It is finished: Thrashers playoff hopes end in Boston
BOSTON – What was a forgone conclusion for two weeks finally became stark reality for the Thrashers.
Atlanta was eliminated from the playoff race with a 3-2 loss to Boston Saturday at TD Garden. The franchise is stuck on one postseason appearance – and zero wins – in its 11-year history. The Thrashers now head into an offseason of uncertainty with an unresolved ownership situation that could see the team sold and moved. Should it stay, the roster likely will be further reshaped.
“It’s frustrating, that’s the feeling right now,” Nik Antropov said. “Nothing else but frustration.”
The Thrashers (33-33-12, 78 points) had a promising start. At one point they were third in the Eastern Conference and first in the Southeast Division. A 30-game slide followed as they went 7-17-6 from late December to early March. The hole proved too deep.
After fighting their way back into the playoff race, the Thrasher traveled to Buffalo for a critical game on March 19. A win would have pulled them to within two points of the Sabres for the eighth and final playoff spot. They lost 8-2. From then on, with the teams ahead in standings posting wins, the Thrashers needed a miracle to make the postseason. It didn’t come.
“We can’t really blame anybody but ourselves,” Bryan Little said. “We put ourselves into this position. We played bad hockey for too long and waited until the end to start playing better.”
All season long, coach Craig Ramsay preached that his team needed an attention to detail. It plagued them much of the season and again on Saturday when two costly turnovers resulted in a short-handed and a penalty shot goal for the Bruins.
The Thrashers held a 2-1 lead in the second period on goals by Dustin Byfuglien (20th) and Evander Kane (19th). They had a chance to increase their lead with a power play when Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask was called for delay of game. Instead, Zach Bogosian turned the puck over near his own net and the Bruins capitalized as Daniel Paille wristed a shot that beat goaltender Ondrej Pavelec. It was the 10th short-handed goal allowed by the Thrashers.
In the third period, Bogosian skated up the middle of the ice and tried to flip a pass forward in the neutral zone. The Bruins’ Michael Ryder stepped in front of the puck, controlled it and raced in on Pavelec. Defenseman Johnny Oduya chased down Ryder but pulled him down and the referee awarded a penalty shot. Ryder converted the free chance with 7:29 remaining. With the win, the Bruins (44-23-11, 99 points) clinched the Northeast Division.
“The third goal, we were skating right into the middle of a trap and flipping the puck in the air,” Ramsay said. “That’s a detail we’ve talked about a lot, everyone should know by now. You just can’t skate into a trap in the middle. … You have a centerman or a speedy winger carry the puck with a defenseman as a backup. You don’t want a defenseman carrying the puck into the middle of a trap because if it’s turned over, who is the back guy? The goalie.”
The Thrashers have four games remaining before their offseason officially begins.
“We came into the season with high expectations,” Chris Thorburn said. “A lot of people didn’t realize how good a team we had. We had a great first half. We had that lull in January that killed us and set us back. We have a lot of talent here and hopefully we matured during the course of the struggles.”
Notes: Defenseman Tobias Enstrom suffered an upper-body injury in the first period and did not return. … Byfuglien’s goal was his second in the past 17 games. It was the first power-play goal by the Thrashers in five games, breaking an 0-for-16 slump and was just their second goal in 28 man-advantages over the past nine games. … Radek Dvorak was scratched for the second straight game with an upper-body injury. The forward left Tuesday’s game in Montreal in the first period and has not played or practiced since. Dvorak may be experiencing concussion-like symptoms but Ramsay would only say that he “just doesn’t feel quite right.”
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61 comments Add your comment
Brian
April 2nd, 2011
7:37 pm
The team has been playing better, here is to next year!!!
BTW, First!
Barry
April 2nd, 2011
8:13 pm
It’s depressing to see Zach just continue to regress in his developement. It’s too bad he can’t be sent to the AHL level to work on some things without being picked up on waivers. It’s also depressing this team, based on the first half of the season, were well on their way to a playoff berth. What in the world happened in Jan and Feb? The things they did right and well the first half of the season they started doing wrong and bad in Jan and Feb. First half of the season they had like the 2nd best PP. They were also top 10 in PK. They were scoring goals. Second half of the season the PP has steadily declined and their PK dropped to practically dead last in the entire league!!! There was also that stretch in Jan and Feb where they were doing very good to get 2 goals!!! They couldn’t score for a couple of months if their lives depended on it. I just don’t understand how a team can be doing everything right and then all of a sudden start playing like their minds were all wiped and they forgot how to win games, score, and kill penalties.
