AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > December > 26 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBogosian now ready for emergencies
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ron Hainsey was a no-show at the morning skate (illness) but is expected to play tonight. Scott Lehman has been sent back to Chicago. Garnet Exelby is still wearing a walking soft cast whenever he leaves his house. So Zach Bogosian, one of six defensemen on the ice for the morning skate, is now the Plan B if Hainsey can’t play.
Coach John Anderson said he’d rather not play Bogosian on an emergency basis but could give him six or seven minutes of ice time in, well, an emergency. “We want to put him in a game situation where he’s going to succeed for sure, not just we hope he does,” Anderson said. Bogosian said his formerly broken leg is fine and it’s just a matter of getting in game shape. General manager Don Waddell talked, before Exelby’s injury, about having Bogosian play some games in Chicago with the Wolves before returning to NHL games.
“If that’s what we decide to do, that’s what we decide to do, but right now we don’t have that luxury,” Anderson said. “Sending somebody to Chicago for conditioning, that’s a luxury to have because you have enough guys to play, enough good players to play. That decision will be made down the road.”
When could Bogosian play on a non-emergency basis? Probably seven to 10 days from now, Anderson said.
Now we turn from the news to our popular connect-the-dots feature:
Waddell followed the Wild for a couple of games a couple of weeks ago.
Marian Gaborik is in the final year of his contract and isn’t expected to be back with Minnesota.
Gaborik returned from injury, played well, and is now being held out consecutive games post-Christmas break.
Conclusion a lot of people are drawing: Something’s up.
Perhaps.
Obvious question: If Gaborik is being held out in Minnesota, who’s being held out in Atlanta? The answer for tonight’s game doesn’t add much fuel to the fire: Erik Christensen, again, and Kari Lehtonen.
Christensen hasn’t played since the Montreal game and declined to comment earlier this week when asked if he was healthy. He is listed as a healthy scratch. Lehtonen just came back from a long layoff and needs practices to stay in, or get into, game shape; the team didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday. Plus, Johan Hedberg played well against the Islanders on Tuesday night and has played well against Carolina.
Comments
By Alan
December 26, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
Good news about Bogosian, though I really do hope he gets a conditioning stint in Chicago before playing another game here.
The Gaborik thing confuses me, because it’s not like we really have anything Minnesota wants, and there’s no way we’re giving up a player with a year left for another player who is UFA after this season. Really, I’ve seen stupid moves before, but I don’t think Waddell is that stupid.
By polskidawg
December 26, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
DW is delusional.
“That’s the frustration part, because I think we’re a much better team than our record. I think we’re a better skilled team than we had last year. I think we got deeper at every position.”
Better skilled? Really?? The Thrash have ONE line 1 player - Kovy. They have MAYBE two line 2 forwards - Little and Kozlov. They have a plethora of line 3/4 players. Better skilled??
Deeper at EVERY position? Really?? The Thrash have NO first pair defencemen. They have MAYBE 3 second pair defencemen - Havelid, Schnieder, Hainsey. They have many 3rd pair defensemen. Deeper??
Goalies? One is not ready, one played his best hockey 6 years ago (great guy though) and one can’t be healthy. Deeper??
Thrasher fans and supporters are in BIG trouble.
By Sam
December 26, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
$100 says Hainsey’s hungover.
By Thrashy Thrashy
December 26, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
polskidawg,
We’ve been in “BIG trouble” for years with Waddell. His recent observations just reinforce the situation for us.
By Tony C.
December 26, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
Sam Where were yall drinking?
By Nikita
December 26, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this
I won the tickets. I won the tickets. I won the tickets.
little dance.
By Jim
December 26, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
Good news about Bogosian. Anyone notice that we’re playing a bit better with Bonehead X on the shelf? Donnie keeps up the old “if we have won 5 of the 10 games that we were tied in going into the last 10 minutes”. Donnie- good teams know how to win and pick up the pace at the end. We are a mediocre team at best. MN press says that Gaborik has been re-injured.
By LAC
December 26, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
Hey Kobler, you had a chance to stand up for the FANS and ask waddell the TOUGHEST question of all.
Why in the hell do you hide and ignore the obvious ? Just WHAT is YOUR problem ?
You will not acknowledge solid fans who want answers, you duck, hide, avoid, should I go on ?
