The good, the un-good and the ugly of Thrashers first five games
Five games into an 82 game schedule is not a heckuva lot of time to pick up on trends, let alone become overly worried about any negatives. But we’ve got a few days before the 3-2-0 Thrashers play host to the 1-4-1 Buffalo Sabres, so now is as good of a time as any to take pause and reflect back on the opening days of this 2010-11 Thrashers season. Thus, I offer up this entry of “The Good, The Un-Good and the Ugly”.
Or, for those of the P.C. persuasion… “The Good, The Un-Good and the ‘Aesthetically Challenged’”.
The Good
The winning Record, (DUH5): Well, let’s begin with winning three out of five games and collecting six of a possible ten in the standings. While some may not tout this as a ferocious start, considering that the last two were on the road, in back-to-back games and won after trailing by two goals in both… a very good showing indeed.
In fact, all three victories have come in games that Atlanta trail. They were down 1-0 in the season opener against the Capitals.
Anthony Stewart has been an early season surprise with 4 goals in 5 games (AP Photo/Lori Shepler)
Also, consider that a team that plays 3-2-0, 2-1-2, or any other combination of 6 points in five games consistently through the course of a season, will end up with 96 points after 80 games played with two more left to sure up their playoff positioning.
I’ll take that.
Anthony Stewart the Scoring Machine: What more can one say about Anthony “You Can’t Stop Him, You Can Only Hope To Contain Him” Stewart. By scoring four times in about a 24-hour period this past weekend he not only finds himself as the team’s leading goal-scorer, but he also doubled his career total. Coming into this season he had found the net four times in 105 NHL games.
Moving Stewart to the line with Ladd and Little…very good, considering the results.
Fantastic Fourth Line: By far the most consistent forward line has been the Eager-Thorburn-Burmistrov fourth line. They have accounted for 4 goals, 2 assists and are a combined +8. It’s little surprise that when coach Craig Ramsay tweaked the lines after the loss in Los Angeles this one remained in tact.
Eager has been everything we had expected him to be, Thorburn has excelled above and beyond what many thought he was capable of and Burmistrov has done just about everything he needs to in order to stick around here beyond nine games.
All this is certainly good news for everyone. Everyone, that is, except maybe Eric Boulton. If they continue to play well, the only action we could see Boults in anytime soon is if someone cuts in front of him in the press box buffet line.
Never Say Die Attitude: As stated above, all three of the Thrasher’s wins have come via the come-from-behind nature…the last two after trailing by two goals. In the loss to Tampa Bay, they had even cut a 4-0 deficit to 4-3 before ultimately falling 5-3 to the Bolts. These are the kind of efforts that help the “gelling” process on a team with so many new faces.
It also shows that this coaching staff headed up by Craig Ramsay has a good ability to not only determine what needs adjusting when things go wrong, but also possesses the ability to remedy it in time.
Chris Thorburn, Ben Eager and Alex Burmistrov have celebrated 4 goals with each other so far (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
The character of this team, thus far, is being shaped and molded by the men behind the bench as much as those on the ice.
Boris Takes Bad News Like A Big Boy: I will say up front here that I am 100% in favor of the decision made to waive Boris Valabik. The time had come to fish or cut bait with the 6’-7” defenseman, especially given the talent available for this team on the blueline. He wasn’t claimed off the wire and now he’s found his way to the AHL Chicago Wolves.
But I have to give Boris some props for having the right attitude when faced with the situation. He didn’t whine, cry or suggest he was not treated fairly…like so many professional athletes tend to do after being given this type of bad news.
“If no team claims me I will go to Chicago and work on my game”, he told Chris Vivlamore Thursday. “I have some work to do but mostly I have to play…I know when I’m on top of my game I can be very successful”.
Valabik acknowledges he has work to do to improve his game. And by saying, “when I’m on top of my game”, in essence admits he wasn’t.
This is where any self-improvement project must begin; understanding the responsibility for where you find yourself is yours and acknowledging you have to work to improve the issue.
Very good, Boris.
The Un-Good
Still Can’t Shake The SA/G Bug: You can give me all the “It doesn’t matter how many shots are taken, it’s where they come from” lines all you want, but 36.4 SA/G is far too many…and it must begin improving soon or un-good things will surely happen. This is a lesson we here in Thrasherville know all too well.
Now, if you do feel the need to sprinkle some sugar on this bitter stat, look at the fact that the Thrashers are finding a way to get off 30.8 S/G themselves.
But even so, that’s a SF/SA gap of –5.6. Un-good.
Scarce Top-Line Scoring: After just five games, it’s not unusual to have a handful of players that have yet to notch their first goal. Normally these are defensemen, lower-line forwards…maybe even the odd top-sixer or two.
But when you see such names like Nik Antropov, Bryan Little, Nic Bergfors and Rich Peverley rolling goose eggs in the goals column…well, it certainly is not good.
Rich Peverley, seen here trying to poke the puck away from San Jose Sharks Patrick Marleau, has yet to score his first goal this season (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Now, in their defense…Antropov is playing reduced minutes, topping 15 minutes TOI only once so far. He’s working his way back to 100% following his hip surgery last summer, and given time will once again be a big presence on offence. Little has shown good hustle and has chipped in with 3 assists. Bergfors seems to have gotten any message that was intended by sitting him out Friday, but he’s still with only 2 assists on the young season. Rich Peverley had yet to gain a point and was a –3 heading into this past weekend’s action, but after being moved to the line with Andrew Ladd he earned assists in both the Ducks and Sharks games and was a +1.
