Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Moose on the loose?

According to comrade in pads Viv the Sieve, Johan Hedberg was somewhat less than thrilled with his offer from the Thrashers and hopes they offer him another (better) offer before July first. If Moose does indeed enter into the free agent waters, I wish him the best. He has long been my favorite NHL goalie, so it'll be an "empty feelin' deep down in your gut. Not unlike catching your wife doin' the nasties with--"

Anyway, I'd like to wish Moose the best in his future endeavors, be they with the Thrashers, with another NHL team, in Europe, or in retirement.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

The Newest Atlanta Thrasher

Tonight on this the 25 of June, after some brief trade speculation and curiosity as two defensemen fell several picks, the Atlanta Thrashers selected, with the 8th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Alex Burmistrov.

All hail Alex "Burmashave" Burmistrov! (at least for now, until we find out whether he is to be hailed or heckled)

Friday, June 18, 2010

Let's hear it for Todd "Chuck" White!

The good fellas over at The Blueland Chronicle are taking a poll to see what to do about or with Todd White. Mortimer Peacock promised that if "Chuck" is the winning entry, "It's Chuck White from here on."

So let's see some votes beside Chuck and raise a glass in hono(u)r of Todd "Chuck" White!

Monday, June 14, 2010

The (Long) Offseason Blues

Love that bbq in NE Georgia! Best thing about getting bbq in the summer? Getting bbq, DUH. Next best thing? Peaches, straight off the tree (when they're in season. DAMNIT. Two weeks early). Next-to-next best thing? The Thrashers are guaranteed not to lose (at hockey anyway) because it's the offseason! (They might still find a way to "Thrash it up" on the golf course though)

Looking forward to the draft (as always) and already regretting/lamenting free agency (as always), followed by some actual Thrashers-ish hockey. Woop-TEE-doo, TEE-doo, TEE-doo...

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Relevence is sparce during the playoffs if your team missed the show

Nothing much seems to happen in the playoffs since the Thrashers missed them, again.

Woah, hey, the Sharks did eliminate Mr. Playoffs in the DEE-troit Red Wings. How'd that happen?? Ben Wright must have had a significant loss in his fantasy pool or his brackets with that series.

Seriously though, congrats to them there Sharks. To be honest, it wouldn't really hurt my feelings if they won it all. Like many others I'm kinda hoping for a Bruins-Sharks final, but not just because it could be interesting to see Jumbo Joe's old team vs. his current team. While Jack Edwards' homerism sometimes exceeds my tolerance levels, the Bruins are a fun team to watch. Besides, it struck me as odd that so many people were counting them out without Kessel so it's kinda nice to see them still in it.

Time to enjoy some the Thrashers' offseason some more. I mean hey, there's only what, three, four more months of it? Gotta enjoy it while it lasts.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

The offseason began rather before I had hoped for the Atlanta Thrashers...

Surprise of surprises, I was wrong about this team being a playoff team. I'm not entirely sure the team that finished the season was the same team that started the season, but that's neither here nor there. I still believe that the October-November Thrashers, before the contract talks broke down and the wheels fell off in December, were a playoff caliber team, but things change and wistfully ruminating will achieve, exactly... DICK. And there's no question the Thrashers were not a playoff team down the stretch (my semicolon key seems to be defective right now, so insert a semicolon here and remove the space before this strangely long parenthesis) consequently, the Thrashers are, yet again, damnit, on the outside either watching the playoffs on the telly or just flat ignoring them.

... Which brings us to the offseason. With plenty of better analysis than I could provide (and free of charge!) from the usual suspects, The Blueland Chronicle, Rawhide, and Bird Watchers Anonymous, I won't make a fool of myself by looking into possible lineups, free agent signees, draftees, or trades. It is written, "'Tis better to be silent and thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt."

However, I must admit to being rather intrigued about who will next captain the Atlanta Thrashers. There are the guys who have received some attention for such a role, namely Hainsey and Antropov, with either of which I would be satisfied. Then there's the less likely captain but very good team guy in Slater. However, the name I hadn't considered until the latest Ten Gallon Dick installment is Rich Peverley. I wouldn't mind seeing a quiet guy who plays hard every game and has some measurable leadership qualities who took about 1/2 what he probably could've made as a UFA to stay in Atlanta and put up 55 points this season as the next captain. (To every English teacher I've ever had or known, I sincerely apologize for that run-on sentence, but a meaning needed to be conveyed) Certainly, he's worthy of an alternate in my book, though I'm not the coach, which is a damn good thing for the franchise.

Um, as this is supposed to be about the offseason, I suppose I should talk about well, the offseason, a little more. I will say this: I am fairly optimistic about the Thrashers' 2010-2011 campaign, if the right moves are made. That's not to say the moves have to be moves that result in immediate playoff success, though that would certainly be nice, or even moves that I would make per se, because I am no great hockey mind. But if the Thrashers have at least a decent draft, bring back at least some of the right guys, and maybe but not necessarily bring in a free agent or two or trade for a player or two to fill out the roster, I expect the Thrashers to be in a better position to make the playoffs next year than this year. As LA GM Dean Lombardi said, teams have to go through those growing pains before they can be a true winning team. I think the Thrashers built a lot of character this season despite choking and coming up short for important games with playoff implications. Also, the Thrashers almost certainly will never be a team that can afford for a key contributor like Little, Bogosian, Hainsey, or Armstrong to have a down season and still make the playoffs. If this offseason is respectable and the expected contributions are turned in from throughout the roster, I easily could see the 2010-2011 Thrashers making the playoffs.

Or not. Up to them.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Thrashers playoff hopes shot down in flames



Fun while it lasted.

The more things change, the more they stay the same

I couldn't follow the Thrashers for about a week due to various projects, and during one of the most crucial times in the season. When this unavoidable hiatus began the Thrashers were fighting for their playoff lives, mostly unsuccessfully, just managing to keep one nostril above the water line. Well, that's still the same. I'm glad I didn't miss anything....

Only things that have changed is that the Thrashers apparently lost Kubina to injury, hence Chelios getting some minutes (no age discrimination there), and the Thrashers now have 3 games left. With time essentially out, I for one will actually be glad to be able to focus on other things for awhile.It would be nice to have my favorite team actually competing in the playoffs. But onwards to the offseason and next season.

How 'bout that Timmy Stapler? Stapleton has a goal in each of his last 2 games, both huge games, both huge goals, from a... well, from a guy.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Ha-GAIN!

Thrashers top Pheelay 3-1 in Pheelay on the hind end of the beast with two fronts. With the win the Thrashers gained a little limelight for themselves by being but one single point out of the playoff picture.

I've eaten on game day for both of the last 2 wins. I think we have a trend going here.... I'm about to run out, so if we lose Tuesday I'll have to run down to Georgia and get me some bbq for every game to do my part to appease the hockey gods. I'm very much ok with that.

Because I can't think of a witty title: Thrashers beat Flyers

With a jeweled shillelagh!! Still somewhat worrisome was letting a 2-goal lead shrink to a 1-goal lead twice, but the Thrashers eventually pulled ahead by 2 for good and then scored a 3rd goal at a time when the Flyers should've been scoring to close the gap at the end of the game. I like that.

