Thrashers

By R. Stroz

December 30, 2008 11:48 PM | Link to this

I have a different question. Why is Lehtonen sitting out? Is there a trade in the works? Is Gabby sitting out too?

By Alex

December 30, 2008 11:51 PM | Link to this

He should have Savard centering his line. Oh, wait, Donny didn’t think he was worth the 5 mil a year that he wanted…

By Stevo

December 31, 2008 12:18 AM | Link to this

R Stroz - Lehtonen is sitting because the Thrashers have back to back games. Nobody should have to face 80+ shots in consecutive nights. He will be in net tomorrow.

As far as who I would like to see skating with Kovy - anybody not currently wearing a Thrashers jersey. Kovy needs some help and I don’t think its going to come from our team. If I had to choose, I would put him with Armstrong and Slater. Army has been playing a lot better over the last two weeks hustling to pucks and scoring goals. Slater can win draws at a high % and also can contribute to the rush as we’ve seen on the PK recently. JA might as well give it a try because nothing else is working.

By Barry

December 31, 2008 12:18 AM | Link to this

Anderson being unwilling to break up the Kozlov-White-Little line will continue to cause this team to lose! I’m sorry John Anderson but Little needs to center Kovy. They have chemistry when on the ice together. Everyone on the Kozlov-White-Little line has more goals than Kovy. I repeat…EVERY SINGLE PLAYER ON THAT LINE HAS MORE GOALS THAN KOVY. Time to spread the top 6 forwards around. Actually we have top 4 forward quality in those players mentioned on the team. The rest of the forwards on the team are bottom 6 forward quality I’m sorry. I suggest, and as a poster on the Thrashers message boards suggested: Kovy-Little-Armstrong

By Brad

December 31, 2008 12:53 AM | Link to this

Jim Slater and Joey Crabb need to have a shot with him. If no one gets called up, Crabb at least deserves a shot. BUT, having said that, Kovvy must be more physical to give himself some room on the ice, maybe Crabb and Slater would rub off on him. It just seems like he doesnt have energy every shift.

By stendec

December 31, 2008 1:37 AM | Link to this

Ilya “Bags Are Packed” Kovalchuk is a sorry no good son of a betch! That is not up for debate or discussion! That is a cold hard fact apologists. Anyone with eyes can see the ball-less bum has gone into the damn tank. Or bottle! The loser has completely and totally quit in the finest Maryann Hossa fashion! The untalented overrated Russian is as much a team liability now as goaltender (pick any one they are all porous as Hell with not a sliver of talent between them all). If John Petrino had any balls (which he does not) he would bench the oxygen waste until his ticket out of Atlanta is punched. I wish someone would punch the lights out of this uncaring bestard! Sorry to spoil your celebration party apologists. A loss is a loss is a shet loss! Good old Moose Lehtonen did not keep us in suspense long once overtime commenced. Only 33 seconds Moosie! What was up? Have a hot date with a Toronto moose girl or something? Sorry Kari Lehtonen-looking bestard! The apologist excuses tonight? A-Played hard? B-Never gave up? C-Goalie stopped a lot of shots? D-Team scored? I respond thusly: A-Nobody gives a flying (X)! A loss is a loss whether by one goal or 100. B-Losing less than a minute into overtime negates that phantom argument! C-The bestard still gave up one damn goal more than the guy in the other net! D-One less damn goal that the other guys netted! So party on apologists. Continue to revel in the losses and get giddy on the status quo! All you losers as are as gutless as the Toiletlids. Oh well, maybe good old Kari Letemin will whiff in 10 goals in the next outing. That will be 10 more excuses. Cannot wait to hear them! To Hell with these heartless toilet residue scumbags! Bring up the Wolves! It is time Atlanta was home to a professional hockey team again! Have not had one since the Knights disappeared.

By Brendan

December 31, 2008 1:44 AM | Link to this

Question: “If you didn’t know better, would you have EVER thought Ray Ferraro was once a Thrasher Captain?” Did you hear his comments tonight? Rather piercing and direct, no? And he spread it all around, too. Ferraro didn’t mince words when opining about Kovy, Enstrom, Hainsey, Oystrick, or Lehtonen’s annual injuries. Accurate they were, they did surprise me a bit. Not quite “biting,” but close enough.