Swede
April 2nd, 2011
8:31 pm
I almost hope bogosian gets traded so the team that gets him will develope him to his potential.
Btw doesnt anyone else see that he is too jacked?. Compared to previous seasons he seems much more slower than usual. But it all comes to training, how to do it properly etc. The organisation should see this??? trainers??. He gained like 15 lbs atleast on preseason training and that´s not normal. You should gain max 5 lbs each year. Detroit´s gm stated in an interview with swedish television the importance of the right training. He said you should gain max 5 lbs each year else you´ll loose technical skills.When I saw him in preseason he seriously looked like a guy that only focus about getting heavier, like a body builder. It´s a pretty big difference on training with sport people and body builder. But it all comes to the ORGANISATION. He´s a good skater but he isnt explosive as ive seen him before. i didnt watch the rookie season by him, but anone tell me how he was like then?. On a pre-season interview he said to Ajc ” I haven´t lost a step”. That´s not whats its all about. you SHOULD gain steps each season, improving on all areas, even become faster and more explosive than he was before. You should always improve!.
I can only hope they will help him.
This is my point of view and it comes from a guy who has knowledge in training on a pretty high level.
PS sorry for bad english.
kovyoverrated
April 2nd, 2011
10:03 pm
So, I’ll ask this question again. WHY is Bogosian still on this team?
KLS1
April 2nd, 2011
10:42 pm
Jacked? The guys arms are string beans.
.I’ve said it before but replace bogo with anyone… kulda, postma, Meyer, valabik…and we are in the playoffs. That is how many games he has cost us this season…of course coaching should have fixed this issue long ago.
I want him to succeed here but this year he was consistently horrible….may need a change of scenery.
Atlanta
April 2nd, 2011
11:01 pm
The change of scenery will be the whole team moving out of Atlanta… Another pathetic season… Went in with no true goal scorer and another rookie coach.
jim
April 2nd, 2011
11:37 pm
Well they gave it a good shot.
Now we have to face the reality of rebuilding but with patience this team and city could have a winner in a few short years as long as we give the needed support.Here’s hoping to a new ownership arrangement,great marketing and a promising future for the Atlanta Thrashers.
sisu
April 2nd, 2011
11:57 pm
how disappointing to read this right away… “ownership situation that could see the team sold and moved”
Really? Nobody has said anything about moving in the NHL or did I miss something? I would expect a little more from AJC.
This crazy talk of trading Bogo is just crazy! If he does not bring a #1 or #2 line forward in return then the team should keep him no matter what. As to the training, it has been a weak link on this team for years until someone decides that they need to address it. Kari mentioned it, so has many other who have left the organization…If Ladd wants to be a Captain he should take some young guys under his wing.
Great strides in the last few games hope they carry to next season…
Puck Like A Porn Star
April 2nd, 2011
11:59 pm
This blog title is appropriate for Lent.
What
April 3rd, 2011
12:10 am
Atlanta has a hockey team? Why?
sisu
April 3rd, 2011
12:13 am
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=360417
Too funny!!! Decrease Text SizeIncrease Text Size
Text Size
Coyotes forward Eric Belanger does not want his team to leave Phoenix, but if it does, it appears that he prefers Quebec City over Winnipeg as a possible playing destination.
Speaking to Sun Sports media on Friday, Belanger reflected on the possibility that the club’s time in Phoenix could be down to its final weeks should the sale of the team to potential buyer Matthew Hulsizer fall apart.
“The guys have been talking about it a bit more every day, and the one sure thing is that we want to play in Phoenix and not in Winnipeg,” Belanger told Sun Sports. “Personally, and I won’t name any names, but I’ve chatted with guys that have played (in Winnipeg) and don’t want to go back. There are reasons why hockey wasn’t working in Winnipeg at the end, I don’t see how that would have changed.”
Puck Like A Porn Star
April 3rd, 2011
12:39 am
Hahahaha!! Where are the Winnipegboys now? Awesome quote by the first Thrasher to score a playoff goal!
Any chance that Hulsizer buys the Thrashers if he can’t buy the Dogs?
East Point Bob
April 3rd, 2011
12:43 am
Good Bye Zack, it has not been fun watching you regress to the point of being just plain awful !
