Thrashers

By Andy S

December 17, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

It’s not mathematically official yet, but this team is not making the playoffs. In my opinion, it’s time to trade off some assets (Hedberg, Boulton, White, Exelby) and call up or keep around some of the promising kids (keep Pavs, Crabb, Valabik, and call up Stuart). When Bogosian and Schneider get back, keep Schneider around long enough to mentor him until the trade deadline, then trade him for prospects/draft picks. This team has to stop trying to be a contender and needs to start building for 2010.

By Bob

December 17, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

I wanted to see Valabik kill Neil, you could see him mouthing at him “I’m going to kick your a*”

While Little did have the puck and had his head down, Neil left his feet, he should have been destroyed by Valabik, disappointed in that.

Heatley is a punk, and I laughed at his little b*** fest that he threw at the end, and he got kicked out. Too bad, Dany. Anyone else notice that Exelby takes every opportunity he gets to throw a cheapie at Heatley?

The boys played a good team game, and Pavelec played well also, but he was in bad position on the one goal he allowed. His positioning improves and he’s our #1 next year.

By sisu

December 17, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

If there is a taker for Moose I say go for it…he is starting to show signs that he is on the tail end of his career. Of course I would wait a little while to see if Kari is good to go.

Great win, showed guts and now the team teases us once more showing they can play in this league…follow this with 5 more wins and then lets see where they are.

By Mike Knobler

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

Ranallo10 asked yesterday about Angelo Esposito. I spoke with Esposito in camp and when the Thrashers played at Montreal. I didn’t learn a lot from those conversations. He is not the type to do his soul-searching in public. The signals I was getting from the Thrashers are that they wanted to see him grow up and get tougher on the ice and that he has been doing that. Reporters in Canada have written that people used to question his desire and his devotion to the game. The quotes in the stories I read about Esposito making the team showed that Canada’s coaching staff was skeptical about him at first and that he overcame his reputation by doing everything asked of him and doing it well. I can’t comment on whether the reputation was fair. Sometimes they’re not. You know something’s going on, though, when not only does a guy fall in the draft but then the team that drafted him trades him so soon. From the Thrashers’ perspective, I see it this way: Esposito has proven he can score, and he has proven he can overcome doubters to make a highly competitive Canada national junior team. That suggests reason for optimism about a guy who still hasn’t turned 20.

By kristin

December 17, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

when is kari lehtonen so we can have ondrej pavelec back here in chicago will kari lehtonen come back to his team and sent down ondrej pavelec to the chicago wolves when kari is with his team back playing with team.

By Bob

December 17, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

now the team teases us once more showing they can play in this league

Come on, you know better than that, please don’t set yourself up for more disappointment. Even the 1st year Thrashers won some games. On any given day, any team can win any game (except the Detroit Lions, apparently). But over the long haul, this lineup is not competitive.

By GaVaHokie

December 17, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

Mike… is it possible for Angelo to join the Wolves at the end of the season like Kulda did last year?

By Tony C.

December 17, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

Hokie-Now that Espo is 20 years old, he is eligible to play in the AHL in ‘09. He wasn’t eligible to start the season there because his birthday fell after the cut-off date. So, from a rules&regulations standpoint, yes it’s quite possible.

Yes I would say the Msr. Neil is a marked man should we meet anymore this season (unlikely b/c I don’t see both these teams making the playoffs).

Beauty goal on Army’s 2nd. I swear it looked like a hockey club out there.

By GaVaHokie

December 17, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

Tony… didn’t Espo have a tryout contract with the Wolves during the playoffs last season?

By Db

December 17, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this

Tony C, we play them 2 more times this year, both in Atlanta.

By Alan

December 17, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

Mike… is it possible for Angelo to join the Wolves at the end of the season like Kulda did last year?

…

Tony… didn’t Espo have a tryout contract with the Wolves during the playoffs last season?

I’m pretty sure you don’t need Mike’s input any longer, since you’ve answered your own question.

By Spud Webb

December 17, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

Classic Neil last night. He does that stuff vs Buffalo all the time, p** me off. He won’t fight Peters, but does his job, gets the whole team JACKED up. I loved the grit the Thrashers showed last night. Stand up for each other. Good job. I say trade whoever can bring the most return, either Kari or the O. Lets get some players on this team. We aren’t going anywhere at this point, no matter who is in goal.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 17, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

didn’t Espo have a tryout contract with the Wolves during the playoffs last season?

He did, it was an amateur tryout contract. That’s exactly how Kulda played too.

The 20 year old rule is strange though. The Columbus Blue Jackets were allowed to send Nikita Filatov to their AHL affiliate (he’s 18 currently).

I believe Bogosian is eligible to do a rehab assignment in Chicago, if the Thrashers so desire.

So yeah, I’d love some clarification on that rule.

Knobler — Thanks. I can understand Esposito getting sick of hearing the same questions over and over, so I guess I’ll have to let his actions speak for him. Since being traded he’s stuck around in pro training camp, made the Canadian Junior National team, and has gotten rave reviews with his play in Montreal. I think he’s showing why he was worthy of a first round pick, so maybe that can translate to another good training camp next year and possibly his first NHL games.

I’d like to see him in Chicago for the last few weeks of the season, to see what he can do against professional athletes.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 17, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

Oh yeah, the hit was absolutely clean. The pass wasn’t a hospital pass — Little had time to corral it, looked at the puck, made a quick move to the middle of the ice, and then got caught still looking down at the puck.