So, I’m not “overly” concerned with the lack of scoring from these top-line players. However, these are guys that need to kick their offensive game in high gear and start introducing frozen vulcanized rubber to twine soon.
Or, of course, we could just continue to rely on Stewart and Thorburn to score for us.
Not-So-Special Teams: The Thrashers converted four of their seven power play chances in Anaheim and San Jose. However, they had failed on 13 of their first 14 of the season. The lone exception being a 5 on 3 job in Tampa. Hopefully the weekend trend will continue.
On the other side of the ice, they’re 71.4% penalty kill efficiency is better than only Dallas, (70,0%), Carolina, (68.4%), and Nashville, (64.3%).
The Ugly
Opening night…only 2:25 into the game…the play had just been blown dead at one end of the ice. But then all eyes turned to other end where Ondrej Pavelec lay motionless, spread-eagle in front of his goal. Though he needs to recover from the concussion suffered from striking his head to the ice, thankfully all indications are that Opie should be fine with all tests on his heart and brain coming back negative.
But the feeling we all got seeing Ondrej Pavelec down on the ice, crest-up, spread-eagle on opening night, not knowing what was wrong, why he went down and if he was going to be OK…simply ugly.
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101 comments Add your comment
World Be Free
October 18th, 2010
7:55 am
Nice post Rawhide, you hit everything right on. Looking forward to Wednesday night when my old team, the Buffalo Sabres come to town. There is no such thing as an “ex-Sabres” fan, but I have to say I have moved on from the Swords to the Thrashers. Petty soon I will be an ex-Bills’ fan too, which goes back even farther than the Sabres.
Josh McGrew
October 18th, 2010
8:09 am
Good read, an right on. I continue to have high hopes for the team this year and can’t wait to get down and see them in action. I think they are gonna turn some heads and surprise a few more along the way, I’m sticking by my first thought that the motto this year should have been “our time is now”
Dr. Feelgood
October 18th, 2010
8:17 am
Winning covers up bad stuff. Beat the slugs.
What a novel concept, adjust DURING the game and between periods. Something that WTF dude could not do. Who would of thought that Atl. could overcome 2 goal deficits and win without a sniper.
WBF, I cant even call myself an ex-Eagle fan, even with Vick there. I’ll never be an ex-Phillie, 76er or Flyer fan either.
glovesave29
October 18th, 2010
8:34 am
Well, as we sit in the 6 spot in the conference – I think it we are past due in beginning a discussion on how the team matches up against the Islanders, who hold the #3 seed in the East. With only 77 games remaining, I can’t imagine much will change.
World Be Free
October 18th, 2010
8:47 am
Dr. Feelgood-it is tough to remove youirself from your childhood team. It still follow the Sabres as much as I do the Thrashers; I was a regular contributor to their BuffaloNews blogs until recently. I have a closet full of Sabres-wear. But the Thrashers are my primary team now. It will be easy to be an ex-Bills’ fan when they move to California after the old man passes.
thebigharybeast
October 18th, 2010
9:07 am
Agree with all the points. But on a purely its Monday, Im gumpy, at work this morning, underwear too tight kinda of day, the use of “ungood” is becoming redundant. How bout instead of ungood we use toddwhitish, or maybe rhodesques?
DWTOO
October 18th, 2010
9:33 am
Have to admit I was one of those who wanted to see Stewart sent to Chicago and bring up Petterson. Now I know why I’m not the GM even though I share the initials of the esteemed previous GM. Maybe that’s the problem?
Rawhide
October 18th, 2010
9:35 am
Well, as we sit in the 6 spot in the conference – I think it we are past due in beginning a discussion on how the team matches up against the Islanders, who hold the #3 seed in the East. With only 77 games remaining, I can’t imagine much will change.
glovesave29 – LOL!
…And not to mention the Presidents Trophy winning Toronto Maple Leafs. Why, it’s hard to have imagined wayyyyyyy back last summer anyone even suggesting they would even make the playoffs.
How bout instead of ungood we use toddwhitish, or maybe rhodesques
thebigharybeast – I shall take that under advisement.
WBF – Please see above reply to GS29.
J(Z)
October 18th, 2010
9:38 am
glovesave29 – I’m worried about Boston having a couple of games in hand on us, we can’t slip any further or we’ll have to face the Stanley Cup Favorite, undefeated Toronto Maple Leaves
Smoothie
October 18th, 2010
9:52 am
Hey Buffalo Sabres! Don’t worry, there’s a light at the end of that tunnel! Too bad its a freight train known at the Thrash Train comin’ your way! Its comin!
This train is gaining momentum and it will soon run over the hopes and dreams of failure expessed by a certain SOB.
In Rammer We Trust.
five_hole
October 18th, 2010
9:57 am
I’m not overly concerned at this point in the season. More than half the team is still getting their facebook friends invites from the others. It takes time to develop chemistry, especially in hockey.
I’m more concerned about the TV schedule (or lack thereof).
World Be Free
October 18th, 2010
10:02 am
Mr. Rawhide is leaning heavily on his prediction that the Tronna Maple Leafs would make playoffs this season. Long way to go, not that I have anything against The Buds, but their fans have yet to get whiopped into their usual frenzy yet. That frenzy push will put alotta pressure on the boys in blue, especially if they take a slid in any way. This will be an interesting season indeed.