Thrashy Thrashy
April 3rd, 2011
1:40 am
Can’t blame a 20-year-old kid for why we’re not in the playoffs. I blame the payroll. If we had 3 or 4 veteran forwards we could count on, we’d be in there. As it stands, we have almost none. That’s sad, isn’t it?
Dwayne
April 3rd, 2011
1:56 am
The Atlanta Thrashers are going absolutely nowhere unless it’s a permanent relocation to another city.
oh well
April 3rd, 2011
2:04 am
It is finally OFFICIALLY over. Thank God! It was technically over weeks if not months ago for the Thrashers but that pitiful exhibition in Bean Town made things official. No playoffs for these quitters. Anyone really surprised? Do not be! It was a team giveup effort from the very top which filtered down to the very bottom. At least Atlanta fans will not have to fret over these losers next season. Relocation will be officially announced after regular season concludes. I am going to record that joyous press conference. Maybe the NHL should just stay out of Atlanta. Sounds good to me!
Man do I miss Flames and Knights. Teams that played with heart and pride win, lose or draw!
oh well
April 3rd, 2011
2:31 am
By the way. That pile of human waste Pavs is slightly better than a high school goaltender. What a choker! STENDEK
Sage of Bluesland
April 3rd, 2011
8:13 am
No surprise at all….Saw the obvious signs back at the beginning of the year–and laughed at those who still bewieved!
Why you continue to subsidize this shameful incompetence, I will never understand.
10 out of 11 years of not even making the playoffs is entirely unacceptable–without significant turnover in management.
Not another dollar for this.
Cornbread
April 3rd, 2011
8:40 am
Sounds like CV is just as frustrated as the Thrashers.
As far as the 3 Bruins goals, all 3 were created off of turnovers. The first was by Enstrom but it was Kane’s fault who allowed his man to easily beat him lower down the wall when he had clear position over him. The third was clearly Bogosian’s turnover. The second goal was caused by what was a set play and a fluky hop of the puck over Byfuglien’s stick. Guys make those touch pass plays all the time. This time it didn’t work out and Paille was there to put home a great shot off of a lucky gift. All Bogo’s fault? Hardly. In fact, even the official scorer did not give Bogo a turnover on that one.
thrash head
April 3rd, 2011
8:48 am
Just makes me sad. Atlanta hockey fans deserve at least one year of a true Stanley Cup contender. Us older guys have lived and died with the Flames and Thrashers. A total of almost 20 years without a playoff series win. I still say Atlanta can be a great hockey team if somebody would give just a glimmer of success.
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
April 3rd, 2011
8:48 am
After (11) years, put the blame where it belongs: at the feet of the “President” of the Atlanta Thrashers!
g time
April 3rd, 2011
8:52 am
it was just appropriate that zac cost us the game. He cost us the playoffs too.
Harry Sinden
April 3rd, 2011
9:24 am
See y’all in Winnipeg!!
blah blah blah
April 3rd, 2011
9:38 am
yep trade a 20 year old D man and criticize DW for trading Coburn. You all would make good GM’s..just like the one everybody despised for making the same panic / stupid moves. Seriously if Bogo is this teams biggest problem, you haven’t been watching all year, let alone the effort of most players game in and game out because it just isn’t there on a consistent basis. If our goalie coach has to basically tear the regular players a new one for lack of effort..what does that honestly say about the coaching staff when it’s obviously not his job to do that..but it goes to show how awful this organization is..when the actual coach and assistant coach will not speak up and demand more from players..so the freakin goalie coach does it because he wasn’t scared to offend Ladd and Byfuglien like Rammy is, most notably..Byfuglien..as much as someone needs to jump on Bogo, Byfuglien seemingly is immune to those sentiments..because he doesn’t make the terrible misyakes Bogo does, he just takes games off.
Crazy Diamond
April 3rd, 2011
10:57 am
OK, so who won the office pool? I bet that they woul be eliminated before April.
Barry
April 3rd, 2011
11:08 am
First goal. Zach just stands there at the top of the crease, fishing the puck, and kicks it back to Pavelec which in turn generates a rebound that goes right to Recchi. What do Bogosian and Antropov do then? STAND THERE and WATCH as Recchi pops it in. No urgency. The second goal Buff passes the puck to Bogosian behind the net and starts to skate out to join the rush. Zach gets pressure and tries some weak flip pass to Buff who’s not even expecting to be even getting a pass like that and bam…score. On the third goal Bogosian has clear possession of the puck skating it out and again tries that same weak flip pass that burned him in the 2nd period. Turnover which leads to a break away, penalty, and penalty shot. All 3 goals were a result of Bogosian being too lazy or making a bad play and pass that burned him not once but twice. I watched Bogosian in his rookie season. He was assertive, skating, seeming to make smart plays, and be in good position. This season he has been slow, not assertive, at time panics with the puck, not in good position as he will chase players, and not quick with his reactions.
