying its top power play performers late in the one-sided contest in Atlanta. Several of the Thrashers also made runs at Washington’s goaltenders throughout the season.

The Capitals didn’t forget.”

By Kyle

April 18, 2006 08:40 AM | Link to this

Tony C, some good suggestions. Kevin, what language was that?

By BC

April 18, 2006 08:43 AM | Link to this

Seems to me we need to improve of defense. Plain and simple. We have offense and we have goaltending (if our NHL caliber medical staff and strength/conditioning coaches can figure out how to avoid groin injuries). No way you should lose games if you are scoring 4, even with the new rules. You hear D Elliot and JP rave about our defense, but how many times did they give up a lead? How many times did we have to make a comeback? How many times did you see an open opponent standing at the top of the crease? Think of the recent goals that were scored - how many were by wide open players? We need a solid, big name defenseman or 2. Sorry, these guys aren’t consistently getting it done. I think they are good, but INCONSISTENT.

By AB

April 18, 2006 08:48 AM | Link to this

GET SOME DEFENSE!!

Like Bob said above, Dunham had a bad game last night but you can’t put all of the blame on the goalies. He is the “last line” of DEFENSE. The scorers got past every skater before they could take the shot. Also, a couple of goals last night were direct results of a defensemen’s stupid turnover.

I am sad this morning because I don’t see us doing much better next year without some better defensemen.

I have spent a fortune on season tickets and will again next season but no playoffs in ‘07 and I am done!

By Bob

April 18, 2006 09:10 AM | Link to this

Guys, the sad truth is that we have great forwards, but our defense and our goaltending have been our weak spot year in and year out. There is one constant here, and it’s Waddell’s inability to draft or sign solid defensive or goaltending help. I see no reason for that to change, unless the owners get a clue and get rid of the underlying problem, Waddell.

By CL

April 18, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this

It will all be easier to stomach if Tampa and Montreal win tonight.

By Red Light

April 18, 2006 09:40 AM | Link to this

Scapegoatism is always on the top of the list with this franchise and it starts at the top. It’s easy to fault the back-up goalie, who was pressed into action after sitting 28 games with an injured groin. Then upon being activated, he faces 35 shots in his first game back on Jan. 19 and gives up 7 goals in 59 minutes. His next call to duty comes 22 games later when he was granted 12 minutes of playing time. He sits for another four games, then, after Kari gets hurt in Tampa he plays 46 minutes. So, he replaces Lehtonen for the momentous playoff drive with a whopping 117 minutes of playing time under his belt since Jan. 19 and wins four straight games, giving up no more than 3 goals in any of those games. And like it or not, Dunham’s goals against average of 2.77 is better than Lehtonen’s 2.94.

With all that being said, how can you expect any goalie to be sharp and at his best under those circumstances?

Lost in the late season euphoria is the Thrashers inability to get solid production from their top forwards while at even strength.

Since Feb. 3 (which encompasses 28 games), the Thrashers lived and died by the power play. Here are the players stats at even strength during that time. You’ll notice that Andy Sutton had more points than Kovalchuk at even strength during that period.

Kozlov 5 goals and 12 assists Savard 3 goals and 12 assists Hossa 4 goals and 10 assists Sutton 5 goals and 8 assists Kovalchuk 8 goals and 4 assists Holik 7 goals and 5 assists (only played 23 games) Havelid 0 goals and 10 assists Mellanby 5 goals and 4 assists Bondra 6 goals and 2 assists

For the season, while playing at even-strength (5 on 5, 4 on 4 and 3 on 3), the Thrashers outscored their opposition 154-153. They are currently tied for 2nd in power play goals with 100, yet they allowed 101 goals on the penalty kill.

I don’t think the shortcomings of this team are limited to the problems with the back-up goalie.

By Hotrod

April 18, 2006 10:21 AM | Link to this

All I ask from a sports team is entertain me and I got that from this years Thrasher team from start to finish.

Most mornings I was checking NHL.com to see where we stood.

