By Brian

March 14, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this

Ok, so the starter sits on the back end and comes back against the #1 seed. Can’t argue with that. With our improved lineup we will get past this Philly thing going on this year. Would love to see someone skate circles around Coburn though, he got over 20 mins in TOI last game for them.

By Brian

March 14, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this

Ok, so the starter sits on the back end and comes back against the #1 seed. Can’t argue with that. With our improved lineup we will get past this Philly thing going on this year. Would love to see someone skate circles around Coburn though, he got over 20 mins in TOI last game for them.

By EROCK

March 14, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this

Time to put up or shut up.Next 3 games are really huge.2 games we should win and a STATEMENT game Sunday with Buffalo.Time to get PHYSICAL with Buffalo. Show them we are for real!!

By Lee

March 14, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this

CC, who do you have in the final four?

By kracker

March 14, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this

Good move, BH, to rest Kari a bit. So say the AJC hockey bloggers and hockey advice doesn’t get any better than what you can get here for free.

By Bob

March 14, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this

Kari Lehtonen will start in goal against the Flyers, and Johan Hedberg will start against the Rangers

Gee, who woulda thunk that? Good to see Hartley finally making good decisons with his goalers.

Kari talked a little today about how nice it is to get the second day of back-to-back games off. He was saying that sometimes in the third period of the first game, he starts thinking about the second game - losing a little focus

Gee, who woulda thunk that?

By Thrasher_Ed

March 14, 2007 5:14 PM | Link to this

Maybe Sutton goes hard after Coburn and his glass jaw in the first period? Probably not though, I have always thought we needed to be more physical at certain points and versus certain teams, but that is not the nature of these birds. Gotta get the 2 points here not matter what!

By Barry

March 14, 2007 5:30 PM | Link to this

I’m not so sure I agree with the goalie starts. I honestly think Hedberg should start against Philly and Kari start against Rangers. Philly doesn’t have playoff implications but Rangers do. You want to put your #1 goalie in there against a team that is chasing you for a playoff spot. Kari hasn’t won a game yet against Philly and Nittymaki. Time to change things up and call it luck or karma but maybe starting Hedberg against Philly would change things. I would think having Kari playing against the Rangers on Friday would keep him fairly fresh and in game mode for Sunday against Buffalo.

By luckydog

March 14, 2007 5:32 PM | Link to this

Forget about Coburn — 2 points is an absolute MUST. The Rangers will be hungry and well rested coming in Friday and Sunday is a tossup, so we gotta bank the Flyers points in case the weekend doesn’t go our way.

By Brendan

March 14, 2007 5:44 PM | Link to this

Moose needs to play in “meaningful” games. If he only starts the “softies,” and loses, I think there could be an erosion of confidence. Moose can handle the Rangers, hungry as they are. Moose needs a challenge. And the Thrashers need to produce for him in that pressure-filled game.

By Bob

March 14, 2007 6:26 PM | Link to this

Will Friday be the day we break our sellout jinx (I assume since it’s the Ranjerks, it’ll be sold out)? We need to bust that cherry before the playoffs.

By Ryan

March 14, 2007 6:32 PM | Link to this

Big three games ahead and Buffalo has been struggling as of late. they will be looking to get back on track so Thrash need a good game. They are banged up but still have more speed. Moose needs a good one against the Rangers, if he can perform it will keep confidence building for a good push in the playoffs.

By kreedham@aol.com

March 14, 2007 7:55 PM | Link to this

In running down the remaining games I see the Thrashers getting at least 12 points and the Lightning getting 11 for a 3 point lead for the division. Now I think, with the new guys, they could actually get 15 which I don’t believe Tampa can beat. Just a prediction.

By Tony C.

March 14, 2007 8:09 PM | Link to this

Ok.

I like it. I’m sure that The Kid is aware that he hasn’t beaten Nittymakii, but I think i’s good that Coach has him in there so he can get that monkey off his back.

