AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March > 13
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Shaking things up for the Flames
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Don Waddell is shuffling up the lines a little bit for tonight’s game against Calgary. Slava Kozlov is going to skate with Bryan LIttle and Mark Recchi. Ilya Kovalchuk is going to be on the left side with Chris Thorburn and Bobby Holik. The second (or whatever number) line with the new guys remains the same.
I asked if this was a demotion for Kovalchuk, since I always viewed Kozlov playing in that spot as a demotion, but Waddell said his goal is to try and get balanced scoring during 5-on-5. I’ve always liked the idea of a two top scoring lines and a classic third checking line, and that certainly doesn’t exist now, but we’ll see how it goes tonight. At least they’re mixing something up, it’s not like the other lines were clicking.
I do like the Christensen, Armstrong and Perrin line - at least how they’re playing right now. I’m curious what you guys think - yesterday Don said he was content with how this team is set up at center for next season. Do you agree that a top three of White, Little and Christensen would work? Then maybe you bring in a free agent right winger and a couple high-priced defensemen. I get the feeling that the blueline will be rebuilt through a trade. If you look, the list of available free agent defensemen isn’t exactly that deep and it’s only going to get thinner as deals get done before July 1.
Joel Kwiatkowski wasn’t claimed off waivers, so he can be sent to Chicago if the Thrashers decide to call up someone else. They have two moves left - who would you call up with those two? I’m still waiting for Mark Popovic to get an extended look, but I think the team already has an idea of what he brings to the table. The Thrashers most successful stretch of the season came in the fall when he was getting regular minutes, but it doesn’t look like he’s part of the plans for the future. He’s an unrestricted free agent after the season and he’s kept a positive attitude through it all.
I spent a few minutes talking to him after practice yesterday, and you have to appreciate his attitude: “I’m a positive guy, I’m a good soldier, no matter what happens I’m going to be positive around the team. I’m here to get better every day whether or not I’m in the lineup. That’s the attitude I take, and I’ll do it with a smile on my face because hey, I’m playing hockey for a living.”
And he said that, despite the sporadic playing time, it’s been a good year for him: “The biggest thing is I know I can be a player in this league and I feel great. Hopefully I’ll get an opportunity in these last few weeks to prove to Atlanta and everyone else in this league that I belong in the top six on any team.”
But the fact of the matter is that the defense needs some new players. If you trade/waive Zhitnik, let Steve McCarthy and Mark Popovic walk, that gives you three slots to work with. If you can sign or trade for a legit top two guy and then add another top four guy, things might turn around. At least defensively.
Couple things of note tonight: Mark Recchi plays in game No. 1,400. That’s a heck of an accomplishment. And the players will be wearing the green St. Patrick’s Day jerseys in warmups to be auctioned off. I still think they should wear them during the game, just like the home whites they wore during the White Out. Oh wait.
