With All Star weekend behind us, a quick look ahead for the Thrashers
So now that the All Star game has come and gone, tell me what you think of the new format they used this go around. I’ll be honest with you, when I first heard of it I sort of rolled my eyes…thought it was a bit gimmicky. But watching how they performed the draft then how it all played out on the ice, the whole concept kinda grew on me.
It was neat seeing the Sedin brothers skate on opposing teams as well as teammates split up as well. It certainly made for an interesting time.
By all accounts, the city of Raleigh, North Carolina represented themselves well by hosting the event. That’s really not a surprise at all as the Hurricanes are a fantastic organization and Caniacs are among the best of hockey fans. So, hats off to them.
As I’m sure you know, the Thrashers Dustin Byfuglien notched his first ever All Star Game goal. It was his only shot on goal during his 22:18 TOI and he finished a –3.
Dustin Byfuglie, (right), along with Duncan Keith and goalie Jonas Hiller defend against Ryan Kesler during Sunday's All Star Game. Byfuglien and the Thrashers will return to action Tuesday night against the New York Islanders (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
But with All Star weekend now finished, Big Buff will return to Thrasherville for the final 30 games of the season. They’ll start things off tomorrow night when the New York Islanders come to call. Cal-GARY makes there way to town Thursday and then the Thrashers finish off the week by heading to Raleigh for what is sure to be a huge game with the Hurricanes.
Carolina is but one point behind Atlanta and their 56 points after 50 games played have them currently on course for 92 for the season. For the Thrashers to reach the 92 point mark, they’ll have to net 35 points in their final 30 games played…say a record of something like 15-10-5.
Just ahead of the Thrashers in the Eastern Conference standing is Montreal with 59.
The big issue right now for the Thrashers is health issues of certain key players. Toby Enstrom will continue to be out for a number of games with a broken hand, but also on the shelf of late has been Evander Kane, Jim Slater and goalie Chris Mason.
Still yet to be seen is if the team will be calling up someone from Chicago to take Toby’s spot on the roster. Personally, I’d like to see Arturs Kulda get a few games in up here in Enstrom’s absence. Last year he played in two games and played a very well on our blueline.
Above and beyond that, sometime between now and the trade deadline I look for general manager Rick Dudley to make some sort of deal to bolster this team’s roster as they make a push from the playoffs. Yes I know Dudley recently told C-Viv that no such trades were on the horizon, but I’m taking that quote with a grain of salt. I don’t think he’s going to tip his hand with respect to any impending deal and, quite frankly, something needs to be addressed, specifically on defense and/or on wing.
I would think finding a way to bring in a left wing to replace Fredrik Modin would be a decent way to start. Also, if Duds can find a way procure a top-four defenseman, this would go a long way to getting this team where they need to go. If that’s the case, then we could see a defensive corps looking like Byfuglien-Enstrom, (upon return)…Oduya –[insert name of new D-man here]…Hainsey-Sopel/Bogosian.
Question is, what do the Thrashers give up in return for such a player or players? Sure there are replaceable parts such as Modin…maybe some would say Hainsey. But what do you really expect to get in return for either of them straight up? I would think that along with a Modin or a Hainsey, the Thrashers will need to part ways with a prospect or two to make this happen.
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133 comments Add your comment
World Be Free
February 1st, 2011
11:03 am
Somehow 43 years old doesn’t seem to be that old
J-man
February 1st, 2011
11:03 am
Hainsey’s contract (both cost and his no trade clause) make it essentially impossible to trade him. Why do people even act like it’s a realistic possibility?
Red Light – Recchi could not wait to get out of town fast enough after playing here. He laughed and said “No” when asked on a radio interview after the season if he wanted to return here. Also, I’m not seeing why Boston would want to deal him.
World Be Free
February 1st, 2011
11:21 am
J-Man//I think most people here feel that Ron Hainsey has found his comfort zone on the team. He is playing to his abilities in the right position. No need to consider trading Ron, unless he has a bad game tonight.
R. Stroz
February 1st, 2011
11:26 am
WBF – Would you speak up please?
