AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > December > 23 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThrashers have yet to go splat
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
It’s the holidays, and they’re still here. I know. Been there, then collapsed there. But look at this season so far. A four-game losing streak is followed by six wins in seven games. Five losses are followed by three wins.
No splat. December is almost over.
Do I hear January?
“There’s still some mysteries,” Thrashers coach Bob Hartley said Saturday when asked if he is learning something about his team. “Sometimes we’re just like a box of chocolates. You have to take a bite to find out what’s on the inside.”
Skate, Forrest, skate!
Are the leg braces finally off?
The Thrashers dumped the New Jersey Devils 5-2 on Saturday night at Philips Arena. They are now 21-10-6 and rank second overall in the Eastern Conference. They are banking points early and allowing themselves room for error in the second half, which is not exactly a franchise trait (the banking part, not error part).
They are not perfect. They continue to give up too many shots (38 Saturday, though only nine in the third period). They remain just north of pedestrian at center. (Things you thought you’d never see, and shouldn’t ever see: Jason Krog centering Marian Hossa and Slava Kozlov.)
But they’re winning, and they’ve shown the ability to duct-tape closed any potential trap doors. Eight days ago, they lost 6-0 to the New York Islanders to extend a losing streak to five, prompting a players-only meeting.
What has changed since?
“Desperation,” Bobby Holik said.
Whatever works.
We are weeks away from stringing together the words “playoff lock.” But seemingly there is only one thing that could derail this bunch from finally reaching the postseason: a cry for help that isn’t answered. We’ve seen it before.
Thrashers general manager Don Waddell said Saturday he won’t sit on his hands and allow this team to go into a prolonged slump. He’ll make a trade, if necessary.
“I’ll do something,” he said. “That’s why I’m staying so close to the team.”
Words are one thing, actions another. But the pronouncement should at least alleviate some concerns (and carry more weight than, say, a playoff “guarantee.”)
Remember two seasons ago? The team started strong. Then came a dreadful stretch beginning, well, right about now. The Thrashers lost a game Dec. 28 in Ottawa and proceeded to win only two of 21.
Forrest would’ve screamed, “I’ve gotta save Bubba!”
But Waddell didn’t make a significant move. Playoff hopes spontaneously combusted before our eyes. The fact ownership was in flux at the time might have limited what Waddell could do in terms of adding salary, but dealing with such constraints is what a general manager is paid for.
Last year, the Thrashers dealt with the dizzying parade of injured goalies but had rebounded by midseason. Then came a seven-game losing streak in January. It forced a late-season scramble that left the team two points short of the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
The Thrashers have had defensive problems of late. They allowed an average of only 29 shots through 29 games but are yielding more than 36 per in the past eight. Some of that can be attributed to injuries on defense and to center Steve Rucchin. That should improve when defensemen Garnet Exelby and Andy Sutton return.
The bigger issue is at center, where the Thrashers lost Marc Savard before the season. Their four forwards down the middle Saturday were Holik, Krog, Niko Kapanen and Derek MacKenzie (just recalled from the minors). That likely won’t get it done, certainly not in a playoff series, when power plays might be less frequent and even-strength playmaking is more critical.
Waddell admitted: “We don’t have the playmaking guy who can help [Ilya] Kovalchuk score more goals five-on-five.”
If Waddell decides to make a move, he’s in a good position. The Thrashers are about $3.5 million under the $44 million salary cap. Given that salaries are prorated for cap purposes, Waddell estimates he could technically bring in a “$5 million player” on Jan. 1 and an “$11 million player” near the Feb. 27 trading deadline. (Not that he’s committing to that, mind you.)
“If we’re 100 percent healthy, we really like our team,” he said. “We don’t feel compelled that we have to do something.”
But he’s watching. We’re all watching. So far, no splat.
Permalink | Comments (16) | Post your comment | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Thrashers / NHL
Comments
By Scott
December 24, 2006 12:38 AM | Link to this
The Thrashers will make the playoffs this year. Lehtonen has been great most nights and when Exelby and Sutton return it will really help the defense out. I’ve got a feeling that Waddell will bring in a center closer to the trading deadline. As long as Hossa, Lehtonen, Kovalchuk, and Kozlov are healthy than this team should be a playoff team and the Southeast division champs.
By Tim
December 24, 2006 03:40 AM | Link to this
Not that it matter but I would feel bad for the player that we trade to get that centerman (especially if it is just for rental). The Thrashers have work hard to get to this point and if any of the regular get traded away, that would be a horrible feeling no doubt :)
By Jim
December 24, 2006 08:12 AM | Link to this
Your points are well taken, Jeff but quit with the “negativism” and the past. It’s long gone and will not be repeated- certainly not with a top quality NHL goalie between the pipes. That’s the biggest difference and you seem to have forgotten it. Who cares about shots if they don’t go in and you end up winning? By the way, even with our late minute collapses, we haven’t lost a game in the third period that we led at the end of two.
By Dave
December 24, 2006 09:39 AM | Link to this
Nice post Jim. Right on the money on all counts. Now if Atlanta could just solve the Lightning fourcheck for once in the next game. Tampa Bay has had two unreal wins recently against Ottawa and NY in the 3rd period. Good game looming Tuesday.
