AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2009 > February > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USIs There Anyone Here Who Knows How To Play Defense?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kari Lehtonen should pick up the phone first thing Monday morning and contact a good lawyer. The reason? To sue for lack of support and abandonment by his teammates.
In the past two games, the Thrashers goalie has taken to the ice only to find that the other skaters wearing brown birds on their chest are still in the locker room mentally. Because the defense in front of him has been so ill prepared to start the past couple of games, Kari has taken more rubber to the face than a possum on GA-20.
Thursday night against the Islanders, he lasted for only 13 minutes and 10 seconds. In that time, he faced 15 shots…surrendering 4 goals. New York then took another five in the opening period after Johan Hedberg relieved him and had 30 by the end of the second.
20 shots on goal in the first and 30 after two periods. Pretty tough to play any worse that that, right?
Uh…no. Saturday night, Carolina launched 21 SOG in the opening period and had 32 by the second intermission.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? Thirty-two shots on goal in 40 minutes of play? Oh, for the good old days when it used take an entire game for an opposing team to get off 30+ shots on the Thrashers goal!
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO KNOWS HOW TO PLAY DEFENSE?!?!
sigh….
Anyway…against Carolina, however, Kari came ready to play. He looked like this time he was ready…mentally prepared even… for the inevitable onslaught of flying biscuits inside of his kitchen. It was as if he has finally accepted the fact that he simply is not going to be the beneficiary of solid defensive play in from of him on a consitent basis.
Not from this team at least…not anytime soon.
In Atlanta’s 2-0 loss to Carolina, Lehtonen turned away 38 of 40 shots. The two that got passed him were the result of Atlanta’s defense getting caught with their pants down…allowing Canes’ skaters to move in 1 on 1 on Kari. The first time was on a Thrashers power play as Schneider and Kozlov were beaten. The second one saw Bogosian racing to try and catch up to the play. Both situations occurred in the first.
Lehts shut them down the rest of the way, giving his team a chance to get back in the game. Unfortunately, the Thrashers were not able to solve the mystery that was Cam Ward and the Carolina defense all night. You know…the same type of conundrum that they faced in Dallas Tuesday night with Marty Turco and the Stars.
But even though his teammates could not find there way in front of him, Lehtonen continued to battle and the puck was not able to find it’s way past him. At one point in the second, after stopping yet another Carolina shot taken from close in, Kari tossed the puck to the ice in disgust.
I have the distinct feeling that instead of tossing it down on the ice…he really wanted to shove it firmly up one of his defender’s…well…uh, somewhere that sounds similar to “ice”.
Last summer, Kari was signed to a one-year deal. Many felt this was because Don Waddell and the Thrashers organ-I-zation wanted this season to be the one in which Lehtonen took this full-time gig and finally ran with it once and for all…or be run out of town. Well, if indeed we’ll see the Thrashers and Kari part ways this summer…it may be a non-contested divorce from Lehtonen.
Now…About That O-Fense
Atlanta was not able to match the Hurricane’s first period shot total of 21 as they were allowed but 19 shots for the entire game.
The Thrashers have now been shutout in two of the three games since the All Star break. In fact, in the nine periods played in this week, they have been held without a goal in eight. All four goals scored in the past three games came in the third period of Thursday’s loss to the Islanders. Going back to the Philly game just prior to the All Star Game, the Thrashers have score goals in only two of there last twelve periods.
What’s that old line by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ first ever head coach John McKay back in 1976 when he was asked about the execution of his team?
“I’m all for it”.
Nasty Nesters Take Wing To Carolina
Sally Cersosimo and 150 of her friends made their way out of the Nasty Nest in Blueland and winged it to the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Funny…I thought birds fly south for the winter.
Anyway…it was quite the showing and it’s just too bad that the team couldn’t show up with as much fire and passion that Sally and Co. did.
Must Be The Hour
Mike Knobler’s recent blog…in which he discusses the Thrashers’ play of late…is titled, “Worst Stretch Of A Bad Season”. As always, it’s very well delivered.
However, upon forst glance, I thought the title read…”Worst STENCH Of A Bad Season”,
It would have worked too.
Fragile And Scared And Embarrassed…Oh My!
“Fragile”: A word used twice by John Anderson to describe his Thrashers team in the post-game interview. It’s a word used to illustrate this team’s mindset too many times over the past two seasons. In fact, if you created a drinking game using the words “fragile” and “Thrashers” being used in the same sentence…we would be snot-faced for the better part of the winter.
“Scared”: A word used, I believe, by Darren Eliot about the way this team is approaching games now. It should be a word used to describe the way some of these players feel in regards to their job security here…or the way the general manager who has overseen this mess for too long now feels about his job.
