Joe Friday looking for just the facts on Thrasherville beat
Today we have the privilege of being treated to a blog written by the 2010 Rawhide Blog Comment of the year winner, Joe Friday, (formerly known to us as “Bob”). He has been a regular contributor to this forum for quite some time now… before even I began hosting it in the fall of 2007. Over the past several I have come to appreciate and value his keen insight and knowledge in regards to the Thrashers, NHL hockey and sports in general. And this past season I had the distinct honor of finally meeting him in person prior to a Thrashers game.
So, without any further ado, I yield the floor to Joe Friday/Bob…
Unleash Joe Friday!
So this past Weds. night I was relaxing in my rose colored world, watching some stout NHL playoff action (great games so far, but the cream is rising to the top in these series), and feeling relieved in my delusion that we’re out from under the Master of Disaster, the Architect of Doom, the Fomenter of Futility, one Don Waddell, on the hockey personnel decisions for our beloved Thrashers, when I clicked on my Twitterific to see Jeff Marek from HNIC tweet:
“Atlanta GM…whoops…President Don Waddell in Barrie for the Colts game vs. Mississauga tonight.”
Riddle me this, Thrasherville: Which job duty as Team President in charge of business only was Don Waddell fulfilling in Barrie Ontario while taking in an OHL game on Weds. night?
Was he schmoozing Molson Brewing Co. to talk them into shipping the high gravity bottles into Phillips to ease our collective pain while watching his club? Was he signing up Bowlerama Barrie to be our 2010-11 sponsor of intermission human bowling?!?
So, is there truly a new Sheriff in town, or is it simply the more things change, the more they stay the same? I think I’ll hold off on re-signing up for season tickets there for a bit, Mr. Spirit Sales team.
Fool me 9 times, shame on you . . .
Time to grab the reins and fix this mess ourselves!
What you have to understand is that myself and thousands of other former season ticket holders have all come to the conclusion that we’re all passing in the wind until Don Waddell is gone from making the hockey personnel decisions. I mean, what further proof do you need? 10 years of futility? 5 year plans come and gone? No free agent worth his salt wants to re-sign under Waddell? One playoff appearance only to be swept? Never having a true #1 goalie? A list of defenders that make Bobby Orr weep?
Many of us have known from the early years that Don was a nice guy, a solid good man . . . with little to no ability to build a successful hockey club. With him in place, it’s just the same old thing year after year. The names on the back of the sweater change, but the results don’t differ (golfing in April every year while 1/2 of the rest of the league is embarking upon the real season). And now he’s still working with Dudley (per Dudley) to find our next coach and he’s at the OHL playoffs this week scouting kids that he and Dudley, assumingly, will be targeting in draft day trades?
Time to fix this mess, guys and gals, so I’d like to reiterate my plan to get the Thrash headed in the right direction and into the real season come April 2011:
1)Sign Nabokov to a 2year $5m per contract
2)Take my asst. GM’s, Badger Bob’s, advice and trade NJ’s #1 and “pick your favorite off our prospect list not named Patrice Cormier” for Patrick Sharp and take his $4.15m per that he’s owed for the next 2 years off the ‘Hawks hands
3)Sign Alexander Frolov to a 4 year $4m per year deal
4)Re-sign Kubina to a 3 year $5m per year deal
Trade Tobias Enstrom to the highest bidder, move Todd White to whoever will have him.
Sign Bryan Little’s to a 4 year $1.75m per year. Ditto with Bergfors. Let MacArthrur walk. We’ll re-sign Slater and Arthukin as UFAs to 2 year deals, making the same amount they made this year.
We’ll be closely watching who gets the coaching axe at the conclusion of this year’s campaign and pickup the best available candidate. Moose Hedberg will be offered the position of goalie/bench asst. for your Atlanta Thrashers.
We’ll be jettisoning the Blueland campaign and associated pansy blue uniforms. Phillips Arena will now be known simply as Our House. You come into our house, you better keep your heads up, we are playing hockey, old style. Every shift, every period, we’re going to lead the league in clean hard checks. Our new home unis will be Black and Blue. All marketing will show our colors, we are black and blue and we send our opponents off the same way, win or lose.
Your starting lineup for the 2010-2011 Atlanta Thrashers:
Frolov-Antropov-Sharp
Peverley-Little-Bergfors
Kane-Slater-MacArthur
Boulton-Reasoner-Thorburn
Kubina-Hainsey
Bogosian-Oduya
Kulda-Valabik
Nabokov (Pavelec backup)
$78 ticket in the lower bowl is now $70 per game (similar drops for every seat in the place) and there’s going to be two and only two season ticket holder plans:
1)Full season ticket holders buy that seat for every regular season game at 25% off the listed price, receive complimentary preseason tickets, and get exclusive meet and greets with the players as well as the option to buy additional seats on a game by game basis at $25 per seat as available. Only full season ticket holders will receive game day giveaways, bobbleheads, etc. Full season ticket holders will have access to the new season ticket holder pavilion for exclusive food and drink discounts.