DWTOO
October 18th, 2010
10:07 am
Have to wonder if the fat guy Leafs fan, who regularly posts on YouTube from his mothers basement, is blustering yet? Can’t recall his name, but, on the other hand the muscle relaxer I took this morning is making it all moot.
Red Light
October 18th, 2010
10:21 am
The last two of the undefeated teams will lose tonight. Tampa Bay over Dallas and the surging Isles over the Leafs!
Stewart can now have a 10-game scoreless streak without fear thanks to his play during the West Coast swing.
CHIEF OF SMOKE
October 18th, 2010
10:31 am
WOULD BE FREE… I like you am a Native Buffaloian but have made the Switch from the Sabres to Thrashers….
However, No chance of me ever becoming an Un Bills Fan
sisu
October 18th, 2010
10:32 am
I am pleasantly surprised at the team having a winning record, this with the big boys not scoring yet, very positive indeed. As to building chemistry, I think this road trip help speed things up in a positive way. Stewart, what can I say, he is a great presence in front of the net and works for his goals!
kracker
October 18th, 2010
10:37 am
As you mentioned to open this blog, Rawhide, and as I was telling my co-worker Al this morning, the body of work thus far is too small to draw any real conclusions about the Thrashers. That said, and again as your blog stated, enough of the trends fall into the “good” category for us to feel cautiously optomistic.
If this is a new-identity team, the transformation into a Ramsay team of the present and the future, the gritty, determined play will continue. If this team is to be the same ole Thrashers, then they will flop at home on Wednesday and Friday, maybe eking out a point and then get hammered by the Caps on Saturday.
I don’t see this team really flopping. They may get beat but they are made to compete, if the first couple of weeks are any indication. Beat the Slugs Wednesday, payback for the Bolts Thursday, then fight it out w/ the Caps this weekend. Is this one on SS?
Hockey Biltong
October 18th, 2010
10:37 am
ululululululululation.Geaux Thrash!!!!
kracker
October 18th, 2010
10:55 am
BTW, I am one of the most optomistic guys on these boards but let’s keep in mind that on two of Stewart’s goals, if each one was an inch or two to the right and left, respectively, then Stewie doesn’t even get credit for a shot on goal much less two goals. We need our ’scorers’ to begin scoring this week.
litz
October 18th, 2010
10:58 am
Heh … who woulda though back when we were all screaming about the TV schedule, that after we finally get it, we discover half of it is actually blacked out or unavailable due to Fox’s squabbling with its carriers over carriage fees.
What a weird wacky world we live in.
Zombie Steve
October 18th, 2010
10:58 am
Bolts game is Friday, yes?
Smitty
October 18th, 2010
11:10 am
Say it aint so WBF
kracker
October 18th, 2010
11:17 am
Very ungood. Mason can’t play them all.
ajcthrashers No Ondrej Pavelec at #Thrashers practice. Peter Mannino still here.
Is that goalie that got waived on opening day, I think it was, still available? Probably not. I can’t remember his name but he had really good stats for a goalie put on waivers, with about 75 NHL games experience.
kracker
October 18th, 2010
11:24 am
Is this just a precaution w/ an extra day off or does this mean more?
ajcthrashers Modin, Bogosian wearing non contact red jerseys at #Thrashers practice.
kracker
October 18th, 2010
11:31 am
Now Chris Viv says Pavelec will practice tomorrow. Do we want to try him again against the Caps, assuming he is concussion-free and in game shape?
Red Light
October 18th, 2010
11:40 am
The Modin Over/Under Watch…
Four games played…one goal.
The first hat trick contest is over…Anthony Stewart at Anaheim. No one guessed it of course.
R. Stroztradamus
October 18th, 2010
11:42 am
When did Anthony Stewart legally change his name to no one?
A Frustrated Hockey Fan (aka Rhythmpenguin)
October 18th, 2010
11:53 am
Thanks for the analysis Rawhide! =)
Rhythmpenguin
October 18th, 2010
11:54 am
Oops! Forgot to change my name from my last post. =P
Dr. Feelgood
October 18th, 2010
12:05 pm
Play Opie against the Caps, if he passes out again, we win.
Sh!tsburgh has 5 points in 5 games. That translates to 82 for the year.
Bart
October 18th, 2010
12:11 pm
Add the TV blackouts not being lifted for the road trip to “un-good”. 5 games into the season, 4 on the road…sure would’ve been been great to see those road games in full (via Center Ice, which blacked out the other team’s feed each time, but as there was no Thrashers broadcast the blackouts really should have been lifted) rather than just NHL On The Fly highlights.
World Be Free
October 18th, 2010
12:17 pm
CHIEF/Smitty, turned to the Thrashers because I like their approach, Dudley and Ramsay are a step up. Sabres are same old and that will not change. The days of Punch Imlach are long in the past. Chief, went to my first Bills’ game in 1968, Bills/Jets and Joe Willie Namath in his prime; that was the Bills’ only win that season. Family had Bills’ season tickets from 1966-90, Dad played for UB in the early 50’s. But 10 years of losing badly and the eventual move to L.A. has soured me on my hometown team. I have prepared myself for the ultimate heartbreak of them leaving town.
I’ll cheer for both teams Wednesday, how’s that?
