Thrashers

By Jamie Fehr

January 26, 2007 04:13 PM | Link to this

Waddell is going to have to make a deal soon… but for a centerman not a defenceman (Atlanta already has 8 of those by the way) I think we all know he will it’s just a matter of time, because we now have 8 defenceman who can play at the NHL level and Atlanta could really use a centerman for Kovy. One other note i read this on tsn.ca “- According to the Delaware County Times, the Thrashers will make a push to sign Senators C Mike Comrie as a free agent this summer.” I personally like it i think if it happened that Comrie and Kovy would be very well together. Just wondering what you guys think about that??

By Buzilla

January 26, 2007 04:31 PM | Link to this

Wasn’t Comrie the guy that Kovy got in a fight with when he was pulling his hair?

By michael

January 26, 2007 05:42 PM | Link to this

If we really wanted Comrie don’t you think Wadell would have pulled the trigger on him instead of ottawa. And yes Kovy beat the crap out of Comrie!

By danlmac

January 26, 2007 06:27 PM | Link to this

Kovy and Comrie are professionals and would go to the mat for each other if on the same team. I can’t help but think Comrie at center would be an improvement over what Kovy has had so far this year.

As for D Waddle (misspell intentional) being interested in Comrie earlier..I have to think he wasn’t as it seems to me Ottawa got him pretty cheap. Many other free agent centers will be on the market this summer. Saying, in January, that we are after Comrie, in June, is a bet I wouldn’ put any money on.

Seems to me that Comrie got a game misconduct when he and Ilya fought. His jersey wasn’t buttoned down in back. In a previous game it was Comrie that had called Ilya on the curve in his stick.

Thrashers,…. do us all a favor and bring your A game tonight.

By David

January 26, 2007 07:43 PM | Link to this

Who doesn’t broadcast the first game back from the all-star break…oh yeah.. that would be Sports south.

By Craig Custance

January 26, 2007 08:46 PM | Link to this

Marian Hossa just left the game with an injury to what looked like his left knee. He slid into the boards, although it wasn’t apparent if he hurt it before he hit the boards or after. I’ll keep you guys updated on the situation the best I can.

By David

January 26, 2007 09:00 PM | Link to this

yeah thanks, im listening to radio and they havent said much…that makes me worried..as i type this islanders tie game up..horray.

By Tony C.

January 26, 2007 09:17 PM | Link to this

Yeah Kamal said it looked like he was in a ton of pain…btw: WTF is up with the guys “relaxing” after NYI made the goalie change??? That’s the time you gotta put your foot squarely on the other’s guy’s…errr neck.

End of 2nd period it sounds like they may have woken up now that NYI has tied it up…How many SHG have Le Thrash given up???

LET’S GO BLUE !!!

By David

January 26, 2007 09:23 PM | Link to this

I think they said 8 shorties given up.

By Craig Custance

January 26, 2007 09:28 PM | Link to this

Hossa’s back, and just scored.

By David

January 26, 2007 09:29 PM | Link to this

well i guess everything is ok haha

By sisu

January 26, 2007 09:32 PM | Link to this

How lucky are we with all the posts the Isles keep hitting??? It is nice to see the game on tv:)

By sisu

January 26, 2007 09:33 PM | Link to this

Well we are facing Dunham so he has an edge on knowing the shooters very well…

By Tony C.

January 26, 2007 09:41 PM | Link to this

HO-SSA HO-SSA HO-SSA

What a stud!!! Can’t beleive he comes back like that…also as far as UFA’s Souray is up this summer….It looks like all the pundits (like E.J. Hradek of espn) have us going for Conroy….which would give us Conroy, Holik, Rucchin and Slater up the middle…maybe something to think about…Rucchin may have been playing hurt or something, as his play lately seems to be much improved.

Also,

E.J. Hradek is not showing Hoss any love on the Hart trophy….Yall should let him hear it:

ej.hradek@espnmag.com

LET’S GO BLUE !!!

P.S. Hoss=STUD

By Tony C.

January 26, 2007 09:47 PM | Link to this

ugh! what’s with the pressure NYI is able to get…sisu-you’re watching it….are they using 2 forecheckers? In the zone I mean?

By sisu

January 26, 2007 09:47 PM | Link to this

Fuuuudge! A tie game!

By Tony C.

January 26, 2007 10:18 PM | Link to this

Can’t believe we let (rather my favorite team) them back into it, but hey we got the win…#17 with the OT winner….mebbe somebody’s warming up???

