Thrashers playoff hopes may have been buried under snowman built by Sabres
Things could not be going any worse for the Thrashers this weekend.
First there was Friday night as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Islander in overtime and the Rangers spanked Montreal. Each moved two points further ahead in their efforts to try and procure a playoff spot. Then Saturday night…in a game called next in a series of “biggest games of the season” for Atlanta… we witnessed the Buffalo Sabres building a snowman on the Thrashers, winning 8-2.
Something tells me it may very well just be the last billed as such.
While we were having a brutally bad time watching events unfold in western New York, the Toronto Maple Leafs were busy whacking the Boston Bruins 5-1. And just for good measure, the Florida Panthers were in the process of picking up an overtime loser point by at least dragging the Islanders to a shootout.
What that all means is that instead of possible pulling to within two points of the eighth-place Sabres, the Thrashers remain at 72 points and are six points behind Buffalo with only ten games left on the schedule. The Canes are four ahead of the Thrashers while the Leafs moved two ahead, leaving Atlanta in sole possession of eleventh place in the Eastern Conference.
Tim Connolly's goal late in the third period completed the snowman built by the Buffalo Sabres Saturday night. Under it may quite possibly have been buried the Thrashers playoff chances (AP Photo/David Duprey)
But in the words of the late, great Billy Mays…but wait, there’s more.
The New Jersey Devils will play in Columbus tomorrow and with a win will once again pull even with Atlanta. But given their advantage in the wins column it would actually drop us down to 12th place, just four ahead of the Panthers who are in the 13th position…and they’ll play two games before the Thrashers hit the ice again Thursday night on Long Island.
Go ahead and do the simple math there, folks.
As for the beat-down in Buffalo…well, it didn’t take the Sabres too terribly long getting to work on their snowman. Just 24 seconds after the puck dropped, Jason Pominville knocked it past Ondrej Pavelec for an early lead. Then, after Chris Thorburn’s sharp-angle shot got through Ryan Miller, the Sabres tacked on two more to take a 3-1 advantage into the first intermission.
To their credit, the Thrashers came out of the break playing very inspired hockey, leading to an Alex Burmistrov goal to get the score to within one. They continued to press the Buffalo defense for the first half of that middle frame…but that’s when the bottom fell out.
Nathan Gerbe’s jam-in from the right doorstep…the goal Thrashers TV analyst Darrin Eliot referred to as the “whack-a-mole” goal…lead very quickly to Tyler Ennis’ breakaway goal, despite Zach Bogosian’s stick being tossed at him.
It was Bogosian’s fumble at the offensive blueline that sprung Ennis to begin with.
In the third, Brad Boyes was added to the Thrashers woes. His power play goal made it 6-2 as Bogosian played the part of spectator.
After that, all that was left was simply to manufacture a couple of late-game tallies to complete the snowman. Rob Niedermayer second of the night at 16:52 and Tim Connolly’s on the power play 28 seconds later provided the corncob pipe and button nose.
If I’m not mistake, it was the seventh time this season an opponent has score twice in fewer than 39 seconds.
This loss looked a lot like so many we’ve seen since New Years…a close game halfway though the second turns into a blowout after an unfortunate goal or set of events. It happened during the 9-3 loss to Toronto on January 7, the 5-2 loss to Philly on January 14 and the 6-1 loss in Dallas two days after that.
Defensive zone breakdowns…one goal given up leads to another shortly thereafter…untimely giveaways…defensemen standing around…gift-wrapped turnovers at the blueline…
…sigh…
But unlike those collapses, this one could not have happened at a worse time with so much on the line. For under all that snow that Buffalo built a snowman with was quite possibly buried the last realistic chance the Thrashers might have had towards making a serious run at the playoffs this season.
Fortunately they’ll be plenty of warm weather in Thrasherville between now and the beginning of next season to melt all that snow away. Then we can begin anew our “playoff this season” hopes.
Again.
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141 comments Add your comment
World Be Free
March 20th, 2011
10:37 am
Chis Buffalo, another thin-skinned Buffalonian. Take the light fab and get over it, I have taken more garbage being from Buffalo than you will ever know.
And thanks Thrashers for all the abuse I am taking today (and last night) from my family and friends in Buffalo. No three starts last night in white. Happy to see more people acknowledge Stewart as a stiff, he will be bye-bye in the off-season.
