Which White Will We Witness This Season?
If I would have told you a year ago that Todd White would account for 73 points in the upcoming season, chances are you would have laughed me clear out of the blogosphere. He was coming off a very lackluster 14 goal, 23 assist performance in his first season in Atlanta and his soft play…most notibly on the defensive side of the ice…earned him the nickname “Charmin” around these parts.
Prior to his arrival in Thrasherville, in the two seasons he played with the Minnesota Wild, White scored 19 goals and 40 points during 61 games as well as 13 goals and 44 points in 77 games. He was a -1 and +8 in his two years there as well. In fact, heading into last season, the most productive year Whitey ever enjoyed in his NHL career was in 2002-03 when he netted 25 goals and 35 assists for 60 points while playing for the Ottawa Senators. He was a +19 that season.
So as you can see, to have predicted such an effort from White…espcially playing for a team that was coming off a 76-point effort the season prior…would have gotten you some very long odds in Vegas.
However, to his credit, that’s exactly what he did.
Todd White's career-high 73 points were almost double that of the previous season (AP Photo Gregory Smith)
He began the year centering the team’s second line with the veteran Slava Kozlov to his left and the youngster Bryan Little to his right. For the first half of the season that was the most productive and reliable line the Thrashers put out there. He and Little finished off the season with Kaptain Kovy on the top line. The 22 goals last year were not tops for White, however his 51 assists and 73 overall points were.
But the big question that I have about the 5′-10″. 195-pound native of Kanata, ON is…which Todd White are we more likely to see this season?
The one that surprised us all with the career-high 73 points or more of last year?
The one that was all but invisible on the ice two seasons ago?
Or, and this is what I believe…something in between?
Remember, last season was a “career” year…and one such campaign does not necessarily guarantee a follow-up performance at the same level. Certainly I don’t think we’ll see the pedestrian numbers that he put up in his first season in a Thrashers uniform, but I can’t say I’m quite as confident that he’ll match…or top… last year’s either.
Of course, much of that could depend on where he spends his time in the lineup. If the Thrashers don’t make any other major moves to acquire another forward, I would think we would see White, Kozlov and Little form the team’s second line again…and that would be just fine with me. If that is the case, then I think White and that line can be very productive once again.
For the record, I’d like to see Peverley playing the pivot between Kovy and Antropov on the first line.
However, if certain rumors are true and Atlanta brings in, say, Nikolai Zherdev…then that would shuffle things around on the top two lines. Kovy, Antropov and Zherdev could very well be your first line…then the second line could be something like Kozlov, Peverley and Little. If so, then White might be playing down with Reasoner and Armstrong. Is that any way to reward a player’s career year?
Now, some might say to leave White between Little and Kozlov…then place Peverley on the third line. But I think that would really be a waste of Pevs abilities.
Besides, either way you go with that, where would you play Evander Kane? In either scenario, your answer would have to be…Vancouver.
Now please don’t misunderstand me, none of this is at all meant to be a slam on Todd White and I’m certainly not trying …ahem…put the squeeze…ahem… on the player formerly known as Charmin. Like I said prior, I do not believe we’ll see a return to the 2007-09 type of numbers for him. But I’m also skeptical of seeing 73 again as well…though I’d love to be wrong.
Given all that, I’ll throw this matter out to you placing the over/under line on his total point production this coming season at…65.
Look…It’s Rawhide In Russian!
I was recently “cyber-interviewed” by Vadim Kuznetsov who writes for Tribuna.Sports.Ru…and here is the link to his writeup. I warn you though, it’s in Russian. So maybe our friend and frequesnt contributer “Russian” might help us out with the translation, eh?
Anyway, the subject matter includes this summer’s moves by the team, Kovalchuk’s re-signing and how I think the team will do this season.
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149 comments Add your comment
Hijacker
August 31st, 2009
1:03 pm
@ Midfield:
That’s a really good point and certainly plays into my evaluation*. Just don’t forget that White was “hot” last season plus teams didn’t pay attention to him, since he coming off a weak season in 07-08 (together with Kozlov and also ex-rookie Little.) I expect coaches to use their better defenseman and checkers against White’s line, which will effect his scoring (IMO, in a negative way.)