Imperative not to overlook Philly on Sun. Those guys aren’t as bad as their record indicates…but it woould be criminal not to get the regulation 2 on sunday. They could’ve let NYI all the way back but good to see they fought and won!

LET’S Go BLUE !!!

By sisu

January 27, 2007 12:03 AM | Link to this

So we got a win, should have been easier but two points is two points…looked like things were going to be easy at first but there was the classic coaching move of changing goalies. Both teams seemed to suffer from the All Star lay off.

By Bob

January 27, 2007 12:10 AM | Link to this

Oh goodness. When Hossa went down, I almost.

This Club has the mojo

By Brian

January 27, 2007 12:26 AM | Link to this

I thought it would be a cake walk after the 5 min walk and at some point I said to the guy next to me “why do I feel like a third period letdown coming”? Well, I was wrong, it came much earlier than that. This team doesn’t want to play with the lead. The 2nd period PP had me pulling my hair out. Why can’t they just put it away, too many points wasted this year with this 1/2 effort at the end of games.

By russian

January 27, 2007 12:51 AM | Link to this

When we calculated a home points, I said we are going to loose this Game on OT. But I was wrong. :-) WE won and it was very hard and nervious, but 2 points better than 1 or 0. Now Philly is coming in town.

By pondscum

January 27, 2007 06:36 AM | Link to this

Just happy we got the 2 points and Hossa is ok.If any of you have Comcast internet,they have live NHL feeds from certain games every day.Tonight that cam in handy.

And I’d also like to say thanks to Craig on the Metro story put up today,about how he got here. One of the best stories I’ve ever read,really happy for him and hope he stays around with us.Keep up the good work Craig!

By Thrasher_Ed

January 27, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this

Ok, after looking at some intersting numbers per the Hockey News website and a few others, I have 2 or 3 names that can fit our needs at center. I’ll list them in order of preference.

1)Michael Cammalleri - owed 1.7 million, unrestricted at end of the year, 18 goals and 26 assists for 44 points and could be signed long term if you liked. Only 25, great upside

2)Yanic Perreault - owed 700,000(cheap), guy is on fire lately, awesome faceoff numbers, 17 goals, 13 assists for 30 pts, ALL-Star this year, unrestricted free agent at end of year. drawback age 36

3)others of note Craig Conroy (LA), David Vyborny (CBJ), Matts Sundin (TOR)

Just some thoughts for a Saturday morning as we start getting closer to the trade dead line. GO THRASHERS!!

By mb

January 27, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this

Very fortunate to come away with 2 last night…heck, if it weren’t for some great play by Kari and friendly home posts, we might not have gotten 1. There was a crowd in front of Kari all night.

To give them credit, Nolan has the Isles playing well. Both Yashin and Satan seem to have regained some of the early career skills/confidence, and Blake is impressive.

On a side note, last night’s crowd reminded me of when the Braves started playing well in the early 90s. One of the downsides of success is the maroons it brings to the arena. The Skoal-dipping yo-boy behind us talked the ENTIRE 2nd period about everything but hockey, to the point that he had to ask his nephew, who he had been ignoring, if Hossa had gotten hurt at some point. Apparently he missed the whole rush on net, crash into the boards, lie on the ice for 4 minutes thing. Nimrod.

Anyway, Sunday we’re on nation-wide…NBC action.

T-Ed, Cammalleri and Perreault would both be great, though my guess is they’ll be highly sought. I’m not familiar with Vyborny, but please no Conroy. We already have one Rucchin (who, I have to admit, did put forth a better effort again last night…that’s two in a row!).

By michael

January 27, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this

you can forget Camalleri, he is not going anywhere. He is a big peice to the Kings future. Rucchin had the one assist last night. The rest of the game he looked like his usually crappy self, turning the puck over, leaving in the middle of his shift, and slowly skating to the bench. As far as adding a center goes I wouldn’t get your hopes too high, Wadell has said several times that he is satisfied with the team we have.

By russian

January 27, 2007 11:15 PM | Link to this

Great News for Thrashers. Carolina vs Washington 4:7 (very good) NJ vs Florida 2:4 (I like it) and NYI vs Buffalo 5:3 (it is OK). Well, if we will win tomorrow, we jump on Second Place on Conference. :-)

By Paul

January 28, 2007 05:00 PM | Link to this

It sure is frustrating watching the Thrashers. They have zero killer instinct. They had about a 20 minute power play in the first period where the Flyers were begging to be stomped and did nothing with it. No way this team stays in first all season. Too many weak spots. No offense other than hossa and sometimes kovalchuk. Very weak defense. I mean very weak. Disappointing to say the least.

