The new schedule is here! The new schedule is here!
The new Thrashers schedule is here! the new Thrashers schedule is here! This is the kind of spontaneous publicity the Thrashers need! Their name in print! That really makes them somebody! Things are going to start happening to them now!!
OK…maybe I’m getting a little more excited about this then I should, but I really do look forward to having my first look a new schedule when it is released. And as I’m sure you have already heard…the new 2010-11 Thrashers season schedule was just posted today.
After my first quick glance at it, here are some initial obeservations and thoughts.
For the fifth straight year, we’ll begin the season at home against a division foe. This year it’ll be the Washington Capitals who have won the Southeast Division three years running. The Thrashers are 2-1-1 in the past four years during those home openers and have won the last two.
After playing the Caps, they then head out on a four game road trip that will take them to Tampa then out on a west coast swing. They’ll play in Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Jose the following Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. This will be the second longest road trip of the season…the longest will be toward the end of the campaign when they will play five on the road between March 29 and April 7. During that time they’ll visit Montreal, Philadelphia, Boston, Nashville and the New York Rangers.
There are two days in which the Thrashers and Falcons both have home games, which will no doubt cause parking nightmares down near the Dome and Philips Arena. Thursday Nov. 11…Veterans Day and the 21st wedding anniversary of The Divine Mrs. R and myself…the Minnesota Wild will play the Thrashers while at the same time the Falcons will be hosting the Baltimore Ravens. Then on Sunday November 28 the Boston Bruins will be play in Atlanta as well as the Green Bay Packers next door at the Georgia Dome.
So…plan accordingly.
Last year the Thrashers only played two Friday night games at home. This season they will top that in October alone with three and there will be a total of thirteen Friday home games. I love the Friday night starts…for some odd reason the crowds seem even more energized than normal.
Last November the Thrashers played a Thanksgiving Eve game in Detroit…so I guess it’s only neighborly to return the favor. The Red Wings will be in town on Wednesday night November 24.
I count seven Sunday matinee games…mostl beginning at 5:00 pm. Two exception here are March 27 when the Thrashers face Ottawa at 2:00 pma snd the season finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 10…yes, closing at home against the Pens again. That game is set to start at 3:00 pm.
We will see the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks in town on Saturday night November 6. Could this be the first game that John Torchetti faces his former team from behind the Thrashers’ bench?
We will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Philips this season…the Flyers will be in town that night. Be sure to wear yer greens lads!
Also, the Thrashers will go to Dallas on January 15 to face off against the Stars and former Thrashers’ goalie Kari Lehtonen. Stendek…I’m sure you’ve already got a nice big red circle around this date on your calendar already!
Speaking of circling dates on the calendar, anytime the Flames return to Atlanta it’s worthy of just that. Calgary rides into town on Thursday night February 3.
And finally…I count fourteen back-to-back sets of games for the Thrashers this year. Last season they had 16 and went 10-3-3 in the tail end of those B2B games.
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87 comments Add your comment
GaVaHokie
June 22nd, 2010
2:02 pm
First…
TSNBobMcKenzie Horton and Gregory Campbell for Dennis Wideman, 15th overall pick and another draft pick. Done.
GaVaHokie
June 22nd, 2010
2:05 pm
I’m liking these prices for star players… Nathan Horton for Dennis Wideman and the 15th pick?
Boston is looking pretty good next year… Horton/Savard/Lucic
Alan R.
June 22nd, 2010
2:05 pm
I’m actually surprised the Detroit game isn’t on a Friday. I’ll bet, however, that they’re counting on the Detroiters in town, along with those of us who have transplanted here, to be at the game en masse.
I hope to be there, but it’s the only time you’ll catch me rooting against my team from the north.
Another noteworthy is our three western division teams we play twice. Those are Nashville, St Louis, and Colorado this season.
Buzilla in CT
June 22nd, 2010
2:25 pm
I want a hat trick at Gorins. I want to be called “Boss” by the guys who work there. I want to get bleary eyed and rowdy to watch the Thrash play Min-E-So-TA on November 11th. I miss working in downtown where this was a bi weekly event.
Spud Webb
June 22nd, 2010
2:30 pm
Sabres here twice in 9 days in October.