2)1/2 season ticket holder plan geared toward weekends receive 15% off the listed price and also get the exclusive meet and greets with the players
The cheerleaders go. There’s no cheerleaders in hockey. The girls cleaning the ice during timeouts will stay but they’re going to be decently clothed. Thrash will go back to being the old Thrash who can actually dance and rappel down a rope from the ceiling. The jumbotron will be replaced with an actual high def screen that isn’t covered with screen burns. AC/DC will be prominently played pushing our Black and Blue theme. An actual organ will play music in Our House, a real pipe organ, played by someone that has a clue on how to get a crowd rev’d up. And we’re going to hire our award winning in-game producer back away from the Crapitals.
All weekday start times are 7:30pm, Saturday 7pm, Sunday at 5pm.
Drop the puck.
Time to head to the summer home in the Riviera, Ilya?
Ilya Kovalchuk and the Devils will now begin their offseason after losing to the Flyers in round-one of the playoffs (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philly, sans Carter and Gagne, just knocked the Devils out in 5 games. You think Sweet Lou is even considering calling Jay Grossman? Fuhgeddaboudit. Lou tried to use Kovy to inject some much needed offense into his club, but Kovy was oil and water on that club.
LA will be Kovy’s home next season, and I say good riddance to a one way player.
He’ll never be a great one like Crosby and Ovechkin (who are showing this playoff season, once again, what true all around great hockey players they are). Bob Hartley tried to save Kovy’s career and turn him into a hockey player, but Ilya wants none of it.
I will not miss him; we need to turn this club into one that has 3 lines that can all score. Kovy, it was nice knowing ya, stop by once in a while, but До скорого!
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157 comments Add your comment
puckedup
April 23rd, 2010
2:02 pm
If Macarthur walks, why is he still listed in your starting lineup for next season?
puckhead
April 23rd, 2010
2:10 pm
If you’re going to remake Blueland, you have to unplug AC/DC and update the music as well.
Red Light
April 23rd, 2010
2:10 pm
Lamoriello speaks: http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2010/04/devils_gm_lou_lamoriello_says_1.html
kracker
April 23rd, 2010
2:15 pm
If Dudley has no plans for White, somebody probably will claim him off waivers for half price.
Rawhide
April 23rd, 2010
2:18 pm
Mr. Rawhide: I want to be a card-carrying member of Rawhide’s Rowdies – Where do I get a card? How do I join? How much does it cost?
lola - OK…you’re in. As for joining and cost…you’re posted comment requesting membership IS the entire application form and the cost is FREE.
I’ll see about getting Trixie to forward a card to ya.
Joe Friday
April 23rd, 2010
2:19 pm
“why is he still listed in your starting lineup for next season?”
Cause I cobbled that thing together in an hour after Ilya got bounced last night, coupled with tired eyes, and dang worthless copy editors round this AJC!
Machechek or Arty in that spot, I think Arty might have the wheels to be a decent third line player and pot 15 goals for us.
Zim
April 23rd, 2010
2:26 pm
**Cracks Knuckles**
Here we go… The very first thing that Joe should have done is look at both the rosters for the Barrie Colts and the Mississuaga St. Michael’s Majors. If Joe had, he might have found that Atlanta Thrashers’ 2008 6th round pick Chris Carrozzi plays for Mississuaga. A Waddell pick, Carrozzi is eligible to turn pro after this season and his solid statistics point towards Chris earning a contract with the organization.
Waddell likely has some sort of rapport with Carrozzi and maybe, just maybe, this is the primary reason for Don’s visit to Barrie, Ontario (only 4 hours away from Waddell’s hometown of Detroit). While there, Waddell can certainly take in a game, evaluate, and give his opinion (which no longer passes for law in the front office) to a constantly traveling, busy Rick Dudley.
Secondly, why in the world would the Thrashers trade Tobias Enstrom? The first 50-point defenseman in franchise history, Enstrom is a model representative of the type of success a skilled blueliner, regardless of physical stature, can have in the new NHL. The most durable player in the franchise since joining the team (has played in every game the last three years), Toby is a career plus player despite three non-playoff season in Atlanta.
Toby tied for 6th in the entire NHL for points by a defenseman, his 19 powerplay points is 12th most in the league, and Enstrom put 27 more shot on net this season than a year ago.
Oduya doesn’t make Enstrom expendable one bit. Johnny, while a great addition to the team, has a career-high of 29 points (Toby had more in his rookie season) and is not really a threat on the powerplay.