By harleyman

January 28, 2007 06:12 PM | Link to this

Today is why the Thrashers will not go far in the playoffs. Lose to the worst team in the league whose previous nine opponents whipped them like the dogs they are. Once again, pathetic PP showing, lack of a top line center, another late goal. Slater and Kapanen couldn’t hit the ocean from the beach with a wide open shot from 10 foot out. Little help for Lehtonen. What the heck does Devries even show up for. How does Kovy have as many goals as he does with the help he gets? Heck, if I was Hartley, I’d try the checking line on the PP. What would it hurt? Sorry to vent, but this one really pi$$ed me off.

By luckydog

January 28, 2007 06:19 PM | Link to this

Way to lay an egg on national TV and for another weekend sellout crowd, boys. That was just pitiful.

By Tom

January 28, 2007 06:31 PM | Link to this

Talk about a frustrating effort.

If this does not send a signal to Waddell to do whatever it takes to get a playmeker the guy deserves to be fired on the spot.

Rucchin is going to have Kolvy waiting to get out of Atlanta, A center for Hossa is a necessity, and a sense of urgency must be created.

How a team can not score with a 5 on 3 for 1 minute 52 is pathetic.

By Frustrated

January 28, 2007 06:46 PM | Link to this

It’s time to do something! We’ve made two average teams look great in about a week.

Sure, their goalies had great games…or did their Defenses just cover our two goal scorers and let our other forwards continue to miss the net as often as they wanted?

Forget winning in the playoffs, there’s a lot of work to be done to MAKE the playoffs.

By russian

January 28, 2007 06:53 PM | Link to this

Anybody will tell me what is F* is THAT!!! 1:52 power Play is no Goal. I cannot believe this s**! 4 minutes PP is no Goal again. I could not say how upset I am. End of F** story.

By David

January 28, 2007 07:01 PM | Link to this

Tom, I think you mean a centerman for Kovy. Except for the 5 on 3 and late 3rd period goal the thrashers played really well. They were flying all around the ice today. Great hitting and good goaltending. Give props to Nitty showing up in goal today. He did make some sick saves. Yes, we should have won and im as mad as anyone for not putting up points on the big stage..with a big home crowd…again…

By R. Stroz

January 28, 2007 07:16 PM | Link to this

Anatomy of a Thrashers loss. Number 1: a sellout, Number 2: a powerplay that is unable to convert on a 5 on 3, Number 3: a meltdown with less than two minutes in the third period. SOLUTION: Get a real center

By Tom

January 28, 2007 07:18 PM | Link to this

Not really, I think both Hossa and Kovalchuk are being done a disservice with the center play they have gotten. Kolvy shows up and knows he is not going to get support on offense meaning that the oppositions defense can focus on him.

Hossa may have it even worse, he has no idea who will be on his line from shift to shift. Kapanen who is erratic at best, or Jimmy Slater who has a mental block every time he gets near the goal and nuts up.

Think if both lines had a dynamic center that could be trusted with the puck, how much ice that would be opened up for our stars.

And one last gripe, when will get Hossa to realize that sitting on the end line waiting for the puck is not effective anymore. Teams are keying on him there and Kolvy on the point. Move the boys around and get them in the play. Put Hossa on the far side and make the defense think. The powerplay is stuck because the players are stuck in a rut. Break the rut or don’t bother sending them out.

By Michael Shapiro

January 28, 2007 07:25 PM | Link to this

Can’t believe we blew it tonight. We outshot the lowly Flyers nearly 2 to 1. What is it with our (lame) power play? Can’t EVERY player take a shot and then just follow for the rebound? Why do we have to try and set up ONLY Kovy? Sigh.

By R. Stroz

January 28, 2007 07:33 PM | Link to this

Here’s a wild idea. Dump Rucchin and get Savard back.

By thrashersfan

January 28, 2007 08:23 PM | Link to this

I live & breathe the Thrashers but right now, win or lose, they SUCK! Yes, Nittymaki played well but not “that” well. We should have buried them with the almost 2min 5 on 3. Give me a fricking break!!!

I’ve been harping on Kapenen since 3-4 weeks into the season. He didn’t produce then and he’s not producing now. He absolutely SUCKS! In the crease, with time and no one on him. What does he do, choke….again!! What the hell is Hartley waiting for? Kapenen’s had his chances. Enough!!!

