Thrashers

By Barry

December 29, 2008 7:49 PM | Link to this

Most pleasant surprise: Bryan Little

Area thought would be better: Defense

The Thrashers are: Lower than I thought

Story of the year so far: What happened to Kovy? 11 goals after 3 months??? WTH?

The injury that hurt the most: Kari’s back. He at least could have stolen a couple of more wins.

By Sam

December 29, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this

A.) Bryan Little best surprise, tho all are noteworthy. Little was so weak along the boards and in traffic last season and really early this year. He gets huge marks for his willingness to get roughed up for the team. Its like day and night from last season to this one.

C.) Thought Kari could steal us a season, especially since he’s got to impress on this one-year contract.

B.) Didn’t expect us to be bottom-feeders.

C.) What happened to Ilya Kovalchuk?…but if he turns out to be injured like Kozlov was last season, when he took so much heat from Waddell and the press, then I’ll feel really bad.

A.) Lehts’ back. He wasn’t perfect, but he started the season making some stellar saves. Hope to see him do that tomorrow.

Alright, John Anderson post-game press conference referred to some trades right now…get on it “Knoblsy”….you did read Ben’s blog, right?

By Sam

December 29, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this

Oh, and Mike, you’re already sounding like a Southern hockey city’s sportswriter. What’s a guy got to do to be first star? Guys in teh SE division ahving been asking similar questions all year.

Well, first of all, be freakin’ Sidney Crosby…who, despite NOT winning the Hart Trophy as MVP and Art Ross as scoring leader is STILL the most influential person in hockey (see The Hockey News), ahead of Alex Ovechkin.

Congratulations, Litts.

By Sam

December 29, 2008 8:36 PM | Link to this

Oh…and Sid did NOT win a Stanley Cup either. What makes him the most influential in teh NHL?

He’s Canadien…its all I can come up with.

By Sage of Bluesland

December 29, 2008 8:46 PM | Link to this

A) B) C) D) A)

Now we add another injury area (back) to our glass-groined wunderkind in net…Great pick, Don! It has really paid off!

Bad decisions and Don Waddell have been this organization’s trademark during its entire existence. I wonder if there is a correlation?

Yep, it began with the naming of Don Waddell as GM/President/Czar, soon to be followed up with the ‘foundation’ signing of Damian Rhodes, and the avalanche of incompetence simply picked up speed from there…

We deserve better. Vote the bums out—with your wallet.

By sisu

December 29, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this

Most pleasant Thrashers surprise: A) Bryan Little

Area you thought would be better than it has been: C) Goalies

The Thrashers are B) Lower than I thought they’d be in the standings

The story of the year so far is D) Ownership , not the players on the ice

The injury that hurt the Thrashers the most is

A) Kari Lehtonen’s bad back

The lack of resolution in the ownership feud! This is perfect example of what is wrong with the legal system

By 10yr plan

December 29, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this

Who would you like to be the GM of the Thrashers?

A) Don Waddell B) Craig Patrick C) Dave Nonis D) Pat Quinn E) None of the above

By Brendan

December 30, 2008 12:30 AM | Link to this

I echo Sisu’s 10:08 PM post. I agreed with all of it. Nothing has worked out all that well. But, then again, in a build year, this is … well … what’s supposed to happen. We’ve got to take our lumps and see what the Draft brings. If Atlanta drafts 2nd overall or better, we’re going to get another foundation piece.

As unpopular as it would surely be, Waddell has an option of shopping Kovalchuk to a team housed within the lottery draft to pick up another foundation piece. I’m looking in the direction of the Western Conference. It used to be that you could count on the L.A. Kings to be a potential trading partner, but they’re looking at about .500 these days. They might not be a “lottery draft” team this year. Any lottery draft team would want assurances that Kovalchuk would re-sign with them. But, I don’t really think Kovalchuk is eyeballing a lottery draft team as his NEXT team. If he’s not thinking of re-signing with Atlanta in the offseason, then he knows he’ll be traded, either in the offseason, or at the 2010 trade deadline. I would hope that, at that point in negotiations, that Kovalchuk would express an intended team for a trade. This way, Kovy gets what he wants and maybe, just maybe, Waddell or whomever is GM, can work out an acceptable exchange of future draft picks. Notice how I didn’t say players? Traded players don’t re-sign with Atlanta. Traded players are plotting their exit strategy upon arrival in Atlanta. We’ve got to draft our own players. Period, the end. It’s our best option, given our set of circumstances.