Hainsey looked horribly out of position on the 3rd Maple Leaf goal. Enstrom is being very well scouted. He’s just not going to have the year he did as a relatively unknown rookie. Kovalchuk’s lack of production is a bit puzzling. Even in those early years, where the opposing team’s strategy was simple enough: Shut down Kovy, and you beat the Thrashers, Kovy still put up the numbers. Either there’s an undisclosed injury, which we’ll never know, or he’s already thinking about his contractual situation. Meaning? He knows what his own intentions are. (We don’t.) If he refuses, next Summer, to re-sign before the June draft, he very well could be traded on the morning of the draft.

Stop. Ya know the feeling before you go to the doctor or the dentist? You know you have to go, but you don’t want to, preferring to put it off, as long as humanly possible. I suspect, that’s what is on Kovalchuk’s mind.

Imagine you’re dating … a very erratic, highly excitable, manipulative ‘control-freak,’ who tends to be a bit violent and irrational. The uhh, holidays are ‘almost over.’ You’ve trudged through them admirably. But come January 2nd, or … at LEAST BEFORE VALENTINE’S DAY, you’re going to break up with her. Still with me. You’re dreading the scene. And beforehand, you’ll scour the room for ash trays, fire extinguishers, baseball bats … or other things that might get hurled in your general direction. And the longer you wait … to ‘spring the news’ of the break-up on this hypothetical woman, the worse it gets. Until you just wish you’d done it already. You’re all too ready for the rush of endorphins that will surely come from ACTUALLY breaking up with her. Ya know, the joy that results from getting someone unpleasant out of your life, probably FOREVER.

Well, folks. This might be … what Kovy’s thinking about, if he’s not thinking about re-signing with Atlanta in the offseason. When you’re consumed with rue, dread, reluctance, and anxiety to move onward with your life, you just want it to be OVER. Kovy knows there’s a miniscule chance he’ll be traded at the March deadline. And he knows there’s a stronger chance, still, of being traded in the offseason, potentially to some place he’d rather not go or be. And … he also knows … that if Don wants to ‘punish him,’ Hossa style, that he can FORCE him to stay all the way ‘til the 2010 deadline. Where, again, Kovy can’t control where he’ll be sent packing, disrupting his private life.

Only the people closest to Kovalchuk actually know what he’s thinking. I’d bet Heatley knows. But nobody is going to utter a “peep.” So don’t wait for it.

By stendec

December 31, 2008 2:22 AM | Link to this

John Petrino and the Toiletlids are good at one damn thing. Besides losing that is! Excuses. These quitters never run out of them. I know, I know. The sun was in the eyes of Moosie on the overtime goal. Or maybe the vulcanized rubber was a relative of one of those dreaded money pucks! Any excuse right gutless and talentless wonders?

By nfieldr

December 31, 2008 2:50 AM | Link to this

Brendan, I totally agree with you on Ferraro’s comments. I didn’t realize that was him doing color on TSN until the 2nd period (I DVR the games, and FF thru the intermission breaks). Anyway, at first, I just thought that he was another typical anti-American hockey critic (although, as you said, his points are valid). Once I realized that it was #21, I almost regretted having my first Thrashers jersey made up with his name and number back in ‘99.

By Jamie Fehr

December 31, 2008 4:34 AM | Link to this

Christensen and Armstrong should play with him. leave the top line. slater crabb and boulton do there job. and put reasoner with thorburn and perrin. thats a solid change. and that kovy crusher and army combo would be deadly

By Kaat

December 31, 2008 5:38 AM | Link to this

Makes sense not to mess with the only line that is actually working (Little-White-Russian). But to suggest changing the line combos other than that? Well, it makes me laugh and sigh a little. They’ve been doing this all year!

Let’s say you have a horrible hand in poker, will putting the cards in different orders and combinations within your hand make a difference? No. Bad cards are bad cards no matter how many ways you try to cobble together a full house, if the cards aren’t there, they aren’t there. Sure, move the pieces in any way you wish, it doesn’t matter and is futile. No matter how you shuffle this deck, the result is the same.

The only answer can be: Get better cards.

That being said, GO KOZLOV-WHITE-LITTLE! I loved Little’s props to White and Kozzy tonight for acknowledging how those two vets have helped his game.

By Sara

December 31, 2008 7:34 AM | Link to this

I didn’t hear Ray say all that much I disagreed with frankly. He went to great lengths to defend Kovy…flat out called out all the broadcasters around the League who call him selfish and a non-team player. Ferraro also made the “astute” observation that Kovy’s linemates, while good players in their own right, have absolutely no business being on the top line.

As for who Coach wants to try next, and since the concept of “nobody currently on our roster” has been addressed, might as well go with Perrin or Christensen at C and Army on the other wing.