Friday, March 19, 2010

"Your 2009-2010 Atlanta Thrashers!!" (explained)



The city streets are the regular season and the race for the playoffs, and the Thrashers are the nerd. Or maybe they're more like the dude-dressed-up-as-a-woman-and-pretending-to-be-ready-to-grant-some-other-dude-working-the-vid-his-wildest-fantasy because they historically seem to allow teams on the playoff bubble some points to help them along, with last season's finish as the notable exception. It's entirely subjective, which is why I posted the first video (the song's music video) alone as a metaphor with neither explanation nor elaboration.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Thrashers lose to Coyotes in SO

Missed the game tonight, but I've read in several places and several quotes that the Thrashers rang 5 shots off the posts tonight.













It's kinda like gettin hit in the face with a fryin pan aint it? That analogy could probably be expanded too...

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Thrashers' playoff "hopes" taking a westbound train

Even if the Thrashers don't make the playoffs, I think this season would be a success if Chris Chelios opens a Cheli's Chilli in Atlanta. Yeah.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Sheet, wee looooossse ha-gain!



Everything seems rosier when your team is the victor, but I've gotta hand it to the Canes, they really wanted it more.

A win would've been great, but I still had a great time at the game, I really did. The folks working the upper levels were all first-rate. Everyone was pretty good to stop for a minute and talk and nobody made me feel like Jethro Clampett the entire evening even though I'm sure I reminded some of his character.

And after the game I had the privilege of meeting both Dan Kamal and Darren Eliot at the post-game show. Great guys, class all the way. Both gentlemen stopped during the commercial breaks to speak to me and both were very gracious about their time. Not once did either of them make me feel like I was taking up their time. Quite the opposite actually: they both made me feel like it was I who was in the position of host and they who were in the position of guest. Like I said, great guys. I raise a cool, refreshing beverage to both of them. Cheers, gents!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Oh, Atlanta



Making the trip to 'Lanter today to take in the Thrashers-Hurricanes game. I'd be lying if I said I don't care about the outcome, so I'm hoping for a win. But most importantly, I just wanna see the Thrashers play a good game and have the fans be into it and energetic. Either way, I'm pretty damn excited. I haven't been to a game since Alexei Zhitnik won it in OT vs. Tampa two years ago.

This season the Thrashers are undefeated when I wear my jersey during the game. Ok, so it's only a 1-0-0 record, but still, that's undefeated. Anyway, here's to hoping that trend continues.

Good luck boyas!

Antero Nittymaki

Damnit. All I got to say is the Thrashers better damn well beat the guy before Kari Lehtonen does.

That is all.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Glacier appears to bleed

On my morning rounds of headlines and links, I came across this and stared at the picture. I won't post the picture because I like to let the guy or gal to whose post or article I link get their traffic (even though I'd only be stealing maybe five or ten-ish people; I'm not delusional about how many read this), but let's just say the picture is a must see. In my somewhat limited grasp of biology I was wrong as to the cause of the glacial nosebleed: I had thought it might be something like a red tide. But I wasnt too far off. Here's the link.

And speaking of blood, one of my all-time favorite books, which if I remember correctly I gave to my biology lab instructor at the the end of the semester during which I did a report on the book (damnit. Oh well, he can use it more than I can and I can always get another copy), is Their Blood Runs Cold by Whit Gibbons. I'd thought it'd be boring as hell since it's about herpetology (it's the atudy of reptiles and amphibians, NOT a venereal disease) and the biologists' stories of encounters with said things that make (some) women go eek. But it was actually a hilarious read and not as dry as I was afraid it'd be. It's the guy's collection of anecdotes from his years on the job with quite a lot of info thrown in. It was a book that I found myself reading more for entertainment than for the report, and only after it was over and I was working on the report did I realize how much information was in there and how much I'd learned about the subject. I'm still no herpetologist, but I do have a much greater appreciation for them after that book.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Yeah, don't bother; I didn't write anything down.

It's trade deadline day, and I'll be focusing on the following three things:

Number Three.

Number Two.

Number One.


Also, when talking with my dad about the Thrashers' chances of making moves, we were discussing how the Thrashers would have to "mortgage the future" (trade deadline bingo anyone?) so it would be at least somewhat unlikely, and he joked: "Why mortgage the future when you haven't had a past?"

A little too close to home...

Friday, February 26, 2010

Kozlov asks for trade

(UPDATE: Vivlamore's blog post at the AJC)

Per C-Viv's Twitterino, "Slava Kozlov has requested a trade from the Thrashers and is willing to waive his No Trade Clause." Not wholly unexpected given I think he probably can help shore up some scoring on a playoff team that could use some extra secondary scoring, but I'm still pretty sad to see this one. I had hoped to see him retire out as a Thrasher, even considering play this season that could easily be described as sub-par.

Kozzy has always been my favorite scoring Thrasher. In my eyes, the man's a warrior even if he doesn't ever fight or even really go into the corners much. NHL players are tough punchers, but even most of them don't reach an Ironman streak of 300 or so games. Granted, it was on Thrashers' squads that weren't very physical in general, but the fact remains, he holds the young franchise's record for games played streak.

He doesn't seem like the type to seek the Captain's C on his jersey, but I always thought (until this season, at least) that he could wear it and be a very good captain as the rezident old cuss scorer, even with any remnants of the language barrier.

However, from the Thrashers' point of view, I actually like this. If they can move him, it will signal a full turnover in the top-6 from the "bad...." periods of Thrashers history, with the exception of Todd White, who, oddly enough, has had less trouble staying in the lineup than Kozlov this season. The top-4 D have all been replaced from that time with good draft picks in Enstrom and Bogosian and a couple of smart trades in Kubina and Oduya. Add in a halfway decent signing for Hainsey and the D-corps has been solidified in a way that it couldn't be with guys like Sutton or (dare I even mention his name??) Tremblay on the team playing big minutes. The Thrashers' scoring lines will finally make that same break from the old team, and hopefully the old ways, of not-so-good drafting, players that don't seem to fit the team, and a team that generally would have no idea how to carry themselves in the playoffs should they find themselves there, if indeed it truly could be called a team.

As Kozlov will be leaving, the Thrashers will have traded away two of the more prominent Russian players in the league. With Max Afinogenov due for a new contract after this season and his two Russian pals gone, he could be on his way out as well, which would leave just Antropov as the sole Russian on the team. Somehow that makes the signing of Nikolai not seem so smart a move. I must admit I'm a bit anxious to see how he performs as the sole Russian on the team. And if the Thrashers were hoping to bring Ilya Nikulin over from Russia, with almost no other Russians on the roster I think that is even less likely to happen now than ever. But then I doubt there was anyone who seriously thought he would ever leave one of the KHL's most dominant teams to come to Atlanta, as evidenced by Waddell essentially saying he'll believe Nikulin is coming to North America when he sees him at Philips.
Now naturally this leads straight to trade speculation. If Kozzy asks out, naturally, he'll likely leave the Thrashers via trade. At 37 years young, he won't step in and become the cornerstone of any team, even for the rest of the season, but he could help shore up the scoring and have a calming presence in the secondary scoring of a playoff team, maybe a young or inexperienced one, who is experiencing some playoff jitters.