If not, it’ll be Biron-who the rumor mill says is lobbying Philly management to take a serious look @ Briere during this summer’s UFA period (which I don’t think will happen, Briere is too much of a flopper for Philadelphia-mgt. AND fans) I feel good about our forwards being able to handle their D, but Gagne has torn our D apart last few times he’s been healthy enough to play. Thatg will be interesting to see how the addition of Zhitnik works. It seems like such a huge addition by allowing the rest of the D to slot-in to more appropriate levels-as we see with all the talk about Sutton.

espn has a new GM poll

LET’S GO BLUE !!!

By Bob

March 14, 2007 8:21 PM | Link to this

Now that’s a GM ranking that makes some sense. Holland, Cheap Lou, and Brian Burke as the top 3. Pleau and MacLean as the bottom 2. I assume Waddell moved up to 19 on their list after his great moves at this year’s deadline.

Anyone notice that, predictably, Forsberg has been out for 4 games? And Billy Guerin had a hattie last night, but was scoreless in the first 6 games. Waddell got the right guy in Tkachuk.

By Craig Custance

March 14, 2007 8:52 PM | Link to this

Bob - I agree, it’s looking like Waddell picked the right guy, and really it hasn’t even been close.

By Lee

March 14, 2007 10:14 PM | Link to this

CC, Why did the team recall McKenzie?

By Brian

March 14, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this

Craig, Bob - even if Tkachuk and Guerin have the exact same point total from the trade deadline on, don’t you like Tkachuk better just for the fact that we can put him at center?

Lee - I thought Craig said they wanted one more guy at practice and there is no limit on callups after the deadline.

By Lee

March 14, 2007 10:28 PM | Link to this

Thanks Brian, that makes sense.

By Brendan

March 14, 2007 11:02 PM | Link to this

My list: Not a dissertation, just my opinions. Here goes:

30) Doug MacLean, Columbus. 29) Mike Barnett, Phoenix. 28) John Ferguson, Jr., Toronto. 27) Peter Chiarelli, Boston. 26) Larry Pleau, St. Louis. 25) Francois Giguere, Colorado. 24) Mike Holmgren, Philly. 23) Dale Tallon, Chicago. 22) Garth Snow, NY Islanders. 21) Mike McPhee, Washington. 20) Dean Lombardi, L.A. Kings, 19) Glen Sather, NY Rangers (Probably allowing too much nostalgia on that one, however. The bloom is off the Sather rose.) 18) Doug Armstrong, Dallas. 17) Don Waddell (Seriously, 8 seasons of “OJT” are starting to pay off. 16) Jacques Martin, Florida (Giving him too much credit for Ottawa? Maybe. I’d be willing to rank him much lower in the coming years.) 15) David Nonis, Vancouver. 14) Ray Shero, Pittsburgh. 13) Doug Risebrough, Minnesota. 12) Bob Gainey, Montreal. (Maybe some Habs’ mystique has he and Risebrough so highly ranked on my list?) 11) Kevin Lowe, Edmonton. (I still believe in him, even though the Oilers are done and most blame him for the Ryan Smythe departure. I still say Smythe could be back with Edmonton this July.) 10) Doug Wilson, San Jose. 9) David Poile, Nashville. 8) Jay Feaster, Tampa Bay. 7) John Muckler, Ottawa (Gutsy GM, whose moves largely pay off, at least during the regular season. The Sens are lookin’ at 6/8 seasons with 100+ points. 6) Brian Burke, Anaheim. 5) Darryl Sutter, Calgary. 4) Darcy Regier, Buffalo. 3) Jim Rutherford, Carolina. 2) Ken Holland, Detroit. 1) Lou Lamoriello, New Jersey.

It’d take too long to explain why I compiled the list. Plenty of room for tweaking and argument about moving a GM up 2-3 slots and another down 2-3 spots. But that’s my list. Forbes sells magazines based on finance, not sports knowledge.

By Tony C.

March 15, 2007 6:35 AM | Link to this

So is the NYR game already sold out? I bet it is….this is the game where we see more of the wearing the other guys sweater mre than any other (although the deadwings make it a close race).

I remember going to a NYR game a few years ago…the Rangers fans were louder than the home-town fans…I hope that doesn’t repeat itself-not really woried though.

I think Blueland may have just discovered it’s identity over the past 2 months.

What do yall think of the pending UFA class? Outside of Datsyuk, who would you say is the #1 choice??? Who do you think would fit the best in Thrasher blue? Which of our “rentals” would you look to keep-which of our current UFA-eligibles???