Smoothie
June 22nd, 2010
2:37 pm
Damn it, got ranalloed. Wonder if the draft will bring him back out of hiding. I think he and Joe Bob Friday even made nice last time he was here posting!!
Okay, since no one has posted it, here is a link to the tweet about the Panthers / B’s trade:
http://twitter.com/sgorten
Needless to say, this may change Tallon’s strategy with the # 3 pick. Do they go after a forward like Connolly or Niederreiter now?
Smoothie
June 22nd, 2010
2:40 pm
Also, does this mean Patric Bergeron is officially on the trade block?
B’s have a glut of C now with Savard, Horton, Krejci, Campbell and of course Patrice.
How about Patrice Bergeron in a Thrashers’ jersey?
TO BOS: 24th pick & Ron Hainsey
TO ATL: Bergeron & B’s first 2nd rounder
telfo
June 22nd, 2010
2:43 pm
much more attendance favorable schedule this year
Smoothie
June 22nd, 2010
2:43 pm
And Michael Ryder. Boston would need to shed more salary to re-up Campbell and RFA Wheeler. Or perhaps Chiarelli would like to send us Blake Wheeler since his price-tag is so high?
GaVaHokie
June 22nd, 2010
3:29 pm
Smoothie… B’s also have Sobotka at Center… but I think he plays Wing as well.
GaVaHokie
June 22nd, 2010
3:30 pm
Smoothie… and if we don’t resign Kubina, I don’t see us moving Hainsey.
World Be Free
June 22nd, 2010
3:36 pm
Funny thing isa watching the Broones and Habs make moves, while Darcy Regier sits on his hands in Buffalo. The guy should have been fired years ago, he’s a total stooge. Sabres fans get what they derserve; they should have boycotted this team years ago to get rid of that clown.
World Be Free
June 22nd, 2010
3:36 pm
FYI-Dennis Wideman is also a former Sabres’ draft pick that wonderboy Darcy decided not to sign and let him go back in the draft.
GaVaHokie
June 22nd, 2010
3:42 pm
Plekanec extending in Montreal… they must have been waiting on the salary cap news. FYI… Salary cap raised 5%. CBA extending 1 year.
TSNBobMcKenzie The Plekanec deal in MTL is believed to be for six years, $30 million with an annual cap hit of $5 million
World Be Free
June 22nd, 2010
4:19 pm
That’s a big commitment for a guy that had 4 goals in the playoffs, while sending Halak out of town after his performance in the same playoffs. Now they have a ton of money tied up in 2 centers (Plek and Gomez), neither of which are true number one centers. Questionable
Red Light
June 22nd, 2010
4:33 pm
Eastern Conference teams Philly, Montreal, Boston and Florida make moves, while Buffalo, Atlanta and the Strangers sit idly by.
With Boston getting Horton and having a heavy concentration of centers as Smoothie opined, does that mean the Bruins No. 2 pick is in play? With Wideman gone, does that mean Chiarelli and Burke will deal again? Toronto gets back their No. 2 pick for Tomas Kaberle?
B’s Blueline: Chara, Seidenberg, Kaberle and Ference isn’t too bad for a Top-4!
GaVaHokie
June 22nd, 2010
4:41 pm
It’s going to be really interesting watching Dale Tallon versus Rick Dudley this off season.
GaVaHokie
June 22nd, 2010
4:50 pm
Red Light… Boston and Toronto should just do a Bergeron for Kaberle swap. Straight up.
World Be Free
June 22nd, 2010
4:51 pm
Red Light-I think it is early to count the Thrash out of the activity mix. What I fear is that teams are focusing on the # 8 pick and I really don’t want to give that up unless we can get a #1 center with 3 years left on his contract. Broones will be better and they still have not traded Tim Thomas yet; Buffalo will do NOTHING as usual. Looks like Hawks want to keep their centerman and deal wingers, maybe one defenseman. Hawks cannot take any salary back.
GaVa-it will be interesting to see which GM, Tallon or Dudley will have more salary money to deal with. Draft wise, Tallon has been here as a player before, being the former #2 overall pick in the 1970 draft.
Red Light
June 22nd, 2010
4:54 pm
Hokie: I’m sure Burke would like that, but he’s probably worried about Bergeron’s concussion history.
Red Light
June 22nd, 2010
4:55 pm
World Be Free:
I am hoping that the saying, “the more things change, the more things stay the same” doesn’t apply in this case.