While he could land on some Eastern Conference team with a need for secondary scoring and veteran presence and playoff experience (even if not in the last 6 or 8 yrs...), I tend to both think and hope he'll end up with a Western Conference team. The East has not had a very good year versus the West, so it's possible no Western Conference team in playoff position thinks he has the talent to cut it on their roster, but since the Lockout, the East generally has emphasized skating and open play more than the West, and with declining foot speed such that he has seemed to have trouble with the up-and-down style that the Thrashers have used over the last two seasons, I tend to think he'll be more likely to find a home on a Western Conference team. I think a Western Conference team would not need brilliant skating as badly as many Eastern Conference teams might would, and I hope he goes West because I'm not deluded about the Thrashers making the Stanley Cup Finals even if I do think they can make the playoffs, and while I really want to see Kozlov succeed and thrive, I am of the mindset that I want to see him do well except against the Thrashers.

In all, Kozzy has given us Thrashers fans some good years of good service. We saw both his career high in points and his career high in assists over the last four seasons happen in a Thrashers uniform while playing on great lines (Hosslov and Kahlua were pretty sweet lines in their time). He's been great on the powerplay for most of his tenure with the Thrashers, and has even played some quality time on the penalty kill (remember how good the Thrashers' PK was at scoring a few years ago with Kozlov-Hossa and Perrin-Dupuis? Even if they weren't the best at denying opposing PP goals, they were still impressive). And he's had some witty lines and great interviews during his time with the Thrashers. He seems to have been a genuine fan favorite for his persona and his play on the ice over the years in Atlanta. I think there are a great many Thrashers fans who will be sad to see him go. I'll definitely be sad to see Kozzy go, but I wish him well in his future endeavors. Thanks for all the years, Kozzy!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Why I don't think the Thrashers are moving within the next five years

(EDIT: I forgot the title)

I know this article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says nothing about the professional sports franchises in and around Atlanta, but it certainly illustrates what Gary Bettman and the Thrashers have been saying: The NHL is not leaving Atlanta. The corporate situation is just too damn ideal to move the team at this point. "Na- gon' do it. Doesn't make sense at this juncture."

Why'd the 'Peg "fail"? Certainly not due to lack of fans, as a Canadian that doesn't watch hockey is even more rare than they cook steaks on Looney Tunes. The fans packed the building, bought memorabilia, bought concessions, and basically did anything any fanbase can do to support their team. I've read recently that part of the problem with the Jets was that the team owner didn't own the building and therefore couldn't rake in concessions or sales in team stores in the building. The ASG owns the operating rights to Philips, so that's one major advantage, as is having another professional team in the Hawks, which they also own, playing in the same building. Hard to take away half of those home games between NHL and NBA teams in the building.

But whenever you hear people talking about the Jets leaving Winnipeg, the catchphrase "corporate sponsorship" comes up. (Boy, that goes right next to "moving in the right direction" and "improving our hockey club" on my bingo card...) The Atlanta corporate scene is growing. There simply is no denying that. The question for some, myself included, has been "Is it growing enough to support the teams?" And even if it is, "Will the fanbases back up the teams?" Now with some teams, the answer to the latter is pretty obvious. The NFL doesn't seem to allow anything less than a sellout, and I can honestly say the only time I've ever seen Turner Field empty was when the landscapers were out in force on a non-game day, though it's been some time since I kept up with the Braves much. With the Hawks, they really rejuvenated their fanbase with their Cinderella story in the playoffs a couple of years ago, short-lived though it was. Which leaves the Thrashers. It's long been said that the lockout threw a monkey wrench into the growing fanbase, as any lockout in any league will do. Add in some key trades that saw the Thrashers' stars and would-be studs leave town for what amounted to spare parts, less than optimal draft choices who never became what they were supposed to be, and a stagnant management despite what appears at first, and second, glance to be consistent inconsistency and failure, and it's easy to see why the fans in Atlanta have been disgruntled.

But the corporate aspect remains. Those luxury boxes and shop and restaurant rents don't get paid by your average Joe taking in a hockey game with his family or buddies. Some corporate entity has to pony up that money. And in Atlanta there certainly seems to be more than enough of that corporate money.

As the AJC article states, Ohio has been losing corporate dollar to Georgia at a pretty quick clip since 1999, the year the Thrashers started playing. As a southerner, and a guy with roots in Georgia, I have to admit I like the sounds of that. As an American, it's not as cool. It's like taking candy from one brother to give it to another because he doesn't seem so needy. (bad analogy, but it'll have to do) But the fact is that the Atlanta corporate scene is experiencing some proverbial sunshine right now. In all seriousness, given the information in that article, I'm more worried about the financial situation for Columbus than Atlanta. That's not to say I'm not concerned about the Thrashers though. With both teams seemingly on the upswing, I'm not truly concerned for either at this point in time.

And then there's the league itself to consider. The NHL hasn't been fond of moving teams over the last 10 or 15 years. People hate to hear it, but Phoenix isn't the first team to be "bailed out" by the league. Buffalo and Pittsburgh have been helped along, and both of those teams have done pretty well over the last 5 or so years. So the NHL has set a precedent of keeping teams where they are. Which bodes well for the Thrashers.

It's not all rosy and cozy though. As Jeff Schultz reported some time ago, hardly a Craig Custance as far as reputation goes but pretty solid in that particular piece, Bettman is also growing tired of the Ding-a-ling Brothers Circus Show running (ruining?) the Thrashers. And to be perfectly honest, it gives me a measurable quantity of confidence in league and team to see that the commissioner of the league wants the owners to straighten up and doesn't put their public image (which wasn't very saintly to begin with...) above the success of the Thrashers and the NHL in Atlanta.

The good news is that everyone seems to realize that the most recent rumor is just that, a rumor. Thrashers General Manager and Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Don Waddell recently refuted the rumor himself. And the Winnipeg Free Press recently told people to chill out, that the NHL isn't returning to Winnipeg in the immediate future,though they certainly don't completely extinguish hope for an NHL team, but who can blame them? Not I, for one. I'd sure as hell miss my Thrashers if they left town. Yes, I know Atlanta has already lost one team in the Flames, so it's a little different, but the general idea is that losing your team sucks. But with the corporate situation the way it is in Atlanta, it doesn't look like the Thrashers are in too much danger of leaving in the near future. Which is absolutely alright with me.

Now let's work on those owners...

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Blizzard Warning in WNC

This could be fun... It's not like it'll be major accumulations by Canadian or New England standards, but still, windy as hell + blowing and drifting snow = blizzard.

I just hope it doesn't knock out the power so I don't have to miss the Thrashers game, ironically against the Avalanche, tonight.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

More on Kari Trade

First off, The Cust's blog post on the Kari trade and its impacts on Dallas and Turco in particular. He's not called Craig Custance for nothing.

And something else, which I just realized was the fruition of a pipe dream of mine from last offseason. I'd been hoping the Thrashers would trade Kari since last summer if he didn't step up in 2009-2010 and become what made him the #2 (hahaha) pick in 2002. My reasoning? If he never realized his potential, or enough of it, with the Thrashers, they would need to sever any and all ties possible with that era of drafting mistakes. As the only other marquee name of his draft class from that era, Lehtonen was the obvious choice to me. Shipping him out signals a full turnover for the Thrashers in my mind, and a certain kind of accountability, an admission of error perhaps. Not in drafting him so high, for he truly had the upside to merit such, but rather in holding on to him so long. I would've been largely done with him after a truly dismal playoff performance and Kari Down 2007-2008. I know that's giving up on him really early, especially with how he played in 05-06 and then in 06-07 to get the Thrashers nearly into the playoffs and then into the playoffs in front of far inferior defenses, but I never did think he had the mental fortitude to do it. I can't really put my finger on it but he seemed too Christensen-type of critical of himself and others, almost like he was really beating himself up about any mistakes, and that just can't exist within the mind of a goalie backing playoff-caliber team.