Neil didn’t leave his feet before the hit, Little’s body forced the feet in the air. In fact, it was cleaner than Armstrong’s killing of Blake a few games back.

You can see the replay on atlantathrashers.com, TSN’s recap, or find it on YouTube.

Following the link above you can see at 1:20-1:24 that Little was simply caught unaware, and Neil went hurtling through/over him…but didn’t get airborne prior to contact, nor “jumped” into him.

I love Little, but there is no merit to saying it was a dirty hit by Neil.

Valabik’s “I’m going to F(SE) you up!” was priceless.

By R. Stroz

December 17, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

Valabik’s “I’m going to F(SE) you up!” was priceless.

LMAO

By Smitty

December 17, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this

Just a thought. Is Pat Quinn trying to make an impression in ATL by going with Espo. That is a tough team to make. Especially after missing 3 years in a row.

By Tony C.

December 17, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this

I don’t think the hockey braintrust that is the mgmt. of Team Frostback (Quinn, Stevie Y, The Great One, Hitchcook, et. al) are the type of guys that you can fool twice.

As you can read from Quinn’s quotes, Espo definitely had a reputation to overcome, and he did. Think about that; you know that those guys didn’t make it an easy path for the kid-Quinn’s doghouse is legendary.

So it is a big deal for Esposito to finally make Team Frostback. The media attention is justified-this is the equivalent of Fredo somehow working his way back into Michael’s good graces in The Godfather saga.

By Jameson

December 17, 2008 7:14 PM | Link to this

ranallo10- I believe that the 20 year old rule doesn’t apply to European players since their alternative is to play in professional leagues in Europe, whereas a North American under 20 would be playing in Juniors. I believe that’s the thinking, anyway. Obviously they have exceptions for NHL players under 20 who need rehab stints, and the tryout contracts at the end of the season.

By Polarity

December 18, 2008 2:07 AM | Link to this

The AHL age issue is an inter-league agreement between the NHL and the Canadian Major Junior Leagues (WHL, OHL, QMJHL) that players below age 20 (calendar year) are sent back to their respective Junior clubs rather than the Minors (AHL, ECHL, etc.). Major Junior League players below age 20 can play in the Minors when their Junior team is no longer in competition. None of this concerns players in other leagues, European or other junior leagues.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 18, 2008 4:26 AM | Link to this

Jameson and Polarity — Thanks, that makes sense.

Filatov was an interesting situation because he had an offer from an OHL team in case he was cut during training camp for the Blue Jackets, but instead he made the team and was sent down a couple games later (to the AHL). I’m not sure if he’s played in Columbus since then, or if he’s even suited up in Syracuse…

Tony C. — Agreed, that was a big step for Esposito in terms of player development and personal development. I’m sure it positively impacts his confidence knowing he’s good enough to make the Jr. National team if he simply does everything asked of him.

By Alan

December 18, 2008 5:45 AM | Link to this

ranallo - This link indicates that Filatov has 7g-10a for 17pts in 23 games. Not bad. He’s also a +6.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 18, 2008 7:11 AM | Link to this

Not bad at all, especially as an 18 year old.

By GaVaHokie

December 18, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

I’m pretty sure you don’t need Mike’s input any longer, since you’ve answered your own question.

Was that a smart-a* comment?

I recalled the amateur contract later on after Tony’s reply, so I was just asking for clarification.

…sheesh.

By Alan

December 18, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this

Actually, it was just an observation, Hokie.

So, am I right, or what? :P

By Bag Of Sugar

December 18, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this

So, am I right, or what? :P

No you are just a smart@$$ who never adds anything of value to the conversation.

By GaVaHokie

December 18, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

Actually, it was just an observation, Hokie. So, am I right, or what? :P

Sorta, I’m still curious how Filatov’s situation is different and how an Amateur tryout is different than any other time.

By Danny

December 18, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

I agree,,this Allan guy, all he ever does is critcize everyone here

By ex_coach

December 18, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this

good point danny.. so who is the bigger tool alan or stendec? i say alan because at least stendec has his own opinion..

By Off The Crossbar

December 18, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

I don’t know what you people are talking about but Slater got his butt whooped, BAD! I guess he just sucks at all aspects of the game, not just scoring?

By Alan

December 18, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this

Sorta, I’m still curious how Filatov’s situation is different and how an Amateur tryout is different than any other time.

An amateur tryout agreement can be signed only at the end of the junior players season, like with Kulda and Esposito last year. Esposito was released from it shortly after he signed, but Kulda went on to help Chicago win the Calder. Both of their playoff runs were cut short.

Filatov, on the other hand, is a Russian prospect who doesn’t want to play in Russia. His only options were to play for a junior’s club, or in the pros. Columbus didn’t think he was ready, and he apparently didn’t want to play for a Junior team, so he’s playing with Columbus’ AHL affiliate.

I guess he just sucks at all aspects of the game, not just scoring?

He is, but I think it’s partially a lack of development, and a lack of motivation. Remember, Slater was rushed to the NHL during the 2005-2006 season. He only played four games in Chicago before getting called up. I’m not sure what needs to be done with him, but I’m not really ready to call him a bust.

Also, recall that Boulton was tied up with Fisher when the fight broke out. Somebody had to do something for at least a token gesture of “sticking up for a teammate.” This time, that guy doing the sticking up was Slater.

He got his rear end handed to him, but at least he tried.

By Tony C.

December 18, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

Dude, Slater gave up a good 20lbs. and 4” of reach. The fact that he actually landed a couple was surprising to me; Rutuu’s not exactly a belt-holder but I’ve seen him drop’em more than Jim.