Ice Man

By Ricardo in Snellville

September 26, 2006 12:47 AM | Link to this

I understand your points…BUT, I don’t think you understand ours…

*It is easier to play “team defence” if the centers commit to play defence. It gives you 3 “defencemen” against the offensive unit.3 low, 2 high. Centers usually are responsible for the slot area…and covering any passes to the points from behind the net, walkouts, reverses, supporting the defencemen against the wall in the corners…being a defensive “rover”. How often did we see our guys outnumbered down low after a bad outlet pass because the center was “breaking before the puck left the zone”? Not this year.

Hossa is a “defensivly responsible FORWARD”. but we still had problems last year because of the lack of support from our CENTERS.

Again, if KARI stays healthy, it gives the team confidence. We played more aggressive hockey with him in net. We pushed OUT from the net instead of collapsing INTO the net…because we knew that if we missed the push, he would usually bail the player out by stopping the puck. It STUCK to him, where it BOUNCED off the other goalies.

*The righty on RIGHT defence for the powerplay is overated. While it is NICE to have the stick against the wall to ATTEMPT to stop “rim arounds”, which a foot or shoulder can do just as well, it is more important to have the defenceman’s stick in the better “shooting position” closer to the center of the ice.

It also gives the defence pause because the lefthanded right-side pointman has 4 options: pass into right corner or 1/2 wall, pass to left corner/side of net, pass to Kovy at the top of the left circle…or shoot. It depends upon the defensive reactions. If Kovy gets one-timers, it will be off feeds from the right D on “touch passes”, backhands as he moves to the slot or from the center (and this is what Savard did soooo well) creating space from the right 1/2 wall.

*Don’t break your TV…Chris Berman will still be able to be heard from your NEIGHBOR’S TV…just stick your head in the toilet and flush the sounds of his voice right out of your head…

By Brendan

September 26, 2006 12:48 AM | Link to this

Your point is well-taken, Ice Man. But I don’t think we’re at the point yet, like in the mid-1980’s and early ‘90’s, when teams like Edmonton and Pittsburgh could stockpile Stanley Cups while giving up 300+ goals during the regular season.

I still believe, deep down, that defense wins championships in hockey. Even in the “new NHL.” I’m a little “red faced” and mystified at how Carolina won the Cup last year, while giving up a whopping 260 goals. Atlanta gave up 275. In case you’re curious, in 2003 the New Jersey Devils won the Cup with 166 goals against in the regular season. That’s nearly a 100-goal differential between Cup Champions in 2003 and 2006. Tampa won the Cup in 1994 while giving up 192 goals against.

I have little doubt that Atlanta will get the GA down to at least 260 this year. Just dumping Modry would do that alone. Now, offensively, we won’t replicate those numbers from last season. While I wish we could, I still believe that it is outrageous to ask your offense to score 4-5 goals a night to get a win. Well, that’s what you have to do if you’re surrendering 3.5 goals a game, on average.

Savard and Kovalchuk are defensive liabilities, no matter how much I like them. This more “defensively responsible” approach, I think, will pay the dividends we’re looking for. Remember, Kari Lehtonen won all his shootouts. I think he may have won all his overtime games, too.

If this team could give up 2.0 to 2.5 goals a game, and could rely on the “glass-groined Wunderkind,” to quote Sage of Blueland, then it might win a bunch of games, 3-2, in the shootout. Hey, that’s still two-points in the standings!! And a “W” to boot.

But I also think it’s wholly unrealistic to expect Kari to deliver 100-percent of the time in overtimes and shootouts. But if he really could be counted on to play 55-65 games, and win 75-percent, or better, of his overtimes and shootouts, then this team’s defense-first or “defensively responsible” shift … just might prove to be the difference this season. “Unbridled offense” is very exciting and might help sell tickets, but nothing sells more tickets than WINS.