Thrashers ticket agent
June 22nd, 2010
4:57 pm
The only thing I need is this schedule. Just this schedule. And a coach. This schedule and a coach and that’s all I need. And two top 6 forwards. This schedule, a coach and two top 6 forwards, and that’s all I need. And Kubina under contract. This schedule, a coach, two top 6 forwards and a contract for Kubina. And a goalie. The schedule, coach, two top 6 forwards, Kubina and a goalie and that’s all I need. I don’t need one other thing, not one – I need to sign my RFAs. The schedule, coach, two top 6 forwards, a contract for Kubina, a goalie and my RFAs – that’s all I need, for sure. And a good draft – I need a good draft. And better owners. And that’s all I need.
World Be Free
June 22nd, 2010
5:31 pm
Red Loght-I am torn between wanting to make a move, any move and not wanting to make a bad move for the sake of making one. We shall see. I really want to get our prime UFAs under contract first, so I hope I am not asking too much.
R. Stroz
June 22nd, 2010
7:01 pm
Danger, Danger, Will Robinson…the Thrashers are interviewing another AHL coach…Did Torchetti want a paycheck that FUBAS/DASG/Octotards didn’t want to pay?…the ASG just went cheap on the Hawks coach.
Raise the RED FLAG!
JLH
June 22nd, 2010
7:06 pm
Thrashers TA – hilarious. “The Jerk” references hit home…….. I just finished writing a 12-bar blues song entitled “Rock Bottom” with the opening verse about Navin Johnson reaching Rock Bottom in the scene you parody.
Brendan
June 22nd, 2010
11:49 pm
I loved that 4:57 PM post!
Red Light, if the Bruins trade that pick #2, they’re CRAZY. Gotta come away with either Taylor or Tyler. Their whole careers are ahead of them. And the Bruins got them just for ditching a player they couldn’t keep.
WBF, I am going to plead ignorance, here, but why on Earth did the Florida Panthers trade Nathan Horton? I don’t know hiw UFA/RFA or under contract status, but if that wasn’t the reason, then I question making that move.
I can’t believe that the Draft is on Friday, and the Thrashers STILLLLL haven’t hired a Head Coach, for input. R.Stroz may have nailed it. Torchetti wanted to get paid, I suppose. He forget who is bosses were. At least point, make Dudley be GM/Coach; he doesn’t want the coach to have input anyway. It’d be hilarious if Dudley does wind up being the coach. Then Vivlamore can ask him, “As coach, do you CARE who your players are?” I can see Dudley, “Heck Yes! What Coach doesn’t want say-so over the roster?” Then Dudley, the GM, turns to himself, “I don’t like your Attitude, Coach. I want a Coach who DOESN’T CARE what he’s got on the roster.”
By the way, ex-GM Waddell wound up coaching the Thrashers for 86 games over 10 years. Dudley just might, as some point, have to Coach, too.
Brendan
June 22nd, 2010
11:54 pm
Ya know, rubbin’ my chin, if Waddell were still GM, I’d accuse him of proscrastination. How come we’re not all over Dudley’s case about this?? I guess we’re mostly just in ‘wait-n-see’ mode, vis-a-vis Dudley. I suppose, if Dudley can proscrastinate, so can we.
Brendan
June 23rd, 2010
12:26 am
GaVaHokie, I take it that means that the next possible work stoppage will be at the conclusion of the 2012 season. And, that the new cap hit, if my math is correct, will be $59.64 million, with a league mandated FLOOR of $43.64 million. I’m guessing that this is where Jim Rutherford came up with his cap figure for Carolina??
In terms of the Kovalchuk-contract watch, that would make the NHL’s new MAXIMUM cap hit salary: $11,928.00. The St. Petersburgh, Russia franchise allegedly offered $14,000-a-year, with bonuses, that push the contract to $45 million over 3 years, for a $15 million-per-year average.
Here are the final four teams, since the current CBA was adopted.
2006: Buffalo, Carolina, Edmonton, Anaheim
2007: Buffao, Ottawa, Anaheim, Detroit
2008: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Detroit, Dallas
2009: Pittsburgh, Carolina, Chicago, Detroit
2010: Philadelphia, Montreal, Chicago, San Jose
That’s twelve (12) different teams out of a possible 20 slots, during this CBA. Philly’s been there twice, Buffalo twice, Carolina twice, Anaheim twice, Pittsburgh twice, Chicago twice, and Detroit THREE (3x) times.
