Thrashers

By Brendan

September 10, 2008 5:20 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the list, Mike.

By Mike Knobler

September 10, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this

Average age of the invitees on the first day of camp: 25 years, 7 months.

Players under 21: nine, including Zach Bogosian, 18, and Bryan Little, 20, among the good bets to make the team.

By Mike Knobler

September 10, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this

Over 30 years old on day one of camp: 10, including nine players who probably will make the final roster. (Oldest is Ken Klee, 37.)

Average defenseman: 6-2, 205

Average forward: 6-0 1/2, 198 1/2

Average goalie: 6-3, 197

By Eileen

September 10, 2008 7:01 PM | Link to this

I have a question for all of you hockey heads. Craig Custance stated on TSN that he was in Duluth yesterday and almost everyone was there skating. He said Ilya Kovalchuk was not there, but that was to be expected. What do you think he meant? Do the super stars usually wait until camp officially opens? I did notice that Marion Hossa went to an informal practice yesterday. On another subject, some of the Penguins including Crosby delivered season tickets yesterday. I think that is such a great gesture to those fans. You can see the pics on the Pens website.

By Mike Knobler

September 10, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this

Acquired through draft: 28

Acquired through free agency: 12

Acquired through trade: 7

By Mike Knobler

September 10, 2008 7:10 PM | Link to this

Eileen I have been told Ilya will be in Duluth on the 16th.

By Bob

September 10, 2008 7:18 PM | Link to this

He said Ilya Kovalchuk was not there, but that was to be expected. What do you think he meant?

He means Kovy is a lock to make the club, so there’s no need for him to get here early and impress, I guess he doesn’t live here in the offseason.

On another subject, some of the Penguins including Crosby delivered season tickets yesterday. I think that is such a great gesture to those fans.

I agree. That would be great if the Thrashers’ did it as well, and it wouldn’t take them that long this year, if 40 guys pitched in, they’d knock it out in a couple hours, eh?

By Eileen

September 10, 2008 7:31 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the answers. Yes Bob, they probably would.

By Menelaos D

September 10, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this

Hey Mike,

Have you heard anything about a new Thrashers third jersey?

I know that website/blog looks kind of bush league, so I’m referring to a more reliable source!

Keep up the good work, as a Thrashers fan in NYC these blogs are my lifeline!

By Mike Knobler

September 10, 2008 7:59 PM | Link to this

Menelaos D Thanks for the kind words. I do not have any info on a third jersey, but I would not be surprised. It’s a revenue opportunity, and if you caught a look at the free agent contracts this summer you know the league will be looking for every revenue opportunity it can get. Look at what has happened in baseball, with all of the uniform styles and caps.

By Hotrod

September 10, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this

This is excellent info. Thanks!

We need quick gelling of chemistry this year. I’d like to see a 7-3 start in the first 10.

Skate fast and hit hard Thrashers!

By krust

September 10, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this

Well, that roster is slim pikins not Boone Pikins. But I have say after all the complaining by some people on the Thrashers blogs about the team is to old in the past, well you have your wish. Young and I mean young players. It might take two, three years and a couple of more draft choices. The roster above 20 wins at best it is going to be a long season but sometimes exciting, with all the young players. I am going to take the plunge again and get season tickets. But that roster above weak!

By ZB

September 11, 2008 7:38 AM | Link to this

Glad to see Postma get an invite. He has little chance to make the club, but I was impressed by him during prospect camp. I thnk he has the skill set to make it to the NHL someday.

By wristshot

September 11, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this

I’m really interested to see Danick Paquette in camp after he was given the “C” in the rookie tournament. I’d love to see this guy make the team over Brad Larsen. He hits like a freight train, likes to drop the gloves and has some fairly decent offensive skills. He’d be the type of player the fans could really get behind.

By GaVaHokie

September 11, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this

Jamie Rivers got an invite? Interesting… Mike, is that a non-contract invitee?

By GaVaHokie

September 11, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this

Okay… now I see that Jamie Rivers signed an AHL contract with the Wolves. Now my question is, if Jeff Hamilton did the same, why doesn’t he have an invite?

By Jarndyce

September 11, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

Wristshot: Sorry to say this, but there’s no way Paquette makes this team. Too young, too erratic, too much of a liability at this point. Let him get more experience and coaching, first.