Several of us ask for ANSWERS and you provide ZERO on this issue, sure it’s touchy, but is it NOT a reporters JOB to ask the TOUGH questions ?
I can only assume you are owned by asg, and are afraid to ask waddell the question on the basis you may lose your job…
Mike, just tell us the TRUTH as to WHY you continue to duck this issue ?
By Bob
December 26, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this
I think we’re a much better team than our record. I think we’re a better skilled team than we had last year. I think we got deeper at every position
Oh good golly, Molly. Ya just gotta love Waddell. lol. The scary part is, I used to think he just was blowing sunshine everywhere, apparently including up his bosses rears, but I’m starting to think he might really believe some of this. Merry Christmas, Donnie.
By Brad
December 26, 2008 7:34 PM | Link to this
I believe the Thrashers are making an effort to get Gaborik. My feeling is that they may trade Esposito, maybe Perrin and a defenseman such as Oystrick, and/or a higher draft pick to get him if they can sign him to a long term deal. If the Thrashers can get a healthy Gaborik right now, they could potentially have a shot at the playoffs.
By Brad
December 26, 2008 7:42 PM | Link to this
Following up from my last post…Nothing will happen until Jan 1st since contract extensions cannot being until Jan 1st.
By polskidawg
December 26, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this
Thrashy Thrashy - agreed and I have been sadly aware of the issue.
Brad - a healthy Gaborik is very similar to a healthy Lehtonen, isn’t it? In other words, it is very, very rarely the case.
Both good players made of glass.
No thanks.
By Jamie Fehr
December 26, 2008 8:27 PM | Link to this
Very good info Thanks Knobler Doesnt sound as if he will though which kinda sucks but thats how it goes i guess. Thanks again and if anything chages on this pllease blog it or something
By Jamie Fehr
December 26, 2008 10:05 PM | Link to this
LAC your a plug, if you dont likee the job he is doing why dont you relieve him of his duties??? or dont read his stuff if its so awful, im gonna assume you got a kite for christmas, so why dont you go fly it.
By B. Thenet
December 26, 2008 10:51 PM | Link to this
Our Christmas present from the team was a magnificent turd, delivered on home ice.
By stendec
December 26, 2008 10:53 PM | Link to this
Another totally gutless effort by a completely heartless group (this ball-less bunch is no team)! Wish these untalented mother (X) would get the Hell out of Atlanta. The city stinks enough as it is without their foul stench! Hope all you (X) apologists enjoyed another close damn home debacle. Move the Hell to Detroit where a team on a par with the Toiletlids resides! Apologize for them. Hey John Petrino. If you refuse to bring up the Wolves en masse to replace these uncaring slimeball quitters then play without a damn goaltender. Make these LaLa Land mother (X) concentrate! So what if you lose 100-0? Hey, it counts the same as a pitiful 2-1, 4-3 or (heh heh) 5-4 loss! Show some damn guts you (X) loser. To Hell with the Toiletlids! Every damn one of them. Especially Ilya “Bags Are Packed” Kovalchuk who is the highest paid unproductive oxygen waste in professional sports. All professional sports! (X) all of them! I hope the damn mother (X) lose every (X) game from here on out. Quitters deserve no less. Players and apologist fans alike!
By stendec
December 26, 2008 11:29 PM | Link to this
(X)!
By stendec
December 27, 2008 2:37 AM | Link to this
Sorry, I am off my meds again;) (X)!
By LAC
December 27, 2008 6:18 AM | Link to this
Hey fehr, you must be another ajc employee happy with the status quo…
I am not, can you even read ? What do most people on the blogs keep saying… Let’s see now, Hummmm, maybe FIRE waddell ?
No fehr, you are a fair weather fan who cannot see the issues a hand, you choose to attack serious fans who want to win and are sick of this crap by waddell and kobler for not asking a simple question.
So go back to your little sandbox where you can call people names and try not to dirty your pants and try not to stink it up when you go back to your mama.
By sick of lousy hockey
December 27, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
screw you ASG. I hope you all go bankrupt with the way you’ve run this team.
By Jamie Fehr
December 28, 2008 5:38 AM | Link to this
wow great with the comebacks you are, you say knobler is bad at talking, you got awful material. Yeah lets fire waddell, you gonna take his job to you hero?? quit playing like your some tough guy who can do better, do you have a job in the NHL?? sorry what…… i cant hear you….. oh thats right you dont. PLUG