AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 26 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHartley happy with Little’s play
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
First, I just wanted to thank everyone for the feedback on the ‘Between the Benches’ story. I appreciate it. For those who wanted me to ignore Bobby Holik and give away team secrets, there really wasn’t anything crazy said while I was there. Just your usual in-game comments like “We need to talk more” or encouragement like “Atta boy Moose.”
Maybe when I left in the third period, all the nastiness came out. The only chirping back and forth between the two benches came when there was some yelling in the direction of Nashville’s Shea Weber. You have to remember, this was a preseason game, so it’s not like it was the first-round of the playoffs.
Speaking of which, the best anecdote from between the benches came from the September 4 issue of The Hockey News. Darren Pang told a story to THN about the trash talking between Sean Avery and Ilya Kovalchuk during the first round of the playoffs. After Kovalchuk turned the puck over, Avery shouted “That’s why you’ll never be a winner, Kovalchuk…You’re a greedy hockey player.”
Keith Tkachuk’s response shows why he was so well-liked in Atlanta. He said: “Ilya, don’t worry. We don’t have to kill him, his own teammates will.” It’s a great anecdote from an interesting story written by Mike Brophy in the Hockey News.
John Kincade had some great stories about his time between the benches while doing the games for SportSouth last year. He’s disappointed he won’t be doing it this year, and it’s easy to see why he’ll miss it. He told me about some of the confusion on the bench when the last game of the regular season went into overtime. The players started asking him if he knew who the Thrashers would play in the playoffs if they won or lost in overtime.
Here’s what Kincade said: “Bobby Holik started asking me questions during the timeout. ‘If we win this do we play Tampa or do we play the Rangers?’… Literally, Bobby Holik is like ‘What’s the situation, now?’ I’m like freaking out - Bob Hartley is going to throttle me if I don’t shut up. All I’m trying to do is comment on the play. When the players started engaging me in conversation, I was like ‘Hartley is going to literally kick my backside.’”
For those of you looking for some nuts and bolts breakdown of last night’s game, which obviously my story didn’t provide. Ben Wright did a nice job breaking it down on atlantathrashers.com.
I liked what I saw from the penalty killers. Pascal Dupuis and Jim Slater looked great together, it makes me wonder why Slates wasn’t used more on the penalty kill last season. Bob Hartley was really pleased with Bryan Little’s play, so if you’re looking for some idea of who is getting an inside track to one of the two open forward spots, that has to bode well for Little. Like I mentioned in the comments section of the last blog, if the shootout had gone any longer, Little was taking the fourth shot.
Defenseman Karel Pilar was cut this morning so the battle on the blueline is down to Tobias Enstrom (who apparently goes by the name Toby), Mark Popovic, Boris Valabik and Joel Kwiatkowski.
Lastly, if you were waiting for the Atlanta Thrashers Season Preview on SportSouth, it will air on Saturday at 10:30 p.m., so set your Tivos.
Comments
By Russ
September 26, 2007 3:56 PM | Link to this
If Little makes the team, he has to be put on one of the top two lines. If he is going to be relegated to 3rd or 4th line duty because BH decides he wants to stick with his veterans, he would be much better off getting quality minutes in Chicago.
By Hip Czech
September 26, 2007 3:58 PM | Link to this
Craig, any word on what the lineup is looking like for tonight? It would be interesting to see how Enstrom holds up on a back-to-back.
I give the nod to Kwiatkowski and Enstrom.
By Brendan
September 26, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this
Craig, will it be done by Katy Temple again? Like last year?
Also, it’s been my belief that Mark Popovic was the most NHL-ready of the those competing for the final blueline spot. But right now, it’s up for grabs. My third pairing has been Klee and Popovic. I guess I’ll stick with that. But, unlike so many others, I have McCarthy and Exelby on the second tier. And McCarthy on the PP.