No one would ever accuse the Devils, who went to five Eastern Conference Finals between 1994 and 2003, (4-1, with 3 Cup wins,) of being a particularly “exciting” team to watch. But their attendance was “decent.” Those fans would sit through 2-1 and 1-0 games. Atlanta has never had a defensively-minded team before. But Don Waddell is learning. He’s improving as a GM. Little-by-little. Most guys don’t get eight (8) years of “practice.” But, Don’s under contract through 2008. Good for him! Way to write that “automatic renewal clause” into his own contract. I wonder if he got the fine print clause idea from Steve Belkin?

By Scott

September 26, 2006 01:01 AM | Link to this

I think the Thrashers will be good this year and I don’t mind the defensive minded approach. Sure offense is fun to watch but I’m ready to see some playoff hockey in Atlanta. I think the Thrashers have a really good shot at winning the division this year, especially with Lehtonen in shape and ready to go.

And I”m sick and tired of ESPN’s love affair with New Orleans and the Saints. Seriously I feel bad for the city but damn ,ease up just a little bit. You would think the Falcons are the devil or something.

Also couldn’t they have spent that 170 million that they used to fix the dome on building a neighborhood or a school or something?

By Brendan

September 26, 2006 01:09 AM | Link to this

When it comes to ESPN and their political spin, and politics of “feel goodisms,” ad nauseum, it’s best to just put the pot over your head, grab the nearest wooden spoon, and start banging. Count to a good … 20 in your head before you stop. The resulting headache will be far less than what it would have been had you listened to “booyeah” Stuart Scott, Kornheiser, Chris “my jokes don’t resonate with our younger audience” Berman, and Joe Theisman, who changed the pronounciation of his name from “Thieze-man” to “Thighs-man” to correspondingly rhyme with his potential “Heisman” trophy candidacy, way back when.

ESPN is such an apologist network for athletes, that it almost refused to discuss the Reggie Bush “controversy” and potential loss of a National Championship. The topic was “danced around” so gingerly, you might have mistaken it for a waltz.

Meanwhile, Michael Irvin, a man caught in a crackhouse, with a crack “damsel,” while doing crack, never loses his job or status with ESPN. The network is totally “down” with a little “rock” from time to time, as well as “recreational pleasure” at a fairly negotiated price.

By Darren

September 26, 2006 02:12 AM | Link to this

The reason the Thrashers may be better off by losing a bit of offense while upgrading on defense via dropping Modry (addition by subtraction) is because of last year’s goaltending situation.

Throw a healthy Lehtonen with last year’s defense and excellent offense, the Thrashers make the playoffs. Ergo, in my mind, throw a healthy Lehtonen out there this year, with a weaker offense but slightly stronger defense, the Thrashers can make the playoffs.

It all hinges on keeping Lehtonen healthy. For the record, he seems to be in shape, both physically and mentally, which, as odd as it sounds, is more important.

Also, Slater should take a much more important role on this year’s team. Hartley expects a lot of him, and both of them know that the jump from college to pro was still probably hampering him last year. This year, that won’t be the case. He has the speed to hang with the Kovalchuks and the Hossas. Not saying that will automatically replace Savard’s 97 points, but if he develops strong, he could help cushion that blow.

By Dave

September 26, 2006 08:00 AM | Link to this

Shouldn’t get off the topic of hockey but ESPN was a ‘pukefest’ last night. Liberal media BS has totally invaded our sports world. No place is safe.

By chris

September 26, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this

1) We have two of the top 12 offensive players in the league, one of whom is legitimate top 5. That’s STILL a “top shelf” offense.

2) To claim that out defense has 5 of 6 guys returning is disingenuous. We only had McCarthy for about 6 weeks last year. The defense improved quite a bit at the end of the year, and so did the team’s play.

3) When you jettison a defensively irresponsible forward and replace him with a legitimate two-way forward, your defense improves WITHOUT CHANGNING THE DEFENSIVE LINEUP.

Our defense needn’t improve a lot. It only need improve by more than the offense drops off. I don’t think the offense will drop off as much as some think. Savard couldn’t accomplish anything at even strength on the road when he had to go against the other guy’s checking line. His value was being on the ice on the power play at the same time Kovy was. The team will still be able to get Kovy the puck on the PP, witness his 4 PP goals in 3 preseason games.

