AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > February > 11 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USCarolina retooling for stretch run
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
First, it’s good news to hear that Richard Zednik is in stable condition after his neck was cut by the blade of Olli Jokinen’s skate. What a scary situation to be in, I don’t know how you come back from an injury like that.
The Thrashers bumped the start of their practice back an hour this morning, I’m assuming because of Casino Night. From all accounts, it was a great event. The players seem to enjoy it and based on some of the pictures I saw, the fans enjoyed it too. Nobody was puking on the ice today, so I guess the partying was done in moderation. I understand it raised a ton of money, including a $12,000 bid to travel with the team on a road trip. I’ll have a total for you when the dust settles.
Carolina retools for the stretch run: Nobody said winning the Southeast was going to be easy. Washington won last night to knock the Thrashers into third, setting up Wednesday’s showdown with the Caps. But TSN.ca is reporting that Carolina shipped defenseman Mike Commodore and forward Cory Stillman to Ottawa for d-man Joe Corvo and forward Patrick Eaves. Corvo will help Carolina’s pedestrian power play and Ottawa picks up some flexibility for the summer since both Commodore and Stillman are UFAs. I’m guessing these are the types of trades we’ll see right now since every team is basically in the hunt. Teams will try and find a trading partner where a deal can help both sides right now. Don Waddell remains busy trying to add a player. Before the Lightning game he said he spoke to four or five general managers on Friday night alone, showing that the chatter is non-stop. It was interesting to see that Dallas Stars GM Les Jackson had a spot reserved in the press box on Saturday night, but I believe he was a no-show. It’s the second time in recent home games that somebody from Dallas was supposed to be at a Thrashers game.
Canadiens arrested in Tampa: Did you see this? The Tampa Tribune is reporting that a pair of Montreal Canadiens were arrested last night in Tampa. Ryan O’Bryne and Thomas Kostopoulos were arrrested after O’Bryne allegedly stole a lady’s purse. The purse was returned to its owner, although it was missing twenty bucks. In case you’re wondering, O’Bryne is making $590,000 and Kostopoulos nearly $1 million. The Montreal media will undoubtedly have a field day with this, I’m curious to hear what the explanation of the players will be.
Kovalchuk up for award: Ilya Kovalchuk is a finalist tonight for Pro athlete of the year and Sports Person of the Year at the Atlanta Sports Awards. If I remember correctly Marian Hossa won it last year, so the Thrashers will be vying for back-to-back winners. He’s up against Chipper and Joe Johnson.
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Comments
By ranallo10
February 11, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this
I should get paid to post, I totally beat you to the Ottawa-Carolina trade.
(trumpets sounding)
By GaVaHokie
February 11, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this
Casino Night was great Craig… sorry I didn’t bump into you, but I can’t say i recognize you yet.
The interesting thing about the Ottawa trade, for the Thrashers, is that we were listed as having interest in Antoine Vermette. I wonder if Ottawa is going to shut the door on trades for a little while?
By ranallo10
February 11, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
Now that Corvo is gone I don’t feel it’s throwing around a scenario, but rather something I thought was a possibility. I was thinking we’d see a Vermette and Corvo package for The Hossinator.
I’m definitely interested in Vermette, but I doubt we have anything but prospects and high picks that would interest them now (I doubt they’d package a young defender as well as Vermette to get Hossa now).
By Craig Custance
February 11, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
Hokie: We wife and I had dinner plans with some friends of ours, so I skipped Casino night.
ranallo: The other day, Waddell mentioned that keeping Hossa even if he’s not extended is a possibility that continues to increase in likelihood. You have to wonder, if the Thrashers continue to be in first or within a point or two, if they could really pull the trigger on a Hossa trade.
By ranallo10
February 11, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
I’d only be intersted in Ribiero, Jokinen, Zubov or Daley from Dallas.
By Geneen
February 11, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
The pictures from Casino Night on the Thrashers website are the lamest thing I’ve ever seen. If you can get 1,001 quality pictures of the Blue Crew, surely you can get one good one of Ilya or Marian or Slava.
I know they can do better than that.
By Bob
February 11, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
I’m curious to hear what the explanation of the players will be
Mabye they ran out of tampons…I knew those Habs were just a bunch of girls!
Smart move by Rutherford. This is how you manage teams. Not waiting till the deadline did wonders for him the year they won the Cup as well, didn’t they pick up Recchi and Weight early that year, way before anyone else made moves? He got good value in return for his UFAs, excellent management. Ottawa gets stocked for their run. A win for both.
