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!
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
157 comments Add your comment
Rawhide
April 23rd, 2010
11:01 am
FIRST!!!
HA-Ha!
R. Stroz
April 23rd, 2010
11:19 am
Rawhide – Do you have the right to be first?
somaatl95
April 23rd, 2010
11:20 am
Well Played, Rawhide
Good Blog Joe!
Dandylions
April 23rd, 2010
11:26 am
Good one Rawhide
Dandylions
April 23rd, 2010
11:28 am
Joe Friday for President and GM
Cornbread
April 23rd, 2010
11:28 am
Whoever gets the “better” player via trade gets the better deal? Can that theory finally be proven false? Atlanta definitely came out better in the deal that traded Kovalchuk away. Go to the KHL Ilya, not sure if LA will even want you now.
J.B.
April 23rd, 2010
11:33 am
I hope the owners and management read this post. I really do. Some good ideas here…
Hip Czech
April 23rd, 2010
11:33 am
From your keyboard to ASG ears!
Sherry Taylor
April 23rd, 2010
11:33 am
Wow! Joe Friday, THAT is a mouthful and I hope someone in the AS office is paying attention. Words to live by according to my Canadian husband, Every man! Every shift! Every Period!
And please, get rid of the hoochie-mama’s. There are no cheerleaders (if that is what they are supposed to be doing) in hockey. And, even if they keep then, PUT SOME CLOTHES ON THEM! Other teams have decently clothed cheerleaders. I would be embarrassed if my daughter was one of them. It is demeaning, and I realize that you men will have lots of issues with my viewpoint, but frankly, you’re all dirty old men!
And, everyone, stop whining about Kovy. Joe Friday is correct in his assessment. Kovalchuk will never be the player you thought he was going to be, he doesn’t want to work hard enough. Hartley tried to help him and was treated to gigantic tantrums until Hartley was booted.
This team needs to get tough and play scrappy hockey. I like the black and blue uniform idea. Creates an image, one that we sorely need! Let’s hear it for Joe Friday!
Smoothie
April 23rd, 2010
11:34 am
Nice job Joe Bob!! Bravo!! I like just about every idea you have including jettisoning MacArthur, trading Tobes (or Oduya) and buying out White. I don’t know why you keep C-Mac in your line-up though. Perhaps you meant Arty? Anyway, I love the idea of getting Sharp and even though Frolov has been struggling the last couple years, the change of scenery could really do him some good, not to mention playing with Antropov. In tallying the salaries for the Cap, I gave Bergfors about 2.5 M along with Pavelec, Slates & Arty a cool mill each and Boults about .675 M and stayed right around $53 M including White’s buy-out deal. I know a lot of folks will wonder “where’s Max” but Bergfors, Antro and Kane are all the RW options you need in my opinion.
Not Blind
April 23rd, 2010
11:34 am
DUDE !!!! NHL Center Ice !!!!!
Savannah Blueland Fan
April 23rd, 2010
11:41 am
Joe Friday, dropping the Blueland campaign means I’ll have to change my name. But, then again, you did it and now look at you…………you are a SUPERSTAR!!!!!
Savannah Blueland Fan
April 23rd, 2010
11:43 am
Oh, BTW…you forgot about making Antropov Captain. I’m going to keep harping on that all summer until it happens.
GaVaHokie
April 23rd, 2010
11:48 am
“Atlanta GM…whoops…President Don Waddell in Barrie for the Colts game vs. Mississauga tonight.”
Hmmm… first reaction… they’re considering Alex Burmistrov.
But yes, second reaction… why is he there? Second opinion for Dudley? He’s always been a fan of watching Junior hockey… I guess you can take the man out of the scouting role, but you can’t take the scout out of the man.
As long as he’s not insistant, he can watch whatever he wants.
Red Light
April 23rd, 2010
11:51 am
Oil & Water Joe?
Kovy led the Devils in playoff scoring. He had 10 goals and 17 assists in 27 games in NJ. Led ALL NHLl forwards during the regular season in ice time. Revel if you will in his failure, but the real problem with the Devils against the Flyers was defense and goaltending. That’s right, the venerable Marty Brodeur, who compiled these ghastly numbers in 11 games vs. Philadelphia this year: 34 goals on 282 shots for a save percentage of .879 in 11 starts this season against the Flyers, posting a 2-8-1 record.
Yes, it’s popular to bash Kovy on this and other blogs, but he wasn’t the problem with the Thrashers nor the Devils. There were many other holes on both rosters as has been proven by the Thrashers missing the playoffs and the Devils getting knocked out of it quickly.
Did I misread your post, or did you really say get rid of Enstrom, the guy who led the team in assists in 2009-10? Yes, he has some faults but he hasn’t missed a game in three seasons and I can assure you that the list of teams who would want him runs 29 teams deep.
You made some solid arguments about the fans and policies, but I’ll stick with Dudley for GM, at least for now!
Rawhide
April 23rd, 2010
11:57 am
Love what you wrote there Joe-Bob. Most of your suggestions I LOVE!
