Thrashers

By kracker

September 23, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this

Oh, man, just what we need, an injury prone top center. Maybe it’s just a coincidence, though, for EC getting two significant injuries in a such a short time in Atlanta. Hopefully, it’s not too seroius but we probably can scratch him from the opening night lineup.

Jason Williams is my guess for next in line…..wow, Todd White the gunner! Thorburn I’m not at all surprised about. He looked to be a developing top 6 player late last year.

By NASCAR Dave

September 23, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this

OK, so back to the Christensen injury. If he’s out for awhile, what would you do with the No. 1 center spot in the meantime? Jason Williams? White? Bryan Little?

I’d go with LITTLE or ESPOSITO… Or that #1 Center DONNIE and the OWNERS promised us at the Minnesota Wild game last year… By the way, where is he???

By kracker

September 23, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this

Well Dave an EC injury may increase the chance Espo could make the team. For nine games, at the least.

By Spud Webb

September 23, 2008 6:28 PM | Link to this

Knobs I say Marc Savard. OOOps, nevermind. Well I’d rather have hope so lets go with Little. I know what Todd White is, a 3rd or 4th liner and I don’t want him on the 1st line.

By Sara

September 23, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this

WTF?? Are we just cursed or something? UGH!

Well, best I can say is maybe move Williams over to center and Thorburn up to RW for that line. Unless the injury to Crush is lengthy, I’d just as soon not mess with the chemistry of the proposed second line - let Little and co. settle in there.

By kracker

September 23, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this

A guy on the Thrash board says EC said in the parking lot afterward that it’s not a sreious injury.

By Alan

September 23, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this

Sara - Hopefully, we’re getting all our injuries out of the way now as opposed to during the season. And hopefully, this spell of injuries doesn’t carry over into the season, or we very well may end up a bottom five team.

By Andrew

September 23, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this

Kozlov at center could be the big surprise Anderson had in mind. He played center early in his career back in Detroit. I’d love to see it given a shot.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 24, 2008 5:09 AM | Link to this

My choice would be (in order) Little, Williams, Esposito.

Little might be outmatched in that role (same with Esposito) playing games against Lecavalier, Staal, Brindamour, etc…so perhaps a vet like Williams is better in the role. If Williams in C, I’d say Armstrong or Thorburn at RW, or possibly even Machacek.

Second line of Little, Kozlov, and whomever at RW would be fine by me. I think Sterling needs a chance to shine and his best chance would be alongside a youthful player like Little and a good sized RW like Armstrong. Which would mean Kozlov either switches sides of the ice to RW for the top line (I wouldn’t mind that), tries his hand at C again like his days in Detroit (as Alan stated), or plays third line minutes (I wouldn’t want that).

Well, unfortunately this puts a wrench in the works, but hopefully it’s not a lasting injury (like Kozlov’s shoulder last season), and Christensen is 100% quickly.

By wristshot

September 24, 2008 7:14 AM | Link to this

Glad to hear that Anderson is trying to break White out of his shell. A little confidence should go a long way with that guy.

By B. Thenet

September 24, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this

I would not be surprised if Esposito makes the roster for the first 5-10 games, and then gets reassigned to the juniors when EC comes back.

By GaVaHokie

September 24, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this

Well, if Reasoner and Thorburn are creating scoring opportunities with each other, and we know Thorburn had success with Kovy at the end of last season, I say…

Kovy Reasoner Thorburn

Kozlov Little Williams

Perrin White Armstrong

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 24, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this

Hokie — Reasoner is much too slow to be bogging down Kovalchuk, don’t you think?

By GaVaHokie

September 24, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

No different then Holik really… I prefer to have guys with good hockey sense more than just speed.

I agree with Anderson… too much is made over having a Center for Kovy. The guy had over 50 goals… he creates his own opportunities.

I think you find your best Center and RW combination and put it out there with Kovy.

By Bob

September 24, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this

Glad to hear that Anderson is trying to break White out of his shell

Coach is keying on White, I still think he has plans for him as our top line center. Right after we hired Coach, he said he called up Todd White and told White that he was counting on him for 30 goals. Now read Knobler’s quote on White above. Coach doesn’t have any ideas about putting White on a checking or 4th line.

By Russian

September 24, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

Damn!!!! First center has injury. Crush, come man, what do you thinking??? We need you. I hope it will be not serious problem. Crush can stay home until season starts. He has 16 days to recover. If he could not play, I want to try lines:

Kovy-White-Williams

Slava-Little-Army

Thorburn-Reasoner-Perrin

Boulton-Slater-Larsen

I think it will be working. :-)

By Alan

September 24, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this

Bob - I still think it’ll be a cold day in hell before any team sees 30 goals out of White again. If White can post 20 (hasn’t been done since 2002-2003 on the Ottawa Senators), I’ll be surprised.

By GaVaHokie

September 24, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

So the latest rumor has Anaheim having to package Bobby Ryan with Schneider… if this is the case, you have to make a deal and suffer with Schneider’s salary. Ryan is easily a Top 2 RW for Atlanta.

However, Burke would be an idiot to move Ryan before anyone else.

