Thrashers

By Robert

October 16, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

I really wish he’d change up the D-parings.

I want to see:

Schneider-Hainsey Havelid-Bogosian Exelby-Enstrom

By ranallo10 (in AT)

October 16, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

Shocking about Savard, I’m not sure many people would’ve guessed he would be the first coach fired this season.

Knobler — Recently Anderson has mentioned that if these young guys do not get thrown into games (Sterling and Oystrick) it would be better for them to play in Chicago. I imagine that when Hoffman comes back if there are no other injuries on the roster that Sterling will be sent down to the Wolves. Have you any thoughts about that?

By Tony C.

October 16, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this

Man you’ve gotta give it to Rocky(?) Writz, Tallon, Bowman & Bowman!

They loaded up this off-season, and looks like they weren’t playing! Joe Quenneville may never coach a Stanley Cup winner, but you can almost bank on his teams making the playoffs.

Wow.

By J(Z)

October 16, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this

1-2-1 and they fire their coach????? jeez!!!!! Glad to see Bogo back on the ice!

By Jim

October 16, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this

Give Sterling a shot. Boulton and Thorburn add little offense and are not effective enforcers.

By Mike Knobler

October 16, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

ranallo10(in AT) Hard for me to judge what they should do with Brett Sterling when he hasn’t played a regular-season game. I think it’s safe to say Sterling won’t hang around in Atlanta if Anderson doesn’t start playing him; it does nobody any good for a guy that young to be sitting, and Anderson knows it. I’d like to see Sterling get a chance, partly because he is a friendly guy, a good interview and, like me, from LA.

Mike Hoffman is 28 and thus a good guy to have around as a spare. You’re not stunting his development by keeping him with the big club even if he’s not playing much. I spoke with Hoffman today; he’s about to begin puck handling again and is predicting he’ll be ready to play just over two weeks from now. He is raring to go.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

October 16, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this

Knobler — I agree, he needs ice time or his development is stunted. Hoffman is a known quantity, of sorts. He brings a dimension that is lacking on this roster, but one that doesn’t need constant ice time to further develop. Sterling, however, needs to be playing somewhere.

I hate to say it because I like watching our prospects develop…but I think Sterling’s getting to that point that he’s best served by being dealt to another team, that will give him a fair shot. He’s not going to unseat Kozlov or Kovalchuk as a top 2 LW (where he should be playing), so unless he can learn to play on the right side of the ice he’s hampered by where he can/cannot play. Thus, he’s either playing in Chicago, an off wing, or on another team. Hopefully it works out because I like the idea watching our talents develop into skillful NHL players for the Thrashers, but if it’s better for him to be on another team and brings Atlanta something good in return, I wouldn’t be opposed.

What part of LA? I was born in Northridge.

By Mike Knobler

October 16, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this

ranallo10 (in AT) So, you’re a Valley guy. OK, fine, for sure, for sure. (Whoops, that’s Valley girls.) I was born at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena and grew up in West LA, not far from where the Santa Monica and San Diego freeways intersect. I grew up in the Butch Goring, Marcel Dionne, Rogie Vachon era.

By h

October 16, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

I really hope Bogo has a solid game….looking forward to watching the game tonight…hope the crowd is better than Tuesday….that was ugly……I lived in the Valley in the late 70s (Northridge and Chatsworth) and even went to one California Golden Seals game while I was there……my claim to fame while there was talking with John Elway as he reffing a pee wee football game of mine while he was a senior in HS (at Northridge Park)….

By ranallo10 (in AT)

October 16, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this

Like, yeah, totally!!

I lived there during what I consider their heyday, the Gretzky, Robitaille, Kurri era.

By lordstan57

October 16, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this

I’d like to see more of Sterling at this level. Can he play Center???? 1st or 2nd line, let’s see what he can do for us, and if he doesn’t fit in then showcase ‘em for a possible trade w/ somebody who needs a LW/C.

Looking for improvement on the Pp. tonite also. SHOOT THE PUCK! CRASH THE NET!!!!! Make those D-men MOVE ABOUT EH?