- 7:30 starts: Yes indeed.
- Get Nabokov, Sharp and Frolov in here: Great moves.
- Ship Todd White out on the next train: I’m with ya there
- Ditch the baby blue unis and “Blueland” schtick: Uh-huh…do it right now. It’s been done and overdone.
- Making sure STHs are the one group with most access to players and perks: That’s the way it should be…they are the fans investing the most $$$.
However…Do NOT do away with the Blue Crew. Not now…NOT EVER!!!!
To borrow a line from the great Charlton Heston…”From my cold dead hands”!!!!
Rawhide – Do you have the right to be first?
R. Stroz – As the appointed leader of all of the card-carrying members of Rawhide’s Rowdies, yes… I absolutely believe that I do.
Savannah Blueland Fan
April 23rd, 2010
11:58 am
Oh yeah, my second BTW….if changes are made to the arena itself, how about suggesting to Phillips that since they do, in fact, deal with light bulbs then it’s a good idea to actually put a few in the arena. Stepping inside is like entering those video arcades that every mall had in the 1980’s.
rob
April 23rd, 2010
12:00 pm
CAR!!!! shuffle shuffle, OK GAME ON!!!!
Joe,
I agree with most of the ideas. I don’t like Kubina getting $5mil though. The ORGAN is a great idea, the whole idea of fan involvement is missed by the current people. After watching a 12 year old banging on the glass with his tongue out at the ice girl while his dad watched, I agree with putting some clothes on them, my 5 year old daughter wanted to know why they were wearing underwear on the ice. I actually like the uniforms, and changing them now will put a stress on the FANS who now have to go out and buy new ones. Keep it where it is, so we can remember where we came from when we get where we are going. I think an important marketing strategy that is missing is this. Have the news include the Thrashers highlights in sports every night they play, I mean really, it is irritating how little coverage is given. I know it’s not monster trucks, the dawgs, or the braves, but c’mon ya’ll. They fight and check, give the public a view so maybe we get some new fans!!!! And on that note how about having the AJC do the same, along with scores around the league, standings, leaderboards, and articles around the league.
Sudden Death
April 23rd, 2010
12:07 pm
Enjoyed this comment from a Devils blog…
i honestly feel that if we kept Oduya and Bergfors instead of getting kovalchuk this series would have been easier for us. Kovy is NOT a team players and HAS NOT adapted well like everyone said he did? he made A TON of bad plays and stupid passes and tried to do it all himself like he did in atlanta, yeah he had som great moves to get one on one with the goalie BUT HE COULDNT FINISH. with that being said we traded out #2 defenseman and a pretty good potential player with bergfors. also this series was pathetic, noone showed up to play.
rob
April 23rd, 2010
12:14 pm
Red Light,
I agree with keeping Toby, but only if he works with a therapist to clear his memory of all the shots he turned down to pass to Kovy. He turns down some awesome shooting chances to try to force a pass through traffic too much. Shots to the net are what we need more of and he would be a key part of that need from the point.
GaVaHokie
April 23rd, 2010
12:18 pm
I finally understand the draft scenarios… Conference Finalists, then Division Winners, then Playoff losers by final Regular Season rank.
We need 4 non-Division leaders to make the Conference Finals.
Here’s a best case scenario:
Western Final: Detroit vs Nashville
Eastern Final: Pittsburgh vs Philly
30) Detroit
29) Pittsburgh
28) Nashville
27) Philly
26) Washington
25) San Jose
24) Chicago
23) Vancouver
22) ATLANTA (via New Jersey)
21) Phoenix
Savannah Blueland Fan
April 23rd, 2010
12:22 pm
I’m like this about Toby…extends hand outward while making up and down wavy motions signifying so-so….
On the one hand, I can think of no one currently on the team that is better about keeping the puck inside the offensive zone. No one.
On the other hand, I’m sick of yelling to the TV “SHOOT THE PUCK!!”.
On the third hand, “shoot the puck” sounds eerily similar to WTF; perhaps that could be my next drinking game now that JA has left the building.
Red Light
April 23rd, 2010
12:23 pm
Drew Doughty, Mike Green and Duncan Keith are the Norris Trophy finalists!
Badger Bob
April 23rd, 2010
12:24 pm
Absolutely brilliant, Joe!! I’m all in on all that wrt players! I knew you’d meet some resistance on the Blue Crew thing – afterall, one of your Post of the Year competitors was just a link to SI swimsuits… you know you’ll never separate hockey and testosterone.
As your de facto Asst GM, I felt compelled to review the roster moves. I love that opening line-up! Two true top lines, but then a beautiful third line, which is exactly what all the teams doing things in the playoffs have – speed, grit, and some scoring potential. And unlike many dream trades/signings, the numbers really work. About $48 – 50M in cap hit. Plus we’ve still got Cormier and whatever we get for Toby for depth. Get to it!
Well done, well said, and I guess I should have voted for your Post!
Twisted Wrister
April 23rd, 2010
12:25 pm
Making sure STHs are the one group with most access to players and perks: That’s the way it should be…they are the fans investing the most $$$.
