AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 24
Monday, September 24, 2007
You pick the final two forwards
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Thrashers are off golfing today in their annual charity golf tournament. Well most anyway. Bob Hartley said Kari Lehtonen would get some ice time today to continue to work the sore groin. Right now the target is for Lehtonen to start Wednesday’s game against Florida, and Johan Hedberg will start on Tuesday. Last year Lehtonen said he played a game and a half of preseason action. So if he’s ready to go Wednesday, I’m guessing he won’t play the entire game, and if all goes well he can play the entire preseason finale on Friday.
Expect a captain announcement sometime here soon. Don Waddell did a Q and A with the fans who attended Saturday’s morning skate. A fan asked about captains, and Waddell said to expect an announcement within 24 hours. I asked Hartley about it that night and he said he wasn’t in a rush to name a captain, saying there are more important issues going on right now. That was still his stance yesterday, but there should be news on that coming in the near future.
Outside of Lehtonen, there are still two Thrashers left who haven’t played in the preseason - Slava Kozlov and Brad Larsen. Kozzie said he’s anxious to go, but Larsen’s back is still an issue. He’s working out, but not skating. I think at this point you can’t rule out a trip to the IR, but there’s still time here. There’s a week between the last preseason game and the first game of the season.
So for now, let’s assume there are only two openings at forward. Who do you see getting those final two spots?
You figure there will be 13 forwards on the opening day roster:
1. Hossa
2. Holik
3. Kozlov
4. Kovalchuk
5. White
6. Perrin
7. Dupuis
8. Larsen
9. Slater
10. Thorburn
11. Boulton
12. OPEN
13. OPEN
That leaves these guys fighting for the two spots: Sterling, Haydar, LaVallee, Stuart, and Little. I could also see LaVallee or Stuart playing on the checking line if Larsen’s back issues continue to be a problem. I think Sterling is the closest of any of these players to being a lock to make the roster. While some players have been reluctant to shoot, I don’t think that’s been an issue for Sterling. Kovalchuk told him early on in camp that if he had the chance, shoot the puck and Sterling said that really helped him get comfortable during training camp. I think it’s showing in his play, I’d be really surprised if he doesn’t make the team. Right now he’s tied for the team lead with seven shots.
On the opposite side of the spectrum is Bryan Little. He definitely has the ability, which he’s shown but if he’s going to make the team, it’ll have to be in a scoring role. I can’t see the Thrashers keeping him around to play 7 minutes a game on the checking line. In a perfect world, he would show that he’s ready to center Hossa and Kozlov, you bump Bobby Holik to the third line and call it a day. But right now, he’s not there. Granted, he’s not seeing the ice time Sterling is, and he’s not skating with big names, but he knows that’s something you earn which I think he did with solid play as the game went on against St. Louis. Little will center a line with Kovalchuk and Stuart on Tuesday. Haydar is a tough one. He’s done everything a player can in the American League and this is a crucial camp for him. He said he’s willing to adapt to any need the Thrasher have. “I’ll play goalie to play here. It doesn’t matter where they put me, I just want to be here,” he said.
Lastly, I got a strong response for the opening to take Ice Man’s place. I’m compiling a list to send up the chain of command, but there are some strong candidates. Maybe we need to do an American Idol like audition and let you guys decide. But it looks like we’ll have a worthy replacement.
