Thrashers

By B. Thenet

February 11, 2009 1:27 PM | Link to this

I would love to see Valabik on the 4th line. Throw him out on the 2nd PP line as well, tell him to just stand in front of the goalie and to get out of the way of any shots that come in.

By five_hole

February 11, 2009 1:29 PM | Link to this

first!

I would not make Bogosian play forward. Please don’t screw with the kid’s psyche/mindset.

I might be inclined to use Valabik at forward. I’d like him obstructing the other goalie’s view while we’re on the PP. However, he’s a terrible passer. If not him, then a veteran like Schneider.

By B. Thenet

February 11, 2009 1:32 PM | Link to this

Kovalchuk and now Reasoner. Not making the playoffs seems to lead to a high number of February babies….

By Barry

February 11, 2009 1:34 PM | Link to this

He may not have the mindset to play forward but Enstrom at least has the skating and puck carrying skills to do so. Unfortunately he’s getting pushed around out there on defense. He used to be so agile and quick out there turning away from hits and avoiding players, but now this year it seems he’s trying to be more physical and stay at home type and that doesn’t suit his strengths. Enstrom needs to get back to last season’s mindset and play style. Shoot that puck boy! Out of all the defensemen I would have to say Oystrick. He has a good wrist shot and he has no problem pinching down low or driving the net looking for rebounds…something even some of our forwards don’t even do.

By GaVaHokie

February 11, 2009 1:35 PM | Link to this

Can we just trade one of our defensemen to the Blackhawks for a forward? :)

Also, are we supposed to “Boo” Brian Campbell tonight?

By PuckedUp

February 11, 2009 1:35 PM | Link to this

With the way the defense has played so far this season, I’m not so sure the defensemen aren’t already playing forward. At least with this idea, we can have them playing forward the Thrashers.

By GaVaHokie

February 11, 2009 1:36 PM | Link to this

I would either double-shift Kovalchuk or try Enstrom with White and Little.

By Barry

February 11, 2009 1:59 PM | Link to this

Ya our defense has already been playing forward. Unfortunately our forwards have not been playing defense. :)

By Buzilla in CT

February 11, 2009 3:42 PM | Link to this

I’ll suit up. I have a nasty slap shot

By Bob

February 11, 2009 3:58 PM | Link to this

Definitely Oystrick would be the one to play forward. He’s got a nose for the net and seems very comfortable jumping into the play.

Please no on Enstrom, oof, that would be a disaster, he’s get decapitated trying to go to the net, and he’s got no shot.

are we supposed to “Boo” Brian Campbell tonight?

Why would we do that? Just like Hoss, I have no problem with Campbell wanting to get the heck away from Waddell’s cluster he’s built here.

Speaking of, did anyone else catch Sunday’s Wings-Pens tilt? The Pens’ fans were all over Hoss.

By Brendan

February 11, 2009 3:59 PM | Link to this

Maybe making a defenseman play wing would make them more responsible, defensivley?

By The Real Fan

February 11, 2009 4:01 PM | Link to this

If this team was serious about winning they would have claimed Sean Avery off waivers! He is a high energy guy who plays defense and is a good skater. Sound like something we need?

By Eileen

February 11, 2009 4:10 PM | Link to this

I know it is the Mom in me, but Mike please let us know the birth info on Marty’s baby.

By GaVaHokie

February 11, 2009 4:11 PM | Link to this

Enstrom is the most elusive on his skates and can change direction on a dime… they should be able to generate a lot of puck possession with Enstrom, White and Little… He can also back check the fastest.

Anyone else is just going to be a big lumbering body in front of the net who’s gonna be out of position on a turnover.

By Tony C.

February 11, 2009 4:13 PM | Link to this

Why not put X at forward with Perrin & Thorburn and just tell him & Thorburn to mash the hell out of the opposing D-men. I mean, we don’t seem to beat anybody with skill or scheme, why not see if we can beat up on somebody physically?

I like the idea of Valabik on the crease on the 2nd PP-just let Z-Bo & Hainsey rain bombs from the point-none of that fance move-it-in-from-the-halfboards crap. Just bomb ‘em and put the big guy and say…Christensen along the redline/halfwall to feed rebounds back to the point & possibly not shoot rebounds over the crossbar.

Just an idea.

By Jim

February 11, 2009 4:28 PM | Link to this

I like the recommendation of using Valabik on the 4th line to add additional toughness. Also Oystrick is both a good skater and shooter and at 220 lbs. adds muscle up front. I wouldn’t fool around with Enstrom or Bogosian up front but I am one who thinks that the Enstrom/Havelid team should be split up. They’re getting pushed around. Give Enstrom either Oystrick or Valabik and move Havelid to Bogosian. The notion of Schneider teaching Bogosian is overblown. All Bogosian could further learn from Schneider is to play smarter and more physical than he does.