Toby also does many of the little things that get completely unnoticed and rarely takes a bad penalty; just 30 PIMs in 2009-10.
Joe’s second assist argument holds no sway either… of Enstrom’s 44 assists, 22 were first assists. I’d say that is a pretty high mark for a defenseman considering only 11 of Pavel Kubina’s 32 helpers were first assists (that’s 50% of Enstrom’s and 34% of Kubina’s). So, I’d say that the second assists fooled you, sir.
Thirdly, Alexander Frolov is not a top-3 forward. Since his 71 point season in 2006-07, Frolov’s production is trending downward. The last thing this franchise needs is wasted money on an enigmatic Russian LW. Sharp would be a fantastic edition, but Atlanta will not be the only team in the running for him.
The proposed signings of 33-year old Pavel Kubina for three years and soon-to-be 35-year old Evgeni Nabokov wreak of Waddell-like transactions; a guy that Joe Friday obviously cannot stand. Atlanta has serious money available this summer to go after Anton Volchenkov, Dan Hamhuis, and Paul Martin… if those three don’t work out then Denis Seidenberg, Toni Lydman, and Henrik Tallinder are solid options afterwards.
I’d love for Atlanta to sign Pavel Kubina to a two or three year deal, but at $5 million? Volchenkov, at age 29, will probably not command that much more on the open market.
With Pavelec not too far away, at least from getting a full-time shot, the Thrashers could instead choose to go after a 40-50 game guy like Dan Ellis (preferred) or Antero Niittymaki.
Joe Friday
April 23rd, 2010
2:28 pm
Big T, I completely agree with that article on Kovy. It’s spot on, except someone will stay pay him the big bucks. He’s awful young for a UFA and in his prime, someone’s going to pony up $9m for him.
Red Light, you know better than to buy into Sweet Lou’s GM speak. Lou plays it tighter to the vest than any GM in the league, his comments there are for one purpose . . . to up the value he gets back in return when he trades Kovy’s negotiating rights prior to July 1st.
BTW, Red Light, you watch Campbell’s return last night? Certainly didn’t hurt his club but only saw limited minutes and didn’t look healthy to me, but the 3-0 final score was certainly healthy enough!
Cornbread
April 23rd, 2010
2:29 pm
I like Enstrom for what he is, an offensive defenceman with great vision. He is a needed and valuable asset to the Thrashers and is the team’s all time top scoring D-man and 9th overall point getter. What Enstrom lacks in size and physicality, he makes up for in skill. His biggest weakness, his weak shot from the point. I don’t think there is a player in the NHL with a weaker slap shot. Does his hardest shot even hit 80Mph? Maybe that’s why he doesn’t shoot more and instead maddeningly passes it up?
(Ironically, I think his much too long – for him – oversized stick is the reason for the weak shot. Ever see how much the toe is off the ice when he’s pushing the puck forward or when he drops his top hand several inches to catch a hard pass? When he drops that hand the stick’s blade is flat on the ice to ensure a solid catch. When he shoots, his hand is at the top of the sick and the toe naturally rises off the ice. As a result, he does not get solid contact on his slap shot. I once measured Enstrom and Exelby’s sticks side by side. Enstrom’s was at least 4 inches longer and Exelby is a good 3 inches taller. You’d think it’d be the other way around. Exelby’s stick is a little short for him though since he’s not a skill guy.)
The Thrashers have a replacement for Enstrom in the system and that is Ivan Vishnevskiy who they got in trade for Lehtonen. Another undersized and skilled puck mover who supposedly has a harder shot and plays a bit more physical than Enstrom.
Odouya is more of a solid two way D-man and that he has 41 fewer points in 54 more NHL games than Enstrom is the telling stat. I was not too crazy about Odouya’s play the first several games as a Thrasher. But, towards the end of the season, especially when paired with Hainsey, I realized what a great pick-up he was. Hainsey and Odouya are a solid top 4 combo. The other top two are Kubina and Enstrom. Bogosian has the potential for sure but I don’t think there are too many that will disagree that he was the weakest link on the blue line this year… another reason for the coaching change. Bogosian as the weakest link on the blue line, I’ll take that crew any day.
Badger Bob
April 23rd, 2010
2:34 pm
RL – Wow, not the reaction I’d have expected from Lou. So mellow and rosy – you would think they’d just lost Game 7 of the Cup finals, not been the first team eliminated. I’m sure the Sage of the Rock is having a fit up there!
Joe Friday
April 23rd, 2010
2:38 pm
“The very first thing that Joe should have done is look at both the rosters for the Barrie Colts and the Mississuaga St. Michael’s Majors.”
