Despite 0-4 preseason start some Thrashers making it tough to be cut
The Thrashers offense finally showed some signs of life Wednesday night, scoring as many times in the first two periods as they had in the previous three games. However, it still wasn’t good enough to notch their first win of the exhibition season. They are now 0-4 with two more dates on the preseason schedule and have yet to even hold a lead.
You ask me if I’m worried about that…Nope, not at all. As long as these games don’t count, the outcome is academic.
Coach Craig Ramsay given instructions from the Thrashers bench. Although his team has yet to win in preseason, some players are trying to make it hard on him to cut them (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Oh don’t get me wrong, I’d much rather see them win…but that isn’t what the preseason is really about. Craig Ramsay and his coaching staff are getting to see how certain players perform during game-like situations, new players are learning the tendencies of their teammates and line formations are being tried out.
To that point, there are a couple of guys who are working hard to make it difficult for Ramsay to trim them from the roster.
First off there’s Fredrik Pettersson. He’s been one of the few consistently good players during the four games. The kid has great wheels, is good with the puck and is all out hustle all the time. I particularly like the little move he’s got where he chips the puck into the zone off the boards then zips around the defenseman and wins it on the other side. It’s kind of a solo dump-and-chase routine.
Freddy-P makes the squad or there needs to be an investigation.
Nigel Dawes has continued his impressive work too. On this night his efforts paid off in a power play goal, getting his stick on a Johnny Oduya pass through the crease to tie the score at one apiece late in first period. He’s a pesky, scrappy little player or plays larger than his diminutive size.
Oduya finished with a pair of helpers during 17:22 TOI.
Anthony Stewart also keeps making a case to keep him around after this weekend. He finished the game a +2 during his 18:28 on the ice, the only player on either side to finish better than a +1. He’s aggressive, tough and gives you just about everything you might want in a fourth liner.
Given a choice between he and Eric Boulton right now, I might just have to say I’d have Bolts viewing from the press box. Stewie may also be playing Chris Rissmiller right off the roster too.
Then there’s Freddy Meyer, who had another good outing on the blueline. The 29-year old New Hampshire native certainly has performed like he’d much rather earn $600,000 in the NHL than $105,000 in the AHL. He finished with 20:39 worth of ice-time and blasted home a nice shot for his first preseason goal. It came just 16 seconds after Nashville’s Martin Erat’s power play goal put the Predators up 3-1 in the second.
As for Alexander Burmistrov, once again I left thinking that this kid is going to be something in the years to come…but just not now. He still is somewhat undersized and gets out-muscled. He may, however, get a few NHL games under his belt next month if Jim Slater’s mystery wrist ailment continues to keep him out for a while.
Ben Eager notched his second goal of the Preseason in the 4-3 loss to Nashville. He finished off a really nice play in which Zach Bogosian motored his way though center ice into the right side of the attacking zone. He then found Eager streaking across the opposite side and slipped the puck though to him for the one-timer.
Eager’s tally tied the score six minutes before the second intermission.
Having an uninspired preseason so far is one Mr. Ron Hainsey. He hasn’t looked sharp at all in the three games I’ve seen. I’m hoping it’s just a case of working out the kinks before October 8 rolls around.
Ron was a -1 tonight, but I believe he was on the ice for the two Preds power play goals too. For that matter, Brent Sopel was a -2 and I think he was on the ice during all four Nashville goals.
Nik Antropov played like you might expect one to in his first preseason game. The coaching staff limited him to but 12:44 worth of playing time as he looks to work his way back into playing condition.
Atlanta closes out the preseason this weekend with a game in Carolina Friday afternoon and one in Columbus Saturday evening. It’d be nice to discuss a win in at least one of those, but next week is when it really matters.
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127 comments Add your comment
Cliff Fletcher
September 30th, 2010
1:10 pm
Sage is back-the first sign of gloom!!