By Bill

October 16, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this

What this team needs is an Andrew Brunette-type player who isn’t afraid to crash the net and score a few “garbage goals”….it seems as though Sterling is more that type of player than anyone the Thrashers have on the 4th line…3 goals should be (in theory, at least) enough to earn 2 points against NJ…hopefully Atlanta’s D makes that theory stand up!!! Anything 30+ shots-wise against Kari tonight retracts this team back to last season, and leads me to believe this team hasn’t improved its D even with the additions of Hainsey and Schneider. (BTW, Schneider needs to stay out out of the sin bin!!!!)

By ranallo10 (in AT)

October 16, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this

Bill — Sterling’s smaller than Enstrom, I don’t know if he’s the “garbage goal” kind of guy you’re hoping for.

By kracker

October 16, 2008 8:39 PM | Link to this

21 sog at kari in the 2nd period…we can’t win that way.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

October 16, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this

It’s probably Lehtonen’s fault that the Devils have shot so much.

By Tom

October 16, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this

The word of the game is soft. The Thrashers were muscled off of the puck at will by NJ.

We need to man up if we going to win in this league.

By stendec

October 16, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this

THE LOSING STREAK IS INTACT! A total of one, count ‘em, one, goal in the last six periods AT HOME. Love that no-score offense coach! Works perfectly. If Ilya Kovalchuk wants to join Maryann Hossa then let him go! Someone should nudge him to wake him up every once in awhile. Other Thrashers not worthy to start for junior varsity college hockey squad! This team is a complete embarrassment. The goaltender was in LaLa Land ince again when only goal (decisive one if I may inject) surrendered! This untalented cur 0-2 in last two HOME appearances. Stanley Cup here we come! This group has absolutely no pride, fight or dignity. Forget any talent! Deserve to play studio hockey (in front of empty seats). Worthless wastes! Fans should get refunds for this fiasco. At least UGA and Falcons are up in a few days!

By kracker

October 16, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this

stendec is happy now, he got to spew and rant. Go fix another drink and dream of another Thrashers loss.

By stendec

October 16, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this

Hi new coach. Stick with the ineffective (0-2 last two starts) goaltender! Praise Ilya “Wake Me When It’s Over” Kovalchuk for uninspired play. Watch the playoffs from home again. Players will love ya. Fans will not!

By kracker

October 16, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this

.971, stendec. Do you know what that refers to?

By LAC

October 16, 2008 10:00 PM | Link to this

We need more SCORERS… Sooner rather than later.

Soft game to say the least, outshot again.

Gee we go through the same damn thing every year… This is getting old…

The players we got for Hossa are a BIG ZERO ! They are less than average to say the very least… Well it’s going to be a very very long season folks, and I am afraid the Worst is yet to come…

Losing stinks, Hope our LOSER GM wakes up because HE put this Stanley Cup Contender togather, nobody else…We have to get a couple BIG time scorers, the cast now is not making it !

By Mike Knobler

October 16, 2008 10:29 PM | Link to this

Another night of low attendance. Another night of high energy in the first period and somewhat less after that.

Stendec You are absolutely positively nuts to be ripping Lehtonen after this game. And I’d be nuts if I type anymore sentences about something so obvious.

This team really needs a guy who can get to the net or stay near the net and knock in a rebound. There were a few times tonight Brodeur allowed rebounds but there was no one there to take advantage.

The physical players on this team tend to be physical against the boards but not in front of the net, or at least, not in front of the attacking net. And like Todd White says in the game story I just filed, the Thrashers need to do a better job of getting sustained pressure instead of working hard for one chance at a time.

By Russian

October 16, 2008 10:34 PM | Link to this

Kovy got only one shot. It is very bad. He needs PARTNERS. HE needs CENTER. White is not a Center for First line.

By stendec

October 16, 2008 10:44 PM | Link to this

Hey Krak! “L”. Know what THAT refers to? J*******!

By Russ

October 16, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this

Stendec - Tonight’s loss is clearly on Havelid. No talent Swede didn’t even score a single goal when the team only needed one to at least get to OT. By my estimation if it wasn’t for Havenot getting in the way, the Thrashes would have won about 12 to 0 tonight. That shows what a complete waste of oxygen this guy is. Send him to the ECHL!!!

By stendec

October 16, 2008 10:59 PM | Link to this

“We had chances(?),” Thrasher Coach John Anderson. “If we don’t have chances, then I’m concerned. We didn’t have chances [Tuesday night against Minnesota], and today we had a lot of good chances(?).”

Welcme back Bobby Petrino. Atlanta missed you!