World Be Free
October 18th, 2010
12:25 pm
Johan Hedberg has played in one game so far; what’s the over/under on how many games he will play this season? Devils are paying him a million bucks to sit on the bench, alotta money to pay a backup not to play on a cap-stressed team. Kovy has 5 points in 5 games, but is a minus 3.
iamtheratio
October 18th, 2010
12:26 pm
I’ll cheer for both teams Wednesday, how’s that?
ILL ADVISED!!
City of Buffalo
October 18th, 2010
12:37 pm
Please stop calling my hockey team the “slugs.” This year our logo is as cool as bleu cheese on hot wings.
VAThrasher
October 18th, 2010
12:42 pm
Put Mason’s steady performance in the “good” column. He’s given the defense the confidence to jump into the play without fear of giving up softies.
World Be Free
October 18th, 2010
12:43 pm
Anyone know if we are seeing Miller Wednesday night? Vanek has to get going for BUF, let’s hope he waits another game before he finds his scoring mo-jo. Thrashers have to come out smoking because the Sabres are having trouble scoring. Anyone know how many tickets have been sold for Wednesday night?
City of Buf-wish the Sabes would have sprung for the rights to the old AHL Buffalo Bisons Bottle Cap emblem for the 3rd jersey.
kracker
October 18th, 2010
12:45 pm
Dan Kamal confirms: “Ondrej Pavelec has been cleared medically and is scheduled to skate tomorrow.”
Alan R.
October 18th, 2010
1:00 pm
“if each one was an inch or two to the right and left, respectively, then Stewie doesn’t even get credit for a shot on goal much less two goals. “
I’m not entirely sure how this is relevant. And honestly, I mean no offense by that.
Hockey is a very fast sport. There are several factors you could look at, even with Stewart’s goals. Take his second goal in Anaheim, for instance. The puck squirts behind Hiller. What if Hiller gets the glove on it before Stewart can shoot at it? What if Peverley’s breakaway shot against Niemi went a couple inches higher? What if Kovalchuk re-signed with us in the off-season?
My point is, there are so many what-ifs in this sport, that it seems silly to trivialize an accomplishment like a hat trick from a relative unknown like Stewart, just because he was at the net to clean up the trash. There are a plethora of other scenarios that could have played out on his four goals so far. An inch to the left or the right doesn’t matter, because we got the goals anyway.
You’re still right, however, by saying our scorers need to pick it up and score.
Dwayne
October 18th, 2010
1:07 pm
If a frog had wings…..
J.B.
October 18th, 2010
1:15 pm
i believe in the one goal moose has appeared, he was not very good to boot.
Old Time Hockey
October 18th, 2010
1:17 pm
The best attribute a team can have is the “never-say-die” attitude. These are the most exciting teams and that’s worth a few points every year.
Big surprise that Kovy is scoring (5 points) and -3? Couldn’t see that coming. Good riddance you greedy ….
five_hole
October 18th, 2010
1:18 pm
. . .but let’s keep in mind that on two of Stewart’s goals, if each one was an inch or two to the right and left, respectively. – kracker
They used to say the same thing about John Lennon & Yoko Ono. If Hinkley’s bullet had been a couple of inches to the right, he’d have been a hero.
World Be Free
October 18th, 2010
1:24 pm
Old Time on Kovy-right on brother I hope the NJ fans finally see what they have mortgaged their lives for in this selfish bum. I will be an old man before this contract expires!
Paminski
October 18th, 2010
1:56 pm
“the use of “ungood” is becoming redundant”
thebigharybeast – I agree we see the word often. However, it’s sort of a Rawhide trademark. Like egreeeeegious.
litz
October 18th, 2010
2:04 pm
Boy does this seem familiar : “Kovy has 5 points in 5 games, but is a minus 3.”
Par for the course, anyone?
Dwayne
October 18th, 2010
3:01 pm
No litz, thats an hole in one. Lou cant run Kovy out of town now….lmao!!! I wonder if Duds was telling DW and the Octotards to “please let him go, he does not fit what i am trying to do”!!!! How many times have you guys stated that Kovy will not fill the Bulb, winning will.
Tom
October 18th, 2010
3:13 pm
The Devils are a mess. They are 1-4-1, Jamie Langenbrunner is -6 and Arnott is a league low -7 . Kovy at -3 is not helping matters.
Hockey is all about chemistry. I have coached teams that have been close to amazing but 1 selfish player can create such discord the teams never find their footing. I think that is what is happening in New Jersey with Kovy.
By paying Kovy some good guys had to suffer. The locker room is not the same and the leaders are playing as if their heart is not in it. If this keeps up for another couple of weeks Lou will have to ax the coach and bring in a psycho hard ass to change the locker room’s dynamic. Hating a coach may be the only thing to bring this team together.
File this comment under the 100 million dollar curse.
kracker
October 18th, 2010
3:34 pm
Ok, fans, we have some election research to do!
AtlThrashers Vote for your favorite Thrashers Rinkside Reporter Talent Search contestant: http://bit.ly/csvcoZ
kracker
October 18th, 2010
3:45 pm
I think it would be difficult to do a “The good, the un-good and the ugly” blog without saying the word un-good a few times.
World Be Free
October 18th, 2010
4:01 pm
Tom-a curse that will last a long, long time.
Smoothie
October 18th, 2010
4:26 pm
“What if Peverley’s breakaway shot against Niemi went a couple inches higher?”
