The times, they are a-changin’ in Thrasherville
The calendar may show that autumn is upon us, and the NHL schedule indicates that the preseason begins Tuesday. But a quick check of The Weather Channel shows that summer isn’t exactly going to go away without a fight, as tomorrow will bring temps in the mid-90s in Atlanta. That night the Columbus Blue Jackets and Thrashers will get all Tangled Up in Blue(land) to kickoff preseason 2010.
Bryan Little, Nik Antropov and Nic Bergfors hope that embracing the changes will lead to embracing after more goals (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
The dry, hot conditions have been the rule here in Thrasherville for the entire month of September, and it’s in stark contrast to what we were dealing with at this time last year. Then we were about ready to build an ark as the floodwaters rose in and around Atlanta. Streets were under water, a high school in Cobb Country literally became an island, yards were washed away and every ride at Six Flags amusement park became a water ride.
The year prior to that we were struggling through a gasoline shortage. Do you remember paying well over $4 a gallon…that is, when we were lucky enough to find a station that actually had the product? The pumps didn’t work not because the vandals took the handles, but because a hurricane disrupted supply coming through pipelines from the gulf region.
So while the seasonal winds of change have yet to come to Thrasherville, there is indeed change Blowin’ in the Wind down at the Duluth Ice Forum.
Head coach Craig Ramsay told Chris Vivlamore this past weekend that he’d like Bryan Little to play center, sliding over from right wing. Little played the pivot in 2006 while with the Barrie Colts and was drafted by the Thrashers. He played there with the Chicago Wolves during his AHL days. But this fall will be the 4th Time Around for Little at the NHL level and he’s been out on the right wall for the past two-plus seasons.
Rich Peverley will then transition to RW under Ramsay’s plan. He’s play center for the Thrashers since they snatched him up off the waiver wire in January 2009.
Yes Thrasherville…the times, they are a-changin’.
Also, the Thrashers ship is listing quite a bit to port as there are several left-wingers skating with the team in camp. Nic Bergfors played there primarily after coming over in February, then there is Andrew Ladd, Freddy Modin, Nigel Dawes and Ben Eager. Given that, I could see another change coming by moving Bergie over to the right wall. If so, the he could have Evander Kane playing opposite him with Nik Antropov in between. Completing the top-six then could be Little centering Ladd to the left and Rich Peverley to the right.
With Little moving to center, coach Ramsay will have Rich Peverley out on right wing (AP/Gregory Smith)
All of this comes in the wake of Dustin Byfuglien making the change from offense to defense.
Given such a scenario, that sets up quite a battle for the third and fourth lines. From what I have seen during rookie camp and the opening days of training camp, my speculation is that maybe Modin and Fredrik Pettersson play on either side of the third line. Then you might see Eager-Slater-Dawes Rollin’ and Tumblin’ on the fourth line.
As for third-line center, as I wrote last weekend maybe Alex Burmistrov can take advantage Patrice Cormier’s broken foot and earn his way into centering there. But if he fails to take advantage of this Simple Twist of Fate, then where is the other centerman coming from?
Well, that takes us back to Little and Peverley. Maybe those two fill the second and third line pivots, then Pettersson moves to second line RW with Thorburn there on the third line.
And none of this even addresses where players like Eric Boulton or Patrick Rissmiller or prospects like and Angelo Esposito and Spencer Machacek might play into the equation. Maybe Bolts and Rissmiller could man the press box while Espo and Spencer return to the Wolves?
Another obvious change from past years is the size of the Thrashers. Gone are the days of having so many Smirfs as Dudley and Co. have embraced the ‘bigger is better’ approach. Hopefully this will bring about a style of play in which opposing teams will need to need to be warned, “Look out kid ‘cause you’re gonna get hit”.
There’s been a few health issues to speak of already, however. The first of which was the aforementioned Patrice Cormier suffering a broken foot Thursday. Bergfors left the ice holding his hand Saturday, but has since returned. And Antropov and Angelo Esposito have sat out since then recovering from effects from their surgeries. But that’s sometimes a part of training camp ya know…get sick, get well, hang around the rink a spell.
Good thing the Thrashers roster is much deeper than those of years gone by, eh?
Of course the big question is whether or not all of this change will bring about more Ws than Ls this season.. I think it will, to be honest, but only time will indeed tell if being a Thrashers fan will no longer mean being a Man of Constant Sorrow.
Regardless, things are certainly changing here in Thrasherville… at least when it comes to the Thrashers. As far as any change in the weather is concerned, well…I’m sure eventually the heat of summer will give way to autumn’s chill.
But then again you already knew that. After all, who was it that said, “Ya don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows”?
