Thrashers

By Tony C.

September 28, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this

Wonder if that is a sign that he (Boges) is definitely playing with the big club all year-what with the Schneider trade and all???

By Thrashers27

September 28, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this

Nearly 10:00 into the game and Atlanta finally got a shot on goal. Detroit has 10 SOG and and the score is 1-0 Wings.

Hopefully, this isn’t a sign of things to come.

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this

Tony C That might be a stretch.

First goal to Detroit, when Enstrom falls backward into Lehtonen. Ville Leino from Darren Helm and Darren Haydar at 7:02 of the first period.

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this

Thrashers on the power play after Kovy gets tripped by Zetterberg at the Thrashers’ blue line.

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 5:37 PM | Link to this

The starters were the No. 1 power play unit. They didn’t accomplish much in the first 1:06.

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this

With 3.1 seconds left in the first period, Joe Motzko gets a high sticking penalty.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 28, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this

I’ve been waiting for him to change numbers to 4, but I’m surprised it happened so early. Little, Sterling and Enstrom didn’t change until after preseason camp, right?

I believe most prospects are assigned a number (though they might be able to pick from a limited selection), so knowing Bogosian has gotten his preferred number could be a sign he’s got an inside track to the NHL. Maybe the equipment manager is giving him dibs on that number, since he’ll be on the time for hopefully a LONG time.

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this

ranallo10 Well, we know Bogosian is going to get to play some regular-season hockey with the Thrashers.

Through one period of his first exhibition game, he has looked a bit tentative at times but hasn’t embarrassed himself out there. He had a nice poke check. He was on the ice for the Detroit goal but was blameless.

They’re definitely giving him a chance to show what he can do. He played 8:21 of the first period, more than a minute more than any other Thrashers player.

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this

Guess I just jinxed Bogosian. First, he makes a turnover on the power play, leading to a breakaway saved by Lehtonen. Then he gets a hooking penalty at 3:00 of the second period.

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this

Oystrick joins Bogosian in the box for slashing, but the Thrashers survive being down two men for 24 seconds.

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this

More two-man advantage for Detroit, and this time it capitalizes after Valabik draws a delay of game for flipping the puck over the glass. 2-0.

Samuelsson from Kronwall and Zetterberg at 5:59.

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 6:12 PM | Link to this

Thrashers get a power play off a too-many-men penalty, but the best scoring opportunity is a shot by Motzko that goes just wide of the far post.

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 6:20 PM | Link to this

11:30 into the second period, and Atlanta still doesn’t have a shot on net since the intermission. It’s 23-2.

Now 13 minutes in, same situation, except it’s 3-0 after Zetterberg scores, assisted by Hudler and Franzen.

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this

Stevenson intercepts a pass and skates in all alone on Chris Osgood, who makes the save. At least it’s a shot on net, at 14:01 of the period. Finally.

By UpperDeck4Life

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

Hey Mike, do the Thrashers really look that bad, or are the Wings playing that well?

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 6:32 PM | Link to this

Shots are 27-6 Detroit after two periods.

Enstrom’s penalty at the end of the second period came when he was trailing a 2-on-1.

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this

UpperDeck4Life The Red Wings do look good, but that doesn’t excuse what we’re seeing from the Thrashers. They’re looking confused and disjointed. They’re lucky to be down only 3-0. The Red Wings have misfired on some excellent scoring chances.

By BigMomma

September 28, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this

Mike - how do Kovy and Williams look?

By kracker

September 28, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the in-game blogging, Mike. Along w/ the play-by-play box from the NHL it’s pretty a good read on what’s going on - and it’s not too good. What’s Kovy been doing, he sounds pretty quiet?

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this

The Thrashers are looking somewhat better in the third period, with a shorthanded breakaway by Crabb and later some success in keeping the puck in the attacking zone. They’re getting outshot 6-3 in the period, but they’ve been on the penalty kill for more than three minutes of the first 7:30.

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this

kracker Yes, Kovy has been very quiet. He took the puck the length of the ice once, did a couple of other elegant things, but really hasn’t drawn my attention much. And I know from all the practices I’ve been to that when he’s on the ice he almost always draws my attention.

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 7:09 PM | Link to this

BigMomma Williams had one opportunity that I remember. He had a very difficult angle, and hit the side of the net.

I wouldn’t worry too much about Kovalchuk and Williams. They’re going to be fine, and it won’t hurt when they get their center back. (Erik Christensen, with a shoulder injury, is the only player I know of who hasn’t appeared in one of the exhibition games.)

