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2006 > September > 23 > Entry
Game tonight
By David Vecsey
| Saturday, September 23, 2006, 05:31 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Big game tonight.
Actually, I had kind of forgotten there was a game tonight until I saw the jerseys outside Philips on my way into work. Preseason doesn’t really register like it used to … besides, I hate trying to interpret things that happen in preseason games in terms of what it means for the regular season. Although, you can get a good feel for how a guy looks, his timing, etc … moreso than in other sports, I think.
I’ll try to catch a bit on the radio; I want to hear how Odgers comes off as a broadcaster.
Was glad to see so many responses to my first post; I wasn’t sure how long it would take for people to see the Thrashers blog was up and running again. You guys certainly seem primed and ready to go.
Here are some quick responses to your thoughts:
I hear you on Savard’s liabilities. He was undisciplined at all the wrong times; how many slashes did he get called for in the offensive zone last season? I know he’s a frustrating player. But I also think the things that make him frustrating are the same things that make him valuable. You could say the same things about Ilya. — God I hate it when he overbites in the neutral zone and gets caught out of position for an odd-man rush … but man do I love it when he nudges that puck away from somebody and creates a breakaway. — It’s a two-way street. I feel the same way about Savard. I can accept his transgressions because his flightiness is what made him a creative offensive player.
I’m not saying he’s Gretzky. I’m just saying we didn’t come close to replacing his offensive numbers. If either Metropolit or Krog score more than 50 points this season, I’ll be surprised. Metropolit has 47 points in 103 career games; Krog has 52 in 175. Combined, that’s two more points than Savard had LAST SEASON. So I think it’s a little early to start saying these two guys are going to step in and fill the void. I hope they do, I just wouldn’t bet on it. Heck, I’ll be surprised if Rucchin checks in with more than 50. Again, I hope he does, but the pessimist in me says he won’t.
I agree on the reader’s comment on Havelid. He did have a nice season, and I should show him a little more respect. I’m going to really watch him early this season to get a good feel for his game. That said, I still don’t think you’d even think about putting his name among the elite defensemen in the league. Comparing his minutes to Pronger’s is a pretty easy out … I don’t think it reflects on their impact in a game. But, again, I’ll be happy to be wrong on this. Make me look bad, Nic.
Did somebody really suggest that I was ‘exagerating Lehtonen’s impact’? It’s not possible. This kid is the next big thing, and everybody knows it. I’ll give the other reader the point about it being too early to compare Lehtonen with Brodeur, it definitely is. But I was actually comparing their aggressive style of play. They’re both goalies who can control the tempo of a game; they don’t just block pucks and see what happens next, they send it to the corners, they start rushes the other way … and most important, they dictate the shots that are taken on them. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen NHL players less confident on penalty shots then when they were facing Lehtonen in shootouts last season. The Thrashers were horrible on shootouts themselves for the first half of the season, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that they started winning all their shootouts once Lehtonen was on board.
Big game tonight. Maybe we’ll check in later. Keep your comments coming.
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By Ricardo in Snellville
September 23, 2006 07:04 PM | Link to this
Ben Franklin once said “You are able to tell how smart someone is…by how much they agree with you…”
You are VERY smart.
Savard…it’s a shame that we will make the playoffs without him this year. His impact was LARGE. He had several game saving/game winning/clutch goals and or passes last year. Mark my words, we will be trading for an “offensive” centerman at the deadline…and I don’t mean a smelly one.
Havelid…I think Vishnevski’s signing is actually more important than Havelids. Although we needed both for depth. We MAY just have enough defence, due to the centers thinking defence first, to win the division…Kari staying healthy.
Lehtonen…I hate to put the pressure on his shoulders at such a young age…but, the season will go as he does. Healthy body equals healthy win total. We could make the playoffs without either Kovalchuk or Hossa, not to downplay their significance, but we won’t make it if Lehtonen goes down for a long stretch…much less win the division.
