Ice Man

By Thrasherbob

January 8, 2008 6:58 AM | Link to this

Point well taken, I’d take pretty darn good for now…

By Russ

January 8, 2008 8:01 AM | Link to this

Exactly…this team has just been treading water over the last 20-25 games to stay in the playoff race. That won’t be enough much longer. Some time soon a few of those teams in the 6-13 slots are going to emerge as the teams to claim playoff spots. Hopefully, the Thrashers will be one of those teams. Just being around .500 won’t do. I am on record with 93 points being the cutoff to reach the playoffs, so 50 points are needed in the remaining 39 games. At some point the Thrashers are going to need another 8-2 type stretch to start being seriously considered a playoff contender. Let’s hope the Thrashers knock the crap out of the Flyers tonight and gain points 44 and 45.

GO THRASHERS!!!!!

By Russian

January 8, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

Today is goign to be interesting GAME. We played with Philly last time and droped to 0:4. It was a last drop to fired Head Coach Bob. My opinion it must be done earlier, right after PO, but nobody listen Russian man ;-( Well today we have to show them something. I am not expect to see shot out for Moose (I hope he is going to be in net today) but win in Regulation time will be Nice. Let’ s go Thrasher.

By GaVaHokie

January 8, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

Another reason I hate the Kovy and Hossa “Dog and Pony show”… it’s almost purposeful the way they make the team just good enough to be interesting. If hockey was more popular here, they wouldn’t have to use these tactics. We could trade Hossa for more $3-$4 million depth guys like Nylander, Langenbrunner, Rolston, Arnott, Dumont, Hemsky, etc. and be a more complete team rather than something that’s “electrifying” yet inconsistent.

By Baldheaded Thrasher

January 8, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this

Russ is right! This team is going to have to go on a streak to go from mediocre to good. I don’t know which team will show up tonight. It seems when the team has an opportunity to move up in the rankings we take 2 steps back and try to catch-up again.

Hope the Hossa, Perrin, Stuart line looks sharp again so DW has a decision to make about Slater. Hope Holik doesn’t take a stupid penality. I hope Zhit and Klee skate and I hope Kozy shows up for the game.

I hope they play well, I want them to play well, they just haven’t shown me they are capable of playing well night in and night out. Until they do we are not good…just mediocre.

By Jim

January 8, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this

Interesting stuff. Thanks. One of the reasons that the Thrash has settled back into mediocrity (good by your standards) is that they fall back on too many over the hill vets. All we heard over the summer and on the cover of ThrashTalk was “youth gone wild”. We start the season horribly and BH and DW fall back on the vets. Little and Sterling are shipped out to “get more ice time”. Sterling gets it in Chicago but Little is assigned the 4th line down there. Larson, Klee, Holik, Slater add little to the team and we become the second oldest team in the NHL- behind Detroit. Now Colin Stuart comes up and we discover that talent in Chicago can play in the NHL. What about Lavalee, Valabik, Sterling, Little and others. We’ll never find out when the “mediocrity mentality” settles back on the over the hill vets. Time to stop the double talk and start really infusing some youth into this team.

By Bob

January 8, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

Antics with semantics, but I’d characterize it more like there are a couple great teams, as you point out, then some good teams, then a whole bunch of mediocre clubs. We’re playing another mediocre club tonight, need to get 2 pts.

By Tim

January 8, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this

Jim, Little was playing a vast majority of his game on the 2nd line. During that time, Hossa was on Kovalchuk line. So Little has been giving his chance to prove he is NHL ready, unlike Sterling who show hints of good thing but only have 10 games to prove his worth.

By Nix

January 8, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

Folks, I’m out of travelling through Sunday and will only have intermittant email access so here’s a preemptive Amen, Amen, Amen to what I am sure will be great prayers from PJ :-)

Amen, PJ!

Amen, PJ!

Amen, PJ!

Let’s go, Thrashers!

By PJ

January 8, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this

Thanks Nix, I’m awaiting the all powerful message from the great thundermaker which should arrive during my lunchbreak.

By Thrasher Ryan

January 8, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

Rawhide—Tonight is the MOST IMPORTANT Game of the Season—So Far. This is a crucial must-win game. Keeping on pace for Russ’s 93 Points, we have a new mission. Thrashers must win 2 of next 3 games. Very simple. Even 3 out of 3 can be done.

This is a no-brain Moose start. He earned this start based on his performance against Buffalo. We have to keep Moose sharp and on his game. We can get KL back in the mix on Thursday against the Pan-turds.

