Thrashers

By GaVaHokie

October 9, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this

Interesting… Sterling is the alternate.

Defense… there’s a veteran alongside a youngster on each line. The highest paid veterans on the 2nd and 3rd line.

By Jarndyce

October 9, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this

Hokie: I wouldn’t get too caught up on the d-line order. Each line is fairly balanced, and I would expect to see an even distribution of even-strength minutes between the three lines.

By Barry

October 9, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

While I don’t like Hainsey on the 3rd D pairing it wouldn’t make sense to put XLB and Bogosian on a pairing together on the 3rd line. That would just be goals waiting to happen for the other team. I also still would like to see Christensen given some valuable time centering Kovy and give him a fair chance to be our #1 center. I understand what Anderson is doing. I just hope EC gets that chance.

By GaVaHokie

October 9, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this

Jarndyce… just merely making an observation, that’s all.

By Zim

October 9, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

Is Sterling really playing on the RW? That was a huge set back for him last season.

By Jimbo

October 9, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this

Oh. My. God. Have you seen the new alternate uniforms? They have to be the ugliest thing since the Hartford Whalers wore long pants.

What were they thinking?

By Wintirwolf

October 9, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

The new third jersey’s not that bad. I don’t quite understand this current fascination with making the new 3rd jerseys almost like a throwback with only text instead of a new graphical logo. It could be worse, Jimbo. It could have been as colorful as the extreme halloween jersey that Vancouver had back in the late 70s/80s. Now those were hideous.

By waffleboy

October 9, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this

Got to agree with you on that Jimbo.

Really concerned with our forward 1 and 2 lines. White was worthless alongside Ilya last year, what makes Anderson think there’ll be any difference this year?

By Smoothie

October 9, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this

I’m sorry, but these are much better than the new alternate jersey of the Thrashers

In fact, while they may be loud and combine too many harsh colors, at least there is better “organization” to the design and a more consistent overall look. The other ones they used to wear without the logo — they were mostly yellow I think — were quite awful, but I’d still take them over these new duds.

By Smoothie

October 9, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

Scroll down a bit for a small glimpse of the yellow “flying V” jersey the Canucks wore from ‘78 to ‘84

Now those were just plain stupid. But I sort of dig the black ones with the flying V in red & black.

By UpperDeck4Life

October 9, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this

I honestly don’t have a problem with the 2nd line forwards. I said all summer that I thought that Christensen would be a better fit for a line with Kozlov and Army. Army is the physical force, Kozlov gets to be a playmaker and Christensen gets to be the scorer. I think this is the best fit for him. The problem I have is White over Little on Kovy’s line. Give Little 10 games with Kovy and Williams and I bet he doubles White’s point production.

As far as the defense goes, I am actually happy with those pairings. I think playing with Schneider is probably the best thing in the world for his development if he is going to be depended on to play 60 or more games.

By LAC.

October 9, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

I agree those Vancouver “V” jerseys were flat ugly.

I recall the Flyers having long pants, When did Hartford have them ?

I was not too keen on the Flames one with the Flaming Horse, it has since been retired… Or the LA Kings yellows of the 70’s & 80’s.

I likee the Flames when they had that BIG Flaming A on them… now that was CLASS !

By Russ

October 9, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this

I always like the idea of rolling 4 relatively balanced forward lines rather than loading up all the skill on one or two lines. Spread even strength minutes out evenly, then let the top players get their extra minutes on the PP or PK. So with that in mind here are my line combinations to start the season:

Kovy-Slater-Armstrong

Perrin-Little-White (these extra centers have to go somewhere)

Sterling-Christensen-Thorburn

Kozlov-Reasoner-Williams

Defensive Pairings:

Schneider-Enstrom (yes, I’d break up the Swedes)

Havelid-Hainsey

Bogosian-Exelby

By What

October 9, 2008 5:19 PM | Link to this

Thank god you aren’t the coach Russ. Those lines are terrible.

A Bogosian-Exelby pairing is just asking for touble.

By Mike Knobler

October 9, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this

Guys, I don’t know it will be handled online, but our season preview package appears in print Friday morning. Look for a column by Jeff Schultz about this being a pivotal year for Kari Lehtonen, a story by me about the Thrashers from Ilya’s point of view, a look at what steps the Thrashers did to address last season’s problems, a look at four keys to the first part of the season plus a roster broken down by lines and pairings.

Let’s drop the puck.

By Tony C.

October 9, 2008 7:20 PM | Link to this

I still think the “Oil Drop” 3rd sweater for Edmonton is the best 3rd sweater ever. That logo is dope.

Also, WTF are the new 3rd sweaters red??? I thought the whole thing was “Blueland”…plus they’re tacky. I think I’d like it better if they just had the numbers on the front with no letters….maybe that would be better. But they look like @ss.

