Thrashers

By Russ

January 15, 2007 04:06 PM | Link to this

Why send Popovic down? He looks much better than Coburn to me. I’ll be glad when Sutton gets back, the team is missing him. That is about the most noticeable thing Rucchin has done this season…collide with Sutton in practice and knock out the team’s second best defenseman for an extended period of time.

I’m hoping for at least five points in these last three games before the all-star break. Combined with the win over Carolina that would be a nice way to head into the break and put the losing streak in the rear-view mirror. GO THRASHERS!!!

By Bob

January 15, 2007 04:28 PM | Link to this

Boy, the Thrashers’ record wouldn’t look so good if we ran my Kamal’s plan, I don’t see them ever doing that and I think he’s completely off base.

Think about it, it’s a tie game. Each team should get 1 point. It’s the way the NHL always was.

But the fans wanted to see a winner and a loser each night, so they added the shootout. One bonus point. I have no problem with that and it’s perfectly logical. Either go back to the tie game and each team gets one point, or give the one bonus point to the shootout winner, the way it is now. But to go to this silly 0 points for playing the game to a tie is ludicrous.

Great news about the guys getting healthy. Sutton might be good to go after the All Star break. Just in time, Havelid looks absolutely exhausted. McCarthy will be good to get back also as it gives Havelid some rest on the PP, as he’s had to eat those minutes up also while McCarthy was out.

And I agree with Russ about keeping Popovic over Coburn. Popovic looked much better. The only thing that makes sense to me is if Popovic didn’t have to clear waivers, and Coburn did. Then it makes sense from that standpoint. I would assume that Coburn will go to the press box as soon as McCarthy is back and then either Hnidy or mabye even Vish when Sutton gets back.

By DWTWO

January 15, 2007 04:30 PM | Link to this

It’s really funny about Sutton. He does plenty wrong, is criticized often, and yet the Thrashers don’t win without him in the lineup. Get back soon Andy

By Barry

January 15, 2007 06:12 PM | Link to this

Not sure why people continue to bash Coburn. He started off a little unsure of himself at the NHL level but I think he’s been pretty solid. Every now and then he get caught out of position but who doesn’t? Kovy has gotten caught pinching or out of position lately. XLB just stood there in the crease for that second Carolina goal Saturday. He should have challenged the guy cutting in behind Kari. If anyone needs to get set down or traded it’s DeVries. I’d take Popovic over DeVries any day.

By Tony C.

January 16, 2007 12:47 AM | Link to this

I have to agree about Coburn. While he’s not really setting the word afire, he’s been pretty good for a rookie. Certainly he has the wheels and the shot to be a success at the NHL level-just needs some seasoning.

So, important home stand before the break…I think all of these games are crucial again a chance to put some distance between Le Thrash and the rest of the division. (Speaking of which, read Linda Cohn’s column on division overkill on ESPN-I have to agree with her point) So yall really think LA will deal Cammalleri??? It’d be interesting, that’s for sure.

Have you seen Oleg?

LET’S GO BLUE !!!

By Tony C.

January 16, 2007 12:55 AM | Link to this

Michael: My bad, didn’t see your response the other day…I saw that he’s listed as FA as well…that’s why I’ve been curious…I guess if his knees is shot, he’s not the guy I’m thinking of. Should he get healthy (heck even 75-80% of where he was), I’d love to see him in the Blue. Kvasha that I remember would be ideal for #17, big, fast, good hands nice dish…Russian… Brendan Morrison??? hrrrm….I wonder what’d we have to give up???

LET’S GO BLUE !!!

By Jim

January 16, 2007 08:42 AM | Link to this

I agree with Barry, Tony C. and a couple of others that we don’t see why there continues to be “Coburn bashing”. Sure he made a couple of really glaring mistakes early on (especially the handoff to Eric Staal for an easy goal) but he is one of the better skaters on D., passes well, and is jumping into more offensive play when the situation arises. Hartley is breaking him in slowly which is OK. Other than catching a forward every now and then with his head down, Exelby shows me nothing and DeVries for all of his supposed experience makes more “bonehead” plays that all D-Men combined.

By EROCK

January 16, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this

COBURN SHOULD STAY IN THE LINEUP BUT HE SHOULD LEAVE HIS GLOVES ON FROM NOW ON!!! WE STILL DO NOT HAVE ANYBODY THAT CAN TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS ON THE FIGHTING SIDE OF THE GAME…TRADE FOR HORDICHUK!!!

