AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > June > 25
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Who’s Line(Up) Is It Anyway?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Next week the much-awaited free agency season will be upon us. As we have discussed previously, a big defensive signing… possibly two… is what the Thrashers are in need of. Although purely speculative, there have been some rumors swirling around the blogosphere regarding Atlanta’s chances to land Brian Campbell. (Oh please, God…Oh please, God). Also, there is the issue of providing a first line center for Kovy. Although the UFA pool isn’t quite as deep for that position as with defenders, there still are options.
But before we get too carried away with our summer wish lists, let’s take a moment to see where we are now as far as the roster goes. For this exercise, we shall only be taking into consideration players that will not be UFAs this summer. Thus Mark Recchi, Bobby Holik, Steve McCarthy, Eric Boulton, etc. are not considered.
In goal, we are set. The trio of Kari, Moose and Opie will do just fine, thank you very much. It is easy to surmise that Lehtonen and Moose start one-two while Pavelec spend his time in Chicago to be called upon if need-be. This, of course, assumes a trade is not made involving one of the three.
And now… on to the blueline. Technically speaking, Alexei Zhitnik is still on the roster, so he must be considered. Hey, hey…settle down…again, we’re considering the current roster at this time. So, the six defenders look much as they did last season, with one big addition…Zach Bogosian. I’ve heard a few people that I have spoken to question whether or not he may need at least some time with the Wolves before being tossed into the flames. Prudent observation as that may be…I would be surprised not to see him here opening night.
Thus, the way I see the defensive corps today is with Havelid and Enstrom pairing up again. I would put Klee and XLB together then have the third line made up from the following three…Bogosian, Valabik and Zhitnik… who is my odd man out here filling in due to injury or illness. This leaves Pops odd man out.
Moving forward…I see a number of centers on the roster, but not one I think is the sure-fire number one to anchor Kovy’s line. But that isn’t to say someone in the group won’t rise to the occasion. I personally think that Erik Christensen could be given the first crack at it, putting Kovalchuk to the left and Armstrong to the right. Second line could have Little centering Kozlov and Larsen. Third line would have Eric Perrin with Thorburn to the right and Stuart to the left. My grinders would be Jimmy Slater or Todd White with Joe Crabb and Sterling on the flanks…maybe Joe Motzko? Yikes. Me-thinks something has to be done here.
Admittedly, that line up contains a bit of patch work out of necessity and there can be some mixing and matching beyond what I listed. And obviously, if the team makes a deal with Campbell or Redden or some other defender of that ilk then there will be players to move. The same is true if the Thrashers bring in a center specifically for that top line.
Maybe those signings create the need to move out, say, an Exelby or White or Klee or Zhit, (good luck), who could be used to bring in via trade a couple wingers for the bottom lines?
But, as I stated earlier, this is about where we stand today heading into the signing season.
So, make your own lineup. Then show me where you plug in the player(s) you would like to have brought in. Also, who ya gonna offer up on the trading block to sure up the lines?
My first move? Easy…buy out Zhit.
Happy Birthday Thrashers
Today, June 25 is the eleventh birthday of our Atlanta Thrashers. On this day in 1997 the NHL awarded our city with the 28th franchise in the league. After that, the Atlanta Hockey Club, Inc. formed the Blueline Club and began collecting $100.00 membership fees that went toward the purchase of season tickets.
Last Monday…the 23rd…marked the 10-year anniversary of Don Waddell being named as the general manager of the team.
And Finally…I Knew There Had To Be Something To It
Most who read and participate in this little blog-forum thingy seem to share the same type of smartassinitis that I’ve been told I am afflicted with. Well, come to find out that this is due to the fact that we seem to have little to no issues with our parahippocampal gyrus.
Uh-huh…but that should come as no surprise to any of us.
Because if indeed, as Dr. Katherine Rankin points out, the art of sarcasm is a product of the evolved mind…then most of us here are quite the evolved creatures indeed!
Post-Post Edit - I show Pops as an RFA and included him, however as has been pointed out his return is most unlikely.