Rawhide
February 1st, 2011
11:39 am
WBF – 43 years old stopped seeming “old” about 3 years ago for me.
World Be Free
February 1st, 2011
11:45 am
Stroz-BUFFALO S_CKS!
World Be Free
February 1st, 2011
11:47 am
I don’t mean that fellow Buffalonians, just needed to get Stroz prepared for tonight.
World Be Free
February 1st, 2011
11:49 am
Rawhide-a few more years ago for me.
Rawhide
February 1st, 2011
11:59 am
Papa Oscar Mike – Papa Oscar Mike
World Be Free
February 1st, 2011
12:03 pm
Looks like Martin Havlat is off the market now-Minny sez they are not going to trade him.
drajax
February 1st, 2011
12:05 pm
I wouldn’t trade Hainsey. He’s been playing excellent hockey and also leading. I know Slater is reported to have a concussion. These things don’t usually take so long to heal. Does anyone have any idea as to what’s going on with him. I think the team very much misses his presence.
Smoothie
February 1st, 2011
12:24 pm
If Slates is gonna be out of commission for another several weeks, we need to look at making a trade for a guy like Brendan Morrison. He may be just a shell of what he used to be, but like Slater, he’d be good for 5 goals and is pretty good in the F/O circle, isn’t he? Plus, having him dish the puck as the 3rd line C to Antropov would be pretty nice. And you could move Burmy to the LW to take some pressure off the kid. Playing C in this league is hard work!!
World Be Free
February 1st, 2011
12:34 pm
Smoothie-drajax//won’t be surprised to see Dudley go after Dave Bolland from Chicago. He would fit the bill, also let Cormier stay at wing.
Rawhide
February 1st, 2011
12:56 pm
Good news gang…C-Viv reports that Evander Kane will return to the lineup tonight.
A2B
February 1st, 2011
2:03 pm
Drajax- you’ve obviously never suffered a high grade II or grade III concussion. THose can take months to heal and get comfortable playing at full speed again. Not to mention its a scary injury that always has you looking over your should to make sure it doesnt happen again. A lot of players that get really bad concussions never are the same player again.
Hockey Biltong
February 1st, 2011
2:04 pm
Old is never having to admit it.
ATLSportsNation
February 1st, 2011
2:27 pm
If you’re an Atlanta/Georgia Sports fan and want to talk with other fans, check out our NEW message board.
http://www.atlsportsnation.com/forum
We have team forums for the Falcons, Bulldogs, Hawks, Braves, Yellow Jackets, Thrashers, etc. Please register and post! Be apart of a huge site in the early days of existence. See ya there!
World Be Free
February 1st, 2011
2:40 pm
Biltong-old is forgetting your age and a few other things.
You there tonight?
Hoof Arted
February 1st, 2011
2:50 pm
Don’t look now BlogMaster, but it looks like somebody is trying to steal away your customers.
message received: Papa Oscar Mike – Papa Oscar Mike!
message reply: Golf Oscar – Tango Hotel Roger Alpha Sierra Hotel Echo Roger Sierra
Old Time Hockey
February 1st, 2011
2:50 pm
When this team was healthy and playing hard, they could compete and beat anyone. I’d love to see what we can do in the next couple of weeks as we get (hopefully) healthier. I really think the team’s energy level has dropped without Slater. Then you lose Kane’s energy also. Need those two back and healthy. Ajax, concussions are a difficult injury to deal with due to the nature of the injury. There are different severities, but people heal differently also so you can’t make blanket statements about recovery time. They also tend to be cumulative so the more you have, the longer it can take. The brain controls everything, so if thats not working right other systems suffer.
Red Light
February 1st, 2011
2:54 pm
The Thrashers are 18-20-4 all time and are 8-10-3 against the Islanders at Philips Arena. They have won three straight vs the Isles, including both games this season.
In 21 of the last 22 meetings between the Islanders and Thrashers, the winning team has scored a minimum of four goals.
Alan R.
February 1st, 2011
2:55 pm
When this team was healthy and playing hard, they could compete and beat anyone. I’d love to see what we can do in the next couple of weeks as we get (hopefully) healthier
The Red Wings go through this, too. They start off well enough, get injured, recover, and plow through the stretch. I think we’ll be fine.