World Be Free
August 31st, 2009
1:18 pm
Looks like the players did not like this guy–
Paul Kelly is out as executive director of the NHL Players’ Association. The union announced Monday at its annual meeting that its executive board had voted to remove Kelly. The executive board is made up of one player from each of the 30 teams. The union said it would immediately assemble a committee to find a replacement.
kracker
August 31st, 2009
1:18 pm
Hijacker – “I expect coaches to use their better defenseman and checkers against White’s line…”
That’s fine with me. I very much want the team to get to the “They may stop some of us but they can’t stop all of us” level. I want to see the other guys exhausted, clutching/grabbing and going to the penalty box.
The Earl of Bud
August 31st, 2009
1:35 pm
Smoothie, yes that is true. But in the grand scheme of things, White was the replacement to Belanger when we didn’t re-sign him. If you want to get down to nitty gritty budget details, I think first there was a pot of money set aside for Hossa and his first year re-signed would’ve been the 08-09 season. Since he was traded away the previous year (07-08 season), we had an extra $7 mil that we could have used for 1) an elite center or 2) a puck moving defenseman. Waddell decided to stay with White as the top line center and then make a run towards Campbell which lead to Hainsey. That’s what I meant by how things went down in that analysis/decision.
“teams didn’t pay attention to him, since he coming off a weak season in 07-08 “
hijacker, in some ways I can agree with you in the beginning of the season, but once you get a few months into the season you gotta think everyone is looking at the standings and everyone is watching the scoring races. If Lecavalier breaks out with Tanguay on his line or Stamkos and St. Louis start piling up points, do you honestly think we aren’t going to play hard against them in January 2010 because they had a bad season in 08-09?
Sort of along the lines of what kracker says, I would love for other teams to put their top pair defensemen against Koz/Wht/Ltl and then watch what happens with Kov/Pev/Ant against the weaker defensemen.
Sara
August 31st, 2009
1:39 pm
Brendan I don’t necessarily agree that the long-term contracts hurt smaller market teams. The front-loaded portion of most of these contracts is still in line with what these guys would get on the market with a shorter term contract. Hossa makes $7.9M in the early years of the contract, Pronger $7.6M, Zetterberg $7.75 after this season. None of those numbers are artificially high for any of those players. Even smaller market teams like Phx should have to expect to pay those salaries for those players. Now, if Phx can’t afford to pay those salaries, that’s an entirely different issue, but one that is not made better/worse by long-term contracts.
The League, IMO, has done about as much as could reasonably be done to bring some parity to the League. There comes a point where the onus is on the teams/owners. If they can’t afford to pay contracts, maybe they don’t need to be here. Even though we’ve had some $$ issues in Atlanta, we’ve been able to pay Kovy a significant salary, we were able to compete for Campbell with a high-dollar contract offer. A pitch was made to Hossa and I’ll bet it was significant as well. You have to pick and choose your battles more carefully when you don’t have the financial resources of a Detroit or Philly, but there is nothing the League can do to change that fact any more than the hard cap does – short of bottoming out that cap again and keeping it suppressed (which the players will NEVER go for).
Midfield
August 31st, 2009
1:39 pm
That’s a good point, kracker. “Deep bench” teams make any coach look better, because the coach can creat favorable matchups much easier.
Hijacker
August 31st, 2009
1:54 pm
I played plenty of football (not American) in my life and I have to say that you sometimes underestimate your opponents, because they don’t have a recognizable name. People will always try to watch out for the stars/ best players.
GaVaHokie
August 31st, 2009
1:59 pm
That’s fine with me. I very much want the team to get to the “They may stop some of us but they can’t stop all of us” level. I want to see the other guys exhausted, clutching/grabbing and going to the penalty box.
Yeah, no kidding… would love to see teams playing their best defensive lines against White, Kozlov and Little… that means Kovy, Pevs and Antro are roaming free.