Spud Webb
September 30th, 2010
1:20 pm
Athrasherfan13…we do support our team, hence we’re on this blog everyday. If we didn’t go to the games & or watch them at home, then you wouldn’t see us on here everyday. After what we’ve seen the last 10 years, how would you like us to spin it?? Like this………
Man, we looked great out there, got the h&ll kicked out of us, but I’m going to put these Thrasher colored glasses on & say, we’re going to win the cup!
I understand what you’re saying, but the folks on these blogs do support the thrashers!
Smoothie
September 30th, 2010
1:31 pm
Well, Sage is back. I guess hockey season has officially begun. Don Waddell passed by me last nite (I was the only one sitting at the top of section 304) and I thought about telling him about Sage and his e-mails. Then it dawned on me that Donnie doesn’t know how to work a computer…he graduated from the John McCain school of doing business. Keep all the numbers in your head and things will work out.
Hainsey the Metrosexual
September 30th, 2010
1:45 pm
Athrasherfan13 – Would you pick up my hair gel before the next game?
Russ
September 30th, 2010
2:00 pm
Hainsey is very valuable to this team, he is the one they way overpaid a few years ago to make sure they reached the salary cap minimum.
If scoring is a problem, I hope they don’t even consider putting the key offseason acquisition (Buff) back up front where he belongs. That would just make too much sense. From the sounds of thing, he is on D because that is where he says he wants to be and the Thrashers are just trying to keep him happy. So, if Kane decides he would like to take a whirl at being the netminder, I can only assume that is where he would be. I was cautiously optimistic about this season until this franchise regressed by making a decision like this. So, I will now put in my predictions for Brendan’s contest and I will base it with the assumption (keeping fingers crossed) that they will come to their senses early in the season and put Buff where he belongs.
90 pts/3rd in division/10th in conference. If Buff stays on defense for more that about 20 games look for the Thrashers to fall considerably short of these numbers.
Acer9
September 30th, 2010
2:06 pm
Let’s not go nuts. The Thrashers faced NHL opposition and not 3 tier or lower teams in the pre-season (drawing a soccer pre-season comparison.) I’m not concerned at all. You have a new team with new coaching staff, a new system and new players.
jimbo
September 30th, 2010
2:20 pm
Hainsey accidentally blocks shots by stumbling around. He’s starting to look more and more like Chris Tamer. And where are Modin’s wheels? He’s doin a great Army impersonation. Get D-buff in front of that net!
World Be Free
September 30th, 2010
2:20 pm
Martin Gerber is available off waivers-comes back at 1/2 price and would be an upgrade over Swiss Cheese #31.
Red Light
September 30th, 2010
2:24 pm
Colin Stuart has been sent down to Portland by the Sabres. You’re killing me World!
World Be Free
September 30th, 2010
2:35 pm
Talked to my Sabre “brothers” – Colin did not do much in Buffalo, had little chance of making the team though Mark Parrish is pushing for a final spot on the club.
Mikey
September 30th, 2010
2:41 pm
I’m not too concerned, it is only PREseason after all. But if they don’t get something going this weekend it will make for a long week before the season opener.
Darkhorse
September 30th, 2010
2:44 pm
I’m kinda glad we are seeing the Thrasher’s deficiencies becoming obvious to everyone. I hope it forces management to make adjustments before the real season starts. One of the worst things that could have happened here is if a slurry of 4th liners and guys who weren’t gonna make the team anyway were scoring bunches of goals and we won our preseason games. That certainly would not have kept up all season. It would have kept the blinders on management in recognizing their is a legit scoring concern here, along with a mental young goalie, and some challenges on D.
Darkhorse
September 30th, 2010
2:51 pm
Rawhide just retweeted that Kamal is leading to believe Bumistrov and Meyer are very close to making the final cuts. If that turns out to be true, then Valabik is either not healthy enough to contribute yet, or a trade is coming with him and others going.