I’m telling you, though, Waddell isn’t thinking about trading Kovalchuk. The only thing Waddell is thinking, vis-a-vis Kovalchuk, is re-signing him. No matter WHAT it costs.

By UpperDeck4Life

December 30, 2008 12:57 AM | Link to this

Little and his goal scoring is a great story, but he has a third of his goal total for the year in the last 3 games. I think Kozlov’s play has been the most pleasant surprise of the season. As he goes….so goes that line.

Out of order, but Kari’s injury was the biggest blow to the club so far this season.

The forwards have been the biggest disappointment. We have one scoring line (Kozlov-White-Little) and a Superstar that seems to have caught Hossaitis and is coasting through the season.

The Thrashers are lower than i thought they would be in the standings. Drank to much Cool aid.

The biggest story is a tie between the shadow that is #17 in blue most nights, and the joke of an ownership group/GM this team has. Put the 3 of them together and they give Larry, Moe, and Curly a good run.

My question for everyone else is:

After watching the play of the team so far this season, what are does the team need to improve the most through the draft/free agency in the offseason?

A) Draft Stamkos, we need to be better down the middle. B) Draft Hedman, he is a once a decade defenseman and sets up our d for the next decade with Enstrom and Bogo. C) We need more scoring wings, draft one like Schroeder from Team USA at the World Juniors, and try to sign some legit scoring wings in FA. D) They all suck, give me a dart board to help me choose.

By jason

December 30, 2008 1:16 AM | Link to this

Um, how do we draft a player who is playing for the Lightning?

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 30, 2008 5:40 AM | Link to this

Does this article remind anyone of any discussions we’ve had lately?

jason — I assume he meant Tavares.

Knobler — A) Little, though the surprise for me wasn’t that he’d be a solid NHL player, but that he’d be such a major impact for such a bad team. I believe he’s scored more goals than Hossa this season — that’s where I’m surprised. I believed he’s be a solid top two line player, but I didn’t expect it to be as a scoring RW.

E) None of the above. Williams is the only let down in my opinion, as I expected more out of him. Schneider is a close second.

A) Where I thought they’d be.

D) Ownership and Management. Management is playing the “we’re so close” card too much and not calling out ownership, ownership is not holding management accountable for past and present mistakes. Total cluster of ineptitude, almost of epic proportions.

B) Bogosian’s fibula. This was the year to see how prepared he really was, and to develop him at the NHL level. He’s missed a large chunk of games due to this injury, which hurts the team long term. The other injuries were simply hastened the inevitable.

On the bright side, Schneider and Bogosian’s injuries allowed Oystrick and Valabik to get much needed NHL minutes, and both have proven that they’re capable 3rd pairing defenders with an upside. Both may not be ready for top two pairing minutes, but they’re close enough to be complimentary pieces to a solid or youthful D corps. Oystrick could be very good trade bait.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

December 30, 2008 7:27 AM | Link to this

Me fail English? That’s unpossible…

By Jarndyce

December 30, 2008 7:50 AM | Link to this

#1:Oystrick has been the biggest surprise for me. Little is a first-round pick in his second year at the NHL level. He’s producing as he should be.

Oystrick, on the other hand, is playing very well as a relatively unknown rookie defenseman.

Honorable mention for Joey Crabb.

#2: The team is about what I expected, actually. The defense is better, in general, than it was last year. The forwards are undermanned each and every night they hit the ice. The goalies are facing to many good shots each night, because there just isn’t enough puck control at the offensive end of the ice.

#3: See answer to #2.

#4: Ownership and management. I’ll leave the mouth foaming to some others here.

#5: Kari’s back, I guess. As much as I’d like another 15-18 goals right now, I think Anderson can help this team more from the bench. What this team needs is a Center that can manage the game on the ice.

#6: What is wrong with Ilya Kovalchuk?

A) String of bad luck. B) New sticks made out condensed evil. C) Magical shrinking nets. D) Trying to hard to make the perfect shot. E) Trying to lead and quarterback the team on every shift when that’s not his job. Linemates should be delivering the great passes to him, not the other way around.

By Jarndyce

December 30, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this

Upperdeck: Drafting needs: I usually don’t start looking at the next draft class until the spring, so I’m not too well versed on the upcoming picks. But if we don’t have a chance at Tavares, or another truly NHL-ready game-managing Center, do defense.