By stendec

October 16, 2008 11:02 PM | Link to this

Sorry. Was unaware that word a no-no. Jerk.

By Brendan

October 16, 2008 11:02 PM | Link to this

I didn’t think the Thrashers played all that badly. They ran into the future Hall of Famer, Brodeur, putting on a clinic. He can do that to virtually any team in the league. On any given night. But tonight, he did it to us.

Ron Hainsey hit the crossbar in the 3rd period. That easily could have been a goal. And possibly, at least one-point in the standings.

I’m certainly not going to fly into hysterics over tonight’s performance. Kari Lehtonen kept the Thrashers in this game. Did anyone see the stop he made on the 2-on-1, late in the 3rd period? He made it look “routine.” It was nearly a 2-0 break-a-way, but Enstrom got back, to make it 2-on-1. It was a great scoring chance for Jersey, and had they converted it, it almost certainly would have been the final nail in the coffin.

Okay, the PP is a bit lackluster. I agree. But if we’re going to throw the team under the bus after every loss …. Nevermind. I understand the need to vent.

Let’s not forget. This is a “build year (TM, Poster Bob, all rights reserved.)”

By stendec

October 16, 2008 11:16 PM | Link to this

Hello Brendan. I respect your posts. They are articulate. Cannot say same for Krak. The Falcons, too, are in even more of rebuilding year after disaster worse than that of Thrashers. Overachieving Falcons are 4-2 with bright future. Toilet scum Thrashers are below .500 mark with no scorers, no goaltender and a marginally average defense. Which way do you think THEY are headed?

By Smoothie

October 16, 2008 11:29 PM | Link to this

Hey stendec or shall I call you s** for brains…how’s that for articulate?? If you respect articulate dialogue so much, why don’t you try using some once in a while?? Christ Almighty!

We all want the Thrashers to win…even the naysayers like Sage and Nascar Dave. So do us all a favor and stop the incendiary and inane remarks that don’t shed an ounce of light on anything pertinent to the actual action on the ice.

By Scotty

October 16, 2008 11:40 PM | Link to this

stendec, you fool.

“No goaltender” you say? Kari stopped 34 of 35 shots. He’s faced 142 shots in 4 games and still has a save percentage of something like .915.

Are you really that stupid or did some Finnish girl scorn you years ago and you still haven’t mentally dealt with it, so now you take it on Kari?

GO AWAY YOU TOOL!

By stendec

October 16, 2008 11:53 PM | Link to this

Mr/Mrs Smoothie. No one. I repeat, NO ONE wants Thrashers to win more than I do! Ilya Kovalchuk possesses NHL caliber talent. He is easily shut down. Who picks up offensive slack? No one! See no other Thrasher with NHL type talent. Have my doubts about new coach after learning of some of HIS comments. The goaltender is a fraud! Sorry, just a fact. One that no one on this blog wants to hear. Fine. Truth is not always pleasing to the ears. Teams defend their domain. Even BAD ones! TCU just massacred #8 (not for long) BYU at home. Thrashers have one goal in two successive home games. ONE! Is the message getting through? Tired of blindly accepting incompetence from Atlanta pro sports teams. Aren’t you?

By stendec

October 16, 2008 11:56 PM | Link to this

Statistics will not mean a damn thing when Thrashers are on sidelines during playoffs once again!

By stendec

October 17, 2008 12:01 AM | Link to this

I will take a netminder who posts a shutout ON THE ROAD over one that surrenders a goal ON HOME ICE any time! A .999 save percentage is still not good enough for a goaltender with pride sitting out the playoffs. Why can some folks simply not understand that?

By ranallo10 (in AT)

October 17, 2008 12:15 AM | Link to this

Are we going to have to read this for the rest of the season?

If the Thrashers win, it’s in spite of Lehtonen. If the Thrashers lose, it’s because of Lehtonen.

Are you going to blame Lehtonen for the weak economy too??

By stendec

October 17, 2008 12:24 AM | Link to this

Washington 3 2 1 0 4 13 10
Carolina 3 2 1 0 4 11 10
Atlanta 4 1 2 1 3 11 (12)
Florida 2 1 1 0 2 7 8 Tampa Bay 3 0 2 1 1 5 8

(Most goals allowed in grouping)! How is THAT for statistics?

By Stendic is an IDIOT

October 17, 2008 12:46 AM | Link to this

Stendec, you fool!