LET”S GO BLUE !!!

P.S. Yes, I know I was a big critic of DW this past offseason, but it does seem that he has done the best job with big-name trade aquisitions. So good for him. I wonder if we can continue to expect such positive results? Certainly DW’s shown he can make good moves (Kozlov, Savard as well as this year’s moves), but I still remember Uwe Krupp.

By Bob

March 15, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this

Yep, there will be plenty of the BlueShirts in the stands Friday night. Let us drown them out and send them home unhappy. We need these pts before Buffalo comes in.

I think Briere is the class of the UFA’s, don’t know if we’ll be able to afford him, however.

Waddell deserved the criticism for his ineptness for many years. But he took his swings at the deadline this year and connected, saving his job in the process (I’m not jinxing it, but you know why). He has a lot of work to do this summer, however, as we have many UFA’s. I actually like the approach to this year limping through with the likes of Kapanen and Rucchin et al and then making the deadline moves to build us a competitive club, I like that he jettisoned Coburn (it’ll be nice to go against him tonight). But he’s still got a lot of work to do this summer, which isn’t always his strong point.

Let’s keep in mind that the key to Waddell’s ability to build in this manner is the Spirit winning the court case, if Belkin comes in, I see slashed budgets. The Spirit guys have proven they’re willing to buck up and pay to play.

We won’t be able to keep Tkachuk, he’s going back to St. Louis. I’d like to keep DuPuis, he’ll be reasonable. I’d like to keep Belanger, should also be reasonable. Zhitnik is signed for 2 more years, so that’s good. He’ll need to call up Popovic for next year, keep X and McCarthy, mabye Hnidy.

The guy who I’d really like to keep who is UFA is Kozloz, I fear we may need a hometown discount to get that done, but I’d love to see us keep him, he’s sneaky good.

By Hip Czech

March 15, 2007 9:41 AM | Link to this

OK this is getting officially annoying…

I don’t know if you get the AJC sports daily email, but if you do and use that to click to the Thrashers page it is extremely annoying that the Thrasher article link takes you to the &$#& Hawks page.

The conspiracy theorist in me says that is just a cheap way to make it seem like the Hawks actually have fans and they can use these page hits to say ‘Oh, look, the Hawks get way more hits than the Thrashers’.

At the very least it just again shows the ineptness of the AJC and their general lack of regard for Thrashers coverage.

Come on AJC…the Thrashers are the ONLY playoff team this town has. How about treating them that way?

Ugh

By Brian

March 15, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this

Hip Czech - I think they might be having a few problems because last night I just went to the sports section and it repeatedly made me sign in and sign up for the basketball tournemant brackets (even when I didn’t click on it - it made me log in and register). Although that can go along with your conspriracy theory quite well…

By yellowjax

March 15, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this

Everyone seems so sure the TK will return to St Louis after this season. I’m not so sure. He has quickly found a good chemistry here in Atlanta and understands his impact on this team. The question for Keith is (who turns 35 on the 28th of March and is probably contemplating his final years in the league)- Return to the Blues, a city that he loves but still has a great deal of rebuilding to do before returning to the status of a Cup contender or find a team that will allow him to carry the Stanley Cup around the ice before he retires. The Thrashers could be that team (and it wouldn’t be cheap to keep him) or he could look elsewhere but I’m not convinced that a return to St. Louis is a foregone conclusion.

By Hip Czech

March 15, 2007 10:02 AM | Link to this

Brian, if it were just a one time thing I would buy that. But it has happened a half dozen times or so over the past two weeks.

Conspiracy I tell you!

Let’s hope management uses the money from my season ticket purchase for next year to pay Slava…

By Bob

March 15, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this

yellowjax, his wife and kids love St. Louis. Even if he didn’t and was willing to move, we can’t afford him. Only way we could afford him under the Cap this year was to rent him and only incur 20% of his salary.

We’ve got Hossa, Kovy, Zhitnik already signed. Lehtonen will be due a big raise. It’ll cost to keep Kozlov.