Indeed, what if Peverley’s stick had touched the flying puck before Stewart could get there!? I shudder to think of what the outcome may have been. But yes, ifs, ands and buts…something about candied nuts.
Speaking of nuts, Mason has shown some major league cajones thus far as a Thrasher, eh? My personal tribute to his play thus far:
http://thrashingbirds.blogspot.com/2010/10/there-stands-mason-like-stonewall.html
Mace has been quite grand in his presence within the crease, IMO.
Rawhide
October 18th, 2010
4:31 pm
Smoothinator - I think the phrase is…”Were ‘ifs and ‘buts’ candy and nuts, we’d all have a Merry Christmas”.
Paminski – Yeah…I guess a blog titled “Good, Un-Good & Ugly” without using “un-good” in the story would be…well…un-good.
Smoothie
October 18th, 2010
4:34 pm
Ay, ay Captain! Yeah, I didn’t want to get too religious and all in a public forum!
So far I’m liking Audra in the contest, but those damn UPS commercials are making it tough to get through the entries!!
five_hole
October 18th, 2010
4:57 pm
As Bill pointed out to me, I should have said Mark David Chapman instead of Hinkley. This totally killed the joke.
Tomorrow night I get to see the OKC Barons play the Lake Erie Ice Monsters. I have no idea who the Ice Monsters are the affiliate of, but you gotta love the name.
Red Light
October 18th, 2010
5:41 pm
Tyler Myers -7, Patrick Kane -5
You don’t want either one them on your team?
Red Light
October 18th, 2010
5:51 pm
World Be Free…
No reason not to play Miller on Wed. It’s not a back-to-back situation and they need a win!
Kovalchuk comments after OT game winning goal vs. Miller last week.
“Who cares about goals? It’s about wins,” Kovalchuk said curtly.
Reminded that most people feel he needs to score goals for the Devils to be successful, the most controversial free agent in NHL history didn’t relent much on his stance.
“We deserved the win,” he said. “In hockey, it’s not about individuals. Not on our team. It’s all about the team. I’d take one goal all year and go win the division. Whatever. It’s not about how many goals you score. It’s about how many points you have.”
Red Light
October 18th, 2010
5:51 pm
Not a defense of I.K. at all, just relating to you what he said.
BlueSpark
October 18th, 2010
6:15 pm
Can’t we have a brunette rinkside reporter?
All that bleach hurts my eyes…
Brendan
October 18th, 2010
6:31 pm
I haven’t read the poster comments, just the blog content, and I must say that I am very pleased by this blog. Rawhide got everything right.
English Teacher
October 18th, 2010
7:34 pm
So the “talent search” was held in the Blue Crew locker room?
Dwayne
October 18th, 2010
9:20 pm
Kovy wanted to win here too. He would have traded all the goals he scored for a Stanley Cup. He just dont want to play defense to get it.
Mikey
October 18th, 2010
9:52 pm
I vote for Audra in the Rinkside Reporter Talent Contest. She seems more, uh, “natural”.
Who did you vote for BlogMaster?
Kovy
October 18th, 2010
10:40 pm
I’m not worried about goals….I’ll get my goals and my money. But it’s all about the team. Unfortunately,every team I’m on stinks! I’d rather have no goals and a SC trophy.
I wish I could mentor young Burmastrov before he is ruined in ATL. The kid smiles too much and is just a team player. He needs to quit backchecking and just shoot the puck!
stendek
October 18th, 2010
10:49 pm
Hi Bill. Right on pal. My blood pressure will not be quite so high when I watch Thrashers this season. At peace. Will get mad. Sometimes. My nature. With both cancers gone (you know who they are) I can root wholeheartedly for those guys with bird heads on their uniforms. Like effort thus far. No superstars. Calgary Flames won Stanley Cup without a verified star. Will take bunch of hard workers any day. Figure eights can be seen in other ice skating venues. Like ice follies in New Jersey. Whoops. Sorry. Be nice. Just wanted to say hello Rawhide. Looking for positives this season. Hope you are too. Hi fellow fans. Squa tront. STENDEK
Kari (up 2010)?
October 18th, 2010
11:00 pm
Hi Stendek, my best wishes to you for a great season. BTW – I’m groin to dye my hair finnish green when I get 40 victories this year!
stendek
October 18th, 2010
11:08 pm
Sorry fellow poster. Do not mean to ignore your question. Glad Devils got saddled with cancer known as Make-u-illya Kovalchoke. Guy is totally selfish team distraction. Disease has crept into top goalie who now resembles Sori Letemin. Gasp. Best move Thrashers ever made when they unloaded this ultra me-me-me loser. Only has marginal talent anyway. Skates fine figure eights though. Intangibles define true winners not points. Team players do not give a damn about individual glory. IK says he puts team over himself. Whoops. Nose of liar just grew more inches. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Kari Lehtonen. Hmm. No worry. New team happy now. Plus he excels in shootouts. Strong part of game. Always has been. Soft goals will commence soon. Then honeymoon will officially be over. Thanks again for excellent question. Peace. STENDEK
Brendan
October 18th, 2010
11:16 pm
Ilya Kovalchuk never has to score another goal again. He’s got a contract that pays him until he’s 41 or 42. It pays him $100 million (Dr. Evil laugh), “guaranteed.” They say that once the contract is signed, the player is now playing for his NEXT contract. But in Kovalchuk’s case, that’s 15 years from now. Or, perhaps never. The Devils’ Head Coach has a long history with the club. For him to be ousted, prematurely and unceremoniously, due to Kovalchuk and/or his unwillingness/inability to play defense … would be second consequence of his contract. The first is the cap hit. But surely Lou knew that Kovalchuk could become a “coach killer,” the moment he offered a 15-year deal. That’s how Jaromir Jagr, operated, anyway. But I cannot blame much on Kovalchuk. I know that sounds odd.