Right now, all you need is twenty dollars for a Thrasher fan club membership and you get more access to players than STHs.
Thta’s a pile of crap.
GaVaHokie
April 23rd, 2010
12:26 pm
Philly owned New Jersey all year… Jersey lost 5 out of 6 games against the Flyers during the regular season.
Regular season= 1 and 5
Playoffs = 1 and 4
Makes sense to me.
GaVaHokie
April 23rd, 2010
12:27 pm
Drew Doughty, Mike Green and Duncan Keith are the Norris Trophy finalists!
Well then, the decision is made… it’s Mike Green.
Red Light
April 23rd, 2010
12:34 pm
World Be Free:
Vanek out and Raffi Torres will be replaced by Nathan Gerbe for the Sabres tonight.
lola
April 23rd, 2010
12:37 pm
I don’t understand the whole cheerleader haters thang….and I’m a girl who is interested in MEN, but I just don’t get it.
World Be Free
April 23rd, 2010
12:43 pm
Drew Doughty would be my pick. We don’t see him enough on the east coast.
I am not in favor of trading Toby, I just don’t think he’s an asset we can give up unless we can get a proven #2 in return. Lombardi would be a nice piece on our team. He’s a Dudley kind of player. Don’t waste your time trying to trade Todd White, just buy him out as suggested.
Badger Bob
April 23rd, 2010
12:48 pm
GVH – thanks for the draft order clarification. I guess if Atlanta had really wanted to help themselves, they would have beaten NJ and lost to the Pens that last week, giving the Pens the Division and lowering that draft pick. Anyway, my boss Mr. Friday instructs me that pick is just trade bait.
Out west, we do just as well if the Yotes make it to the Conf Finals, so here’s to a PHX – NAS finals!
Alan R.
April 23rd, 2010
12:51 pm
lola, I think the hate stems from two things: Hockey never had cheerleaders, and it’s not really desired in the traditional sense. Two, it seems those women who elect to become Ice Girls are marketed and treated more like objects rather than people.
DWTOO
April 23rd, 2010
12:52 pm
Four exceptions to the proposed line up –
Keep Max – doubt we could sign Forlov and trade for Sharp. Probably one or the other.
Dump MacArthur – Insert Machacheck or Cormier
Dump Bolts – Keep the A-Train.
Keep Toby – Boris is the odd man out.
Sherry Taylor – We’re not that old.
Red Light
April 23rd, 2010
1:05 pm
Before you start dumping defensemen, you must have seven on the 23-man roster, which means your 7th guy has to be inexpensive or possess a two-way contract, right? So, that means your 7th guy is typically the least paid or expendable if you have to waive him due to another call-up.
So, if you re-sign Kubina at the same level of salary, the order goes:
Kubina, Hainsey, Oduya-Enstrom (tied), Bogosian, Valabik, Kulda
If you don’t re-sign Kubina, it’s:
Hainsey, Oduya-Enstrom (tied), Bogosian, Valabik, Kulda, and maybe Schubert or Popovic as your 7th
That seems like a huge void on defense without Kubina, doesn’t it?
Joe Friday
April 23rd, 2010
1:06 pm
“don’t know why you keep C-Mac in your line-up though.”
Yep (dang editors around here!) meant Arty or Machachek if he’s ready
“Kovy led the Devils in playoff scoring… but the real problem with the Devils against the Flyers was defense and goaltending.”
Yup, and as I recall he scored alot of goal for us as well, even led the league one year while playing for us. And where’d that get us? Uh huh, same place as the Devils . . . we need 2way hockey players, Kovy can go figure skate elsewhere . . . right along with Enstrom…don’t be fooled by all those secondary assists he piles up, he indicative of the old soft and small Thrashers, we need dmen that can defend, not get pushed around in their zone. Oduya makes Enstrom expendable.
“Drew Doughty, Mike Green and Duncan Keith are the Norris Trophy finalists!”
What, no Toby Enstrom?!?
Re. the cheerleaders . . . I like girls (just ask my wife!). But there’s no place for cheerleaders in hockey. It. Just. Ain’t. Right.
I can see the girls coming out to scrape the ice, but put some clothes back on them, it’s just wrong. I come to watch hockey. I can go to the Cheetah if I want to see more skin.
Red Light
April 23rd, 2010
1:08 pm
Recall all of those who wanted Ponikarovsky at the deadline? Well, he has one goal, one assist and is averaging just 13:39 of ice time in the playoffs and had nine points and was minus-6 in 16 games with Pitt. Shero’s other “key piece to the puzzle” Jordan Leopold, 2 playoff games and just 12:58 of ice time per game.