For his sake, I hope I'm wrong and he has a successful career revival with Dallas. And for the sake of his quality of life after hockey, I really hope he is through with back/hip/groin/neck ailments.

Kari Trade Impacts

So. Karppa is headed to Dallas. Southbound trains, singing the blues, that sort of thing? Not likely. A new start, a change of scenery, an (almost) absolutely clean slate, and a new team. As Marty Turco has been struggling of late, and not getting any younger, I like this deal on Dallas' end. In my mind they didn't give up too much, but this deal won't be fairly evaluated, ever. Down the road it'll be judged by how Kari played, and to an extent that is fair. But that completely removes the gamble taken by Stars' management. I like this move for that alone: A ballsy declaration that they're at least gunning for the dance for Lord Stanley's Cup, right now. In the here-and-now, I'm sure there are those who say Waddell absolutely fleeced GM Joe N. in Dallas. I say that ain't any more likely than Kari playing another game in Atlanta. And I'm sure there are those saying Dallas gave up WAY too much for a porcelain goalie who probably won't even be able to win the job from Turco if he IS healthy. To them I say watch and see. Karppa is a true talent. Almost got an over-the-hill or wet-behind-the-ears Thrashers team into the playoffs in 05-06 even after a FIVE GOALIE CAROUSEL to start the season. In 06-07 he wasn't quite in the same form, but he still got the Thrashers into the playoffs. Next time he's there I would think he won't buckle under the pressure. And yes, there was pressure in Atlanta. Wah WAH, wah wawawah. (how the hell do you spell Peanuts Gang's adults' conversations??)

Now then. On the the Thrashers.

Impacts. Waddell recently said the Thrashers could very well be buyers at the deadline after the Olympic break. One thing you HAVE to have in order to buy the talent you want/need is prospects (EDIT: also, draft picks, and we have a few of those we could move as well). Are the Thrashers acquiring a few extry prospects here and there with intent to sell? On defense, there's already something of a logjam (again. And hey, I think I could get used to seeing that written about the Thrashers!) with Oduya, Bogosian, Enstrom, and Hainsey likely making the top four next season, with Valabik and Schubert rounding out the top six. That doesn't list the prospects, but my mind organizes differently than that. The prospects who are thought to have a halfway decent shot at making the NHL roster are Kulda, who would likely fall somewhere 4-6, and Postma (who I personally think probably needs another little while in a pro league and a few more pounds, but I'll willingly admit error on that) who could challenge for a top four spot should a vacancy arise. So there doesn't seem to be room for Vish II. Whether or not a veteran defenseman is moved next season, as it is highly unlikely for this season with the team striving for a playoff berth down the stretch (unless the team stinks up the last 3 games before the Break and is in a position to sell at the deadline), is pure conjecture, and would need some more information first: do we hang on to all these prospects and move a veteran Dman (Kubina?) or do we buy at the deadline and send some prospects somewheres else? Either way, fun stuff. And certainly a hell of a lot more excitement for 'Lanter fans than we've had in many moons as regards player movement.

Kari Down 2010-2011 Dallas

If Kari Lehtonen needs to spend some time on the fritz next season, it looks like he'll be doing it in Dallas. Frankly, I'm blown away that Waddell could get anything for him. But then, I suppose, now that he's "healthy" again, and before having gotten into a single second of NHL action this season, with his finish to last season in mind, he is something akin to a commodity stock: high risk, high reward. If he is no longer seemingly made of glass, Dallas has not lost the farm on a roll of the die, and if he returns to the form he displayed at the end of the 2008-2009 season, Dallas could well have made an extremely shrewd trade. It all depends on how Lehtonen does. However, as stated, I'm surprised Waddell got anything for him. EDIT: Upon viewing further details, the return seems to be less than I had thought at first, though the prospect coming Atlanta's way seems to be mustard. EDIT II: Upon reading the clarification, there was also a 4th rounder thrown in for Lehtonen. I like that. Some good, gritty players can be found in the 4th round, and some late bloomers. With Rick Dudley a Thrasher now, and doing what he loves to do, evaluate talent, I have a lot more faith in this team's scouting. I'm not predicting a Datsyuk-esque coups, but I think in years past a 4th round was essentially like giving an aborigine Australian a laptop computer: "Cool, what's this? Shiny. How's it work, and what do I do with it? ... Nah, no thanks. I can't use it anyway. I'd just squander it so I'll just let you keep it." I think this is about right for both teams. Kari is a SERIOUS gamble right now, though I tend to believe he'll at least be around 80% of the player he was expected to be, which would still be a bona fide NHL starter. He may never be an All-Star, but he should be a serviceable goalie for the Stars for a goodly little while, if they re-sign him in the offseason that is. And I could be wrong on this, but it seems to me that Dallas has a thing for Finns. Lehtinen, Miettinen from a while back, seems like I'm forgetting a few but anyway, and now Lehtonen? (Also: Nice. Hope the fans can pronounce Kari's name in Dallas. It's soooo unlike anything they've ever seen before...)

Now then. Kevin Allen seems to have been the main Thrashers news breaker of late, and I don't know if he's ahead of the curve or not, but he is what I would call a reliable media outlet, so I take what he says at face value.

Kari being traded

Dallas giving up prospect defenseman Ivan Vishnevskiy

Not sure what you're getting at here, KA...

A little tidbit on Ivan Vishnevskiy

Clarification! Thanks Kev!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Thrashers de-claw kitty cats

Holy Hell! These Thrashers just knocked off a pretty solid Panthers team backed by All-World caliber netminding.

I may have been a bit rash in declaring a hiatus was a'comin' for my following of the Thrashers. The team played as, well, a team. As has happened for a majority of the season, the Thrashers fell behind in the first. Just like in Warshington. But in both these contests, unlike many others during the earlier part of the season, the Thrashers came out and competed in the first period, and never really stopped competing throughout the entirety of the game. It was a true joy to take in, with the Thrashers playing very well before a damn big and damn loud and rowdy crowd.

The Thrashers had a hell of a time getting back to Philips Arena though, as inclement weather necessitated spending all day traveling together instead of going back home to their own homes and families. Which raises the question (again, as it has been a major question all season) - If the Thrashers are so much better on the road, why? Of course, the dwindling home crowd could be a factor, as it's always far easier to play before your home crowd when they can be called, well, a crowd. And that's true for any sport. But that is something the Thrashers can control only indirectly through winning games and playing good hockey. What I wonder is this: What do the Thrashers do differently for away games? Is it that the team all stays in the same hotel and therefore the team is more immediate?

I don't suggest the team move into a complex from which there is no escape, but surely it wouldn't hurt the overall budget too badly to experiment a time or two by staying in a team hotel the night before a game and having everyone go back to the hotel instead of back to their homes. I doubt they'll ever even try it, but it would be interesting to see the results of said experiment. Though I will say there would be no real and true method for quantifying the results, so it could just as easily be a fluke of circumstances were it actually to "work" and the team perform well following the hotel stay.

But it's pretty interesting to think about. Anyway, it sure as hell beats the dismal what-ifs we Thrasher's fans have discussed of late...

