He had to #1,develop chemistry with a new team in a new system(twice in 2 seasons),that was a polar opposite to Lemaires defensive system in Minnesota. Outside of Gabby,who exactly lights it up consistently for the Wild? And they at they time was trying to figure out if Pierre Marc Bouchard and Mikko Koivu was their future #1 centers for Gabby,the guys they DRAFTED.

Why the hell trade White NOW? Just because he’s getting some age (34 isn’t really old anyways),he’s not been marred by injuries nor does him seem to have lost a step. It actually speaks volumes that at his age,he’s getting BETTER.With his cap number at not even 2.5 million…….he’s really a freakin steal.

I mean what has a guy like White gotta due to garner the comfort of his roster spot not being in question after the offseason,when he’s showing up younger,more expensive supposedly better talents than he is? Maybe that’s why some vets stick their noses up at us,even when they have better seasons than expected,they get moved or lowballed (SAVARD,Audette,Brunette,Staios ring a bell?)

Reasoner is another example of this very situation. He’s put up his best numbers ever,expressed his wanting to stay.But DW drags his feet in reupping him.Too bad his last name isn’t Rheaume,Tamer ect……he’d already been taken care of.

This team has played ALOT better since moving the dead weight,I’m just here till the trading deadline collecting a paycheck, for a young franchise who over payed me for my name, to come play for them cause they was desperate and I could get them to over pay me in the first place.

Havelid wasn’t that bad IMHO,but Schneider should feel guilty for stealing as should Holik,Zhitnik and a few others.

I’m sick of those type veterans who want compensation due to their past glories,I want to keep vets like White,Kozzie,Reasoner who say …… give me the icetime and i want to show you I can take us higher. Freakin reward them already.As fans,back them up instead of always trying to go for a bigger name on a jersey back instead of the front.Were never going to have consistency until we stop with the roster over hauls every summer,all this one needs is maybe 1-2 tweaks if that.

Reward our youngsters by not asking them to bust their a$$es,then turn right around in the offseason and sign a over the hill,over paid vet to play the same role with less effect and worse results than playing the youngster.

He and Kovy and Little have very good chemistry on the ice,if Army could just step up into that RW role on the second line with Kozzy and Pevs,we’d really be set for next season IMHO.

I’m REALLY hoping that Reasoner is reupped well before summer FA hits and we lose him,he to also has been very under-rated and over looked.

I’m enjoying this part of the season alot more than compared to the past.The youngsters are playing hungry hockey,not caring that the playoffs are not within reach and showing very good promise for the future.Colin Stuart has surely locked up a spot on next seasons roster with his play since being recalled.Toby and Bogo look very good together as our #1 pairing,alot better than I thought they would.

Oystrick and Valabik both look promising also.Peverly has what it takes to stay as well and it seems all the youth has re-energized Kozzie. I’m very happy with them this roster and my hope is that alot of changes AREN’T made for next seasons opening nite.

If we could just get top notch,consistent goal tending from Kari and Pavs(time to move the moose to either Steve Weeks position or gone altogether) and let those 2 push each other to see who comes out as the #1 guy, reup Reasoner,Army and whoever else needs to be signed(maybe even go ahead and lock up Kovy), and I think the #8 seed for this young team for next season isn’t out of the question at all.

First, and most importantly, I don’t believe Kovalchuk is a hindrance to this team. I think he’s only slightly behind Ovechkin, Malkin, Crosby, Iginla, Lecavalier, Hossa, Heatley, etc…though his overall game doesn’t match up 1:1 with those examples. They’re all different types of players so it’s not as simple as saying “one is better than the other”, but for pure scorers in this league I’d say Kovalchuk is easily top 5.