I went to more games than ever. I am just going to hate the withdrawls till camp in September.

By Red Light

April 18, 2006 10:23 AM | Link to this

Unofficial free agent status Marc Savard, (UFA)

Group III (unrestricted; original team has no right to match) Serge Aubin, (III) Peter Bondra, (III) Eric Boulton, (III) Mike Dunham, (III) Niclas Havelid, (III) Shane Hnidy, (III) Brad Larsen, (III) Scott Mellanby, (III) Ronald Petrovicky, (III) Steve Shields, (III) Jean Pierre Vigier, (III)

Group II (restricted; original team has right to match or accept draft-pick compensation); Garnet Exelby, (II) Michael Garnett, (II) Kari Lehtonen, (II) Derek Mackenzie, (II) Steve McCarthy, (II) Patrik Stefan, (II)

Signed for at least next season. This year’s salary figures shown. Sutton $1,800,000 Modry $1,748,000 deVries $2,280,000 Kovalchuk $6,500,000 Holik $4,250,000 Hossa $5,000,000 Kozlov $2,660,000 Slater $900,600 Total $25,138,600

Figures shown are from NHLPA.com

By pete

April 18, 2006 10:28 AM | Link to this

I would like to comment on a couple of issues in regards to the goaltending down the stretch. First take into account that only two teams have allowed more goals against this year than the Thrashers. The biggest problem was Hartley not having the backup ready when Kari went down. Most NHL coaches like to play the backup 1 out of every 4 games, (approx. 20 games per year). The streak where Kari started every game was going to spell disaster if he got hurt. And it did. Michael Dunham was a great sign for Atlanta as he came from the NYR’s as a starter. He is of the starting calibur, not a backup. When he lost his first start back in L.A. (7-6 loss?), it appears Hartley wanted nothing more to do with him. Although Mike practices hard, it is not the same as game conditions. I knew that even though he won the four games in a row, he was not yet game comfortable. Thus the pressure cooker and bad effort in Washington last night. Coach Hartley showed his true feelings about Dunham when pulling him 4 min into the game. You do not do this to a veteran and I am guessing he would have settled down, like he did in the previous games. Not only did Hartley break Dunny’s spirit (which he needed later), he destroyed Chicago’s Calder Cup hopes with Garney’s injury. What’s going to happen tonight? Will he call up Adam from Gwinnett and get him hurt for the Kelly Cup run. Nobody in the Media appears to know Dunham’s resume. He is not a AHL goalie who got lucky in the bigs. Mike Dunham will leave Atlanta this summer and will be remembered for only for this disaster. He will sign with another team and at one point beat his former team, cause that’s the way things go. Kari is our future, but we need him for more than 40 games, and we need to play the backup on a regular schedule. Maybe Coach Hartley will be able to do this if the team gets out of the gates faster next season. The coach has to take blame for this mess and by pulling Dunham, tried to blame him. Maybe somebody should spend some time talking to Sakic or Roy about his coaching style up there and how they ran him out of Denver. (the players).

By kevin

April 18, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this

Does anyone know if NHL money is guaranteed or does it work like the NFL? All the money tied up with Devries and Modry is hurting us. If we could release them without taking a hit the dollars could be used to sign a top tier defenseman. I like many others have no confidence in Waddell making the right moves this offseason. We have continually been lacking on the blueline and in the net since the beginning of the franchise. The time is now for new direction in the acquistion of talent.

By Red Light

April 18, 2006 10:54 AM | Link to this

Not exactly sure, but the NHL has a 2/3 remaining salary option on some or all contracts.

I think that is the escape method clubs can use to get rid of players they no longer wish to keep.

By Red Light

April 18, 2006 10:57 AM | Link to this

Not exactly sure, but the NHL has a 2/3 remaining salary option on some or all contracts.

I think that is the escape method clubs can use to get rid of players they no longer wish to keep.

Well said Pete! But, the Wolves finished 5th in the West Division of the Western Conference. They’re done!