By Brendan
September 23, 2006 09:11 PM | Link to this
Even if several readers disagree with you, at least you are an “interactive” blogmaster who offers some insight. Two blogs in two days … how can we complain? Ice Princess did one a week!
Moving right along, I wish we still had Savard, too. But there’s no way anyone should have paid $5.0 million for his services. Did we effectively replace his offensive output? I’d have to say that’s a “no.” But, hopefully we are a much improved team, defensively. We will be relying on Kari to win games in overtimes and shootouts.
Havelid is, in my opinion, the best Thrashers defensemen thus far in the franchise history. That said, no one mentions him as one of the “elite” defensemen in this league. That’s fair. He’s not. But he is the best we’ve got. Vishnevski is an improvement over Modry, to be certain. I doubt many analysts will look at our blueline and think we’re anything above a “middle of the road” blueline crew. And that’s about right.
Ice Man, what’s your assessment of Odgers on the radio tonight?
By Brendan
September 23, 2006 09:28 PM | Link to this
Okay, it’s a 1-0 win. I guess Hedberg held up his end. The only goal? Kovalchuk, unassisted, on the power play. Thrashers are 2-1-0 in preseason.
By John
September 23, 2006 09:45 PM | Link to this
Love your insight David, love the blog.
I am concerned about the offense a little as well. So many maybe’s.
The defense seems to be the same, just more of it!
The goaltending is where we should be strong, and that is a great place to be strong!
By Ice Man
September 23, 2006 09:52 PM | Link to this
Like I said, tough to know what to make of preseason games, but winning’s winning. Getting excited over beating the Blues in the preseason is like getting excited over a trailer for a Wayans brothers movie … as far as I’m concerned, I’ve seen the best 15 minutes I’m gonna see.
Did not hear Odgers on the radio, but I really listened to only about five minutes of the second period and five minutes of the third. Was he on? Somebody give me a scouting report.
By Brendan
September 24, 2006 01:19 AM | Link to this
I only caught the tail end of the 3rd period and didn’t hear Odgers at all. Darren Eliot was his usual “sparkling” self.
Truthfully, we have been talking about the Thrashers being improved defensively and tonight … they pitched a shutout. Granted, the rosters are far from finalized. But it’s not a “bad” sign. Even if it is the St. Louis Blues.
Hey, the Blues will be improved from last year. Enough to make the playoffs? Well, that’s probably a longshot. But with 164 points to go in the regular season, everyone’s still got a shot!!
By Brendan
September 24, 2006 01:46 AM | Link to this
Speaking of “points,” I’m hesitant to mention this, as it’s entirely off topic, but I noticed the NHL came out with its rule changes. Like the new stick blade curve allowance, and punishments for repeat violators, etc. But they didn’t address the one area I thought the league would take care of in 2006-07. Yeah, what’s that? This whole ridiculous notion of awarding “points for losses.”
“Ties” never bothered me. I never felt a “tie” was an evil, sinister thing to be avoided at all costs. But once the league crossed that line of demarcation, by allowing an individual “skills competition” (read Shootout) to determine “wins” in the standings, you’d have thought that the flip side of that same coin would involve “losses” in the standings. But that simply isn’t true. They award these “quasi-losses” via a “points-based” system. It’s captured in the “OTL” legend.
Honestly, does the NBA award a point in the standings to a team that loses in overtime? Does Major League Baseball “feel sorry” for teams that suffer 10th-inning collapses? To the point where they award a “half-loss?” No, they don’t. The NFL has ties. Again, they’re not evil, sinister things. It takes five full quarters for one to occur. But I digress.
In hockey, for some reason, the league feels compelled to stick with points instead of “games up” and “games back.” My only guess is … they’ve had a points-based system for so long that if they ABANDONED it, it would IMMORTALIZE the current RECORDS in the books.
So? Different era! We’re in a new era. Instead of a “100-point” season being the benchmark, it becomes a “50 win” season. The NBA has an 82-game schedule. They have wins and losses. It seems to work just fine. I apologize for this tangent.
