Thrashers

By ranallo10 (in AT)

November 5, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this

Good news for Pavelec, I guess.

By English Teacher

November 5, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Missy Holas better get to work on Lehtonen. Pavalec will need a decent back-up.

By stendec's daughter

November 5, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this

Daddy, I hope you are finally proud of me. I wore Kari out so bad that his back hurts.

By kracker

November 5, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

Schedule…umm, call them quirks, to be nice:

Thrash play back-to-back road games 6 times.

Thrash play back-to-back at home 0 times.

Thrash play back-to-back at home, then on the road 8 times, including two sets of 4 games in 6 days.

Thrash play back-to-back on the road, then at home only 2 times.

Why do I feel that a team such as the Habs or Rangers is likely to have a bit more favorable travel schedule?

ok, /crying

By Brendan

November 5, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

Don Waddell was right. “Ondrej, we’ve never gone a seasons without goaltender injuries. You’ll get your chance.” Well, good for Pavelec. Thank goodness we have such “depth” at the goaltender position.

By Bob

November 5, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

Jersey needs a goalie. Illness? Back? Or just working a trade?

By kracker

November 5, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this

Interesting speculation, Bob. Hmmm, Devils have Weeks and Clemmemsen, who I have never heard of but he is no rising youngster, he is 31….so yes, they might want to deal. And if they really have to deal, Waddell can demand a good return or hold fast. Parise? Lagenbrunner? Zubrus + Clarkson?

By kracker

November 5, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this

Oh, let’s see how Weekes fares tonight as NJ hosts the Lightning. NJ won the game Brodeur got injured in (vs Atl) Saturday night, then lost on Monday at home vs Buffalo. The company line there is that Weekes can do the job for 3 or 4 months until Brodeur returns…but both of those things are rather iffy, seems to me. Weeks maybe can win as 1st goalie and Brodeur maybe can return to top form this season.

By Tony C.

November 5, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

Dude, if we trade KL to NJD we are going to rue the day. That will be even more of a sore point than the Coburn rape…err trade.

Just think, a kid with KL’s God-given ability learning from the best ever? hrrm. Potential for “ruing”=high.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

November 5, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this

Well go on, start ruing.

By Mike Knobler

November 5, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this

I had similar thoughts about the Devils’ need for a goalie, but …

Weekes was absolutely brilliant in the first period against Buffalo the other night on Vs. He faced 20 shots and didn’t allow a goal until the 20th. The guy was a No. 1 goalie for Carolina when the Hurricanes made it to the Stanley Cup finals, right?

And Lehtonen’s illness came before Brodeur’s injury.

By kracker

November 5, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this

Hey, just stirring the pot, guys…I’m a big Lehts backer and generally don’t look to make the big trade. (I still hate Flood and Miller for removing MLB’s reserve clause.) But if we do indeed have two legit #1 goalies, this could be or could develop into the type of situation you look for in trading one of them.

Should Weekes prove to be too weak (sorry) for Lamoriello to count on for getting the Devils into the playoffs and he really needs to do a trade, DW can demand top return for Kari or Pavs. More likely the NJ interest would be in Lehtonen, I figure. If Lou makes the deal, fine. If not, we stand pat.

By Pinball34

November 5, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this

Missy Holas can work on my back ANYTIME…

By TRON

November 5, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this

LETEMIN……..ON THE ALL STAR BALLOT……….FUNNIEST THING……I’VE HEARD ALL DAY………..ROFL…..ROFL…..ROFL…….

By stendec

November 5, 2008 6:42 PM | Link to this

Back issues! Groin issues! Alcohol issues! Talent issues. Hell, the untalented Thrasher goaltender has all the issues covered. Just like excuses for his damn goals! Deal this loser now! Maybe we can still get some used skates for him. Maybe not.

By Tony C.

November 5, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this

stewie, errr ranallo-thanks I didn’t know if anybody’d pick that up.

By kracker

November 5, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this

Oh, I see NJ beat TB in the shootout so Lou’s probably going to hold off on that trade until next week! LOL

By Tom

November 5, 2008 11:42 PM | Link to this

We need to get ahold of Stendec and find out his whereabouts the last 2 days… As Pavelec’s agent he may have to fight tampering charges.

By jared

November 6, 2008 1:11 AM | Link to this

im with stendec good riddance kari, where has this abomination ever gotten this club? chuckie cheese? i think we should try our hand at baiting our fishing line with this finnish chum

By Brendan

November 6, 2008 2:19 AM | Link to this

The only goaltender I’m willing to trade … is Moose. But even that is an unnecessary move. Lehtonen and Pavelec represent our “1-2 punch” for the coming years. It doesn’t MATTER which one of them gets the majority of the starts. Lehtonen-Pavelec is the combimination we’ll use, moving forward, if we have any brains at all in running the franchise.