R. Stroz
June 23rd, 2010
12:38 am
Ya know, rubbin’ my chin, if Waddell were still GM, I’d accuse him of proscrastination. How come we’re not all over Dudley’s case about this??
Brendan – I expressed this concern several times recently.
Here’s one post:
http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/2010/06/17/looking-ahead-to-next-weeks-nhl-draft/#comment-29795
Brendan
June 23rd, 2010
12:54 am
R.Stroz, I stand corrected. And I recall that post, now. Makes ya wonder what has changed, doesn’t it?
World Be Free
June 23rd, 2010
5:51 am
Not trying to read too much into this interview of an AHL coach. This fanbase can absorb another minor league head coach running the show in Atlanta. I have stated before I really wanted a new head coach on board before the draft and before “free agency preview week”, the time between the draft and July. This July 1 may not be the feeding frenzy it’s been in the past, with some of the upcoming UFAs resigning with their current teams. More will resign and stay at home next week.
Brendan-on Horton, no idea why the Panthers would trade Horton without getting a current player of equal value to play right now. This looks like a salary dump on Florida’s part. The Panthers are certainly not a better team today, unless they turn around and use that #15 pick to secure a roster player from a team like Chicago, that has an overflow of players and no cap space. As trade bait, #15 more enticing than our #24. We have to use this pick and get a player, this season.
San Jose obviously has made a decision between Nabakov and Marleau, with Nabakov being the odd man out. I think there’s a good chance Tim Thomas ends up out West with the Sharks and Marleau resigns in San Jose.
Brendan and Red Light/I think Boston will keep the #2 pick and take Taylor or Tyler. These are the 2 guys in the draft that are a sure bet, so why let one of them get away? This Jason Spezza to Boston talk makes no sense, since the Brunes don’t have any cap space, even if they trade Thomas to take on a $7M salary. The Bruins needs wingers and Bergeron may be the trade bait to fill out their wings. I like the Bruins cause they have alot of a valualble commodity-centerman.
On Dudley, I hope he is just taking his time and making sure he makes the right moves. We know we will not pay to the cap, hopefully somehwere in the upper $40M’s near $50M would be nice.
kracker
June 23rd, 2010
7:20 am
For my part, this schedule is terrible. Not enough Saturday home games, way too many Friday and Sunday home games. And the Thrashers are served up to be Saturday night road kill 12 times. ugh
GaVaHokie
June 23rd, 2010
7:53 am
I think they’re interviewing Peters for the Assistant position.
GaVaHokie
June 23rd, 2010
7:57 am
Brendan… interesting post at 12:26am. I’d say the salary cap is working if 12 different teams have made the Conference Finals in 5 seasons.
I like that Florida and Carolina are in rebuilding mode during a favorable Thrashers schedule. Dan Kamal tweeted yesterday that this might be the best schedule in Thrashers history.
JLH
June 23rd, 2010
8:20 am
Brendan/WBF ……Horton asked to be traded…
From NHL.com:
“Horton indicated to Tallon that he wanted a fresh start somewhere else. Horton said he never gave Tallon a list of teams, but he knew it was time to move on “…..”Tallon said the Horton thanked him for the trade Tuesday.”
“I said in my press conference that players want to be here will be here and players that want to play elsewhere will play elsewhere,” Tallon said. “That’s what is going to happen here.”
glovesave29
June 23rd, 2010
8:33 am
Tom Renney has replaced Pat Quinn behind the bench in Edmonton. Pat is taking on a role within the organ-I-zation similar to what Scotty Bowman is with the Hawks.
GO USA!
Red Light
June 23rd, 2010
9:32 am
Horton is due $12.75 million for the next three seasons, while Wideman is due $8.5 million for the next two. So, their salaries wash. Florida is a conundrum: simultaneously the easiest and toughest place to play. There is little pressure there from the media and they still continue to distribute 14,000 tickets or so per game. On the other hand, it’s tough to get up for games when you know your organization is in the bottom third in the conference year after year and hasn’t made the playoffs for nine straight seasons. Sound vaguely familiar?