Let’s hope Waddell is watching, and learning.
By Bob
February 11, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
Waddell mentioned that keeping Hossa even if he’s not extended is a possibility that continues to increase in likelihood
Good man, make sure you write a feature article on that word from him. It’ll help raise the ante from the other GMs so he’ll get a better return.
By R. Stroz
February 11, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
Has anyone noticed Lecavalier only has one year left on his contract?
What does Tampa do with their “upcoming Hossa situation” if they fall out of playoff contention by the trade deadline?
By Hip Czech
February 11, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this
Craig, exactly how tall is your ‘wee’ wife?
;-)
By timmythebrave
February 11, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
Would you trade Hossa for draft picks or try to make a run at the division this year? I say go after the division title this year and then try to sign a good player in the off season(Hopefully Hossa). What do ya’ll think?
By GaVaHokie
February 11, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
If Dallas is supposed to be in the building scouting us, I’m thinking Waddell is interested in Jeff Halpern.
I’d find it hard to believe they’d move Modano or Ribiero during a playoff run.
If they’re looking at Hossa, then I want Niskanen.
By ranallo10
February 11, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this
timmythebrave — That’s the ongoing debate. Some people have become perturbed by Hossa continually “mailing it in” and thus want him traded, while others consider it what they paid for and hope for him to re-sign.
Personally, I think this team has no chance without Hossa, so thus must ride him out (with the hopeful addition or two to help the team make the playoffs THIS year). Without mortgaging the future this team could keep key prospects (Little, Pavelec, Sterling) and possibly win a playoff round. By trading Hossa the team is signaling the end, and is preparing for the future.
I don’t think they’ll bring the Cup to Atlanta, but trading Hossa definitely wont get the team much closer. We’re at least two years from seeing a TRUE Stanley Cup competitor, in my opinion.
By Brendan
February 11, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
If it’s a Hossa trade to Dallas, I’d INSIST on Zubov. They’d tell me to “pound sand.” And that’d be the end of it.
By B. Thenet
February 11, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
Not too sure of how this trade meets the Canes needs, but I think almost all the teams in the SE are glad that Commodore is out of the division. He is a very intense phyiscal player, who usually got plenty of ice time vs. top line F’s to keep them off their game.
I think this is the start of Carolina’s swoon out of contention.
BTW, I hear that the Canadiens had their rookie hazing party in Tampa the other day. I understand the traditions behind it, but the veterans on that team have to make sure the kids aren’t getting into any trouble afterwards.
By GaVaHokie
February 11, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
Ranallo… and I don’t think we’ll be a Stanley Cup contender if we blow $8 million a year on Hossa… Catch 22.
By Hip Czech
February 11, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
“By trading Hossa the team is signaling the end, and is preparing for the future”
I’m actually OK with that…I’d rather set us up for a good 3-5 year run at being one of the top tier teams rather than winning a weak SE Division this year and getting knocked out in the first round.
Yeah, it would be tough for DW to admit that we are still in a building mode, but I think it would be better to be patient another year or two then try to continually band-aid this team with the hopes of making the playoffs each year.
Build on Kovalchuk, Lehtonen, and Enstrom, get a top line center and a D man and use the cap savings from Hossa, Holik, and Rucchin to bring in another couple players. If we fall out of the playoffs so be it, that improves our draft position so hopefully DW can pick up a decent player in the draft that will be ready in the next two years.
By Stu
February 11, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
I’d trade Hossa for drafts. If they could pull off a division title this year they would still get smoked in the first round. They need a more solid defensive unit and it might make sense for them to get some drafts and try to make a run in a couple years.
By Bob
February 11, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
Would you trade Hossa for draft picks or try to make a run at the division this year?
You can do both. The SouthEast is completely lame, I don’t think the Caps can keep up this level of play, 84 pts could win this division. So, you can move Hoss and still contend for the division. If you don’t get in, it’s no big loss. The SouthEast champ will really be like a 8 (or 9) seed playing a “better” club.
You have to trade Hossa, you can’t lose Heatley for a big grand return of nada. Hossa will bring a good return, Waddell can take some of those same assets he gets in the trade and bundle something together to bring more help for this year’s run (and still keep a prospect or player that we retain for help for next year so we didn’t lose Heatley for nada).
