Lunch at Thrashers rookie camp
Wednesday I made the trek out to Duluth-land to take in a little lunch at the Breakaway Grill while observing the rookie 4 on 4 game. Smoothie of As the Birds Thrash as well Razor Catch Prey of The Blueland Chronicle joined me. Big Shooter, (a.k.a. Dances with Dolphins), was unable to attend.
Coach Ramsay, however, was on hand and observed the action just a few seats down from us. Don Waddell was just behind us. And it was good to see Falconer and Ben Wright as well.
The Blue team defeated the White team 6-4 with the two sides playing non-stop end-to-end hockey. The best goal of the game come off the stick of Fredrik Pettersson as he zipped his way through the right side of the defense, eluding checks and buried a nice shot past Ed Pasquale. He later scored on a nice wrap around.
Pettersson really stood out on both ends of the ice…the kid just flat out plays strong hockey.
Not to my surprise, Patrice Cormier also impressed. He is just a huge presence on the ice and knows how to use his physical play smartly. He had a couple big checks during the game as well as the game’s final goal.
Nasty, gritty, edgy, sandpaper…yeah, these are all words that apply to Cormier.
Even though there have been a number of signings lately making roster spots more difficult to come by, I would be stunned if Cormier is not playing at the NHL level in October.
I’d heard that Alex Burmistrov had put on about 20 pounds of weight since being drafted…and it looks like it indeed. He really didn’t show me much during prospect camp, but he did today. He provided a very nice feed through center ice to Danick Paquette who then scored on the breakaway. Good hustle and a lot of puck-handling skills.
That said, I still have some reservations about whether or not last summer’s first round pick by the Thrashers is ready for the NHL this fall, but I’ll hold off any final thoughts on that until I can see how he does with the older, more seasoned players next week.
Lastly, Angelo Esposito shows no signs that his knee is holding him back. He skates hard and fast…much more so than I had expected. If I had to venture a guess, I would say he definitely heads to the Wolves this fall, if for no other reason than to make sure he is 100% recovered from a twice-torn ACL. There is just no need to risk it at the NHL level given the amount of talent on hand.
Thursday will bring with it another 4 on 4 game starting at noon. If you can make it, it wraps up in just under an hour so it makes for a very nice lunch outing.
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93 comments Add your comment
Zombie Steve
September 16th, 2010
2:02 pm
The Blue Crew tryouts were on the rink right before one of our beer league games last year….no one could concentrate on the puck after that!
World Be Free
September 16th, 2010
2:03 pm
“relax Headley, this is 1880 in 50 years you can sue her”.
Red Light
September 16th, 2010
2:04 pm
My pleasure kracker!
Hockey Biltong
September 16th, 2010
2:37 pm
Nice practice today. Saw Aliu and Espo[?] tangle a bit then shake hands later.
Got some talent out there folks.It’s going to be tough sending folks back down…
FormerIslesFan
September 16th, 2010
2:37 pm
So, Heddy, how did the lunch time viewing go?
Hockey Biltong
September 16th, 2010
2:38 pm
Espo said,”candy gram for Mongol!”
J.B.
September 16th, 2010
2:44 pm
It’s HEADLEY
Rawhide
September 16th, 2010
2:47 pm
Hockey Biltong – Good to see ya at the rink today. You are correct about the talent out there. But like I said, I wanna see how Burmistrov, Cormier, Pettersson, etc. handle themselves when the big boys are out there with ‘em.
Also, one thing to keep in mind…it’s 4v4 so there is a lot of open ice. Makes for a faster game.
GaVaHokie
September 16th, 2010
2:49 pm
Every summer is going to get tougher and tougher as these guys mature… it’s pretty tough already and Klingberg joins the mix next year. Paquette could be super nasty after a full year of the AHL. We’re going to be overloaded with goalies next summer when Kangas graduates Minnesota, not to mention Wentzel.
kracker
September 16th, 2010
2:52 pm
I got a comment about Lisin from a Flyers fan. Sounds like the kid certainly has potential, especially if he will sign a two-way.
Well I have only seen him play a handful, but I will say the fact that he took an NHL tryout over bolting to KHL speaks to his character. The kid wants to be an NHL player.