Friday, February 5, 2010

Hiatus a'comin'

There once was a man named Kovalchukit,
Who wanted to make the big ducats,
Have a competent GM,
And a team that could win,
And so as a fan I say I've about damn had enough of this crap!

I wish the boys well, but I'm gonna take a little hiatus from the Thrashers after this weekend, as I have nothing better to do during the course of the weekend itself.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Thrashers fans' bagged heads

Instead of disgruntled fans going to Thrashers' games wearing a bag on their head that says "FIRE WADDELL" I think they should wear bags that say "FIRE GROSSMAN"

Tomatoes at those at whom tomatoes should be thrown

With Kovalchuk being traded there really isn't a lot of joy in Red Mudville right now. And a lot of people are dumping on Waddell yet again. "He'll never get what Kovy is worth in a trade. He just isn't capable." etc. But the thing that everyone saying that seems to be overlooking is that there is no such thing as a fair trade involving a superstar. They're like goaltenders in that regard: there simply is no equivalent value in terms of skaters.

So Waddell getting what he got for Heatley was phenomenal: he actually got back a player who could be classed as a superstar. However, getting what he got for Hossa was probably about par for the course, even though it effectively trimmed the fat out of Pittsburgh's pipeline. Waddell has had some real stinkers in his time: Stefan (but at the time he was the consensus; had it been almost any other GM it would've been put entirely on the player) for starters, goalie carousels for years, Kari Lehtonen's injured (and out of shape?) self taken way too high in the draft (see also: DiPietro, Rick. My point here is that at least he wasn't signed to a ludicrously lucrative contract), Coburn-for-Zhitnik (again, a good move at the time: Zhitnik actually helped put the Thrashers back into the playoffs in a way that Coburn wasn't, whether due to coaching [Hartley always did seem to favor veterans even when they'd outlived their usefulness...] or his own faults as a young guy who'd had his brains scrambled a bit by Mike Rupp in a fight he should've declined) to merit pause for thought and even consideration for termination of employment. Hossagate gets lumped in there, but it doesn't belong there. Again, there quite simply IS NO EQUIVALENT TO THE VALUE OF A SUPERSTAR IN TERMS OF OTHER SKATERS EXCEPT ANOTHER SUPERSTAR.

Don's a great guy from everything you can read about him from people who've actually met him. He seems to have a very affable personality and is a very personable guy. He doesn't get upset when asked a question he has stated he will not answer. He hasn't ever curtly said "Next question." when asked an uncomfortable question by a disgruntled fan in a Town Hall meeting. He even takes the time to talk with fans even when he's clearly on business. I've honestly never hear or read of a time he got huffy with a fan and told them to leave or left them himself. And many people agree that on the whole he's been pretty good with the money end of things for the Thrashers (even though the team seems to be leaking oil like Exelby would be after playing two and a half minutes and then having the puck iced) and has competently run the Atlanta Thrashers from the business side of things. However, he has more critics than Ian Laperrierre has bends in his nose when it comes to the hockey side of things. Those critics will often say things like "He didn't even have any measurable success in the IHL. He can't possibly be successful in the NHL, even if he were handed an all-decade team." and it is somewhat true, he's never really had much measurable success (read: PLAYOFFS/CHAMPIONSHIPS) but he has built a good team from next to nothing twice in Thrashers history, and this last time it took only a couple of years. And as Daculafan said, the owners deserve a very large portion of the blame for these things. I feel like Waddell is at least a slightly above-average NHL GM who has an ownership group that is so piss-poor at everything they do (except in-fighting in court or almost anything Atlanta Hawks) that they bring him down so much, he could probably build a consistent playoff-caliber team with a solid and stable ownership group. And so with that in mind, I say let's see how the Atlanta Thrashers look in the Post-Kovalchuk Era before calling for Waddell's head.

To me, Don Waddell has just always seemed like the Dutch kid with his thumb in the dyke.

HEY-oh!!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Thrashers Ninged by Lightning

Bollocks. Can't win if you can't score. And these Thrashers just aren't built for the 1-0, 2-1 games.

C'est la vie.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Kovalchuk to Russia.

With the Thrashers unable to re-sign star left winger Ilya Kovalchuk this far into the National Hockey League season, it's a safe bet that the Russian standout hockey player will go back to Russia following completion of the Atlanta Thrashers' 2009-2010 campaign. Many have speculated that he will be traded to another team before the NHL's trade deadline on March 3, and that is a distinct possibility. But don't count on the Russian forward sticking around the NHL after the season: sources say it is far more likely that he will return to Russia. And while many believe he will be going back to Russia in order to play in the Kontinental Hockey League, that could be as wrong as saying he will re-sign with the Thrashers.

Rumors regarding Kovalchuk's future have flown almost as nimbly as Russia's new fifth-generation fighter, but in truth he will be going home with intent to fly the new Sukhoi T-50. Always fiercely loyal to his country, Kovalchuk frowned when asked if he would to stay in America, where he has lived for several years, and fly an American F-22 Raptor for the United States. "(The T-50 is) like the American F-22, but cooler, because it's Russian," Kovalchuk said.

It is believed by the Chops that this article, written by Ilya Kramnik, was actually authored by Kovalchuk himself, as it is very common for a psudonymn to be the same first name and last initial, Ilya Kovalchuk, and that Kovalchuk was testing the waters for whether or not his knowledge would be accepted into aviation circles in Russia. His athletic ability cannot be questioned, as he has performed to a near-superstar status on dismal Thrashers' rosters for nearly ten years and is always near the top of his club in average time on ice per game. After having exhausted the exhilerations of playing NHL hockey in Atlanta, it should come as no surprise that the Russian sniper often referred to as "the Czar" would seek to become the Czar of the skies in a multirole fighter jet that will be as big an international star as Kovalchuk himself.

The parallels between Kovalchuk and the T-50 are very intriguing, indeed: both are Russian and tend to let their actions speak for themselves; both are expected to play major roles for Russia at the international level for the foreseeable future; and both have been delayed in serving their country to the fullest by facing financial issues, the resolutions of which will bring both Kovalchuk and the T-50 to the foreground in Russia.

In hockey, Kovalchuk has had great success in the international arena, much more so than with the Atlanta Thrashers. And like on international ice, where Kovalchuk has often etched his name on the scoreboard with stealth, agility, or just sheer firepower, he hopes to utilize the stealth, agility, and firepower of the aircraft to win the hearts of Russians in yet another way. But as usual, "Kovy" was humble when asked about how big a role he could play in Russian air power. "I don't care about (being a star). The most important thing for me now is just do my job."

"I'm excited for the challenge. Hopefully, we can do some damage," said Kovalchuk. Indeed, it will be a challenge for Ilya, but it is perhaps the challenge for which he has been waiting his entire life.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Wha'bout them Leafs?

Quite an interesting day for the Leafs and their fans. Scared me for a time there. I know it still could happen (though I hope it doesn't), but what with the Leafs giving up so much of their scoring, (roughly 38% by Kevin Allan's estimate on Twitter), and details trickling out to those of us not in the loop on the presser, it really looked like they were clearing the way among their scorers for a certain Russian who plays for Atlanta. I'll admit, it still could happen, but at least it didn't happen today. Gotta say, that Burkie, he certainly provides some entertainment, love 'im or hate 'im.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Kovalchuk slips Flyers roofie, Thrashers come back to win

Kovy completely ripped off Matt Carle after a faceoff and roofed the shot to pull the Thrashers within one. Peverley was next to score, after which I witnessed a classic Kamal call: "Rich Peverley!! I know your vanity plates make no sense to anyone but you!!" Sounds like a great line for the Ten Gallon Dick series over at The Blueland Chronicle, except that I'm not quite sure how acting-Sheriff Peverley could have a license plate...

