Anthony Stewart’s surprising season
Saturday morning outside of the Thrashers’ locker room at Philips Arena, I informed Anthony Stewart about the little cyber-wager we on this online forum…the one we had prior to the start of the season in which we tried to guess what Thrasher would notch the first hat trick this season. I told him that such players as Evander Kane, Andrew Ladd and Bryan Little were the most common guesses. But oddly, no one had picked him.
Stewart raised an eyebrow, grinned and quipped jokingly, “That’s surprising. I think I had four goals in my whole career…”
Yeah…indeed. Why did we overlook Stewey?
Jonas Gustavsson stopped this Anthony Stewart shot, but not the third period blast from between the circles. Stewart now has 22 points on the season (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)
Not too many people are overlooking him now, though as the 2003 23rd overall pick by the Florida Panthers has more than doubled his NHL career scoring totals. His third period goal Monday gave him 10 for the season and the assists 1 minute and 15 second later on Toby Enstrom’s second of the night gave him 12 assists on the year as well.
All in all, he now has 22 points and is a +3 while suiting up for all 35 games for Atlanta this season.
That’s pretty impressive for someone who so many were writing off as nothing more than a depth player…probably spending another year in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves. Last year in while there, he netted 13 goals and dished out 18 helpers in 77 games and had 9 goals and 3 assists during 13 playoff games.
In the 105 total NHL games with the Panthers prior to that, Stewart had just 4 goals, 8 assists for them and was a –4.
So, where does Stewart place credit his sudden…if not surprising…success here this season? Well, just like so many others surrounding this Thrashers organization, he points to the coaching staff behind the bench…specifically, the head coach.
“Craig Ramsay”, Stewart quickly responded when I asked him who has been the biggest influence on his game of late. “I used to be a seven or eight minute player. And to be playing in the minors last year to step in and play fifteen to sixteen minutes this year just says a lot… that he believed in me. And when you have a coach that believes in you just makes you want to play a little harder to prove him right and the doubters wrong”.
“[Ramsay] has been great”, Stewart continued. But he was also quick to add, “He hasn’t been shy to put me in my place a couple of times. But he’s definitely been the best coach I’ve had”.
Stewart’s has spent his entire career battling to make himself a fixture in an NHL lineup, he said, “But now I’m getting my chance.”
Stewart opened the scoring with this blast on October 15 in the game in Anaheim. He would add two more as the Thrashers beat the Ducks in a shootout (AP Photo/Lori Shepler)
Yes, he’s getting his big break…and he’s making the best of it, playing a vital role in this new-look Atlanta Thrashers team. It’s a much more balanced attack that he and his teammates bring to the ice each and every game, one that sees a new hero every other game. Last night he scored once while Toby Enstrom and Fredrik Modin each had a pair. Last weekend it was Eric Boulton with a hat trick…yeah, that still makes me dizzy just to type…on Long Island it was Johnny Oduya and Bryan Little. You get the point.
Stewart’s big game came earlier in the year, as mentioned above, when his three goals helped power Atlanta to a shootout win in Anaheim. But a nice as the individual achievement was for the LaSalle, Quebec native, he was just happy it helped net the two points for his team.
“We were down in the game and for us to [get the win] was big”, he told me looking back on it. “It was nice to be able to come back in that game and then win it in the shootout.”
But on a team such as the one we are witnessing this year, hearing a player speak of team success first over individual accomplishments isn’t really all that surprising. And that may be the only thing we’re not surprised about in regards to Anthony Stewart this year.
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152 comments Add your comment
J(Z)
December 21st, 2010
1:55 pm
Looks like we’re getting Conklin instead of Halak tonight. Good news!!!!!
Rawhide
December 21st, 2010
1:56 pm
Bill – if you don’t mind sifting through the blogs to pick out the marketing discussion stuff, then I’d be more than happy to pen a thoughtful letter to the Thrashers and their marketing staff to give them the best and brightest ideas the POM-POM Brigade has to offer!
Smoothie – Yes…I’ll have Trixie get right on that.