What’s going on with Williams btw? Is there an undisclosed injury or is he just flat out in the chateau bow-wow?

By B. Thenet

December 31, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this

I agree with Fehr.

Armstrong is really on fire right now, so lets let Army and EC play with Ilya right now.

I think it would be utterly foolish to breakup Little-White-Russian. We have all of them tied up through next year, and Little and White for 2 more years. Let those guys continue to play with each other….with the way this team is playing can we afford to break up the best scoring line we have?

By Bob

December 31, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this

Who knew Kovalchuk’s goal-scoring would drop to near fourth-line levels?

Probably those who realized he was being paired with 4th liners?

with the way this team is playing can we afford to break up the best scoring line we have?

Why not, it’s not like we’re winning. What, you’re afraid we’ll fall from 29th to the 30th spot, oh no!

Little should center Kovy and Armstrong. White centers Kozlov and Williams. There would be two lines that could at least be competitive.

By Tom

December 31, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this

So who has the worse defense, the Thrashers or the Kazakstan?

After watching the hapless Leafs get 47 shots last night and the Thrashers waving sticks I am not sure…

Maybe Moose would prefer to play behind these guys…

http://watch.tsn.ca/international-hockey/clip125535#clip125535

By PuckedUp

December 31, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this

For those geniuses suggesting Crusher and Army play with Kovy. That was the opening night line I believe. It was so awful it was changed within a couple of games.

I think we should start a poll on how long it will be before stendec dies of an anuerism.

By Jarndyce

December 31, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this

Oh, what a sad, sad day it is for Thrasher fans when the sentence “Jim Slater and Joey Crabb need to have a shot” as linemates for one of the elite players in the league, is said in earnest desperation. Kovalchuk should be freewheeling around the ice, having fun and scoring goals, not dragging third- and fourth-line grinder weights around the offensive zone. Ugh.

Nothing against Slater or Crabb, mind you. But the lack of talent at Center on this team is mindcrushing. The really sad thing? As Sara has pointed out too many times, where are we going to get players to put with him?

By Ryan C

December 31, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

Why not try to get two lines scoring instead of just one, we’re losing games anyway, it’s worth a shot. I would keep Little and White together on the 2nd line, but add Williams

Kovy - Reasoner - Slava

Little - White - William (maybe this will get him out of his funk)

Army - Crusher - Crabb

Bolts - Slater - Thor

By Smoothie

December 31, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

At this point, it can’t get any worse in terms of wins and losses. The season and any shred of hope for a playoff berth has pretty much slipped away thanks to the Thrashers’ inability to collect wins at home against beatable opponents. If the Thrashers can only win against the likes of the NYI and TBL, then we’re fooling ourselves they will finally turn the corner and make a valiant run at the playoffs over the next several months.

So why not shake things up and see what you have for next year? I know the Little White Russian line has been stellar, and that they have a clever little nickname, but it’s time to spread the wealth a la a Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank-led Congress. We need to find out if Little can play with Kovy. I say shift Little to RW alongside Kovy and Reasoner. Marty is our strongest C in the faceoff circle and savvy enough to play with these two. Plus, Kovy needs some speed on the other side to put away his nifty passes to the weak side.

Kovy — Marty — Little (perhaps work in Slater once in awhile to take advantage of our three fastest skaters)

Kozzy — White — Williams (if Williams can’t score more playing with these two, then he shouldn’t be in the league)

Sterling — Slater — Crabb (I want a third line that plays with energy and passion and that can forecheck more than 5 seconds…Crabb has earned this “promotion”…play him on the left side using Armstrong at RW if Sterling doesn’t stick)

Boulton — Thorby — Army

EC can sit for all eternity for all I care. He has had ample opportunity to show us what he’s capable of and so far all he does is miss empty nets by shooting the puck all over the place, toe drag pucks into oncoming D-men and fail to get back on D to back-check like a C is supposed to do.

Also, why not think about moving Enstrom to forward where he can take advantage of his speed, vision and puck handling skills? I’m tired of seeing him get squashed in the corners or along the boards by much larger forwards when trying to get the puck out of our end.

By Russian

December 31, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

I like to see lines tonight and I think it will be works fine. First of all, PLEASE do not expect Atlanta win today. It is Mission Impossible IV. They played yesturday and traveled back to Carolina. It will be bad game. Second is my lines:

Slava - White - Little (They are untouchable!!!!)