LOOK at the stats before you attack your keyboard.

The Thrashers have allowed 12 goals in 4 games.

Washington has allowed 13 goals in 4 games. (3.25 per).

Carolina has allowed 10 goals in 3 games, (3.33 per).

Tampa Bay has allowed 12 goals in 4 games. (3 per).

Atlanta 12 in 4 games, (3 per).

Florida has allowed !14 in 3 games, (4.66 per).

The the worst in the group is FLORIDA

The second worst is Carolina

Then Washington

Then TB

When you consider the OT game…Atlanta has the BEST GAA in the SE.

You friggin’ IDIOT!!

Now please, sit down and shut the hell up!

By scottbravesfan

October 17, 2008 1:40 AM | Link to this

They have to get some offense. This team will always be in rebuilding mode. The Thrashers need to lower the ticket prices because this team is not worth NHL level prices. The economy is in the gutter and the NHL is still charging crazy prices for tickets. Unbelievable.

By Brendan

October 17, 2008 2:16 AM | Link to this

Stendec, it’s going to be a very long year for you, if you are expecting so much from the Thrashers in a “build year.”

My entry in the contest is 78-points. That’s the direction I think they are headed. The Thrash are right about on pace for that. The way I see it, the goal is to develop the draft picks this year. And if the “development project” goes exceptionally well, and the team winds up in the playoffs, that’d be fantastic. If it doesn’t go so well, that’s what was expected, and the Thrashers potentially get to go pick up another “Bogosian-like” piece to the Stanley Cup-puzzle at the draft next June.

Stendec, it will be what it is. But is right to expect a Stanley Cup this season? If the answer is no, perhaps it’s time to lower expectations a little. If that’s not your gripe, but Lehtonen is, I can see a valid argument for why you think Pavelec should be here, and not in the AHL. I wanted that, myself. I thought Hedberg should be in the pressbox and Kari and Ondrej working in some sort of “workable” rotation, such that Pavelec gets 30-35 starts this year. And if Pavelec proves himself to be the better goalie, then so be it. Competition usually produces a better product.

If it’s any comfort to you, Stendec, I didn’t support the decision to invest in a goalie back in 2002, when either Jay Bouwmeester or Rick Nash would be available at #2 overall, for Atlanta. At that time, in 2002, The Atlanta Thrashers Hockey Club needed EVERYTHING!! That it needed a goalie more than a power forward or a solid blueliner can be argued until the Kingdom of Heaven arrives, I suppose. But what’s done is done. The organization opted to make the investment in Kari, (we’re now six years into that investment,) and picked up Jim Slater as inducement not to pick Bouwmeester, when Florida traded the 1st overall pick to Columbus in 2002.

So?, what does that mean?

Well, it means we’ll either sink or swim with Kari Lehtonen. I leave it to the experts to decide if the Lehtonen investment has paid the proper dividends. But I’ll say this … I think Kari is a very good goalie. And with a better blueline in front of him, he has the ability and potential to be a great goalie. Yes, he has “mental lapses.” Yes, he seems to have trouble, more years than not, going a whole season without some sort of groin issue. But, he seems to be taking his conditioning seriously. He wants to earn a longterm contract. He wants it to be for big money. And he knows his performance, thus far, in his brief career, has not commanded $7.0 million a year. Not yet. So, he’ll be extremely motivated to do his very best. He wants to be an upper echelon goalie. He seeks to establish himself. And he’s given every “outward” indication that his preference is to remain in Atlanta, GA.

I don’t know what else to tell you, Stendec. This blueline isn’t Stevens, Daneyko, Rafalski and Niedermayer. If it were, and Kari were utterly stinking it up, night after night, I’d say a fine rant were in order.

I ask you to realize this isn’t likely to be a Championship season for Atlanta. I urge you to consider that the team’s ownership situation still isn’t resolved, and that Don Waddell isn’t in a real position to fix things, even if he were an upper echelon GM, which he is not. Although, I happen to think he’s improving. I cannot point to a single boneheaded move Waddell undertook over the offseason. Which is a nice and refreshing change, in my view.