This team needs better players period. When your second line centers and right wings have been a revolving door all year something isn’t right. The first line is solid and set in stone but the rest of the lines have been a constant changing and shuffling of personel. This team lacks real NHL depth and talent.
Brendan
April 3rd, 2011
11:10 am
Blah, blah, blah, you sure let people’s comments bother you, rather than to dismiss them, accordingly. If someone said, “Look, people, the problems with the Thrashers can be directly traced to the arena’s LEED certification,” I wouldn’t bother responding to them. This is what you, “Blah, blah, blah,” have to realize. People have a right to their opinions, no matter how wong or offbase they happen to be. Let them rant. Bogosian is not getting traded. The deadline came and went. Next year’s deadline will come and go, too, while Bogosian remains. And no amount of posters opposition will change it. Dudley and Waddell have ruled on this matter, and they have the power, not the bloggers. No posters will suddenly replace Ric Dudley as GM of the team, Waddell as “President,” or the Heptacluster (Copyright 2010-11, poster Brendan, All Rights Reserved at U.S. Library of Congress) as owners. So, relax. Learn to ignore.
Let … it go. What would you expect upon the “confirmation” that the Thrashers are missing the playoffs, but comments of anger and frustration from the fan base that CARES about the team? Let them blow off their steam. That’s all that’s happening. I wish I could wave my magic wand and make goalies not need FIVE YEARS to develop, but that’s the going rate for that position. I wish I could wave my magic wand and make defensemen NHL-ready in two years, instead of the usual FOUR YEARS. But that’s how long it takes. Don’t want the requisite amount of time for players to develop? Fine, trade the picks for existing NHL goalies and NHL defensemen. Want to keep pick? Select a forward. Their development takes FAR LESS TIME to make the starting lineup and become NHL-ready.
I’m, personally, not upset at this season. Huh?? What???? I must hate the Thrashers, then??? No. I love the Thrashers. This is my ONLY team. But the facts are … we entered the season below the floor of the cap. We paid for a lottery draft finish of about 73-74 points. The results? We just might be a .500 team (82-points) at season’s end. Last time I checked, a .500 season for the floor of the cap reflected pretty good return on investment. Does that mean everything’s perfect? I withdraw the question from the depths of stupidity from which it was asked. We have ownership problems to the Nth degree. Hopefully, that will get straightened out this offseason. This team is NOT leaving.
Tampa Bay has had two ownership changes since 2007. Look at them now? They clinched a playoff spot. They’re back, with picks of Stamkos and Hedman in the lottery draft, plus additions like Simon Gagne and Dwayne Roloson. The Bolts spent money and enjoyed slightly more favorable draft position than the Thrashers since 2007. But their rebuilding is complete. From here, TB just tweaks its roster, which has room for improvement, clearly. For Atlanta, we’ll have to weigh the options presented to us at the draft. Ifffff we get that new ownership, we have over $20 million in cap room with which to go shopping or trading this offseason. There are also “overpriced contracts” sitting out there that can make our team better, without truthfully having to sacrifice much to obtain. The other team basically just wants to dump salary, so they can, in turn, go shopping this offseason.
Lord, hear my prayer!!
woodie
April 3rd, 2011
11:46 am
Thank God hockey season is over…on the baseball.
IlliniDawg
April 3rd, 2011
12:05 pm
Agree with @What and @Sinden and others – this team needs to move – and FAST! This is not, never has been, and never will be a hockey town.
As a person of Canadian descent, who has seen and experienced firsthand the passion that Canadians have for the game (think SEC football for us southerners!), it is only fair to give our neighbors to the north another team for them to support. Whether it’s Winnepeg or some other city, they will support the team more than we have, and the team will have a far greater significance to that city than this team ever has or ever will have to Atlanta.
Good luck and Godspeed Thrashers! Manitoba will suit you quite nicely.
dmr
April 3rd, 2011
1:27 pm
ELVEN YEARS….ONE PLAYOFF APPEARANCE….ZERO WINS! Why does it seem the fans have to defend themselves from the Atlanta print and radio media when they come their senses and refuse to support this pathetic display?