Rucchin? Worthless piece of crap, Period!

Slater? This one hurts, but you’ve read it here before. I love the kid. He’s fast, gritty, and makes things happen. It’s just too much to see him miss the net game after game. Unlike, JP, Slater’s expected to put the puck in the damn net. He’s just not capable of doing that. Sorry, Jimmy, I’m throwing in the towel on you.

This team will be lucky to go anywhere in the playoffs…and I’m not assuming they’ll make it to begin with. However, with Lehtonen, it should happen. So, how far can a team go when they play like this?. Hossa, Kovy & Lehts can only take you so far.

I’m disgusted, end of story.

By Bob

January 28, 2007 10:04 PM | Link to this

Oh my goodness, that was by far their worst effort of the year.

If this club is going anywhere in the playoffs, we need both a PP QB and a top 2 center.

I’d be happy if our PP was just broke, but it’s beyond that.

By the way, forget about Forsberg, he’s broke.

By LAC

January 29, 2007 03:18 AM | Link to this

Thrasherfan is 110% CORRECT… We are not going anywhere after this CRAP display, we lose to THE WORST TEAM IN THE NHL…Gee Whiz !!! and better yet… Saturday in Philly former Thrasher Jason Krog scores the WINNER for NYR !!!!!

Another mindless STUPID move by THE WORST GM IN THE NHL…STUPID AS HELL dumb waddell, He SUCKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rucchin and kappenan are worse than most fans in the front row, Now…They cost $m a year… Savard, if I am correct, makes 4M a year… so what does THIS excerise show all of us ???

If we cannot beat the WORST NHL team, then what next, This was a statement game for Atlanta, move ahead of NJ, 8 up on Carolina and 12 on TB, after THEY ALL Lost over the weekend… BUT NOOOOOOOOOOO…

I had hope on this homestand… it is now 2-2 and with NJ/NYI/PHILLY/BUFF coming in now… I expect 0-4.

We will NOT be in the playoff picture after the western road swing, it will be 10-11th spot and likely 4th in the division…Hate to be a doom and gloomer, but this is simply AWFUL and the GLARING mistakes on specific players is something most all of us see, but I guess DUMB waddell does not.

Why is colburn still around, 100% unimpressive, GOOD trade bait, but that will not happen, look for a worthless trade and I am afraid to say…NO PLAYOFFS AGAIN in 2007 !!!!!

Guess it’s time to drive back to Nashville to see a winning team WIN against whomever they play !

By Matt H

January 29, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this

Stomach-turning.

By Father Focker

January 29, 2007 11:12 AM | Link to this

Kapanen had a straight shot! but why did he pass? ONe word to our special teams….SHOOT! sure we had 38 shots but they were bad shots for the most part! How about SHOOT during power play? sounds better? This is why the Euro style of hockey really sucks. Too much fancy shmancy. I want the Don Cherry Rock em sock em back. Where’s the hard hitting? If we can hit hard and manhandle opponents, not only will we win, we will make them fear us and we can win playoff games this way. Make them our B**CH

By EROCK

January 29, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this

kapanen..rucchin..vigier…larsen…boulton…coburn…sim…with these clowns on your roster you will surely not win long term…NO PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR BOYS!!!!!!!!!!

By Bob

January 29, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this

Come on now, no need to jump off the bandwagon. There are two problems that can only be fixed by Waddell making trades. This is where Waddell needs to shine, after 7 years of ineptness on his part, he did a lot better with this year’s club. It’s normal to have some holes, that’s where the trade deadline will come into play.

He needs to get us a top 2 center. Someone that can skate with Kovalchuk. Then he can put Rucchin in between Hossa and Kozlov.

Then we also need a power play quarterback. Does Brian Leetch want to come back and skate 10 minutes a night for us, mainly on the PP?

This is going to be where Waddell has his chance to shine.

I don’t see us falling out of the playoff race, not going to happen. But if we’re to advance once we make the playoffs, those two holes need to be fixed.

By B. Thenet

January 29, 2007 01:25 PM | Link to this

Can we send Slater to the minors without risking losing him on the waiver wire? Right now he is good at hustling and diving, not much else.

Other than the PP absurdity, a decent game by the Thrashers.

You have to figure at some point DW is going to make a move to improve the PP, but old Dealing Don has become Do Nothing Don over the past couple of seasons. I suspect he will wait until Sutton comes back and see if he can help out the PP before making a move to improve the team.