Armi - Crusher - Kovy (It will be work, because Armi is plaing very well lately and Crusher needs to prove his skill or we can show NHL scout that we have Center to Trade)

Perrin - Reasoner - Throburn (Those players should be on thrid line to kill everyone)

Boulton - Slater - Crabb (They need to practice more and more and more. Special to Jimmy).

D-men

Haveld - Toby (Sweden is looking OK, not perfect, but OK)

Hainsy - Valabik/Oistrik (If Valabik Injured)

Schnider - Bogus (His a* should be in ice)

If Valabik is nit injure. I like to see Oistrik and Bogus together.

Kari in the net

It should work. Please JA listen to me.

By Jarndyce

December 31, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

Here’s something I’ve been wondering about. Why not try moving Ilya to the right side? He’s shown in the past that he can score coming off the RW circle. Put him over there and allow him to fly around the zone.

Bring up Sterling, and put him on the left. Keep Reasoner in the middle for now. Let them be dynamic and attacking on the offensive side, and see what happens.

By Sara

December 31, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

Ryan C Kovy and Kozzie both play LW so that wouldn’t really be an option I think coach would consider.

And before everyone jumps to put Little as top line C, remember he’s being turned into a winger. I don’t know if Coach and/or DW intend for that to be where he spends the rest of his career, but if they intend to leave him as a RW for the next couple of seasons, then they need to leave him at RW now as well. Which still doesn’t preclude a promotion back to the top line of course, just in a different capacity than before.

PuckedUp Army and Crusher played like 3 games with Kovy. 3 games doesn’t exactly equal to “complete failed experiment” - especially given the other options. I mean, seriously dude, at this point it’s either Army and Crusher or Slater and Crabb. Both choices sck, but at least the former scks a little less.

Jarndyce if I were Waddell/ownership, I’d call Ottawa right now and tell them they can have any defenseman in our system/on our roster not named Bogosian and any forward not named Kovalchuk or Little (which I realize leaves pretty crappy pickin’s but ya work with what ya got) and our 2nd round pick and/or a prospect for Jason Spezza straight up. Though Murray denies Spezza’s available there’s still been a whole lot of smoke coming from that direction. They desperately need some roster upgrades and can’t afford them without moving out some salary. Spezza and Heater have the biggest contracts and only one has a NTC in effect this season (and after this season Spezza’s kicks in so it’s now or never). The supposed asking price is a puck-moving d-man, a top-six forward, and a 1st round pick. Which IMO is a lot to ask for a guy getting called out by his coach and when you are essentially salary dumping. So no 1st round pick for them but outside of our 1st round pick this year, Kovalchuk, Little, and Bogosian, there isn’t a single damn player or piece more important to this team than the option of finally getting a 1st line center. Hell we can give Ottawa our entire roster for all I care barring those 3 - just bring up the Wolves to play with Spezza, Kovy, and Little. :D

And unfortunately Spezza is the only prime center who’s name has shown up in trade rumors (Nylander so does not count). So it’s either him, pray for Tavares, or drug Lombardi and swipe Kopitar out from underneath his nose. Even yous guys would have to be willing to make Don’s bail money if he pulled that off. :p

By T-Bone

December 31, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

Remember when Thrash used to repel from the rafters to the ice during the pregame festivities? That’s my highlight of this franchise to date. Sad isn’t it?

By Sara

December 31, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

Smoothie where’d Perrin go? :p

I’d thought about replacing Boulton with Sterling as well. The problem is then we lose our “tough guy.” So the next solution is to bring up Lavallee from Chi-town though I had thought about putting him together with Army for a more physical line all around (too bad we don’t have a physical C to put between them). Maybe as a more long-term potential line.

By Bob

December 31, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this

Remember when Thrash used to repel from the rafters to the ice during the pregame festivities?

I think that Thrash’s name was Javier, he was da man.

Spezza isn’t coming here for any less than Little or Kovy, and then it’s a self defeating move, but yes, Waddell would be da man for pulling that off for less, which is why there’s little chance of that happening.

By Russian

December 31, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

to Sara You are absolutely right. Don has to pick up phone now and call to Ottawa. I will give anybody for Spezza and give all team (no Kovy and Little) for Heatly. It will be Dream comes TRUE. Damn it will be great deal. BUT it never happend :-(

By Nate

December 31, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

Mike - Face the facts…this team just lacks talented players to play with Kovalchuk. He will struggle all year and the team actually NEEDS to finish dead last in hopes of getting Tavares so Ilya can finally have another talented center to play with next year. Why? Because you won’t find any on the free-agent market that want to come here. And yes I know, my other name is Captain Obvious.