Precisely what I did (which is how I found out about Molson being a Barrie sponsor when going to Barrie’s web site). The point is, Waddell is now the business side only, right? Dealing with sponsors and marketing? All personnel decisions are to be Dudley’s, right? Or that’s the rose colored world we built for ouselves round here recently. That trip up there disproves that.
“why in the world would the Thrashers trade Tobias Enstrom?”
Because we need to upgrade D, he’s a Waddell small and soft player. Oduya replaces him and he and the other offensive dmen pile up the same pts while eating the minutes on the PP and regular strength that Enstrom got.
“Alexander Frolov is not a top-3 forward.”
We can agree to disagree, but yes, he certainly is.
“I’d love for Atlanta to sign Pavel Kubina to a two or three year deal, but at $5 million?”
If you think he’s sign for less, I just don’t think that’s realistic. If you think that’s overpaying him, did you watch our games and his play all year?!?
“the Thrashers could instead choose to go after a 40-50 game guy like Dan Ellis (preferred) or Antero Niittymaki.”
We could choose to go that route . . . if we want to be sitting here again this time next year wondering how to improve our club while the other teams are in the playoffs. You might as well just keep Moose and Pavs is you’re answer is Ellis or Nittymaki. Neither of them is a true #1 or an upgrade over Moose.
The single biggest improvement this club can make is in goal. I’m a firm believer of building from the net out, and this club has NEVER had a true #1 guy that could steal games for us over the course of a season. Nabokov is in his prime and on top of his game (you watching the Sharks’ playoff games?). It’s the one must do, must fix goal.
Joe Friday
April 23rd, 2010
2:41 pm
“Odouya is more of a solid two way D-man and that he has 41 fewer points in 54 more NHL games than Enstrom is the telling stat.”
Remember to take context into account when looking at raw stats . . . Oduya didn’t get the PP minutes Enstrom had. Enstrom banks tons of pts just sliding the puck over to Kovy for one timers on the PP . . . anyone can do that.
Badger Bob
April 23rd, 2010
2:45 pm
Agreed we’d like to improve in net, but the only statistical UFA improvement over Moose is Nabokov. Hard to imagine anyone else trading their No. 1 goalie, so he should be the target despite his serious ego problem. If we can’t get him, keep Moose. I actually think we can improve more as a team by improving our forwards (with some puck possession, two-way players to keep the shots down).
Badger Bob
April 23rd, 2010
2:50 pm
I think Joe’s appreciating how tough Rawhide’s job is! Like herding cats…
Scotty
April 23rd, 2010
2:54 pm
Nice for Rawhide to allow you to guest blog Joe Friday. Congrats on winning the blog of the year vote too.
I will take reservation on the notion of getting rid of the ice girs however. Unlike the Thrashers these past few years they are the only thing that has looked good on the ice 100% of the time.
Other than that, I like what you posted.
Rawhide, where can I get me one of those Rawhides Rowdies membership cards?
lola
April 23rd, 2010
3:07 pm
Thanks, Mr. Rawhide!!! And thanks to Trixie!
TJR
April 23rd, 2010
3:30 pm
As a lifelong hockey fan and Philly native (Flyers first, Thrash a close second) I can’t TELL you how satisfying it was watching Kovalchuk tank for the Devils while the Flyers absolutely dominated that series. Was glad to see him go from the Thrashers and thrilled at the deal we got. I predicted from the get-go he wouldn’t be a good fit with NJ, and am glad to be vindicated. Go look at some of the Devils blogs, they ain’t too thrilled with him up there either.
As for the Thrashers next year, I like the idea of dumping the blue unis. But turn it over to the fans for the redesign. Have a contest. As far as the team, Philly has no first round pick making them perfect trading partners with the Thrashers and their two. Philly also needs to dump some salary so there are a number of guys they’d probably part with. Hartnell would be top of the list. Had an off year offensively and does take too many dumb penalties, but he’s got great grit and energy and is one of those agitators you like to have. You can reign in the penalties and he should definitely rebound in the goal department a bit.
On a side note, went to the Braves/Phillies Weds night and ran into Thorburn, Boulton and a bunch of the other guys. First of all, they were absolutely SHOCKED to be recognized…they laughed about that not happening much in this city…but chatted with them for a second about next year. Can tell you that none of them were too thrilled about the prospect of bringing back Hartley, for what it’s worth.
Cornbread
April 23rd, 2010
3:39 pm
“Anyone can do that.”
No they can’t and if they could they would. If that is your idea of all that is needed on the PP than at least put someone in who has a harder shot. Playing the point on the PP is all about skill, poise, vision, and knowledge, which Enstrom has as much of if not more than any other Thrasher D-man. That is the reason he got PP time and all those passes to Kovalchuk or whoever else.
