Two more UFAs off the market, Natalie off to Ohio and Talbot goes off on Ovie
Frolov And Ponikarovsky Off The UFA Market
Two more unrestricted free agent forwards are now off the UFA market. Alexander Frolov is leaving Los Angeles and will be winging his way east to sport a Rangers blue shirt. Shortly after learning of this, the Kings then announced that they had signed Alexei Ponikarovsky.
Frolov played in 81 games last season for the Kings and scored 19 goals, 31 assists and was a –1. In six playoffs game he scored a goal, three assists and was a –5.
The Rangers snagged the 28-year old Russian for one year at $3 million.
The 30-year old Ponikarovsky scored 21 goals and 29 assists in 78 games last season, splitting his time between the Maple Leafs and Penguins. In the 11 playoff games with the Pens he netted a goal and four assists. He was a +5 in 61 games with Toronto and a –5 during 16 games in Pittsburgh.
The Kings acquire his services for one year at $3.2 million.
Natalie Heads Off To Ohio
When Thrashers players are being interviewed between periods and after games this fall, the person holding the mic will be someone other than Natalie Taylor. As many of you already know, she is leaving us and will be reporting for the ABC/FOX affiliates in Columbus, Ohio.
Taylor’s hometown is about two hours away in the northwestern part of the state.
Natalie Taylor interviews Zach Bogosian (Photo/Atl. Womens Magazine)
“It’s a great move for my career because I will get to anchor, report and even dabble in news”, Natalie told me recently. “With the various assignments I will be given, it’s a position where I’ll have room to grow and add to my resume”.
“My primary focus in the fall will be covering the Buckeyes, and hopefully some hockey too”, she added. “But don’t worry, the Thrashers are still my favorite hockey team in the east”.
Natalie also wanted to let the people of Thrasherville know that her time here was a wonderful experience and she’ll not soon forget the team and fans.
”I am very sad to leave Atlanta and will miss covering the team and working with people”.
Talbot Goes Off On Ovechkin
The NHL season is still some five-dozen days away…and the 2011 Winter Classic is over five months off. But that didn’t keep Penguins forward Max Talbot from taking a few verbal open ice shots at Alex Ovechkin.
While on the air with Pittsburgh radio station 105.9 The X to promote the upcoming New Year’s Day game at Heinz Field, Talbot left no question about what he thought of the Washington Capital’s star player.
“You hear a lot of stories about a guy, but sometimes they’re not true”, Talbot said while on The X. “You hear of guys who are not good guys, and you’re like, ‘Yeah, okay, I’ll give the guy a shot’. The first time I met [Ovechkin], let’s say he didn’t give the best impression to me, so better reason to hate him even more”.
Not satisfied with leaving his comments at that, Talbot when on to express what he really thought of AO.
“I was actually at the NHL Awards last summer with [Evgeni] Malkin, and we brought the Stanley Cup over there after the season. Malkin knew Ovechkin, and introduced me to him, and the first impression wasn’t great. I’m not really gonna say what happened, but I’m like, ‘Ok, this guy is a real (expletive).”
What word did he use to discribe Ovie? Well, I’m not sure if my online editor at the AJC.com would be happy with me if I were to put it in print. But suffice to say I’m sure you can figure it out yourself on this hot, steamy Summer’s Eve.
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85 comments Add your comment
TableHockey
July 28th, 2010
4:38 pm
Russian – from what I understand Little and Bergfors are RFA without arbitration rights
TableHockey
July 28th, 2010
4:39 pm
Hockey Biltong – rumors floating around are that the Coyotes are trying hard for Stempniak
Jack
July 28th, 2010
5:32 pm
Why is it that we can not sign any RFA prior to arbitration. this does sound very good.
Buzzeng
July 28th, 2010
5:35 pm
WBF – TSN agreed with you on the “2nd team in Toronto” from an ability to support a team, but they gave bad marks for barriers to entry because the TMLs have already declared their sole rights to the Toronto market and seem willing to take to the courts to prove it. No doubt Bettman would not want to go out on that limb. (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=326939)
Rightshot
July 28th, 2010
5:44 pm
Excuse me for a second (raising hand) Hasn’t it been over two weeks since a certain Atlanta broadcaster announced we would be hearing about someone offering to buy the Thrashers or did I seriously miss something?
Tom
July 28th, 2010
6:14 pm
Rightshot, you can classify the report of a new offer as a cry for attention.
R. Stroz
July 28th, 2010
6:19 pm
Why is it that we can not sign any RFA prior to arbitration. this does sound very good.