By Mike Knobler

February 11, 2009 6:01 PM | Link to this

Tonight’s Who’s Here feature: The Red Wings, Wild, Hurricanes and Flyers are scouting this one.

By dhj_1962

February 11, 2009 6:49 PM | Link to this

Thrashers on NHL Center Ice Package….Chicago’s feed…I hope we kill the Blackhawks!!!!

By Mike Knobler

February 11, 2009 7:00 PM | Link to this

Bryan Little is playing tonight; Marty Reasoner isn’t. Nathan Oystrick and Boris Valabik are the other scratches.

By Brendan

February 11, 2009 10:31 PM | Link to this

Eddie Olczyk said nice things about John Anderson, and his time in Chicago while temporarily demoted to the AHL during a brief stint in his career. Eddie O. also had praise for Bryan Little, on the Chicago feed.

By B. Thenet

February 11, 2009 10:47 PM | Link to this

No moral victories, another loss in a long line of losses.

They worked hard for the last couple of games, so I guess we are due for an effortless massive blowout vs. the Ducks next game out.

By T'Ville

February 12, 2009 9:56 AM | Link to this

Mike, sorry to change the subject, but wanted to spread the word…

It is plain as the nose on Chris Thornburn’s face that the Thrashers ownership is running this franchise into the ground. Like the owner of the Chiefs in the movie Slap Shot, as they wait to dump the team they are cutting every corner with the condition of the arena, the quality of the radio and TV broadcasts, and staff in order to save money; all the while sticking it to the fans in the way of higher ticket and concession prices. It’s as if they’ve received a copy of the old Bill Wirtz playbook. Because of the Atlanta Spirit Group, the team continues to be a laughing stock of hockey. While this is apparent to the hockey fans in Atlanta, the rest of North America simply assumes that the city will not support the sport.

On March 6th, the Thrashers play the Habs on a Friday night in a game that will be broadcast across North America on the NHL Network in both the US and Canada as well as in French on RDS in Canada. Thrasher fans are going to use this as opportunity to steal an idea from the Detroit Lions! Hoping to spread the word and show the hockey world that Atlanta HAS hockey fans, and to make a point to voice our displeasure DIRECTLY AT THE OWNERS via signs, banners, paper bags, etc… with one simple message, “The Atlanta Spirit Stinks!”

By h

February 12, 2009 9:58 AM | Link to this

Great effort last night. The last 2 home games have been the best effort I have seen in a long time. The team played hard all night and kept the pressure on. For the first time maybe all year, I could say that I thought the refs jobbed us in this one. Whether it was the “no goal” in the 3rd or the “alleged” tripping call against Slava, I thought the refs were a little off tonight. I also thought “Ronsey” had a HORRIBLE game between not staying on his feet, missing the net a few times by at least 3.5 miles and blowing an assignment on D which led to a goal, he played very very poorly. Great effort by defense other than that. Kovy played D last night which was nice to see and other than one or two bad passes by Bogo, I thought he played pretty well too. All in all, a good effort. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think this is a moral vitory at all, but after seeing this team play like crap for many home games in a row, it was nice to be excited for a few games again. Too bad these games are meaningless in this year’s standings. Bring on Taveras.

By h

February 12, 2009 10:41 AM | Link to this

T’Ville…….I don’t think that is very smart. Those signs will be taken down faster than you can say “Thrashers just gave up a shorthanded goal”….I get your displeasure, and it is mine too. Telling the owners we hate them will do no good, and doing it on national TV will just feed the bogus frenzy of how Atlanta is a crap hockey town and we should be relocated. Don’t give those pompous annoying Canadians (not the team, the citizens) the pleasure of seeing that in our own arena. MHO.

By T'Ville

February 12, 2009 11:03 AM | Link to this

I think just the opposite, Atlanta HAS hockey fans, we are just saddled with terrible ownership… THAT is what the masses do not realize yet. That is why any sign needs to be directed at the owners, not the GM, not the team… It’s the Thrashers ownership that is ruining hockey in this city.
Have you seen this TSN clip? A Thrasher fan with a paperbag on their head made the national TSN highlights. What would a few hundred fans with signs or bags do? I believe the key is to mention the Atlanta Spirit directly.

By Bob

February 12, 2009 2:04 PM | Link to this

That is why any sign needs to be directed at the owners, not the GM, not the team

While I agree with you that the Spirit is incompetent, you can’t fire the owners. What’s your plan here? To get them to hire a new owner?! To get them to sell the club? C’mon, short stuff, take a step back and look around more closely.

The Spirit boys have been treading water on the Thrashers until the court case is solved and Belkin is bought out. By keeping the value of the club down, they minimize what they have to pay Belkin in the buyout. Once that buyout is done, the fix is to get rid of Waddell (and his clueless crew of scouts), get a real GM in here, and give the new GM the tools to succeed. There’s a good base for the new GM to work with (Little, Bogosian, Kovy if he can be re-signed next year, Tavares or Hedman).