TOI and shifts for Enstrom and Odouya were about the same for the year. The difference is Enstrom averaged 4:32 on the PP and :25 on the PK. Odouya averaged 1:18 on the PP and 2:30 on the PK. You are correct of the stat times but it is another indicator that Oduya is more of a two way D-man as opposed to an offensive defenceman like Enstrom or a stay at home defensive defenceman like Valabik. We didn’t see him sliding too many pucks over to anyone on the PP. Why? because that is not his role nor is it Enstrom’s to lay guys out around the net.
Zim
April 23rd, 2010
3:41 pm
Joe, you are making assumptions without any statistical data to support them.
RE: Waddell in Barrie
If you looked at the roster, how did you overlook Carrozzi? Or did you notice him and simply leave that information out of your original post in order to prove a point?
With Waddell still involved in the Thrashers organization, even with a year to get used to the setting, Dudley and Waddell will still have some overlap as each transitions into their new jobs. We simply do not know the reason for Waddell’s visit to Barrie, but we do know there are multiple explanations for why Don was at the game.
RE: Enstrom
Define soft? Enstrom isn’t a gritty player or a hard hitter, but he certainly doesn’t shy away from contact in the corners or in front of the net. Assuming that other Thrashers defensemen will take Enstrom’s minutes and produce a point total that 294 NHL blueliners could not reach in 2009-10 is just careless.
Pavel Kubina’s career-high in points is 40. Hainsey’s is 39. Oduya’s is 29. Not only that, but Oduya shoots less than Enstrom. Toby’s 109 shots this year is one better than Johnny’s career-high mark of 108 set in 2008-09.
I’ve already refuted your second assists argument against Tobias and now your claim that “Enstrom banks tons of pts just sliding the puck over to Kovy for one timers on the PP . . . anyone can do that” is about to bite the dust.
Of Enstrom’s 16 assists on the powerplay while Kovalchuk was on the team this season, six came on Kovalchuk goals and only three were first assists. This means that of Kovalchuk’s 10 powerplay goals with the Thrashers in 2009-10, only three could have possibly come from a one-time feed from Enstrom.
Not even half of Enstrom’s powerplay assists while Kovalchuk was WITH the team came on Ilya Kovalchuk goals.
RE: Frolov
Certainly, Frolov’s struggles have been well documented for NHL fans that follow the Kings (right here). Kopitar’s line is considered the top line and Frolov, though he will make random appearances here and there, generally the Russian is found on the second line.
Frolov has been a minus player three of the last four seasons and failed to score 20 goals for the first time in his career since his rookie season. Is he a top six winger? Sure, but I honestly don’t think he would beat out Bergfors, Antropov, and Afinogenov (probably not even Peverley) for a top three spot in Atlanta.
Agree to disagree.
RE: Kubina
I don’t think Kubina will sign for much less, but three years at $5 million gives Atlanta a 36-year old defenseman in 2012-13. Pavel played very well for the Thrashers this season and was arguably the best on the backline, but if he loses just one step, Kubina will have a hard time keeping up to NHL speed. Two years at $5 million? I’m skeptical, but I’d eat that salary.
Unlike top six forwards and goalies, the Thrashers have some organizational depth at defense and the triumvirate of Kulda, Vishnevskiy, and Postma are not far off from regular NHL roster spots.
Atlanta might be better off investing that money in one of the three free agents I mentioned in my previous post. Volchenkov would be a perfect fit, but Hamhuis and Martin are just as good, if not better, than Pavel Kubina… if just one of those players likes $ more than a traditional hockey market, then Atlanta could be in business.
RE: Goaltending
I’m not going to cry if the Thrashers sign Evgeni Nabokov, I just don’t think it will happen for a number of reasons. First, I don’t think Nabokov will want to come to Atlanta, even for $5 million. Secondly, the Thrashers seem committed to developing Ondrej Pavelec and Nabokov is a guy that plays 65-70 games which would make Ondrej a wasted asset on the bench.
doc
April 23rd, 2010
3:41 pm
so, rawhide won the face-off? pretty cool; he also dropped the puck. since, he does such a good job here, he should get the honor when someone guests his host.
now, when does major league hockey come back to atlanta?
Rawhide
April 23rd, 2010
3:42 pm
Cause I cobbled that thing together in an hour after Ilya got bounced last night, coupled with tired eyes, and dang worthless copy editors round this AJC!
Joe-Bob – Hey…I said I would post up your write-up. I didn’t say I waould avail Trixie and her services too!!
Rawhide, where can I get me one of those Rawhides Rowdies membership cards?
Scotty – Your in the club, I’ll get ya a card somehow.