By Alan

December 31, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

Sara - If I recall correctly, Kozlov has played RW before. It could work. I’d prefer to keep him as a scoring threat on the second line, but if it has to be done, I don’t see what we have to lose.

Besides more games, that is.

By Jim

December 31, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this

If Donnie had been able to convince formwer players that he had a winning strategy in mind, we’d have an unbeatable line of Kovy-Savard and Hossa Instead, we’ve got to work with some dregs- How about Kovy-Little and Armstrong? Watched the center Ice telecast, the Leaf announcer hit the nail on the head “the Thrashers have to do something in center ice. The Leafs are flying through like it’s a public skating rink”.

By Alan

December 31, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

Is Gabby sitting out too?

Here’s the answer to your question, my friend.

By Mike Knobler

December 31, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this

No morning skate today, so I’ll try to do an update tonight.

Nate I’m not saying you’re wrong, but … waiting for next year isn’t a plan when you’re less than halfway through the season. You’ve got to try something, though it seems unlikely to succeed.

By gretschdrum

December 31, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

Slava - White - Little (They are untouchable!!!!)

You’re losing with this line so nothing is untouchable.

Go with:

Kovy-Little-Kozzie

After hearing several hundred times from Darren Eliot that Kozzie is Kovy’s mentor why not pair them up?

If you lose, so what?! You’re already losing. It doesn’t matter if it’s by one goal or ten goals…a loss is loss and this couldn’t hurt. In fact, almost nothing could hurt at this point.

By bigjohnthrashfan

December 31, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this

Still can’t believe we let Savard get away.

I mean, what the HELL, Donny??!!

By Gary

December 31, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this

Haven’t we outgrown the ice-girls in their porn outfits in Atlanta? Real hockey towns don’t do this. give me a break. it needs to go away just like explaining icing calls over the PA. what’s next — putting them in g-strings. aren’t their parents and family embarrassed for them? it’s pro hockey in Atlanta and we’ve grown up. Treat us like real hockey fans. gj

By Ilya's Dad

December 31, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this

Although Slava-White-Little did a lot of scoring for a while, now almost all of the scoring is Little. Why not try Little centering Kovy a few games. At this point, the worst it would do is drop us one place: aka 1st place in the Tavares Cup.

By Mike Knobler

December 31, 2008 6:13 PM | Link to this

We just had our usual two-hours-before-puck-drop confab with John Anderson. He wasn’t showing his cards. The lineup? There will be changes. Not ready to reveal it. “We’ve got a few question marks for tonight,” he said. “There will be some game-time decisions.” I could think of only one question mark health-wise, so I asked about Boris Valabik. Anderson said he was doing well but that it’s up to the doctors, not Anderson.

Kari Lehtonen is in net, as expected.

By Mike Knobler

December 31, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this

Anderson, on Boris: “I think he’s OK. I’m planning on having him play. We’ve got to go with what the doctor says and what our trainer says.”

By sisu

December 31, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this

I remember well when Savvy walked away not too many people were upset by it. He was know to take silly penalties at the worst possible times. Remember him biting a Toronto player? :)

Hind sight is always 20/20!

By Hanson Brothers

December 31, 2008 6:28 PM | Link to this

Who should play with Kovy? I think he should play by himself on the first line. Lord knows he is not getting any help from anyone else on the team and we are not going to break up the one scoring line we have. So when Kovy is on the ice, he can play forward, go with 3 D-men and 2 goalies. Hopefully the 2 goalies could each cover 1/2 a net, three D-men could do the job that most teams need 2 men for, and Kovy could skate 1 on 5 and try to score, which he likes to do anyway. Occasionally someone will trip him and we will get a power play which has been our strength all year. Happy New Year all! Go Thrashers!

By Mike Knobler

December 31, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this

New line: Reasoner, Armstrong and Crabb is starting the game. Jim Slater is scratched. And Zach Bogosian is playing in place of Nathan Oystrick.

By Mike Knobler

December 31, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this

Jason Williams and Erik Christensen with Ilya Kovalchuk. Hmm, did Anderson read this part of my post? Does he put them both out there with Kovalchuk and scratch another forward?

By Mike Knobler

December 31, 2008 8:30 PM | Link to this

Happy New Year comes early for Kovalchuk, but not because of the new line. He scores on the power play with a snap shot from the left faceoff circle

By bigjohnthrashfan

December 31, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this

GO BLACKHAWKS!!!

There’s NO WAY I’m cheering for that traitor Marian Hossa. That traitor!