One radio host continually criticizes the fan base and lays it at their feet to support this team or it is the fans’ fault if this team get sent packing.
What means do fans have to protest the constant ineptitude of the Ownership, Management, or play, other than the almighty dollar? Is it fair? No. But it is what it is.
After the Hawks get bounced in round 1 again, there either better be lightning fast movement in Ownership change or fans should simply stay away.
ZAvalanche
April 3rd, 2011
1:47 pm
Woodie, the best part of hockey has yet to begin. The cup playoffs trump early season baseball any day of the week.
Midfield
April 3rd, 2011
3:37 pm
Brendan, I generally agree with your post. Moreover, personally I expected the playoff miss right after the home loss to the Flyers back in January. So, I definitely did not have any illusions over the course of the last few weeks. Yet, Bogosian managed to maket me livid with his appearance at Boston anyway. I’m not saying that the guy should be written off completely, but the message must be sent his way. He needs to sit – perhaps, may be through the end of the season. Play Kulda or Postma and see what they do.
HillMan
April 3rd, 2011
4:10 pm
Who would buy this team with the 2011-2012 liability this team has in place for new owners who keep the team here. I have two lower level and two upper level tickets which cost me a total of $55 per game. Lower cost then similar ticktes to an ECHL game. We get what we pay for!
While I will take advantage of cheap seats all day long, this team can’t survive on their ticket pricing strategy. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t pay more for my lower level seats for this type of product, but if they improved, and charged $20-25 (Tampa, Nashville, etc.) per ticket for decent upper level seats, I’d be there. And I am sure that if the team was good, someone with more bucks then me would buy those lower level seats at twice the price. This team is gone, no new owner can live with the locked in pricing the team has in place next year.
Michael B. Shapiro
April 3rd, 2011
4:44 pm
Yep, it’s over. The fat lady (masquerading as either Bruce Levenson or Don Waddell, accompanied by John Kincaid on the piano) has sung.
Now to convince the wife that it makes sense to even talk about buying tickets for next season…or to give it up after 11 seasons as a STH. Sigh.
Mixed emotions that the Devils have also been eliminated. Not sure to be glad or sorry for Kovy and crew.
Guess I’m turning my attention to my brother’s Sharks! Go Fish!
northern exposure
April 3rd, 2011
4:51 pm
Bogo makes mistakes, yes, so does Buff but doesn’t get crucified for them because he is the ‘face’ of the team and makes more money. Any competent coach could solve the problems of both players. Put Buff at forward where his talents are utilized, put in a breakout system at least as good as most 10 & 11 year old teams use and Bogo will make far less mistakes. Bottom line, Ramsay has to go to scouting, whatever, and need one or two forwards with available cap, plus buff at forward. Defense, including Bogo, is adequate with call up of Postma, Kulda. Goaltending is a mystery.
Jimbo
April 3rd, 2011
5:29 pm
We can’t blame a 20 year old for a 30 game skid but we can sure point to a coach that didn’t change strategies and had to be told by his captains that he needed to kick some A–. A disappointing ending but I hope that we send THE HOCKEY WHISPERER packing.
Sage of Bluesland
April 3rd, 2011
5:40 pm
Amen, dmr. Kincade is the biggest tool this side of Don Waddell….To lay any of this at the fans’ feet is way out of line. A terrible combination of arrogance, ignorance, and a media outlet.
The majority of the fans are actually making the ‘correct’ (market-wise) decision. Thank goodness for that…
rocketzz9
April 3rd, 2011
6:00 pm
SEE YA NEXT YEAR IN QUEBEC CITY
KOVY
April 3rd, 2011
6:37 pm
we knew the outcome of this season on oct 8, 2010
Jacks are Wild
April 3rd, 2011
7:18 pm
I hope the Atlanta Spirit Group, all of them go down in flames. Would like to see them all file bankruptcy and have nothing but troubles for destroying hockey in this city. Gearon and all his buddies are incompetent PATHETIC LOSERS. Once more they all know it and are now trying to blame an sue a law firm to try and recoup their loss. Thats is what has made America great guys, don’t take any responsiblility for your own failures. your own incompetancies, just blame and sue someone else. These guys are EFFING LOSERS…Atlanta deserves so much better that this group of PATHETIC LOSERS for owners. Hope their law suit is thrown out and hope their creditors are there to clean them out…good riddence… F all of them…
You Can Have Them
April 3rd, 2011
7:32 pm
D Wad just assured the season ticket holders that the team will remain in Atlanta.