Well, it sounds like Dudley doesn’t understand the fair market value for players. Then again, maybe Waddell is deciding the fair market value, in which case, we’re still screwed.
Red Light
July 28th, 2010
6:50 pm
THIS GUY NEEDS TO FIRE HIS AGENT
Forward Tomas Fleischmann has re-signed with the Washington Capitals, a $2.6 million, one-year contract. The 26-year-old set career highs with 23 goals and 28 assists last season despite missing the first 11 games because of deep vein thrombosis in his leg.
World Be Free
July 28th, 2010
7:38 pm
Buzzeng-thanks for the update. I did not read the article cause I am sick of CBC, TSN and HNIC. And I agree, the Leafs’ owners would take any action to court, even though it is certain they would not be hurt by a 2nd team. Leafs’ fans would NEVER leave their team for a 2nd team in Tronna, even if they beat the Maple Loafs on a regular basis.
Red Light-and MacArthur was going to get $2.4M?
ex-STH
July 28th, 2010
7:58 pm
Hey Flagstiff! Just saw your blog….can you even begin to say OBAMA is doing ANYTHING right??? Go have a beer with him – that was was the most RIDICULOUS “Beer Summit” that a leader of the best, most powerful, FREE county on this Earth was so STUPID to do!!! You got change alright!! I didn’t know this was a political blog.
ex-STH
July 28th, 2010
8:06 pm
Now the real reason why I read this blog. I really thought Duds was moving this team in the right direction but to let Poni and Frolov get away for a mere $3 mil??!!? How is he going to get above the salary floor? Mad Max must now be signed for around $2 – $2.5 mil
ex-STH
July 28th, 2010
8:11 pm
Why didn’t my response to Flagstaff’s blog get posted?
Jack
July 28th, 2010
8:25 pm
Good Point Stroz.. Its dissapointing due to the fact that he was making a real positive mark, then insulting the RFA by not aggreeing to terms prior to arbitration. Jus tmakes you go HMMMMMMMMM
Hockey Biltong爽
July 28th, 2010
8:33 pm
TableHockey,
very true, however I think there is a lot of swirling going on. No one really knew where Poni or Frolov would end up, so I am hoping against hope!!!
Thrashers27
July 28th, 2010
9:02 pm
Jack,
That’s hardly a fair criticism, considering that up to McArthur, not a single Thrashers player had actually made it to an arbitration hearing.
Rawhide
July 28th, 2010
9:03 pm
Atlanta Thrashers re-sign Ben Eager, avoid arbitration…1 year $965K
World Be Free
July 28th, 2010
9:13 pm
Rawhide, how close is Eager to free agency?
Everybody just needs to settle down and let Dudley do his thing.
Don’t see how Poni and Frolov would be upgrades over our current roster. Frolov played his way onto the 3rd line in LA, a healthy scratch later in the year. Poni played his way out of Pittsburgh. Both guys took 27 days to sign at less than what they were asking, they took what they could get and alotta teams passed on them.
Get Max!
Flagstaff
July 28th, 2010
9:16 pm
Easy now. I never said anything about Obama. I was talking about Dubya, and hardly even in a political sense.
Flagstaff
July 28th, 2010
9:29 pm
However, on the same note, I didn’t post that to hurt your (or anyone else’s) feelings. I’m not here to fight or to make enemies.
On the Eager signing: Good, but Ladd is more important. Didn’t Duds want to lock him up long-term?
Joe Friday
July 28th, 2010
10:02 pm
What the heck has Muir been smoking?!? http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/allan_muir/07/28/future.hope/1.html
Hokey P. Clisters
July 28th, 2010
10:08 pm
I can’t wait to see how this puzzle turns out! Will we be slow and predictable? or will we have the maximum effect of power, speed, and size? Will Kane and Little break out with big scoring years? Will another rookie make a huge impact? Will Buff play like a beast all year? Will Laddy, Eager, and Sopel show us real locker room leadership? Will we lock up some good players for years to come? All I know is that with every new day there first comes the don….I mean dawn…..
Nevermind………….I just ruined my positive outlook.
Hokey P. Clisters
July 28th, 2010
10:21 pm
On Mrs. Natalie leaving – I suggest we increase JP’s salary and let him do play by play plus the interviews. Darren or whoever can stay in the box.
Tom
July 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
Flagstaff.
If you want to talk politics there are tons of other places on the net to do so. Go there. Quickly.
This site is for hockey. Not politics.
If there is any hating going on it is aimed at Waddell, the slugs, or the turds with a leaf thrown in on occasion.
So, if you want to talk hockey, and only hockey, enjoy the site.