By stendec

December 31, 2008 8:59 PM | Link to this

Kari Letemin chokes in tying goal in final 30 seconds! Can anyone say marshmallow? Last 30 damn seconds! So much for all the surprising hard work by the Toiletlids for the first 19:30. Down the (X) commode! Thanks Letemin. What else is new? I knew that mother (X) son of a betch Finn would not let me down! Only nine more goals to go. Come on Canes. Get to work! This is the biggest fraud to ever masquerade as an NHL goalie. No talent whatsoever. Expose his sorry a$$ yet again! Heartless and gutless Mike Vick acting ball-less bestard.

By Rancid Peter

December 31, 2008 9:11 PM | Link to this

Methinks stendec hath a small pecker.

By stendec

December 31, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this

LaLa Land boy decides to take a second period stroll out of the net. Uh oh! Now 2-1 Canes. Not to worry. The damn heartless son of a betch Finn is not through yet. Many more Cane goals will follow! A valiant Cane just skated over Letemin. Glass groin still intact? *Too bad he did not take the mother (X) out! Come on Canes. Two goals are never enough! Especially against this fraud netminder. Toiletlids in 2-1 hole after two periods. Thanks Letemin! The Apologist Hall Of Fame goaltender choice. Tech looks almost as helpless as Toiletlids tonight. Almost. *Not quite! **

By stendec

December 31, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this

Slovakia beat Finland. Way to go guys! Hate damn Finland.

By stendec

December 31, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this

Hey jerk. You are the one with the Rancid Peter! You Mike Vick look-a-like!

By Alex

December 31, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this

This is a disaster. Enstrom totally matadors the guy blowing past and Kari doesn’t even move

By stendec

December 31, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this

Good old Kari Letemin salted this one away for Canes with another super soft goal! Wonder what the excuse will be for the three (or more) tonight? I know that damn sun is sure bright. Tough on the eyes. Damn Finn son of a betch! Wasted power play goal by Ilya Kovalchuk who scores once in every 100 shots. Screw that early 1-0 lead! Right Letemin? You worthless oxygen waste bestard! The losing streak lives on. Apologists do not give a damn. As uncaring as Toiletlids themselves. (X) them all!

By stendec

December 31, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this

Maybe one day Atlanta will get another professional ice hockey team. Have been without one since the Knights disappeared! By the way. Ray was 100 percent correct in everything he said. Apologists never like or recognize the truth!

By Rancid Peter

December 31, 2008 10:19 PM | Link to this

I’m rancid, but at least my pecker’s not tiny like stendec’s.

Happy new year, you Vick-lover!

By stendec

December 31, 2008 10:39 PM | Link to this

This so-called team should be folded the very second this season ends! No one will miss them. They will be quickly forgotten. Put completely out of mind like a hemmoroid once it is healed. They are a disgrace not only to the NHL, sports and humanity but to themselves and their families! Bring in a minor league squad. One that will try! One that will play with passion. One with tough guys not prone to act like compliant betch dogs! One that will give a damn! Not one of these heartless quitters have cared since day one. Not a damn one of them! They are all oxygen wastes. All are quitters. All are gutless! John Petrino is not fit to lead a Pee Wee team. Kari Letemin could not make a high school roster! Ilya Kovalchuk is the most overrated nothing in the sport. Damn Russian bestard! All in all, none of the mother (X) are worth a shet. Drag out the stats apologists! Tell us great they make the Toiletlids look then flush them down the damn commode where they belong. Go Czechs!

By Rancid Peter

December 31, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this

Don’t be so hard on the poor Thrashers, stendec.

They’re just as effective as your flaccid pecker.

By Jeff

December 31, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this

is there anything that can be done about this stendec person, I read these blogs to get some insight, but he or she is ruining it. Completely worthless to read, who controls this thing.

By Get The Puck Out

December 31, 2008 11:05 PM | Link to this

Hey Stendec - if you can’t stand to watch this hockey team why are you watching? I know they suck, but i’m not gonna rant and rave every single game with the same drivel over and over. Get over it. The only reason this team sucks is because ownership doesn’t want to spend the bucks to get the right players and the GM doesn’t have a clue to what he’s doing. At least we can get first pick in the draft, but that may not help if Waddie is still around. I love hockey, but Don Fraudell should be arrested for fan abuse. GO THRASHERS AND FIRE DON WADDELL.

By polskidawg

December 31, 2008 11:12 PM | Link to this

Who should play with Kovalchuk? - guys NOT on this roster.

By A Good Rogering

December 31, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this

Who should play with Kovalchuck?