Red Light
February 1st, 2011
2:56 pm
OTH:
Thank you for your post about concussions. I had forgotten most of it due to a recent hit to the head!
Red Light
February 1st, 2011
2:58 pm
Alan R.
You’re treading in mighty shallow water when comparing the Red Wings and the Thrashers.
@not_CThorburn
February 1st, 2011
3:33 pm
Holy crap! I just looked at the schedule for the whole month of February for the first time and realized we might actually pull this thing off!
We have Isles, Leafs (x 2), Phoenix, Oilers, Sabres, Panthers. Throw in a few Carolinas and 1 Rangers and that’s the whole month.
Sweeeeeet!
p.s. – if there was a Stanley Cup of great hair, I would win every year.
ZAvalanche
February 1st, 2011
3:36 pm
Roger that RL, Thrashy is going to need some serious time to get to ‘Wings level of consistency. But the process is moving in the right direction.
And on the concussion discussion – they are very serious. It is a swelling of the brain. I have had 4 in non-contact hockey and although they weren’t too serious it still rocked me for a long time. Look at Eric Lindros, after he got his bell rung badly he was never the same player – ever. A concussion or a hit to the head while having had a serious concussion can kill a person. I don’t blame any player, and never will, for being scared of a hit to the head. That being said, they know it is always a possibility and they have signed up for it.
And Trixie, delete AtlSportsNation’s post!
glovesave29
February 1st, 2011
4:09 pm
ZA -I’ll back ya there! NO WAY I am back on the ice after a concussion until MANY doctors gave me clearance and that I personally felt clearheaded enough to go back. Lindros got bit by Karma, so I’ll prefer the Savard example…
Funny though, all these years I’ve supported JS against a bunch of nay-sayers. Always pointed out speed never slumps, and that it’s not his fault that he was drafted too high. A good coach found a niche for him, now many more see the value he brings to the team.
ZAvalanche
February 1st, 2011
4:21 pm
@glovesave29 True that on the concussions. And although I agree with you on Lindros and don’t like the man, I would never wish that on a person. But he did give us Forsberg and a lot of other players because he wouldn’t play in Quebec. Point is: something needs to be done to keep the player’s heads healthy.
Zoomo
February 1st, 2011
4:27 pm
@glovesave29 Just want to make sure you saw my response re band recommendations a few blogs back.
World Be Free
February 1st, 2011
4:29 pm
I had a concussion 35 years ago and I’m still a little silly.
Not Blind
February 1st, 2011
5:13 pm
It will be interesting to see which Thrashers team we get tonight. Will we get the team that played well and beat Washington 1-0 or the team that played all the horrible games before that ??
Joe McGrath
February 1st, 2011
5:24 pm
RL is spot on with the idea for the skills comp at beginning of the season. ASG was BORING. Sorry, I just don’t see the point. It means something in baseball, but all other sports should leave it out of their plans–its a gimick and the stick checking is just silly. Also, what if Buff tripped up and fell and dislocated his shoulder. ARGH!
Brendan
February 1st, 2011
5:35 pm
I just heard how ridiculously expensive these Wrestlemania tickets are from a DJ on the radio. Hard to believe that staged theatre and pyrotechniques could cause a demand that high. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the venue for the event is the Georgia Dome, where the Atlanta Spirit, LLC won’t see a nickel of profit.
Speaking of wrestling, whatever happened to “Madusa” Micelli? She was always a lot of fun. Everyone have a great time at the Islander game tonight!
Brendan
February 1st, 2011
5:38 pm
Trixie, I’m in the SPAM filters. I think I used one of those buzz words that gets a post jammed up.
Have fun at the game tonight. Papa Oscar Mike, to the MAX!
ZAvalanche
February 1st, 2011
5:39 pm
Joe, Hockey has the best and most entertaining ASG in American sports. Seriously, the NBA???? We see the players do that crap all of the time in the NBA – hockey players aren’t so full of themselves to pull off the tricks we saw on Saturday in regular season games and it is cool to see what they can do. And besides, if they did try it their coaches would chastise them to no end. It is about skills, and I want to see them.