Stendec, if it becomes clear that this team will finish with 70-points or so, will it be necessary to pitch a fit after each and every loss? Or, is it better to realize that it’s a build year … that in “build years,” the “building team” has to take its lumps? It’s something worth considering. Look at the totality of circumstance that this team finds itself in. I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect the Thrashers to go from being 27th to 1st in the space of a season. It’s going to be an evolution. It’s a multi-year process to rebuild a team. Bogosian was a big “next step.” I know we don’t like to cite Braydon Coburn, but he was found at #8 overall. If that’s where Atlanta drafts next year, there’s still that kind of player, potentially, out there for Atlanta to find.

By Mike

October 17, 2008 2:20 AM | Link to this

To sort out the debate with my two cents…

Kari Lehtonen was great tonight. However, he is inconsistent and overrated. I’d like to see Pavelec here instead.

There is no fight in front of the net from this group. Watch a Detriot game and watch how many of their players are in front of the net when they score. I don’t know if it is the players or coaches to blame for that one.

New Jersey and Minnesota are two of the best defensive teams in the NHL. Someone not on Kovy’s line is gonna have to score at some point.

Havelid, Schnieder, Enstrom all had off games tonight. Hopefully that gets fixed. Thought Exelby looked much better than he has in the past two years.

Now if only we had a PP unit that worked…

By lordstan57

October 17, 2008 4:02 AM | Link to this

A little late…….. but isn’t the established rule-of-thumb in the NHL that a 1st round pick should never be used for a tender? Too much pressure, and they take 6-7, or 8 years to develop. Here nor there I guess, but makes sense. Especially if we trade Kari at years end for picks.

By Bob

October 17, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this

Anything 30+ shots-wise against Kari tonight retracts this team back to last season, and leads me to believe this team hasn’t improved its D even with the additions of Hainsey and Schneider

Hainsey and Schneider are exactly as advertised, they definitely increased our offensive ability from the backline, but neither one is good in their own zone. I really think we’re going to allow more shots and goals against than last year, and that is suprising/shocking/not good news for Lehtonen.

The players we got for Hossa are a BIG ZERO

I wouldn’t say a zero, but I am completely unimpressed with Christensen. Armstrong is ok, but he’s a third liner, guys like him are a dime a dozen, but apparently what he brings to the table is in the locker room, good team guy.

Another night of low attendance

Get used to it, the good news is we have the owner’s attention, good job by my fellow former season tix holders for doing the right thing and sending the right message.

Let’s not forget. This is a “build year (TM, Poster Bob, all rights reserved.)”

Yes, yes it is. And if we keep us this pace of winning one of every 4 games, we’re be right on target for the ultimate goal of this build year, Tavares/whoever. The club will have some hot streaks and beat some teams they’re not supposed to and those will be fun, but step back and take a look at that forest and don’t sweat the daily grind of this season. Just enjoy watching Little and Bogosian progress, they’re a couple guys to build upon, and don’t get too attached to Schneider/Williams/Reasoner, they’re gone at the deadline (rightly so).

By Russian

October 17, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this

I am absolutely not Agreed with Status of Build Year. What are we building??? I just checked NHL Numbers.com and what I saw. Next year 1009/2010 Atlanta Thrashers will have: UFA – 6 players – Jason Williams, Marty Reasoner, Eric Perrin, Mike Hoffman, Mathieu Schneider, Nic Havelid Please Tell me WHO is going to stay here???? I guest, NOBODY!!!
If we will continue play like that no one will sign contract with Atlanta Thrashers for next year. It means we are going to loose 6 UFA. That is a BUILD Year????? Sorry it is not. RFA – 6 Players – Colby Armstrong, Jim Slater, Erik Chistensen, Chris Thorburn, Nathan Oystrick, Kari Lehtonen. Please Tell me Who will we keep in our Organization??? If we will play like that for past 3 games. Army and Crush will be out. Kari will say Good-buy and kiss my Finn a*. He will sign contract with our team, like Tampa. He is GOOD Goalie. Do you think we are going to give Slater and Oystrick contract? Maybe. Thorburn will move on also. Now we are going to loose 4 players as RFA. If my calculation correctly, we are going to loose 10 players. THAT IS A BUILD YEAR????? Season 2009/2010 Atlanta will have half a team new and need to build chemistry again. We have to play today and on present time as a good team to keep our team together for next year. If we will go down next year will be horrible also and we will loose Kovy for sure.

