AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 11
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Umm, Don…You Have a Dilemma
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
di·lem·ma (dĭ-lĕm’a) n.
- A situation that requires a choice between options that are or seem equally unfavorable or mutually exclusive.
- Usage Problem. A problem that seems to defy a satisfactory solution.
- Logic. An argument that presents two alternatives, each of which has the same consequence.
A dilemma (Greek “double proposition”) is a problem offering two solutions or possibilities, neither of which is either fully acceptable or fully unacceptable. The two options are often described as the horns of a dilemma, not a comfortable situation to sit upon. The dilemma is sometimes used as a rhetoricall device, in the form “you must accept either A, or B”; here A and B would be propositions each leading to some further conclusion. Applied in this way, it may be a fallacy, a false dichotomy.
Either way you define it, Don Waddell has dilemma. Specifically, in the goal of the Atlanta Thrashers team that he currently general manages and coaches. You see, on October 18th as the Thrashers were on their way to the first win of the season against the Rangers, Kari Lehtonen, their proclaimed number one starting goalie, left the game in the first period. It was his reoccurring groin problem and he was going to have to sit down until sometime in December. The team called up young net-minder Ondrej Pavelec from the Chicago Wolves to back up the 34 year-old veteran Johan Hedberg, a solid and reliable man to put between the pipes in a pinch. Simple enough, right?
Well, here is where it gets un-simple. Hedberg plays well enough in a support role. He helped to stabilize the team as it began the seven game road trip. When he had an off game in Ottawa, the rookie stepped in and played well. Well enough to earn a start in Tampa. He promptly goes on to win his first three career starts and has looked like the better of the three since that time. Even in last night’s loss, where he faced 39 shots, the only goal he allowed that looked “weak” to me was the third one, (Brind’Amour’s 2nd one that slid through the pads). The others? One off Klee’s skate, a power play goal in which the Hurricane’s captain was left alone in front of the net, three defenders pulled to one player on their fourth goal allowing Stillman to flip in a rebound, and the last one where three defenders failed to clear the puck from the crease.
So now, here is where Don’s dilemma comes in. Do you stick with the plan and, when Kari is healthy enough to play in a few weeks, send Opie back to the farm or do you opt to keep him around and do something with Moose or your “number one” goalkeeper?
At least he doesn’t have to jump off that bridge today. If so, how could you send the kid back to Chi-town with him sporting a winning record, a 2.71 GAA and a .917 SV%? Comparatively, Hedberg is 4-4 with a 3.77 GAA and .885 SV%. Lehtonen is 0-4, 4.48 and .879. Those numbers show Opie as your best option in the net. But then, if you keep him on the team, who goes away via re-assignment or by trade?
Does Don package one for a strong center or defenseman? If so, whom would he use as the bait to land such a deal? Opie? Shea-RIGHT! And face a complete revolt in Blueland? I don’t think so. How about Kari? Sounds logical, but who is going to even consider what is perceived as a glass-groined goalie much less offer up what we need in such a deal? Moose? Ok, I’m sure there is a need for a solid #2 guy out there, even a team or two in need of an adequate starter. But then, if you keep Opie and Kari, who starts and who sits? And do you really want to lose a goalie that is so respected and trusted in a back-up role?
Now, there are some would say that this is a good dilemma to have. Too much goaltending is akin to a baseball team having too many quality starters. No one is ever going to complain about that. But in hockey there is no bullpen to send the odd man out. So someone has to go somewhere next month.
Adding to the dilemma is that fact that right now the team is at a critical juncture. They seemed to have weathered the 0-6-0 start of the season by going 7-4-0 since. The season is still so young and the conference standings still so bunched enough that we find ourselves in the mix as far as playoffs are concerned. So, making the right choice here will keep us in the hunt. Choosing the wrong option could doom any opportunity to vie for Lord Stanley’s cup.
There is still about a month to go. Maybe if Kari is healthy enough at the beginning of the month Don tells him to take a few more weeks off, make sure he’s 100%…no, 110% ready. Still, that just delays the inevitable. Maybe by that time Opie shows he still isn’t quite ready for prime time yet thus making Waddell’s choice easy. Maybe, but I doubt it. Maybe a GM calls and makes an offer for one of them that is just too good to pass up; one that bolsters the squad and addresses the needs. Maybe, but those deals rarely just drop into one’s lap.
This is Don’s dilemma. May he choose wisely.