Huh?? Yeaaaah. Remember October and November 2006, when our PP was clickin’ on all cylinders? Who was the QB on the PP? (Cue theme to Jeopardy!) Answer: Steve McCarthy. That’s where he should be used. Okay, that leaves Havelid and Zhitnik for the lion’s share of the D-man minutes.
Look, I want “competition to make a better product” just like the rest of you. And it will. I like the idea of competition waiting in the wings in Chicago, if the starting six falter. If it’s Popovic. Great. If not, it will be the person Hartley felt was better. Popovic’s contract stipulates that his pay be NHL-only. I bet that has some bearing on the decision.
By GSU-Lee
September 26, 2007 4:09 PM | Link to this
Craig,Since I haven’t gotten the chance to yet, just wanted to say that was a great story…and nice hair…so was that story your idea? It was brilliant. 1 1/2 weeks till the regular season. Any news on the Hossa front?
By GSU-Lee
September 26, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this
Craig, Great story.
By meetuu
September 26, 2007 4:21 PM | Link to this
If Little makes the team he should play between Hoss and Kozlov, it is a perfect situation for him to flourish and develop. Holik belongs on the 3rd line!
By Kint
September 26, 2007 4:29 PM | Link to this
Meetuu—- You got it exactly right. He doesnt need to be the best player on that line Hoslov will take care of that… That line would be Wicked Ridiculous Good
By UpperDeck4Life
September 26, 2007 4:30 PM | Link to this
To be honest, if Little makes the team, put him between Hossa and Kozy. Put Holik on the checking line. I honestly wouldn’t mind seeing Slater get a chance on the LW with Dupuis and Holik. If Slater and Dupuis are really developing chemistry on the PK….why not try them together on an even strength and let Perrin center the 4th line with Larsen on one wing and either Thorburn or Bolton on the other wing. I actually really like that line up now that I think about it.
By Kint
September 26, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this
Craig— I bet that was freakin awesome being in the front row seat like that… lucky you.. but you deserve it.. You give us awesome updates and the blogs are awesome.. keep it up
By Georgie
September 26, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this
Keep up the good work Little, we’re rootin for you here in Canada.
By Craig Custance
September 26, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this
Russ - I agree. I wouldn’t want Little on the team, if he’s going to be the fourth-line center. But Little thinks his development would be aided by practices at the NHL level as much as playing time in the AHL, so he disagrees with us.
Brendan - I don’t believe so. There’s more info on the team website that breaks down the particulars. As long as they bring back Jim Allen for games, the best producer/director in TV, we’ll be fine.
Kint — Wicked Ridiculous Good? Wow.
GSU-Lee - Got tired of putting my hair gel in plastic bags while going through security, so I shaved it all off.
Hip Czech — I booked my flight before I realized the team was practicing in Duluth rather than Sunrise, so I wasn’t at practice this morning. I’ll get a lineup online when I get to the arena tonight. The biggest thing I’ll be watching is Kari’s return.
By GaVaHokie
September 26, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this
I’m sure Little wouldn’t complain about earning the extra money that an NHL contract brings playing on the fourth line…
It doesn’t really matter, because Hartley loves to rotate lines, he’ll get ice time on the 4th, 2nd, and 1st line.
I personally don’t see what he adds that we aren’t already getting from Slater, Perrin and Dupuis… I’d rather see this…
Hossa Holik Kozlov Kovy White Sterling Larsen Slater Dupuis Boulton Perrin Thorburn
By Bob
September 26, 2007 5:07 PM | Link to this
Ditto on Little. If he stays, he has to play on a top line and push Holik back to the checking line, where he belongs.
Any idea when the final cuts will be made?
By Logan
September 26, 2007 5:10 PM | Link to this
The lineup is on the Blueland Blog. None of the big guns except Kozlov.