Smoothie
December 21st, 2010
2:01 pm
That would be great BT! And if anyone wants to offer up some suggestions here for a letter to the marketing dept, please do and I’ll include them in our Open Letter to the ASG.
moriler
December 21st, 2010
2:07 pm
“Dear Marketing: You bunch of unimaginative smeg-gurglers, how can you possibly think that the weak stunt involving Thrash did anything other than vaguely amuse the three Carolina fans who happened to be flipping through the AJC online? Why don’t you come up with one-shots that are actually humorous, like ‘In the NHL, those who score goals are richly rewarded by their teammates (shot of Boulton getting face washed by Byfuglien after Buff fakes a high-five), and those who score hat tricks… even more so (shot of Boulton celebrating, and then several cuts to getting face washed by Buff, Booger, and the rest of the team). Thrashers Hockey. A brutally good time.”
You think maybe that opening’s a bit too soft, though?
Smoothie
December 21st, 2010
2:11 pm
moriler – LOL Thrashers hockey – will make you wanna face-wash your buddy! Should be the new celebration dance…just mock rake your cupped hand over your face like John Cena when you “can’t see me” style and shout out “I like Big Buff and I cannot lie!”
Okay, that was a bit silly, but it made me laugh just typing it. Guess I’m easily amused.
Alan R.
December 21st, 2010
2:11 pm
Smoothie, Bill – Together, we can POM-POM POM-POM POM-PUMP IT UP with marketing the team in this city! Atlanta deserves a winner, and along with it, this team deserves winning marketing!
puckhead
December 21st, 2010
2:14 pm
MORE COWBELLS – they should sell them outside the arena on the street. We could become the NOISE Factory.
puckhead
December 21st, 2010
2:17 pm
UNLEASH THE COWBELL!
Smoothie
December 21st, 2010
2:19 pm
Word bond Alan!!
We live in a very diverse city, time for the marketing to go in a new direction with a much more diverse range and appeal. Whatever it takes.
BTW, the more seats we fill now before the Trade Deadline, then the more money ASG will have to pay Jarome Iginla’s salary for our stretch run!
Calgary is fadin’ fast y’all!!
Smoothie
December 21st, 2010
2:20 pm
puckhead – we already have the CFA cow…and Stroz! Bring it!
iamtheratio
December 21st, 2010
2:21 pm
Rawhide: Thank you sir, just bought 3 Sa-WEEET Tickets tonight, I’ll be in section 218 with a few lady friends. GO THRASHERS!
Trixie (Rawhide's Secretary)
December 21st, 2010
2:22 pm
Mr. Smoothie – Gee, thanks. Thanks a pant-load.
Yes, I’ll get right on that. Just as soon as I finish picking up Mr. Rawhide’s drycleaning…take care of completing his Christmas shopping…wrapping the presents…ordering the turkey and ham for the Rawhide, Inc. Christmas party…cleaning out the office coffee pot…filing these stats back into the cabinet…ordering more cyber-office supplies…answering his e-mails for him…dealing with Chucky, his online editor who simply demands more and more blog posts from us…putting up all the holiday decorations around the office…
Yes…then I’ll get right on that for you
Alan R.
December 21st, 2010
2:26 pm
I’m just going to leave this right here..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=559ewOnxjS4
Smoothie
December 21st, 2010
2:34 pm
Alan – pass the syrup please! Freakin’ hysterical.
Nate
December 21st, 2010
2:45 pm
I read as a comment to LeBrun’s latest article on espn.com. Said 16,000 + tickets had already been sold for tonight’s game. Can anyone confirm or deny this?
Cahos
December 21st, 2010
2:55 pm
When will Bergfores be back, don’t trade hime just send him up to Chicago for a month or two and called down Fredrick Petterson
glovesave29
December 21st, 2010
3:06 pm
Moriler – saw your article…was a bit disappointed in LeBruns response…it was a bit lazy. I want to hear WHY we are getting the cold shoulder from the league where in the past they have bent over backwards to keep teams in the current market and have found them suitable ownership.
Badger Bob
December 21st, 2010
3:10 pm
Great find, AR!
Smoothie, I am back. Work, of all things, had me a little distracted for a while. And to be honest, a little scepticism about this team (as evidenced by my 76 point prediction, which they will pass before mid-February). A breaking point for me was when they went cheap and didn’t offer Bergie a Little-like contract. Thank God this team is run by RD and not me!!