Slater later scored his second of the night, his second 2-goal game of both the season and his career. I don't know how better to say it, so I'll quote Ben Wright on Twitter.With the win, the Thrashers are back in playoff position, if even for one night only. **UPDATE** Having finally watched the highlights from the game, I have to say, Evander Kane pretty much scored both of those goals by ricocheting them in off Slater's stick...

Stulberger has been on a Blazing Saddles kick tonight: just now, sometime around talking about the Ottawa Senators and their 8th straight win, "horn-swoggling" was said. I think we're all indebted to Stulie (Johnson) for clearly stating what needed to be said.

Though I didn't see it as I was listening via radio feed, Moose came way out and challenged a Flyer on a breakaway. The two collided, and Moose lost his mask and ended up with his jersey over his head. Kamal, always good for a funny line, dubbed Moose "Headless Heddy", which brings up the question: As NHL goalies often get a new mask every season, will Moose's next mask be a Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Ichabod Crane-themed mask? Will we see "Ichabod Moose" in 2010-2011?

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

MOOOOOOOOOSE

Moose pretty much stole this game. Seriously.

Also, liked the Mystery-like ending to the game, where one team (this time, the bad guys) pulls the goalie and then rings a shot off the post in the dying moments of the game. Thrashers beat the Ducks 2-1! Hopefully it's not too little too late.

Obstruction as a cause for Little, White, Kozlov slumps?

All throughout the Ducks-Thrashers game, Dan Kamal was saying the NHL is allowing more and more obstruction penalties go. Which makes me wonder... Could all these hooks and holds be a large part of why Slava Kozlov and Todd White and Bryan Little, all three fairly small guys who, in a wide-open league, would need to showcase skating or veteran craftiness in order to overcome their small statures. Also, in order to pick up a good number of assists, the players who would be skating into the open space into which White, Little or Kozlov might be passing would need to be able to arrive at said open ice. Should either the passer or the recipient be held up, it would mean the passing lane would be gone and it might even eliminate a quality scoring chance. It could also add unexpected wear and tear to the (older) bodies of White and Kozlov, which could be part of why they've both been slow and therefore scratched a few times.

Just something to think about. I doubt there's any way to prove it, but it's something that has my interest.

Articles to articles

Upon reading a few articles today, I have two very differing thoughts on two of the pieces, both of which can be summed up with quotes from Blazing Saddles.

EXHIBIT A: "Authentic Frontier Gibberish"


The first involves something that, were it in print, would be classified as little more than toilet paper. It is poorly written, with no clear points and the thrown-together nature of the initial rough draft of a 9th grader's "What I Like Best About..." essay. It would seem the series title of "Campbell's Cuts" is a bit too appropriate, as it seems this article was taken from the trash bin. He has one or two salient points throughout the entire piece (and I use the word "piece" for a reason...). Quite frankly, it is so poorly written, so obtuse and non-linear, this thing that must have bypassed its editors completely, I'm surprised he could remember the aforementioned salient points well enough to put them in his piece, despite their being stated ad nauseum for six or eight months now. Judging from this piece, and I am so mortified that such a piece was allowed to exist that I likely won't waste my time on another unless I need to feel good about myself, Ken Campbell is to hockey journalism what Colin Campbell is to NHL discipline: totally arbitrary. If Ken Campbell had any credibility beforehand, and a rotten egg like this is not often laid by mistake or only once, it should be seriously questioned after submitting that... thing.

EXHIBIT B: "Well Put!" (This is such a classic scene I had to include the whole thing. That, and I couldn't find a video of only the revelant bit. Fast-forward to about 2:30 for the actual line)


The second article is a better-written, far less biased, and MUCH more coherent article with far superior groundwork on (more or less) the same thing, though Wysh doesn't descend into a rabbit trail whose essence is anti-salary cap diatribe. Wyshynski examines the options the Thrashers have and gives an apt analogy in order to put the situation into something easier to understand among the huddled masses, lists some pros and cons and possible consequences, and, most importantly for a writer or editor or any kind, DOESN'T STRAY FROM HIS SUBJECT AND ACTUALLY EDITS FOR CONTENT.

Take good notes now, Kenny boy. That's how one should write about something.

Even Campbell's comrade over at The Hockey News (which is quite often a joke of journalism in my opinion, but that's neither here nor there) is ready to admit that his conjecture is... conjecture. He also writes a much more fluid piece, doesn't write from a position of bias and doesn't trash anybody, and actually does enough groundwork to come across as sober and at the very least half-witted, and more likely in possession of a fully functioning brain that has not taken a vacation. Not to mention Boylen actually makes a trade proposal that might, just maybe, make an ounce of sense or more for both teams involved. If Boylen usually writes less-than-stellar pieces, this one is far above his average. I wouldn't know either way because in general I don't keep up with The Hockey News, but this Boylen piece actually is worth reading, actually.

Maybe Rory convinced Kenny that today was Casual Friday...

Monday, January 25, 2010

Thrashers still have a chance



They still have a shot at the playoffs, but it's very near the point of no return at which the Thrashers are, for all intents and purposes, out of the playoffs. Not mathematically eliminated, but that is often a formality for teams that know early they won't make the postseason shindig.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Oh the pain.

Well, at least Boris Valabik got his first fight win of the season, and in a fairly decisive fashion... Looks like he *might* have figgered out how to fight a shorter guy and USE THAT HEIGHT TO HIS ADVANTAGE. He's in no danger of being thought the next Derek Boogaard, but he might yet develop into a decent tough guy who can play a little, or the other way round as a decent 5-7th defenseman who can fight with most players in the league, excepting Rick Rypien. Maybe Valabik can be like a slightly taller, poor-man's version of John Erskine? Still say he was drafted too high, but I like his presence in the lineup.

Nitty owns the Thrashers, but that doesn't really make it suck any less that the 'Ning gained a point on the Thrash. Or that the Thrashers seem to have returned to their December-ish ways following a nice little 5-game stretch of 7 points out of 10...

Saturday, January 23, 2010

I love this team.

Well, I had been gonna say something about how well the Thrashers did vs. Toronto after a dismal first, but Rawhide over at the AJC and the gents of The Blueland Chronicle had that pretty well covered already, so I didn't. Annnnd, then we go out and lose to the "Tropical Depressions" as Bird Watchers Anonymous called them before the game, so it's a little late for that now... Woo Thrashers.

Anyway, on to the 'Ning.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Thrashers trounce Sens

Huh. Who'd'a thunk? Looks like this team remembers how to play. Kovy with 1g 2a, Whitey with 1g 1a, Kozzy with 2a, BOULTS with 1g, Little with 1g 1a. And Ondrej Pavelec picked up what I believe was his first career NHL point with an assist on Bryan Little's 3rd period goal to go along with a very solid performance in net. Well done Pavs!

Now then. If this team remembers how to play and how to win on their next outing, they stand a chance of rebuilding their psyche and making a push for the playoffs. If they lose vs Buffalo or 2 of the next 3 or 4 games, that probably would pretty much do them in for the season. That is conjecture on my part, but it would create a playoff obstacle that would be extremely difficult to overcome.