He’s got above average offensive instincts and speed to burn. He’s just had trouble putting it all together thus far in the NHL. He lacks some defensive game and is inconsistant. Maybe he can learn a little from Antropov
kracker
September 16th, 2010
3:52 pm
John Manasso’s NHL.com Ramsay article.
jmanasso My story on new #Thrashers coach Craig Ramsay for NHL.com http://bit.ly/b67Y1a
Smoothie
September 16th, 2010
4:05 pm
Funny how we’re worried about spelling “Headley Lamar” correctly, but no one seems to care that Craig RamsAy is spelled with an ‘a’ and not an ‘e’. BTW, when Mike RamsEy decides he wants back into coaching, he should be on Dudley’s short-list of guys to hire.
Smoothie
September 16th, 2010
4:06 pm
kracker, my blog about yesterday’s rookie scrimmage is now up for your reading enjoyment. Feel free to RT it to your friends on the tweety box.
Rhythmpenguin
September 16th, 2010
4:50 pm
Smoothie, which blog is yours?
Red Light
September 16th, 2010
4:53 pm
Was just checking a few extended rosters on team Web sites and of the 57 listed on the Avalanche’s roster 31 of them are 23 years of age or younger.
Others 23 and under
Thrashers 22 of 52
Panthers 30 of 60
Canes 22 of 47
Lightning 20 of 53
Caps 17 of 48
Blackhawks 21 of 51
BTW, Chad Denny is on the Flyers’ training camp roster.
Trivia and without looking…name the oldest player on the Lightning’s roster?
Rhythmpenguin
September 16th, 2010
5:01 pm
Old man river.
Found it Smoothie.
Smoothie
September 16th, 2010
5:04 pm
Rhythm – cool, thanks for checking it out! Your handle makes me think of Johnny Cash (Get Rhythm), which reminds me I need to work Johnny into a blog entry at some point. I just hope the Thrashers aren’t playing a sad, sad song all season long. Would rather wear Thrashers blue than black all season!
Smoothie
September 16th, 2010
5:05 pm
Eric Perrin?
Joe Friday
September 16th, 2010
5:09 pm
“name the oldest player on the Lightning’s roster?”
Yzerman? Come on, he could be pulling a Gordie Howe.
seriously, Kubina?
kracker
September 16th, 2010
5:10 pm
That is a nice article about Ramsay by Manasso. He also remembers the coaching career and the techniques of the late Roger Neilson who Ramsay played for in Buffalo.
We recall from Coach Ramsay’s coaching days for the Lightniong, Tortorella was the screaming head coach bad cop and Ramsay was his soft spoken assistant coach good cop. I’m guessing that Coach Ramsay will still be soft spoken as the Thrashers head coach. If he needs a bad cop backing him up, Torchetti will probably provide the forceful message.
Red Light
September 16th, 2010
5:18 pm
Marty St. Louis
goose
September 16th, 2010
6:21 pm
I think Mattias Ohlund (sp)
Jack
September 16th, 2010
8:51 pm
Shall we say Torch will be lighting The Torch.
Rhythmpenguin
September 16th, 2010
9:22 pm
Smoothie, my screen name use to be Dementedpenguin (years ago, before I blogged) and I am a drummer so I added the rhythm. Where is your name fom?
Hey Rawhide, how about an article about screen names (that would have been good for August). Bet there would be some interesting stories! You could also do that at tailgating. =)
Jack
September 16th, 2010
9:57 pm
For those that don’t know Cormier left practice on crutches.
Rawhide
September 16th, 2010
10:01 pm
Jack – Yes, Cormier took a shot to the foot late in the scrimmage. Just heard from C-Viv that he left on crutches, had X-rays and results will be learned tomorrow.
Un-good.
FormerIslesFan
September 16th, 2010
10:05 pm
@Rhythmpenguin: I’m a drummer as well. What kind of kit do you play?
Jack
September 16th, 2010
10:50 pm
Thanks rawhide hopefully he will not be out too long.
Hockey Biltong
September 16th, 2010
11:44 pm
Hemi Semi demi Quaver, with a flama queie on top!!!!
Hockey Biltong
September 16th, 2010
11:46 pm
Actually it might be Hemi Demi Semi Quaver, with a left hand cross stick cow bell!!!!!
Brendan
September 16th, 2010
11:51 pm
This week, a professional sports championship was won in Atlanta. Okay, be honest, how many of you even knew it was being played here? Hmmn, piqued your curiosity? Was it … in auto racing? No. Was it … in lacrosse? No. Was it in … tennis? Must be that. Gotta be tennis. An Open of some sort?? Atlanta hosts tennis events. Uhh, no.