Is it Kovalchuk’s fault that Curt Fraser, Bob Hartley, Don Waddell (twice), and John Anderson … are no longer coaches of the Atlanta Thrashers? Some of you will say, “Yes, of course!! Kovy was here the WHOLE time. At a minus 88! It was his fault!!” Don Waddell had a stranglehold oversight of the franchise. Don’s marching orders were, “Fill the net with pucks, to make fans happy.” In many ways, Atlanta very much succeeded in scoring. They just couldn’t overcome their goals against.
Another thought occurs to me. Kovalchuk, for all his time here, never said a bad word or an utterance of complaint. All while the ownership was terrible. The GM was incapble. The Head Coaches, ineffective. The goaltending inconsistent, not mention injured. The defense, clueless and invisibile. And the scouting staff, well … who could miss on Kovalchuk, Heatley, Bogosian, and Kane? Even Bryan Little was something of a “consensus” pick for # 12. I absolve the Patrick Stefan pick, as that was also, a “consensus” bust, especially given that Brian Burke only handed us the # 1 overall pick in 1999 on the CONDITION that we couldn’t take either Sedin twin with that pick. Looking back at that draft, probably Martin Havlat was the best 1st round pick beyond the Sedins, and he went 26th overall. So, I kinda give scouting a pass that year. But Alex Bourret?? Valabik?? Are we really going to see the fruits of Daultan Leveille? Jim Slater may be a former 1st round pick, but he’s a career 4th liner, with 3rd line “fill-in” capacity. I know Enstrom and Exelby were 7th round defenders, who clicked, but what about all those 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th round picks that never materialized? From FAVORABLE draft position, for most of those rounds. Kovalchuk never complained. He never said, “Fire the scouts!” “Fire the GM!” “Time for a new coach!” Of course, he couldn’t say those things, really. But he did keep his mouth shut. For that, I think he deserves some credit. He never demanded a trade out. He honored his contract. And when he’d suffered through enough seasons, it became his CHOICE where to play. He opted for a team NOT owned by the Octocluster. Can’t blame him there. Also, can’t blame him for stringing the Thrashers along, contractually, when he wife was pregnant, and needed him in Atlanta for as much time as possible before the trade deadline. Ultimately, the GM could have made Kovalchuk a $101 million, 12-year offer just as easily on July 14th. Waddell wanted to keep him here, to sell tickets, for as many games as he could.
Is it Kovalchuk’s fault, that he’s one of the best pure snipers in the league? Is it his fault, that he hit FREE AGENCY before reaching his PRIME years? Is it Kovalchuk’s fault … that the market sets the value? Is it Kovalchuk’s fault that GM’s were tripping over each other until it was clear they had no shot at landing him? And finally, is it Kovalchuk’s fault … that a GM offered him a contract that circumvented the salary cap? Maybe you could say ‘yes’ there, for Kovalchuk certainly could have just agreed to be paid less, to help his new club afford him. I know that there’s lingering resentment against Kovalchuk, because he refused to re-sign here, and some feel he ‘misled’ Thrasher management, and LIED to the fanbase. GM’s and pending UFA players, and their agents, are like politicians in an election year. They’re working off “talking points,” and saying the things that people want to hear.
stendek
October 18th, 2010
11:48 pm
Read your mini novel Brendan. What a damn waste of time and space. Ask any TRUE Thrasher fan who watched your boy hero skate near the end in Thrasher uniform (while still under contract in Atlanta) what THEY thought of figure eight king. Maryann Hosebag too for that matter. Sori Letemin just waste. Period. What a crock of total shet! Peace. STENDEK Glad bum is headache for someone else!
Brendan
October 18th, 2010
11:53 pm
It’s good to have you back, Stendek.
Bullwinkle
October 19th, 2010
8:05 am
Stendek can read?
And I thought he only knew how to spew word vomit.
glovesave29
October 19th, 2010
8:06 am
“Read your mini novel Brendan. What a damn waste of time and space. ”
THAT…from STENDEC??? Is that not the pot calling the kettle black? There are two posters here that are a waste of time and space…stendec is certainly one of them!
Kovy was here for 8 years and wanted to go somewhere else. It’s his right. Regardless of what he did here or what will happen in NJ – he has the right to do what he did. How many here have had the same employer for 8 years? His $100M contract will certainly strangle the Devils and remove the flexibility that Lou has enjoyed for the better part of two decades. They will be good, probably win their division…but I cannot see Kovy lifting the cup, and I can see other teams learning from this.
DWTOO
October 19th, 2010
8:09 am
Brendan – excellent points as usual. There’s a lot of emotion and venting on this blog. My own opinion is that Kovy gave a lot to the organ-I-zation. He’s like any other person/player – he has his stong points and weak points. With Kovy they both were very apparent. My gripe with him was the speech at the end of 2009 – left me with the impression he wanted to stay and make something of the Thrash. He should have just said thanks and left the ice. I have no problem with him not wanting to be here – I’d probably want out of this place too if I had his talent. He should’ve said nothing, played hard, and waited for the opportunity. Also, think we got the better part of the trade.