That’s why I’m not against throwing Kane out with Reasoner and Army… more scoring threats than the opposition knows what to do with. I mean, isn’t that what made Detroit and Pittsburgh so successful? Go down to the 3rd and 4th lines and you still got Hudler, Filppula, Samuelsson, Helm, Talbot and Kennedy.
kracker
August 31st, 2009
2:17 pm
Yes, Midfield, I’m hoping, maybe even expecting, the players will hit the ground…err, the ice skating in Anderson’s system from game one, relentlessly attacking. I don’t think it’s too big of a stretch to envision the Thrashers having 4 lines that do their jobs quite well. Third line LW is still not set but I am trusting that mgmt. will find a suitable player to fill the position.
I’m not expecting Kane to quite be ready but perhaps he will surprise us. Many didn’t expect Bogosian to be ready and one could say that he wasn’t really ready, not until he came back from the extended injury. Looking at a similar time frame for Kane, I don’t think the team can afford a half year learning curve for him to get up to speed and still expect to beat out several teams for the 7 or 8 spot.
kracker
August 31st, 2009
2:26 pm
Good point about having Kane pump up the 3rd line scoring, GAVA. If he can do it. If he is ready to rock, he should really stand out in the Traverse City tournament.
The Earl of Bud
August 31st, 2009
2:33 pm
“and I have to say that you sometimes underestimate your opponents, because they don’t have a recognizable name.”
hijacker, I have to disagree again. Just because you don’t recognize the names doesn’t mean that others can’t. Scroll around these blogs. On one of them World Be Free is talking about the masks that Rogier Crozier played with, that was after people were arguing over Stu Grimson being a good fighter or not, add in another talk of Tony C who once told me the skill level of a guy who only played in the KHL whose name I couldn’t even spell let alone pronounce, there are fans that know these players. I’m not even going to quote Brendan or GaVaHokie here. Now if fans know them this well, how well do the players know them? How many players played with Todd White between the Wild, Senators, Flyers, not to mention the Phantoms, Cleveland and his junior teams? I’m sorry but if we can name the main players from the Hurricanes or the Sabres, then so can the players.
The Earl of Bud
August 31st, 2009
2:39 pm
GaVaHokie & Kracker, agree on the scoring if Kane can get up to speed fast enough. Don’t ask me where I read it, but I seem to remember Anderson also hinting that Kane might play on the PK. That would give us Reasoner/Armstrong as the first unit and possibly White/Kane on the second unit. I wouldn’t mind that at all – if Kane is able.
GaVaHokie
August 31st, 2009
2:57 pm
If he can do it. If he is ready to rock, he should really stand out in the Traverse City tournament.
Also a good point… looking back at the Heatley and Kovalchuk debut in Traverse City…
“The two future stars clicked so well in Traverse City that they helped lead Atlanta to a bronze-medal win at the 2001 Rookie Evaluation Tournament from Sept. 5-9. Heatley notched 10 points off six goals and four assists in four games and Kovalchuk netted three points off one goal and two assists.“
The Earl of Bud
August 31st, 2009
3:07 pm
Here’s a big surprise as to what nhl.com says is the biggest question to the Thrashers’ upcoming season – http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=469852
Also, while many here have said that it’s the Buffalo Sabres who would try to block an NHL club’s relocation to Hamilton, it actually may be the Toronto Maple Leafs – http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=1945327
Finally, a Kalamazoo update for Brendan – http://www.wane.com/dpp/sports/local_sports/local_wane_ft_wayne_county_sues_hockey_team_20090828_rev1
GaVaHokie
August 31st, 2009
3:29 pm
Some more Thrashers reading… nothing really new, but here are “Five Things to know about the Thrashers”.
http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/story/12137609/rss
kracker
August 31st, 2009
3:53 pm
Kari remains…well, Kari. Can he stay healthy. Plus, this season we have the added questions of how effective was his corrective surgery and how long will he take to fully recover from it?
Being that conventional wisdom says you build your defense from the goalie outward, I have to agree that Lehtonen is the team’s biggest question mark. Last season we had, in addition to the same question in goal, new coaches bringing their new coaching systems and philosphies, lots more new skaters to try to fit on the team and every player had to learn and buy into JA’s systems. Some never did believe in the system.