In the NHL cap era, one team can only afford 2 or 3 big stars. We already have them in Hoss, Kovy, and in what we’ll probably have to pay Lehtonen (he’s due a big raise, right?). And Zhitnik is a big cap hit.

Next year is going to have to be a similar deal, have our two or three big paid guys, a bunch of plug ins, then go rent some guys at the deadline for the run. I actually like that approach, won a Cup for Carolina last year, we’re primed for a good run this year.

By Tom

March 15, 2007 11:03 AM | Link to this

Interesting Stat:

Of the 8 teams that are in for the playoffs as of today, the Thrashers have the best 10 game record. That is a great sign for us as everyone else seems to be picking each other off.

1 Buffalo 5-4-1 2 New Jersey 5-3-2 3 Atlanta 7-2-1 4 Pittsburgh 6-3-1 5 Ottawa 5-1-4 6 Tampa Bay 5-4-1 7 NY Islanders 6-2-2 8 Carolina 5-4-1

By Rawhide

March 15, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this

Great stat Tom,….the Thrashers have been playing the best hockey of late, (at least in the East).

Of those teams listed, I think Carolina will not be playing “spring hockey” this year. I think Toronto sqeeks in……but they are 5-4-1 in their last 10,….so your point still remains!!!

Bob, I tend to agree with your response to yellowjax about KT. Personally, I’d love to have him around next year,…but he would have to take a MAJOR pay cut or some serious dealings elsewhere would have to be done to take care of salary cap issues. Plus, if mamma and the kids wanna stay in St. Loius,….it’s kinda hard not to let that effect the decision-making process.

Guess what Rawhide got in the mail today!!!!!!

By Buzilla Baby Blues

March 15, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this

Did the playoff tickets come today?

By Thrasher_Ed

March 15, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this

Craig C., Any up-date on who the Flyers are starting in goal tonight? Also does the AJC limit you on the articles or space available for articles in the paper. It just seems to me the good folks down at the ole AJC don’t get Hockey or Hockey Fans! When does Hockey get more coverage?

By Rawhide

March 15, 2007 1:16 PM | Link to this

There so beautiful…………

I almost cried…….

By Brendan

March 15, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this

I’d say TK will not be here, barring something utterly unforeseen. He’s 35 years old. He’ll be looking for that last and final big pay day. His family is seemingly happy in St. Louis. I don’t know that getting Tkachuk is great idea, other than as a “rental.” If we’re talking about some 4-year contract. He’d be 39 when it runs out. He has already reached that age where he, like Kozlov, Mellanby, Rucchin, Holik, and others, are extremely susceptible to injury. The goal of the “new NHL” is to get younger and faster. I love the Tkachuk addition, as a “rental.” It makes complete sense to “rent” him. And, of course, if Don did re-sign him, the Blues get ANOTHER 1st round pick.

I’d say that the offseason priorities should be re-signing Belanger responsibly, as well as Pascal Dupuis. And to make an EFFORT at keeping Kozlov, 34-years old. But I don’t like the idea of anything longer than a 2-year deal with him. After which time, we can REEVALUATE the situation. He’s currently a cap hit of $2.3 million. I can’t imagine he could be re-signed for anything less than $3.0 million next year. His shootout results alone merit that. We may lose a bidding war over Slav-a-matic.

Don Waddell has hopefully learned from the 3-year/$12.75 million contract he handed Bobby Holik. We’ve only seen streaks of brilliance out of Holik. I believe Waddell signed him for his contributions in the playoffs as opposed to the regular season. But we’ll see if Holik pays the dividends Waddell had hoped he would.

Lehtonen will be restricted in the Summer of ‘08. It will cost a lot to re-sign him. Especially if things go well in this year’s playoffs, and if there should be more playoffs next year. Keep in mind, we may be singing the praises of Ondrej Pavelec by 2008.

By stor stark

March 15, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this

I printed my playoff tickets off the interwebs. They aren’t aesthetically appealing, but they’re folded in my pocket and I can’t keep myself from lovingly patting my pocket and/or making sure they’re still there.

By Matt H

March 15, 2007 2:31 PM | Link to this

I hate to cross-post, but I’ve had so little time to read/post lately that I just want to throw my 2 pennies in a couple of piggy banks (most of this was on Vecsey’s blog):

The name game We’re all pretty sure Tkachuk will only be here for a month or two anyway, so is it even worth coming up with a nickname?

