AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > May > 25
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Hossa And The Beast
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thrashers beat writer Craig Custance put out this fine article last Friday about Marian Hossa’s performance during the playoffs with the Penguins. As per usual, a bang up job by CC. But what really caught my attention was the secondary piece in which Hossa’s agent, Ritch Winter, indicated that the winger’s “level of interest of returning to Atlanta would be higher” if Brad McCrimmon were to be the man behind the bench as head coach.
First of all, I think the chances of Hossa returning to the Thrashers are about as the same as Barack Obama picking Rush Limbaugh to be his Veep running mate. But the comments are interesting considering that, if memory serves me right, this follows Kovalchuk and Recchi in support of McCrimmon to fill the coaching void…if indeed Hossa does feel that way.
When those two made the comments toward the end of last season, I passed it off as nothing more than polite, professional “yadda-yaddas”. After all, wasn’t McCrimmon the supposed defensive specialist on a team that finished dead last in goals allowed and shots allowed? The way I see it, if last season was a type of “try it before you buy it” period when it came to McCrimmon…then the results should speak for themselves.
That being said however, if indeed Hossa were to consider allowing Atlanta the privilege of spending $10 million a season or so for his services if The Beast were to be given the job behind the bench… as Winter would have us believe… then what do we make of that?
I mean, if Hossa is so high on McCrimmon being coach of the Thrashers, why didn’t he help this cause more last winter when he had the chance to make a direct impact on that decision with his play?
Also, if McCrimmon was to get the job, and Don Waddell remains as general manager, then isn’t the organ-I-zation pretty much the same as the one Hossa shunned by refusing to resign because it wasn’t heading in the right direction?
While I would enjoy seeing Marian in Thrasher blue again…playing the way he has during the playoffs with the Pens…I just don’t see it happening. No matter who the coach might be.
One last point on this topic: Even though the season unfolded in an un-good way, there have been at least three top players who were a part of the team that have given The Beast a show of support. So is it simply the polite “yadda-yaddas” as I indicated earlier…or is there something more to it?
SCF Game One
Not a lot of analyzing needed for this one. If Pittsburgh is only going to get off four shots in the second, three in the third…19 overall…if they are going to squander five power play chances, then they’re not going to win too many games, (just ask last year’s Thrashers). And they’re certainly not going to win too many doing so against the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Chris Osgood was sharp when he was called upon in shutting out the Penguins and Motown was pretty much clicking on all cylinders Saturday night.
Game two Monday. Is it too early to call that a must win for Pittsburgh?
Wolves Kick Marlies To The Curb
The Chicago Wolves disposed of the Toronto Marlies by way of a 4-2 win in game five Friday night, winning the AHL Western Conference title. Darrin Haydar, Kevin Doell, Bryan Little and Joel Kwiatkowski each scored goals and Jason Krog contributed with two assists. Opie stopped 23 of the 25 shots he faced.
The Wolves scored four unanswered goals after spotting the Marlies a 2-0 first period lead. Jiri “Lusty” Tlusty assisted on one of the Marlies’ goals …(yes PJ…I worked that one in just for you).
Chicago will now play the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins who qualified for the finals by beating the Portland Pirates in seven games for the Eastern Conference title.
