AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 06
Monday, October 6, 2008
Beat writer short circuits; Thrashers finalize defense
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While I wait to hear back from Ondrej Pavelec’s agent and Thrashers GM Don Waddell, I wanted to blog about two things: Why I haven’t blogged in awhile, and the Thrashers’ roster.
So, there I was Wednesday night, watching the Thrashers lose yet another exhibition game, when my computer locked up. That’s unusual but not unheard of, but it was just the start. The thing wouldn’t reboot. I’d push the button, and it would whir, and then … nothing. Total hard drive failure. Fortunately, Mark Bradley was there and had finished his column, so I was able to write on his machine.
Two days later, I was given a new computer, but our tech people couldn’t recover any of my data. And, of course, I hadn’t backed up anything in ages. If you’ve ever lost all your data, you know what a drag this is. If you have never lost your data, you don’t want to know, so BACK IT UP. One of the pieces of data I lost was the password that lets me post blogs from my computer. I had to get somebody else to post this one for me. They’re getting me a new password, but it might be a while.
Enough about my computer issues. Congratulations to Nathan Oystrick, who has made it to the NHL for the first time. He survived today’s cuts, and the Thrashers are down to seven defensemen, the number they plan to carry. Oystrick beat out Boris Valabik, who never seemed to live up in camp to the expectations people had for him. I spoke with Oystrick Saturday night, when it looked as if he would make the team. He told me people in the past had questioned his drive and that he was happy to have shown he’s passionate about doing what it takes to play in the NHL. He said he made it a priority to arrive for camp this year in the best possible condition.
There might be one more player to be cut among the forwards, but how soon that cut is made will depend on the health of center Bryan Little and right winger Jason Williams. For now, though, the choice to keep Brett Sterling and Mike Hoffman seems to make sense. Sterling has a chance to help the offense, and Hoffman not only has a huge body but knows how to use it.
What do you think of the roster, and the cuts today of Joey Crabb, Colin Stuart and Valabik?