Please make sure your safety belt is properly secured at this time. Keep all limbs inside the car at all times, and keep some Tums handy. Looks like we're in for a little bit of a ride down the stretch.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Thrash/Caps Simulation, Game I

The Thrashers really frustrated me with the 8-1 drubbing at the hands of the Capitals. I know the Caps are an elite team, but I feel like the Thrashers could have, nay, SHOULD have had a better game. In response to such frustration, I decided to simulate a 7-game series (I had originally thought a 10-game series like one might would discuss between two fighters, but I don't particularly feel like watching the extra three games), using NHL 2k8 for XBOX 360 (my most current game... I'm working on that), between a semi-accurate Capitals roster and a Thrashers roster consisting only of current Thrashers Jim Slater and Ilya Kovalchuk, the rest of the Thrashers roster being filled out by players who are or were journeyman NHLers at best, including the goalies. And oddly enough, there are a couple of (old) former Thrashers on the roster for this, including some (busted) draft picks. Here are the teams.

Washington Capitals
Alexander Ovechkin - Sergei Fedorov - Alexander Semin
Matt Cooke - Brendan Morrison - Chris Clark
Tomas Fleischmann - Brian Sutherby - Eric Fehr
Matt Bradley - Jakub Klepis - Ben Clymer
Tom Poti - Mike Green
Brian Pothier - Jesse Schultz
Steve Eminger - John Erskine
Jose Theodore
Brent Johnson

Atlanta Thrashers

Ilya Kovalchuk - Jim Slater - Peter Ferraro
Milan Bartovic - Simon Gamache - Brad Tapper
Matt Ellis - Tommi Santala - Brad Leeb
Quintin Laing - Ben Simon - Petr Kanko
Jeff Jillson - Dan Smith
Marc Moro - Peter Ratchuk
Alex Brooks - Tomas Kloucek
Philippe Sauve
Jean-Marc Pelletier

Game Settings
Nothing fancy here. Period length of 10 minutes for expediency, fighting turned all the way up so as to see some tensions released, and shot accuracy turned down just a little so that not every shot is right on target.

Game I

The Thrashers rang 1 shot off the post; the Capitals, 3.

Hardly a surprise, but turnovers in the neutral and offensive zones caused the Thrashers much duress, but they were able to cycle the puck for sustained pressure on several occasions, much like the real Thrashers. Also like the real Thrashers, they fell to 2-1 before equalizing and forcing overtime, during which the Thrashers seemed to be playing for the shootout, as they played dump and chase, made frequent line changes, bunkered up in front of the crease to keep shots and opposition players out. Shots seemed to be heavily in favor of the Capitals in the OT period, and I only recall two shots attempted by the Thrashers in OT, one going very wide and the other deflecting into the stands, but I didn't take a count so I can't really be sure.

Shootout
Kovalchuk shoots first, hits post. Miss.
Ovechkin shoots first for the Caps, hits post. Miss.
Gamache shoots second for the Thrash. Takes it right into the goalie. Save.
Fedorov shoots second for the Caps. Misses wide.
Slater shoots third for the Thrashers. Takes it right into the goalie. Save.
Semin shoots third for the Caps, shoots 5-hole. Save.
Santala shoots fourth for the Thrash. Shoots it right into the goalie's right leg pad. Save.
Poti shoots fourth for the Caps. Goes 5-hole. Save.
Bartovic shoots fifth for the Thrashers. Shoots 5-hole, stick save.
Fleischmann shoots fifth for the Caps. Dekes, goes 5-hole. Save.
Ferarro shoots sixth for the Thrash. Leg pad save.
Morrison shoots sixth for the Caps. Shoots wide. Miss.
Leeb shoots seventh for the Thrash. Leg pad save.
Fehr shoots seventh for Caps. Leg pad save.
Jillson shoots eighth for the Thrash. Goes backhand, leg pad save.
Green shoots eighth for the Caps. Dekes goalie out of his pads, fires wide and high. Miss
Ratchuk shoots ninth for the Thrash. Goes backhand, rings it off the post, then back off the goalie. It trickles in for the goal.
Pothier shoots ninth for the Caps. Goes backhand, leg pad save.

Thrashers win, 3-2.

Three stars
3rd Star Ilya Kovalchuk
2nd Star Alexander Semin
1st Star Peter Ferraro

Game Stats:
Shots: 16 apiece
PIMs: 20 apiece, 4 fights (
No powerplays/penalty kills in this game.
Hits: 39-27 Capitals
Faceoffs Won Percentage: 53-47 Capitals
Passing Percentage: Capitals- 89%; Thrashers- 85%
Breakaways: Capitals-0/3; Thrashers-0/1
One-Timers: Capitals-0/8; Thrashers-0/8
Offensive Zone %: Capitals-22.0%; Thrashers-22.9%
Neutral Zone %: Capitals-12.3%; Thrashers-10.9%
Defensive Zone %: Capitals-17.8%; Thrashers-14.2%

Goalies:
Capitals - Theodore: Overall 82 Minutes 65:00 GA 2 GAA 1.85 SOG 16 SV 14 SV% .875
Thrashers - Sauve: Overall 65 Minutes 65:00 GA 2 GAA 1.85 SOG 16 SV 14 SV% .875

Thrashers of note in this game were Jim Slater and Ilya Kovalchuk, though neither potted the SO goal.

Slater: 1a, 2 shots, 50% faceoff success, 100% passing, 2 hits, missed in SO, 5th in TOI with 26:14 on 11 shifts, even +/-
Kovalchuk: 1a, 4 shots, 66% passing, 2 hits, 2 fights (both losses), missed in SO, 6th in TOI with 25:28 on 12 shifts, even +/-

Thoughts: A pretty heroic effort from Video Game Kaptain Kovy, picking up to fighting majors, an assist, competent passing, and generally creating some scoring chances while playing reliable, if not above-average defense. Video Game Slater played pretty much like Slater in real life. I counted many more collisions, but that particular video game only counts it as a hit if you knock the other guy down. Slates was very effective in this game. If the Video Game Atlanta Thrashers play this well the whole series, they could Cinderella the Video Game Washington Capitals and end up taking the series in a massive upset.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Postgame, Roughly during Casino Night

Well, the Thrashers played hard, got some great goaltending and a couple of lucky bounces, ended regulation tied at 1, and won in the shootout over the New York Rang...

Wait a minute, we didn't play the Rags last night. Lemme do a quick check of the boxscore here... Oh buggah. We lost by HOW MUCH??? Did we have the same 2 dmen and 3 forwards playing the whole game?? Did we even HAVE a goalie?? Wow. Now I'm really glad I didn't put down the Better Homes and Garden magazine and tune into the game last night...

Just for the sake of fun, I'm going to go simulate a 10-game series between the Warshington Capitals and the Atlanta Thrashers on my NHL2k8 for XBOX 360 and see what the outcome is. Oh, and I'm going to make the Thrashers have only Kovalchuk and Slater as the players that are currently on the team. The remaining cast will be played by old has-been's and never-was's and middle-aged (for professional athletes) never-will-be's. Kovy, because he's the captain and seems to be gunning for a monster contract, so we'll see if he can do enough to earn it in the video game realm. Slater, because he seems to be just about the only one on the entire team who actually gives a flying fuddy duddy. I will post the outcome at a later time.

