AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 23 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWilliams helps forwards ‘win’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thrashers coach John Anderson likes to keep practices fun while getting the necessary work done, and he seemed to achieve both by ending today’s workout by dividing the team in half and having a contest.
One team consisted of the forwards, aside from the fourth line and Brett Sterling and Mike Hoffman. The other teams consisted of the fourth line, Sterling, Hoffman and the defense. They practiced breakaways, with the team with most of the forwards trying to beat Johan Hedberg and the team with the defense trying to beat Kari Lehtonen.
The result shouldn’t surprise you. The forwards are forwards for a reason, and Lehtonen is the No. 1 goalie. My No. 1 star of the “game” honors go to Jason Williams, who scored twice, including the winning shot. His teammates mobbed him in over-the-top celebration, but they had reason to be happy. The other team, the defense, had to do a back-and-forth across the width of the ice skating drill.
I’m going to take this opportunity to type something about Williams. On my previous blog, kracker noted that Williams is one of the Thrashers’ most accurate shooters. Part of shooting accuracy is the shots you choose to take, and Anderson describes Williams as a “whites of their eyes” shooter. His game is to shoot in close to the net. Incidentally, the other right wingers have been accurate, too. Six of the nine shots Colby Armstrong has taken have been on net, and two of those went in. Chris Thorburn has hit eight of nine on net. So all of the Thrashers’ right wingers — including four-goal scorer Bryan Little — are getting at least two-thirds on net. The team as a whole is at 58 percent.
One tough thing for Williams is that he plays on a line with penalty killers. That limits the amount of ice time for him, especially in games when the Thrashers keep getting sent to the box. So far, Anderson has chosen to use complete lines most of the time on power plays rather than mixing and matching his forwards, so Williams isn’t getting special teams time, and that cuts down on scoring chances.
By now you’ve probably noticed the story about Mike Hoffman, who is headed home to Boston for a day and then will join the Chicago Wolves. Hoffman fully expects to be back in Atlanta once he’s healthy enough not just to play but also to fight.
Comments
By GSU-Lee
October 23, 2008 11:27 PM | Link to this
why has nobody commented?
By stendec
October 24, 2008 1:07 AM | Link to this
Maybe all of us are sick to death of high expectations but abysmal production! Just a thought.
By ranallo10 (in AT)
October 24, 2008 4:02 AM | Link to this
GSU-Lee — There was a problem with the website until late last night, I’m sure that would be why nobody but yourself has posted thus far.
By dhj_1962
October 24, 2008 7:10 AM | Link to this
go Thrashers!!! beat down maryanne hossa!!!
By kracker
October 24, 2008 7:11 AM | Link to this
I had the same problem yesterday as well. I figure the blog got attacked by a Lightning hacker.
I like how JA seems to be running his practices, keeping it fun for everybody. For the scoring, it sounds like they just need to keep shooting and some will go in or will be there as a rebound opportunity. Schneider’s been blasting away just for that reason but so far not to many have ended up in the net.
How Anderson is frequently using complete lines on the power plays is sort of interesting but so far it’s not working out. Maybe he needs to go to #1 and #2 units.
By wristshot
October 24, 2008 7:31 AM | Link to this
I hope Hoffman can get back up here soon. I’d hate to see him miss his chance because of an injury sustained in a meaningless, preseason game.
I’m not worried about Williams’ lack of production thus far. The guy knows how to score and once he settles into his role we’ll see him putting some pucks into the back of the net.
On another note, Detroit doesn’t have an enforcer on their roster and they were dead last in the league in fighting majors last year. Any word on whether Sterling will dress tonight Mike? Seems like a perfect time to sit Boults and insert the little speedster.
By h
October 24, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this
I watched a few games last night and…..Now I am not saying that our attendance has been good so far, but I think we should all take it in perspective to the current status of the rest of the league……let’s look at last night….ok….not a shocker, Pitt and Minn sold out….but look at the rest……Boston…12,200 (and many more empty seats if you saw the game last night)…NYI…10,100…Nash…..12,000….Col and Phx….around 14,000……last Thursday we had 11,300……again, nothing very good, but it is obvious that all attendance is down…..the Boston number really shocked me…..nothing to do in that town right now but watch hockey……that arena was a ghost town…hopefully attendance will go up as the season progresses….go Thrash!