By ThrasherCrasher

October 17, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

Based on the in house attendance last night, it looks like a lot of Thrasher fans feel like I do: Why should I spend $ to go down there if ownership is content to be last in the league in payroll? Ill show some commitment when they do. I know I have learned one thing in my 45 yrs living in Atlanta as it relates to pro teams: bad teams, bad attendence. We hate a loser. Another year or two like this and say hello to the Seattle Thrashers or the Houston Thrashers.

in the meantime; Go Gladiators!!!! at least they will hit somebody.

By Sara

October 17, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

lordstan57 it used to be the rule of thumb but in the last decade that has changed dramatically. 4 goalies - Kari, DiPietro, Fleury, and Price - have all been taken in the top 5 picks and two were first overalls. Two goalies went in the first round in 08, 05, and 00, three goalies in 02 and 99, 4 goalies in 06, 04, and 01. I think it plays to the other rule-of-thumb which is successful franchises are built from the goal out. If you look at the last decade+ of Stanley Cup Champions, those teams mostly all had phenomenal goaltending. NJ, DET (although I still maintain they won in 98 more in spite of Ozzie than because of Ozzie), DAL, COL. Look at SJ or ANA as other perennially successful teams with goaltending staples. Whereas at the other end of the spectrum, OTT and lately COL have struggled because of goaltending problems.

The only place where a team can truly control its own destiny is in the draft - a GM gets to address his team’s specific needs. You can’t guarantee what players will hit the FA market, where they might want to play, how much money they might want, and what other offers they will get. You can’t control which players other GMs might put on the trade market and what assets it will take in return to procure them. So I think more teams have gone the route of drafting goalies early as a means of ensuring they get top-quality prospects into their systems. And young goalies in the league are becoming more common as well…Fleury, DiPietro, Price, Kari, Leclaire. I think it’s just an evolution of the game.

By Bob

October 17, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

UFA – 6 players – Jason Williams, Marty Reasoner, Eric Perrin, Mike Hoffman, Mathieu Schneider, Nic Havelid Please Tell me WHO is going to stay here???? I guest, NOBODY!!!

There are pieces that can be built around. But the point of the build year is to let those few pieces develop, and surround them with stopgaps (Williams, Reasoner, Hoffman, Schneider) who are here for just one year to make the club fairly competitive, yet be moved at the deadline, tank the last 18 games, and get that top pick, then continue to build around the core you have.

The guys to build around are Kovy (time is short), Little, Bogosian, Hainsey (oof), White (ugh), Enstrom, Lehtonen and Coach’s system.

The RFAs you mention are guys who’s rights are retained by the Thrashers. The only guys to be concerned about re-sgning are Kari and I guess Christensen, just cause we have no one to replace him at center.

If we will continue play like that no one will sign contract with Atlanta Thrashers for next year

This is true. However, a good GM can come in and change what we’ve seen from the top UFAs who thumbed their noses at us last year. This is a build year, let the core develop, bring in a new GM, draft Tavares/whoever, and let the new GM finally get this thing turned around in terms of image and real success. That is what will bring the fans back, that is what will allow us to sign guys who really want to be here.

But don’t expect the build year to have immediate success. It won’t, it’s why I’m not wasting my money and time going down there night after night to watch that at full price. I already subsidized it once for 8 years, not doing it again until they make the right changes, which all starts with bringing in a real GM.

By Bob

October 17, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

The only place where a team can truly control its own destiny is in the draft - a GM gets to address his team’s specific needs

Absolutely positively wrong. 180 degrees polar opposite from the truth.

1)The draft is a crap shoot. A team cannot truly control it’s own destiny drafting unproven 18yr old kids.

2)A good GM never drafts for specific need, you always draft the best available player on the board when your turn comes up, without fail. The only time you would ever make a choice on need is if it’s your turn to pick and you have two prospects ranked exactly the same and you need dmen more than forwards.

3)A team controls it’s own destiny through hiring a good GM and coach, developing the prospects they’ve drafted, making good trades, and key free agent signings once the core is in place.

By Russian

October 17, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

to Bob Thanks. Great Explanation. We need a new and smart GM. End of story.

By NASCAR Dave

October 17, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this

Hey BOB! Did you see ALL of those INVESTORS in 116 (snicker/LOL)???

The Season Ticket Holder Revolt has definitely worked… I bet those people all feel great NOT making that INVESTMENT… LOL!!!

No need to comment on the game (or 1.5 Periods of hockey the TRASH put in last night)… Everything has already been said above.