Here are some of the other trade deadline blockbuster acquisitions and their playoff “contributions” thus far:
Fredrik Modin 2 goals, 1 assist, 17:19 of ice time
Joe Corvo 1 goal, 1 assist, 17:18 of ice time
Eric Belanger 1 assist, 14:57 of ice time
Andrew Alberts 2 games, 8:46 of ice time
Lee Stempniak 1 assist, 14:38 of ice time
Raffi Torres 2 assists, 12:54 of ice time
Jeff Halpern 10:05 of ice time
Wojtek Wolski 3 goals, 1 assist
Scott Walker Injured
Dennis Seidenberg Injured
Derek Morris 1 goal and 2 assists
Andy Sutton -1, 22:57 of ice time
Matt Cullen 2 goals, 4 assists and 23:43 of ice time
Niclas Wallin 1 game
Ted Bundy
April 23rd, 2010
1:13 pm
I like the ice girls.
glovesave29
April 23rd, 2010
1:15 pm
No way I get rid of Enstrom…that’d be just letting a personal bias get in the way of making smart personel decisions. Smooth skater, crisp passer, smart player – and let us not forget he got is face crushed in last offseason…and it did not affect his play at all this year. We all remember too well the change in Exelby after the injury…
Again – why Moose as a coach? Don’t think he even wants the gig, plus who knows if he is even any good at it. No more experimenting. Get a proven goalie coach.
Pehaps DW doesnt want the VP gig here in Atlanta and wants to interview to be the Colts GM.
Philips either needs to improve the fare on the “pedestrian” side of the arena, or let more ticket holders over to the suite side to get some decent grub.
Since JF is taking Rawhides spot (!) – Bill, can you move on up in the world and take Sarah Kwak’s column on CNN. Jeez, what a waste of space! She has a firm grasp on the obvious. There is no insight there at all…who did she catch in a compromising position to get that gig?
Red Light
April 23rd, 2010
1:15 pm
I like two-way hockey players too. All I’m pointing out is that you can’t point the finger at Kovalchuk alone, not here, not Jersey. Secondly, there most certainly is a place for Enstrom here and elsewhere. Yes, he needs to shoot more and because of his size gets pushed around, but he and Oduya can co-exist on the same team with the right defensive partners. Oduya and Hainsey played well together and I sure wouldn’t mind paring Enstrom with Bogo or Kubina. You have to have pairs that complement each other, not mirror images, which is one reason I never understood pairing Enstrom with Havelid when he was here.
GaVaHokie
April 23rd, 2010
1:19 pm
Out west, we do just as well if the Yotes make it to the Conf Finals, so here’s to a PHX – NAS finals!
Agreed!
lola
April 23rd, 2010
1:23 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?
bugman
April 23rd, 2010
1:23 pm
Great read JF.
Mayhap Rawhide gives you some special contributions next season?!
Jeff97
April 23rd, 2010
1:24 pm
Joe Friday – Some good suggestions. I have some of my own, one that i posted here yesterday.
Our #1 pick and Little to Calgary for Iginla (we need leadership and a captain)
I agree, Dump White for a bag of pucks
I agree, lets get Nabokov, 2 years at 4-5 millions sounds about right.
I have no problem getting Patrick Sharp, but not sure we can get him if we get Iginla first.
Re-sign Kubina
Let Army, Popovic, Antro and Max go. (Max will want too much$)
Keep Enstrom..yeah, i am like everyone else i yell Shoot the Puck!. But I think we can get that straightend out with the right coach.
Speaking of which, that is the one thing that you did not mention.
Who is going to coach this team?
Whoever coaches this team needs to know who to teach the younger players, hold them accountable for their mistakes (unlike JA) and make better adjustments game to game.
JA was a nice guy and wanted his players to have fun, but its no fun when your not winning and to win, sometimes you have to crack some skulls and make changes.
All that being said, my gut tells me that the assistant in Chicagl, Torchetti ends up as our next coach…I dont know enough about him to know if he fits my above criteria.
GaVaHokie
April 23rd, 2010
1:28 pm
GVH – thanks for the draft order clarification.
oops… Buffalo would be 21st in my scenario (Division Leader) and Phoenix would be 20th.
Western Final: Detroit vs Nashville
Eastern Final: Pittsburgh vs Philly
30) Detroit FINAL
29) Pittsburgh FINAL
28) Nashville CONF FINAL
27) Philly CONF FINAL
26) Washington DIVISION LEADER
25) San Jose DIVISION LEADER
24) Chicago DIVISION LEADER
23) Vancouver DIVISION LEADER
22) ATLANTA (via New Jersey) DIVISION LEADER
21) Buffalo DIVISION LEADER
Rightshot
April 23rd, 2010
1:28 pm
Great job Joe! I agee with 99% of your views.
The 1% is on the ladies. Sometimes they are the only thing worth looking at when the game on the ice stinks.
I would love to see any ideas on a new jersey with black and blue.
GaVaHokie
April 23rd, 2010
1:32 pm
That’s pretty amazing that Phoenix, with the 4th best record in hockey (107 pts), would still pick 20th if eliminated in the 1st or 2nd round based on Division winners and Conference finalists.
Rightshot
April 23rd, 2010
1:40 pm
BTW, in addition to AC/DC, we need some Ramstein!
Tom (Capital T Tom)
April 23rd, 2010
1:42 pm
Hey Joe, check out this article from the Globe and Mail on Ilya. We may have dodged a bullet.