By Russ
September 26, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this
Craig - I have a question for you. At this point Sterling sounds like a lock to make the team, and from what I have been reading Enstrom and Little seem to have very good shots. My question is - If the Thrashers are already going to have 3 rookies on the roster, do you think that decreases Popovic’s chances of making the team over a veteran like Kwiatkowski? I hope not, but Hartley doesn’t generally play the young guys much and that would be 4 out of 18 skaters that are rookies.
It seems to me unless Hartley is more willing to give extra ice-time to his 2nd and 3rd pairing on D than he has been in the past Havelid and Zhitnik might be run into the ground by game 20.
By The Flaconer
September 26, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this
Why didn’t Slater play more on the PK? Because he is only fast when skating in straight line, he falls over whenver he tries to change directions at top speed. A penalty killer MUST have great lateral movement and Slater has surprisingly poor balance for a NHL level player.
By Craig Custance
September 26, 2007 5:47 PM | Link to this
Russ — I think those are all valid points. I specifically asked Bob if he had an hesitations keeping all rookies, and he stressed that the players who play the best will get the spots, regardless of experience. At this point, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a final four of Little, Sterling, Enstrom and Popovic. I do think Kwiatkowski can help this team though so we’ll see.
The Falconer: You must be a University of Michigan fan.
By silverpork
September 26, 2007 5:59 PM | Link to this
I don’t know who this “Flaconer” is. The real “Falconer” would have supported his claims about Slater with numbers and stats.
By hockeythrash
September 26, 2007 6:11 PM | Link to this
Why is there no consideration of Haydar making this team? It is certainly not worth trying to develop Little on the 3rd and 4th line. I see Little spending at least the first half of the season in CHI.
By GSU-Lee
September 26, 2007 6:48 PM | Link to this
Craig, if Little reaches his maximum potential, what kind of player do you think he will be? (in terms of goals, assists, defense…)
By Jeff
September 26, 2007 7:35 PM | Link to this
I think Kwiatkowski is a lock DW signed him so that means that he will make the team. By the way what has Thorburn done to make this team? I would like to see Little on the Hossa Kozlov line but this team has a history of playing someone on the number one or two lines for reasons other than talent (Rucchin played most of last year with Kovy even though it was obvious that he could not keep up and kept geting injured. Kapanen kept being moved on to the Hossa line last year even though he could not score or help out. Holik is on the Hossa line this year until something happens so get use to it. I agree that Haydar should get a chance but realy only one spot is open if it is on the third or forth line it should be Haydar. Little needs to be on a line where he can get the most minutes and play with top players, if he is a big part of the future of this team.
By Craig Custance
September 26, 2007 7:40 PM | Link to this
Jeff — Who on the roster didn’t Waddell sign?
By Craig Custance
September 26, 2007 7:44 PM | Link to this
12 seconds in and we have our first fight — Valabik vs. Anthony Stewart. Valabik gets game misconduct for not having jersey tied down.
By silverpork
September 26, 2007 7:53 PM | Link to this
” Valabik gets game misconduct for not having jersey tied down.”
Way to make an impression, Boris.
By thrashersfan
September 26, 2007 8:22 PM | Link to this
Agree Brendan, McCarthy was a great QB on the PP early last yr. Unfortunately, Hartley didn’t stick with him. Also Craig, no disrespect to BH when he says those that play best will get the spots, but I will be very surprised if more than “one”, if not “any”, of the remaining rookies win a spot on the team. Remember last season? Didn’t they all get sent down? Hartley usually sticks with the vets.
By Craig Custance
September 26, 2007 8:39 PM | Link to this
Guys on the bubble are literally going down swinging. Lavallee in the box for fighting after a big hit on Haydar.
By Rawhide
September 26, 2007 8:48 PM | Link to this
CRAIG,…I see Kari is in the net tonight, (according to Yahoo.com’s game cast),….does he look OK so far? Favoring any side? Also,….can you go across the street in between periods to Sawgrass Mills Mall and get me a new Ron Jon shirt, (XL, please)? I’ll pay ya!