Horton has missed an average of 10 games per season during his career in Florida, and outside of Booth, Weiss and Stillman up front, he never had many other top flight forwards to play with. I can see him playing with Lucic and Ryder/Wheeler, to make up a very big and strong unit, which will be tough to handle with smaller defensive pairings. Gregory Campbell is a solid checking forward and fits well on the third or fourth lines.
Florida is so far away from contention, but their defensive corps looks pretty decent in front of Vokoun with Wideman. He and Ballard will make a nice paring. Kostinen never played after Nov. 23, Seidenberg and Leopold were dumped at the deadline, Kulikov and Allen both missed several games, while Ballard and McCabe were the only ones to play all 82 games.
Now, why would Tallon make the deal when he gets only Wideman and the No. 15 pick, I have no idea other than as stated Horton wanted out. But, the additional pick does allow Tallon the opportunity to package it if he plans on making another deal, maybe for a winger or two from Chicago? Florida has $11 million in cap space available and has Booth, Weiss, Olesz and eight other forwards under contract for this season. I don’t think Tallon is done and I think he’ll be active Friday because he has five of the first 50 picks and seven in the top 93.
Glad to see one of the good guys- Tom Renney – back behind the bench. It was only a matter of time someone recognized another Sather gaffe. Oilers are now my new Western Conference team!
Red Light
June 23rd, 2010
9:40 am
Southeast teams have 25 of the top 101 picks!
Atlanta 8, 24, 54, 87, 101
Carolina 7, 37, 46, 53, 67, 85
Florida 3, 15, 33, 36, 50, 92, 93
Tampa Bay 6, 63, 66, 72, 96
Washington 26, 86
GaVaHokie
June 23rd, 2010
9:44 am
From twitter…
Pierre LeBrun: Asking price for Byfuglien is 1st rounder and prospect
Spud Webb
June 23rd, 2010
9:45 am
WBF, I’m not so sure that Thomas is going to be sought after as much as we think, due to his high salary and age.
GaVaHokie
June 23rd, 2010
9:47 am
From Andy Strickland…
Word is Tampa Bay GM Stevie Yzerman is sticking with goaltender Mike Smith for one more season. The plan apparently is to allow Smith to have the #1 job and go out and find a backup in the $800-$1.1 range. In other words Antero Nittymaki will not be returning to the lightning.
GaVaHokie
June 23rd, 2010
9:56 am
Also from Strickland regarding Kabanov… I’ll say again, I don’t want him. Saw that a scout the other day said Kabanov is a “full time job for any sports psychologist”.
Who will take a chance on Russian knucklehead Kirill Kabanov who is gifted with top 5 skill and as a #1 headache. This guy has apparently burned too many bridges to return to Russia and hasn’t made too many friends in North America. He changes agents like we do socks and is hoping his performance at the combine will allow him to save face. Apparently he was coached up pretty well by his agents prior to his interviews with individual teams where he apparently said all the right things. This is after he left the Moncton Wildcats before the season had ended. Apparently his dad shares some smothering qualities Eric Lindros’s father once became famous for. Oh by the way his agents (The reputable CAA) recently dropped him as a client.
J.B.
June 23rd, 2010
9:57 am
Hokie, I just made mention of that on Chris’ blog also. I think I would be ok with our 24th pick and a prospect for Byfuglien considering his age, his production, his RFA status after the upcoming season, etc. It’s high but not unfair in my opinion. If I’m Dudley, I’d do the deal depending on the prospect involved (e.g., Klingberg = no)
World Be Free
June 23rd, 2010
10:04 am
Spud-Thomas is a short term solution wherever he goes. We cannot dismiss that he is one year removed from the Vezina.
JLH-I heard that Horton wanted a change, I just thought that Florida could have secured more than what they got for Horton.
Dwayne
June 23rd, 2010
11:21 am
give the knucklehead a one year deal.
Dwayne
June 23rd, 2010
11:43 am
usa to pull goalie in stoppage time…
kracker
June 23rd, 2010
11:44 am
Craig Custance has us takinh Jack Campbell #8 and Evgeny Kuznetsov #24. I hope he’s wrong and wrong.