Also, remember who’s coaching this team. No line stays together long enough to get a name. I remember CC saying in one post that Hartley claims to like pairs. So whomever plays with Ilya and Keith are gonna be playing on the “Chuk-Chuk” line, simple as that.

Everything’s waiting for yyoouuuuu! Downtown Atlanta isn’t scary so much for illegal crimes, like carjacking, as it is for legal crimes, like driving.

I may just be a simple unfrozen caveman lawyer, but driving in Atlanta is a nightmare and driving downtown is a straight-up night terror. “Urban planning” was simply left out of Reconstruction. I think “Southern Hospitality” was conceived as a widespread effort to combat road rage (or “carriage rage”, I suppose, early on).

It’s outrageous, and I won’t pay it! Ticket prices are just as ridiculous as player salaries. I don’t think we’ll ever see a change in one until we see a change in another. It would probably have to take a society-wide value/priority shift before that happens (a war, a plague, etc.). It’s disgusting, to me.

I’m very happy to see Hedberg making the start on Friday. Very, very happy.

Also, the GF and I will be making the trek from Athens to see the Sabres *lock horns *(see what I did there?) with the Thrashers, so I have to ask the group- what’s the best way in and out of downtown, and where to park?

It’s her first live NHL game, so I’m pretty stoked.

By Bob

March 15, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this

Matt, on Sunday 85 will be wide open, get off at William and you’ll be directed to the arena. Cops will direct you out of the lot back to 85 north, it’ll be no sweat on a Sunday.

RANT ON Unfortunately, the ticket prices are what they are because the NHL has such a poor TV contract, they have to get all of their revenue from we ticket buyers.

The thing that really burns me about that is that coming out of the lockout, the NHL was ready to fix the game, open it up, and get a great TV deal. And then Bettman completely screwed the pooch.

They fixed the game by reducing clutch and grab, more scoring, more flow, quicker faceoffs, more average fan friendly. Good job.

They fixed the game (for the average fan) by sending everyone home knowing who won the game, no more ties, they brought in the shootout. Good job.

High definition TV is becoming more widespread, ESPN has two channels in High def 24/7. Hockey on standard TV sucks eggs big time for the average sports fan who doesn’t know wher ethe puck is, Hockey in High Def rocks, the average fan will watch it.

So, what does Bettman do? He turns down ESPN’s lowball offer, and goes with, what? $20m a year more (or was that total over the 3 year contract) to put the game on the obscure OLN (now VS) network. That NO ONE GETS or WATCHES! What a farkin maroon. I don’t care if they had to pay ESPN to show the games, do it! Everyone watches ESPN. They could have garnered a bunch of news fans with the open style and in high definition. Then, when the next TV contract comes up, they could have reaped the benefits.

But no, he locks into VS. Maroon. We fans will continue to be paying the price for the little Napolean’s screwjob for years through this ridiculous ticket prices. Meanwhile, baseball, the most BORING game on earth, has a huge TV deal and relatively reasonable ticket prices (although they are getting out of hand also).

Thanks, Bettman. Now go do something useful like flush yourself down a toilet so we can get someone with business sense in charge here. RANT OFF

By Matt H

March 15, 2007 4:30 PM | Link to this

True. But if you’re a half-full guy, Comcast, who supplies many of the folks’ cable on this blog, owns the Flyers. And with digital cable and HDTV sales not only growing, but on the verge of being supported with federal money come (2009, is it?) I can only see this as a good thing. I don’t think the NHL will tank in Comcast’s hands, they’ve got too much of a vested interest in it.

What I see as a problem is that the NHL isn’t on both networks, ESPN and VS.

That, to me, is really stupid.

But, monopolies are becoming once more as de riguer as they were in the Tammany Hall days.

If only Microsoft owned a hockey team… Then the league would contract to three teams! (one being the Penguins, of course…)

There ya go, a little IT humor for ya…

By roh

March 15, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this

I don’t know how much KT cares about salary. If you look at what he’s made over the years, he made as much as $11M in one year back in 02-03, and this year $3.8M…