Smoothie
September 30th, 2010
2:52 pm
“I’m kinda glad we are seeing the Thrasher’s deficiencies becoming obvious to everyone.”
You mean Ron Hainsey? Too bad we can’t do anything but bench his butt!
Sorry to keep taking digs at Ron, but he should have had a relatively good game last nite playing with the steady, reliable Stanley Cup winner Brent Sopel. Had he not stunk up the joint in his other home game, then I wouldn’t be coming down so hard.
And to be fair, we came back against a Nashville squad who invariably reverts to the trap when they get the lead. After playing an aggressive, forechecking 2 – 1 – 2, Nashville quickly dropped back into their 1 – 2 – 2 trap to protect the lead. It didn’t work. That’s when things started to click and the extra space DZ blueline gave them speed coming out of the zone to get them going. Passes were connecting and the onslaught was on.
The problem is that Trotz came out of the 2nd intermission with guns ablazing using a 2 – 2 – 1 forecheck and our D, especially the Hainsey / Sopel pairing came unglued. But I am heartened by the fact that this team was able to shred the defensive trap without having to dump and chase exclusively. Something that didn’t happen very often, if at all, under JA.
Sure we’re gonna struggle at times early in the season to find out offensive stride, but we’re gonna be fine. As long as we can keep Hainsey off the ice versus other team’s top lines.
Spud Webb
September 30th, 2010
3:03 pm
Hate to tell you folks, Hainsey isn’t going anywhere and for sure won’t be on the bench or pressbox.
Red Light
September 30th, 2010
3:14 pm
When did Lisin get released? I’ve seen nothing about it. He didn’t even play in one game!
World Be Free
September 30th, 2010
3:15 pm
Spud-very accurate-again, we are talking preseason not midseason.
Rawhide
September 30th, 2010
3:19 pm
Red Light – C-Viv said he learned of it when he arrived at the practice rink today.
Also, he just tweeted that Pavs will be in goal tomorrow against the Canes…not surprising. Mason will then start Saturday in Columbus I would presume.
Red Light
September 30th, 2010
3:20 pm
Just waiting for the post saying that maybe we should trade Hainsey for Zach Parise or Travis Zajac!
Red Light
September 30th, 2010
3:20 pm
Thanks Bill!
Ron Hainsey
September 30th, 2010
3:25 pm
They can’t bench me because I’m very adept and experienced when it comes to one on one drills. If anyone wants more “in depth” information, I’d be more than happy to meet you for an interview.
Rawhide
September 30th, 2010
3:26 pm
Scott Burnside has posted his Thrashers preview at ESPN.com. Bottom line, he’s forcasting an 8th place finish in the Eastern Conference and our second trip to the postseason.
Phil Foley - Atlanta Thrashers Examiner
September 30th, 2010
3:40 pm
Sorry Hokie, I left Machacek in there, didn’t mean to. He’s obviously in Chicago now. Besides that error, the rest of the list stands as what the opening night roster may look like.
I’d say Stewart, Burmistrov and Rismiller are the ones on the bubble and it’ll come down to whether there are 22 or 23 on the opening night roster. The staff seems to like Pettersson and Modin and Dawes aren’t going anywhere.
On defense, my guess is that it’ll be Meyer. Boris hasn’t played since the first game and doesn’t fit into coach Ramsay’s fast, quick go-go-go defensemen strategy. Barring an injury, the kids (Kulda & Zubarev) would be better suited getting playing time in Chicago rather than sitting in the press box.
It’s interesting that the Chicago scout was in the press box for the last two games. Keep one thing in mind, Chicago does play Nashville in the second game of the season, although no matchup is set against the Hurricanes.
Chicago solved their cap issues (and the $4.1 million overage penalty that was assessed by the league for Over-35 performance bonuses last season) by placing Cristobal Huet on waivers and shipping him to Sweden. Nevertheless, the cap remains a challenge for the Blackhawks going into the season. They could move a mid-level salary to give them some maneuverability over the season. The question is who?