Matt
April 23rd, 2010
4:16 pm
John Kincade is an a$$-hat. “I have no interest in the Flyers” he says before cutting off a caller who wanted to talk hockey. Oh God forbid that we actually discuss something other than the friggin NFL draft or the “boring as hell” Braves. What a suck up he is.
Again, it’s not that fans don’t want to talk NHL playoffs or hockey in this town, it’s the self-appointed blow-hard talk show hosts that keep Hockey from ever being talked about on either of the two sports stations.
Savannah Blueland Fan
April 23rd, 2010
4:25 pm
Best one-liner from the CBC message board concerning the NJ-Flyers series: “Now it’s time for golfchuk”.
rob
April 23rd, 2010
4:26 pm
So Rawhide, how is it that you stir the pot around here so often and not take offense to any of the multitude of people who disagree to disagree and argue? Thing is we can play around with the who and who nots on the roster all we want. We have to have a quality goalie, 1st and foremost. Get us a goalie and maybe a Sharp.
Glovesave,
I sat over in the lower half of the club side down by the ice one game and was eerily alone in my cheering and yelling at the play on the ice. Let everyone have access to the whole arena except the elevators up to the suites. By the end of that game over there, I had a few of them cheering and all, so if enough people were over there being loud and obnoxious then maybe some of our quiet but loyal fans on that side would get more vocal and involved with the game as well.
Just my opinion.
So Rawhide, since you’re throwing out your cards like the cheerleaders with t shirts, how about one over here? If I need to make more noise than another section to get it, just let me know and I will type the next post in caps for you!
Jeff97
April 23rd, 2010
4:26 pm
Matt – and If Kincade wont talk hockey, then nobody will in this town. He is the only one of the two stations that ever brings it up. Whats worse is that most of the sports radio guys are transplants that come from hockey markets. With all the transplants in this city, you could easily have a sports radio station that is devoted simply to all of the transplants and all of the sports. not just College Football……College Football spring practice…puhlease!
FormerIslesFan
April 23rd, 2010
4:33 pm
It’s been fascinating watching the back-and-forth today *passes the popcorn to Rawhide.* That being said, a quick moment of my $.02 and then a proposal:
On Enstrom: I’m falling on the side of the “why would you trade him?” bunch. I do NOT even remotely think he plays soft and have watched time and time again where he uses his body positioning in a far superior way to many NHL defensemen. On the PP, he reminds me a lot of Stefan Pearson (back from the Isles’ dynasty years). A PP QB and when paired with a physical hard-shooting defenseman (as Pearson was with Denis Potvin on the Isles PP), it makes for a deadly combination…assuming Antro can be convinced to continue to park his tree-like frame in front of the oppositions goalie. I do not think Oduya makes Enstrom expendible; I think they bring very different skill sets to the table.
A (goalie) proposal: I have not heard anyone talk about it in this blog today, so I’ll throw it out there. What about making a run at Halak/Price (preferably Halak in my world). Unless I’m wrong, they are both RFAs and Montreal cannot afford to re-sign both of them. The acquired Devils’ pick might be tasty for them.
Joe Friday
April 23rd, 2010
4:36 pm
“I didn’t say I waould avail Trixie and her services too!!”
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa . . . now I’m a happily married man and all, but Trixie has “services”?!?
Hokey Clisters
April 23rd, 2010
4:39 pm
Toby must stay a Thrasher! He is skilled at handling puck plus Mrs. Clisters thinks he’s cute…….like a little Ewok.
Hokey Clisters
April 23rd, 2010
4:40 pm
Help Me! Help Me! I’ve been Kolva-struck and I can’t get up…………………….
Alan R.
April 23rd, 2010
4:40 pm
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/buyer-beware-on-kovalchuk/article1544252/?utm_source=bleacherreport.com
I was all ready and set to click this link and read it. Then I saw the bolded part.
Joe Friday
April 23rd, 2010
4:42 pm
Happy Friday, fellas and good to stir it up a little and thanks to Rawhide for the bloggery today, that was kinda fun.
Looking forward to some more killer playoff hockey, going to pulling for the Bruins and Habs to extend their series tonight before pulling for the Kings and Yotes. Beer thirty!
Smoothie
April 23rd, 2010
4:46 pm
Enstrom vs Oduya
An interesting and compelling discussion to say the least.
I love Tobias Enstrom, don’t get me wrong, he’s a very, very good player. And I’m fine with not trading him. I’m also fine with dealing him if the price is met or exceeded. I think a lot of folks here realize that Tobes and Johnny have a lot of similarities in their game. Toby is probably a better open ice skater with the puck and can carry it deep whenever he wants. Johnny is also a very good open ice skater, but he’s also very good in tight quarters (better than Toby because he’s not bumped off the puck as easily) and after a rocky start (post-trade depression syndrome!), he showed what a fantastic mover of the puck he is. In my mind, he’s the single best passer out of traffic in the corner, out of our own zone and almost as good as Toby in the offensive zone if you give him the chance…you can see it by how he plays and the quick decisions he makes.