This year, the team is more set, the coach is more established and I expect the two or three newcomers to get with the program asap.
Hence, Lehts remains the great unknown. Him and the
other perennial question about the Thrashers: the defense. But see above: you build the D first at the G.
kracker
August 31st, 2009
3:57 pm
Oh, I didn’t think about the Kovalchuk question. That’s the biggest one of all but it is not a question about how the team will perform this season, unless it becomes a big distractiion to the team.
mid-ga-hockey fan
August 31st, 2009
4:18 pm
I have been reading this blog for quite some time and I am of the opinion that most of you are quite knowlegable hockey fans and that some of you have probably actually played.I get the impression though that some of you believe that White should be “awarded” the 1st line center because of his PAST works,forgive me if I sound naive but isn’t camp performance this year paramount to putting together line combos,as they are usually fluid throughout the year.IMO a pick-up of Zherdev would do nothing but help this team,I have seen clips of his play w/NYR,I personally think he is much better talentwise than MM.I always thought that putting the best talent on the ice was the “Prime Directive”and if moving Mr. White down to the 3rd line is not worthy of his salary,Hey,give some back!!
The Earl of Bud
August 31st, 2009
4:36 pm
kracker, you touch on one of the advantages that goes completely unmentioned that we never had before – roster turnover (or lack thereof). There is almost a complete lack of roster turnover from last year to this year and that is not only amazing as a Thrashers fan but a good thing for any hockey team. We have 10 out of 12 forwards coming back and 5 out of 6 defensemen coming back. And both goalies.
I don’t think we ever had such a stable transition from one season’s roster to the next season. Remember how Anderson was saying it would take until at least December or January to fully grasp the system? And the slow start was a result. This year they should have it in training camp.
GaVaHokie
August 31st, 2009
4:36 pm
IMO a pick-up of Zherdev would do nothing but help this team,I have seen clips of his play w/NYR,I personally think he is much better talentwise than MM.
True… but he’s also twice the price.
Having Manny Malhotra would be like adding another Colby Armstrong to the Checking Line.
Actually, I just finished up going through Manny’s goal catalog on NHL.com… check this one out.
http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?hlp=8467334&fr=false
GaVaHokie
August 31st, 2009
4:37 pm
How’s this for a noise for the net?…
http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?hlp=8467334&fr=false
GaVaHokie
August 31st, 2009
4:40 pm
Argh… sorry, hate partial URLS…
Here’s the first goal by Manny I wanted to show.
http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?hlp=8467334&event=CBJ376
Here’s the second… nose for the net…
http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?hlp=8467334&event=CBJ566
goose
August 31st, 2009
4:46 pm
so now apparently not even the senators want heatley got any ideas on where he might play or be forced to play because nobody else wants him
Nikita
August 31st, 2009
4:51 pm
*I always thought that putting the best talent on the ice was the “Prime Directive”and if moving Mr. White down to the 3rd line is not worthy of his salary,Hey,give some back!!*
1. White’s salary is pretty low for his production, even in an off year.
2. Yes, you want to put the best talent, or the best talent combos, on ice. But White is most likely the best talent combo with Little and Koz. He’s a serviceable combo with Kovalchuk. So…no 3rd line, especially since as I noted he probably can’t take the pounding. He plays well as long as we keep in mind that he isn’t as young and big and durable as our grinders.
GaVaHokie
August 31st, 2009
4:52 pm
goose… plenty of teams want Heatley, it’s just the asking price is pretty high. I’ll say he ends up with the Rangers. He’d probably already BE a Ranger if Sather was willing to give up Dubinsky in the package.
The Earl of Bud
August 31st, 2009
4:58 pm
mid-ga-hockey fan, right off the bat, Peverley is going to get “awarded” the 1st line center because of his past works. But if you look at how he played with Kovalchuk last season (35 points in 39 games) there is no argument that beats that. To say Zherdev is better is then arguing on Zherdev’s past works. White then is going to be the 2nd line center.