Buyer beware on Kovalchuk
New Jersey sniper’s subpar post season should serve as a warning to team’s interested in signing the free agent, Eric Duhatschek says in his weekly notes column
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/buyer-beware-on-kovalchuk/article1544252/?utm_source=bleacherreport.com
ChippersLoveChild
April 23rd, 2010
1:55 pm
And we now return you to our regularly scheduled Playstation game….. never going to happen, any of it, wish it would, but there is no way this team does anything close to this. Nice job though, enjoyed the article.
Odd Man Rush
April 23rd, 2010
1:58 pm
Wow, the draft beyond the 14th pick is complicated. Unfortunately, I have a complete understanding of how the lottery works! Thanks for the education GaVa Hokie. Your engineering degree is paying off. Here’s hoping for the 22nd pick.
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 !
J-man
April 24th, 2010
8:56 am
All I can say Ice Man is that I’m glad you’re not the GM. And I’m sure you’re going to be wrong about Cormier and a few years from now you’re going to say “Why did we ever believe that guy was going to amount to anything?”
Kenny
April 24th, 2010
10:17 am
What about Afinogenov?
he was tied for goals and second highest in points this season, and i think that the change of teams for him was exactly what he needed, and he even said that he liked it here and wanted to stay. I think we can replace white with Max, and if Little doesn’t go back to putting up the same numbers then I highly recommend re-signing Max to like a 2-year deal to see how well he’ll do.
World Be Free
April 24th, 2010
11:12 am
LAC-man, I admire your persistence.
He can scout all he wants, as long as he doesn’t select.
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
11:46 am
WBF, don’t you mean, “As long as Waddell isn’t part of the BY COMMITTEE approach?” I cannot rightly tell you who has final ’say-so’ on personnel decision-making. In most cases around the league, I’d say it’s the GM. But I don’t know if Dudley, as the named GM of the team, does have final ’say-so.’ I wish that he does. Does wishing count?
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
11:50 am
Rawhide, if we assembled 20 people in a room, we couldn’t get them all to agree that ‘water is wet.’ “In what way?” “How so?” “Well, how do you define ‘moisture,’ and so forth. “Is orange juice as wet as blood?” I mean … this is what happens when we start arguing with idiots. It drags both (and all parties) down in the process.
ben
April 24th, 2010
2:47 pm
what I am about to say about those cheerleaders I say as a single heterosexual male:
Get them off the ice or put clothes on them! Had I children old enough to see what the hub-bub was about I would certainly be squeamish about the messages that would send. As for IK17, look I’m a huge fan of his, I am. But the the guy will not defend! He can do it, he just doesn’t want to. It boggles the mind why Atlanta or the next team he sticks w/ doesn’t get a couple of swift-skating D-men and make them his linemates.
Waddell never could evalute NHL level talent. We / the entire NHL knows that. Maybe it’s just a vicious e-rumor. I remember a whole bunch of years ago, there was a while where the whole gorsh-danged hockey playing world was up and down about a pre-suck Eric Lindros playing here. We all remember those “gentlemen” on HNIC staring the world in the face and swearing Kovy was staying.in The City of Trees!
Side note:
If Kovy had of stayed how many current Kovy-bashers would right now be happy as clams? I’ll tell you right now, it will be a loooooooong time before before his offense is replaced, and while that contract might have been a distraction which caused the team to tank, I think the overall lack of player development was the real reason.
LAC
April 24th, 2010
3:57 pm
I say get Raitis Ivanans and Derek Boogaard, both UFA’s, would come rather cheap, but WOULD maintain ORDER against Anyone out there like cindy chrotcby and his lowlife pals !
There would NO more pushing us around Period ! They will score little, if any, but knowing those two TOUGH guys are out there would keep other teams from trying anything against our younger players ! We need a TOUGH GUY UPGRADE BAD ! Here is the chance and it would not be costly.
Go Get Them New GM !
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
4:14 pm
Kenny, I have no objection to Finny returning next year for Atlanta. I just don’t want to overpay him. When Max screws up as a $800,000-a-year paid player, we shrug, point to his statistics and say, “it’s still pretty great.” If he’s paid $3.5 million for those same screw ups, not so much. Max is a hot-n-cold type of player. I think he showed he can still play in the NHL. Let’s see what his demands are. I don’t want to go long with him. Honestly, I don’t want to go more than two years with the guy. He tends to get complacent, with a longterm contract in hand.
It’s 2-1, Chicago, after one period, against Nashville. Entertaining period. Go Preds!!! (Please know that, if Chicago wins, I’ll likely be rooting for them in latter rounds. I just prefer the Preds. Truthfully, I do hope Chicago wins a Cup soon. They are “officially” on the clock, at 1961.)
Slater23
April 24th, 2010
4:20 pm
Agree with everything on here except keep Tobias Enstrom and sign Marty Turco instead of Nabakov, Nabakov can’t do anything beyond the regular season.