By pete

April 18, 2006 11:16 AM | Link to this

Thanks Red Light! In that case we can prop him up and play him tonight! I’m a bit defensive about the Goalies….what a thankless position!

By Red Light

April 18, 2006 11:22 AM | Link to this

Richards is a Group 2 and likely will be very, very expensive.

Some Available Group 3 Players. Obviously, some are either well out of Waddell’s price range or ability to attract them, but as long as we are speculating, some would look good in Blue, and some could be affordable.

Forwards David Legwand Patrik Elias (Hossa, Elias and Kozlov) Jamal Mayers (hard worker, complimentary player) Maxim Afinogenov Jean-Pierre Dumont Matt Cullen Fernando Pisani Anson Carter Chris Clark

Defensemen Niclas Wallin Karlis Skrastins Willie Mitchell Jaroslav Spacek Joe Corvo Filip Kuba Marek Zidlicky Pavel Kubina Bryan McCabe

Goalies Johan Hedberg Martin Biron Martin Gerber Manny Legace Chris Osgood Dwayne Roloson Cristobal Huet

Group 2 Players (Go Get At Least One Of These Young Guys!) Duncan Keith (D) Steve Montador (D) Mike Van Ryn (D) Jay Bouwmeester (D) Brad Boyes (C) Patrice Bergeron (C)

I left Lidstrom, Chara and Redden off the list because they are $4-5 million and up players

By Geoffrey Paul

April 18, 2006 11:27 AM | Link to this

Agreed that the face-off is really important in that situation, but I don’t think you can put a player who is as slow-of-foot as Holik out there for a defensive zone face-off while down 2 men. When you are down 2 men you need skaters who can cover a lot of ice quickly and have good stamina. Putting Holik out there for the draw is great IF he wins it, but if he were to lose it, he isn’t going to be able to sprint to the bench for a change and we would have been stuck with a slow skater effectively putting the Thrash down 2.5 men instead of 2- its just not worth the risk. Without the benefit of replay, I am going to guess that other than Larsen there were 2 defenseman on the ice, and obviously neither one of them will be taking the draw. Larsen is a winger and therefore not the best face-off man, but he is a tenacious penalty killer as well as someone who goes a while between shifts so after the specialty situation ends he can catch some air on the bench for a while and recover. All in all, the result sucked, but I think Hartley’s reasoning was solid. You have to put a forward on the ice as your 3rd man. Who else could you put out there? Slava is a great skater and Hartley has been using him a lot more on the PK over the past few weeks- but can we afford to tire him out in a situation like that when we need him to be fresh so he can score goals when we are back at even strength? Plus, he also isn’t all that good in the face-off circle. Who else? Stefan wouldn’t be bad, but his face-off win percentage probably isn’t much better than Larsen’s and now that he is centering Kovy’s line it is more important to keep him fresh. The same things can be said for Hossa taking the draw. In fact, I would have to say that the only other player I would have considered putting out there would have been Aubin. Anyway that is much ado about nothing, and quite possibly wrong since it is all based on the assumption that the other 2 skaters were D-men and I haven’t confirmed that via replay. It was a maddening season. I feel like a Red Sox fan, and like them I will be back for next year, i just can’t turn away, no matter how much they break my heart. And actually, I forget who posted it, but I think partnering up with Vancouver on a deal to land Bertuzzi isn’t a bad idea. Although I have no idea what it would take, and the time to offer Dunham was at the deadline b/c now I’m not so sure they would take another guy who isn’t all that different from Roloson. Dunham has been a #1, and a very good one at that, but at his age it seems his skills have definately diminished and I think the Canucks would want more of a sure thing. Still, scenarios for Bertuzzi are worth discussing, especially as we are probably going to need a new playmaker to take over for the departing Savard (or so I am assuming)

By pete

April 18, 2006 11:35 AM | Link to this

Geoff, I think Dunham was a victim of the strike year, (age and layoff). You’re right, it’s going to be hard for a quality keeper to ride the pines behind Kari. Do you think Dunham would be able to stay after last night. So many of the newer hockey fans want to kill him!