“Embarrassed”: The reason given by Eliot as to why this team is playing “scared”…as in, they are scared of being embarrassed out there.
Fragile…scared…and embarrassed. These are not three words that you want used to describe your hockey team.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By The Unknown Comic
February 1, 2009 2:08 AM | Link to this
Fragile…scared…and embarrassed
Is this team made up of a bunch of pansy @$$ed figure skaters?
By Sharon
February 1, 2009 2:14 AM | Link to this
I don’t get to watch many games so I was really looking forward to tonight. I’m so disappointed in that lack of effort.
At this point, I’m just happy that Atlanta still has a team. I’ve been trying to ignore the drumbeat of the “when the Thrashers move” comments, but it’s getting harder not to hear it… and believe it.
For crissakes, if we could just get a qualified GM. We might still have the same owners, but at least a new GM would be a positive sign (to the fans, free agents and the league). What a damn shame.
Fire Waddell
By The Unknown Comic
February 1, 2009 2:14 AM | Link to this
What should Thrasher fans have in common with the Unknown Comic?
They should be wearing paper bags over their heads.
By Sharon
February 1, 2009 2:23 AM | Link to this
I believe in recycling so I’ll wear my paper bag from last season. Oh, what do you know, here are several more.
By Brendan
February 1, 2009 2:42 AM | Link to this
No worries, Sharon. The team is not relocating. No chance. No matter if the team didn’t win another game this season. The NHL is not leaving Atlanta prior to 2019.
Acute hysteria is just that. When this lawsuit ends, in 2011 more than likely, things will change. Probably not before then, though.
By pond scum
February 1, 2009 2:57 AM | Link to this
I’ll take up your offer to come play defense.I won’t promise to be a return of Orr,Stevens,Bourque or any other hall of famer. What I do promise to be is hell on ice for whoever the opponent is that nite!!!
As I watched another embarassing showing by our guys, it’s obvious we are going to be forever stuck in neutral until 1 of our owners mans up and tells Waddell to hit the road. The man has more 9 lives than Morris the cat could even dream of having. Somebody from Iams petfoods or ALPO should should ask momma Waddell what she feeds DW, cause unlike old yeller,this dog should have been put down a long time ago……..but yet he is still kicking it.
Our defense has sucked since day #1. I don’t care how many different names you bring in,until a real coaching staff and real scouting staff are brought in……..it’s not going to get better. In the early years,I understood the Slegr’s,Reirden’s,Tamer’s,Tremblay’s,Tjarnqvist’s,……. but 10 years later,we still lead the league in GAA ,shots against average. Our PK is terrible,has been for most of our exsistence.
We have brought in goalie after goalie,from Rhodes to Dafoe to Nurminen to Lehtonen. Not one of these guys can or ever will find consistency in net until the team in front of them learns to play defense.DW could some how get Roy out of retirement or trade for Marty…… it doesn’t matter. And for the life of me, I don’t see how Steve Weeks has stayed here since I think Fraser’s days as supposed goalie coach.Why in the world do we have just a “video coach”? All they gotta do is watch the nightly highlights to see how bad they was or the head coach do that for that matter. When they finally scrap this collapse in their own zone mentality,collapsing so deep they screen their on goalie….they might have a chance.
And I hate to say it,but Anderson being a rookie headcoach himself obviously don’t know where to start the process of building an identity for this team.You bag up Crabb and send him down,1 of the few who will actually give you all he’s got and let him get sent down? Don’t give me this crap about DW,he’s YOUR PLAYER,you go to bat for him and reward him for going to bat for you!
Another thing I fault Anderson with is panic. You don’t place a 3rd-4th line guy on the 1st-2nd line (Thorburn namely) and expect your scoring to dramatically improve. You don’t see all this line jumping by teams like the Wings,Devils,Sharks ect. - They play each player to his skillset and role. You don’t see Maltby or Draper on the 1st line do you? Nope,you see them call up a “offensive minded forward” to fill that role. Or maybe a promotion from the 2nd up to the 1st,3rd to the 2nd. But not this kind of juggle act. And it’s really hard to develop chemistry with anyone when your constantly bouncing players from line to line (Army).
Army has the making of a young Scotty Hartnell,but he has to have the quality minutes and players to help him reach that goal,he’s not gonna do it on the 3rd line. Peverley IMHO has the making of a young Savard. If Kovy would be held responsible to back check and take pressure off his centers,he might could find one that can actually set him up instead of being worn out physically and mentally from trying to cover his short comings.