ZAvalanche
February 1st, 2011
5:41 pm
@Brendan Lol, you got black-listed!
Brendan
February 1st, 2011
5:41 pm
WBF, re: 9:31PM post, the Islanders are looking at this game as a means to stay ahead of the Devils.
Brendan
February 1st, 2011
5:48 pm
D’we all this THISSSSSS: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-01/devils-owner-vanderbeek-said-to-be-seeking-buyer-for-nhl-team.html. Yep. The New Jersey Devils (think Kovalchuk, who wanted stable, committed ownership,) are up for sale! Doesn’t it just get more hilarious by the day. The article doesn’t mention relocation possibilities. I assume there aren’t any. But one of the reasons Jeff Schultz speculated that Kovalchuk would not opt to re-sign in Atlanta was the uncertainty of the ownership.
Look … what he … just jumped into. The source is “CBSSportsline.com”
SomaAtl95
February 1st, 2011
5:48 pm
After reading reports that the Devils are for sale I wonder if the “Make it Seven” crown of blog trolls are talking about relocating the Devils.
Just sayin.
Brendan
February 1st, 2011
5:53 pm
ZAvalanche, my post was “controversial.” So, I guess you’re right!
ZAvalanche
February 1st, 2011
5:57 pm
Trixie has it out for you Brendan
ZAvalanche
February 1st, 2011
6:00 pm
No wonder the Devils are sucking, their owner was a former exec for Lehman Brothers……..and we kind of know what happened to them……….
Brendan
February 1st, 2011
6:16 pm
Devils owner fires back … that he has no intentions of selling the Devils. It’s his business partnership that does, and that they have the right to pursue sales options. I found that story at NHL.com. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=551325.
Still, any time there’s discussions of potential sale in the public’s ear … it’s destabilizing. I credit the Devils primary owner for immediately issuing a statement, rather than the AS,LLC’s deafening silence when asked by the AJC.com if the team were for up for sale. Sounds like the primary owner has a difference of opinion with his partnership, who wants to sell off its share of the Devils. I never once heard the word “relocation” rear its ugly head. So, that’s good for the Devils.
waffleboy
February 1st, 2011
6:55 pm
Big game tonight. Can’t afford a night off at this point. Every game means something. Let’s root for the Bruins to take care of the ‘Canes while we whip up on the Isles. Glad to see Kane back, now we just need Slater and Toby for the playoff push. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Slater was out for the rest of the season, nor would I be mad, concussions are extremely serious and something the NHL and NFL need to address more. Players who are suspected of concussions need to be kept at until their health can be 100% verified.
waffleboy
February 1st, 2011
6:55 pm
BTW, Hainsey has a limited NTC which says he can name 15 teams he does not want to be traded to, so he’s still a tradeable commodity.
LAC
February 1st, 2011
7:00 pm
Sandy Springs, not in the “boonies” in the 70’s. Heck I lived in Dunwoody and getting to The OMNI was a breeze… Hated those 8pm games, but sure was a clear shot out Howell Mill Road to I-75.
Matt from MN
February 1st, 2011
9:25 pm
What a horrific effort, AGAIN, for this woebegone franchise. They deserve to be “tarred and feathered” for this abomination tonight. This is just flat out ridiculous.
R. Stroz
February 1st, 2011
9:32 pm
First, I’d like to commend the Thrasher organization for sending out the STH re-up email today. Good Timing, NOT!
Second, I shall yield the floor to Sage to scoff at the Thrasher disorganization.
Curly
February 1st, 2011
9:44 pm
Did anyone else watch the MSG feed of the game tonight? Did you hear what one of the commentators said toward the end of the third period? I heard him say that the Thrashers were going to be sold and MOVED as early as the end of this season. Why are we being told the Thrashers are not being sold and not moving, when other teams television broadcast announcers are saying the opposite?
Rawhide… can you check into that?
Associated Press Reporting
February 1st, 2011
9:46 pm
Numerous ASG owners were seen high fiving one another after the Thrashers loss. They were overheard gloating as to how quickly their scheme to demoralize the players and fan base had worked.