To compare White, Zherdev and Malhotra is not quite legit because they are all playing 3 different positions. 3rd line center is a checking, defensive position where you must take out the other teams top line whereas 1st line center must be a point/game type offensive guy. If a team is a defense first team with a strong goalie then the 1st line center can be a Peca who doesn’t score as often, but that is not our team.
Since we already solidified our top 2 lines, you have to ask is Zherdev going to play 3rd line checking role? No. So if he is better than someone on the top 2 lines, does the person he replaces fill that 3rd line checking role? Maybe Antropov could, but that would be pointless since we also just brought him in to play with Kovalchuk. White is good defensively, but he does it when he is being a responsible 2-way player, not as a primary position. Hossa was a good 2-way player, but you would never make him be primarily in a checking role. Federov was a dynamic 2-way player.
As for 3rd liners, Reasoner is perfect for this role. Bobby Holik was actually perfect for this role. People didn’t like Holik because they thought he was supposed to score more but in reality that was not his job at all. He just had to go shut down the other team’s top line and he did that. If we do put Kane there it is to add some scoring to that line and to possibly groom his 2-way play, not to make him spend the rest of his career on the 3rd line. And with Reasoner and Armstrong already there, it is already a good checking line.
Brendan
August 31st, 2009
5:04 pm
Finally, we get some news pertaining to Kalamazoo, Michigan. It’s ABOUT TIME! Say, how are WESTERN MICHIGAN’s CCHA prospects looking for this year? And when do they play Waddell’s alma mater, NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN? (Looking suspiciously around. Did I get away with it?) Those Kalamazoo Wings players know how to PARTY!! Pyro’s on, Dude! Bet they were huge Def Leppard fans.
Hokie, thanks for the link to Wes Goldstein. He’s always good for a laugh. This time around, he was even “halfway” decent to the Thrashers. I did notice, however, that something YOU SIMPLY MUST KNOW about our Ice Birds is that they’re supposedly for sale, per Goldstein. Except there’s no sign in the window. Or on the property. Or in the financial news. I’m going to tell Wes Goldstein that the Brooklyn Bridge is for sale. And insist on being paid a commission up front, before closing, as a “finder’s fee.”
Sara, if the NHL’s 2015 salary cap is $70.3 million, I’m fine with it, provided that the Thrashers get $34.3 million in revenue-sharing.
Kracker, I had thought that this summer was Kari’s last RFA contract opportunity. But I was wrong. I do wonder if, in Kari’s world, (Party time!! Excellent!! Wailing on an air-guitar,) that means that this is yet another year he thinks he can approach games while being mentally unprepared? I know he’s had some offseason medical procedure, but he better be in shape for training camp. Or, at a minimum, be in shape for Opening Night. I still say he’s a good goalie, when he’s prepared. And this is a year where, arguably, we can say we have our best defensive corps yet. Bogosian, Enstrom, Kubina, Hainsey, Valabik, Salmella and Oystrick isn’t a “disasterous” combination of defenders. And who knows? Maybe we’ll see a call up for Chad Denny or Grant Lewis? Personally, I love it when a prospect develops! Kubina, in my estimation, is a one-year appointment. And is an upgrade to the 40-year old Matthieu Schneider. I just hope Kubina can net the Thrashers a 2nd round pick, like the Hebrew Hammer did.
Smoothie
August 31st, 2009
5:17 pm
Peverley got a ton of his points playing with Army and Slava. Pevs will need to earn the top center spot and outplay White in camp.
Rawhide
August 31st, 2009
6:00 pm
mid-ga-hockey fan – Welcome…ya know, we seem to be bringing out quite a number of “lurkers” around here lately. That’s a good thing and I hope it keeps up.
I agree with you as well about no one being “awarded” a position…that it should be earned. I also thing lines should be formed by who plays well together….to that point, that’s why I feel White, Kozzy and Little should remain together on the 2nd line.
Todd White
August 31st, 2009
6:08 pm
How about a little Love???