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this

The game’s got 3:08 left, and I’ve got to start focusing on my story. I’m going to talk with Bogosian about his first game experience. In Tuesday’s paper, I’ll have a story about Marian Hossa.

By Mike Knobler

September 28, 2008 7:19 PM | Link to this

Empty net goal for Cleary to make it 4-0 at 18:57. Lehtonen goes back in net. He has had a good night. Few of his teammates did.

By LAC

September 28, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this

This is NOT Good… Awful in St.L and just like last season, NO Offense…

Going to be a LOOOOOONG season folks, asg Promises made Promises BROKEN as we have come to expect from the Worst owners in all of professional sports !

By kracker

September 28, 2008 7:44 PM | Link to this

No……but I have come to expect the worst of you.

By LAC

September 28, 2008 9:32 PM | Link to this

Facts are Facts kracker, check the box score !

And I expect little snide comments from a small time fan such as yourself…

By Sara

September 29, 2008 1:51 AM | Link to this

Let’s see - Detroit iced about half of its Stanley Cup winning roster, more than half of our forwards are basically prospects, and our D had exactly two guys with NHL experience - and one of them is a sophomore. What the heck would anyone expect to see from this game?

It has been ONE WEEK since training camp opened. New players, rookie players, with no time to develop any chemistry since the lines barely play together for longer than a single game. Potentially one of our biggest acquisitions only stepped onto Thrasher ice this morning. If anyone honestly expected to see some dramatic turn-around in this team after only 8 days, they need to get their head examined.

And LAC given you have probably never met Kracker once in your entire life, I’d say that hardly makes you qualified to classify exactly what kind of fan he is.

By Edgars

September 29, 2008 2:19 AM | Link to this

Hello Mike,

How was Kulda?

By Smoothie

September 29, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

But everyone, LAC is right in the sense that it is quite distressing that the team, even with marginal talent “iced” for the occasion, could only muster 13 lousy shots. That is not a good sign at all when you are outshot 37-13. Yes, the Wings had a few more veterans dressed for the game, but only one top line intact — perhaps their checking line too — for this tilt. I figured we could at least get 25 pucks on net and show enough grit and scrappiness to limit the Wings to 30-32 shots. Nitpicky I know, but it’s hardly what I would call reassuring.

By Nikita

September 29, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this

I think everyone was responding to how LAC said it (You’re being lied to, suckers! The sky is falling! Etc.), rather than what was actually said.

I agree these numbers aren’t good. I also don’t like the Klee trade so much (in that it involves Klee — I like that we got Schneider). Basically, last year we had 1.5 competent defensive pairs, only one in 6 defenders having real offensive capability. This year so far we have 2 competent defensive pairs, albeit with half of our defenders having proven offensive capability. We have traded up, but there are a lot of factors up in the air right now. We’ll have to see how the kids do — but I am nervous that after you get past the Swedes and the Imports the last line will almost certainly consist of Exelby and some rookie sucker. I wouldn’t bet that, with Ex, Valabik, and Boges, we’ll get two game-long competent performances. Boges is just youngish, and Exelby and Valabik are mentally unsteady and neither reads the ice well.

That said, it’s preseason and not our actual lineup.

By Sara

September 29, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this

I think it is nitpicky. I mean, yeah, you’d like to think someone like Kovy would take at least one shot on goal over the course of 21+ min of ice time but come on. Detroit had 11.5 regulars from last year on the ice (not including Osgood and I say .5 because Meech played in 32 games last season - enough to qualify as having some NHL experience). 4.5 of those were on their blueline with only one true rookie, as opposed to the Thrashers who had 2 experienced blueliners out of 6. 5 out of 6 Thrasher penalties were on d-men. And Detroit’s prospects come out of a farm system that is a mirage image of the one played in the NHL - we, meanwhile, are in the process of a complete system overhaul. It also looked like Detroit kept it’s line combos together - their top two lines were all guys from last year’s team, the bottom two lines had five guys who played together for the Griffins last year, one of which is an NHL/DET vet in McCarty. That team is in a MUCH different place than we are.

The Thrash got out-shot the worst in the first period, which can easily be chalked up to tentative play by young guys. Second period they spent a ton of time on the PK, which against Detroit will really drive up the SA count. Third period really wasn’t too bad - only got outshot by 3 and again, given the opponent that’s not horrible by any stretch.

