In NHL, a coach is not enough

The issues are many for the Thrashers, but the solutions are few. Despite three straight victories after Tuesday night’s 4-2 slaying of an impressive Montreal bunch at Philips Arena, the Thrashers still need many things just to become decent after this weekend’s All-Star break.

They need to rise further from the bottom of the NHL in defense. They need to do more than flash signs here and there that they actually can score. They need to have Ilya Kovalchuk continue to resemble other true stars around the league, and that is, he must continue to lead on the ice as well as in the locker room. They need to keep more fans from becoming allergic to their turnstiles, with Philips Arena less than half-full again despite having the historically popular Canadiens in town.

Mostly, they need to acquire more talent, period, especially with the trade deadline barely six weeks away.

They don’t need a coach, though. They have John Anderson, the plain-speaking Toronto native who nevertheless has a considerable problem: As a veteran head guy in the minor leagues, he frequently won (12 trips to the playoffs in 13 years with no losing seasons). As a rookie NHL head skipper with the Thrashers, he frequently has lost. Among other horrors for Anderson these days, only the New York Islanders have fewer points.

It’s enough to make you wonder if Anderson wants to spend most of his Atlanta days and nights slinging a slapstick at something or someone.

“Uh, well, I think this is disappointing like you can’t believe,” said Anderson, who has tried so many things this season with marginal results. There was his constant shifting of the lines. There were his various team captains before settling on just Kovalchuk. There was his threat of drastic changes to the roster after lethargic performances. Until recently, little has worked for Anderson in search of the magic that produced five championships during his 11 years with the Chicago Wolves, the Thrashers’ primary minor-league affiliate for the past eight years.

Added Anderson, sighing, “As a coach, it’s almost personal [when you’re losing]. You know, here, it’s a process. It’s a thought-out way of doing things, and we’re going to get to that point. You just wish it was sooner than later, but sometimes, we’re going to need some patience. We’ll build our team one or two players at a time. Then, when we get to a certain point, I think that’s where we have to go after some free agents, which I think we’re going to do.”

They haven’t a choice, not after following last season’s first and only trip to the playoffs for a decade-old franchise with those issues of now.

Those issues weren’t apparent for the Thrashers against the Canadiens, among the Eastern Conference elite. Courtesy of the Thrashers’ high intensity in the early going and resiliency near the end, Anderson had few reasons to fume after this one. Anyway, he keeps whatever fire he has on his tongue from heating the ice after games. He doesn’t speak to his players about their just-completed highs and lows until the following day. He did such a thing in the minors, where he also employed the same offensive and defensive principles that he has brought to the Thrashers.

Defenseman Nathan Oystrick laughed. He was asked the difference between this Anderson and the one he played for during the previous two years in Chicago.

“Maybe a couple of [new] jeans, that’s all,” said Oystrick, referring to the plain-dressing Anderson, too.

tlmoore@ajc.com

NEXT FOR THRASHERS

> Who: at Flyers

> When: 7 p.m. today

> TV; radio: SPSO; 680 AM