Folks wanna slam on White,say he doesn’t hit enough. That isn’t his role,he has shown capable of playing the role of set up man between a supposed washed up vet and basically a rookie. This line,although it has went cold, gets broken up to try to fix all the other leaks in the dam. Why not keep them together,every player does hit a cold streak now and then.That is the sign of panic.
Another thing we lack is a real disturber or pest. We need a little ball of hate flying around out there every nite to goad the other team into taking dumb penalties and off their game.Call it bush league or whatever,but many a teams have and do incorporate this even today.
And exactly why do we still hang on to Boulton and Thorburn? Neither guy imposes a real physical element to this team on a consistent basis. They are supposed to lead the way by setting a tone for their teammates to follow by playing aggressive,in your face hockey. We need a young Boll type here for that role,not some vets who want the paycheck but no bruises.
Another reason big name freeagents won’t sign here now is that for all the losing we have endured…… we really having not nothing to show for it except for a couple youngsters who do show some promise.
Seriously,where is the depth we should have in case of Kovy,Little,Kozy,White,Pevs goes down to carry the offense?
We finally let some of our youngsters in on defense, but what about up front?
It seems we only have 1 center who can play with Kovy in Pevs,no one else worked out.White is capable of 2nd line,Marty 3rd…….then what? We are so paper thin at center it’s ridiculous. And even when we do have a prospect with offensive talent like Sterling,we give him the 4th line and 4 minutes of icetime to score 20 goals a season to prove himself.WTF?
And I can’t help but feel that the frustration of it all is going to be the undoing of Kovy not being in blue not long from now.
So,ask yourself…… you really wanna join this circus or do you want structure,accountability,direction and a chance to win or be stuck in neutral for the length of your deal?
I want guys here who wanna win,not just a payday. I feel like we have a few who are here to win (Kovy,Little,Kozzie,White,Pevs,Marty,Army,Slater,Hainsey,Havelid,Bogo,Toby,Valabik) The youngsters on defense have more to learn. Let Stuart and Crabb stay up as well.Maybe Ex as well,he was playing ALOT better before the injury and was playing badly hurt better than some others was.
The rest,trade away ASAP. ASK Moose to take over as goalie coach as alot here have suggested,call up Pavs,Lavallee and whoever else.
FIRE WADDELL, ANDERSON,WEEKS and the rest of the front office.We have to many chiefs.
Hire a true,competent GM and call me crazy,but the Canes former coach Peter Laviolette(I know butchered) and start over FOR REAL!
I bought tickets and gear today online for the Thrashers, they are my team and I’m tired of seeing them suffer from someone who can’t swallow his pride and say what’s obvious……. he’s not the man for the job!
FIRE DON “MATT MILLEN” WADDELL ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Mr.KC
February 1, 2009 6:10 AM | Link to this
I am looking forward to going to games next season here at the Sprint Center !!!!
I hear the Thrashers will be renamed The Kansas City Blades… Sponsers are coming forward and 987am KMBZ says there is a 90% chancxe either Nashville or Atlanta WILL move here next season…
Atlanta is DONE, Thanks to Don Waddell his complete inability to run a professional hockey team will result in the team moving. The ONLY chance is fire Waddell NOW, sell to Arthur Blank and pray !
Plus these so called owners who could care less about hockey are the reason the Thrashers will be HERE in Kansas City next season !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By PUTTING ON THE FOIL
February 1, 2009 8:40 AM | Link to this
My new battle cry.
FIRE WADDELL OR MOVE
By ThrashDawg
February 1, 2009 10:19 AM | Link to this
We need to draft a petition to beg Arthur Blank to buy the Thrashers from the ASG clowns. The only way to turn this around is start over with new owners, new GM, new coaching staff, new water boy! The only thing is it will not happen until this law suit is settled. I believe the ASG will want to dump the Thrashers as soon as they can, but not to a another owner which will move the team to another city. They need the Thrashers to play in their Phillips Arena. We can only hope this law suit ends ASAP.
By Rightshot
February 1, 2009 10:54 AM | Link to this
Where can I get a paper bag to wear for the Blackhawks game. Maybe the Thrashers seeing fans embarrassed to show their face, specifically during warmups, will be a wake up call. Although it will last about as long as the other wake up calls have lasted this season. Three, four games??
Has anyone tried an e-mail barrage of the owners to help them get a clue and fire the teflon don? I’m sure the media would love it if there was a protest outside Phillips before a game asking for dons immediate showing of the back door. At least at that point, possibly, someone from management can tell us if they even have the option o fire him with the ongoing lawsuit.
The more attention is drawn to the problem (donny) the more questions will be asked about it (donny) and the more pressure can be applied to make a change (donny).
Seriously, protest anyone?