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96 comments Add your comment
kracker
September 21st, 2010
1:14 pm
Of course, missing the playoffs got us arguably a better coaching staff so perhaps it worked out for the better.
Spud Webb
September 21st, 2010
1:28 pm
Brendon I want both unders on Modin.
Red Light
September 21st, 2010
1:30 pm
WBF: One more Dylan reference for kracker’s 1:05 pm post!
“Everybody must get stoned!”
GaVaHokie
September 21st, 2010
1:44 pm
I think it’s hard to call Bogosian’s play last year a “sophomore slump”… he was playing with a broken hand. He was well on his way to breaking the Thrashers goal scoring record (for a Defenseman) before that happened.
GaVaHokie
September 21st, 2010
1:46 pm
Brendan, Tough call on Modin… I think you really hit the nail on the head with those projections.
I think I’ll say over, but not by much… I’m thinking 17 goals and 57 games is doable.
Red Light
September 21st, 2010
2:24 pm
Sorry Hokie, I just had to point out that the Thrashers record of 10 goals by a defenseman is an NHL low among 36 teams that have played since the late ’60s. In fact, it’s five goals short of the team record held by the Wild, Panthers and Coyotes, whose single season leaders have 15.
Bogo and Tremblay’s joint record of 10 goals in a season is tied for 832nd all-time by a defensemen, just behind Bert Corbeau (1920-21) and Ed Gorman (1924-25) who scored 11 goals in 24 and 28 games, respectively.
Yes, eight goals in his first 17 games was miraculous, but that doesn’t mean – with or without the injury – that he was going to keep up that pace for an entire season.
GaVaHokie
September 21st, 2010
2:33 pm
Red Light… yep, I know it’s a pitiful record. And no, I’d be hard pressed to say he could stay on that 8 in 17 pace. That’s equal to 38 goals… But he certainly could have scored 15 goals, which Dudley has Byfuglien pegged for as a “successful” season.
Red Light
September 21st, 2010
2:38 pm
I hope he gets 15 this season!
kracker
September 21st, 2010
2:38 pm
Yes, eight goals in his first 17 games was miraculous, but that doesn’t mean – with or without the injury – that he was going to keep up that pace for an entire season.
Perhaps this season, barring injury, we will know the answer.
Even scoring at half of that rate for the remainder of a full season (65 more games) Bogosian would have totaled 32 goals and who knows how many assists? I don’t know but a lot.
kracker
September 21st, 2010
2:40 pm
Help Trixie!
kracker
September 21st, 2010
2:41 pm
oops, sorry Trixie!
Red Light
September 21st, 2010
2:58 pm
BTW, from 1970-71 through 1974-75, Bobby Orr played in 371 games and was +430 in those games. He had 181 goals and 433 assists, for a five-year average of 74.2 GP, +86, 36 goals and 86 assists. Sadly, he played only 36 games after that five-year stretch, after he turned 28 years old.
World Be Free
September 21st, 2010
3:06 pm
Red Light-The Gorin’s guys would like to contribute to your last Dylan line! Thyey are always hawwking their 24 oz beers.
And thanks for the Bobby Orr reference. People under 40 have no idea how great Orr was, having only seen him play in films. Bobby had an edge too, could mix it up if necessary. That’s why it was so special when Ray Bourque came on the scene. I am not a Broones fan, but I sure enjoyed watching both players and the commitment they brought to the barn every night. Sad to see Orr finish his career in a Black Hawks jersey-just doesn’t look right in anything other than a Brunes #4.
GaVaHokie
September 21st, 2010
3:15 pm
The single season record for goals from the Defense is 34 from the 2005-06 team.
I’ll say that record gets beat this season… so, not only a single player record, but Defense as a whole.
Can’t believe Tremblay’s record was set in the very first season (’99-’00)
*shaking head*
kracker
September 21st, 2010
3:39 pm
oops, I am dsylexic. I should have typed 23 goals above and not 32 for Bogosian in my ‘what if’ scenario. I thought 32 sounded a high. Anyway, it is not unreasonable to figure Bogo gets over the 20 goal plateau if he does not get injured. As importantly or perhaps more importantly, his defensive play wouldnt have been altered. In the article I read he said he had to keep thinking of what to do and how to do it instead of reacting normally. Very un-good.
Matt
September 21st, 2010
3:52 pm
Hockey is back!!!
Hockey is back!!!
(does “Snoopy Dance” of happiness)
Putting On The Foil
September 21st, 2010
4:07 pm
“Don Waaddell must get stoned”
Putting On The Foil
September 21st, 2010
4:09 pm
Let’s hope the opposing teams will get tangled up in blue-land this year.