Nate
September 30th, 2010
3:44 pm
Anybody care to do some research on the positive/negative correlation (if there is one) between losing, or in this case winless, preseasons and the regular season performance? I know there is a negative correlation in the NFL like only a handful of teams in NFL history have gone winless in the preseason and then went on to make the playoffs.
Rawhide – Nice to meet you last night by the way. Wish the outcome had been better, but at least the effort was there. Really didn’t see the improved defense some have been talking about though. The Thrash still seemed to get bogged down in their own zone too many times.
Not so fast!
September 30th, 2010
4:01 pm
Nate – I don’t think so. The Buffalo Bills routinely went 0 – 4 in the pre-season during their Super Bowl appearance era. But keep tryin’.
Red Light
September 30th, 2010
4:23 pm
As we all know, the first Thrashers hat trick was scored by Dean Sylvester, November 22, 1999
As some may know, the most recent Thrashers hat trick was scored by Ilya the Terrrible, February 15, 2009
So, in Brendanesque fashion, name the Thrashers player that scores the next hat trick and include the day and month (in case of a tie)
The correct guess gets a free subscription to Smoothie’s blog or a pair of club seats and a parking pass (during the season in which it occurs).
Rawhide
September 30th, 2010
4:31 pm
Red Light – Hmmmm…..I’ll got with Evander Kane. As for the tie-breaker I’ll say it’ll be vs. CBJs on November 4, 2010.
Tough to decide between the two prizes, but since I already have a subscription to Smoothie’s Blog I’ll to with the tix and parking pass/
Joe Friday
September 30th, 2010
4:33 pm
Ladd gets the hattie, 11/17/10
Spud Webb
September 30th, 2010
4:36 pm
HOLY CRAP Red light, impossible……..crystal ball says…..Little gets it, at home, Wed Nov 17, 2010 vs the panthers.
Spud Webb
September 30th, 2010
4:37 pm
ahhahhahahahahha, well Joe and I have decided the correct date of the 17th, just different players!!! Classic.
Flagstaff
September 30th, 2010
4:39 pm
Cliff– Just kidding!
Spud Webb
September 30th, 2010
4:45 pm
WBF, Mark Parrish pushing for a spot isn’t good news to me as a sabre fan. That along with the “other” Niedermayer brother looks to be making the team. UGH
Another note, less time for Miller in buffalo this season, “Buffalo will play an NHL-high 22 sets of back-to-back games this year, so it’s reasonable to think Lalime could make 16-20 starts.”
mikey da mug
September 30th, 2010
4:47 pm
Thrashers 360 TV Program Debuts on SportSouth
http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=539149
Nate
September 30th, 2010
4:53 pm
Not so fast! – You’re gonna have to do better than that. One vague recollection of a single team does not make for good statistical analysis. But keep tryin’.
Red Light
September 30th, 2010
4:55 pm
Spud, Joe Friday
Really? Against Tomas Vokoun coming off three days rest? Are you out of your minds?
Smoothie
September 30th, 2010
5:01 pm
Shouldn’t we simply guess when the TEAM might score its first hat-trick of the season???
And you better act now before I start charging for all of that amazing content on my blog!! Get your guesses in ASAP!
Spud Webb
September 30th, 2010
5:03 pm
Take it easy Red Light! Maybe I figured Tomas will be hurt?? ahhahahahah
Nate…here you go, 33 of 44 Super Bowl champs had .500 or better record in preseason of SB winning year.
Red Light
September 30th, 2010
5:11 pm
I’ve got a much more pertinent stat for you Spud…nine NHL teams have won the Stanley Cup since the Thrashers joined the league, and Buffalo wasn’t one of them!