I think what Joe Bob is offering up is a scenario that might help us improve again by acquiring other quality assets. Of course, you have to be willing to give to get. Now I’m not so sure I’d rather give up Enstrom over Oduya as Toby seems committed to staying long-term given the ease with which his RFA negotiations were settled. I can see the argument of giving up Enstrom while his value is so high, but considering Johnny is older and a UFA via trade, it seems like a risky proposition to trade Toby when you don’t know if Johnny will stick. It may depend a lot upon how these prospects develop, but you don’t know until they have a chance to play more.
R. Stroz
April 23rd, 2010
4:47 pm
Don’t worry Joe Bob Friday, as of today, you have as many playoff wins as Don Waddell.
glovesave29
April 23rd, 2010
4:52 pm
Halak and/or Price are not “money” goalies in my book. I think they are damaged goods and I steer clear of both of them. Based on what they are signed for, we could loose a lot in compensatory picks, which I am not up for for either of them. I want a fighter with an attitude…Grant Fuhr, paging Mr. Grant Fuhr…
JF – If we are all frustrated here by years of treading water, so why on earth do you get rid of one asset because in your mind another replaces it? The way you win in with depth. I dont want Oduya or Enstrom, I want Oduya AND Enstrom. I am a goalie, and have been so for 35 years…I will take an offensive defensemen EVERY DAY. The best way to keep the opponents from scoring is to keep in the other zone. His skating is by far the best on the team, one of the better ones in the league. No way, no how do you part with him unless you get an insane offer coming back to you…
Smoothie
April 23rd, 2010
4:52 pm
FIF makes a good point about the Montreal goalie situation. They already have $45 M tied up in 12 players and a bunch of RFA’s (6 or 7). There is NOOOO way on God’s green earth they can afford both Halak and Price after this year. I think I’d be okay with taking a chance at Price as he’d be less expensive due to his falling stock. If he rebounds, you look like a genius. If he doesn’t, hopefully it’s because Pavelec is beating his pants off in head to head competition.
Tom (Capital T Tom)
April 23rd, 2010
4:58 pm
Alan R
Don’t worry about the link. It goes to the Globe and Mail. The bleacher report is just the referrer, not the author.
FormerIslesFan
April 23rd, 2010
5:10 pm
GS29,
Normally, I agree with you but I don’t understand the “Halak is not a money goalie” comment (I do agree with you on Price, FWIW). I watched Halak raise his game during the Olympics and think that he has a hell of a lot to offer. By the same token, I watche Nabakov flame out in that same venue and during the last two (three?) years in the Sharks’ playoff “runs.” At this time, I would advocate going after Halak (via trade, not offer sheet – so no compensatory picks) over Nabakov in a heartbeat. If “Nabby” does mange to with The Cup this year, his asking price is going to skyrocket (ala Khabibulin in 2004).
As for fighting goalies, we’re on the same page again. However, I grew up worshipping “Battling” Billy Smith. Hearing Fuhr’s name still makes me itch.
Badger Bob
April 23rd, 2010
5:15 pm
Alan R – Bleacher Report is the source of crap, but also has links to valid stuff. In that case, it was a link to Eric Duhatschek, who is a serious and fair-minded writer. It’s a good read.
Stroz, just ’cause JF is stepping aside doesn’t mean I’m going anywhere. He made me part of the management team and I’ve blindly defended my boss (see today’s posts) and told lies as if they were gospel truth (see previous few days when I’ve been misinforming everybody on how to figure the NJ draft pick number). I think that makes me presidential material in ASG World.
Red Light
April 23rd, 2010
5:44 pm
Where the heck did Zim come from?
I personally think the blog has evolved since the name callers left the building this week. Just a reminder that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, otherwise neither R Stroz nor myself would have ever found a wife!
Now, as we turn to the guest blogger today, I only have this to say taken from a direct quote from his namesake:
“It’s awkward having a policeman around the house. Friends drop in, a man with a badge answers the door, the temperature drops 20 degrees.”
Red Light
April 23rd, 2010
5:45 pm
Go Sabres!
Rawhide
April 23rd, 2010
7:23 pm
So Rawhide, how is it that you stir the pot around here so often and not take offense to any of the multitude of people who disagree to disagree and argue?
since you’re throwing out your cards like the cheerleaders with t shirts, how about one over here? If I need to make more noise than another section to get it, just let me know and I will type the next post in caps for you!
rob – Stir the pot…me?