Other comments: Can we have a 1st-line Center, please? I’ll take my chances with the D as it stands. Yeah, there’re holes the size of Vermont at the blueline. But there’s a hole the size of Saskatchewan at Center. In an offense built around aggressive forward play, we’re doomed without talent up front. I’m good with Little or Christiansen at #2, but neither is a top-class NHL center.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 11, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this

Hokie — Perhaps it has to do with timing? Maybe they know Rivers could be an eventual call-up, where as Hamilton could be using Chicago to springboard himself to another NHL roster?

Or, perhaps Hamilton got invited to Carolina’s training camp?

By Sara

September 11, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this

Jarndyce it’s the age-old question at this point - where precisely do you suggest we find this 1st-line Center? There were a total of ZERO available on the FA market this off-season, the only one traded was Jokinen (out of the SE division), and there were no RFAs worth coughing up the farm for. And as of right now, no top-line center FA is out there, no one is going to put a top-line center on waivers, and no one is going to trade one away less than a month before the season starts. Even teams needing to dump salary aren’t going to “dump” their top center to make that happen - they’ll dump overpaid third and fourth line players. So….moral of the story is, better hope Christensen or Little have a break-out season/exceed career expectations.

By GaVaHokie

September 11, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this

Jarndyce… I think we’ll see some trades once training camp starts. Teams probably want to see what they’ve got before moving or adding anyone.

If we shore up the defense, we should see increased scoring opportunities. Ben Wright has a good write-up about our defensive possibilities.

By Jason

September 11, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this

Kevin Allen at USAToday.com said this about the team on his page: The Atlanta Thrashers hope to land another defenseman, possibly even unrestricted free agent Marek Malik, although they are considering other options. They still plan to give rookie Zach Bogosian the opportunity to make the team.

I have heard Malik’s name attached to us earlier in the offseason. Not a big fan of this idea when we have Klee and Ex taking up space. If one or both are moved in a package deal for a better center/forward, then lets talk. It would be one thing if Malik was a big upgrade, but all I see is someone subpar that keeps Valabik or another deserving young guy off the roster.

By Jarndyce

September 11, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

Sara: I ask you to please keep your rational analysis away from my emotional reaction. I want a Center! Isn’t there a lab somewhere we can talk to? Maybe CERN can create one for us with their fancy new toy…

By GaVaHokie

September 11, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

Sara… there are a couple out there available in trade, but they’re on the downside of their “top line” status… Nylander and Lang.

There are a lot more options out there at RW who would be legitimate Top Liners for this team… I’d rather have Glen Murray or Knuble than Nylander or Lang. And for a heftier price, Gionta.

By GaVaHokie

September 11, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

Jason… Malik or McLaren would be a considerable upgrade to Klee or Exelby. I think either would be a boost to Valabik’s status.

Check out the stickhandling on Malik’s shootout goal from this past season.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 11, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

Sara — Cammalleri was also traded this offseason.

Hokie — I am of the stance that I’d rather none of the players you mentioned (except Gionta), because I’d rather see our youth fill the vacancy. We’ll know what we have to work with once training camp starts though.

Jason — Interesting link, and like you said it’s not the first time Malik has been mentioned in the same breath as Atlanta defenseman (I think even Eklund mentioned him coming here, for what that’s worth), but I agree with you that unless he replaces Ex or Klee (preferrably Klee due to the age), I would rather see Valabik and/or Bogosian get the minutes Malik would use.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 11, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

The best part of that clip is the announcer’s reaction when Malik goes between his own legs.

He sounds like his privates were stepped on.

By Sara

September 11, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

Ranallo I had forgotten about Cammalleri, although didn’t he get moved to the wing last season? Maybe not. His numbers tailed off last year though. Also keep in mind he got traded for a first round pick in this year’s draft and for sure he isn’t worth giving up Bogosian and I don’t know if our 29th pick (from Pitt) + a prospect perhaps would have been as enticing as the one they got from Calgary. (Although I think they sold themselves short - Cammalleri should have brought more than that.) Perhaps if someone from these parts goes to the THM they can ask Don if he knew Cammalleri was available and if he made any attempt to get him.

As for future trades…my position is the same it’s been for months - unless we are going to get a true bonafide top-notch player, any trades are worthless IMO. We will lose assets and the roster spot will go to some mid-tier talent at best who will take time away from a younger player that needs to get ice time to develop. Whether it’s at forward or on the blueline, doesn’t matter. And I wouldn’t be so quick to ship off Klee - he and Havelid are the only two real veterans on the blueline we have with two rookies and one sophomore joining them. Unless you want Exelby and/or Hainsey being solely responsible for Bogosian’s development??