Between my 76 point prediction, under on Modin, and hattie guess of Antro last night, I think I owe all y’all beers (Smoothie, I know I owe you one and a shot of JD), so track me down. Won’t be in town until the New Year, but we’ll catch up.
Smoothie
December 21st, 2010
3:19 pm
Badger Bob – sounds great! Look forward to it! And don’t beat yourself up, don’t think anyone expected Dudley to be quite THIS clairvoyant!!
Tom Lysiak
December 21st, 2010
3:27 pm
Calling all sheep, calling all sheep…..please report to The Bulb tonight to subsidize the freakin’ COMPETENCE.
That is all……
Thrashers27
December 21st, 2010
3:32 pm
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!
mar1jdh
December 21st, 2010
3:39 pm
1741 seats remaning according to Ticketmaster. Not sure what capacity is with the 400’s closed off.
Smoothie
December 21st, 2010
3:54 pm
Tom, didja see SOB’s lame-a$$ post over on C-Viv’s blog. Wonder who he’s talking to cuz all of the sheep are on their way to the game!
Cornbread
December 21st, 2010
3:59 pm
I think the signs were there that Stewart could be a very good third line power forward in the NHL. That he has stepped it up even further than that is what I find most surprising. I think I had him getting 15 and 15 for the year and most would have probably had that as too optimistic. But, he’s a big fast body with skill. He and his young linemates are only going to get better in both ends as the season progresses.
I think Anthony has another factor that is affecting his performance this year. The motivation that his younger brother Chris was/is getting all the attention in CO. Anthony was always known as the better player. So again, it may not be that surprising that he is putting up the numbers that he is.
He’s getting a second chance under both Dudley and Ramsay in a team game that is made for guys like him. I’m glad to see him taking full advantage of it.
timthebrave
December 21st, 2010
4:00 pm
Just scored some tickets for tonights game. See you down in blueland. Go Thrashers!
Joe Friday
December 21st, 2010
4:11 pm
“I listed all the “rights” I would be here for awhile”
I’m just yanking your chain but you called Ramsay right, spot on there, brotherman.
“it just seems like such a waste of resources to have those two sitting on the bench. I’d really like to know what the issues are.”
Someone gave you some inside info on yesterday’s blog that sheds light on what’s up, go back and see if you can figure it out . . .
“1741 seats remaning according to Ticketmaster. Not sure what capacity is with the 400’s closed off.”
Get out of here. That is very surprising, very pleasantly suprising, great news.
Smoothie
December 21st, 2010
4:17 pm
Still time to get great value on #Thrashers tkts! Get lower level (200s) for as low as $28!! http://tinyurl.com/29tu9m2 Promo code RAWHIDE
Red Light
December 21st, 2010
4:18 pm
As I Twittered (new verb) yesterday, in the last 14 games “holiday season” games in Atlanta, attendance is 16,000-plus. So, it should be no surprise at all Joe Friday!
Red Light
December 21st, 2010
4:40 pm
Should have been: As I Twittered (new verb) yesterday, in the last 14 “holiday season” games in Atlanta, attendance is 16,000-plus. So, it should be no surprise at all Joe Friday!
rob
December 21st, 2010
4:41 pm
Still would like to see Stewart more physical……and still not convinced he is not just a product of the environment and line he is on. I will happily continue to watch him score, but still not buying into the hype with him yet.
After watching the Canes and Leafs games…….I have to wonder if the refs have stopped calling interference?!?!? Those two teams set more picks on us…..at least it seemed like it to me….anyone else see it that way? And someone’s going to have to watch out for Pavs. Clarke MacArthur’s punk A$$ should be looking for teeth after falling on him….even the Leafs announcer was like, WOW that should have been called. Many people jumped in for Burmi early on and that was good but the GOALIE has to be guarded at all costs here! Keep the energy going boys, and make St. Louis sing the blues after they get beat by our own Boys in Blue!
LET’S GO THRASHERS!!!!!!
cousin Eddie
December 21st, 2010
4:41 pm
NHL Power Play already nominating Ramsay as coach of the year!