Or, I wouldn’t be suprised to see Waddell make a move first before the deadline to bring in a winger (and that’ll be the signal that Hoss is going, as that’ll be his replacement). Ryder could be had for cheap, you’d think.
We need to restock on some good young players. The forwards from Chicago that got a look this year don’t look ready to be a force in the NHL by next year (Little was the best of breed, but Sterling and the others showed little hope) so we need some players. If they lose Hoss and get nothing, this club is hamstrung badly.
By ranallo10
February 11, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
I hate to be greedy in this argument, but since I’m leaving the country following this season, I’d rather see the Thrashers stand pat and make some helpful additions and ATTEMPT at winning a round or two in the playoffs. I don’t want to have to fly into Atlanta next season just to watch a few playoff games…
sheesh, you all need to start thinking of MY needs.
By Brendan
February 11, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this
I’d actually be okay with losing Hossa for a series of “worthwhile” draft picks. If we traded with a … sayyy, Phoenix-type Western Conference team, sitting on the bubble, and they don’t make it in, we get their 1st and 3rd, and maybe even 2nd round picks, in a reportedly VERY DEEP draft. That’s not “garbage” in terms of the return, assuming the draft picks are held in the hands of a capable GM.
But what if we’re talking about Waddell? Bah-dum-bum. Well, in Waddell’s case, his strength is acquiring NHL players. He could trade these 1st, 2nd and 3rd round picks to another team for NHL players on their roster. He could try to target teams that will have salary cap issues. This is where players like a Patrick Marleau acquisition start to have a shred of possibility. San Jose is going to have salary cap concerns down the road. They’ve got an underperforming, high-dollar Center on their payroll. Sharks fans may want to own what used to be Phoenix’s 1st, 2nd, and/or 3rd round picks to reload, even during their Championship-run.
“Picks for players” is a strategy. But uhh, I’d rather cultivate my own draft picks than trade them away for high-dollar players, who didn’t “opt” to be here. Now, I hear ya. A “drafted” player didn’t chose Atlanta, either. But it’s a slightly different situation, in that a young player just wants to prove themselves worthy at the NHL-level, and are eager to get started.
Whereas, an establish NHL player, upon hearing he’d just be traded to “mediocre” team, might suffer “an energy crisis.” That’s why I say things like, “Hossa has played admirably for us, after a sign-n-trade. He never chose to play in Atlanta.”
By David
February 11, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
come on zubov and ribiero for hossa and moose
By Jethro
February 11, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this
Look hear Sparky, just because you’re chasin that there Austrian woman across the pond, doesn’t mean you get to sell the team down tha river.
You need ta man up and tell her that she needs to be a movin to the states.
Get yer priorities straight young man.
By Mark
February 11, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this
I don’t see what trades Waddell could make to make a long run in the play-offs that would not seriously hurt this team for the future. This team has way too many holes to be filled to think that making it past the 1st or 2nd round is a realistic possibility. Making those kind of desperate moves like Waddell did last season would just be dumb as Hossa is most likely not going to stick around and we’ll end up stuck with nothing in the end. It would be much smarter to trade him, and Holik and Recchi, for younger roster players to really make a run at it next year. It would also be smart if there was someone else making those trades besides Waddell. These kind of trades can really push your team forward or knock you back a notch if you don’t make the right decisions.
By Mark
February 11, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this
You should be able to get more than draft picks for a player of Hossa’s caliber. Look at what Philly got for an often injured Forsberg last year. They got one roster player (a former 1st rounder), another former 1st rounder that will be NHL ready next season and a 1st round pick. That’s what we should shoot regarding Hossa and that is why I think it would be stupid to hold onto Hossa and just let him walk at the end of the year. This team is not constructed to go far in the play-offs and any moves made to bolster the line-up for a play-off run are based on pipe dreams. The Southeast is an incredible weak division this year and, playing against that competition, the Thrashers can barely stay at .500 and cannot hold onto the division lead. I think Washington is poised to run away with it now anyway. It’s time to get everything you can for the players that are on the roster that have value to play-off teams. Hossa should command a lot. Holik’s play-off reputation should get you something pretty nice. Recchi, who knows, but he produces and has two cup rings.