By Bob

January 29, 2007 01:37 PM | Link to this

Slater is useless. I don’t see why Hartley seems to like him, he’s all hustle and no skill. Kapanen is worthless. Rucchin isn’t a good fit with Kovy. Waddell has to make a move. It makes financial sense too in that it improves his chances of getting another 4 home games in the 2nd round.

By LAC

January 29, 2007 02:10 PM | Link to this

I think we need a NEW GM with fire in his belly to make deals that sense for a WINNING TEAM.

Look at Buffalo and all of those draft picks… STUPID waddell cannot draft past the second, or let alone third first round pick, his drafting SUCKS, now we get out ahead and GLARING mistake sigings rain down… rucchin TWO years 2M a season, same for kappenan…GEE Savard makes 4M, gee what in the HELL is waddell’s problem ?

I bet all the money in the world, Hossa will opt out after next season, good old WORTHLESS don, does not sign players during the season, well don that’s pure BS, youandthe crybaby sprit… or should we all say STUPID owners, are just like the Braves going the CHEAP route… plain and simple boys it does NOT work.

Slater, enough is enough, colburn the sooner gone the better, devries, same as colburn, sim/boulton/larsen either shape up of ship out…

How much longer does Hartley “challenge” these guys ?

Carolina has excess defense, they WILL make a move and it will put them righ back in the drivers seat in the SE. One reason Jim Rutherford, a GREAT GM who knows what his team needs and goes out and gets it. They gave up a number #1 pick lastyear to St.Louis for Weight, so no FRP…But WHO DANCED WIT THE STANLEY CUP ??????????????

I would trade our first round pick in a second for The Cup…but not waddell, we will all have to wait to see the STUPID moves he makes or any at all.

I am having VERY VERY serious doubts that we even make the playoffs now… Yesterday is just AWFUL, WithSavard and Bondra out there we had a GOOD PP, but Mr.Cheap ruined that… maybe ONE day these baby owners will wake up and do what REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE… FIRE don waddell !

By David

January 29, 2007 02:23 PM | Link to this

Thanks for LAC and his ever so positive posts he makes. I don’t remember the last time he had a positive post. What are you smoking to think the thrashers arent going to make the playoffs. Do you not think that DW is trying to make a move to get a Center for kovi. I mean if it is so obvious, one would assume that the head coach and gm would be on the same page. Just because he doesn’t call you up and say “hey LAC i’m trying to get a center”, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

Coburn is young. Period. Everyone in the organization has high hopes for him. Even teammates see his potential. Do you expect every rookie to come up and work miracles?

Yeah, and on savy..im sure you made a post about his pathetic defense, bad penalties and about how it cost us so many games. If you say you didn’t.. you’re lying.

By David

January 29, 2007 02:26 PM | Link to this

Yeah, lets waste some of our draft picks in what they are calling one of the most gifted drafts in a while. LAC FOR GM! LAC FOR GM!

By Brendan

January 29, 2007 05:49 PM | Link to this

The Flyer game was a disappointing game, even if we had won. Kappanen had two glorious chances, Slater had one, and Kovy hit a goal post. If half of those four opportunities had cashed in, Atlanta would have won, 3-2.

Bob Hartley described the Islander win by saying, “Good teams find a way to win.” I’m not quite sure if Hartley described the Flyers game as follows, “Bad teams find a way to lose.” But I doubt he’d say the Flyers were a “good team” who found a way to win.

Look, the team has looked “flat” since the All-star break. It deserved one (1) point vs. the Islanders and one (1) point vs. the Flyers. Effectively, that’s what it got. But this power play must improve. I know many are calling for Don to make a trade. I, too, think Don should make a trade. But we must be careful what we wish for. That trade might send Slava Kozlov out of town. Or Sutton. Or McCarthy. Or a prospect like Coburn. We don’t know. Only Don knows what he’s got cookin’. I’d think that Jim Slater and Shane Hnidy are definitely “trade bait.” I could be wrong. I hope we don’t lose McCarthy, since he’s affordably priced for next season, and is capable of quarterbacking our power play.

By thrashersfan

January 29, 2007 08:59 PM | Link to this

Well said. I too want DW to find a 2nd line center, but how many other teams need one too. There are 20+ teams that have a chance to make the playoffs, so everyone wants to trade up.

Some bloggers talk about trading Kapanen, Rucchin, Larsen, Bolten, etc., and believe me I support that, but what trade value would “they” carry. We don’t want them on our team so who would want them on theirs?!

We’re all very frustrated now. Let’s just hope the team turns things around or what if anything DW does will make a difference.