World Be Free
August 31st, 2009
7:09 pm
I believe Mid-GA brings up a great point about hte importance of camp. This team excelled in the 2nd half of last season for many reasons, one was the sense of competition. The players wanted ice time and they were willing to work for it. I think Anderson will move guys around in the preseason games, change things up and give various players the chance to earn spots instead of being “pegged” for them prior to camp.
White and Pevs will be in the mix from the start. One may end up on the 3rd line, depending on who earns the top spot.
I have a a few “I hopes” – I hope Kovy is signed prior to camp and I hope management has another move up their sleeves. I know I sound like a broken record, but I believe another set of skilled hands is needed to support the sense of competition.
World Be Free
August 31st, 2009
7:11 pm
And yes Mid-GA I played ice and street hockey for a long time. I have the dental work to prove it.
Sara
August 31st, 2009
7:28 pm
FedOrov – jeebus that is such a pet peeve of mine.
The Earl of Bud
August 31st, 2009
8:27 pm
Smoothie, yeah you’re right Peverley did get points with Kozlov & Armstrong, but to me if the guy can score than he should be #1 center. I have nothing wrong with competition though.
World Be Free, even once the lines get set, you know as well as I do that slumps come and Anderson will change the lineups just to get certain players out of slumps.
Sara, Fedorov was also a Selke candidate. I know you know that but I just wanted to type it.
Brendan, yeah our last 3 defensemen won’t be a “disatrous” combination but if Shane Hnidy can be a bottom pairing guy for the conference winners last season, our bottom pair will be ok at least.
The Earl of Bud
August 31st, 2009
8:33 pm
Smoothie, I re-read my thing and wanted to rephrase it that if he can score with a number of players then he should be #1, a point/game is a point/game. Now if he could only score or have chemistry with the 2nd line then fine, stick him there. But that’s not the case.
Smoothie
August 31st, 2009
9:30 pm
EOB – u r not taking into account the fact that Whitey had very good chemistry with Kovy down the stretch from early March on. I luv Pevs as much as the next guy but Pevs may not be “awarded” anything to start camp. 73 pts is 73 pts over 80 gms. Pevs may have had close to a pt / gm but it was still only over 39 gms. While I do think Pevs could put up 70+ pts with the same PP time that White was afforded, a big Russian named Nikolai may make it tuff for Pevs to crack the top PP unit. JA will have a very tuff decision to make and that is a very good thing for fans of the Thrashers.
Smoothie
August 31st, 2009
9:41 pm
Sure is weird on this blog without comments from alan and ranallo. Perhaps they are on vacation and will be ready to roll after Labor Day
Sara
August 31st, 2009
10:01 pm
EOB – he wasn’t just a Selke candidate … he was a two-time Selke winner. Probably had something to do with Bowman literally making him a defenseman.
The Earl of Bud
August 31st, 2009
10:40 pm
“73 pts is 73 pts over 80 gms.”
Haha, touche Smoothie. Ok maybe White does compete for the #1 center in camp as he played well with Kovalchuk too, I’ll give you that. Although your comment about Peverley getting 70+ if he gets the same PP time that White got doesn’t quite add up. White had 38 ES points to 34 PP points which means PP makes up about half of his point total. So White needs the PP to be a point/game player, right?. Peverley on the other hand had 28 ES points to 5 PP points in his 30+ games, so I don’t think he needs PP time to maintain that ~point/game pace. All based on last year only of course.
Sara, I’m not making official statements about Fedorov’s Selke status, I just wanted to say something, anything about him so I could spell his name correctly (since I was the one that got your pet peeve going and spelled it wrong the first time).
Brendan
August 31st, 2009
10:47 pm
EOB, I always liked Hnidy. He was a true professional. While here, he didn’t grumble much. He stayed in top shape. He went from the pressbox to playing top pairing minutes there for a while. Teammates tended to like him. And GM’s tend to want him, for the role he plays. Hnidy might be a journeyman, but he’s a good one.