By B. Thenet

December 30, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this

Pleasant Surprise- Little

Areas I thought we would be better: Forwards- Christensen, Williams, and Perrin have all been major letdowns this year. Not surprisingly, Kovlachuk has suffered in part due to the failures of the first two to be consistent Top 6 performers.

The Thrashers are lower than I thought they would be in the standings- I think this is a middle of the road non-playoff team…and not a team that is constantly lurking around the worst record in the NHL.

The story of the year so far is also the same answer as the injury that has hurt us the most: The inability of Kari Lehtonen to stay healthy. Now it is his back I think that is the problem. That is a very bad sign for a goaltender.

My Question: From this point forward who will remain with the Thrashers the longest?

A. Don Waddell B. Atlanta Spirit Group LLC C. Ilya Kovalchuk D. John Anderson

By Sara

December 30, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

oooh YAY a blog not entirely devoted to firing the GM! I’m so excited!!!

1 - Oystrick. For all the reasons Jarndyce already outlined perfectly.

2 - All of the above. I expected more from Williams and Christensen…and Army and Kovy and Thorburn and Perrin for that matter. I have hope that a couple can fix themselves but some (Crusher and Thor I am looking at you) are hopeless/helpless. I thought our D would do a bit better than it has although given half is young players I’m not going to freak over it. And our goalies…aside from the hope Lehtonen might have actually stayed healthy for one friggin’ season, I never would have expected Moose to let us down the way he has. Pavs’ issues I expected - knew he wasn’t ready. But Moose…sigh

3 - We’re lower than I thought we’d be. I’d hoped for 10th/11th/12th range with an outside shot at the playoffs if the stars aligned perfectly. sigh again

4 - Has to be Kovy. He doesn’t have Hossa-itis. He’s been pretty darn clear about that. He’s frustrated clearly and he isn’t afraid to get into traffic areas (as in the playing-not-to-get-hurt syndrome). But he’s coasting too much too often. He isn’t scoring. He’s making me sad.

5 - Kari’s back. Lord knows he couldn’t have done any worse than Moose/Pavs over that stretch. Kari was actually playing pretty inspired hockey before he got hurt - saved our tails a few times in the early games.

As for the drafting question: Center first (Tavares), then RW, then G (Pavs or Lehts will depart this organization in the near future - the next generation and/or back-up needs to be coming along), then LW (who precisely is going to replace Kozlov? Or Kovy for that matter if that all goes to hell), and D last. We’ve got D prospects out our ears - especially relative to our (lack of) depth everywhere else.

And for B Thenet’s question - reverse order from the way they should depart Atlanta.

Order of likely departure - C Kovy, D Anderson (probably by choice), B Waddell, and A Spirit (who like spirits are apparently going to hang around and haunt us forever).

By polskidawg

December 30, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

Most pleasant Thrashers surprise: A) Bryan Little - he’s in much better in the corners and in front of the net, as someone has mentioned.

Area you thought would be better than it has been: A) Forwards & E) None of the above. I expected what I’ve seen, or worse. - dreadful back checking, no real playmakers other than Kovy & Kozzy, few finishers (Kovy, Kozzy, Little), no real first line talent with Kovy.

The Thrashers are A) Where I thought they’d be in the standings.

The story of the year so far is D) Ownership and management, not the players on the ice. If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, well…

The injury that hurt the Thrashers the most is A) Kari Lehtonen’s bad back. Bad time to be in a contract year for Kari. Then again, its the same old story with him.

Reader participation category. Who will conduct the 2009 draft for the Atlanta Thrashers?

A) Don “everything is fine” Waddell

B) Bruce “and you thought Belkin was the bad guy” Levenson

C) Dan “I LOVE the QMJHL” Marr

D) All of the above

By Ilya's Dad

December 30, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this

I believe Sam may have hit on something. Ilya has not been the same since the knee on knee hit put on Ilya by Jarkko Ruttu @ Pit on Jan. 30 last season. He was leading the league in scoring before the hit and then was passed by Ovechkin two weeks later.

By R. Stroz

December 30, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this

Sara - FIRE WADDELL

That was just toooo tempting.

By Alan

December 30, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this

C) Higher than I thought they’d be in the standings. Thank God for the Islanders

I’m lovin’ the sense of humor, here.

Biggest Surprise: A. Area I thought we would be better in: A. Thrashers are: B, but not by much. Story of the year: A.