Don’t tell me “But we can’t afford it!” Oh no?? Have you peeked at our cap numbers lately? Down the road, we could re-sign Kovy at MAX CAP PERMITTED, and still afford BOTH Lehtonen and Pavelec at the market rate for each, when their contracts come due. Shoot, we could pay them MORE than their “fair market value,” if it came to that.

Think about it. THINK HARDER.

There’s absolutely NO REASON to move either Pavelec (2nd round draft pick, who we sacrificed our 8th overall draft position to get) or Lehtonen (2nd overall draft pick). Especially if John Tavares is coming our way next June! And the “intent” of this season is a build year (TM, Poster Bob, all rights reserved). What kind of club “builds” while shipping away its prized assets? Hmmn, rubbing chin, a poorly-run club? Survey says??? Ding!! #1!!!

I wish I could assure you that the organization wouldn’t dare do something so stupid with its goaltender position, which is the single most important position on the ice, especially come playoff-time, but look how it’s been run through its 9th season? I can’t assure you that we wouldn’t trade our lottery draft pick to snare the “suddenly rejuvenated” Keith Tkachuk. Who, by the way, is in his “contract year,” and is performing accordingly.

Okay look. I can’t recall if Pavelec, selected 41st overall, came from our deal with San Jose at #8, or if it was part of the deal with the New York Rangers, at #12, in the 2005 Entry draft. I don’t suppose it much matters. The point is … we sacrificed a high-end 1st round pick to obtain pick #41. To go trade the asset away doesn’t make much sense. Unless we utterly FLEECE the team out of their franchise player, or potential franchise player. By the way, Waddell FINALLY made his 1st round pick at #16, with Alex Bourret, whom Waddell traded to the NY Rangers for Pascal Dupuis, who now is in the midst of a 3-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Chad Denny was Atlanta’s other 2nd round draft pick in 2005, at #49.

By Pucking Idiot

November 6, 2008 3:34 AM | Link to this

I bet stendec filled his Depends when he saw Kari Lehtonen was on the All-Star ballot.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

November 6, 2008 4:09 AM | Link to this

Tony C. — That’s what I’m here for…glad I could be of service.

By dhj_1962

November 6, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this

do not trade KL. OP is not ready to be a number 1. KL will get better as the team gets better. i have hope. still to early to give up.

By Sara

November 6, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

Pucked Up lol yeah I was going to bring that up as well. I had envisioned liquid spewed all over the computer screen but perhaps your description is better.

By Lance

November 6, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

I have to agree with stendec.We need to trade Kari.He just never lived up to what DW said he would be,.Trade him for a legitimate scorer.

By Sara

November 6, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

Lance if Kari = bust, then how does Kari = “legitimate scorer”?

It’s the same bad logic from last season. If Kari is useless or sucks or a bust, then his value on the trade market is absolutely squat. So this is kind of an either/or thing. Either Kari is really bad in which case, you might get lucky enough to get another third-liner for him, or Kari is good enough to bring in at least a legit second-line player if not top-line player, which thus means Kari has a lot of value ergo Kari has a lot of talent.

Some of you folks sure love trying to have it both ways don’tcha?

As for NJ, you know, at some point Lou has got to think about the long-term in goal. Marty isn’t going to last forever. From that perspective it may be they would have legit interest in a young netminder. Hard to say - Lou can be unpredictable.

By Jarndyce

November 6, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this

Whatever happened to Ari Ahonen in the Devils system? I thought he was their promising goaltender prospect.

Sara: You’re spot on about Lehtonen.

By Brendan

November 6, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

Sara, you’re infusing logic into a Kari trade. Stop that! :) Imagine if we did trade Kari for a 3rd line forward? Isn’t that tantamount to admitting that the organization whiffed on the 2nd overall pick, back in 2002? When either Rick Nash or Jay Bouwmeester were available to select at #2. Withdrawn.

Kari’s trade value isn’t quite that bad, but it really isn’t that high, either. Again, we must default to we’ll sink or swim with Kari Lehtonen. It’s the truth. For my $0.02, you hold to him, re-sign him at $3.0 million, again, next offseason. Discuss the length until both parties are satisfied. Next goaltender issue: re-signing Pavelec.

Kari really is … a “decent” goalie. He’s not Roy. He’s not Brodeur. But he’s “good enough” to be a regular starter and would benefit, like any and all goalies would, from a better defensive corps in front of him, and a “system” that empahsizes defensive play.