Sage of Bluesland
April 24th, 2010
4:35 pm
Laughing at World-Be-Lapdog–as he actually thinks that Don Waddell has nothing to do with the selection of talent…How much clearer can it be? What will convince you?!
What’s that old saying, “Fool me once…”; Simply reaffirms that sheep learn quite a bit slower than average…
Wow.
Maybe you actually believe that half of ownership’s emails are “ultimatums” from season-ticket holders saying that they will leave if Don is fired???
Wow.
Oh well, some just want to bewieve SSSSOOOO badly–that they’ll actually let logic and fact-patterns get in the way of silly emotion…
Savannah Blueland Fan
April 24th, 2010
5:57 pm
Hossa is clearly cursed! I’m pulling for Chicago (the “big city” to where I grew up), but a 5 minute boarding penalty with less than 2 minutes and an empty net? The man is a jinx! Better to toss black cats out onto the ice.
Rawhide
April 24th, 2010
6:09 pm
Holy Cow…talk about redeeming one’s self. Marian Hossa with the OT game winner!
Nashville had a one-goal lead…Hossa in the box for a 5-minute boarding call…and seconds left in the 3rd. They allow the tying goal w/ 13-ish seconds left, failed to score with 4 minutes of PP time in the extra period then Hossa’s heroics give the Blackhawks a 3-2 edge in the series.
WOW!
Savannah Blueland Fan
April 24th, 2010
6:14 pm
Clearly, I spoke too soon!!! Unbelievable!!
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
6:22 pm
What an unbelievable choke by the Preds. C’mon, Nashville. You’re on a PP, to end the game, and you can’t kill the final 15 seconds or so?!! Trotz does bear some of the blame. His guys were not prepared. And then, to not convert on the PP, on a fresh sheet of ice, to begin OT, is rough. The Preds could be coming home, with a 3-2 lead, to wrap it up. Instead, they’re the ones facing elimination.
Preds fans, please don’t take this as me dumping on your chances. I’m rooting for the Preds. I’m angry that they didn’t hold this lead. Nashville fans, this still isn’t over yet. Win Game Six, then we’ll talk about about possibilities in Game Seven. But this is very disappointing. Those who read my posts regularly know … I’m not one for ’sugarcoating’ things. You guys blew this game, big time. But, you deserve credit for coming back, with three straight goals, from down 3-1, too. That was a display of character. Down 3-1, late in the 2nd period, another team would have been shutdown in the 3rd. The Preds got two big third period goals, to take the lead, 4-3. Amazing.
Chicago Blackhawk fans … there’s cause for some concern with Niemi. In Game One, in the third period, he got “rattled” by a bouncing puck “flip in” type goal by Erat, I believe. And the collapse was on, resulting in a loss. Today, this afternoon, I saw Niemi “psyching himself up,” skating in circles, having mental moments. The results? Two third period goals against that very well could have cost the Hawks the game. He’s got to keep the SAME FOCUS ALL GAME LONG. It doesn’t change in the third period, where he needs to “re-energize” himself. It’s the same, steady focus all game, not just the first 40 minutes. I see Niemi as a goaltender who may be having some mental breakdown moments. I won’t compare it to Kari Lehtonen. But watch for it. I think Niemi’s a very good goalie. He’s just got to maintain focus and not get caught up in “situational play.”
R. Stroz
April 24th, 2010
6:27 pm
Kovy sent his choking virus to the Preds.
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
6:48 pm
Savannah in Blueland Fan, no worries. We’re not the sort of blog that will go do a COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW of months and months and months worth of posts … just to try to discredit you. At least, those of us who aren’t “deeply affected” by dissenting opinions, don’t and won’t.
I think Hossa was mostly a “no-show” for this game. And near the end of regulation, he “whiffed” on a very nice scoring opportunity, before taking a 4:00 boarding penalty. Hey, I harbor no grudges with Hossa. Remember, Hossa said, “If it were only about the money, I would have (re) signed in Atlanta.” But people conveniently forget that quote, when they want to paint players as “greedy, money grubbing ho’s.”
Get The Puck Out
April 24th, 2010
7:14 pm
A really loud pipe organ playing in phillips would be awesome.
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
7:21 pm
Get The Puck Out, especially if he were wearing a helmet.
Never Play Lady of Spain Again
April 24th, 2010
7:22 pm
Attention organist: Don’t say you weren’t warned.
kracker
April 24th, 2010
9:02 pm
Sens close to evening the series, maybe. Leading Pens 3-1 after two periods.
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
9:36 pm
Pittsburgh just tied it on a goal by Matt Cooke, the resident “evil” of the National Hockey League. Pittsburgh last overcame a 3 goal deficit to win on this very date in history, vs. Philadelphia.
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
9:39 pm
Is it wrong that I want this series to go seven? I picked Pittsburgh in six. If it does go seven games, does this mean a “monkey” is better at predicting than I am?
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
9:41 pm
There’s 5:00 left in regulation, just in case anyone’s online during this terrible storm outside.