The underlying root of the malaise is the Spirit and their inaction, but the main culprit in why we have little to no talent and have gone nowhere in 10 years, is Waddell. Waddell has been the problem since Day 1. There have been three different owners, but one GM.

Nothing meaningful will change here until meaningful changes are made and a real GM is brought in

By DWTOO

February 12, 2009 2:51 PM | Link to this

Like T’ville I’m really frustrated/p**/etc with the ASG. However, I agree with h that the signs wouldn’t really do anything but vent our frustration and look like sour grapes. By now anyone with a brain/clue realizes the situation here - incompentent ownership.

On March 6 and any other date we make national TV in CA we need to come out in force and cheer the team on and show everyone that Atlanta has potential to be a hockey town. A poor showing would do nothing but play into the narrow mindeds hands.

Granted I may be looking thru the proverbial rose colored glasses, but, negativity really never solved any problems.

We need a change in ownership/management/team badly. The best chance is for the ASG to sell to someone who cares and wants to move forward. Until then we need to hold on and support what we have. Remember, even bad hockey is better than NO HOCKEY.

By Bob

February 12, 2009 3:26 PM | Link to this

You know what’s even dumber about complaining about the owners on a national telecast in Canada? All it’s going to do is feed those morans who spit out tripe like “move them to Hamilton!!”

The owners can’t be fired, b*** about them is like b*** about Obama. There are quality GMs over the league who have success with crappy ownership, take a drive up to Nashville and have a look.

The fix is simple, get rid of the brain dead GM and his little dog Toto too (the clueless scouts) and bring quality hockey management in here.

By Old School Al

February 12, 2009 3:47 PM | Link to this

Sorry, I woke up from my nap and thought it was 2004. Waht do you mean, Waddell is still the GM?

By larry

February 12, 2009 4:15 PM | Link to this

How about we find defensemen who can play defense first!

By R. Stroz

February 12, 2009 6:28 PM | Link to this

I’ll join the protest on March 6; however, my signs and brown bag will convey the following message:

FIRE WADDELL

By David

February 12, 2009 8:15 PM | Link to this

I have to say this. I have lived in Atlanta 42 years. My family had Flames season tickets. I love the sport of hockey. I was so fired up when Atlanta got the new franchise. You can’t blame the GM for the Heatley wreck, but you can blame him for EVERYTHING else.

This franchise is a disaster from the owners to the GM. Wasted years of Kovys career, bad drafts, no player development and no plan. A complete joke…with so many fans just waiting to support them.

By dhj_1962

February 13, 2009 6:09 AM | Link to this

i will be there march 6th to help with the vocal protest of don “the dud” waddell

By Rockem Sockem Thrasher

February 13, 2009 8:13 AM | Link to this

Looks like the rumor mill is back in action.

Niclas Havelid, Mathieu Schneider, Marty Reasoner, Colby Armstrong and Todd White are all mentioned in possible trades.

The Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals and New Jersey Devils are the mentioned teams.

My question is, from the teams listed who would we want?

The Fourth Period.com Link

By JK

February 13, 2009 9:14 AM | Link to this

Why would the owners fire a GM who is doing exactly what they want him to do (control payroll)? Poor management starts at the top. It’s the owner’s egos (and pocket books) that have gotten in the way of sound decision making. I guess none of you were at the Town Hall Meeting last year when Levinson referred to fans (that questioned the owner’s decision to keep DW and raise ticket prices) as a**holes??

I’ll be there, with paperbags to hand out because the Atlanta Spirit does stink, and everyone should know that this city has hockey fans who care about the way the team is run.

By Jess

February 13, 2009 9:50 AM | Link to this

I didn’t plan on going to any more games this season, but T’Ville mentions stealing a page from the Lions fans, and everyone heard about that. It was on every sportscast on TV and talked about on every sports TV and radio show for a week. I think this will get attention and maybe wake up the owners to the fact that not all of the hockey fans in this city are just going to blindly follow this team into the darkness.

By Tox

February 13, 2009 10:56 AM | Link to this

*Niclas Havelid, Mathieu Schneider, Marty Reasoner, Colby Armstrong and Todd White are all mentioned in possible trades.

The Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals and New Jersey Devils are the mentioned teams.

My question is, from the teams listed who would we want?* Not sure that we’d deal with the Caps, so rule that out now. I’m not sure who would want White or Reasoner for any reason, but I would take pucks and water bottles for either of them. I don’t think we would trade Army but would be willing to part with Schnieder and Havlid to the Canucks or Montreal. I do not think either of those teams will go very far so any picks we are given will be a bit better. As for further debate on wearing a bag to a game. Paper or plastic? I am in!