I reiterate, it is going to take time for this team to improve and 8 days does not qualify. Have some patience. It’ll get better. :)

By Smoothie

September 29, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

I’m hardly impatient Sara, just concerned. In fact, I have pretty low expectations for this year as I believe I predicted somewhere in the neighborhood of 78-82 pts. Regardless of the quality of the opposition, you would think that a team of “professionals” even with a mixture of AHL vets and young guys, could get 20 shots on net in a game. Just hoping it isn’t a portent of things to come.

I will grant you that DET was using this game more as a prep than an audition as they used just about 2/3 of their regulars. Initially I did not realize Filppula, Franzen, Cleary and every D man but Lidstrom played. That certainly makes a difference, but it’s a bit unsettling that Hoffman and LaVallee combined for twice as many shots (4-2) as Kovy, Williams, Perrin and White. Yikes.

By Sara

September 29, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this

No you are definitely spot on that the vets were conspicuously absent on the score sheet - only one Detroit F didn’t register a shot on goal (Filpulla). Zetterberg had 5. Course, maybe they were just still being p** about getting their butts kicked by us last season. :p

By Alan

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

it’s a bit unsettling that Hoffman and LaVallee combined for twice as many shots (4-2) as Kovy, Williams, Perrin and White.

I’m not really unsettled by that. Hoffman and LaVallee are auditioning. For Kovalchuk, Williams, Perrin and White, this is just warm-ups in front of an audience. For Hoffman and LaVallee to make the opening night roster, they have to play like they really want to be in the roster. The others have guaranteed roster spots. In my view, that’s the difference. Now, I’m not saying Kovalchuk and Co. mailed it in, I’m just saying that these are their “warm-up games.” No reason for them to play hard and possibly get injured trying to win a pre-season game.

By kracker

September 29, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

Here’s how a lot of the play-by-play went (includes two SOG in a row!):

FAC ATL won Off. Zone - ATL #23 SLATER vs DET #11 CLEARY

MISS ATL #28 HAVELID, Snap, Wide of Net, Off. Zone, 54 ft.

MISS ATL #62 KULDA, Wrist, Wide of Net, Off. Zone, 59 ft.

SHOT ATL ONGOAL - #45 HOFFMAN, Snap, Off. Zone, 52 ft.

SHOT ATL ONGOAL - #40 STEVENSON, Snap, Off. Zone, 37 ft.

MISS ATL #17 KOVALCHUK, Wrist, Wide of Net, Off. Zone, 41 ft.

It took until 14:31 of the 2nd to get two SOG in a row! Un-good…but it’s very early for the made-over Thrash.

By Smoothie

September 29, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

The others have guaranteed roster spots. In my view, that’s the difference. Now, I’m not saying Kovalchuk and Co. mailed it in, I’m just saying that these are their “warm-up games.” No reason for them to play hard and possibly get injured trying to win a pre-season game

I hear ya Alan and I would agree that the veterans may have taken a more “relaxed” approach. However, I have seen in several different contexts where athletes got injured in pick-up games (talking mostly college) and then they admitted later that they weren’t really focused and therefore more apt to get injured. Also, you always here about pro athletes returning from injury who say that you only get injured when you don’t give 100% or because you were thinking about how not to get hurt by not exerting effort.

I was just hoping that we’d see a slightly better effort manifested in this situation in which a guy like Williams might be trying to impress JA to play 1st line minutes or someone like Charmin who does in fact have something to prove so he isn’t relegated to “grinder” line status. It’s a bit disappointing to think that the effort might not have been there. Hopefully, it was more a matter of unfamiliarity, talent disparity and lack of overall chemistry.

At least Leht-none-in is already in mid-season form. I just fear for his pysche already if he thinks that this type of performance might become par for the course so to speak.

By Smoothie

September 29, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

Wow kracker, that is some wonderful over-analysis, which I love. The really sobering aspect of that analysis is that the average shot distance was nearly 49 ft!! Sounds like we were getting lots of quality opportunities in their end!! lol

By kracker

September 29, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

I don’t know why I’m sort of surprised about the fairly widespread alarm about the team having two pre-season losses. I went through a summer of hand-wringing (some of it by me) but I thought the good off-season moves would have bought the new coachs and the team a grace period before the bulk of the negativity returned.

What I see that might be troubling is, as already mentioned, Boris’s high PIM and also the relative ease the Preds had of scoring on Moose. He let in several soft goals…it was his first game, too, though.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 29, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

Smoothie — Ben Wright from the Blueland blog gave this quote from Lehtonen about last nights game.