Brendan
April 3rd, 2011
8:34 pm
Midfield, I definitely agree that Bogey’s minutes should be limited, to send a message. I’m not sure that sitting him will make him play any better. And the stupider his play gets, the fewer his minutes he plays. Ric Dudley told Darren Eliot, “There’s no player on our roster that can’t be traded. If there’s a GM who wants to try to wow-me for Bogosian, for example, I’ll listen. One tried, but it wasn’t nearly enough of a return.” So, there ya have it. Bogosian wasn’t exactly “shopped,” but he wasn’t off limits, either. Dudley feels Bogey will be a mainstay on our blueline, for many years. Well, I hope so … since he was drafted 3rd overall. If he wound up like Valabik, unable to crack the roster after six years, it’d be pretty disappointing.
Hillman, think it over. The new owners get 33-40 percent of the operating rights of Philips Arena, which is the 4th largest revenue-producing venue in the United States of America. Still think they can’t turn a profit? The second news of new owners who want to win hits the bandwidth, long suffering hockey fans will flock to the usual outlets for tickets. Oh, okay. They’ll wait 4 weeks, or roughly until Veteran’s Day, to see if the new product isn’t actually last year’s squad trotted out under new, and equally horrible marketing. But they’d surely know, by Opening Night, under what kind of budget the team was operating, with new ownership in place.
Hockey hasn’t started in Atlanta. And it won’t start … until this fledgling franchise actually gets an ownership group PROPERLY VETTED through the NHL … to be READY for the demands of the scrutinizing and intelligent fans of the Atlanta market. But you watch how fast this market get IGNITED … for owners that want to win in hockey.
Brendan
April 3rd, 2011
8:54 pm
Jacks are Wild, tell us what you really think. By the way, I think went “soft” on what they deserve. They deserve to have something THEY VALUE ruined and mismanaged by uncaring persons.
KLS1
April 3rd, 2011
9:02 pm
Listen…I’m upset with Bogo, but I will be a fan the moment he turns his game around. Lord knows I want him to succeed. But this season he has been glaringly bad for far too many games.
Remember in that 24/7 deal on HBO the Pens coaches sat down and rated each player numerically based on the previous game…can you imagine those conversations with Zach…what would his # be after the Bruins, or the Sabres?
lordstan57
April 3rd, 2011
10:28 pm
ATLANTA THRASHERS HOCKEY RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND…… I’ve re-upped two for next year.
“Live Hockey, Love thrashers!”.
PS… some of you sour/miserable excuses can kiss my Bum!
joedaiceman
April 3rd, 2011
10:48 pm
Lay this season’s failure right at the feet of Owners and Dudley. The players are the players. Some good, some not so good and none that are star caliber. One fairly good streak this year was it, the rest of the season was what you would expect from the team and the talent that has been put together. All this and Dudley gets re-up’d, Buff gets way overpaid, and the Owners are trying to leave to the Eskimo city of Winnipeg. What is shocking is that they have any fans left.
sisu
April 4th, 2011
8:14 am
So what would everyone think if this season was advertise as a rebuilding season? Not saying that is the case but sure felt like it with a big overhaul of the roster…
I hope that the team learned a lot this season, perhaps a good off season and full training camp will improve the play of the team.
ManUp
April 4th, 2011
9:01 am
@Swede = I almost hope bogosian gets traded so the team that gets him will develope him to his potential. > > > You are exactly right. Many other teams could develop Bogosian and turn him into a first pair defenseman ala Coburn. Probably the best thing for Bogosian is to leave the Thrashers organization. He is being dragged down by the stone and the stone is Atlanta. His head is already somewhere else anyway.
PMC
April 4th, 2011
9:33 am
It was a building year…. like the past decade of building years….
lots of 1st round draft picks on this team. Maybe next year.
They still can’t whine about the fanbase when they haven’t done ANYTHING to develop one.
Chris Pronger
April 4th, 2011
10:04 am
Braydon Coburn is not a top pairing defenseman, I don’t even let him wash my jock strap after games. He’s top 4 on a good day. Stop drinking the Coburn “cool-aid”, just stop it.