By Jameson

October 9, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this

I understand that some people don’t like Hainsey on the 3rd pairing, but this is how I look at it- Who was the only defenseman that Exelby played well with last year? If my memory severs me, it was McCarthy. To me Hainsey seems like a less physical, more skilled, bigger McCarthy, and I could see that being a big boost to Ex’s game.

By sally

October 9, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this

slater was psyched the greek gods line was back together when i talked to him wed night at the fan faceoff. :)

and i agree with tony about the sweaters..the numbers on front look odd and why not blue??? come on…BLUEland, remember? is there even any blue on them? i wish they’d have used the old “batman” logo somewhere.

By Sage of Bluesland

October 9, 2008 8:14 PM | Link to this

Whoever buys one of these hideous new jerseys may as well put the name “Sheep” in bold letters across the back…

Can’t you people see that our bumbling Donny is really only good at one thing: Changing jerseys constantly to drum up sales. He’s nothing more than a snake-oil salesman who is such a minor-leaguer it’s not even funny…

Yet, many still swoon! Well, maybe not—what was the UNrenewal rate for season tickets? 40%?

Therein lies real intelligence and the refusal to subsidize the utter incompetence any longer. Pathetic excuses should no longer be accepted.

‘Red’ alternate jerseys! Thanks again, Don—‘great’ job, as usual…

By Tony C.

October 9, 2008 8:58 PM | Link to this

Sage

I promise if in some sort of drunken frenzy, I actually buy one of those gawdaful red sweaters I will put “sheep” on the back.

But don’t hold yer breath

By ranallo10 (in AT)

October 9, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this

Knobler — Please be sure to hook us up with some links if they don’t make a big deal on the ajc.com Sports page with those articles. Some of us (ahem, me) don’t have access to the print version.

Tony C. — I’m a fan of the throwback Colorado uniform, with the top left to bottom right text of “Colorado” on the front. I think (just off the top of my head) that’s my favorite third uniform out there. I liked Pittsburgh’s Inaugural Winter Classic uniform too…I think it’s their third this season, or similar to it.

sally — Good to hear, they seemed to have a fun time playing together last year. They’re our very own “Bash Brothers”.

Also, I too liked the Stylized T (or Thrash Wing, Ultimate Warrior logo, whatever you’d like to call it). It’s a shame they didn’t even meld that logo and the red background…it could’ve been alot nicer than the football uniform they toted out last night.

Sage — It’s not Waddell’s job to create jersey’s. He’s in charge of personnel, not marketing gimmicks. In this instance I believe you’re upset at the wrong person.

But I agree with you on this topic, the uniforms leave a LOT to be desired. I’d rather they have spent the money towards improving aspects of the franchise, not coming up with some new uniform design.

However, I would think you of all people would love that it’s not a blue uniform…you’re the person who makes fun of “Blueland” THE MOST.

By Russ

October 9, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this

What - I think Exelby with Bogosian as a third pairing would be OK. They would only probably play 10-12 minutes per game and they could handle themselves against other teams less skilled lines. But, I never claimed to be a coach anyway.

By Brendan

October 10, 2008 1:35 AM | Link to this

Russ, I’m sure JA will tinker with forward lines and defensive pairings until he finds the best fit.

So long as he does that successfully, that’s all that matters. It will be what it is. And keep your ideas coming. It’s a discussion board. Where topics are explored. Ideally, by those who wish the team well.

By GaVaHokie

October 10, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this

It’s not Waddell’s job to create jersey’s. He’s in charge of personnel, not marketing gimmicks. In this instance I believe you’re upset at the wrong person.

I don’t know, maybe he did… surely a professional marketer/designer didn’t come up with that. :)

By GaVaHokie

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

I think the best things for those jerseys, keeping everything the same… burgundy, white sleeves, everything… is to take the “Thrashers” and number off the front and replace it with

1) “Atlanta” spelled out like the Phillips Arena columns.

2) the number on the sleeve over the white part.

By GaVaHokie

October 10, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

Speaking of marketing geniuses… this is hilarious! So, you get Def Leppard to create the theme song for the NHL this year and then the lead singer does this during the NHL Faceoff… classic!!

By Nate

October 10, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

White on the top line? God help us all…

By ranallo10 (in AT)

October 10, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Hokie — Good point, I think a 12 year old could’ve designed better.

By from china

October 10, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this

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zaijian shannon

By Sage of Bluesland

October 10, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this

I’ll go ahead and it: I think GaVa (based on his ideas) could have designed a better jersey than the utter abomination that currently exists.

Maybe it will ‘grow’ on us. I hope so.

Maybe I need to look at it again, but thought it was more RED than burgundy? I didn’t see any link whatsoever to the jerseys of the past—and thought it looked like kids pajamas or something ridiculous like that. Maybe my computer screen was deceiving me?

We looked like a acid-inspired version of the Red Wings jerseys (which I generally like—but not for the Thrashers).

I don’t mind the “Blue” theme—why not drift toward a more royal blue?