By Tim
February 11, 2008 6:21 PM | Link to this
Mark Media have said the same thing about Calgery and Edmonton about not having any chance at all in the playoff and yet they made it to the final. It is a fact that once you reach playoff, what happened in the regular season doesn’t matter anymore. It’s a whole new season where are you need it’s a hot goaltender (i.e. Cam Ward, Kipprusof, Rolosson, Roy, Brodeur, Giguere, etc.). It wouldn’t even matter if that goalie have been good or not during the regular season. Kari have that potential, all we need to know is if he will step up his game like he have done in the past few week or not and if he can keep that pace. But to get there, we need Hossa who have been scoring and playing like a demon possesed (is that a valid expression?) since New Year. And especially now that Kovy is in a slump.
By Tim
February 11, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this
I don’t think Hossa will be traded but if that’s the case, there is one player that no one mention yet but I’ll be willing to made a straight up trade with: Dan Hamuis from the Nashville Predators. Solid young defensemen with a lot of upside and a few year from his peak.
By BG33Brown
February 11, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this
I am agree with most here. If we don’t sign hossa by the trade deadline, we need to trade him for picks or players or a combination of both.
We can’t risk the possibility of being left with nothing ala Buffalo b/c there is zero chance of a long playoff run with or without Hossa.
By Tim
February 11, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this
Just like there is zero chance for the NY Giants to beat Tampa, Dallas, Green Bay and New England to win the SB.
By BG33Brown
February 11, 2008 7:12 PM | Link to this
No, less chance than that. :)
And if there is a chance, you certainly don’t count on it and you prepare for the future.
By Brendan
February 11, 2008 7:34 PM | Link to this
Everyone look out the window! Right now! And tell me what you see. We have to be on the lookout for signs of the “Four Horsemen” of the coming Apocalypse, since I just saw Niko Kappanen shoot the puck into the net, for an official NHL goal for the Phoenix Coyotes. The end of the World must certainly be near!
Actually, he’s probably closing in on 10 goals this year … while NOT PLAYING in Atlanta.
By Sage of Bluesland
February 11, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this
I’m just waiting for our bumbling Donny to “guarantee” that we’ll make the playoffs this year…
It provided such a wonderful laugh in years past…Please, esteemed beat-writer, pose this quote from yesteryear to our brilliant GM who has been here since day-one, to no avail as we have one of the oldest rosters in the league…
By Boulton's Bruisers
February 11, 2008 8:59 PM | Link to this
Bob Excellent post at 4:58!
By kracker
February 11, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this
Playoff seeding: Aren’t you always no worse than the three seed if you win a division?
By kracker
February 11, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this
Tim I like your optimism. If the Thrash were to make the Cup finals with this team, it will be Lehtonen is the reason, not Hossa. So let’s acquire the future assets and then let us make that Cup run :)
By Tim
February 11, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this
Hwy you can’t blame me for being optimist :) After all I’ve been a long time Quebec Nordiques fans! I’ve seen a lot of season where people asking me how I can still cheer for a bunch of losers! But hey, that’s what fans are. To cheer on their highs and lows. And if they happen to win it all, you can proudly said: I’ve believe into it from the beginning. :)
By Sage of Bluesland
February 11, 2008 10:42 PM | Link to this
Well, you know what one definition of insanity is, right? Doing the same thing and expecting different results. Constantly.
Sorta-reminds you of our bumbling GM and his track record for, oh, the past decade…Our minor-league GM and the lamb-set which adores him THANK you for your continued support…After all, BELIEVE IN BWUEWAND…
By Jared
February 11, 2008 11:08 PM | Link to this
as mush as I am scared of KL being the “future” of the thrashers he is defiantly more of an asset to the Thrashers than Hossa. Remember the hockey saying, “a good team with a great goalie is better than a great team with an good goalie.” I’d try my chances without hossa (who was silent in the playoffs). Hossa for Coburn and a #1 pick?
By Brendan
February 11, 2008 11:30 PM | Link to this
I wasn’t going to do this, but I want to make a comment about trade deadline deals. They don’t “guarantee” anything. And sometimes, like the 2004 Tampa Bay Lightning, a team doesn’t make any moves at all, maintains “team chemistry,” and brings home the Cup. Of course, the Bolts were a #1 seed all year long in 2004. But the point is … there is such a thing as “too much ‘tweaking.’” Ask the Nashville Predators about how well that Peter Forsberg trade went with Philly last year.
Ever since the 8th seeded Oilers landed Dwayne Roloson at the deadline in 2006, all these fans around the NHL think, “Let’s just do what Edmonton did in 2006! If we ‘just make it in’, we can WIN!!” Well, let me ask you something. Ready? Do you think that’s playing ‘percentages’ WISELY?