His wife???

Rawrrrrrr!!!!

By stendec

January 1, 2009 12:45 AM | Link to this

Hi Jeff and Get The Puck Out. Cheers and Happy New Year Toiletlid apologists. Another mail-in defeat for you two to embrace and savior. If you do not wish to read my posts then skip over them. I will skip both of yours from now on. Kari Letemin lovers! MFSOBB!

By Rancid Peter

January 1, 2009 1:40 AM | Link to this

Happy new year to stendec and his tiny pecker.

Don’t handle the little guy too roughly now, you hear?

Remember, you have to savior it.

By R. Stroz

January 1, 2009 10:57 AM | Link to this

Who should play with Kovalchuk?

Easy, Little & Armstrong.

Next, just rearrange the rest of the chairs on the Tavares ship.

By Bob

January 1, 2009 2:50 PM | Link to this

I remember well when Savvy walked away not too many people were upset by it. He was know to take silly penalties at the worst possible times

Mabye the typical clueless types were concerned over his penalties and didn’t see his value but I wanted him signed then and was even more worried when Todd White became the replacement.

By Mark Savard

January 1, 2009 3:41 PM | Link to this

Suckers.

By Another Right By Roy!

January 1, 2009 4:04 PM | Link to this

Wow, the Red Wings being such a great team almost makes it worth living in a $h!thole like Detroit.

Almost.

By Frenchy

January 1, 2009 5:40 PM | Link to this

You guys all forgot about something…

FIRE WADDELL!!!!

That team is going nowhere; Time to send a clear message to that team by making people pay for their mistakes… starting from the top of hockey operations! Bye Bye Waddell!

By Alan

January 1, 2009 6:04 PM | Link to this

More news on Gaborik, for those who might be interested:

Speaking of Gaborik, read my story tomorrow. Two things: 1) I know Gaborik flew to Colorado in the last couple days to get his sore groins looked at. I don’t know 100 percent what was discovered, but I hear it wasn’t good. 2) Witnesses tell me Gaborik and Doug Risebrough had, what I described as an animated conversation near the Zamboni entrance before Sunday’s game. I don’t know the context because, not like they’d tell me anyway, but Gaborik and Risebrough weren’t talking to me — today, at least.

By Alan

January 1, 2009 6:09 PM | Link to this

Oops, sorry, old blog was old.

This is the new one

What I didn’t write today is that the source also said it was recommended Gaborik have season-ending surgery. If you read last night’s blog, I alluded to this, but I felt I couldn’t write it because I couldn’t get it confirmed 100 percent from assistant GM Tom Lynn.

I’ve been digging at this all day and felt I was getting close enough to this being the truth that I got in touch with Lynn again.

This time, Lynn confirmed to me that over the next two days, the Wild is examining all of its Gaborik options. The most likely, it appears, is for Gaborik to have surgery on what Lynn described as a “hip deficiency.”

Last May, Gaborik had surgery on his right hip to repair a torn labrum. This is to his left hip, Lynn said, and he reiterated it’s a deficiency that involves a lot of things, including his labrum.

By pond scum

January 2, 2009 1:35 AM | Link to this

Bringing in Spezza would be nice,I’d say Toby,our 1st rounder and Espo would be good enough. Hockeybuzz did have the Sens having Williams signed before us this past summer…….. we could make that a true deal now for them hacks.Williams,Toby and Espo for Spezza and we keep our 1st rounder.

Another center that might be ok with Kovy and possibly available is Andy MacDonald of the Blues. He reminds me alot of a young Savard and last time he was teamed up with a true scoring threat (Selanne with the Ducks),he had a career season. I could see Williams fitting in better with the Blues than he has here.

But even after the trading was to take place,this team needs to quit playing a collapsing style on defense and start checking the body far more.

We could deal for both guys and score 6 a nite,but it would be all in vain cause we’d get 7 hung on us still.

By Brendan

January 2, 2009 10:57 AM | Link to this

C’mon now, folks. I think you know the score. Trading for players is a mistake. They’ll just leave as soon as their contract is up. If trades must occur, we have to ask for draft picks. Draft picks are unproven players, who are highly motivated to establish themselves. That’s our best option. Even if the draft picks don’t want to play their careers, or most of them, in Atlanta?? Yes, even if that’s their view of things. Draft picks are the answer. Imagine, if Atlanta wrangled two picks in the Top Five overall? Still with me? We’d control their rights for the next EIGHT YEARS. And if some other team swoops in with the RFA offer sheet after three years, we match it, or take the compensation. Every player who signs an RFA offersheet knows and understands that the rights-holding team has the option of matching it. So, the critical issue for a player NOT WANTING to remain in Atlanta is … don’t affix your signature to the offersheet. If you do, and Atlanta matches, you’ll be stuck here. Handsomely paid, but stuck here, nonetheless. Beat the Sens tonight!