Spud Webb
September 30th, 2010
5:14 pm
good grief…that is a just mean man. MEAN…I’ll bite…Red wings suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Smoothie
September 30th, 2010
5:28 pm
I wish I had the optimism of Scott Burnside and the balls to predict that the Thrashers will turn into this year’s Cinderella story, but I’m not quite seeing it. I think the arduous schedule (especially in Oct) and a slow start may put this team too far behind the 8-ball. But they’re gonna make it close at the end…it should be an entertaining ride for this team of young, hard-working upstarts!
Brendan, without further ado, I give unto you my prediction for this upcoming season. And yes, final answer:
39 – 33 – 11 for 87 points; 2nd in SE; 9th in East
SE Division: WSH (115) – ATL (87) – CAR (86) – TBL (83) – FLA (79)
five hole
September 30th, 2010
5:49 pm
Red Light I’ll say it’s Professor Plum, in the libray with a candlestick. No, sorry.
I’ll go with Mr. Bergfors, against the Wild, November 11.
Tony C
September 30th, 2010
5:54 pm
1st hat trick this season: Peverly-6 November vs. Ottowa Senators.
I hate to be so pessimistic, but I just am not seeing the needed scoring-I realize it’s a virtual rebirth of the franchise & lots of unfamiliar people and plays don’t lend themselves to best results….but wow, the games I’ve seen the boys just looked clueless or unengaged. Last night was a bit of a turnaround, so I’m hoping to see some lightbulbs go on soon.
Still don’t like fat@ss on the blueline (especially if the rumors he demanded to play there are true-we have past precedent to show us how easily “star” player’s demands are met by DW), still worried about these line combinations-if chemistry is a problem (and by all accounts it is-not in a “that guy’s a d*^chebag” way, but moreso “who is that guy” way), then let’s find some groupings and stick with it.
glovesave29
September 30th, 2010
6:23 pm
Smoothie – don’t use such complicated insight here, as Sage’s head might explode. Other than complaining about Waddell, he knows absolutely nothing about hockey. He thinks the dump and chase is a dating strategy.
Dwayne
September 30th, 2010
6:27 pm
knoweeeee hat trickeeeee for anybodeeeee!!!!
Nate
September 30th, 2010
7:04 pm
Spud – Now THAT’S a good effort. Now if we can only find the NHL statistical cousin.
Brendan
September 30th, 2010
7:07 pm
Programming Note: Guesses are not due until “puck drop” on October 8, 2010. However, guesses are welcome and have been registered. You may change your guess up, until “puck drop” of opening night.
Russ, you are registered at 90-pts, 3rd in SE division, and 10th in the Conference.
Smoothie, we welcome your entry at 83-points, 2nd in SE Division, and 9th in Conference.
Believe it or not, the Thrashers roster is not yet set. So, you may wish to revise your entries before 10-08-2010.
The budget contest ended on September 20, at 11PM. I think everyone who wanted to vote took advantage of that opportunity before the deadline closed. We did have to set a deadline for that. So, as a reminder, that contest has closed. There is only one remaining guess. It will come from R.Stroztradamus, after puck drop, on “Opening Night.”
Red Light, I’d like to enter the “hat trick” contest by going way, way out on a limb. I like Chris Thorburn to stun the world, with his 3rd line play, recording a “hat trick,” that include a short-handed goal, against the NY Rangers on November 11, 2010.
Brendan
September 30th, 2010
7:09 pm
Glovesave29, “dump and chase” is what WNYers do when drinking Geneseo and hard liquor.
Smoothie
September 30th, 2010
7:13 pm
Oh Professor, that would be 87 points, thank you!!
R.I.F.
glovesave – nicely played, I got a pleasant little chuckle out of that. I could elaborate on the same theme using the term “trap” but I’ll refrain for once and demonstrate a bit of decorum.
Dwayne
September 30th, 2010
7:21 pm
I hope I am wrong but……81 points, 3rd, 11th,
glovesave29
September 30th, 2010
7:29 pm
Smoothie…”trap”…ha! A world of possibilities there! I’m thinking along the lines of “Silence of the Lambs”. Leave it at that…