I personally like what the Thrashers look like going into the season compaired to this time last. Nice blend of Vets and young-uns,….solid between the pipes,….and I have to say we are better on defense then this time last year.
The Klee addition and Sutton subtraction,….two big pluses.
I’m thinking Havalid and Ex, Klee with Enstrom and Zhitty-“Zhitty Bang-Bang” with McCarthy???? Popovich should travel with the squad.
The offence pairing have many great possibilities,……I’ll just see what Coach Bob does.
Oh Boy,….I can wait for Friday!!
GO THRASHERS!!
By The Falconer
September 26, 2007 9:12 PM | Link to this
Craig: I’m a Thrashers fan first :) I’ve seen him fall over far too many times. So far Slater is a pretty big bust in terms of realizing his potential, a projected 2nd line center who lacks lateral movement which means he’s not even a 3rd like PK guy. Right now he is a 4th liner with great straight away speed but little else.
Shiny Meat: I don’t keep track of unforced falls to the ice but Slater must have lead the team last season.
By greg
September 26, 2007 9:19 PM | Link to this
Any idea how Little is playing tonight?
By Rawhide
September 26, 2007 9:24 PM | Link to this
1-1 after 2 periods.
Sterling with a goal from White and Kozy.
Am I looking at this correctly? Atlanta launched 17 shots on goal in the 2nd period alone????
One would think the law of averages would see more then 1 goal.
Oh well.
By Craig Custance
September 26, 2007 9:28 PM | Link to this
Lehtonen was sharp for all but the final 11.8 seconds of the first two periods where a changeup somehow got by him. Not sure what happened there. Sterling has Thrashers only goal, he’s relentless around the net, he almost had another one.
By Rawhide
September 26, 2007 9:31 PM | Link to this
GREG - Little has played 10:48 through 2 periods with 1 shot on goal and a 0 +/-.
Of course pure numbers do not reflect how he is skating.
By Rawhide
September 26, 2007 9:35 PM | Link to this
CC* - Good to here about Lehtonen.
Also, it seems that a good outing here for Sterling could all but put him on the team. Good for him.
By Craig Custance
September 26, 2007 9:38 PM | Link to this
White (PP) and Little with goals to give Kari a two-goal cushion.
By Hockeyfan
September 26, 2007 9:38 PM | Link to this
White and Little both have goals
3-1
By Craig Custance
September 26, 2007 9:40 PM | Link to this
4-1, Little with a nice wrister for his second of the game.
By Rawhide
September 26, 2007 9:49 PM | Link to this
Yahoo’s game-cast shows Sterling with 2 and Little with 2 for a 4-1 lead.
However, it is also showing a “Chad Painchaun” with both assists on the 4th goal, so I’m sure something is ASKEW. LOL!!!
CC - looks like the offense is cookin’,….led by Sterling, little and White. That the way it looks down there?
By Bob
September 26, 2007 9:49 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the update, box score gave the first one of the third to Sterling, but that sounds great that he’s skating well.
Little with 2? Looks like Little and Sterling, who’s Little skating with tonight? How’s Popovic look?
By The Falconer
September 26, 2007 9:52 PM | Link to this
Here’s some numbers for ya.
PPTOI=2006-07 Power Play Time On Ice PPSCR=Power play points/PPTOI*60 minutes (Power play scoring rate per hour-a measure of effectiveness)
So here are the guys who primarily played the point on the Atlanta Power Play.
PPTOI/PPSCR/Name 542 3.54 Kovalchuk 318 2.64 Zhitnik (includes NYI,PHI) 268 1.79 Havelid 222 2.97 McCarthy 170 3.18 De Vries
McCarthy was 4th in terms of minutes, but he was 2nd most effective season in terms of scoring while on the power play. He was way more effective than Havelid about the same as de Vries.