People we have to keep on point here - we want this done RIGHT this time. And making minor trades at this point might get us a few extra points this season, but won’t get us a Stanley Cup and will cost us assets we could retain and package together later for impact players (or more draft picks). We’ve got plenty of good young talent for lines 2-4 here and coming up through the pipeline in the next few years. We have plenty of blueline talent here and in the pipeline. We have solid goaltending - between Kari and Ondrej, one of those two is bound to be the real deal. We have 1/3 of a dynamic top line. We need the other 2/3. We need the center (if we don’t luck into one out of Little, Christensen, or Espo) and we need the RW. Those are the only two pieces I want Don Waddell concerned with right now.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 11, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this

Sara — You’re right, Bogosian is definitely a better asset at this point in the Thrashers development than Cammalleri would’ve been for his one year under contract. Cammalleri did get moved to wing on a team deep with quality centers (O’Sullivan, Kopitar, Armstrong, Handzus), so his spot had to be freed up for the better and less difficult players. Think back to Cammalleri’s contract negotiations, and you might remember how difficult it was for LA to get him under contract as a RFA. Now compare that to the O’Sullivan negotiations and you may notice that LA could be having an issue with their young and talented centers leaving their team for better pastures (I’ll bet you if O’Sullivan leaves, he goes to a Canadian team). Hopefully (for them) they don’t have this problem with Kopitar, but if they do we can expect PLENTY of rumors about where he’ll be traded.

I also agree that the focus for any acquisitions should be for sustained success. If any defenders are moved it would be for one of two things…either a better alternative is replacing him in said trade, or a prospect is being given a chance to log NHL quality minutes instead of being demoted to AHL/OHL minutes.

Personally I’d be fine with Exelby being the second most tenured defender if that meant Bogosian and Valabik were guaranteed 10 minutes per game, at a minimum. If we’re talking about a player like Malik, McLaren, Ohlund, etc…those are replacements that can serve the role of mentor that would be lost by Klee’s departure. The way I see it, it’s win/win either way.

But yeah, I don’t expect any changes to happen, this roster is set in my mind…it’s just a matter of picking the final pieces of where the players like Bogosian, Little, Valabik and Sterling will be playing come October. I don’t expect Stuart or Lavallee to make the club, and most of the other top talent will be in the AHL or minors again, so I consider the roster rather set (and just barely above the CAP floor, as predicted).

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 11, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this

Hmm…according to this NHL.com story the Atlanta Thrashers have the best goalie tandem for shootouts.

Where’s TRON?

By Sara

September 11, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

Ranallo I remembered his last RFA negotiations - which went to arbitration. I had expected LA to move him, although like I said, I expected more back from him. I hadn’t realized how deep they were at C though. Whato do you wanna bet Calgary has no problem re-signing him to an extension? (or did they already?)

Anyway, moot.

God I’m ready for some hockey. Football is great and all, but damned if it’s just not the same. I need the smell of ice, the sounds of a bodycheck into the boards, the heat of the flaming birdheads….grrrrr. Over one more week before I can get any of it either. So close…..yet still so far!!

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 11, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

Decapitated birdheads that spit fire…(sigh). They don’t have those in Austria.

I wouldn’t be surprised to hear they re-sign him to a 3-4 year contract. He’ll be on a line with Iginla and Bertuzzi, so he’s definitely being put in a position to succeed. Or he could be lined up on the opposite wing as Iginla, and they have a multitude of capable centers in Calgary, so I’m sure he’ll get his points somehow.

And yeah, I don’t think the 29 pick would’ve been sufficient. And I also don’t think he would’ve extended his contract in Atlanta.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 11, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this

Eric Staal re-signed with Carolina for 8 years, $8.25M per year.

By Brendan

September 11, 2008 10:49 PM | Link to this

That Staal contract is the kind of deal Hossa could have signed in several markets. I hope Hossa get his extension with Detroit, like he wants.

That’s a bold move by Carolina. But it was the right thing to do. $66 million is a lot of guaranteed money. But failure to lock up Staal would have invited many problems down the road. This re-signing sends a clear message about their commitment to winning another Cup in Raleigh. Or at least trying to stay competitive.

Hey, this is the trend. Eight years is perfectly in league with what we’re seeing these days. And when Kovy signs some 10-or-more year deal in 2009 or 2010, who’ll be surprised by that?