“Of course it sucks that we lost, but from a goalie standpoint I think this was better for me to get more shots and that made me feel comfortable. You never know what’s going to happen in the first game of the year but there was plenty of action. Now we have to go forward from this. We didn’t play very well and they did. I think the defensemen did a good job letting me see the puck. There were only a couple of shots that I wasn’t able to see and they went wide, so that was a good think to take away from the first game.”

As for Williams and Kovlachuk, they were centered by Grant Stevenson, a player who has been busy playing preseason games while Kovalchuk and Williams were practicing in Duluth. I would say chemistry played a big part of it. I also think the majority of the players playing their first preseason game of the year were victim of bad timing for a good opponent, an opponent in the fine-tuning stage (and not roster selection stage like Atlanta), and overall rust as this was their first full-speed hockey game against another NHL team since March-ish.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 29, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this

kracker — Hedberg’s 9 goal game was against St. Louis. Pavelec and the prospects shined against the prospects of Nashville.

By kracker

September 29, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

Oh, sorry….make that the Blues scoring on Moose. Pavs did a pretty good job defending against a young Preds Thursday night in Nashville.

By Nikita

September 29, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

It took until 14:31 of the 2nd to get two SOG in a row!

This is an issue we don’t get into much, but the Thrash in general don’t do enough rebound shots.

By Bob

September 29, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

So this Wings game was here in Atlanta? Did any of you season ticket holders go? Are they still charging you full price for these games?

Yes, I’m trying to make myself feel better about the dollars I saved sitting out this year and being forced to pay full price for a meaningless debacle, while the market is killing me today.

By kracker

September 29, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this

The first three games were on the road. The next and last three are home games. I went with a few people to Nash and St. Louis, more for the trip than the games. All was good, except they kept score.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 29, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this

Bob — It was in Detroit.

Oct. 1 is the first home preseason game, also against Detroit.

By Smoothie

September 29, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this

kracker — I could care less about winning or losing a preseason game. I think the bulk of the concern stems from how totally outplayed they’ve been despite the “conditions” surrounding these pre-season tilts. It’s more the nature of how they lost than the fact they lost.

I am more than willing to give them time and hope for the best. I’m still skeptically optimistic if that’s even possible. I like JA’s demeanor and think he’ll make a fine coach. But please don’t automatically throw me into the category of “negative nancy” just because I’m pointing out a few distressing things about their performance to date.

If there were positive signs to discuss (other than Kari and winning a majority of faceoffs), I don’t know what they may be. But we’ll have some first-hand accounts soon enough when the Wings come to town for our next “schooling” in the art of hockey!

By Alan

September 29, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this

Smoothie - Point in case is this story out of St. Louis

Blues defenseman Jeff Woywitka has a cracked bone in his right foot and will miss four to six weeks, according to the team.

Woywitka suffered the injury while blocking a shot in Friday’s 9-4 victory over Atlanta at Scottrade Center.

He becomes the third Blues’ defensemen to be injured during the preseason, leaving a huge void less than two weeks before the start of the season.

I’d rather have our starters play with little effort and get blown out than play with much effort for worthless games and get injured.

By kracker

September 29, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this

Boy, that’s tough news for the Blues Alan. The Thrash need to, of course, have good luck with few injuries for the season. Last year was a good year in that respect.

Our main guys need to play the remaining three pre-season games….why do we only have six this year? That’s one or two fewer than normal, isn’t it? Are all team playing only six pre-season games? Perhaps as a cost-cutting measure?

By JLH

September 29, 2008 8:05 PM | Link to this

Not to change the subject, but I’m confused by all the talk of 2 forward positions open. As I count, we only have one opening and I would assume Sterling is in the lead for that. So potential lines are:

Kov-Christiansen-Williams

Kozlov-Little-Armstrong

Perrin-Reasoner-White

Boulton-Slater-Thorburn

And: Sterling, Crabb, Lavalee, Stuart or Lessard for the 13th forward. Am I miscounting? or is Boulton not a given?

I can’t see White playing on the fourth line, particularly if Anderson expects 30 goals out of him. If Thorburn or Slater play anywhere but the fourth line, White, Perrin or Armstrong will have to take their place there. I just don’t see that unless Anderson wants to roll the 2nd, 3rd & 4th lines equally, which actually might be necessary/prudent if we hope to maintain a constant forecheck/high energy system.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 29, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this

Knobler — Great article, and you included some great quotes you’ll see repeated on these blogs for ages.