I will not “boo” Dany Heatley tonight. The silver lining of that trade is that the Senators now find themselves at or about where the Thrashers currently are. Don’t cry for Dany Heatley, his team was a #1 seed in 2006 and went to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007. When people talk about what it would take to keep Kovalchuk, ironically, re-acquiring Heatley might be on #17’s list. Uhhhhh, stop. Just stop, okay? Don’t go there. Just don’t. You should know rhetoric when you hear it.

By ranallo10 (in AT)

January 2, 2009 11:25 AM | Link to this

We’d control their rights for the next EIGHT YEARS.

Not necessarily. The 5th pick of the 2004 draft, Blake Wheeler, didn’t sign the entry-level contract given to him by Phoenix, waited four years (played collegiate hockey), and was then eligible to sign with any NHL team as a free agent in 2008 (he chose Boston). Ondrej Pavelec could have foregone signing his entry-level contract with Atlanta, and been re-entered into the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

I’m not saying it (Blake Wheeler v2.0) is going to happen in Atlanta. What I’m bringing up is the possibility that players could avoid signing with the team that drafts them even though they are highly sought after prospects bestowed the honor of being drafted by said NHL team.

If the state of the franchise is as bad as many pundits make it out to be, perhaps Atlanta fans should be worried about being dicked around by a player like Wheeler did to Phoenix.

Speaking of Phoenix, they’re getting NHL favors to stay afloat…at least we know Atlanta can get the same favors if this ownership situation doesn’t right itself before their coffers dry.

By sisu

January 2, 2009 12:00 PM | Link to this

One thing to consider is that the Hossa deal has not payed dividends so far. To have only Army pan out as a everyday player. Crusher has been hurt and is very unsure of his skills, he needs a shrink to work with him and regain his confidence. Team Canada takes our player finally but he has been silent in a 4th line player, this team is full of those.

One thing that I do not understand is why in the world do we not give a fair chance to Sterling, what could it hurt to play him? Will he be the next St. Louis, maybe not but maybe he will be? This franchise is always been about taking chances on forgotten players or once with untapped potential. This season was going to be about youth this season but at the last minute but once again DW signed some players with experience to one year deal. Maybe this year the youth will take over and players will be waived!

By sisu

January 2, 2009 12:09 PM | Link to this

Oops, forgot one thing, check this out: http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=49589 He is tearing it up in the AHL

By ranallo10 (in AT)

January 2, 2009 12:28 PM | Link to this

sisu — I’d be willing to bet that Christensen and Williams could also tear it up at the AHL level.

Motzko is 28, Sterling is 24. If either stand a chance of surprising people and succeeding at the NHL level, I’d wager Sterling has the slight advantage.

Christensen is still only 25, possesses more versatility than either Motzko or Sterling (he can play center or wing, log time on the PK, or even the PP), and has much more experience at the NHL level. He’s not the type of player you remove for a “youth movement”, in my opinion.

Williams is 28 and is also more versatile and experienced than either players.

Motzko was given a long look in training camp (longer than most expected), and Sterling played a few NHL games this season. Sterling beat out Motzko for the extra roster spot, and was finally sent down in place of sitting every night waiting for an injury to happen at the NHL level (no games played is worse than AHL games).

In the short term, Sterling is an ideal trade “sweetener”, as he’s blocked in his current position within the Atlanta organization but has untapped potential (highlighted by his scoring prowess at the AHL level). Motzko might be able to fetch some draft picks too, if a team needs depth for their minor league affiliate (not very likely).

I don’t believe either would help the roster as currently built, and only Sterling would help it in the long term if finally given a fair chance (i.e., played as a scoring line LW, like his skill set dictates). However, this team is log-jammed at LW with Kovalchuk and Kozlov, and Sterling wouldn’t be of much use to the team on a checking line (in my opinion).

By sisu

January 2, 2009 12:50 PM | Link to this

I agree about the LW comments Ranallo, but perhaps anything would be better than what is happening with the team…

By Tony C.

January 2, 2009 8:21 PM | Link to this

I’d give Pavelec and Motzko plus 2nd rounder this year and next year for Spezza, but that’s me.

GO BLUE !!!

FIRE WADDELL