By Brendan

December 30, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

My guess is The Atlanta Spirit will be here the longest, in 2011. That’s when the lawsuit allegedly must be settled, with all appeals exhausted. I expect Waddell to remain until April 2011. So, by a few months, the Spirit Boys will outlast him. My basis for saying that can be found in any of Ranallo’s recent posts. I’ll state it one last time. The AS, LLC likes Waddell. They think he’s a good GM. He’s doing what they want him to do. Sorry. There’s just no other way to sugarcoat that. You can email them … to tell them they’re wrong. You can inform them they are the laughing stock of all of professional sports. But they’ve got “filters” for those kinds of emails. Best of luck to you, if you are using that strategy. They’ll just file it under, “idiot, disgruntled fan, who doesn’t understand business.” Now, if you do it as Home Depot or Coca-Cola or Chick-Fil-A, they might pay attention. Those are accounts they “care” about.

Many a moon ago, back in 1990-91, the Minnesota North Stars got into trouble, attendance-wise. They offered a special promotion. Lock in 3 season tickets, get two more season tickets FREE. That’s 5 seats, for the price of three. In oversimplified terms, that’s 40% off. Why mention it? (I knew you’d ask.) Well, when a team has revenue-sharing issues, like the Thrashers do, they must sell seats to qualify. If the Thrashers, essentially, start “giving away” tickets, (in disguised sales,) they’ll reach the numbers they must obtain to qualify for revenue-sharing. By the way, it’s in the ballpark of $7-7.5 million worth of revenue-sharing, by my best and very unofficial “guestimate.” So, you subtract $7.5 million from the $44.5 million team payroll, and you get?? Tah-dah! “Break even.”

More plainly, GM Don Waddell can bluster that we’re close, real close to winning a series of games, that would put us mathematically within range of the 8th and final playoff spot. Irrespective of whether the Thrashers are the 8th and final seed, the AS, LLC is pleased. They “broke even” while selling seats. That’s their (not-so-clandestine) goal, while positioning themselves favorably, for the June draft.

If/when the Thrashers start giving away seats, do you, as fans, have the fortitude to say, “No, I won’t go, even for FREE. I ‘decline’ the offer.” If you do/did, hypothetically, the Thrashers won’t get the $7-7.5 million in revenue-sharing, and they won’t break-even. And, they’ll blame YOU. What ELSE can they do?, blame THEMSELVES??

What? Do you really expect this ownership to take a long, hard look at themselves in the mirror and say, “Perhaps, we should have fired the GM? We underestimated the level of contempt we foster in the hockey-going community?” Well, time will tell. You’ll have to contact VEGAS for odds on that one.

By MB

December 30, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this

Surprise: Oystrick, with White in second.

Without injuries, I would have thought the D would have been better.

The T-Birds are slightly lower than I expected, though I did expect better effort.

Story of the year…A) more of the same, caused by D) management and ownership.

Injury: Bogo, just because his development for future seasons has likely been slowed.

By ben

December 30, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this

Hockey as a sport is centered in Canada. Therefore the Canadian Press will tend to be more critical the other US teams not in the orignal 6. The NHL will keep Le Thrash here even W/O Kovy. All NHL moves aside from the Flames have been Northern to Southern. The attendence boils down to this: Every Atlanta-based team College or Pro has a hard time getting people there. The area is veiwed as unsafe, a point of view that until it changes, that will happen to all teams here.

The NHL has a Southern Strategy, that and 6 million people will keep it in the area. However, I think they’ll move within the area. This team will live beyond Kovy and Waddell

By Sara

December 30, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this

ben I saw a whole lot of red jerseys departing the area when I arrived for the Thrash-Bruins game. How many tens of thousands does it take to fill the GA Dome? Or Turner Field for that matter. If a team is winning, butts will be in the seats. Someone ought to explain that to the idiots running this franchise.

By Mike Knobler

December 30, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this

Jarndyce New sticks made out condensed evil made me laugh. Thanks. I’m tempted to share that one with Kovalchuk.

Sara Your comment about Kovalchuk making you sad by coasting too much really connected with what John Anderson told me about him needing to be mentally tougher. I don’t think he’s coasting because he doesn’t care; I think he looks to be coasting because he gets frustrated and has stretches where he can’t prevent himself from giving in to that emotion. You see the bursts of intensity, where you can’t take your eyes off the guy, and then there are shifts when you barely notice him on the ice.