This one alone speaks volumes:

“Obviously, in Atlanta there were good fans, but it’s not a traditional hockey market. You can tell the difference.”

By Brendan

September 29, 2008 11:38 PM | Link to this

When Heatley was traded, several bloggers mused that we’d never be able to keep Hossa. The counter argument was … there was no guarantee that we’d be able to keep Heatley after 3 more years, either. And “Did Waddell get EQUAL VALUE for Heatley?” Several bloggers said “yes,” and several more said, “no.”

Heatley had a pair of 50-goal campaigns for the Senators, and Ottawa got a #1 seed in 2006. As a #4 seed in 2007, they won the Eastern Conference, but lost the Cup. By 2008, the Sens barely held on to make the playoffs, at #7. They were swept out by the Penguins. Meanwhile, Hossa didn’t stink it up here. He had a career-best season in 2007, notching 100-points. It took Hossa a while to catch fire in the 2005-06 season, but he came on well down the stretch that year. And, the third year, was just mired by uncertainty over the future.

Ottawa locked Heatley up. I can’t remember if it was 5 or 6 years, or what. But this is why I don’t like trades so much. You’re asking someone to come here who never ASKED to be here. At least, with UFA’s, they signed of their own volition. At least with draft picks, they’re fighting to prove their worthiness in the NHL. And, ideally, they want to become major stars with the club that drafted them.

I don’t blame Hossa for wanting to play for Detroit. Most players probably do want to play for Detroit! Hossa waited a long time to finally earn the right to CHOOSE his next team. He got what he wanted. I’m sorry he wasn’t impressed with Atlanta’s organization. Can you really blame him for that, either?

Beeeeee honest.

At least with #17, he was drafted here. And if he likes it here, he can probably finish his career with Atlanta. I think Waddell would be receptive to the idea of a 10-year or more year contract with Kovalchuk. And what a relief it would be for Waddell to not have to think about a Kovy contract again for a decade!! While Kovy can probably command whatever the league maximum might be when his contract comes up, I think he’ll “settle” for any contract that makes him the highest “cap hit” player in the NHL. Right now, that’s Ovechkin’s $9.5 million.

By Sara

September 30, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this

Ranallo there were some painful truths in that interview but Hossa made a point to say only complimentary things about the fans and that’s what matters the most. He said what Dany said except with a lot more tact and respect. Hoss knows it isn’t our fault this isn’t a big hockey market - but recognized more than once that while there aren’t many of us as compared to other markets, those of us that are here are truly passionate about our team. I can live with that.

I hate that it didn’t work out with Hossa here. I’m still struggling to deal with the “consolation prize” that Hossa is with the Wings - seeing him in the winged wheel throws me for a loop. But I at least feel like Hossa appreciated what we the “meager fanbase” of the Thrashers gave to him. It’s a glaring point though that while we can show the love, we cannot deliver them a Cup - or more to the point - a shot at the Cup. Hockey love isn’t going to make up for that for most players - elite guys like Hossa will get shown the love lots of places (though he will be way down the love depth chart in Hockeytown - even with all the love I had for Hossa here, on the Wings, he matters less to me than Lidstrom, Dats, Zetts, and a few others as well). Hossa wants to win it all - isn’t that what all players dream about? He’s just more pro-active than others to try and secure it at a younger age (funny that we do not have the same qualms about a player in the twilight of his career team-hopping trying to get his hands on Stanley Cup glory before his time is up).

That said, he might need a kharma warning - it could be just as likely to blow up in his fact. That’s I think why I’m afraid to have him on the Wings - I don’t want him jinxing the team, lol.

By GaVaHokie

September 30, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this

“Obviously, in Atlanta there were good fans, but it’s not a traditional hockey market. You can tell the difference.”

Amazingly similar to Heatley’s words.

By Midfield

September 30, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this

Hossa is an example of what’s wrong with professional sports: his statements are wishy washy enough not to hurt anybody’s feelings. Yet, he out-right sabotaged the team while collecting his pay last year. You can’t behave any worse than this in my book. In fact, with all Heatly’s short-comings and irresponsible behavior, he never mailed it in on the ice. So, as a hockey pro, he deserves more respect than Hossa.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

September 30, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

Midfield — You know, it’s quite possible that Hossa simply had a bad year, for his standards. “Sabotage” is such a strong word, and people around here seem to like to claim he was the player who just “mailed it in” the entire season. I’ve always defended him, and always will, because we have no clue how he felt when playing each and every game.