Well, no matter what people might think of hockey, and its popularity, I’m pretty sure that if our city participated in the Finals of the Kelley Cup or Stanley Cup, that people would know about it. Right about now, some people might be saying, “Hmmn, I barely recall the series vs. the Alaska Aces.” Or, even the 1994 Turner Cup Championship season by the IHL Atlanta Knights.
But what I am referring to now … is the Atlanta Dream’s bid to win the WNBA Championship, vs. Seattle. http://www.ajc.com/sports/storm-hold-off-dream-615454.html. Sadly, Atlanta was swept out by the Storm. I have no idea what the attendance was for this event. I hope it was good, though. But I asked a few people whom I consider to be “sports savvy,” and not a one of them had a clue to what was referencing. “We have a Women’s basketball team? And they’re in the Finals?? Ohh. Well good.” I thought basketball was supposed to be “big” in Atlanta? I must admit, I didn’t watch a second of this series. But, I did know it was going on, by reading the back page of the sports section, next to the “daily transactions” of MLB, NFL, and NHL, and viewing the latest line on college football and pro football games. I don’t recall seeing so much as a billboard advertising this event. I have seen Kane and Bogosian on a billboard in Cobb County, advertising the coming NHL season. It was good to see. I saw it again in Fulton County.
World Be Free
September 17th, 2010
5:46 am
Smoothie- what’s your blog name again?
Mike Ramsey would be a great assist., but I don’t think he will leave Minnesota, he’s a family guy.
Alan R.
September 17th, 2010
7:15 am
“We have a Women’s basketball team? And they’re in the Finals?? Ohh. Well good.”
Considering the Dream had more front page coverage on the sports section this year than the Thrashers, I find this extremely hard to believe.
DWTOO
September 17th, 2010
7:32 am
Watched some of the Dream/Storm games over the past few nights. I’m not much of a basketball fan, but, it’s the local team in the playoffs so what the heck. Women actually play real basketball, not the NBA two men moving eight standing style, they move the ball around looking for the open shot. Wasn’t bad and they had over 10,000 in the Bulb last night. See – you put a hustling group of atheletes on the floor, or ice, and fans will show.
Rhythmpenguin
September 17th, 2010
7:35 am
FormerIslesFan, I have a beautiful Maple Grertsch Renown. You can see pictures on my bands myspace and/or face book: http://www.myspace.com/justpeachyband, http://www.facebook.com/justpeachyband.
What do you play?
Hockey Biltong, you forgot the Quasi, so… it’s a Quasihemidemisemiquaver (aka a 32nd note). At least that’s how the British say it. Fun fact: it’s the longest musical word. =)
Are you a musician?
Rhythmpenguin
September 17th, 2010
7:39 am
Help Trixie! My last one is stuck!
Badger Bob
September 17th, 2010
8:18 am
WBF, since Smoothie is being shy, I’ll tell ya:
http://thrashingbirds.blogspot.com/
Brendan
September 17th, 2010
8:18 am
DWTOO, from what I understand, it was a good game. I’m sorry they lost.
Alan R., and YET, those were the results of my informal polling, which included 10 people. Maybe they don’t read the AJC?
Trixie (Rawhide's Secretary)
September 17th, 2010
8:30 am
Mr. Rhythmpenguin – Assuming that you were rerfering to your 7:35 am post, I “un-stuck” it.
Working on posting new blog for Mr. Rawhide now…
Brendan
September 17th, 2010
8:33 am
I love the Trixie updates. Ya know, Rawhide, she has been with you for going on three years now … maybe it’s time for a raise?
Red Light
September 17th, 2010
9:04 am
I count 15 new faces at training camp with NHL experience. There was a time when the Thrashers held camp with 15 guys total who had NHL experience. That’s a great sign!
Rawhide
September 17th, 2010
9:09 am
Brendan – Please don’t put any ideas into her head.
OK, new blogity-blog posted.
Alan R.
September 17th, 2010
9:48 am
Maybe they don’t read the AJC?
Or they just don’t pay attention. I mean, I don’t consider myself a very big sports fan at all — especially when it comes to Atlanta sports. I love the Tigers, Red Wings, Lions and Thrashers. The latter is the only Atlanta team I really care about. And yet, despite all that, I find myself knowing about the other teams in Atlanta. I knew about the Dream when the team first formed in Atlanta. I know about the Silverbacks. There’s the minor teams like the GBraves and Gladiators, too.
I’m no big-time sports buff, but I know what’s up in this city.