By NASCAR Dave

September 24, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

Hmmm… I think “CRUSHER” seems to be the wrong nickname for this Softie… How about “CRUSHED”??? That seems more fitting, yep… LOL

By Spud Webb

September 24, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this

Hokie good info. I’d love to have Ryan on this team and I’d take Schneider for a season, even at 5 million. I’d much rather see Schneids then Klee or Ex for the year. Good information. Ranallo I agree, Reasoner is too slow for Kovy. Hokie is right to a point, Kovy scores 50 without a topline center and does create for himself. That said, can you imagine a center that requires some attention from the D? I would LOVE to see Kovy put up 70.

By Jarndyce

September 24, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

Russian’s lines look pretty close to mine.

White is horribly misused on the third or fourth line. He needs to be in an offensive flow to be effective. I truly hope he can step up to the first line, because he’s our best option. We need Williams at RW.

Reasoner is not a first line center any more than Holik is. They need to be doing what they do best: shutting down the opponents top lines, winning faceoffs, killing penalties and contributing when they can.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 24, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

NASCAR Dave — Your ability to play with words just takes my breath away. It’s, inspiring…

Hokie — I agree that it’s not wise to toss away Ryan just to shed salary that would come with Schneider’s departure. It makes little sense though…why would ANYBODY want to trade to take on Schneider’s salary when they could’ve done at no extra cost? Ryan is a fine prospect, but he’s definitely behind in the learning curve based on where he was drafted…if you were LA, would you give up a quality prospect just for Schneider (and his salary) and Ryan, or would you rather just grab Schneider and keep your own prospect?

If anybody gives an equal prospect in return for Ryan and Schneider, I would consider it an unwise move. Seems to me like Burke is grasping for some salary cap relief, and I really hope no GM gives it to him.

So, Hokie, what do you think Atlanta would have to give to get that deal?

By Alan

September 24, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this

Burke would be an idiot to move Ryan before anyone else.

I read about this yesterday. Indeed, I’m sure most people feel the same way as you. However, Burke really loves his older guys like Selanne and Neidermeyer. So if he has to ship out Schneider and Ryan to get the old guys, then I guess he’s going to do what he thinks is best. We’ve seen Waddell (Zhitnik) think before (Zhitnik), and the results weren’t pretty (Zhitnik), so I’m expecting more of the same in Anaheim.

The question I have is, who the hell does Atlanta send to Anaheim in the trade deal? The rumor I heard is Klee and Sterling. Not sure I buy that rumor. Atlanta would have to ship out at least a second round pick to accompany Klee and Sterling on their way to the west coast.

Purely speculation on my part that Atlanta would even be a trade destination, though Atlanta is one of the more viable destinations for a collective $6+mil in cap hits. We do have the room, after all.

By Bob

September 24, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

Bob - I still think it’ll be a cold day in hell before any team sees 30 goals out of White again

Oh, I agree. White’s not capable of potting 30. I’m just telling you what Coach says, and with what he’s saying again yesterday, he has plans for White as center on one of the top 2 lines, if not the top line.

By GaVaHokie

September 24, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

why would ANYBODY want to trade to take on Schneider’s salary when they could’ve done at no extra cost?

Because teams want to get rid of their “Ken Klee’s” in the process. I think all the teams interested in Schneider have been willing to take him as long as Anaheim takes something in return… it’s not enough to take him off waivers. If Anaheim takes Klee ($1.5 million), than you can look at Schneider as a $3.5 million player… it helps you sleep at night. :)

I’d give up Klee, Sterling and a 2nd round pick if Ryan is involved.

By Bob

September 24, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

However, Burke really loves his older guys like Selanne and Neidermeyer. So if he has to ship out Schneider and Ryan to get the old guys, then I guess he’s going to do what he thinks is best

Yep, Burkie is gone after this year and headed for Budland, not in his interest to leave Anaheim in any great shape going forward (which is mind boggling why Anaheim’s owner kept him around knowing he’s got one foot out the door headed to the best job in the league).

By GaVaHokie

September 24, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

The question I have is, who the hell does Atlanta send to Anaheim in the trade deal? The rumor I heard is Klee and Sterling. Not sure I buy that rumor. Atlanta would have to ship out at least a second round pick to accompany Klee and Sterling on their way to the west coast.

Funny… I hadn’t seen the rumor or your post before making my projection. :)

By GaVaHokie

September 24, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

However, Burke really loves his older guys like Selanne and Neidermeyer. So if he has to ship out Schneider and Ryan to get the old guys, then I guess he’s going to do what he thinks is best

Then he’ll be perfect for Toronto… it’ll be like have Pat Quinn all over again.

Yep, Burkie is gone after this year and headed for Budland, not in his interest to leave Anaheim in any great shape going forward (which is mind boggling why Anaheim’s owner kept him around knowing he’s got one foot out the door headed to the best job in the league).

Toronto can change their mind at any time… if I were Toronto, I’d be reconsidering my interest in Burke.

By Alan

September 24, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

Funny… I hadn’t seen the rumor or your post before making my projection. :)

There’s a saying somewhere about great minds and how they tend to think in a similar pattern, but the phrase isn’t coming to me ;)

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 24, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

Two teams left like a train wreck en route to one Stanley Cup…I’m guessing Toronto is wowed by his pomp and the glitter from his single ring finger, so they look past the past train wreck (and soon to be second if he has his way) in an effort to fix everything quickly. It’s like a soap opera, so it’s fitting he finds his way to Toronto eventually.

I think they’re better off sticking with Fletcher, because at least he has the long-term goals in mind (though, sometimes I think they’re clouded by senility).

Alan — I think the phrase is “great minds and how they tend to think in a similar pattern”. Yeah, that sounds right.