With that being said, IF Moose starts this game, AND if Thrash score at least 4 goals, we WILL WIN. As I have said on the record before, if you give the Moose 4 goals, he will give you a win. With a Moose Call tonight, the Thrashers win, 4-2.

GO BLUE!!!

By Smoothie

January 8, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSE!!!!!!!!

By Russian

January 8, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

I like to see Moose in the net today. If he will win this game, Kari will start with Panters. I hope second line can do some damage on Philly end.

By Rawhide

January 8, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

Not taking anything away from Moose’s performance Sunday…I think DW is firm on his position of keeping Lehts as the #1 starter.

Given that, if I were to place a wager on it, I’d say Kari gets the nod tonight.

We’ll see…

By Chris

January 8, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

Go with Kari. I can see it now: “how are we down 4-0 in the 2nd I thought Moose had the hot hand”

Sabres then Flyers - that’s too many shots for some creaks not to show in Moose’s armor.

By Thrasher Ryan

January 8, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

Carolina Hurricanes claim Sergei Samsonov off re-entry waivers from Blackhawks, per TSN.

Holik to the penalty box x 1 (e5)
Klee to the penalty box x 1 (e5)

By ranallo10

January 8, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Samsonov was claimed by Carolina.

By ranallo10

January 8, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Ryan wins…

By GaVaHokie

January 8, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

So many injuries in Carolina, I guess they had to.

By The Other Bob

January 8, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this

The only thing more vile and detestible then Sabres fans are those obnoxious idiot Flyer fans.

Their mothers would even turn a cold shoulder to those miserable band of clowns.

By puckjunque

January 8, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

Okay, Let’s have a big AMEN!!!

bow your heads, hands joined on the keyboards

Oh Heavenly Father, We thank you for listening to our prayers and keeping the team healthy. The Thrashers have displayed momments of greatness this season but need to be driven to greatness in every momment of every game from here on out. Please lead the Thrashers to dominate their home ice, to be relentless in defending the net and each other and to kick the flyers a$$! AMEN!!

By Thrasher Ryan

January 8, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

Jsmooth wins the poll of the day from 12/19
Good job, dude. I owe you a beer at the next game we both attend. As for the rest of us slackers, here we go:
Brendan and BG33Brown still have Ken Klee.
Rawhide, Boultons Bruisers, and myself have Steve McCarthy.
PJ has Popovic.
No one bit on Slates.

GO BLUE!!!

By Thrasher Ryan

January 8, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

Amen, sista!

By Thrasher Ryan

January 8, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this

Does anyone know whats up with Slater? I hope he’s OK. He’s a cool dude.

Where the heck is Craig Custance?

By Rawhide

January 8, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this

A-FREAKIN’-MEN!!! Thanks, PJ!!!

Now let’s go put a SMACK-DOWN on Philly!!!

By Alan

January 8, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

Amen, PJ! Let’s kick some Flyer arse!

By Russian

January 8, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

Moose is goign to start today. We need two points so badly.

By Rawhide

January 8, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this

Line-ups…

Kovalchuk/ White/Recchi… Stuart/Perrin/Hossa… Kozlov/Holik/Dupuis… Larsen/Doell/Thorburn

D-pairings

Havelid/Enstrom… Klee/Zhitnik… Exelby/Popovic

In goal…..

MOOoooooooose!!!

So, I was wro..I was wr….I was “less correct then I normally am”!

By ranallo10

January 8, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

Thrasher Ryan — I started worrying about him during Sunday’s game, due to the hush hush on his “illness”. The last player who I knew of with a mystery illness was Phil Kessel, who eventually lost half of his manhood due to cancer.

For the Thrashers, the last player to have a mysterious illness was Jani Hurme with his mysterious “blood clot slash back ailment”. Hurme is now playing abroad.

Hopefully everything is alright with Slater.

By Brian

January 8, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this

I don’t wish any ill upon Slater, but even if he were perfectly healthy right now I’d keep Stuart in the lineup over him or sit Larsen…

By Bob

January 8, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

Didn’t Slater start being out right after his fight? I think he has a concussion (the dreaded syndromes) and they’re keeping it quiet.

It’s cool to see Waddell sit Kari, the kid obviously doesn’t have his head in the game. Sit down and watch how a pro does it, Kari. So this is Moose’s third start in the last 4 games, right?

We always have gangbuster games with Philly, I pick a 6-5 slugfest tonight with the good guys taking 2.