I'm sure it'll feel like watching the REAL Atlanta Thrashed in real life. Beer at the ready! Forward, DRINK!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Capitals @ Thrashers 09 January 2010

Tonight the Thrashers (19-18-6; 1-6-3 in their last 10) host the Capitals (26-11-6; 6-4 in their last 10) and have a chance to show the NHL that they're ready to return to their early season form. The win over the Rangers in a shootout on January 7th finally broke the losing streak, but after such a dismal December the Thrashers are still in the process of pulling themselves out of a long-lasting slump, and a win a very strong team like the Capitals would do quite a lot to fortify team morale and confidence. The Thrashers have essentially gotten to the point that every point in the standings matters more than anything else has all season, and while they won't magically mathematically qualify for the postseason by winning tonight, a win could very well be the turning point in the season in the minds of the Atlanta Thrashers. They're still in the mix for a playoff spot, but are currently on the outside looking in by a few points. A win tonight could be the catalyst needed for that to change.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Rangers @ Thrashers 7 January 2010

The Thrashers host the Rags tonight during one of the worst periods in Thrashers hockey. Think about it....

Anyway, the Rangers (21-17-5; 7-1-2 in their last 10) have that Gaborik guy. I think he leads the league in goals right now. Gotta watch out for him. And they're coming into this game practically on fire. The Thrashers (18-18-6; 1-6-3 in their last 10) are coming home after being downtrodden and devastated during December. However, they earned points in two consecutive games vs. Buffalo and NYI before losing in regulation to the Penguins. If the regulation loss to the Pens didn't kill the Thrashers' confidence completely, I smell a win coming at home to keep this team over .500 by the NHL's points system.

enero, febrero, marzo....

The Thrashers went 4 and sucked-@ss in December, so here's to a much more bettererer January and Febtober!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Obstacles to Thrashers' playoff hopes

Chris Vivlamore of AJC sports fame has written a piece on 5 things the Thrashers need to do in order to right the ship.

While all these things are easily identified as problems, and therefore one could pass C-Viv the O'd cape of Captain Obvious, I think perhaps it needed to be said again. However, short of bringing up some kids from the farm one at a time until something works, I'm not entirely sure how to fix them without going outside the organization. I don't think it's time to fire either coach or general manager at this point. There could come a point where I agree with one or both of those lines of thinking, but I still think this is a playoff caliber team with playoff caliber management. Not, probably, Stanley Cup Finals caliber, and perhaps not even Conference Finals caliber, but I certainly think this team is capable of making the playoffs and even winning two or three games, hell maybe a series, while there. And, as Ben Wright posted via Twitter, the bar for qualifying for the postseason seems to be a bit lower in the Eastern Conference this season.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Thrashers @ Isles 2 Jan 2010 & the shootout

I tuned back into the game when the score was 5-4 because of this tweet. I had jumped the gun on finding something else to do. The game had a great finish, and I even agreed with the decision to play not to lose in the OT period in favor of the Thrashers' chances in the shootout. Unfortunately, that was where the Thrashers' luck ran out, as Moose uncharacteristically gave up two shootout goals on three attempts. Kozlov converted, but Kovalchuk and Peverley did not. The Thrashers fell in the shootout after a comeback attempt reminiscent of when the Thrashers were stealing games in the third.

Though the Thrashers have typically been pretty strong in the shootout with the likes of Moose in net and Kozlov usually scoring, but it has long been said that Kovalchuk does not perform as well in the shootout as might be expected. Peverley has scored some clutch goals during his time with the Thrashers, but . The loss in the shootout raises some questions: Should Kovalchuk be taken out of the shootout? Should Peverley? If so, whom should be inserted into the shootout lineup? Afinegenov was extremely dangerous on breakaways earlier in the season; I would likely put him in there were I to remove either Kovalchuk or Peverley, but I don't know which I would remove. Or perhaps it isn't broken at all and nothing needs to be changed. It just seems to this fan that the Thrashers rely on Moose to make a save or three and Kozzy a goal and aside from that, the shootout gameplan seems to be "Hope and pray we win." If and I knew a quicker way to do it than sifting through every game-deciding shootout since the lockout, or even this season, one by one, I would really like to see how often one goal is enough to walk away from the shootout with the extra point for the standings. Maybe the statisticians over at Bird Watchers Anonymous can help me out with that.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Thrashers at Islanders, 2 January 2010

So I tuned into the game at 7:25 and we were already down by 2. Within 15 minutes, the Thrashers had dropped another goal. Sorry Thrashers, I'll catch the boxscore tomorrow.

No Thrashers on U.S. Olympic Team

Can't really say I'm surprised. Craig Custance lists six Americans for an all-snub team, and Hainsey is on that list. While I like the respect for the Thrashers and their talent that Custance expresses by putting Hainsey on that list, I tend to disagree with calling Hainsey a "snubbed player" from the long list of those who didn't make the U.S. Olympic roster. He seems to have been struggling most of the season, with point totals on pace to be well below his totals last season. Bogosian is on pace for a pretty solid sophomore season points-wise (around 35 points by quick estimation), but there have been times when he seems to have been pulling an Exelby and passing to his D-partner or going for the big hit at the expense of sound defensive positioning, thus making him something of a liability, which is something that Brian Burke likely would not accept on his Olympic team. That they weren't selected doesn't surprise me at all, though I must say I am somewhat disappointed. Marty Reasoner could play a defensive and leadership role on the U.S. team, but I'm not entirely sure he would beat out someone like Langenbrunner or Drury for those roles at forward, especially since they tend to bring more offense to the table than does Reasoner. Jim Slater is the only other American-born Thrasher. I like Slates' hard work, but an Olympian he is not.

As an American myself, it would have been nice to have a player or two from my favorite NHL team to make the U.S. Olympic roster. Next time, though. By then I feel pretty sure that Bogosian will be a player they won't be able to dismiss, and there may well be another American-born Thrasher who makes the U.S. Olympic roster.

Thrash @ Isles

Thrashers (18-17-5; 2-6-2 in last 10) visit the Islanders (16-18-8; 4-5-1 in last 10) on the tail end of a back-to-back that saw them lose the handle in an OT loss to the Sabres in Buffalo. The Thrashers can't afford to overlook the Isles like they have twice this season, one time being the game in which Matt Moulson (15g and 11a for 26pts in 42 games; 2nd in goals, 4th in assists, 3rd in points on the Isles) recorded a hat trick in a 4-1 Isles win. The Isles are also coming in on the tail end of a back-to-back. The Isles finished their first game strong though, whereas the Thrashers spiraled downward after holding a 3-1 lead in the second. I've been more optimistic about the Thrashers' chances in the past.

If the Thrashers can come out like they did last night vs. Buffalo, they'll put themselves in a very good position for the rest of the game. If they do that and their legs hold out, they'll be a tough team to beat tonight. If they come out strong, and their legs hold out, AND they get a little luck (either the Isles tire out or are disinterested, or they get a couple of lucky bounces) they could even walk away from this thing with another one in the Win column.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

So the Thrashers dropped the game to Buffalo in OT after having a 3-0 lead in the 2nd. This is redonkulous. Let's hope tax season pisses the Thrashers off enough that they come out a'swingin' and have a rebound January and a return to the top echelons of the conference.