By LAC
February 1, 2009 11:22 AM | Link to this
Bill, I thought defense was priorty ONE after last season. We drafted a good young kid, who has been average so far… BUT learning, That is to be expected. Then Hainsey and The New #18 is playing more like the OLD #18…
Why in the name of WINNING can our defense NOT get one bit better ? It’s TERRIBLE and goaltending has been below average at best too.
Now where is the offense ? It is sick to watch, guess we all will watch to see if we even score !
We are headed for LAST place overall, but remember the FAMOUS words of one DUMB don waddell, We are moving forward. Then Mr.Potty Mouth levenson We are one or two players away… Away from what 28th place overall ?
I just hope this court case gets resolved the Thrashers sold to an OWNER, no more groups please… It does NOT work, so we can rebuild and hope to regain some footing the next couple years, but the BIGGEST step has to be the FIRING of don waddell, the guy simply SUCKS and has not one clue about professional hockey at any level.
Well let’s hope we don’t stink up MSG Tuesday night and we WILL have to put up with more of that NY stuff about #17 leaving Atlanta !
Will the team leave first… 50/50% chance it will !
By Alan
February 1, 2009 1:14 PM | Link to this
In light of all the facts, people are still chanting about the team moving?
Yes, Waddell needs to be fired. No, this team is not moving. I know people like to cling to fantasy land things, and hope they’ll see a team like the Las Vegas Hookers or Kansas City Twisters, or something equally as silly (The Hamilton Blackberries?), but it’s simply not going to happen.
There are facts, and those facts are written out and are public record. Might do some people some good around here to, I don’t know, look at the facts?
Fact: The team sucks. Fact: Don Waddell sucks. Fact: The team isn’t moving.
Can it be any clearer?
By Barry
February 1, 2009 2:08 PM | Link to this
There’s alot this team doesn’t know how to do. 1) Play defense. 2) Sustain any forecheck 3) Get ANY ONE in front of the damn opposing goalie 4) Work as a team and support each other passing the puck around. 5) Work in the middle of the ice, but instead the Thrashers try to score from the perimeter. 6) This team doesn’t know how to give-a-crap and give full game efforts.
Waddell needs to be gone and us fans need to plan a mutinity and take this team and franchise away from the idiots trying to own and run this hockey club.
By dhj_1962
February 1, 2009 2:33 PM | Link to this
After yestersdays 8 pm skate aroung(KL & Pevs being the exception) Kovy needs to give his “C” up. He glided around the ice when on defense, looking like he was getting ready to try a double toe loop or a Dorothy Hamel Camel. That was disapointing. When the opposition has the puck, he just glides right past them, he attacks no one. I was just watching Ovechkin, he does not have anymore talent than Kovy, but he hits, he plays D and he leads by example. I have been very criticle of xlb, but at least he trys to hit, he is sucsessful sometimes. might as well let him play when he is ready. Poor Enstrom, just kept getting beating down by ruuto? i believe, no one even stood up for him. that stunk. I am wondering if any of the Thrashers call out Kovy in private, or on the bench during a game, as to why he does not give consistant effort defensivly every night. I don’t know what else anyone of us can say on these blogs. I guess its just good to vent. If you didn’t go to Church today, try to go soon, maybe prayer can help our Thrashers. Devine intervention. Thats what i’m trying.
By five_hole
February 1, 2009 2:33 PM | Link to this
I just have one question: can we bring the aliens back? I liked the way they played, better than this.
FIRE WADDELL!!!!!!! FIRE THE OWNERS!!!!!!!
By JRY
February 1, 2009 4:25 PM | Link to this
Title of this blog should be does anyone know how to coach defense?
By Wayne
February 2, 2009 12:46 AM | Link to this
ALAN: How do you know the team is NOT moving? I hope the team doesn’t move, either, but consider: 1. If Atlanta Spirit group wins their suit, they’ll need cash to buy out Belkin, and selling the team to someone will raise the necessary $. Sadly, there are no local buyers in the picture. 2. If Belkin does win the suit, ASG will gladly wash their hands of the Hawks/Thrashers/Philips Arena venture, and Belkin will sell the team because he has no interest in the NHL.
Anyway, we’re still screwed for the next 2 years…
FIRE WADDELL!!!
FIRE WADDELL!!!
FIRE WADDELL!!!
By Wayne
February 2, 2009 12:51 AM | Link to this
The title of the article asks, “Is There Anyone Here Who Knows How To Play Defense?”
The answer is the same as it was in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, and now, 2009:
NO.
FIRE WADDELL!!!