Badger Bob
June 23rd, 2010
11:49 am
GOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dwayne
June 23rd, 2010
11:49 am
usa score in stoppage time….break out the vavaluelas
Badger Bob
June 23rd, 2010
12:02 pm
From elimination to Group C champ in the final minutes – I’m liking soccer more every day…
Badger Bob
June 23rd, 2010
12:14 pm
Dwayne, I think there were Maple Laff fans using vuvuzelas decades ago. I can still distinctly remember the mournful, incessant wailing from about midway through the third period on every Saturday night on Hockey Night in Canada growing up. Just one more reason I detest TO.
Nate
June 23rd, 2010
12:19 pm
Unbelievable moment for U.S. soccer. I’m still in shock in how they were able to win the game!
World Be Free
June 23rd, 2010
12:29 pm
Badger Bob-I remember those stupid horns in Maple Leaf Gardens too! Especially in games in which the Leafs were getting crushed, which was often. Those horns go back to Foster Hewitt’s days!
Viking
June 23rd, 2010
12:32 pm
Goal!!! Heja USA!
cpsman_atlanta
June 23rd, 2010
12:42 pm
Can someone explain to me how the Tampa Bay Lightning have a 12-game homestand?
BlueSpark
June 23rd, 2010
12:55 pm
#24 and a prospect for Byfuglien is tempting, but could be an expensive 1 year experiment. Anyone know what (if any) role Dudley had in Buff’s development in Chicago?
Then again it’s probably moot, as I don’t think they’d take the 24th pick and a prospect.
glovesave29
June 23rd, 2010
1:56 pm
Damn Damn Damn…the Canucks just hired Roland “Rollie the Goalie” Melanson as their new goalie coach. I was hoping Duds would give him a call. I will be happy next year to just HAVE a goal coach…but going from none to Melanson would have been terrific. I am afraid to see what he can do with Luongo…he’s talented enough as it is!
Smoothie
June 23rd, 2010
2:19 pm
From Ben Wrights’ Blueland Blog: “The coaching staff is a team and we have to put the right team together. Getting the right chemistry is very important. I have no doubt we’ll be able to do it. I think we’ll have a special situation here.”
“Dudley also said that its possible a coach will be named before the NHL Entry Draft which begins at 7 pm Eastern on Friday”
Apparently, Duds has been reading RStroz’s comments on this blog. He seems rather optimistic about assembling his preferred “team”. Also, if we have real interest in CHI, having Torch on board to give his insight as to which player he would like to bring to Atlanta would be very helpful I think. Hopefully Duds realizes this and will relax his stance on coaches not worrying about what players they have. In other words: “shut up and coach what I gave ya!”
Red Light
June 23rd, 2010
4:03 pm
Official numbers for next season. $59.4M cap, $43.4M floor, according to McKenzie.
ThrashHead
June 23rd, 2010
5:53 pm
Byfuglien, Eager and Sopel to ATL for the Thrasher’s 24th pick, 2nd round pick, Reasoner and Morin. Not a bad bounty for us. We just added a whole lot of size and grit.
JT from Columbus
June 23rd, 2010
5:57 pm
Now do we trade away the 8th pick or keep it?
ThrashHead
June 23rd, 2010
6:01 pm
I think it has been Dudley’s plan to draft in the 8th spot and use the 24th as trade bait. I don’t think we will see Dudley move the 8th pick unless someone really blows him away with an offer. This trade has really brightened my day!
MASHAPlayer7
June 23rd, 2010
6:06 pm
What an awesome trade! We just got GRITTY! And…believe it or not…but Eklund broke this trade first! Give credit where credit is due I guess.
Flagstaff
June 23rd, 2010
6:15 pm
…And Byfuglien, Eager, and Sopel are now Thrashers.
Thrashers27
June 23rd, 2010
6:17 pm
Holy $%@&! You gotta be kidding me!!!! I don’t know ’bout you guys but I say we keep this dudley guy! Buf, Eager and Sopel. Wow!
Brendan
June 23rd, 2010
6:26 pm
Red Light, nice post at 4:03. Hokie’s earlier post was right on the money, essentially. It’s a 5% raise. Remember when this blog was CERTAIN the cap would shrink in 2010-11? I think the NHL is cookin’ its books somehow. It’s that, or the good folks in Detroit, Boston, Chicago, and New York will be paying $90 for nose-bleed seats, to project this additional revenue.
glovesave29
June 23rd, 2010
6:36 pm
oh hell yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A27
June 23rd, 2010
6:43 pm
Wow with the USA win and this trade….. I think im in bizzaro world??????
