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Tuesday, March 11, 2008
A Little Help, Please
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK quick…who leads the Atlanta Thrashers in assists? Don’t look at the stats…just answer it right off the top of your head. Come on, you can do it.
Kovy? Nope.
Recchi? Not close.
Kozlov? Uh-uh.
Moose? …WHAT? Who said that? Oh, you. I know who you are… pipe down there, RStroz…you’re a smart a~…(oops, I can’t call a patron of this blog that, it’s not like I’m part owner or something)!
Well, with 33 assists it’s none other than Tobias Enstrom.
Yep, Tobi has played in all 70 games so far and also leads the team in minutes on ice for skaters, (why, just last Friday he logged 33:39 TOI against Minnesota). This just highlights the fact that this guy is the stud of this otherwise disappointing blueline.
However, what his leading in team assists also underscores is the fact that this team lags behind terribly in the “helper” category. It’s not THAT he leads in that category, but with HOW FEW he leads with. You see, Enstrom’s 33 assists ranks but 60th in the NHL, tied with two others at that spot. In fact, only three teams have on their squad assist leaders with less Tobias’ 33, (NJD, NYI & CBJ).
To that matter, Atlanta leads the NHL with unassisted goals, (17). While this illustrates the frequency of fantastic individual plays, it also indicates the fact that it relies too much on the need for a Kovy-esque solo effort type goal to generate offense.
If you were to take Enstrom’s 33 assists in 70 games… project it out to the full season, it comes out to 39 total. Again, this is awesome for the young Swede, but it also brings to light how poorly the team has been playing as…well…a team.
Last year, Marian Hossa led the Thrashers with 57 assists and Slava Kozlov was second with 52. This season, Hossa departed with 30 and Kozzy has a scant 20 helpers having played in all 70 games. I guess the pen he used to sign that contract last summer had “disappearing” ink in it.
If you go back to the ’05-’06 campaign, Atlanta had 4 players with more assists than our currently leader is on pace for, (Savard-69, Hossa-53, Kozlov and Kovalchuk both with 46).
Where has the falloff come from? Well, there is the afore-mentioned Kozlov and the now-departed Hossa. However, there are others. Take Alexei Zhitnik…please!…thank you. Zhitty last year notched 12 assists for Atlanta in the 18 games after traded here, (22 total in 49 games between Philadelphia and Atlanta). This year, he has 5 in 65 games. Steve McCarthy has seen his assist production go from 12 in 46 games last season to 5 in 43 this year. Even first-year Thrasher Ken Klee, who had 16 assists in 81 games with Colorado last year, has seen it drop to 8 thus far.
While those are the numbers that jump out, this is a team-wide dilemma.
What’s the case for such a low assist totals? Is it poor passing? Poor finishing? Chemistry issues? Preparation issues? Hustle, or lack thereof? Coaching?
I dunno…maybe a little of “all of the above”.
So, as we continue to discuss and express our concerns regarding issues in the front office, let us not forget that this game of hockey is a team sport, played by players. And, for the most part, the players on the ice have assisted in placing the team in the position it currently is in.
North By Northwest
The Avs are in tonight followed by the Flames Thursday. This follows Minnesota’s visit last Friday. Take at look at the Northwest Division standings and you’ll see that 2 points separate these teams as well as Vancouver. After this week all but one will be played within the Southeast Division for the rest of the way.
As much as I hate to use the words Thrashers and “spoilers” in the same sentence, that is the position we’re in. Might as well take advantage of it and go make life tough on these teams.
Thank You, Thank You
There were a few regular posters as a number of first-timers that chimed in about their views of the Town Hall Meeting, the GM and season ticket renewals over the past several days. Thank you to all.
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