By Thrasher Ryan

January 8, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

I applaud Waddell. Good move, Don! Kari can get back in the mix on Thursday. We need Moose in goal tonight. WE NEED THIS WIN SO BAD IT”S NOT EVEN FUNNY!

GO THRASH!!!

By Brian

January 8, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

Bob - I forgot about that, but why the secrecy for that? Why hide info on that type of injury, unless they would use him as sweetener in another deal? I really don’t know if that is true, I just like using Brendan’s term…

By Thrasher Ryan

January 8, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this

Brian—Yeah, Brendan had a good idea on that one. Use him as sweetener and play up the fact that he is a former 1st round pick that can play 3rd line center.

By Brian

January 8, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this

Ryan - I just meant using the word sweetener that Brendan uses. I don’t think he ever said to trade Slates. Sign-n-trade hasn’t caught on yet though…

By PJ

January 8, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this

Brian & TR Regarding Slater, do you think they would use the term “illness” if it pretained to a parent or child in a life or death situation? And if so, would that somehow explain why the hush-hush? Not that I’ve heard anything, just thinking hypothetically. It would somehow explain why he was doing poorly before his exit too.

By Brian

January 8, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this

PJ - I disagree completely only because last year Havelid’s mother died and the Thrashers mgt did no such thing. So if past behavior is a predictor of future behavior, Slates has no such issues…

By Jsmooth

January 8, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this

OMG Ryan! Completely forgot about that prediction I made. But the goal didn’t come on the POWERPASS!!!!! Can we please alert the management / mktg dept for the ASG that it is incredibly “un-hockey” like and just plain silly for the PA announcer to exhort the crowd with his painfully stupid cry “Thrashers on the POWERPLAY!!!” What the heck is this, the XFL??

Ryan, I will gladly take you up on the offer for a $4 Bud Light (can please) from Gorin’s!! I’ll be there Thursday and again on Sunday, Jan 20th against the Oilers.

PJ — great prayer as always! Perhaps you should say a special prayer for James Slater…I hope he returns soon triumphantly like Rob Lowe in Youngblood against Racki. No way Kevin Doell takes his job on the 4th line. And praise the good Lord for keeping most of our boys healthy and on the ice!

HAKAN LOOB!!!!!

By Jsmooth

January 8, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this

Prediction: Colin Stuart scores before Ken Klee, Stevie Mac, Marc Popovic and Jimmy Slater. Oh wait, he DID SCORE! ;-) Couldn’t remember because my mind momentarily had supressed the nightmare that was the collossal collapse in the Gah-den and I could’ve sworn Marian Hossa stole Stuart’s jersey for that coast to coast gem against the Slugs!

Serious prediction: Moose uses every antler to deflect 36 shots as his stellar play continues in a hard-fought 3-1 win over the Flyers…EN goal scored by White Charmin. Kovy with a goal and Hossa nets a PPG with his patented SN Fever move on the red line…dance Marian dance!

By Rawhide

January 8, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

JSmooooooooooth - The only thing worse then that inane “Thrasher on the….POWER PLAY!! non-sense, (out side of the fact that there is that pregnant pause illustrating that there is no sponsor for the power play),…is when one of our guys come OUT of the box and he announces, “Thrasher full strength”!

First of all…DUH!!

Second of all, why in the world you gonna give the opposition a heads-up on the situation??? HUH??

Picking at nits, I know…but the home-ice PA should never do anything to aide and abet the enemy!!!

By ToF

January 8, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this

Slates probably has a concussion or “concussion related symptoms” James Mirtle just wrote an article on how many injuries that seem like concussions but are listed as something different, i.e. Cullen. Can’t send the link, my work computer filters most blogs :(

By Smoothie

January 8, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this

Rawhide — preach on brotha, preach on!!!

By PJ

January 8, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

Rawhide I have to disagree with you about the POWERPLAY announcement. It comes in handy. For every parent who goes to the game with children it gives us our easy out to a snack bar/bathroom excursion. ie: Not now sweetie, did you hear that? We’re on the powerplay. I’ll take you during the intermission. Also Brian could apply this same practice with his dates.

By Brendan

January 8, 2008 6:26 PM | Link to this

What I said about Slater was … I’d rather try to “package” him as sweetener in a good trade rather than lose him to “waivers” if he were re-assigned to the (Chicago) Wolves. At least it can be argued that Slater has good speed, tenacity, good work-ethic, and is a former 1st round pick. Try to sell him as a “new NHL” kind of forward who is about to blossom. They might “bite” on that flier. Or not.