By kracker
October 24, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this
Good observation, h. Attendence will probably be down league-wide to the point where the cap may actually go down next season.
How will the boys ever get by? Anyone care to speculate on whether or not a few million dollars reduction in the salary cap will help the Thrashers compete? Or help/hurt extending Kovy?
By ranallo10 (in AT)
October 24, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
Clearly it is Waddell’s fault that each of those cities has decreased attendance.
By Sara
October 24, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
Absolutely ranallo it’s obviously a league-wide protest to send Atlanta Spirit a message - Fire Waddell or else you will destroy north american hockey as we know it!
kracker a few million dollars in cap reduction could have HUGE implications. Most teams likely budget with the idea that the cap will continue to rise. If a team is already bumping the cap and they have RFAs/UFAs to re-sign, life could get ugly for them. It could be the one circumstance that forces teams to either let go of or trade truly talented players - which would be of massive benefit to teams like ATL and LA that have kept payroll down pretty low thus far and can absorb those salaries comfortably.
By ranallo10 (in AT)
October 24, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this
Sara — However, the economic times would impact the ownership groups as well, so those budget constraints are not easily absorbed on the lower salaried teams like LA and Atlanta. If the ownership group is making less due in part to an economic recession, would they justify spending $40M+ again next season if the cap drops, or would they also drop their budget to match the now lowered league average.
I contend that the ASG would low ball the team, and would drop the price and have to shed salary at the same time the teams against the cap ceiling would have to shed it. Basically, the Thrashers would stay below league average salary wise, in my opinion.
By TrueBluefan
October 24, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
Here’s hoping David McDavid wins his lawsuit and wins back the team he rightfully purchased! Go David, go!
By Tom
October 24, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
True Blue Fan
Nope
David McDavid will take his windfall profit from Time Warner and the Turner folks and then ride off into the sunset. He owns car dealerships so odds are he will need the money in the near term.
By kracker
October 24, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this
Whatever the cap situation is, the ASG will still have to try to extend Kovalchuk so they may not have sufficient money to sign players shed from the cap strained teams even if they want to do so. But if the cap does come down, the 20% max player salary goes down as well, right? So perhaps that will help the owners afford Kovy’s extension, if he is willing to sign long-term for whatever that max amount is. I’m assuming it’s going to take max money to retain Ilya.
By Bob
October 24, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
Not suprising to me that a couple of the Usual Suspects are clueless about this issue as well. H, I appreciate your anecdotal evidence, however, the facts are that ticket revenue is up league wide (everywhere except here, thanks to Waddell). Let me know if anyone needs me to explain what ticket revenue means vs. the Thrashers “announced attendance”.
Thrashers’ season tix sales are down 60%, but Bettman just reported that NHL season ticket sales are up 4% and single game sales up 14% despite the economy
If anything, the cap will be affected by the Canadian dollar exchange rate. Let me know if you need an explanation of cause/effect relationship here but the Candadian dollar is down about 23% in the past 3 months against the American dollar
Short tutorial. League wide (except here) season tix sales up 4%, single game sales up 14%. That’s more revenue which would lead to an increased cap. However, that will be offset somewhat if we continue to see weakness in the Canadian dollar as revenue is figured in American dollars, so those 6 snow farmer clubs will see decreased revenue, even though their ticket sales are up. Should be a wash unless the Canadian dollar continues to tank.
By h
October 24, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
Like I said Bob, I’m not saying our attendance is good, and the drop in season ticket sales has been fully noted. I’m just saying that there are several franchises struggling right now to put butts in the seats…..so IMHO it is a combination of the economy and last year’s fiasco…..If Thrashers continue to play well over the next month or so (and have wins to show for it) and ticket sales don’t increase, then it is time to really worry…..Great weekend to all….Next Thursday I head to MSG to see the Thrashers play the Rangers up in the rowdy sections! I’ve got my road Kovy jersey ready……and my quick tongue for the verbal back and forth I expect to be involved in! :)
By Bob
October 24, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this
h, I appreciate your anecdotal evidence from checking out some games on CenterIce, but the facts are that ticket sales (both season ticket and single game) and NOT down in other towns, they are up 4$ and 14% respectively, while we’re down 60% in season ticket sales.
Bring a brick if you’re going to sit in the Garden’s rowdy sections sporting Thrashers’ gear, you’re gonna need it!