By Brendan

September 11, 2008 11:12 PM | Link to this

I guess it’s only $57.75 million. Yeah, ONLY!. You’ll notice Staal’s quote, “I wasn’t stressing about it or wanting it to (have to be) done by training camp. But, now that it’s done, I won’t have to field questions about it the whole season long. Now, I can just focus on the hockey.” That’s paraphrased a bit.

Congratulations to Jim Rutherford, the GM, and the ‘Canes ownership for stepping up in a big way to lock up an absolutely essential player that their organization drafted. And for doing it … a YEAR AHEAD of schedule, they way serious clubs should and do. By doing this, they’ve hedged off any possible RFA offersheet. It won’t be a source of distraction and frustration for the Carolina fans during the upcoming season.

Question: “Did they overpay for Staal?”

I wouldn’t say so, is my answer. I would have thought $7.85M. But, we have to look at what he would have been worth out on the market in 2009, with a presummed larger cap, driving up his “market value.” At a cap hit of $8.25 million, I think they did “about right.”

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 12, 2008 5:34 AM | Link to this

*Question: “Did they overpay for Staal?” *

For the Carolina market, no I don’t believe they overpaid.

If Montreal paid him ~$1M per point, I’d say he was making too much. The Sedins will be a better barometer for the market value of a almost point per game winger playing in a traditional hockey market. If they make this much, I’ll be upset with whomever signs them to the contract.

Hossa is better than Staal, in my opinion, and should be making more money than Staal next year. I’ll say it now though, I won’t be surprised if he doesn’t re-sign with Detroit…I think he’s their for a Cup run, plain and simple.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 12, 2008 5:42 AM | Link to this

Wow, I can’t type…where’s my editor?

By Sara

September 12, 2008 7:12 AM | Link to this

It is WAY too soon to be certain about Hossa re-signing in Detroit next season. Keep in mind the Wings are already over the cap THIS year. And most of their FAs for next season make $1.2M or less which means it’s not like they can replace them with much cheaper players to make room in other areas. Plus Hudler and Franzen are going to be in for some significant raises and both are quite cheap right now. But here’s the real problem for Hossa - Zetterberg is a UFA after this season. Hank is more important to the team than Hossa is and he is only a $2.65M cap hit right now. That number is going to head up to where Hossa is now, meaning Hossa will have to agree to take MUCH less unless the cap significantly rises (and I would not make such an assumption for next season given the current state of the economy).

If the cap jumps up another $5-$6M than maybe Hossa can be retained. If Detroit opts to move a mid-range salary out (which I find unlikely given which players make that money), then perhaps Hossa can be retained. But wiithout one of those things, Hossa is either going to play for peanuts or he’s gone.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 12, 2008 7:37 AM | Link to this

Sara — You just stated the main reason why I don’t believe Hossa will re-sign in Detroit. Sure, it’s way to early to speculate, but I decided to go out on a limb and get it down in writing now.

By GaVaHokie

September 12, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this

For everyone wondering about the 3rd jersey. Here’s a write up about it.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 12, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

That write-up is where the mock-ups came from that glovesave linked to. The number color and font style are not specified, nor is the size of the number on the front of the uniform.

By Jarndyce

September 12, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this

The Staal signing is a good move by the Hurricanes, who will overpay him slightly year 1 and maybe 2, but then have him for an absolute steal for the remaining term of the contract. If Staal continues to perform as he has, in 3 years, when he’s hitting his physical peak performance years, he’ll be kicking himself for the millions he lost by signing this deal:

1) He’ll miss out on 4 years of UFA status, during what should be the most productive portion of his career.

2) The year he turns 27 and would have been eligible for UFA, his contract will be worth roughly $6M in today’s dollars. At that point, given his relative contribution last year and his age, he may be one of the top two or three Centers in the league, and making less than most in the top 20-30.

3) The last year of his contract will be worth roughly $4.8M in today’s dollars.

By Brendan

September 12, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this

Hossa has to carve his niche in Detroit or this’ll be the only season he gets there. He’s already agreed to play for far below his market value to get the “one guaranteed year” he got.

Hossa is the outsider. If he stays, it means Detroit decided to not to renew or to trade someone from within their organization. I wish Hossa the best of luck. Even if Detroit says “nyet” to a renewal, Hossa will command the attention of many contending teams and will probably get his “market value” in the deal.