But, to be fair, the OTL and points awarded because of it, confused “casual” hockey fans who were trying to follow Atlanta’s first ever playoff race last season. In brief, they wanted to know who had to lose while the Thrashers won, so that we could make the playoffs. When they saw Tampa Bay or Montreal lost, they wondered why we weren’t gaining ground on them. Then we had to explain that even though the Bolts and Habs lost, they still got points due to the loss occuring in overtime or a shootout.
By Dave
September 24, 2006 07:00 AM | Link to this
I like what I see so far…………..GO THRASHERS!!!!
By Brian
September 24, 2006 08:52 AM | Link to this
It is pointless for anybody to pine for Marc Savard. Unless he was going to have a 200 point season, his $5 million salary would’ve done more harm to the team than his offense would help.
The lack of solid depth is what kept this team out of the playoffs last year. Don Waddell has done a great job addressing this problem by bringing in a solid stable of players who can get the job done and were also, apparently, undervalued around the league (which helped him make the financial end work). The last cuts this season are the toughest ones the franchise has ever had to make.
I’ve been a critic of Don Waddell through the years, even harshly at times. This is no time to be critical of him. I truly believe he has assembled the best stable of players the franchise has ever seen from top to bottom. The average skill level in the organization has really grown at every position.
By B. Thenet
September 24, 2006 10:56 AM | Link to this
I am interested to see what Hartley does with his new depth on the 3rd and 4th lines.
I understand we lose offensive fire power from Savard. But with improved defensive awareness from forwards, and hopefully improved O from the lower lines they could easily score more goals this year.
The battle for the final D positions is one of the best training camp battles the Thrashers have ever seen.
By Dave
September 24, 2006 01:06 PM | Link to this
Disappointed to not see Hossa last night. He is the backbone of the team.
By Buzilla Baby Blues
September 25, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this
Anyone else have any problems listening to 680 The Fan inside Phillips arena? I brought in a little AM radio to hear Odgers and I get NOTHING in the Stadium. WTF? How can you advertise on the freaking boards and hang a banner of your radio station over the side of the freaking broadcast booth…and not let me hear it.
I am 100 feet AWAY!!!!!
By Brian
September 25, 2006 10:31 AM | Link to this
You need to learn how AM radio works and what kind of interference you can expect. Also, you should understand that it is your proximity to the transmitter that matters, not how close you are to the guys with the microphones.
By Buzilla Baby Blues
September 25, 2006 11:07 AM | Link to this
100 feet away….last line of my post
Listen Mr. Wizard, since I am watching the game inside a huge metal box I assume that has something to do with it since no other AM station comes in. My point is that it might be beneficial for 680 to let the people that it is directly advertising to, to maybe hear the broadcast.
They used to sell a little transistor to be able to hear the broadcasts in the arena…but they don’t sell them any longer.
I understand that maybe you are trying to help, but your tone is all wrong.
By Buzilla Baby Blues
September 25, 2006 11:16 AM | Link to this
Ice Man…any relation to Ice Princess? Was it a cout de tat? Or was she just tired of getting S*IT from the bloggers.
By Bob
September 25, 2006 02:11 PM | Link to this
Ice Man, nice blog and welcome aboard. It’s good to hear from someone with some hockey knowledge.
Yes, the Thrashers are definitely going to miss Savard. Anyone saying that they won’t miss him because of his penalties is just whistling through the graveyard.
Waddell will have to bring in a top center, if Lehtonen can stay healthy, then they should be around 8 seed with this lineup come the trade deadline, then you just try to pick up the best center out there that’s on a club that’s out of it. But remember, they moved the trade deadline up, and there were still a lot of teams in it last year at the deadline, so hopefully Waddell can find another Savard type to bring in earlier in the year.
By Brendan
September 25, 2006 04:04 PM | Link to this
Evgeni Malkin, of the Pittsburgh Penguins and former 2004 2nd overall pick, separated his shoulder and he’s going to be out 4-6 weeks. Thrashers D-man Braydon Coburn separated his shoulder in last night’s game at St. Louis, but the AJC article says, “it’s not serious.”