I hope Slater is okay. I was just rifling through some old Thrashers news clippings and came across an October 5, 2005 article that stated, “Lehtonen to Start in Home Opener.” Within that article, then Head Coach Bob Hartley said, “I really we have the ‘Rookie of the Year’ in this organization,” referring to Kari Lehtonen. In the 1st period of that game, Kari suffered the infamous groin injury that derailed the season enough to make the Thrashers miss the playoffs by two-points, despite MAXING OUT ITS CAP on Opening Night.

I found a really interesting quote from Don Waddell about that in the November 8, 2005 edition of the AJC on page C3. To clarify, the speaker is actually Bruce Levenson who is paraphrashing Don Waddell. It reads, “When Don [Waddell] said to us, ‘I think we can really make a huge leap forward if you’ll give me the green light to spend up to the [salary] cap,’ our philosophy—after asking a lot of questions— was to give the authority.” — Bruce Levenson, 11-08-05, AJC, columnist Tim Tucker, from the article, “Our Little ‘Soap Opera’ Almost Over.”

Earlier in that same article, Levenson said, “We also place a great deal of responsibility in our general managers, and we try to give them as much support as we are capable of giving them.” Levenson went on to say, quoting WORD-FOR-WORD, “I think [Waddell and Knight] both know that the responsibility falls on them … and I think they both know that if it doesn’t work, they’ll have a price to pay for that.”

Okay folks, that was November 8, 2005, more than two years ago. That was the LAST TIME I heard an Atlanta Spirit Group part-owner remotely ‘threaten’ a GM in their employ with “accountability.”

So, I challenge you all to find a quote from any ASG member saying that either Knight or Waddell’s jobs could be in jeopardy this season. The quote must come directly from the Atlanta Spirit Group, not some writer putting words in their mouths. Now GET CRACKING!

And PJ, “A-men!!” to your prayer.

By PJ

January 8, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this

Honestly Brendan, Where do you come up with this stuff?

By Thrasher Ryan

January 8, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this

Uh-oh… we’re down 4-1 after 2. At this point, DW probably should put in KL. I know I preached for Moose earlier, but Jeff Carter has burned us once again. Thrasher offense forgot to show up at Philips. Except Ilya. 35 Goals. GO BLUE!!! Get crackin’ at it!

By Tony C.

January 8, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this

Brendan has waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much information at his disposal PJ. Let’s just hope he uses his powers for good.

Like getting somebody to realize that when #17 winds up, there’s going to be one of two things: (1) GOAL (2) Rebound. More likely it’ll be # 2. Try and go to the net with your stick on the ice boys, the rebounds are there.

GO BLUE !!!

P.S. Anybody else find the Flyers shorty physically painful? I know I did.

By stendec

January 8, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this

Thrashers turned in obligatory one decent period then went into the tank. AGAIN! Marian Hossa effortless lackluster non-showing a true embarrassment. MH must inhabit LaLa Land with KL! Counting minutes until he escapes from Thrashers? Good riddance to him! Moose was not stellar but he had A LOT of company in final 40 minutes. Thrashers do not seem a damn bit interested in winning on home ice! No wonder Blueland has deteroriated into Blue Land. FOR THRASHER FAITHFUL! Totally unacceptable debacle. Where is the pride? Fire? Honor? Dignity? Effort? It sure as Hell was not present Thrasher-wise from the first second of middle period. Did not expect team to give up! Exactly what occurred. Truly disgusting. Keep losing those points, boys, ninth place means more time with families. WATCHING OTHER DAMN TEAMS IN PLAYOFFS! Good night all.

By BuzzEng

January 8, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this

Hey, PJ - don’t worry about missing a Thrashers powerplay. Another “0-fer” tonight. Man, I’m getting sick of those.

By R. Stroz

January 8, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this

According a the post game interview with Holik, there is discord in the locker room. I imagine the discord went something like this:

Holik says, “Hossa you’re playing like a candy @$$.”

Hossa says, “Holik you are the dumbest captain in the league.”“

The rest of the team says, “you both suck.”

By Thrasher Ryan

January 8, 2008 10:50 PM | Link to this

Well Rawhide, now we need to win at least the next 2 games. AT HOME. Looking ahead towards next week, we will need 2 out of the 3 games next week, at minumum. 3 out of 3 would be ideal. Can this team win at Detroit? WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE AT HOME!—NO EXCEPTIONS!!! Must DOMINATE home ice!