Having said that I think McCarthy’s puck handling skills don’t hold a candle to what I’ve seen from Enstrom so far. If I were in charge the ice time would go to Zhitnik, Enstrom, McCarthy and Klee in that order.
By LAC
September 26, 2007 9:53 PM | Link to this
Great game so far… Little 2 Sterling 1 should have a couple more.
Boris lasted 12 seconds and got tossed, too bad…
Leth’s playing strong too !!!!
By Darren
September 26, 2007 9:56 PM | Link to this
Craig, given Little’s impressive performances in the last few games, can you foresee him not making the team at this point?
He’s still a bit young, and I wonder how he would hold up over an 81-game season, but he sounds like he’s playing his heart out, and definitely has some good talent. If he stuck with the team, I would be very excited to see what he could do as a top-2 line center.
By The Falconer
September 26, 2007 9:57 PM | Link to this
I see that the software made hash out of my formating.
By HairyHeckler
September 26, 2007 10:27 PM | Link to this
I have to agree with The Falconer on Slates. He has never looked all that stable out there…and I am a Michigan fan!
By R. Stroz
September 26, 2007 10:34 PM | Link to this
40 shots on goal! Wow! Sounds like we may have found a potent O again.
Craig - We look forward to your game summary.
By Jsmooth
September 26, 2007 11:14 PM | Link to this
I was at the game last night against the Preds and I must chime in to echo the positive sentiments regarding young Toby. Enstrom is great with the puck and his passing accuracy was phenomenal. He really stood out to me on a night when our passing was far from impressive. I would love to see him on the team but I have reservations about his size and durability. Perhaps alongside Mr. Popovic who, from what I’ve read about the Fla game, has certainly improved his chances. I see Mac getting the 7th spot and ice time when our PP inevitably struggles.
Craig, have you had a chance to ask Bob if he shares the concern over Enstrom’s lack of size? Or does his pure skill at the position far outweigh his lack of physical presence in Hartley’s view?
Go Thrashers!
By Russ
September 26, 2007 11:15 PM | Link to this
Jeff - I was wondering the same thing today about why Thorburn seems guaranteed a spot and the only thing I could come up with is he might play the role of enforcer. I searched his name on You Tube and found several fights he was in last season…and was not impressed, but I am assuming that will be his role.
By Hip Czech
September 27, 2007 7:32 AM | Link to this
Did Enstrom play last night?
As with the question of what Thorburn has done, what has Haydar done? Popovic for that matter too.
Sterling and Little seem to deserve the first shots. Let’s see how they do for 10 games or so. I like Kwiatkowski and Enstrom on D.
I guess we’ll find out soon enough. Are the cuts today the final cuts?
By Hip Czech
September 27, 2007 7:44 AM | Link to this
my D pairings:
Havelid - Zhitnik
Exelby - McCarthy
Klee - Enstrom/Kwiatkowski
Zhitnik and McCarthy/Enstrom on the first PP unit. Havelid and Enstrom/McCarthy on the second.
Brendan is correct that the PP was humming last year when McCarthy was the primary D man. That’s what made McCarthy’s disappearance in March and April so hard to figure out.
By Craig Custance
September 27, 2007 8:28 AM | Link to this
Hip Czech — Enstrom played and continued to look good. If I had to predict, I’d say Enstrom has solidified a spot, while Popovic and Kwiatkowski are battling for the other side. I think McCarthy’s disappearance last spring had everything to do with Zhitnik. Now with Enstrom, Zhitnik and McCarthy around to QB the PP, it’ll be easier to manage Havelid’s ice time.
By Bob
September 27, 2007 9:01 AM | Link to this
Would Popovic have to clear waivers to be sent down? That might be the decision right there, plus I think he’s the best of the bunch, defensively.
By Buzilla Baby Blues
September 27, 2007 9:04 AM | Link to this
How did Boris look in his fight? I see that he got hit with the “Rob Ray” rule and got ejected. Putz…
By GaVaHokie
September 27, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this
I will certainly eat crow today… Little with two goals? That’s pretty impressive. Good for him.