Alex Zhitnik
April 4th, 2011
11:06 am
My Atlanta Thrashers pay checks have already stopped coming in the mail. This sucks.
kj
April 4th, 2011
11:31 am
Bogo’s problem is his “defenseman IQ”. He struggles with making good, quick decisions but so do most at his age. He just doesn’t have enough talent/support around him to allow mistakes to be forgotten and not cost as many games. That being said, it would be nice to see more “hockey smarts” from him at this point where you can see he’s making the right decision but just fails too many times with the execution. He really appears to be emotionally spent at this point not knowing what he has to do to make a positive impact night in and night out. But I guess that can apply to most of the team….
Thrashered/Relocationist
April 4th, 2011
11:48 am
You can’t have a ‘rebuilding’ season until something is built, succeeds and then needs rebuilding. The Thrashers were never ‘built’
Brendan
April 4th, 2011
11:52 am
Nobody would accuse Braydon Coburn of being the best defenseman in the NHL today. But is he “serviceable?”
Stop. The answer is “yes,” and there can be no doubt about that. http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm?fetchKey=20112PHIAASAll&sort=timeOnIce&viewName=timeOnIce. Braydon Coburn is 3rd among Flyers, the top ranked top in the Eastern Conference, for minutes played. Don’t be confused, however, about Pronger being 12th among Flyers for minutes played; Pronger has only played in 50 games, compared to Coburn’s 79 games played. So, we look to average TOI. With no surprise, Pronger is # 1, at 22:29. Coburn, by virtue of 4 seconds less per game, is behind Meszaros for 5th, at 21:01. Is 21:01, average TOI, “unserviceable?” Stop. The answer is “no.”
Pronger has 4 goals and 21 assists, for 25-points, in those 50 games. Coburn only has 2 goals, to go along with 14 helpers, for 16-points, in his 79 games. Is Chris Pronger a Tier I player, with a Stanley Cup ring, a slew of All-Star nominations, and a can’t miss, First Ballot Hall-of-Famer? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Is it “fair” to compare Pronger, with his accomplished HOF career, to Coburn, who was drafted in 2003? Pronger can be measured against some of the all-time greats.
Stop. Does that mean that Coburn cannot be a top pairing defenseman? Depends on the team. On a bottom feeder, for sure he could be a top pairing blueliner. On the # 1 ranked team in any given conference, not so much. But is he “serviceable?” Certainly. Does Atlanta need “serviceable” defensemen? Ummn, how do I ’sugarcoat’ this? I don’t do ’sugarcoating,’ so here it is … Don Waddell is a terrible evaluator of blueliners and goalies. He got lucky with Enstrom and Exelby in the 7th round. Bogosian went 3rd overall in 2008, and was a consensus top 3 defender for his draft year.
In 2003, Braydon Coburn was among three “elite” blueliners of his draft class. Ryan Suter went 1st, Coburn 2nd, and Phaneuf 3rd, among blueliners. How do we view those three today, eight years later? Who was the best? Phaneuf? Coburn? Or Suter?
You Can Have Them
April 4th, 2011
12:56 pm
Rebuilding (”Building”) Year Number 12 – Coming Up. We are on the cusp of a Dynasty. Shine that Lord Stanley’s cup up. Put another ring on it for names because the Thrashers mean business in the next several decades.
You Can Have Them
April 4th, 2011
1:53 pm
Anyone know when the playoff tixs will be mailed out?
radeksmom
April 4th, 2011
2:29 pm
What?? Radek Dvorak didnt get you to the playoffs? Haha what a stupid pickup. That Antropov is a walking piece of crap too. The sadness never ends here in “Blue Land.”
See you terds at the PENS game. You cant take your frustrations out on “US” PENS fans. Like last year, that was fun. No Cooke . Isee lots of fights at the last game in Thrasherville.
You Can Have Them
April 4th, 2011
3:00 pm
Sid the Kid has a brain problems. LOL.
ManUp
April 4th, 2011
4:04 pm
@Brendan = points well made, points well taken. The “play” of Bogosian has me so underwhelmed, I guess. Grasping at straws after another dispiriting year.
radeksmom
April 5th, 2011
10:32 am
Even with “brain problems” he would outscore the Thrashers top five goals scorers together.
Winnipeg Jet
April 5th, 2011
11:03 am
Planning on having a Molsen with Radek later today talk about his Florida Panther days. Things will pick up for him when he gets to Manitoba.