By Mike Knobler

December 30, 2008 7:09 PM | Link to this

Curtis Joseph starts in goal tonight for Toronto for the first time since Nov. 25 … against the Thrashers. Joseph’s next victory will be his 450th. Victory No. 449 came way back on April 5. This is only his fourth start of the season.

By Mike Knobler

December 30, 2008 8:05 PM | Link to this

Sam I was there for Anderson’s postgame presser the other night. I saw him not surprisingly upset at the suggestion that the season is over. I also heard him say, in response to a question about whether there’d be a trade by February, that February might be too late. Not exactly big news there, either, considering Don Waddell said the same thing in our Q and A on Dec. 26.

By B. Thenet

December 30, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this

Just curious, but why exactly was Oystrick named a pleasant surprise. Yes he has scored some points, but he has been on the ice it seems for almost every single goal scored against us for the past couple of weeks….including all 3 goals against tonight.

By Russian

December 30, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this

Moose played GREAT. Nobody else. Ray Ferraro said that Toronto moved Middle and Atlanta zone like a PUBLIC SKATES. OH man. That f*** amberesing.

By B. Thenet

December 30, 2008 10:19 PM | Link to this

That was a bad call on Enstrom.

By Russian

December 30, 2008 10:20 PM | Link to this

47 SOG. Moose did a GREAT JOB to kept this Facking Team alive. FIRE WADDELL.

By Steely Dan

December 30, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this

Ray Ferraro said that Toronto moved Middle and Atlanta zone like a PUBLIC SKATES

Did he really say that, Russian?

Wow, Ray, that hurts. It’s TRUE, but it hurts nonetheless.

BTW, where is stendec? Four goals scored on Moose would normally bring forth his usual mindless tyrade. Granted he stopped 43 but that means nothing to him.

He must have gotten his New Year’s (SE)-face on early this year and is staggering along MLK outside of a bar right now.

By Mike Knobler

December 30, 2008 11:28 PM | Link to this

Russian Agreed about Moose. Toronto seemed to spend the whole night peppering him with shots, and some of those saves were ridiculous.

By Revolution

December 31, 2008 1:02 AM | Link to this

Most pleasant Thrashers surprise:

C) Todd White’s resurgence

Answering that question in the true sense, I’ve been incredibly pleased with Todd White this year. Definitely one of my favorite Thrashers and I wish him the best.

Area you thought would be better than it has been:

B) Defensemen

Ron Hainsey, Zach Bogosian, Mathieu Schneider were all signed, but so far, Ron Hainsey has been the lone gunman considering Bogosian’s injury, Schneider’s (very) disappointing performance, Toby’s sophomore slump, and Havelid’s tendancy to become completely invisible. Oystrick has helped a little bit, and he’s a keeper, but he and Hainsey can’t save the team’s defense, let alone the team’s overall performance.

The Thrashers are

B) Lower than I thought they’d be in the standings

Once again, I was suckered into the promises of the organization. I’ve been fooled for too many consecutive seasons. Shame on me. Our GM promised things would be better. Things are worse, and we’re about to get another top 5 draft pick at this pace.

The story of the year so far is

D) Ownership and management, not the players on the ice

This is my personal “big story.” Somebody needs to be fired. The team needs to be sold to somebody who will keep the team in Philips Arena. Atlanta needs to follow the trend of the Falcons and the Hawks this year.

The injury that hurt the Thrashers the most is

H) None of the above

I don’t think any return from injury has been beneficial to us. We don’t know about Zach Bogosian. He’s a rookie.

Reader participation category. Name your own topic and your multiple choices.

Assuming ownership and management doesn’t change (which I believe it won’t), is it possible to become better next year?

A) Yes

B) No

Nothing to explain here.

C)

D)

By nfieldr

December 31, 2008 2:21 AM | Link to this

**By Steely Dan December 30, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this Ray Ferraro said that Toronto moved Middle and Atlanta zone like a PUBLIC SKATES

Did he really say that, Russian?

Wow, Ray, that hurts. It’s TRUE, but it hurts nonetheless.**

Not only did he say it, he said it TWICE

By Montalban

December 31, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

The story of the year is obviously what will Atlanta be able to get for Ilya Kovalchuk.

You can pretend that there’s even a 1% chance that he’ll resign in Atlanta, but there is absolutely ZERO chance that he, or anyone of his talent, will sign in Atlanta until the owenrship situation is resolved and the team shows some commitment to winning. They are at the bottom of the salary scale, they suck, and they are among the most instable ownership situaitons in the NHL.