Rawhide
April 24th, 2010
9:47 pm
kracker & Brendan – I’m with ya dudes…working on tomorrow’s blo about the Thrashers’ goaltending situtaion.
I’m enjoyin’ the heck outa this Pens/Sens games…going to OT tied at 3. Playoff hockey at it’s finest. And this after the hum-dinger in Chi-town this afternoon.
Do we dare hope for a third straight game like this when the Avs and Sharks go at it later?
kracker
April 24th, 2010
9:48 pm
Gaa…OT!
kracker
April 24th, 2010
9:51 pm
I didn’t know a goalie could use a broken stick. It looked broken enough to be non-effective…tough break for LeClaire.
kracker
April 24th, 2010
10:00 pm
My goaltending idea (maybe hair-brained) is sign Moose as coach-player and play him sparingly and a lot in practice. Pavs is #1 and sign a cheap backup goalie. Or maybe Carrozzi is ready. Anyway, this means carrying three goalies so they have to be cheap. I’m not sold on signing an aging Nabakov for $5M. Maybe a Price if we can move the NJ 1st for him.
Rawhide
April 24th, 2010
10:02 pm
kracker – ah, ah,ah…..save your good ideas for that blog tomorrow
I’ve spent a good deal of time on it and Trixie is proof-reading it right now.
kracker
April 24th, 2010
10:11 pm
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
10:13 pm
My goaltending idea is to the sign the BEST AVAILABLE UFA netminder “actually willing” to sign with Atlanta. And I don’t particularly care if we OVERPAY to get him. Maybe that’s Nabakov. Maybe it’s Roloson or Biron. Maybe we get a #1 guy via trade? I’m not opposed that, provided that the goalie traded here wants to play here, and had remaining years on his contract. I don’t someone in mind, when I mention that.
There are some surplus goalies. I see Niemi, not Huet, in the Chicago net. I see Tuukka Rask, not Tim Thomas, in the Boston net. I see Varlamov, not Theodore, in the Capitals net. I see Halak, not Carey Price, in the Habs net. I doubt Ottawa would move Elliott. And in the cases of Elliot and Carey, or even Halak, are they bonafide #1’s? Maybe in Elliot’s case, the answer is yes.
What about Deslauriers, in Edmonton? Not exactly firmly established, either, maybe worth taking a long hard look-see. Deslauriers went immediately after Jim Slater in the 2002 draft, 31st overall, the first pick of the 2nd round. Deslaurier is 6′4, 200 pounds, catches right. He’ll be 26 years old on May 14th. I hear ya … “late bloomer?” Well, if we do get him, at least didn’t invest the years developing him. We can thank the Oilers for that.
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
10:16 pm
Nikita, your “useless” Pascal Dupuis just scored the Series Clinching Overtime winner for Pittsburgh. What dopes for signing him, eh?
stendek
April 24th, 2010
10:17 pm
Hope Maryann Hossebag is carried off the ice on a stretcher. WITH SERIOUS INJURIES! Damn cheap shot artist is a cowardly thug who should be exiled from National Hockey League forevermore. No justification for his scumbag actions! Chicago Chicken Hawks just zoomed to top of my professional sports hate list. Sorry New Jersey Pitchforks! Who scored overtime winner? Justice in sports? BULLSHET! Referees should be suspended immediately then fired after playoffs end. Black eye for entire league! Mad as Hell right now. Tuxedo overtime victory only adds fuel to fire! More cheap shot hooligans. Darn! Just darn.
Rawhide
April 24th, 2010
10:17 pm
WOW! Two games today…two game winning goals in OT scored by former Thrashers. Earlier it was Hossa for Chicago and now Pascal Dupris just did same for Pittsburgh, eliminating the Senators.
What’s next tonight…Dany Heatley scoring in overtime for the Sharks?
kracker
April 24th, 2010
10:18 pm
arrrrgh! Pens move on. -sigh- But maybe that will help our chances of landing Volchenkov if the Sens don’t resign him.
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
10:19 pm
Rawhide, sorry for jumping the gun on the goaltending blog. You can delete that post, if you want.
Rawhide
April 24th, 2010
10:20 pm
B-Man – Nah, just copy/paste it in tomorrow.
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
10:21 pm
Rawhide, bite your tongue!!! I certainly do NOT want to see Heatley scoring any OT goals. Go Avs!!!
kracker
April 24th, 2010
10:23 pm
Nice series, tho for the Sens. I’d love for the Thrashers to battle back in a PO series like they did….Next season….except they win lol
Yeah, RH, too bad Dupris didn’t want to stay here.
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
10:31 pm
Are there any Senators fans up in this house? Condolences to you. I know it must really stink right now to know your season is over. Especially, when you held a 3-0 lead, in an elimination game. What do I always say? “No pity points in the playoffs. It’s either (1) you win or (2) you don’t.” I know the wound is fresh, and the sting will last a while longer, but I sincerely, genuinely hope every Ottawa Senator fan will realize that almost nobody had them even being in the playoffs, during Preseason-Analysis. Your GM did a great job moving Heatley. Sorry Cheechoo didn’t work out so well. But Michalek isn’t too bad. And now, post-Heatley, the team is better. Great salvage! Look Sens fans, the Penguins might repeat as Cup Champions this year. It’s no sin to have lost to them. And you gave them a good run. Several OT games … pushed ‘em to six games … gained valuable experience for some players, etc. Next year, your future looks bright in Canada’s capital city. I wish you Sens fans nothing but good luck at the draft and during the Frenzy. Few teams draft better than the Sens. They always seem to find players late in the 1st round or in latter rounds.
