AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > February > 27
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Morning After
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s the day after NHL Trade-A-Paloosa ’08. The deals have been made and the party is over. Where are the maid and the janitor to clean up the mess that was made in here?
In my post yesterday, just after the trade news was announced, my first reaction was one of disappointment. The way I saw it, we had arguably the biggest fish on the trading pond and we failed to address our defensive concerns. I guess I was just looking forward to seeing something different on the blueline then what we’ve witnessed over the course of the season and past three games in particular.
Does this mean I have issues with whom we received in return? No. I am anxious to seeing how they fit into the mix tomorrow night! And, truth be told, the hockey fan in me is looking forward to seeing how Hossa and Dupuis do with Crosby and Malkin. (BTW, Sunday we’ll get a first hand look at that).
My, My…Where Are My Manners?
I focused my comments yesterday more on what wasn’t done on defense as well how the Pittsburgh offense was going to shape up with the addition of Hossa and Dupuis and just skimmed over the players coming our way. How rude of me to not extend a hearty welcome to those our new Thrashers. Let me make amends:
Along with Angelo Esposito, currently in the juniors, the Thrasher will gain the immediate services of two forwards, Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen. Here is a quick glance at what the two are packing in their suitcase and bringing with them.
Armstrong is in his third year of NHL service and so far in 54 games has 9 goals, 24 points and is a +6. Just by showing up he’ll hold the team lead in +/-. Last season he amassed 12 goals and 34 points in 80 games and was a +2. He was the 21st overall pick in the 2001 draft. In his rookie year he accounted for 40 points in 47 games. Last season he had 3 overtime goals…one against our very own Kari Lehtonen. He is in the first year of a two year $1.2 million contract. If you don’t think he is a hard checker, just ask Saku Koivo…(thank you, Thrashy thrash).
Christensen has 18 goals and 33 points so far in 61 games and is a -3. He’s 14 for 23 in the shootout. Last year in 33 games he scored 6 goals to go with 7 assists. He was picked 69th overall in the 2002 draft and won the Bob Clarke Trophy as the leading scorer in the Western Hockey League notching 54 goals and 108 points in 67 games as a member of the Kamloops Blazers.
Here’s hoping they can provide a jump to our offense.
Oh…And There Was A Game Last Night
And in other news…there was an actual hockey game played in Montreal, KEE-beck last night…and it actually was a pretty darned good one for the first two periods. Score was tied 1-1 coming out of the second intermission and the scoreboard even showed the Thrashers out-shooting the Canadiens 21-18. I’m not kidding…really, honest-and-for-true, it did! But, as the NHL league office insists, they HAD to play the third period.
15 shots against and 4 goals later…
Nah, we didn’t need to upgrade our blueline, did we?
Where Were You In ’04?
This team is now on a pace to earn 79 points…which would be one entire point more than what they finished with 4 years and 3 seasons ago. And back then, we were HAPPY for it!
He Said WHAT?
During the second intermission of the game Ilya Kovalchuk was saying a few words about Marian Hossa and his departure. He had some very nice things to say, not surprisingly. However, he also said something like that he hopes to play with him again.
Uh…excuse me?
Now, I’m quite sure Kovalchuk was just wanting to voice some very cordial thoughts about Hossa and I don’t wanna make TOO much out of it…BUT…seeing that Marian Hossa had made it clear he simply does not to be a part of the Thrashers organ-I-zation, the only way they would play on the same team again would be…if…Oh, Good Lord!
Oh, wait! There IS next year’s All Star Game. That’s what you mean Kovy, right?
Kovy?…Ilya?…Kov?…Buddy?….
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