By LAC
February 2, 2009 1:20 AM | Link to this
Wayne…. Sadly Alan seldom does a reality check on things as they stand. You saw those DUMB names Hookers, Twisters, Blackberries… Just shows he is on the edge and does not understand the team is very much in trouble… But I agree with Alan when he says FIRE waddell, he is the sole problem we are where we are, should have been fired years ago !
By pond scum
February 2, 2009 1:21 AM | Link to this
Wayne- Just remember this,there are alot of more complex things that have to fall into place before a move is even remotely possible.
Some of these fine details are very costly,and with the Wall street bleeding like a hemophiliac daily,the bad PR some of these guys are getting and congress stepping in to strip away these “golden parachutes” alot fall back on……… the guarding of their “vaults” is on maximum protection.
By Wayne
February 2, 2009 1:49 AM | Link to this
Re: the Thrashers to KC.
Funny, all the talk about the Thrashers moving was to somewhere in Canada: Hamilton, Saskatoon, Winnepeg, Flin Flon, Medicine Hat, Moose Jaw, Porcupine Butt, wherever…So what happened in the past week to bring up Kansas City? I thought Charles Wang was going to move the Island-girls there…
By trlblzr
February 2, 2009 5:52 AM | Link to this
hey, i play defense in our 3v3 league… wonder if i could get paid a couple million to play for a game? couldn’t hurt, right?
By Bob
February 2, 2009 9:29 AM | Link to this
Why all the angst? Operation Tavares is right on schedule. Are some of you cats really suprised that this lineup is struggling mightily?
By Get The Puck Out
February 2, 2009 9:59 AM | Link to this
If i performed the way the Thrashers are performing at my job i would have been gone a long time ago. Why should Don Waddell or the Thrashers players that are not performing still be here? If you want to get the job done you have to have people that want to do the job correctly and it’s just not gettin’ done, so common sense would tell you to get rid of the freeloaders, RIGHT?
By Alan
February 2, 2009 10:19 AM | Link to this
I fail to do a reality check? Seriously? Here’s a little bit of info that has been re-hashed several times already: The team is tied to the naming rights for Philips Arena. They’re not moving. Will they be sold to new owners? That’s a possibility. Will they move? Not anytime in the near future.
Pay attention! We went over this in previous blogs, with Brendan and bob (other), among others, talking about this very thing.
I know you two want to see the team moved, but it’s not happening anytime in the near future. Facts? Reality? There it is.
And before you summon the so-called Sheep Herder: Baaaa.
By Alan
February 2, 2009 10:31 AM | Link to this
Hartsburg fired from the Senators.
According to the Ottawa Sun, the coach for the Binghamton Senators, Cory Clouston will be the new head coach.
This makes two coaches terminated this year after signing a contract in the summer.
By Adam
February 2, 2009 10:35 AM | Link to this
I think JA needs to get the whole team doing Two A Days 8am-noon & 2pm-6pm on all non game days and 8am-noon on game days. The second half of each session should be just skating line drills till they puke. Anyone who can’t complete the sessions after a week gets sent down. If there is a waiver issue with a player then they get to hit the exercise bike for an hour after each session is over. If they’re not going to earn their money on game ice then make’em earn it on the practice ice.
Then if they look tired come game time at least there will be a reason.
By Glovesave29
February 2, 2009 10:43 AM | Link to this
I said it over on Knoblers blog, but the topic is similar here, so here I go. KC has a terrible hockey history…the Scouts, Blues, Wings, Blades and Outlaws all failed. The nearby cities of Topeka and Wichita also had teams fail. Atlanta has 5.2 million in the metro and KC has 1.9 miilion. The contract for the naming rights at Philips. Too many issues to vercome and KC is out in the cold. The city will have to prove itself on the AHL level (which the Blades of the IHL failed to qualify for) before they can even be considered. Phoenix is the most likely to move, but pencil them in for a triumphant return to Winnipeg.
KC is a huge pro football market, and to a lesser degree, baseball. The Kings of the NBA left for Sacramento. Their arena football team had one of the lowest attendance figures. KC is just oversaturated for it’s size and the NHL knows this.
The Sens also fired Craig Hartsburg today…
By DWTOO
February 2, 2009 10:58 AM | Link to this
KL really stood on his head saturday night. For all his inconsistentcy this year he was in the zone. We were at the game with the above mentioned group. There were three/four times the Canes fans were standing up cheering for what they thought was a goal.
By The Unknown Comic
February 2, 2009 12:35 PM | Link to this
What is the difference between Don Waddell and stendec?
Waddell gets paid to be an idiot.
By The Unknown Comic
February 2, 2009 12:41 PM | Link to this
After the Thrashers lose, I feel like such a Sad Sack.