World Be Free
June 23rd, 2010
6:57 pm
I.D.W.T.
Rightshot
June 23rd, 2010
6:57 pm
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=325488
Here’s the story
World Be Free
June 23rd, 2010
7:00 pm
Breakdown of trade by player-
Reasoner for Ben Eager straight up
Sopel and Akim for a 2nd round pick-probably means Kubina will not be back
Big Buff for #24 and a prospect, which is what Chicago wanted-probably means MAx is not coming back.
Chicago sheds salary and loses only one core player-nice deal for both clubs
Pittsburgh Pirate Fan
June 23rd, 2010
7:01 pm
….And Sage is very quiet…..
World Be Free
June 23rd, 2010
7:04 pm
JT-keep #8, let’s get a player. Maybe set ourselves up for one of the UFA goalies
glovesave29
June 23rd, 2010
7:10 pm
WBF…not so sure that Kubina and Max leave. I personally believe that this makes Atlanta a more attractive place for UFAs to consider.
Can you picture of D of Sopel, Kubina, Bogosian, Hainsey, Enstrom and______? That’s a stout as any corps this side of Philadelphia.
Now we add Ellis in the net, I wouldn’t mind seeing Jokinen here. This might be shaping up into something interesting for next season. All I keep thinking of is how we now have attitude and grit. Remember the difference Tkachuk made here? Its that same attitude.
R. Stroz
June 23rd, 2010
7:14 pm
Have the Thrashers morphed from the undersized, over the hill, purse pansies into the BAMFs?
It’s about time.
World Be Free
June 23rd, 2010
7:25 pm
Glovesave-I just don’t see us giving $$$ to Max and Kubina, but I could be wrong too.
Like you, I am turning my attention to goaltending. You know I have liked Ellis all along. I hope this trade will be an “attractor” for UFAs, especially a goaltender. I like Harding too, but 2 other names that come up are in Edmonton – Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers or Devan Dubnyk, especially for former. These are young guys with upside.
Red Light
June 23rd, 2010
7:26 pm
Of the 4 players the Thrashers got in the trade, the defenseman Brett Sopel owns the career high of all in points in a professional season with 42. Kubina’s gone unless you want another 33-year-old defenseman. Now, that the Thrashers have fortified the bottom six, I like glovesave29’s mention of Jokinen as I mentioned a few weeks back.
Like the North American flavor with the three NHL acquisitions. Aliu was born in Nigeria. Hopefully, he doesn’t turn into another Rmun Ndur!
Brendan
June 23rd, 2010
7:29 pm
Thank you, to all who responded on the Nathan Horton trade. I feel bad for the Panthers, even though they are in our division, so we should root for their downfall. Their player retention is as bad as ours. Luongo, Bouwmeester, Jokinen, and now Horton. Can Allen and Booth be far behind?
Great trade, I think. Well, at least a “good” trade. Atlanta is looking like a better squad, with Eager, Byfuglien, and Sopel in the mix. Gotta try to keep Kubina, somehow. I’d over-inflate a 1-year deal for him to stay, if he’d take it.
If we get Little, Bergfors, MacArthur, and Pavelec back, it’ll be looking “decent” for next season. Still, I gotta hope for a goalie in the Frenzy. How would Biron look here?? Let Pavelec and Biron duke it out for the #1 slot. Hire Moose as the goalie coach, to keep him in the fold. And if we have injuries, quickly sign him to a pro-rated contract.
Brendan
June 23rd, 2010
7:36 pm
Jokinen could help us in shootouts, and be the next Erik Christensen or Slava Kozlov.
Brendan
June 23rd, 2010
7:37 pm
WBF, I like Jeff Deslauriers. He’s an RFA this year, and he wouldn’t cost that much.
World Be Free
June 23rd, 2010
8:00 pm
Brendan-plenty of available goalies to choose from
Smoothie
June 23rd, 2010
8:55 pm
World – still think we should go after Harding…bet he could be had for Vishnevskiy. Minny needs young D prospect as they are thinking about flipping Burns for a forward who can pot the puck.