GO DAWGS!!! (Falcons have a Bye this week STENDEC)…

NUFF SAID.

By NASCAR Dave

October 17, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

Hey Krak! “L”. Know what THAT refers to? J+++++++!

Hey STENDEC… Wanna know something FUNNY???

This summer, when everybody here was screaming for that pathetic excuse of a GM we have to buy out ZHITNIK, KRACKHEAD was trying to defend him, saying we should keep him around… LOL!

What does that tell you about KRACKHEAD’S sense of logic???

LOL.

By Alan

October 17, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

All these BOLD AND CAPITAL LETTERS reminds me of that SCENE in the movie “Anchorman,” where EVERYONE IS YELLING at the station manager after hiring a female reporter.

I DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’RE YELLING ABOUT!

LOUD NOISES!!!!

LOL!

By ranallo10 (in AT)

October 17, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

DaVVe — You realize stendec was talking to Knobler, right?

Who the hell are you talking about?

By NASCAR Dave

October 17, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

Rannallo, stendec was talking to Kracker…

This summer, when we all wanted to buy out ZHITNIK, KRACK(head)ER was trying to say we should keep ZHIT, because he would turn it around this year… LOL

If I find the time, I’ll pull up the post… It’s quite laughable!

By dhj_1962

October 17, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

i’ll take this years first 4 over last years first 4. they faces MB last nite, give em a break, aint he fixing to break all goalie records. what are yall watching?? i see a team that does not give up…havin said that, they need to be a little more physical, stop giving up so many odd man rushes(thank God for KL) and Kovy needs to shot first, second and third, pass should be his fourth option.

By dhj_1962

October 17, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

i’ll take this years first 4 over last years first 4. they faces MB last nite, give em a break, aint he fixing to break all goalie records. what are yall watching?? i see a team that does not give up…havin said that, they need to be a little more physical, stop giving up so many odd man rushes(thank God for KL) and Kovy needs to shot first, second and third, pass should be his fourth option.

By Alan

October 17, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

Kovy needs to shot first, second and third, pass should be his fourth option.

Hard to do that when you have two or three guys defending you. If pass is his only real option, how can he expected to shoot?

He’s our only bona fide scoring threat this year, unless we trade for someone.

Kovalchuk is playing the system, and he’s doing a good job of it for it being so early in the year. He has bought into Anderson’s plan, and this only means good things for the Thrashers later on in the year and into next year.

We need a big body on that top line, though. White is softer than the cotton candy they sell at Philips, and Little is kind of small to clear passing or shooting lanes. Once Hoffman heals up, I can see Little moving to C and Hoffman taking the top RW slot. And at 6’5” 248lbs, he is certainly a big body.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

October 17, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

I love lamp.

By Nikita

October 17, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

All you chicken littles should really wait until the team has had a month or so to adjust to Anderson’s system…evidently some pieces are building, but not in place yet.

By Alan

October 17, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

Do you really love the lamp, or are you just saying it because you saw it?

By Smoothie

October 17, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Hainsey and Schneider are exactly as advertised, they definitely increased our offensive ability from the backline, but neither one is good in their own zone

Bob — I usually agree with most of what you say, but I have to respectfully disagree with the above statement as it pertains to Ron Hainsey. So far he is by far and away our most consistent and most effective defender on both ends of the ice

Keep in mind he is skating with XLB who is limited in what he can do. But yet he is making good things happen at both ends. Has he had lapses? Yes, but which of our D-men haven’t had at least 5-10 brainfarts already this year? Till JA’s system fully takes root, there are going to be growing pains.

As for Schneids, you’re right, the jury is still deliberating but you can see the potential is there to excel in this system. BTW, Bogosian looked REALLY good last night in his 16 + mins. I thought he stood out and I watched him closely from Sec 303, row 3.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

October 17, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

DaVVe — No need to pull it up, I’m not interested in what kracker did or did not say about Zhitnik, it’s a moot point.

As for stendec’s cutdown, I totally thought he was talking to Knobler since Mike had just posted in response to him being crazy for blaming Lehtonen. My bad, I misunderstood that cutdown (whatever “L” means).

Alan — I would keep Hoffman away from a scoring line. He’s here for one thing, and that’s not his ability to screen the goalie.