Sure, we could see that some things were different (like his inability to drive the net with the same authority as the season prior), and then people liked to put that one variable together with his unsureness of re-signing in Atlanta and decided “hey, he’s not trying as hard as he can”. Nobody knows if he was hiding an injury, or if the contract negotiations was limiting his passion, or if his dog had died, etc. We all looked from the outside, and tried to imagine what was going on with him. And for the obvious reason everyone blamed Hossa for not trying, instead of the entire team for sucking, the coaching situation for being unstable, the team-chemistry situation for being volatile, etc. In that same regard, were Kovalchuk, Enstrom and Havelid the only players who truly tried last season?

If Kovalchuk were to have a bad season in the next two seasons before his contract runs up, do you think people will be claiming he’s “mailing it in”? Will people blame him for the demise of the franchise? The way everyone reacted to Hossa, I would bet that many fickle fans would turn on Kovalchuk, because they perceive he simply isn’t trying because his stats aren’t as high, or his emotion isn’t as obvious, etc.

It’s easy as a fan to sit on the sidelines and blame this player or that player for not showing enough heart, enthusiasm, determination, etc…but it’s completely disingenuous to claim that a world class athlete would simply sit on his rump and not try. If he wanted to simply collect a paycheck, he could fake an injury and not even lace up his skates. Hossa skated every night, and was the number two scorer on the team the entire time he was here. Compared to Hossa standards he underperformed (though, looking at his career average he was performing slightly under his projected average), but only two or three people on the team performed at or above their career expectations (Enstrom, Kovalchuk, Perrin).

I know, this is all my opinion, and everyone is entitled to thinking what they want to think about Hossa…but I for one will never boo him, and will always appreciate the time he spent in Atlanta.

Hokie — Yep, and in ten years the quote will be manipulated so that Hossa was spitting on the city. Hell has no wrath like a hockey fanatic scorned.

Sara — He was kind to the fans of Atlanta, but he reverberated the same argument me and other bloggers have been saying for years now. Atlanta’s market can not beat out any other traditional hockey market, all other things being even. I.E., Campbell narrowed down his list to two teams, and took less money to stay in a traditional hockey market, that was closer to his home.

Atlanta, as a non-traditional market, is already one step behind when it comes to enticing players to play here. If management, the team, or the ownership slack in any way compared to the competitors…well, that could be strike two and/or three against this team in a free agent’s mind.

Sure, we might be great fans, but us fans don’t draw players to our market like Canadian teams, like for instance, Ottawa.

By ZB

September 30, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

On the 5th year anniversary of the Snyder tradgey, a wonderful piece on the blueland roar website:

http://bluelandroar.blogspot.com/2008/09/t ragedy-in-blueland-september-29-2003.html

By Midfield

September 30, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this

Ranallo, everything is possible. The question is - is it plausible? I saw Hossa play regular season games. I saw Hossa play his glorious “audition” game in Detroit last year. I saw Hossa play post season games for Pittsburg last year. Is it plausible that Hossa had an off-season and only played his good games when it mattered to him personally just by coincidence? I say, no. You say, yes, apparently. Fair enough. People disagree all the time.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

October 1, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this

Midfield — Understood, and I don’t have a problem with that. The problem I have is when people then take their assumption (because that’s all it really is) and then blame him to high heaven over anything they want. Okay, so he had a few good games and a few not so good games. Clearly his heart wasn’t in it when the team is doing the opposite of what he wants it to, and his efforts seem to be in vein.

Like I said earlier, hell has no wrath like a hockey fanatic scorned. Many people feel or felt scorned by Hossa’s actions. Personally, I think it’s disingenuous. Just like Heatley, I will not boo Hossa. I wish some of the way last season transpired were different (like being more forthright to the media and ownership and management about not wanting to re-sign in Atlanta…or perhaps naming players he wanted to see in an Atlanta in order to re-sign, etc), but in my opinion it’s unfair to be angry with a player who did try his hardest for at least two seasons, and was loved by the city while he was here.

Hell, last season we had an argument over who the better player was, Hossa or Kovalchuk. Now, one season later, everyone seems to be on the bandwagon of “screw Hossa”. I’m not, and will not be. It sucked to see him in a Pittsburgh uniform, but I was happy he had a chance at The Cup (though glad Pittsburgh didn’t win it, or else we’d never hear the end of Crosby’s greatness).

But yeah, we can agree to disagree, it’s the beauty of these blogs.