As for not taking offense from the “arguing”…well, part of this blog thingy is allowing fans to vent, post opinions and observations. Agreeing with the blog host is not a prerequisite for participation. Same with agreeing or disagreeing with others. Maybe it can get out of hand sometimes…but most of the time no one gets hurt. 
You wanna card too, huh? OK…no need to shout. I’m gonna have to figure a way to get these all distributed.
Hmmm…maybe I can get Trixie to post one up on her blog and people can print it out. Or, maybe I can just get her to come out here in a Blue Crew outfit and toss ‘em out like you described…
Joe Friday
April 23rd, 2010
7:50 pm
“why on earth do you get rid of one asset because in your mind another replaces it?”
The delta here is the Spirit Squad cap. I figured $52m or so to open the season. We spend cap max, I’m right there with you, shoot keep both and upgrade beyond them. I didn’t think it out to hard, but with some quick math I figured that’s an opening lineup that can get in playoff position in front of Nabokov (you mix the top 9 forwards around as they get hot and gel) and then, as Smoothie picked up on, have assets gained in the Toby Trade (rights reserved) to make a deadline move to bring in a shut down Dman that can eat minutes and see if you can make a run.
“you have as many playoff wins as Don Waddell.”
“I think that makes me presidential material in ASG World.”
“It’s awkward having a policeman around the house. Friends drop in, a man with a badge answers the door, the temperature drops 20 degrees.”
All classic, you guys are on a roll, loving these games so far
thebighairybeast
April 23rd, 2010
9:05 pm
As to Oduya and Enstrom, Im in the keep them both camp. Numbers and arguments have been beaten to death. But variety is the spice of life. You want a slick passing smooth skating offensively minded defensive, you want a hard working dependable two way guy for versatility, and you want that stay at home, put the fear of God into, and clear the crease with the zeal of a rabid grizzlie with annoying in-laws visiting way too long. All are needed! We got two. Find me the third!
Tony C.
April 23rd, 2010
9:20 pm
I think Halak is playing his way into “untouchable” territory-it’d be different if Price was a French-Canadian, but he’s not. No way they trade away Halak! I do believe Price is an upgrade to Moose (sorry man), but something tells me that we’re going to stand pat and re-sign both of our guys right at the beginning of the summer.
Red Light
April 23rd, 2010
11:29 pm
Brendan warning!
Hockey Biltong
April 23rd, 2010
11:41 pm
Ban Blueland.
Start a half hour later.
Better beer.
Better food.
Better Team
Better Ownership.
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
1:04 am
I’m late to the party. But it’s been one of those weeks. Bob/Joe Friday did a great job with his blog post. He had a great blog comment to win the contest. Many of his changes would be good ones. If made GM, Joe Friday gets 10 full seasons to get one (1) playoff win. And if he does it, he’s eclipsed the Waddell Administration. I especially like the Black and Blue color scheme, new start times, and AC/DC music for warm ups and entrance music. And if the arena is to be named, “Our House,” may I suggest, from the AC/DC Album, “Flick of the Switch,” the song “House is on Fire” as the entrance music.
Segue … of all the playoff series I’ve watched on Versus and Center Ice, I think the most energized, ethusiastic fans are found in the Vancouver-Los Angeles series. LA’s been starved for eight long years. And Vancouver is always pumped. Runner Up: Chicago vs. Nashville. Great fans in both cities.
When ex-beat writer Craig Custance left, he said it would take the Thrashers 5-years to get back to being a playoff contender, after being swept out by the Rangers in 2007. I counter-argued that it would only take four. If I’m right, next season will be a playoff year for Atlanta. Remember the atmosphere before Game One, in that series? Wouldn’t it be GREAT to get back to that point, in our hearts and minds? If Dudley is really in charge, which I can only hope he is, I hope he is successful in changing the culture here.
I thought Kubina was on a short list of candidates to be the Thrashers MVP. He got my vote. I think the actual honors went to Nik Antropov. I can’t begrudge him that, a statistical leader in almost every category for the Thrashers last season. If we’re putting on hypothetical GM hats, I’d build the marketing campaign around Nik Antropov. He’s under contract for three (3) more years. He’s got a look that I think the ladies appreciate. He’s got good size. And I think he’s going to be a leader for this team, in the future. A future team Captain? Shrugs. I don’t know. I suspect that honor will go to Marty Reasoner, the “teammate’s teammate award winner.”
Rightshot
April 24th, 2010
1:05 am
FYI Thrashers new seating chart. NO 400 SECTION!
http://www.thrashersseasontickets.com/seating_pricing.php
Alan R.
April 24th, 2010
3:24 am
Badger Bob – I avoid anything that even mentions that site. I take Eklund more seriously.
LAC
April 24th, 2010
8:21 am
waddell scouting, It will NEVER change !