Otherwise, GTFO.
kracker
July 28th, 2010
10:37 pm
Love the good press!
kracker
July 28th, 2010
10:39 pm
Tom, how do you really feel?? lol
Tom
July 28th, 2010
10:43 pm
Sorry for venting in that previous comment, but just dang blam it.
This site is special for many of us. We talk, commiserate, gloat, and sometimes even cheer our beloved Thrashers. The red headed step child of the NHL that we all put so much of our time, passion, and money into.
For someone to come in and try to poison it with politics just chafes me raw. If I had to guess we all have different political opinions but we have the good sense and good manners to leave it at the door when we enter Rawhides domain.
We can be passionate about hockey and not let other things get in the way. Love Waddell, hate Waddell, either way we still stand up for what we feel is best for our team. If a fan from another team comes in to troll us, we fire back united.
We can leave the real world issues at the door and come enjoy a little fun for a period of time.
Because in all reality if the Thrashers lose all their games or win the Cup, it is still just fun.
So Rawhide and Flagstaff, I apologize for my tone, it was to strong. But the passion remains, leave the politics out of the site and lets talk Atlanta Thrashers Hockey.
Jack
July 28th, 2010
10:50 pm
T27 I shall agree to disagree. Tom no need to apologize. Politics should be on another blog, like Mark Bradleys.
Rawhide
July 28th, 2010
10:57 pm
No politics on the blog? Damn Five_Hole…there goes our plans to host a “Jab from the Right – Swing from the Left” point/counter point segment of this forum
Dudes…serioulsy. It’s all good. Let’s all just take a deep breath. It’s still a long way to October.
Jack
July 28th, 2010
11:17 pm
Its all good maybe we need a 7th inning stretch
Brendan
July 28th, 2010
11:47 pm
Regarding blog etiquette, Rawhide has tried very hard, and very well, to keep this site to one in which we all enjoy coming. I don’t want to credit some of the previous trolls by naming them, as you all know who they were and are. So, let me ask you this? Aren’t you glad they’re gone, and that this is a site where, by and large, we “discuss” hockey rather than yell at each other, like children? Allrightee, then.
Joe Friday, Allan Muir has always struck me as a curiosity. I don’t read his column often, but I do it often enough to know he comes up with some doozies. Whether it were his playoff predictions, trade scenarios, or regular season projections. I’m happy for some good press for the Thrashers, but I think you nailed it, earlier. Unless we bring someone, like a Frolov, and get stronger up the middle, maybe with someone like Zajac in a trade, we’re merely flirting with the playoffs. Now, that’s certainly better than playing “meaningless” games in March, as spoilers. But it’s still not good enough.
I think it was Red Light who posted a link that said, “The line of demarcation for a playoff berth is +20 on the goal differential,” I don’t know how we’re gonna get there, as assembled, unless various players overachieve. Hey, I’m open to that. But last year, we were -22, with 234 GF and 256 GA. To get into the playoffs, we’ll need to be 246 GF and 226 GA. Just to get down to 226 GA, means we need to shave 30 goals off of last year’s totals. I’m not saying we can’t do it, but it’s easier said than done. Chris Mason will have to deliver for us, unless Pavelec has a breakout season. Again, I’d love for that to happen. I think we’ll know by Thanksgiving, maybe even by Veteran’s Day, if Waddell/Dudley has given us a team that can avoid having to concede the season at the trade deadline in favor of KNOWING that it ought to ADD pieces, rather than SALVAGE them, for the stretch-run.
Rawhide
July 28th, 2010
11:50 pm
Jack – Don’t know about a 7th inning stretch…but how about a new blog to help keep things moving along?
Flagstaff
July 29th, 2010
12:05 am
OK. I wanted to say a couple things, then I hope that I can drop this and never bring this up again.
Frankly, I think that if you were really offended by my original comment, than maybe you need to man up a bit and learn to have thicker skin.
But it is true that the comment was irrelevant, and that it is not proper to bring up politics here. I’m a proponent of never discussing them here (Aren’t we all here for the same reason?) , and I apologize for crossing that line. I wasn’t really thinking about that when I posted it. I’m sorry I brought it up, and I hope that you all will forgive me for doing so.
Hockey Biltong爽
July 29th, 2010
10:28 am
Did I miss somthing???
Brendan
July 29th, 2010
7:17 pm
I hope Natalie Taylor has a fine career in Columbus, OH.
English Teacher
July 31st, 2010
1:07 pm
I’m glad she won’t be at the arena any longer. I could never understand what she was saying; it just sounded like chickens clucking. The Blue Crew provides enough eye-candy, so get someone in there that can actually speak.