By h

October 17, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this

Maybe some of you are watching a different game than I am. I think our defensemen (other than Oystrick’s gaffs in the 3rd period on Tuesday) have played very well. I continue to be extremely impressed with Hainsey. He is as advertised. Schneider is logging serious minutes and partnering with pure rookies. Bogo looks better every game. Even X is playing well…..only marginal guys on D have been Toby and Havy, but I am sure they will turn it around. There was an 8 minute span in period 2 yesterday where we could not get the puck out…..guess what, there were 5 guys playing inside the blue line during that time and NONE of them could get possession. There were at least a few times I thought that if one of our forwards gave it up a little they could have taken away the puck. Don’t get me wrong, we need a little more scoring, but the D is playing well and Kari looked good last night. Any time your goalie saves 34 of 35, he had a good night. Last night we just got beat by the best goalie of all time or certainly one of the best….bad night, good effort…I think this team looks much better than the team that took the ice last year…..including when Hossa was there…..The goals should come……now if we are in same situation in 4-5 games from now, then I may take that back…..let’s wait and see. Only 4 games in.

By h

October 17, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this

Maybe some of you are watching a different game than I am. I think our defensemen (other than Oystrick’s gaffs in the 3rd period on Tuesday) have played very well. I continue to be extremely impressed with Hainsey. He is as advertised. Schneider is logging serious minutes and partnering with pure rookies. Bogo looks better every game. Even X is playing well…..only marginal guys on D have been Toby and Havy, but I am sure they will turn it around. There was an 8 minute span in period 2 yesterday where we could not get the puck out…..guess what, there were 5 guys playing inside the blue line during that time and NONE of them could get possession. There were at least a few times I thought that if one of our forwards gave it up a little they could have taken away the puck. Don’t get me wrong, we need a little more scoring, but the D is playing well and Kari looked good last night. Any time your goalie saves 34 of 35, he had a good night. Last night we just got beat by the best goalie of all time or certainly one of the best….bad night, good effort…I think this team looks much better than the team that took the ice last year…..including when Hossa was there…..The goals should come……now if we are in same situation in 4-5 games from now, then I may take that back…..let’s wait and see. Only 4 games in.

By h

October 17, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

Maybe some of you are watching a different game than I am. I think our defensemen (other than Oystrick’s gaffs in the 3rd period on Tuesday) have played very well. I continue to be extremely impressed with Hainsey. He is as advertised. Schneider is logging serious minutes and partnering with pure rookies. Bogo looks better every game. Even X is playing well…..only marginal guys on D have been Toby and Havy, but I am sure they will turn it around. There was an 8 minute span in period 2 yesterday where we could not get the puck out…..guess what, there were 5 guys playing inside the blue line during that time and NONE of them could get possession. There were at least a few times I thought that if one of our forwards gave it up a little they could have taken away the puck. Don’t get me wrong, we need a little more scoring, but the D is playing well and Kari looked good last night. Any time your goalie saves 34 of 35, he had a good night. Last night we just got beat by the best goalie of all time or certainly one of the best….bad night, good effort…I think this team looks much better than the team that took the ice last year…..including when Hossa was there…..The goals should come……now if we are in same situation in 4-5 games from now, then I may take that back…..let’s wait and see. Only 4 games in.

By h

October 17, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

sorry for the multiple posts

By Bob

October 17, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this

Don’t get me wrong, I like both Schneider and Hainsey. But they’re offensive dmen (real offensive, not offensive as in, eww, that Tremblay freakin stinks!). Neither is Scott Stevens in their own zone, that’s what I mean. They are both upgrades, but the context of my statement is that I understand why our shots against are actually up so far this year, cause the dmen we have are not shut down defensive types. But I like them both as they both fit well in Coach’s system of getting the dman involved in the rush, Schneider’s only going to be here for a year, but I like that move too as he is Bogosian’s mentor for this year, the kid will watch and learn on the fly.

By dhj_1962

October 17, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this

Kovy has had alot of chances to shoot, he does get double and triple teamed alot, so he should either shoot or pass before both or all 3 defenders get there. you are right about Hoffman, they need a big body with Kovy on the PP, just put him in front of the goalie and fire shots at his knees. haha . JA stated it might be Jan. before they play a full 60 the way he needs them to in his system. so, that means we have to put up with all the negative comments for a couple more months. i hope JA system does not require a Wayne, Mark, and Jari line.