Second, Kovalchuk’s passing problems are not due to his own faults, but I would pin the blame on unfit linemates. For instance, how many times did we see passes from Kovalchuk go towards Christensen or Williams and end up clanging along the boards because of him (EC or JW) not being ready to receive the pass? With quality linemates comes quality finishing plays, which highlights the passing ability of a scorer like Kovalchuk. For an example of his ability to pass, look at the Detroit game where he drove behind the net with the puck, faked the entire defense out that he’d hold it and go around, and instead dropped a nifty pass to Peverley’s stick for a quick snap shot which was excellently blocked by Osgood. It was a great play, and Peverley was able to react to a nice pass and try to make the most of it. Williams, it seemed, would’ve been expecting Kovalchuk to go around the net just like the defense, and would’ve gotten caught staring and unprepared when the puck came towards him.

Thirdly, what veterans on defense is this team using that is clogging the system? The oldest player on the blueline is Hainsey, at 27. If anything the team has a plethora of young and somewhat experienced defenders that need seasoning and perhaps an injection of top line experience. Plus, as ThrashFanMax said, not all of the young defenders in Chicago are ready for the NHL (by the way, Sipotz is no longer in the Thrashers organization, he was signed by Chicago to my understanding). I’d like to see Kulda and Lewis get some more ice time, perhaps even Lehman…but that’s not realistic until training camp. Valabik and Oystrick play well with their body, and both are fighting for ice time now…so it’s hard to imagine room being made for Kulda, Lewis, etc unless some sort of transaction happens that opens up a spot. To be honest, removing a defender from the roster (with the exception of Exelby, maybe) will NOT be better if a Chicago prospect fills that vacant spot. They’re just not ready.

I’ll say it again though…if Atlanta comes through this offseason with Kovalchuk and Lehtonen re-signed to multi-year contracts, and nothing more, I’ll consider the offseason a success. If Atlanta can sign a top defender like Ohlund or a top forward like Antropov, Afinogenov, or Cammalleri, I would consider the offseason a success and the team one step closer to signing Kovalchuk.

Nikita — I would agree that Little (and Bogosian) are obviously the future of the franchise. Little has proven he can play at the NHL level (for those who didn’t think he could) and be a consistent contributor on a scoring line in Atlanta. His maturation was probably the best thing to happen to this team, neck-and-neck with Kovalchuk’s emergence as captain and Bogosian’s progression to becoming a bonafide NHL defenseman at age 18.

Not to mention the popularity aspect. The superstar sets hearts on fire and puts people in the seats. Success can occasionally be attained with a balanced, roll 4 lines plan of attack but only if you have a carefully crafted, inexpensive roster with great chemistry on each line playing a system that enhances their skills. Read: Buffalo a couple of years ago. However, the downside to such a team is when you lose one or two mid-range scorers/passers either to extended injury or to FA, then it all goes to crap.

Give me the big guy to build your team around.

As for trading Kari…that is ridiculous. Look at his stats vs. Ondrej in the AHL. Kari’s numbers far exceed Pavalec, and if you don’t want an overweight goalie, then Ondrej is definately not your man. Do you recall he was sent back to Cape Breton without even strapping on the pads as he came to camp waaaay overweight a few seasons back. Kari looks to be in fine shape, some people just have pudgy cheeks. Ondrej is a backup or trade bait…

I hope I have it right now. Kovalchuk’s current contract was higher in the first year, then dropped the next year and gradually moved back higher, if I remember correctly. Brendan probably has those figures at his finger tips

As to age and stuff, we are now one of the younger teams in the league. And, IMO, we’ve hit the limit of what we can play from the AHL. I’m guessing that some of the kiddies who aren’t good enough now may be good enough by camp, but we still won’t be able to field a competitive team solely on transitional and young players. Plus, sometimes you just need someone who knows their job and can get it done. And that, IMO, is what we need our veterans for. White, Koz, and Reasoner are the essential core of the team.

What I’d like to see in the offseason is those guys locked up. I suspect we’ll also see Slater resigned. I’d bet we also pick up a number of Wolves. And then some small pieces — we need a top-tier center, but I’d bet what we get is a new top defenseman.