Grant Fuhr was a goaltender who gave up his fair share of goals, but he was still good. He’d win games, 8-6. And he’d come up with the save that won the game, at the moment it was required. I kinda, sorta see Kari the same way. He’s playing in front of a pourous defense, but he still comes up with a big save, like on a penalty shot, etc., to keep Atlanta in some games.

Grant Fuhr won 5 Stanley Cups, but his GAA was a pedestrian 3.38. His playoff GAA wasn’t much better, at 2.92. And yet, the man won 403 regular season games and another 92 in the playoffs. It almost doesn’t add up, does it? But Wayne Gretzky’s quote about Fuhr was as follows, “If I had to play a game for ‘everything I owned,’ I’d want Grant Fuhr in net.” Man, coming from Wayne, that’s high praise. Kari Lehtonen doesn’t have Gretzky, Kurri, Tikkanen, Graves, MacTavish, McSorley, Paul Coffey or Glen Anderson on it. Not to mention Kevin Lowe and Mark Messier.

Our roster … is what it is.

By Jarndyce

November 6, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this

The problem with trading Lehtonen (which I strongly oppose, by the way) is that there are probably 10-15 gms around the NHL who are licking their chops to pick up Lehtonen on the cheap. But the key here is “on the cheap.” Lehtonen is a young, talented and highly skilled netminder who has played behind one of the worst defenses in the league for his entire career. His value on the market is probably as low as it will ever be.

By Sara

November 6, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this

Jarndyce Ahonen is in the SEL. He’s been back in Europe for a few years now. Jersey’s goalie in the system appears to be Frazee whom they drafted in 2005. He’s playing in Lowell this season after spending the last three backstopping the Gophers in Minnesota. His college numbers seem pretty good and at 21 he’s still got plenty of development room before they’d need him to replace Marty (or even back him up on a regular basis).

By Robert

November 6, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this

I predict we will lose today and tomorrow and Waddell will be fired. Finally!

By Russian

November 6, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this

1:1 after First period. OUR PP is Horrible.

By Russian

November 6, 2008 8:39 PM | Link to this

Valabik needs more practice. He is not ready to NHL yet. 1:3 after second. I am filling taht we are goign to loose. Why did Crush always miss a net. What’s hell!

By stendec

November 6, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this

Pavs is just as worthless as Moose and What’s-His-Name! Two goals in less than a F+++++G minute? In a damn 1-1 game? What a pitiful pile of S++T! Against the untalented New York Islanders to boot. Love no-score offense of John Petrino which continues to work to perfection! This guy is the worst coach in hockey at any damn level. A loser leading a group of quitters! How appropriate. None of these b******* could push the puck into an empty net! That includes Ilya “Missed By That Much” Kovalchuk. Thrashers now the most gutless (professed) professional sports team in Atlanta! That questionable distinction was held for decades by Hawks and Falcons. No longer! Another completely heartless non-effort at Barfland. The worst is yet to come! DAMN!

By stendec

November 6, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this

The Thrashers got Pavs off the hook. For now! I do believe in miracles. I do, I do, I do! Is a really big one going to manifest itself in Atlanta tonight? Stay turned. All will be revealed between 9:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

By stendec

November 6, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this

Thanks Thrashers! This will be known as the Barfland Miracle. Pavs performed poorly (ala What’s-His-Name) but was saved by an uncharacteristic third period offensive explosion! Has Ilya Kovalchuk ALWAYS been so off-target? True superstars BURY their opportunities! Kovy continues to misfire. BADLY! What is that about close? Oh well, keep Pavs between the pipes. At least until he loses! The kid DESERVES that kindness! Winning streak feels really nice.

By Pucking Idiot

November 6, 2008 9:43 PM | Link to this

stendec has rabies

He needs a muzzle.

By stendec

November 6, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this

Some hockey guru said we should sink or swim with What’s-His-Name. I would damn rather float or swim with a 2-0 Pavs! I am not a fan of drowning. You-Know-Who has too many damn issues! Let some other team deal with them!

By Tony C.

November 6, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this

Tobias FTW!!!!

By Brendan

November 6, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this

Enstrom tallies the winner on a deflection off an Islander stick. I love wins as much as anyone. But who’d we just beat? Florida and the NY Isles. Clearly, the “top flight” teams of the NHL?

Pavelec had a decent game. I’m sure he’s grateful for his starts. It’s what he wanted. (Which should have been granted right from the start, with Hedberg in the pressbox.) And especially against the caliber of opposition like the Panthers and Islanders, he couldn’t have hoped for better fortune.

Who’s next? Buffalo. Gaze at the standings. Will Pavelec start? Atlanta won the last matchup with the Sabres.