By GaVaHokie
September 27, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this
Craig, I’d be interested to know how Hossa feels about the outlook of the team now (with regards to resigning).
By GaVaHokie
September 27, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this
FYI, for all you Alex Bourret supporters… the Rangers JUST sent Francis Lessard down to the minors yesterday. So even Lessard lasted longer in preseason with the Rangers than Bourret did.
By The Falconer
September 27, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this
re: Valabik fight. Frankly I’m shocked that he got tossed out over the fight strap. He has been in many fights in his career and he should know that rule. It certainly looks bad if you’re trying to make the team and you get tossed for something that you could have prevented in the first place. BH doesn’t need a defensemen who is gone after just 12 seconds leaving him shorthanded for the rest of the game.
By GaVaHokie
September 27, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this
Yeah, that can’t be good for Boris. I hope he gets to stick around for Friday nights game.
By Buzilla Baby Blues
September 27, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this
I agree GaVaHolik, I want to see Boris on Friday.
By GaVaHokie
September 27, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this
Craig… any cuts today yet?
By UpperDeck4Life
September 27, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this
Craig, any chance that the loser of the Popovic-Kwiatkowski battle ends up getting traded? Popovic really doesn’t deserve to go back down again. He has done everything in the AHL that he needs to to prove that he should be up in the NHL.
By Matt H
September 27, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this
Damn, I hope I can make it to opening night next week…
By Buzilla Baby Blues
September 27, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
Second Video Entry:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KqMUlvo1o6I
This one was my friend Rone’s idea that I helped film and edit. I think it came out pretty well
check it out (and rate it high if you please!)
thanks
By Bob
September 27, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this
FYI, for all you Alex Bourret supporters… the Rangers JUST sent Francis Lessard down to the minors yesterday. So even Lessard lasted longer in preseason with the Rangers than Bourret did
I don’t have a dog in this fight, but that’s quite a stretch as you’re comparing an apple to a bologna samwich. Lessard would be competing for Avery’s spot as agitator/goon, no? Bourret is a top 6 forward.
By Brendan
September 27, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this
Bob, I think Hokie is making reference to a poster named Todd who made a “one-time” appearance on the board to rail against Don Waddell’s trade of Bourret to the Thrashers for Dupuis, implying that the Thrashers got “snookered.” Todd arrived at that conclusion on the basis of Bourret scoring a preseason goal.
Okay, I think that about clears things up. My stance is that I’m glad Pascal Dupuis came here at the trade deadline and I’m even happier about it that Waddell got him re-inked for $880,000. Which is even less than what I expected. I pencilled him for $1.0 million. Some bloggers had him for $1.5 million. Which prompted some “no wayyy!” rebuttals. But, let’s not revisit it.
By Brendan
September 27, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this
Uhh, make that Bourret to the Rangers, not Thrashers, for Dupuis. I need more coffee.
By Bob
September 27, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
Oh I definitely like the trade for Dupuis since the day it was made, Bourret was supposed to guy with work ethic problems, may never blossom. Just sayin Lessard isn’t going for the same forward slot Bourret would play in, so it’s not good comparison. Bourret may turn into something down the road, but I prefer Dupuis now.
By GaVaHokie
September 27, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this
Bob… Avery is a goon who can score, which (by scouting reports) is more like Bourret than Lessard (not a scorer). But more of what I was implying to is all the posters who said Waddell was an idiot for giving up Bourret, making him out to be the “next best thing” while a guy like Lessard who’s proven over several seasons to be a minor league occassional call-up kind of player outlasted him in camp.
They actually had to THINK about Lessard for a little bit, while Bourret was gone immediately, first round of cuts.
By Bob
September 27, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this
gotcha. You know, that’s what bugs me even more about Avery, he CAN score, little prick.