Derrick
September 21st, 2010
7:06 pm
Wow no posts in 3 hours? I guess everyone except me is out at the game so I’ll do what I can to hold down the fort until you all return!
ben
September 21st, 2010
7:46 pm
I am home listening to the CBJ b’cast. These guys doing the broadcast are just bad. we’re lucky. The CBJ guys are saying that Le Thrash will have a cruddy time scoring. Score 2-1 after 1st 20. Little only 30-goal scorer on this team.
R. Stroz
September 21st, 2010
8:16 pm
Down 3 to 1 a minute into the second period, already sounds like a brutal time.
ben
September 21st, 2010
8:48 pm
I’ll say it again: This team is going to stink very very bad. Yet, there is hope. As Thrasher fans, all we have is hope. Yes, these are young kids. Yes, Mason’s not in goal, but this team is really bad.
Alan R.
September 21st, 2010
9:05 pm
I’ll say it again: This team is going to stink very very bad.
Keep talking. I’ll wait for the regular season to make an assessment, rather than jumping all over the team after their first preseason game.
Flagstaff
September 21st, 2010
9:06 pm
I could care less about the nature of the game itself. What scares me is that, at the time of this post, Pavelec has let in 4 goals on 23 shots.
Rhythmpenguin
September 21st, 2010
9:10 pm
I heard the first two were deflections. Not much he could do.
R. Stroz
September 21st, 2010
9:31 pm
Based on the SOG total of 26, Pavelec had a brutal game, again.
ben
September 21st, 2010
9:35 pm
hopefully, Pavs will be cut. I was a fan, now, not as much
AtlFlamesFan
September 21st, 2010
9:42 pm
My brother-in-law lives in Bean-town and bought me a B’s jersey. I brought it to an embroidery shop and had them sew #4 on it. No need to put a name on the jersey. #4 says it all.
R. Stroz
September 21st, 2010
10:23 pm
FWIW Kulda had the only positive plus/minus on the night for the Thrashers.
Plenty of -2s though.
d
September 21st, 2010
10:38 pm
Stroz, I think Hainsey was a -2 on just one shift…
d
September 21st, 2010
10:42 pm
I’m guessing the thrash attendance was around 2K tonight. I turned on the sens/leafs exhibition game on the hockey network when I got home from the thrash game – it appears to be a sell-out.
lemon drop the gloves
September 21st, 2010
10:50 pm
Kulda AHL plus/dash champ and played his usual steady game while logging 20+ minutes. He’s ready as i said before. Machacek lead team in hits with 6 and was even. He deserves more hype on this blog after 2 solid seasons in Chicago w/o missing many games. He is adjusted to the pro game, consistent and ready for the show. Also does the little things that rammer has been preaching and bangs with purpose.
Brendan
September 21st, 2010
11:49 pm
One of my memories of preseason, I think was last year, was the Montreal Canadiens playing the regular season starting lineup against the Penguins farm club, then dancing in JUBILATION that they defeated them. They celebrated as if they’d just won the Cup. And I kept thinking, “only in Montreal … could winning a MEANINGLESS preseason game against the defending Cup Champions, who were merely ‘evaluating the talent on their roster,’ could produce such euphoria.” I suppose, that Habs fans can say, “Well, Brendan, who got the LAST LAUGH! The Penguins were ousted by the Habs. And maybe, just maybe, that meaningless preseason game was the catalyst of belief that Montreal ‘could’ beat the Penguins.” Well, I think Habs fans are free to believe whatever they want.
SpudWebb,</strong," you're in as under/under for Modin.
Hokie, , you’re in at over/over, with 17 goals and 57 games played for Modin.
Brendan
September 21st, 2010
11:57 pm
Folks, the purpose of preseason … is to evaluate talent. It’s the 1st game back for the Thrashers since April. Personally, I look to evaluate talent much moreso than to get the result, in preseason. I’m not jumping to any conclusions on Pavelec. Especially now. But, if he plays himself out of a job, then back to Chicago he goes. Question: Is Pavelec subject to a waiver claim? I cannot remember. Pavelec is a 2nd round pick, from 2005. He’s 23, I think. I forgot what the rule is. I think he’s a protected RFA. But I’ll say this much … goalies, in general, take 5 years to develop. Which means what? Well, it’s been 5 years. We should see the fruit of his development this season. But, we all know that goalies develop at their own pace. Some of “late bloomers.” This ‘could’ be the case with Pavelec. Clint Malarchuk may be called upon for his consulting services a bit more than anticipated, perhaps. If, for some blessed reason, the coaching staff lost all confidence in Pavelec, there are some unsigned UFA goalies still out there. Not many, though.
Brendan
September 22nd, 2010
12:02 am
Trixie, I have some work for you. If you’re not too busy.
