Archive for August, 2009

I trust you’ve all seen the story I did yesterday on the Ilya Kovalchuk negotiations. Sounds like they are progressing. My impression – and it’s only my impression – is that there isn’t cause for concern right now. I spoke with Don Waddell for about a half hour on Monday in his office. His opinion is something will get done. Now, anything can happen in contract negotiations (again a lesson I learned in the Ken Griffey Jr. incident) but I haven’t sense a reason to worry in my reporting. I also think things may move a bit faster once Kovy returns to the states with training camp just around the corner.

I also met Nik Antropov, Todd White and Nathan Oystrick yesterday. They all were working out at the practice facility. Spent some time talking to each for future blogs and Sunday notes column. Antropov is indeed big. I really had no idea. He wasn’t real talkative, but that could have been my questions. I spoke to him a lot about Kovy. Andy Sutton was working out with them as …

Continue reading Four goalies in the mix for Thrashers »

OK folks. I’m back from another week of vacation and some heavy reporting days. I’ll be taking another week in a couple weeks. I have to get all my time in before the season starts.

I spent some time in Duluth on Wednesday. I interviewed Eric Boulton and Chris Thorburn, who are training with a boxing instructor, for a story next week. The Thrashers web folks tagged along so they might have some video on their website soon. I think it will be a good story. They do it in part for conditioning and in part to bolster their on-ice fights. Let me tell you, those guys can punch. It’s a good thing a hockey player can’t get the same kind of leverage on skates as he can in a gym, because those were some powerful punches. Look for that next week. By the way, let me say that Boulton and Thorburn are very personable. I’ve dealt with them a couple of times this offseason and they could not have been nicer.

Also in the gym working out were Slava Kozlov, Johan Hedberg and Nathan Oystrick, …

Continue reading I’m back … and so are some of the Thrashers »

Sorry folks for neglecting the blog last week. It’s been a little bit crazy with some other assignments. I had to cover Tim Hudson rehab start for the Gwinnett Braves last Monday and spent three other days with the Falcons.

I did check in with the Thrashers today. There is not much going on. Some players might start trickling in to work out in advance of training camp so I’m hoping to start talking to them.

Before I leave for vacation next week (while the Thrasher prospects are in Traverse City, Michigan), I’ll give you the updates I have left on Daulton Leveille and Eric O’Dell from last month’s prospect camp.

LEVEILLE

The Thrashers other first-round pick (29th overall) last year played at Michigan State. The forward, listed at 6-feet, 165 pounds, had 14 points (8 goals, 6 assists) in 36 games and was the CCHA Rookie of the Month for October.

He will report back to Michigan State at the end of the month.

This is what he said about last season: “It was a really good year. The …

Continue reading My final prospect updates »