World Be Free
October 19th, 2010
8:10 am
Red Light-we will see if Kovy’s overall play leads to wins and success for the Devils. If he was that hungry for success and wins, he should have committed to staying in Atlanta to build a winner not head for the hills after lying to us for over a year. He never intended to stay in Atlanta, so I doubt his commitment to being a winner. Of course, he has his money so who knows what he really thinks.
five_hole-enjoy your minor hockey
Dwayne
October 19th, 2010
8:36 am
Brendan, I should be careful what I wish for. He’s baaaaack!!
Brendan
October 19th, 2010
8:58 am
Yes, you must be careful, Dwayne.
If Kovy wins a cup with the Devils, I won’t be mad. I’d be disappointed that it couldn’t be with us, with an organizational ownership that drafted him WITHOUT INTENT to ever win the Cup. Those $11 million budgets, in the early years, plus an unwillingness to retain functional players, (Audette, Brunette, Staios,) and add payroll through the years … is hard to ignore. For fans, much less lottery draft caliber players.
A regular on this blog once answered Waddell’s question, “Who do you want to lose, moving forward, Kane or Bogosian?” by saying, “Given your track record, sir, you’ll lose BOTH.” I’m sure Waddell wasn’t prepared for that. But sooner or later, he’ll have his epiphany.
Red Light
October 19th, 2010
9:23 am
As predicted, certainly not a huge reach, the last of the undefeated teams went down last night, each by one goal. I must say that the Isles are playing quite well without Streit and Okposo, and Roloson has a .942 save percentage in his first three starts. The Bolts hung on against the Stars and have won four of their first five. I hope all of you will be there Friday night to see Steven Stamkos live. This kid has it all. If the league needs to market someone other than Crosby and Ovechkin, he would be my top choice. He’s got 150 points in his first 166 games.
puckhead
October 19th, 2010
10:03 am
Wonder if Kovy has called a team meeting yet?
Joe Friday
October 19th, 2010
10:09 am
“He never intended to stay in Atlanta, so I doubt his commitment to being a winner.”
I agree with the first part of the sentence, that was clear to all who were paying attention. But I really think he does want to be a winner, above just scoring goals. It’s just that he’s too damn stuck in his offense only mode to change, I bet he thinks he can only be effective at the offensive end “we’ll just outscore them”. If the Devils can ever get him to play two way hockey, watch out.
Rawhide
October 19th, 2010
10:22 am
I vote for Audra in the Rinkside Reporter Talent Contest. She seems more, uh, “natural”. Who did you vote for BlogMaster?
Mikey – Oh no…there’s no way I’m going there my friend.
stendek
October 19th, 2010
11:01 am
I hope all Thrasher fans have a great season. Proud of all of you. Sorry for being so harsh Brendan. You are certainly entitled to your opinion. Some fans thought Chris Miller was a good quarterback. Oh well. So it goes. Been guilty of a few mini novels myself. Means you care. Kudos. I believe any professional who dogs it or gives less than 100% at all times is deplorable. Minimum wage employees are expected to give their all while on time clock. Neither of three former Thrasher players I mentioned did this in Atlanta as they waited to jump ship. I will debate heatedly on that point to any folks who claim otherwise. Harsh comments came on heels of yet another Falcon foldup job. First of many. No excuse. Sorry pal. Cheer the Thrashers on. Plenty of hockey to be played. The game is a foot. STENDEK
World Be Free
October 19th, 2010
11:59 am
Hey Joe, wouldn’t it be something if Kovy took lessons on teamwork from his countryman, Pavel Datsuk? If he learned to play the game at both ends of the rink, hit on a regular basis and develop into a team player? If he did, with his skill Kovalchuk would be a $100 Mil hockey player.
Some of you may disagree, but for my money the skater that I would want to start a team with would be Pavel Datsuk.
Buzilla in CT
October 19th, 2010
12:05 pm
Stendek apology? That could be the post of the year. All we need now is an apology from Sage and maybe one from NASCAR Dave.
Nuff said indeed
World Be Free
October 19th, 2010
12:24 pm
Red Light-Islanders are THE surprise of the year so far. Seems like forever ago that Roloson was a Flames and Sabres backup goaltender. No backup now!
Alan R.
October 19th, 2010
12:37 pm
I don’t normally cross post between the two blogs, but here ya go:
Look at what just flew in from under the radar.
http://sports.nationalpost.com/2010/10/19/patrice-cormier-pleads-guilty-to-assault-gets-discharge/
Smoothie
October 19th, 2010
12:44 pm
Alan – thanks for posting. That is certainly interesting. I look forward to C-Viv’s follow-up report.
stendek – nice to see Kari Letemin revert to form last nite eh? Figures he would choke in a game that could actually help his old team in the standings. Guess he’s still bitter! Tampa will begin their free-fall when they finally have to go on the road…their west coast swing should be interesting to say the least. Their defense, other than Hedman and an early-season Kubina, pretty much sucks.
stendek
October 19th, 2010
1:47 pm
Kari Lehtonen is not NFL caliber netminder. That is my story. I am sticking to it! STENDEK
Red Light
October 19th, 2010
1:48 pm
The most important stretch of games for any team is when the schedule becomes a bit more normal, such as having no extended layoffs and not too many games back-to-back. One such stretch happens for the Thrashers from Nov. 17-Dec. 6. There are no back-to-backs, and only one between-game break of more than a day before the Wings come to town. That kind of stretch allows the players to have more of a set regimen between games and practices, and the longest flight is from Atlanta to Denver.