Kovy wants to win a cup, and HE won’t sign there, and even if SOMEONE in Atlanta could convice him to want to, his management will NEVER let it happen.

It will be interesting to see if Waddell makes the smart move and trades him at the deadline for picks and playing prospects, or can’t pull the trigger and loses him next year for significantly less.

Trading him may mean the beginning of the end for the Trashers, which would SUCK, I love Atlanta and there’s no doubt a team COULD one day be great there, but not now, and the Kovalchuk ship has long sailed.

THAT’s what happened to Kovalchuk, and pretending that the top story of the year is anything other than the bumblings and lawsuits of ownership and management costing you Kovalchuk, the last remaining piece of a once promising franchise, is sad to see.

Atlanta rocks. You need to:

a.)Shore up ownership. the SPirit group is good for nothing. An owner committed to winning needs to step up or the franchise is far likely to move than to win b.)bring in proper management. Don Waddeell is perfect for an ownership group not committed to winning. He can toe the companyline, run a low budget ship, and look bad doing it. Do you think ANY wining and self respecting GM would come over to work for the spirit group right now? of course not. But a new owner commited to spending to the cap and winning could attract proper management. c.) use the picks garnered from a Kovalchuk sale to begin building competently through the draft

Losing Kovy will surely be an initial blow to the fan base, and without a chance in ownership and a vision for winning, it will be the end, Kovalchuk or no Kovalchuk (and there will be no Kovalchuk)

By ben

December 31, 2008 6:21 PM | Link to this

i’m a downtown resident, and i will agree that people do go, but if you want regular attendance, it will take moving where people are. Waiting for perceptions of a lot of people. People want to go where they feel safe. And for better or worse, that ain’t downtown.

By Steve

December 31, 2008 11:56 PM | Link to this

Best surprises this year:

All three: the Little-White-Kozlov line. Also, Colby Armstrong -this text will be bolded

This is our best scoring line! The proof is in their stats. Armstrong is on pace to better last year’s numbers, and his enthusiasm and gritty play are awesome!

Biggest disappointment: Defense- this line is to be bolded.

Other disappointments: Jason Williams and Erik Christensen-this line is to be bolded.

We sign Bogosian, Schneider, Hainsey, and resign Enstrom to a new contract. Hainsey is the best of them; Schneider the most disappointing, Bogosian was injured so I can’t blame him. Enstrom started out badly, but has lately been better.

Another big disappointment: Our goalie situation- bold this line.

Instead of giving Kari another chance, resigning Moose to two more years, or relying on another up and coming prospect, we need to go after a big name goalie or go after a backup that has produced for another team such as Ty Conklin or Mason for Columbus; even Khabibulin or Theodore wouldn’t be bad. Until we get a goalie and a defense that is going to limit shots of opposing teams, and a goalie that is going to defend better, the Thrashers are always going to struggle. We give up too many shots and too many goals.

Ditto on the ownership and GM situation- bold this line Get new owners and a GM that are going to really care about building a winning team. We have a great farm team in Chicago, but our pro team is not utilizing the talent they have. Anderson led many winning teams in Chicago, but can’t seem to get the job done here. Why?

There are fundamentals that are better overall, as opposed to the lackadaisical play of last year, and you can see that Anderson is trying to provide plays and a plan, but it is not coming together yet. Anderson needs to find lines that are most effective and just keep them the way they are. For example, the Little-White-Kozlov line should be kept the same. Kovalchuk should be with guys that are going to work well together.

By T-Bone

January 1, 2009 8:44 AM | Link to this

How anyone here could expect this collection of “players” to be higher in the standings hasn’t followed the DW era too well. The guy is constantly buying on the cheap and moving a player up a line in hopes he rises to the opportunity. Almost always this is a failure. BTW, saw Andrew Brunett last night against the Sharks and he was an absolute menace around the net. Sure glad we didn’t let him stay around and do that for the Thrash, just another in a long list of ill-fated DW moves.

Anyone else notice it was “our own” Matt McConnell doing the play-by-play for the USA/Canada World Juniors game? Much better game to watch than the usual effort from the Thrashers. BTW, saw Tavares get the hat trick, nice player but he looks a bit light in the frame to be NHL-ready next season, could be wrong but the thought crossed my mind.