New Lines:
Kovy—White—Recchi
Kozlov—Perrin—Dupuis
Stuart—Holik—Thorburn
Larsen/Sterling—Slater/Little/Doell—Haydar/Desbiens

I’m sorry, I love Hoss and all, but I’m REALLY starting to feel we’ll be better off trading him now for PROVEN NHL TALENT, NOT Picks.

By R. Stroz

January 8, 2008 10:50 PM | Link to this

At this point, it’s time to see if Hossa can be shipped to the Rangers in exchange for Cherepanov. Hossa will get to go play with his brother and the Thrashers get the best prospect in last year’s draft. Yes I know, we have to cross our fingers that the Cherepanov will come over and play in the NHL.

Lets face it folks, Hossa has quit. Even Heatley didn’t quit playing before he was traded.

If Hossa re-signed, do the Thrashers really want him after seeing “the kind of man” he has shown himself not to be this season?

Do the fans want Hossa back at this point? I don’t.

It’s time to clear salary: move Holik, Hossa, and Zhitnik. Savings 17 million per year including Rucchin.

By Thrasher Ryan

January 8, 2008 11:01 PM | Link to this

I would echo R. Stroz in that Holik and Zhitnik should also be moved. Whatever Don can work out. We CAN’T wait until the deadline, guys.

That Coburn trade looks terrible right now.

By David

January 9, 2008 12:39 AM | Link to this

Hey, Bill T. It’s David from KFBC. Good to see you still plugging away on here. Thought you might want to check out my latest blog post on Ilya. Maybe you can drop some commentary over there and even send some readers my way! Ha ha, just kidding. Keep up the good work and I’ll be on the lookout for you at some upcoming games.

http://sportsatlanta.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-ilya-kovalchuk-compares-to-all-time.html

By Rawhide

January 9, 2008 1:02 AM | Link to this

Dave - Sure, and good to hear from ya!

Now, be a pal and take everyone on over to my latest Blog entry….

By Brendan

January 9, 2008 3:43 AM | Link to this

[tapping my fingers together, in a sinister way, a la “Mr. Burns” on the Simpsons], “Mwah-ha-ha-ha.” Well PJ, they put it in print. Bruce Levenson went on the record with that quote. I think we should hold him to it. Don Waddell is also on record as saying, in regards to the Heatley trade, “I had to do what’s best for the organization.” As Jeff Schultz pointed out at the time, “Who would have ever thought that the words ‘Trading Heatley’ and ‘Best for the Organization’ could ever be uttered in the same sentence.” Schultz would clarify that the accident and death of teammate Dan Snyder were motivations behind the deal for Hossa and DeVries. Moving right along ….

R.Stroz, I agree that Cherepanov is a fine prospect. But some of the GMs who “passed” on him cited “lazy work-ethic,” and “sense of entitlement” as the cancers they wanted to avoid. Truthfully, I’m more inclined to believe that they passed on him because of the lack of a transfer agreement with Russia. (Think Freddy Brathwaite.) Cherepanov could represent a “power struggle” with Kovalchuk over the future of the team. Honestly, I think it’s important to establish to Kovalchuk that the team, from now on, will be built around him as its foundation. And to make him the Captain as soon as possible. Then to re-sign him in the Summer of 2009, when he first becomes ELIGIBLE to be re-signed, as the PRIORITY #1, first order of business. And yes, that means offering him a contract that doesn’t “insult” him and announces his ARRIVAL, officially, as the “franchise player” and SUPERSTAR that he truly is in the NHL.

Honestly now, if Kovalchuk also “walks” in 2010, what does that say about the situation in Atlanta? It’s one thing if Kovy’s performance spirals downward or if he had some off the ice issues which negatively impacted the community. But if he’s at the top of his game, hitting his numbers, and excelling in all aspects, but Atlanta can’t make him an offer that convinces him to stay here … I think it would be a clarion call. Don’t you think?

R.Stroz, having Hossa playing within the Conference, by trade, may not be the best possible solution. Hossa seemed to like playing in a small market Canadian city. Hmmn, how does Hossa for Phaneuf, straight up, sound? Relax, Calgary won’t do it. I’m not even sure they have the cap room. I haven’t checked. Hossa with Iginla and Huselius would have to make Calgary a better club and bigger playoff threat.

By ToF

January 9, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this

Brendan Hossa isn’t going to make anyone a bigger playoff threat. He plays like an uninspired Euro during the playoffs…kinda like now.

By Brendan

January 9, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

LOL, ToF. I needed that!