I know, from this blog’s perspective, we care primarily about the Thrashers. But as a long time NHL fan, it made me feel good to see Chicago and Boston have great years. Those are great hockey markets, who are long suffering. The Blackhawks reached the CF for the first time since 1995. And won a playoff series for the 1st time since 1996, when they swept the Calgary Flames. Their last previous playoff berth was a forgettable series with St. Louis, in 2002. The Bruins won their 1st playoff series since 1999, when they knocked off Carolina that year. Boston went from 8th spot to top seed (#1) in the Conference in the space of a year. The Bruins won their third division title since 2002.
I was also pleased to see the Capitals win a playoff series. They came close in 2008, but lost in overtime of Game Seven to Philadelphia, after making a valiant series comeback, from down 3-1. This year, the Caps rallied from down, 3-1, to defeat the Rangers. But, they ran into the eventual Stanley Cup Champions in the second round. But, it’s worse than that. And I don’t mean to be dumping on our division rivals, but the Capitals led that series, 2-0, and had an overtime opportunity in Game Three versus the Penguins. Unfortunately for Washington, Kris Letang scored for Pittsburgh, and the series, AND THE ENTIRE PLAYOFFS, changed direction with that goal. It is truly a feather in the Penguins’ cap to have overcome two series which began with 2-0 deficits. Especially in the Finals, against a team the caliber of Detroit.
Sara
August 31st, 2009
11:02 pm
BTW, a number of tweets from Dmitry Chesnokov (PuckDaddy readers will know who he is) re: Kovalchuk, with the most interesting and pertinent being: “I stopped in Atlanta on my way from Miami where my wife and I bought a condo. I met with Antropov but did not speak with Waddell”
Kovy is due back in town on Sept. 8th. Also, Zherdev does not have a contract but “negotiations were ongoing.” no indication of team(s).
World Be Free
August 31st, 2009
11:08 pm
You know Brendan, Boston and Chicago were never the same after they left their old buildings. I never went to games in Chicago, but I did pass through Boston on occasion. The Boston Garden was the dirtest hole in the NHL, especially near the end when it was scheduled to close. But it was a great place to watch a game and be a Bruins’ fan. The place was small and the seats were close the players. Intimidating for sure! Their new building is not the same as the old place. Both teams are finally coming back and it is good for the league.
Shane Hnidy – I was a 5th or 6th dman on some of the teams I play on. Being a defensive defenseman is like being an offensive lineman. The only time you hear your name is when something goes wrong. You better love the game.
Sara
August 31st, 2009
11:11 pm
Also, Portzline revealed that Malhotra represented the BJs at the NHLPA meeting. Interesting. Also makes me wonder who was the rep for the Thrash since X held that position here.
Hijacker
September 1st, 2009
3:30 am
“a pick-up of Zherdev would do nothing but help this team,I have seen clips of his play w/NYR,I personally think he is much better talentwise than MM”
Clips? Stats? How you check out his attitude?
I remember how Ranger fans were upbeat when they seemingly robbed the Jackets last summer, despite the Jackets fans calling for caution on this guy.
DW…stay the hell away from Zherdev! I’m convinced this is one of only a few occasions where DW and I are on the same line.
GaVaHokie
September 1st, 2009
8:28 am
Kovy is due back in town on Sept. 8th.
Hmmm… that makes my Sept. 9th wager for a new contract pretty tough.
GaVaHokie
September 1st, 2009
8:39 am
Fairly humorous video of Antropov and Ponikarovsky… I think Antropov is gonna have to change his choice of Beverage in Atlanta.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oINuqLe1brY&feature=related
lee
September 1st, 2009
3:14 pm
hokie-just keep countin down the days!
HAHAHA that was soooo hilarious!!! HAHA! definetly gonna hav to change!
lee
September 1st, 2009
3:15 pm
sry guys i haven’t been postin, my bro was in the hospital.
Brendan
September 1st, 2009
3:18 pm
There were TWO guesses for September 9th. Time of day could become a factor. I think Alan’s guess of Aug. 29th just passed. I should double-check that, though. Once September 9th passes, the remaining guesses are all some time in 2010. I think three of the guesses actually have Kovy going to another team.