By Red Light

April 18, 2006 11:37 AM | Link to this

Bertuzzi is 31, made $5,269,080 this year, and is not a prototype playmaker. He’s a power forward who is at times gifted with the puck…and he was also minus 17, second worst on the Canucks behind another overrated player, Markus Naslund, who was minus 19.

Bertuzzi had just 13 goals and 26 assists at even strength and had 120 penalty minutes this season.

Pass!

By Wayne

April 18, 2006 12:52 PM | Link to this

All Thrasher fans are disappointed and I am no exception. I saw a goalie have a very bad game in a time that he needed to come up big but I also saw three different defensemen make terrible mistakes: 1) Exelby who blindly through the puck around the boards, not the first time I’ve seem him do this - the opposition is on to him - pressure him & he will cough it up. 2)Sutton had control in his end coming out the right side around the faceoff circle and decided to pass the puck back behind the goal to a vacant space - his partner had already started up the ice. 3) de Vries looking like a pee wee player when he was beaten on the right side near the blue line in the Thrashers end.

Oh well, there is next year. It’s unfortunate so many people fell asleep in the same eliminating game. I enjoyed the team however and can’t wait until next year.

By Peter

April 18, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this

I think you have to try hard to sign Savard, he is more integral than most all of the others mentioned; Particularly those on D…

When you really think about it, there were an awful lot of beakdowns at the blue line resulting in goals this year, and lot’s of passing in front of their own net. The defensmen have to get better or get packing. They left me underwealmed.

I think props need to go out to Kovalchuk who made an obvious effort to become a better two-way player. He was a much better, much smarter player after the Olympic break. During the 7 game skid he would just stand there waiting for the puck to come to him, in March he actually tried to create some of his own opportunities….

And it worked.

By Eric

April 18, 2006 01:09 PM | Link to this

It comes down to chemistry. Can the guys you have play well together. Is there respect? Did Hartly ever find the line combination he liked? From the beginning of the Kovy signing to lack of D and Goaltending, there seemed to be a lack of energy and faith, oh yea and chemistry. Last nights game was just sad.

By kevin

April 18, 2006 01:28 PM | Link to this

Good point Geoffrey on the 5 on 3 there were 2 Defenseman on the ice. The poor play by the defenseman was a key,I thought the pass by Sutton behind the net was a key play it led to the tying goal.

A big challenge is finding someone to back up Lehtonen. The only name on the list I think we can get would be Rolosen. We need a veteran with some time left who could start for long periods of time if Lehtonen goes down again.

If we lose Savard I would pursue Bergeron, great young talent.

By pete

April 18, 2006 01:40 PM | Link to this

Marty Biron would be a good one. I doubt DW will spend more than 700k for a backup. He might not go that high after Dunny. Rolosen might stick if he plays well in the playoffs.

By frontman

April 18, 2006 02:31 PM | Link to this

God, please get a backup goaltender. Dunham, don’t let the door hit you in the a$$ on the way out. What a bee-otch. He didn’t look good on Saturday and he was horrible last night. Forget rotations, etc., that one was totally on the goaltender. Also, can Steve Weeks PLEASE find some kind of conditioning so that these guys don’t get hurt so much? What the he!! are they doing, 12-ounce curls? I’ve got an idea… what about stretching? Sorry about the rant - I’ve got meds for it.

By pinball34

April 18, 2006 05:04 PM | Link to this

Way to let it rip, Schultzie…

Mike Dun’em in…..

By Mikey

April 18, 2006 05:35 PM | Link to this

Dunny is a classic slapstick comic. Being a transplanted Nashvillian, I got to see and hear his comedy routine for 4 years in Nashville. He once blamed his poor performance on having an abbreviated afternoon nap due to the time change from Nashville to the East coast. Last night it was “…just funny bounces.” Ha ha ha Mike, I’m laughing all the way to the offseason. Just admit it, some nights you stink!