As for Duds’ next move, I reckon we’ll be hearing that Torch is our HC perhaps even as early as tomorrow. I reckon Duds’ feels he can hit the ground running coaching three former players with whom he likely has a good rapport (at least let’s hope so!).
I don’t know about Jokinen. If we were to sign him, he might just have a revival playing alongside Antropov who commands such attention. The swift skating Fin might really thrive playing with both the two Ni(c)ks. But another player to watch for since we are more in the market for short-term 1 or 2 year players to buy time for Kane, Klingberg and our # 8 pick to develop is Ray “the Wizard” Whitney. Can you imagine a PP unit featuring the Wizard dishing the puck to Antro behind the net, Bogo at the left point, Hainsey at the right point and Big Buffy clogging up the middle? Kaner, Pevs and Bergie with Oduya & Enstrom round out your PP units.
Only problem is who becomes the new leader of PK minutes with Reasoner departing??
glovesave29
June 23rd, 2010
9:11 pm
Can’t believe I forgot Oduya! Thanks Smoothie. A D of Sopel, Kubina, Hainsey, Bogosian, Oduya and Enstrom is pretty damn good. I will take that any day! Goodbye Mr. Valabik, dont let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!
With all the UFA goalies out there this year, stay away from an RFAs. Not worth the prospect of losing draft picks. Harding is great if we can get him by trade. Ellis could be a stud as I have argued with Joe Friday before. I would be waaaaay more than happy with either one of those to split with Opie. I will take a 1A and 1B a la Bouchard / Myre circa 1975 any day.
Brendan…Jokinen was a good play when he was with the Panthers. His ascension to the “answer to all Iginla needs to push the Flames to the Cup” was not fair. He played with Gaborik and the misfits last season. As I have said countless times when talking about Slater…speed never slumps. I would love to see he and Max flying up the ice.
I’d like to see Duds pay Max some respect for the season he had last year with at least a two year deal. Shows the rest of the potential UFAs out there that we are respectful and thankful for the efforts made on our behalf.
Zoomo
June 23rd, 2010
9:28 pm
I walked out of work today muttering…”when are we going to make some off season noise”….well we sure did.
I think Eager is a nice, young 4th line piece. A solid pick up. Sopel gives us a good vet on D, but I too would still love Kubina in the mix…would love to see Glovesave’s 6.
Hate to see Marty go. Great guy…huge heart and one of the few guys we’ve had here that brought it every single night. I’ll alwys be a Marty Reasoner fan!
Buf is the big “if”. He certainly brings grit and toughness, but can he continue to develop his offense the way he showed in the playoffs? It’ll be fun to watch.
I have visions of Kane from last uear, blowing past Pronger and Pronger chasing him. Next year it’ll be Buf laying Pronger into the boards and Kane zooming past.
World Be Free
June 23rd, 2010
9:35 pm
Smoothie-why do I think Vish will never wear a Thrashers’ uniform. I am torn between going for a “win now” goalie like Nakakov or going for an upside goaltender like Harding. I just don’t trust the current tandem to take us to the next level. We will see, I do not believe Dudley is finished.
Smoothie-a final tribute to a favorite of ours-Marty Reasoner. When you buy a player’s jersey, you always run the risk he way walk or be traded. Best of luck Marty, you’re a great player and fan favorite.
HookyBob
June 23rd, 2010
9:54 pm
Way to go Duds!!! That filled a couple of big gaps and added some grit, size, and experience. We picked up what,…. about $6 M in salary? Still way under cap,..maybe not so far under ASG (self-imposed) cap though.
I don’t believe there is any “if” in Byfgulin let alone a big “if.” He sold me in the play-offs. Duds knows him. And if Torcheti is our new coach,…Big Buf has passed some serious evaluations. Don’t forget this guy can play defense too.
What would Jokinen cost,….$6 M plus? If we are talking that kind of money,…I’d just as soon go after Iginla at $7M. My dream line of Iggie, Kane and Big Buf doesn’t seem so impossible now.
Which do we need more, sign a UFA goalie, or get a goalie coach?
In Duds I trust.
World Be Free
June 23rd, 2010
10:03 pm
I think Jokinen better get used to asking for his current value -$3M (in my estimation). He won’t get what he made last season-$5.25M