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Friday, June 27, 2008
Thrashers Department Of Defense Needs Upgrading
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I have to say, the lineup exercise from earlier in the week really brought out some excellent suggestions for putting the team together based on who is currently on the roster. What it also did, I believe, was highlight some serious deficiencies that will need to be addressed over the next few weeks, (DUH4).
So, well done one and all.
Today I want to focus in on the defensive concerns. There is the need to bolster the blueline that let up more goals and more shots per game then any other team. I think two additions are in order to properly address the situation. Two obvious choices are, of course, Brian Campbell and Wade Redden. However, no one here is delusional enough to think that both are going to land in the ATL…if for no other reason then those two players would eat up somewhere in the neighborhood of $15-17 million in cap money alone.
But, let’s just say Don Waddell does land one of those big fish… and either will do fine. Who else could we bring in to firm up the defensive corps? There are several options out there… Michal Rozsival or John-Michael Liles definitely come to mind…but to get the conversation rolling I’ll suggest someone like…oh, let’s say… Brooks Orpik, the 6’-2” 21p-pound native of the bay area who played in 78 games for the Pens last season netting a goal, 10 assists and finished a +11.
Thus, the Thrashers defensive would look something like this:
Campbell or Redden paired with Orpik…Havelid with Enstrom…Bogosian with XLB and Boris as the 7th man.
Ken Klee’s $1.25 million hit to the cap could be freed up via trade to help pay for such a move. Of course, Exelby could be substituted here as the trade-bait with his $1.4 mil salary, but I’ll say Klee goes simply because Exelby is familiar with new coach John Anderson, (There is something to be said for that, ya know).
Now some may point out that Orpik might not be a top line defender, more like second line…and I would agree. But I just hate the idea of splitting up the Swedes. However, if forced to, I could see Enstrom pairing with Campbell/Redden and Orpik with Havelid.
Again, Rozsival, Orpik and Liles to me are all viable options. I’m sure there are others you’d like to share.
Oh by the way, if you’ve taken the notion that my assumptions here all begin with Zhitnik being waived or bought out…you would be correct!
Weekend Reading Assignments
Speaking of defenders on the market…there is this particular piece by Adam Proteau reposted in The Hockey News from last May. Besides the five players he focuses on, what caught my eye was how he describes Don Waddell’s mindset regarding the Zhitnik/Cobourn deal.
Scott Niedermayer and the Ducks agreed on a deal that will return the defenseman to Anaheim for the 2008-’09 season.
Sean Avery has found an interesting way to spend his summer.
I plan on taking the tax exemptions to see Mike Myers in “The Love Guru” over the weekend. As I’m sure you all know, it is set around our beloved sport of ice hockey. Well, recently Adam Proteau, (again), put out a list of the best and worst of all hockey movies for ESPN.com. “Youngblood”….YUCK!
Mike Brophy thinks that the Bolts still have a long way to go before returning to contention…even with the drafting of Steven Stamkos.
Soccer great Pele being mugged in Brazil? That’s like Wayne Gretzky being held up anywhere in Canada! Kids these days, I swear…absolutely no respect at all!
And finally… I have a feeling I know where Jethro, Cuzin’ Cletus and Jim Bob will be hangin’ out this weekend.
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