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
10:34 pm
Kracker, in 2007, the Penguins signed Pascal Dupuis to a 3-year deal. Unless they renewed him early, I think he hits the open market this year. Someone better double-check that. It may well have been 2008 that Dupuis inked that 3-year deal, in which case, Dupuis would be under contract until 2011. I’m actually leaning more towards that, since Dupuis was part of the Hossa trade in 2008. So, forget what I said about him being a UFA this summer.
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
10:41 pm
140 comments, in a post-season blog where the Thrashers are nowhere to be found. Well, that’s what “free speech” can do for a blog.
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
10:42 pm
San Jose is up, 1-0, over Colorado, as the 1st period comes to a close. I didn’t catch the goal scorer. Maybe it happened during the Pens-Sens overtime?
kracker
April 24th, 2010
10:46 pm
Oh, you’re right, Brendan, Dupuis was part of the Hossa trade, wans’t he? Thanks for the correction. Anyway, I hated to lose him, he plays hard.
Brendan
April 24th, 2010
10:54 pm
I AGREE with you completely, Kracker. I wanted to keep Dupuis, too. Trouble is, it’s Dupuis’ call, as a UFA, where he plays. And, well. We all know the story all too well, there.
Brendan
April 25th, 2010
12:05 am
Colorado just scored to make it, 2-1, in favor of the Avalanche. San Jose led this game, 1-0. There’s 14:00 left in regulation time.
Brendan
April 25th, 2010
12:15 am
You blink, and it’s 3-2, Sharks. Pavelski has just given the Sharks the lead! And SJ keeps comin’. San Jose would be the first team out West to move on, with a win.
Brendan
April 25th, 2010
12:17 am
Marek Svatos just missed!!! Ugggh! Thought we had a tie game! But no!!! Overtime is just wishful thinking on my part, at this point.
Brendan
April 25th, 2010
12:26 am
3:52 left in the Avs season, unless they can tie it up. Let’s go Avs!
Brendan
April 25th, 2010
12:28 am
And the 1st round monkey is off San Jose’s back?
Brendan
April 25th, 2010
12:34 am
SJ adds two empty-netters to lock up the series. SJ advances! And breathes a sigh of relief. Now, they wait for an opponent. I’d bet they’re hoping for Nashville (7), whom they’ve defeated twice in previous playoffs.
PensFan
April 25th, 2010
12:57 am
I have enjjoyed watching DuPuis with the Pens for a long time. The guy hustles hard, is a hard worker, has great speed, can cycle the puck, and this year, he has figured out how to score goals. What’s not to love about this guy on your team? I know he was an UFA when Thrashers traded him but he was re-signable. He has been one of the best forwards for the Pens all year long. Great on the penalty kill. I was thrilled that he scored the OT goal.
As far as the Thrashers cheerleaders, let me say that if I were to attend Thrashers on an adults only night, I would love it. But I find it shameful that the Thrashers would have that display when kids are in the crowd. When they bend over in their short skirts to clean the ice with their shovels, that is strip club level tease. If there werent kids in my section, I would have made some lewd comments. That is some major T&A. I dont thnk even NFL cheerleaders are half as sexual.
Cornbread
April 25th, 2010
3:22 am
I’m going to agree with DuPuis. Every time I watch a former Thrasher – and there are a lot of them – DuPuis is the one player I wish the Thrashers never traded. Well, Coburn is on that list too.
World Be Free
April 25th, 2010
10:15 am
Brendan-remember in Dudley We Trust-I think he has the final decision on personnel matters.
Let’s hope so
World Be Free
April 25th, 2010
10:19 am
Sage-have a nice weekend brother, be ready to trot out the same old blog next week.
Brendan, talked about Jeff Deslauriers is the next blog.
I want a younger goalie who will work towards the future. Turco and nabakov are looking for their “pension padding” in their next contract. Neither has an upside, only a downside.
Lee
April 25th, 2010
6:22 pm
Good job Joe. I thoughtfully agree your points.
Lee
April 25th, 2010
6:27 pm
Nabokov has good young talent while still maintaining some NHL experience. His save percentage is 9.10. Not bad. Carey price is an option this year too. He’s really led this team to a new level and got them into the playofffs. But. Nabokov probably is more ready to take on a big challenge. And it’s not easy to be a goalie for a team like the thrashers. You HAVE to have patience.
ThrasherTim
April 26th, 2010
3:02 pm
Enstrom is one of the few guys to sign a multi-year deal with the Thrashers. And you would trade him? I don’t think that’s the right message right now.