O-kayyyyyy!! I “get it.” It’s about not rrrrrreally being an 8th seeded team by the time you’re done RAIDING the less fortunate among the NHL’s teams.
Wellllll. I repeat, is that ‘playing percentages WISELY?’ Think about it. You’re still the #8 seed—and have the toughest possible road to the Stanley Cup Finals of any team in your Conference. Yes, you’re still a much better team than you were BEFORE you made these deadline deals, but isn’t it prudent to use some ‘moderation’ in making such moves?
In the case of the 2006 Oilers, it actually was a fairly-decent risk to cough up a 1st round pick for Rolosson, who was the “missing piece” of that team’s particular playoff puzzle.
Umm, are the Atlanta Thrashers “one missing puzzle piece” away from driving towards the Finals this year?? Beeeee honest. You’re all of you, EACH and EVERY ONE of you, capable of “being honest.” Well, is ‘mortaging the future’ something that seems WISE at this juncture? Is that “looking out for the longterm interests of the team?,” something Don Waddell said he’s do, vis-a-vis the Hossa situation. But it’s also applicable to the discussion at hand about trade deadline moves, and how ‘smart’ or ‘not-so-smart’ they may be.
It’s a fine line of discretion. Edmonton needed a goalie, first and foremost, in 2006. They got one, and it made allll the difference. They needed ONE player. How many players does Atlanta need? It’s more than one, folks.
Now’s not the time to go hog-wild on deadline moves. We’re just not “close enough” to knocking off teams like Ottawa, Anaheim, Detroit, San Jose, the Rangers or Devils. We might not get past the Flyers or Habs. In time, it will be WISE to make a splash at the trade deadline. But that year isn’t 2008 for Atlanta. And I’m not sure what’s driving some people to think that it is.
It takes a lot of depth to win a playoff series. Let alone two or three or four of them, to bring home a Cup. Asking your goaltender to pull a Giguere, 2003-style is asking a LOT. Too much. Hey, “Go Kari!!” I’d love to witness it! But I’m not holding my breath for it.
By David
February 12, 2008 12:27 AM | Link to this
I’m a little baffled at why people don’t think this team can be successful .
Out of 24 games left in the season, by my count 12 of those are division games. In division games this year, Atlanta is 11-8. And that’s including 3 straight division losses to start the season. Since those 3, they are 11-5. I like those numbers folks.
Let’s say we win another 73% of those division games. That’s 9 theoretical wins. 9-3 if we stay on pace. 18 points out of a possible 24.
Ladies and gentleman. THOSE are the games that matter. The other 12 are important, but those 4 point swing games are HUGE. Yes, we need to do better against non divisional opponents, but guys…this is really not that bad.
And remember, this is a team that beat detroit 5-1 in their own barn. And in case you are curious, Atlanta is the ONLY team to outscore Detroit by 4 goals this season.
I’m sorry if i’m this optimistic, but I really do believe this team can go all the way if it plays consistently. And yes, I believe a few fixes could make this team more consistent.
-Trade moose now. I don’t believe you win in the playoffs with two goaltenders. One guy, and he has to get hot. Lehtonen is the guy. Let’s give him every start that he can take and keep giving them to him. Look at brodeur. How many games a year does he play? Lehts needs to just toughen up, he can take it. Having moose there just takes away from his playing time and makes him look over his shoulders. Let’s put all the weight on him, and say “you’re our guy”
-Find a center to play with Kovy and Recchi. Move white to play with hossa. The center doesn’t have to be the best center in the league, but he needs to be good enough to take pressure off kovy, be able to skate with him and recchi, win faceoffs, and be able to pass AND shoot. I wouldn’t mind some size either.
-We need size on the blue line. We get pushed around too much.
The focus of this team should be on THIS year, not next year. Of course you don’t want to shoot yourself in the foot, but you have to ALWAYS try to win now while you are in contention.
By Hip Czech
February 12, 2008 8:01 AM | Link to this
David, I’m pretty sure that this same team that is the only one to beat Detroit by 4 goals is also the only team to lose to Buffalo by 9.
By Tom
February 12, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this
I am not afraid of dealing Hossa for draft picks as long as the present regime is not making those draft picks.
By GaVaHokie
February 12, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this
Zubov is 36 years old… while he’s a great player, I don’t think he’s worth giving up Hossa for… and there’s no way they give up Ribiero.