By Geoffrey Paul

January 16, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this

I love Coburn’s ability. I am very frustrated by his decisions. Overall though, he is better than I expected. I agree that our weakest defenseman is Devo. I know Hartley is comfortable with him from their time in CO, and he is a nice locker room presence b/c he has won the cup, but with our glut of defenseman and obvious needs in other areas on the ice (center) someone needs to go. I also agree that X is another potential guy for a trade. He just hasn’t continued to progress beyond his rookie year. I think the head injury he suffered in year 2 really de-railed his development, he just hasn’t been the same since. Although, I think he has played a bit stronger since coming back from his most recent injury. The other possibility is that Coburn is the trade bait. We could probably get more for him in that he is a former first round pick and has tons of upside. If he gets his decision making process buttoned down he could be a top 3 defenseman in another city. The player he is today however, is someone who could easily be replaced by Popovic (or better yet another NHL defenseman such as Brewer).

By Brendan

January 16, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this

That’s a good question about waivers. I think Coburn could be claimed if left unprotected. But I also think it applies to Popovic, as well. It’s a “murky area” for most fans. It’s like you have to be an attorney to figure out this CBA.

I think Kamal is on to something in his blog. He just didn’t take it far enough. Forget points, entirely. Did you digest that statement yet? Just think NBA or MLB, and you’ve got it right. Games are either won or lost. Period, the end. This is a “new era.” It’s “fair” to EVVVVVVERYONE!!! Each team has the same amount of money with which to operate. There’s no more economic disparity. The ice surface has been leveled. For Cripessakes! There’s even revenue-sharing!! There’s nothing more to gripe about, economically.

The standings should have changed in the post-lockout era to reflect the actual outcome of games. But there are politics of “feel goodism” at play.

Traditionalists like points. They liked “ties,” too. For the record, I never thought of “ties” as evil, sinister things to be avoided at all costs. A tie was a “perfectly acceptable outcome” of a game. But I digress. Traditionalist don’t like shootouts, but have come to tolerate them, since it’s good “marketing/advertising” for the sport. Fine. But once you cross that line of awarding a “win” in the standing for a shootout, you must also accept the flip side of that coin. Namely, that a team lost. If you lose, you LOST. Tough beans. (Trying not to sound pedantic here, but) You had 65-minutes to earn a win. If you didn’t get it done, you have no one but yourselves to blame. You take your chances in the shootout. It is only out of a “social concern” that some want to hand out points for the loser.

The lesson is … games last 60-minutes. Not 59:59. If you give up a late goal, then you suffer the consequences. You face overtime to “redeem” yourself. If that fails, you play shootout roulette. If you win, you dodged a major bullet. If not, you’re dead. Well, as far as the game is concerned. And that, folks, is how you fix what’s wrong with the current system.

The NBA won’t ever hand out a point or “half-loss” for an overtime failure. Major League Baseball won’t reward 10th-inning collapses, either. It’s just part of being a legitimate sports league.

By Brian

January 16, 2007 01:36 PM | Link to this

W = 3 points SOL/OTL = 1 point

This is what you will see in 2 years.

By Bob

January 16, 2007 02:53 PM | Link to this

I could live with this, Brian:

Regulation Win = 3 pts OT or shoot win = 2 points SOL/OTL = 1 point

Guys, Hartley has played Coburn in limited minutes and trys to only put him out against the other team’s 4th line. When we’re on the road, the opposing coach gets last change, and every time Coburn gets put out there, he looks out of place. I also like what I see for his potential, but this club desperately needs to make the playoffs, and make a statement in the playoffs (not first round and out). Coburn will not be a part of that. When McCarthy is back, Coburn sits. The question is who sits when Sutton is back, I choose Vish, but it could be Hnidy.

DeVries plays minutes against the opposing 2nd line. If Coburn were eating those minutes, you guys would all be calling him the biggest bust since Waddell passed over Phaneuf for some slug. Wait a sec

By Brendan

January 16, 2007 05:49 PM | Link to this

I can’t blame Nashville for taking Ryan Sutter in 2003. They could have taken Phaneuf, too. Sutter was the undisputed top D-man in his draft year. Phaneuf was ranked 2nd or 3rd, depending on the source of the scouting. But, it’s still annoying that we could have had Phaneuf.