Red Light
September 22nd, 2010
5:15 am
How can anyone possibly evaluate the play of any goaltender based upon the first preseason game? They have worked in Ramsay’s system for what, three days, and you want to begin the evaluation process? You can evaluate individual effort only at this point, nothing else, and certainly not goaltender performance. I’m certain it’s still a Chinese fire drill out there (no offense to the Chinese). Relax!
Give them til Dec. 1 before you bring that negativity in here. If it isn’t working by then, I’m pretty sure there’ll be others to start the bashing here.
AtlFlamesFan: And since there were no names on the sweaters in Orr’s day, you’re right, no name is necessary.
World Be Free
September 22nd, 2010
6:07 am
Impressions of last night’s game- Opie was terrible, couldn’t stop a beach ball. He was on his knees on every goal for no reason. Machacek wants to stick, he hustled all night. Little was in mid season form, Kaner tried hard all game but the ice was terrible. Bermie has promise but needs to go back to juniors for one more year. Petterson has skills but he is tiny.
Last and least, Boris played like he was in another world. I hope he likes Chicago cuz he is going to be riding the buses all winter long. Rawhide, no need to put his picture on a milk carton, a vodka bottle is more accurate. I think it is time to label Boris with the “Bourret” tag because he does not belong in the NHL.
Last night’s game had a bunch of players that will not be here come opening night. Good they got the bad game out of the way, now we can get ready for Saturday might. Great to see kracker, lola, Rawhide, Mr. Hockey Biltong and meet GaVa Hokie last night.
DWTOO
September 22nd, 2010
6:29 am
Didn’t get there in time to meet up with everyone at Gorins, but, it’s a long season. And after last night it may really be a long season. Glad I read R/L’s comments first. It’s only an exhibition. Does appear I saw the same game most everyone did. Pavs was brutal – he looked lost all night. Boris played like he wanted to expedite a trip to Chicago. Thought FP looked good, Dawes is hustler, and Kulda belongs. Freddy Meyer also played well.
Still looking forward to saturday.
Love My Sisters
September 22nd, 2010
6:45 am
I Love You, THE SLAVA !!!
World Be Free
September 22nd, 2010
7:47 am
DWTOO-agreed on Freddie Meyer and Dawes. Nigel is a bit small, took the rough end of a hit in the 3rd period. My point? He tried all night long. Not too concerned over last night’s game, there will be good and bad performances in the preseason with players that don’t play much together.
h
September 22nd, 2010
8:00 am
The result last night is not important. Preseason is the time to see if anyone stands out in a game situation. Boris stood out, but only because he was BRUTAL. Petterson makes this team for sure. He looked very good. I barely noticed Kulda all night, but sounds like he played alright. Burmy looked a little lost on a few plays but I guess that is to be expected. Meyer, Dawes, Sifers, Holzapfel…meh…..oh, I did think that Machacek looked pretty good. He had some good hard hits and looked ready to me. Pavalec did not look good at all. His defense didn’t do him any favors, but Pavs certainly didn’t do anything to help himself. Hainsey looked pretty bad too, but I’m not really worried about him.
EA
September 22nd, 2010
8:24 am
The game in Torontoon the NHL network at 10:00 was sold out because thousands of the tickets were given out for free through a Coke Zero promotion. Maybe we could try tha!
Christy
September 22nd, 2010
8:25 am
Good Morning everyone.
Aside from Petterson, Dawes, etc. I thought Anthony Steward had a pretty decent night – or rather I didn’t expect to notice him much, but I saw more positive from him than bad. Make sense?
h – Hainsey may have looked bad, but maybe I was looking at the wrong place at the wrong time because I was thinking that Sifers wasn’t doing him any favors as a defensive partner last night and Hainsey seems to be the kind of guy who needs someone steady by him to be good.
Rhythmpenguin
September 22nd, 2010
8:32 am
Here is the link for the post game press conference> Don’t know if it will be on the website.
http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2010010003
GaVaHokie
September 22nd, 2010
8:48 am
Great meeting my fellow bloggers last night! It was about the only highlight of the night… the team is VERY rusty so far. I think they were gripping the sticks a little too tight.
Meyer gets my First Star… that guy came ready to play, the 7th man is his job to lose. He was the key player on Petersson’s goal, holding the point against the boards at the blue line and keeping the puck in the zone.
Petersson is definitely “The Fly”. His flight pattern is eratic and he never stops moving, and I mean that in a good way… that guy gets to the front of the net in the blink of an eye.
Was hoping to be more impressed with Stewart and Paquette, but they’ve got a lot of ground to make up. They all do. Sifers was a turnover machine. He lost the zone on the Power Play twice and lost the puck in front of Pavalec once.
Rawhide
September 22nd, 2010
9:20 am
Yes its just preseason folks…but Boris was brutally bad.