We should learn all we need to know about the team during this 10-game stretch, with 7 of the 10 games at home and most against “top-flight” teams. The fact that four of those games are at Philips on weekend nights/days should ensure some decent crowds (crossing fingers). Of course it would be nice to see them get at least 14 points or more in the 13 games (7 at home) leading up to Nov. 17. There are four back-to-backs during the next 13 games, so I hope Pav is back and healthy at least before Oct. 29-30, when the first of those happen.
Wed Nov 17, 2010, FLORIDA at ATLANTA
Fri Nov 19, 2010, WASHINGTON at ATLANTA
Sun Nov 21, 2010, NY ISLANDERS at ATLANTA
Wed Nov 24, 2010, DETROIT at ATLANTA
Fri Nov 26, 2010, MONTREAL at ATLANTA
Sun Nov 28, 2010, BOSTON at ATLANTA
Tue Nov 30, 2010, ATLANTA at COLORADO
Thu Dec 2, 2010, ATLANTA at PITTSBURGH
Sat Dec 4, 2010, ATLANTA at WASHINGTON
Mon Dec 6, 2010, NASHVILLE at ATLANTA
23 games from now thru Dec. 6.
Question: Where do you think the team will stand (number of points) at the conclusion of the following…
Through games of Nov. 14 (Caps)
Through games of Dec. 6 (Preds)
stendek
October 19th, 2010
2:00 pm
NHL caliber either! Sorry. Was blogging on NFL hits. STENDEK
Brendan
October 19th, 2010
2:22 pm
The Falcons game was a disappointment, except for the close of the half and the start of the next. All of the rest of it … was better spent doing something else, for Falcons fans.
I agree with Joe Friday that Kovalchuk is not a bad player. He’s a winner and he wants to play on a Championship team. But like JF said, Can he escape his mode? He’s got habits. Ten uncorrected years of figure 8’s is hard to undue, overnight. And really, DOES he have to? What are the Devils’ options, if Kovy won’t play a committed brand of defense? I’d wager he’s got a no trade clause and a no movement clause. So, he cannot be “stashed” in the minors, to avoid cap restrictions. If the Devils attempted to cut him or waive him, I’d also wager that he’s got a list of teams from which he can refuse a waiver claim. If the Devils attempt to trade him, they must get Kovy’s approval, first. The Coach makes several hundred thousand dollars, maybe a million. Kovy makes $100 million. To which asset are the Devils more heavily invested? Truthfully, I think Kovalchuk wants to improve, defensively. The issue is, “will he?”
Hoof Arted
October 19th, 2010
2:56 pm
Since the Thrashers have played above par over the first few games that has meant SOB has not been around a lot.
Add that to the “good” column.
World Be Free
October 19th, 2010
3:38 pm
Just waiting for the news flash when Kari pulls a muscle, should happen in a few weeks just when the Stars start to lean on him.
Darkhorse
October 19th, 2010
3:57 pm
So has anyone reading here learned anything new about the Fox Sports issues? All of my Thrasher broadcasts(Sports South or Center Ice) have been blackedout since game 2 in Tampa. Should Directv customers expect more of the same tomorrow night against Buffalo?
kracker
October 19th, 2010
4:11 pm
I don’t know, Darkhorse, I am on cable.
puckhead
October 19th, 2010
4:12 pm
Ondrej Pavelec to be on NHL Radio in a few XM 204 Sirus 208
R. Stroz
October 19th, 2010
5:14 pm
Dump Center Ice NOW!
http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=65006
Also due to this dispute, Thrashers’ games will be unavailable on the NHL’s Center Ice package, regardless of your cable or satellite service provider.
UNLEASH THE FURY!
thrashpuppy
October 19th, 2010
5:44 pm
If I remember right, after one of his All-Star performances, Kovalchuk said he wanted to be the best all around player in the league, not just the best sniper. Yet he continued to play only offense. So I’m wondering if he really just plans to get by on being a sniper all his career? Or has intentions to change but never gets around to it. Yes, he is a very good sniper. But teams need two way players. Just sniping won’t get it done in this league. Especially when that much money is tied up in just a sniper. JMHO.
Brendan
October 19th, 2010
6:09 pm
It’s true that Kovalchuk need to earn that paycheck, they way similarly paid players around the league do.
R.Stroz, thanks for the link. Is there any chance this dispute could be resolved soon? I enjoy Center Ice, even when the Thrashers are not playing.
Red Light, I looked at the first 17 games of the schedule … and came up with 14-points, before the season began. I still sort of feel that way.
Rawhide
October 19th, 2010
6:35 pm
The Thrashers will play game number six tomorrow, which means we are closing in on a decision regarding Alex Burmistrov. So, when it comes to the rookies future in the NHL this season…should he stay or should he go?
Curly
October 19th, 2010
11:00 pm
And……….. 100th
Diego from Lilburn
October 20th, 2010
1:05 pm
Red Light, can you take all our Hat Trick guesses and just make it the “Guess Who Gets the 2nd Hat Trick Contest”?