By GaVaHokie
February 12, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
Another interesting possibility is trading a prospect and a draft pick for Robert Lang in Chicago… I would think the Hawks would be okay shedding his salary with the emergence of Kane, Sharp and Toews… not to mention Ruutu and Jason Williams.
Jason Williams is also trade bait (according to Eklund). He’s been hurt most of this year, but is healing and could be a big pick-up.
By Mark
February 12, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
Tim, it’s true that a hot goalie can carry a team very far. But, those teams that you mention not only had a hot goalie but they had grittie teams that were able to play disciplined defensive systems that limited oppenents chances and capitalized with timely scoring. Does that sounds like the Thrashers? This team gives up way too many shots and way too many scoring chances on a nightly basis. Besides Bobby Holik, what grit does this team have that you can count on in a tough 7 game series? I’m sorry but hot goalie or not, this team is not built for success in the play-offs. For this team to win in the play-offs they would have to outscore teams and there are two things that are going to prevent that from happening. 1) There are just too many liabilities on defense, we are far too pourous in our coverage and give up way too many odd many rushes and quality scoring changes. 2) Beyond Kovy and Hossa, there is very little scoring depth. If you concentrate on shutting down Kovy and force Hossa to beat you, you can contain our offense. Hossa has a history of coming up small in the play-offs, see last year and his time in Ottawa. Oh, and another thing about the Thrashers, while I agree that a hot goalie can carry you far in the play-off, Lehtonen did not fare well under the play-off pressure last year (partly Hartley’s fault) but it might to a little premature to place you faith in him.
By Fan
February 12, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
If I am not mistaken, 11 Alive is reporting Kovalchuk won Atlanta’s professional athlete of the year. Will there be a mention of it today along with a picture?
By Midfield
February 12, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
Right on, Mark. Just one thing to add, if I may: there is one guy who could make a big difference, should he pick it up big time - Kozlov. He looks a bit better as of late, but not nearly close to what he can do, and not nearly enough to help Thrashers down this stretch.
By ranallo10
February 12, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
Well, you know what one definition of insanity is, right? Doing the same thing and expecting different results. Constantly.
Do you mean like coming to this blog and incessantly posting your dribble and expecting people to listen? Constantly.
By David
February 12, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
Hip i understand what you’re saying, all i mean is that this team can do it. It’s a matter of being consistent. The team that beat detroit is the same team that got blasted by buffalo, yes. But, if we could simply get the team that beat detroit to get out on the ice every night…it’d make for one hell of a hockey team.
By GaVaHokie
February 12, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
Sage… insanity, as in saying the same thing over and over again, such as yourself when you know no one is listening to you?
By ranallo10
February 12, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
Hokie — Don’t use logic, that makes too much sense. Instead use insults and over-generalizations, that’s what REAL fans do. Without those two things, you’re just a sheep.
By chickenhawk
February 12, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
ranaldo (from other blog) my point is waddell cannot give up our picks. we need those for our next gm to use!
By Bob
February 12, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
Another interesting possibility is trading a prospect and a draft pick for Robert Lang in Chicago
Lang has 1 year left on his contract at a $4m cap hit. I wouldn’t hate seeing him brought in as he’s still an effective player, albeit old (we do need to get younger). But a one year stop gap might be needed, we have Little, and then not much else besides White at the center position. Question is, do the owners ok that salary for next year (it’s a wash for this year as they’ll lose Hoss’ salary) and do we want to tie up $4m of next year’s cap space in Lang? That’s an interesting move, I think I’d prefer that next year’s cap space be left wide open for the new GM to spend as he sees fit.
Tim, it’s true that a hot goalie can carry a team very far. But, those teams that you mention not only had a hot goalie but they had grittie teams that were able to play disciplined defensive systems that limited oppenents chances and capitalized with timely scoring. Does that sounds like the Thrashers?
Bingo, hot goalies can carry solid defensive clubs that have trouble scoring, not clubs like us. There’s far to many holes on this club to think one hot hand could carry this club to anything more than being competitive in Round 1.
By rj
February 13, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
Only time will tell if Carolina improved their team. On the surface, imo, they didn’t. Stillman seems to have a knack for getting traded to teams about to win the cup.
I came here hoping someone would have some reasonable ideas about a Hossa trade but it is obvious that no one does. We need to trade him for an underperforming gritty/skill guy similar to Joe Thornton going to SJ and being rejuvinated.
We don’t need to kill our future like last year’s trade deadline. Don should have done a ‘Lou’ and dropped Hartley then instead of what actually occurred.