AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 23 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USYoungStars and league news
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Another busy day here in Dallas. It started with a media event with the YoungStars competitors. We had breakfast with the players, so I shared some scrambled eggs and bacon at a table with Kari Lehtonen and Jussi Jokinen. The two told stories about playing against each other in Finland. Jokinen said he’s only scored once on Lehtonen and he’s been playing against him since he was 14 or 15. Kari, answered with, ‘yeah, but he’s got like 50 assists.’
Speaking of Lehtonen, Darren Eliot named him the future of goaltending in his “Skill by skill” article on cnnsi.com, in an article that breaks down the best goaltenders in the league. I know Bob Hartley repeatedly says that he has the best young goaltender in the league.
You might not be able to tell tonight though. The YoungStars game is 4-on-4 and there probably won’t be much defense. Kari basically said he’s hoping he doesn’t embarrass himself. That opinion was also expressed by Peter Budaj who will start in goal for the Western Conference YoungStars.
Commissioner Gary Bettman addressed the media in an afternoon press conference. Here were some highlights:
Lastly, it looks like Marian Hossa will skate on a line with Buffalo’s Daniel Briere and….. you guessed it, Dany Heatley. The three skated together during practice last night, so I’m guessing that’s who we’ll see Hossa paired with on Wednesday night. Should be interesting.
Comments
By Jamie Fehr
January 23, 2007 04:41 PM | Link to this
Thats a sweet line. I hope Hossa sets Heatley up and they combine to score a beauty.
By Tony C.
January 23, 2007 05:18 PM | Link to this
Wow that is a sick line
By Brendan
January 23, 2007 06:08 PM | Link to this
Hossa, Briere and Heatley. Imagine having the payroll to pull off a line like that? Just out of curiosity, has anyone priced what each All-Star team’s payroll might be? I shudder to think what it is! Twice the $44 million cap, if not more.
By dj
January 23, 2007 06:27 PM | Link to this
There is also a great article on nhl.com about the hossa heatley trade. It makes your realize what a tough life decision heatley had to make. I know many fans dont like him for what he did and boo him , but it’s great to see him continue to do something he loves and enjoy it. Unfourtanetly one life was ruined by that faithful day, but it’s better then two.
By Bob
January 23, 2007 07:24 PM | Link to this
Bettman is whistling through the graveyard if he’s claiming the VS deal was a good one for the league. They really had a chance to open up to new viewers when they opened the scoring of the game up with the rule changes at the end of the lockout.
Instead, they rejected ESPN and went with $20m more or whatever for the VS deal. Didn’t VS only pay $70m or so for the 3 years? Can you imagine the increased exposure hockey would get on ESPN’s two existing HD channels? Hockey in HD on ESPN with the new rules would’ve brought a lot of new viewers to the game.
By Jennifer
January 23, 2007 08:12 PM | Link to this
I don’t care if Kari embarrasses himself so much as I don’t want him to injure himself. So far he’s doing us proud.
By Craig Custance
January 23, 2007 09:27 PM | Link to this
Well, Lehtonen survived the YoungStars game, and got the win. His opening comment afterwards? “The warmup was more intense.” Then he laughed, and said it was a lot of fun, and he enjoyed it.
By Sara
January 23, 2007 10:32 PM | Link to this
Looks like Hoss did all right for himself in the skills competition. Go East Go!
Interesting of course that he and Dany will be playing on a line together. Coupled with dj’s comments, it brings an even more interesting thought to mind. Obviously next year the A-S Game is here in Atlanta. Odds are good that Heater will be there for it and one must wonder how ATL fans will react to that. I have some bitter feelings toward Dany - mostly because of the things he said to the press when he got to Ottawa - and I didn’t feel bad at all when he got booed during OTT/Thrash games. But I really hope he doesn’t get booed at the A-S game next year. Not the time or place for that, with (in theory) the whole country watching.
By Tony C.
January 23, 2007 11:45 PM | Link to this
Yeah. provided he doesn’t diss ATL anymore…I thought the 1st game back was all the booing needed…but that’s me. I do think that booing him @ next year’s A-S game would be tacky…it’d make us look bad.
I was wrong on Souray-but Hos did pretty darn good!
By Matt H
January 24, 2007 01:33 PM | Link to this
I sure hope Marian Hossa doesn’t strangle kittens in his spare time or anything, cos he seems to embody everything that’s right with the NHL-hard work, skill and (though it’s hard to apply to someone who makes more money a year than I’ll probably ever see) humility.
That’s why Eric Lindros never “accepted the torch”- not just because of his injuries, but because he’s a giant baby without (presumably) the diaper and pacifier (what he does in his spare time is anyone’s guess…). The interview with Bernie Mullin had a good point: it’s good to promote Alex and Sidney, but some established stars need some more NHL spots- players like Marian, Ilya, Teemu Selanne and Jerome Iginla. There is a spot with Vincent Lecavalier and Brad Richards, and one with Marty Turco, so they’re out there.
Also, did anyone else think Jason Blake looked like a cocktail onion? I kept hearing Crosby got speared by someone on the Islanders, little did I know it would turn out to be Hermie the Dentist Elf.