My concern is whether the team can stay out of the penalty box. Unless our PK is among the top in the league (doubtful) than this team will need much more discipline on the ice than shown so far in preseason. I thought losing Modry and Savard would cut down on the stupid penalties, but that remains to be seen.

By Midfield

September 26, 2006 09:09 AM | Link to this

This last point is the key. Just think about all the dumb ill-timed PMs that Modry and Savard wracked up last year. Not only it translated to goals against, it was also the time we wasted in our zone - taxing our thin defence and less than stellar goal tending.

By Buzilla Baby Blues

September 26, 2006 09:31 AM | Link to this

Savard won’t top 60 points this year. He will have a huge fall off. You watch. And remember that you read it here first.

Look at the facts: 1. Recently Divorced in a new city with a ton of bars and night life. He is going to have a lot of late nights with shady women. (ahhh…I miss college)

1. He is not playing with the top slapshot in the league anylonger. They have talent, but no Kovy.

2. As the Bruins will realize, as we all have, the man can’t play D to save his life. And when he tries to play D….he ends up in the box.

3. Because of the reasons listed in 1,2 and 3, his ice time will be reduced. Leading to less points

4. The knock on Savard in the past was his conditioning. Before last year he worked out all summer with “Da Rat” (Mellanby). Rat’s not around any more, so maybe he went back to Twinkies and Beer. Fat Savard = no points.

By kracker

September 26, 2006 08:01 PM | Link to this

Take all the stuff that happened last year, every bit of it, and run it again with Lehtonen playing most of the year and say then it still all went down the same way - except that Kari got us two or three more SO points, then we would have been in.

People say Kovy is realy looking good. I wonder, did he ask to play PK because he got tired of Hossa getting all the shorties?

By kracker

September 26, 2006 08:15 PM | Link to this

B. Baby B. - Point 4 (r wuz it 5), expanded: As dedicated as you have to be to play pro hockey, being in a contract year means something to these guys too. Fat and happy can be other than just contentedly full of food. Savard has the bucks, is he still hungry?

By Bob

September 26, 2006 09:34 PM | Link to this

You’re not hearing this guy correctly, Ice Man.

This d is barely improved. Plus Vish less Modry = improved, but not enough. This club is still going to skate Andy Sutton on a top pair. That is a recipe for disaster.

We are a #1 center and a #1 D from being a contender, that’s two big missing links, however.

By Ice Man

September 26, 2006 11:48 PM | Link to this

Bob, I’m glad I finally found somebody to agree with me. My honest reaction when I objectively look at this roster is: This team is further away from the playoffs than last year’s. Lehtonen notwithstanding. I feel like the team is putting is ALL on his shoulders: We may be missing a top center and a top D, but we’ve got Kari. … You don’t want the whole season hinging on one player, especially one who has already been injured a lot.

By Bud

September 27, 2006 08:50 AM | Link to this

I agree with Bob in general. We’re “2 men short.” On paper we have more depth on D, but too much hopes on a guy like Coburn who simply is not tough enough to clear his throat let alone traffic in front of Lehtonen. Let’s hope Valabik can make the squad and every forward scores 25 or more goals. Sure.

By Bob

September 27, 2006 02:19 PM | Link to this

The biggest weakness on this club year in and year out has been defense and goaltending. The only thing done to address it is to get rid of Modry and bring in Vish, and sign Moose at Lehtonen’s backup.

It’s an improvement, but we need a #1 defenseman desparately. Waddell has been drafting defenseman forever, and none of them have panned out. We need either Coburn or Valabik to turn into that #1 guy, and neither has shown that potential, and no way either blooms into that this year.

It does seem that Waddell has thrown it all on Lehtonen, a risky proposition for a guy that can’t stay healthy. I would love to see it work out, but the rational part of my brain looks at it as this:

Too many holes, they’ll win some games, but we need three things to all come together:

Lehtonen to stay healthy all year Slater to turn into a #1 center Coburn to turn into a #1 defenseman

Odds on all 3 of those? I don’t like the odds on 1 out of 3 of those coming true.