Nate
December 21st, 2010
4:41 pm
glovesave29 – I said the same exact thing among the comments below Lebrun’s blog. He really dodged the question there, eh? I guess that’s to be expected from someone residing in Toronto where they mindlessly pay for bad hockey.
World Be Free
December 21st, 2010
4:44 pm
rob-right on dude
Stewart’s lack of physical play has been my beef to date. 235# ddue should be much more physical. It was his issue in Miami too. That’s been my complaint about Stewart.
Tom Lysiak
December 21st, 2010
4:53 pm
Smoothie – Nope, I didn’t see it. That might end up being a lonely island he and some of his sheep have created. Reminds me of this summer when I responded to him once and posed the question – just what are you going to do if Dudley and Ramsay turn this thing around and Waddell is still in the house?
Joe Friday
December 21st, 2010
4:57 pm
“Stewart’s lack of physical play has been my beef to date.”
I think Coach has a different plan for physicality. To you and me, to play physical means to throw some nice forechecks, knock a rushing forward off his stride. I think Coach asks them to be physical by skating to certain places on the ice and move your skates circling hard in certain zones of the ice looking for puck intercepts or to be in the right spot to accept a pass and move the puck up ice.
He definitely doesn’t bang but he definitely has that “go” that Ramsay apparently demands
“As I Twittered (new verb) yesterday”
Does Mo know you twittered yesterday?!? Hmmm? I don’t think I’d be admitting your twittering issues on a public forum there, Sparky!
cousin Eddie
December 21st, 2010
5:00 pm
Love the video Alan. They should do one with Bogosian doing the same thing but the waffles not hitting the target. Or Buff at practice skating around with waffles and his team mates are skattering everywhere and trying to avoid his slapshot. Maybe a dodgewaffle game-team split up on the bluelines and trying to hit each other. This would be hilarious especially after the waffle incident with Toronto.
razorneck13
December 21st, 2010
5:07 pm
Ditto what Red Light said about Stewart being ANOTHER product of RAMSAY’S system, but I’ve gotta add Duds to that mix too. Ramsay’s system is seemingly very much in tandem with Duds’s (guessing Rammer’s too) foresight. They see the intangibles in players that I don’t think many others can…maybe not even some of the players themselves. Mondo bizarro things goin’ on.
Cornbread
December 21st, 2010
5:08 pm
Stewart’s physical play is battling along the boards and in the corners and getting his nose dirty in front of the net. He hits when he has an opportunity but I would not call him real physical in that department. I think he can and will become more physical in his own end especially when he is on the half wall. I’m betting that this is an aspect of his game that the coaches and vets are working on with him.
razorneck13
December 21st, 2010
5:17 pm
Puckhead – “I gotta fevah, an the only prescription…is mwoah cowbell”
Tom
December 21st, 2010
5:20 pm
2006-2007 Capitals 41 571,129 13,929
2003-2004 Penguins 41 486,961 11,877
2006-2007 Blackhawks 41 521,809 12,727
It is always darkest before the storm.
So to all those naysayers in Canada and the national media, you know where you can stick it!
Thrashers27
December 21st, 2010
6:49 pm
Ther’s a good crowd in the atium at CNN Center. Should make for a good night!
LET’S GO THRASHERS!!!!!
Cornbread
December 21st, 2010
7:01 pm
Any updated links?
waffleboy
December 21st, 2010
7:32 pm
Anybody got a link to a feed for the game?
urm...
December 21st, 2010
7:32 pm
Can’t find the game online anywhere.
JT from Columbus
December 21st, 2010
7:33 pm
Can’t believe that a major sports league does not televise all their games. This is 2010.
Joe Friday
December 21st, 2010
7:35 pm
VS showed some highlights, looked like a turnover led to the goal against and then Kane had a great rush down the wall, threw it to the middle, Little knocked a rebound in the open net. Watch On The Fly at 8pm and they’ll be showing highights as they happen, mabye some live game action as well
Roland
December 21st, 2010
7:36 pm
hockeystreams.com has the game
urm...
December 21st, 2010
8:16 pm
how is crowd?
Lee
December 21st, 2010
8:25 pm
Anyone got a link???
Joe Friday
December 21st, 2010
8:44 pm
crowd looks good, they’re showing live lookins on NHL Network