Thrashers

By Mike Knobler

September 9, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this

I just did a rundown of the goalie stats for shootouts. Here is where the Thrashers stand from last season:

Johan Hedberg, 69.6 save percentage, 12th

Kari Lehtonen, 66.7 save percentage, tied for 18th

Average save percentage in shootouts was 60.1.

By Brendan

September 9, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this

Kobler, I definitely like our chances in the “skills competition” portion of the game. Who knows? It might turn out to be our strategy. Try to get the game to the S/O, then win it there. It worked great for the Edmonton Oilers.

By Brendan

September 9, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the shootout stats, Mike Knobler. It’s always fun to look at stuff like that.

Although, I disagree with the league allowing wins to be procured in this fashion. To a degree, I applaud the “overall concept” of games needing to be won or lost, and that shootouts are the very LAST RESORT in doing that. I’m fine with the shootout, provided that the point system be removed. W-L. Games up and games back. That’s it. And the “standard” shifts from a “100-point season” to a “50-win season.”

It’s my view that, if the league wants a “points system” to determine the standings, they should have just kept the ties. This argument has been beaten to death, so I’ll just stop there.

By Brendan

September 9, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this

Knobler, even. My bad.

By TRON

September 9, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this

GOOD TEAMS DON’T HAVE TO RELY ON SHOOTOUT SPECIALISTS……………..THANKS FOR THE NUMBERS ON LETEMIN………..THOSE LOOK ACCURATE…………….

By Sara

September 9, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this

Yeah TRON those numbers do look accurate, as in Kari was above average.

By Robert

September 9, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this

You have the shootout number for Jason Williams in his career?

I don’t know how many shootouts he got into last season being injured, but I remember him being very good in shootouts for Detroit.

By LAC

September 10, 2008 12:23 AM | Link to this

Nobody does as well as we do in these shoououts… This is ONE area you do NOT want to go if to,if you are the opposing team…

You may get a point, but we will get TWO !

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 10, 2008 6:52 AM | Link to this

Knobler — I believe Edmonton lead the league in shootout goals, right? I would be willing to bet that this year would be different, as they are a young squad and now goalie coaches have tape to prepare their goalies with.

I’m guessing some time is spent on shootouts in practice, but from what I remember about the Thrashers last season, it’s usually at the end of practice and is optional.

Anyways, I’d rather a team that wins in regulation or OT and doesn’t rely upon the shootout to get their points, but it’s always good to know that this team has three solid SO specialists (Christensen, Kozlov, Williams), and a superstar to bring in the big guns. Perrin served quite well in his role on the SO, but I think that was similar to the success of Edmonton’s young players, where nobody has a book on his one move just yet.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 10, 2008 7:28 AM | Link to this

Brad McCrimmon Q&A…he doesn’t speak at all about Atlanta, but it’s interesting to see his remarks about Hossa (all good of course) considering all that went on behind the scenes in Atlanta.

By d

September 10, 2008 7:49 AM | Link to this

In their preview of the SE Division, Sportsline predicts the Thrash will once again be competing for the #1 draft pick in 2009. http://www.sportsline.com/nhl/story/10969072/rss

By Mike Knobler

September 10, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this

ranallo10 (in AT) Yes, Edmonton won 15 of 19 shootouts.

By Qc-ATL55

September 10, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this

Hey guys, first time blogger here…

Although we do need scoring help for Kovy, our D looks better which in turn, should help out netminders.

I don’t know the new coach at all but it seems that it should be pretty easy to motivate a team that EVERYBODY thinks will fail miserably… Pride, goes a long way if you get them to believe that they can compete…

By Nikita

September 10, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

I disagree with Sportsline. For one thing, I think we’ll have at least one division team (FLA) that is bound for #30. Tampa could be also, given how lopsided their talent it.

By Alan

September 10, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

*n their preview of the SE Division, Sportsline predicts the Thrash will once again be competing for the #1 draft pick *

That’s not what the article says. It says this: “But while most teams head into training camp at least trying to believe they have a shot at the Stanley Cup, the likelihood is most of the Thrashers understand they’ll spend much of the season contending for the No. 1 lottery pick rather than a playoff spot. “

Whether this point is true or not is moot, because the puck hasn’t dropped yet! I would feel the same way if all the “previews” were saying the Thrashers would be bona fide cup contenders. We “even worse [than last year] on paper” but we sure as hell don’t know if that’s going to translate to a team worse than last years. Savvy hockey fans should know this.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 10, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

Nikita — Though inexperienced and/or completely overhauled, I don’t see Tampa Bay as being a candidate for cellar dwelling. There offense might take a while to click, but they have the talent to do so (reuniting Prospal and St. Louis/Lecavalier will definitely help).

Their defense and goalie situation are the two most suspect areas in my opinion, but Meszaros Carle and co. have plenty of skill and some experience with some of the better teams in the game…I think they know what they’re doing back there.

I’m not saying they’ll win The Cup, but I think you’re underestimating the potential successes of Tampa Bay.

Florida and Atlanta are about even, in my opinion. Florida has a well rounded offensive squad (Horton, Weiss, Booth, etc), and a youthful but experienced defensive corps with a new addition of McCabe. They have a better defense than Atlanta on paper, and on that same paper have about the same or worse offense. Goaltending they probably have the edge with Vokoun, but I like Lehtonen for the longhaul personally.

Anyways, I think there are easy ways to dissect each team in this division into why they could or could not succeed, I simply think Atlanta and Florida have the biggest chances of failing than their opponents. I think Carolina will bounce back and compete with Washington for the division title (and 3rd playoff spot), while Tampa Bay will make a late surge (when chemistry clicks) and challenge for the final playoff spots available. That’s my prediction for this division, at this point.

By david

September 13, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this

so what is going on with Atlanta Spirit, LLC.?

By The Falconer

September 14, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

Unfortunately for the Thrashers team shootout success from one year to anther is almost completely random. It is one the most luck dependent aspects of hockey. Don’t count on us winning more shootout points than the next team.