By tom
December 24, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this
Can anyone say Peter Forsberg? Provided he can get healthy, Waddell should should make a generous offer to the rebuilding Flyers to shore up the middle with the perhaps the game’s best center (again, when healthy) Not sure what Atl has to offer in terms of pick and prospects, but Philly needs LOTS of those.
By Tom
December 24, 2006 10:17 AM | Link to this
Jeff has a snarky bone to pick with the Thrashers. Going from beat writer to columnist, he has written 2 columns this season on the Thrashers and they both are negative.
My bet, he saw the 5 game slump and put in a request to do a column with his editor. Then the Thrashers had the audacity to win 3 in a row and he had to rewrite his obituary for the team.
But he is a columnist for the AJC. Excepting Bisher, what else can you expect but a series of negativity and snarkiness enveloped with mediocre writing.
By wristshot
December 24, 2006 11:55 AM | Link to this
“Thrashers Have Yet To Go Splat”…. Must be a great feeling, as a player, working your tail off to get to this point in the season and have your one and only hometown “newspaper” give you such a tremendous jolt of optimism… I have no idea why our guys continue to talk to you. Maybe your next “interview” should be with Boulton; on the ice.
By Sean
December 24, 2006 01:12 PM | Link to this
i think he thinks he’s being cute and funny.
By Rockdr99
December 24, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this
Jeff — We are 39-18-8 since the end of last January’s 7 game losing streak — We have a team that not only could make the playoffs but make some progress in the playoffs — No one in the eastern conference has won more than six games in their last ten, so no one has the “perfect” team — Waddell has a major chip(s) to play in late February to improve our team — Where was your positive spin on these facts? —
The AJC coverage of hockey has always been dreadful — Does anyone remember Alan Truex? Check any other major newspaper and see what real coverage is — Considering your hatchet job on Don Waddell last February, he should run the other direction when he sees you coming, but he is the gentleman that you are not —
Stick to your sarcastic drivel on football —
By Ben
December 24, 2006 01:39 PM | Link to this
They need an upgrade at Center all across the system. What would it take for them to get a center via trade? The Thrash is doing very good, but who would have predicted this in September? No, I don’t think this is a fluke, but I wouldn’t have predicted it. I hope I’m wrong, but is it possible that this team is good because Don couldn’t make any changes. Although, it looks as though some of the draftees are paying off at last. In any case, center is the weakest possition
By Jason
December 24, 2006 02:47 PM | Link to this
Except for Manasso, no one at the AJC knows enough about hockey to even write a paragraph, let alone a caption for a picture (it’s pretty good for Steve Rucchin to be out there celebrating a goal - considering he was a healthy scratch last night…that would be what, a bench minor at the very least for playing when scratched?).
I remember back in the good ol’ days when Schultz used to be a beat writer for the team. Then someone woke up and realized he had the journalistic skills of a ferret and booted him down to third-string columnist.
The only thing missing from the AJC’s converage of the Thrashers is Terence Moore complaining that there aren’t enough black players on the team. Everyone keeps talking about how they wish Arthur Blank would buy the Braves, but if he wants to do the community a real favor, he’d start another newspaper to compete with this fish wrapper.
By danlmac
December 24, 2006 02:54 PM | Link to this
My hat goes off to the bloogers above. You are the reason I even go to ajc.com. Schultz and hockey are two words that should never be used in the same sentence (will break my own rule this once). He’s the one who’s full of “splat”, not the Thrashers.
By Rockdr99
December 24, 2006 03:48 PM | Link to this
Jason, you give Manasso too much credit — Good call on the picture on Steve Rucchin — He’s been gone for almost too weeks — Anyone who knows the team, knows he is out with injury —
By Sean
December 24, 2006 04:10 PM | Link to this
Yeah, that’s Braydon Coburn with McCarthy. WTG, AJC!
By David
December 24, 2006 06:36 PM | Link to this
Make up your mind people. While back you guys wanted Schultz to make more blogs on the thrashers. Now he does two and you people freak out. I’m not really a fan of the guy because he is all about gloom and tragedy (he should work in chicago). But, as thrashers fans we should right now take what we can get.
Falcons are out of playoff contention (+ for us), Hawks suck (+ for us), college football is almost over (+ for us), and baseball doesn’t start back up for while now. I’m sure there will be alot more articles on the thrashers coming soon. Maybe some will be positive.
But, thrashers aren’t perfect so why should an article not point out their flaws. We should always remember our past. If we didn’t, then making the playoffs this year won’t taste as sweet.
By Drew
December 24, 2006 07:10 PM | Link to this
Yeah, the team isn’t perfect, but no team really is. This team has had its bad streaks, but every team does. You have to take those losses in context too.
The first losing streak this team went on was because our goalies were struggling (in one game Kari let in 5 goals off 9 shots), and the second losing streak came from some awful mistakes and miscues on our defensive play. Our defense isn’t the best in the league, but when Sutton and Exelby come back and we get these mental mistakes under control it will get the job done.
So I don’t think you’re going to get this “splat” that you obviously so desperately want to see, you stupid a*****. I don’t know what this team has done to make you feel such horrible resentment, but I honestly have no idea why any Thrashers fan would want to read this crap. Just a bunch of snarkey negativity is all it is, and I’m not sure if you even have any IDEA what you’re talking about.