Dennis Green said it – “The Thrashers are who we thought they were” -a non-playoff team that hopefully will be better next year. The next accomplishment is where will we stand in the draft, hopefully we will fall back further and get a higher draft pick. Don’t let it ruin your Sunday.
World Be Free
March 20th, 2011
10:45 am
This team is 2 good forwards away from being legit-a centerman that can take and draws and a 2nd line right winger to replace Anthony Stewart. Coaching-all talked about enough, it is not first rate.
illputitoncspan
March 20th, 2011
11:10 am
I just hope these guys give a little more effort for the loyal season ticket holders in KC or Winnipeg next season.
LAC
March 20th, 2011
11:27 am
Red Light, Have to agree, Phoenix has not superstar players, bet I could name only 8-10 plqayers. But the do something Atlanta has NEVER done, they play DEFENSE. We have never done that.
They play a tight system and do the little things to WIN. We DO NOT !
Look at Atlanta, at THE BOTTOM in GA again this season, most likely. Scoring is sporatic and the team cannot play a solid defensive game. Despite all the distractions, Phoenix WINS. Something we cannot do.
Say what you want, this team is exactly like john anderson’s team, not one bit difference.
Ok, we have played this defensemen join the play thing the past THREE years, where has it led us ? Nowhere. So, We need a coach who PREACHES Defense FIRST ! I don’t care if we win boring 2-1 or 3-2 games everynight, the object of the game is WIN. These past three years have proven the join the offense rush does not work. Sure some nights it does, but it costs us more than helps win.
Players, zach B, Has Got to GO, he is simply Terrible and has shown in the past two seasons he is a complete BUST. Bryan Little, nice kid, but NOT NHL worthy,Stewart, like someone said, invisable, and our most recent #1 pick has 4, yes 4 goals this season, First-round picks need to produce a few more goals, don’t you think ? Then the defense, needs to have a TOTAL revamp
and I mean TOTAL. Goaltending, buy out or trade Mason, simply not too good. Pavs, a backup at best. Get a solid number 1 goalie. Get some defensive defensemen, get some people who can SCORE. Get a new owner, a new President and most of all a REAL GM who knows how to build a winner and a coach who will set the players pants on FIRE. It is time to do it all, because what we have is a collection of players that do not work, plain and simple and last night was an example of a filure by both the players and coach to get the job done and secure another lost season in Atlanta.
EA
March 20th, 2011
11:53 am
Gee, the Buffalo fan is sure defensive about the weather. You may want to live in Buffalo, but many of your fellow Buffalo citizens have left to live here. Come to a Thrasher game vs. Buffalo in Atlanta and you will see it with your own eyes. It is so strange to me that fans of other teams feel the need to come on this blog and rip apart the fans about the team. We aren’t the ones making the decisions in the front office or playing on the ice.
EA
March 20th, 2011
11:56 am
Rawhide, I forgot to mention that I always admire how polite you are with your responses to accusations from people like the Buffalo fan. It speaks so well of you.
Stop Yelling Knights
March 20th, 2011
12:30 pm
I don’t want to make the playoffs. You know we’d just get swept again and who wants to see that. Losing with dignity would be nice but what you gonna do. I used to enjoy watching the hawks a few years ago when we had childress. We lost a lot of games but we were trying hard. Now hawks have talent to get into playoffs but then lose without dignity. Who wants that? Saw interview with Torchetti the other night and he looks like a proper coach. I’d be scared if he was yelling in my face, spit flying into my eyes. That’s what i want from a head coach. Let Rammer be the assistant that will whisper reassurances to Zach when Torch makes him cry a little after a screw up.
joedaiceman
March 20th, 2011
12:38 pm
This team has inept ownership, a god awful general manager, a no account president, a doable coach, absolutely no leadership (who the hell thought Ladd should be C), just a couple players that care, talent that for the most part would be 3rd or 4th line on most teams. Year after year when a game counts the team goes south. This STH is voting with his money, no renewal this year. I’d rather travel up to Nashville to a game where a professional organization, great coach, and hard working players make it worth the $$$.
kracker
March 20th, 2011
1:07 pm
….mentally preparing for the next long summer….one that we hope will be filled w/ good entry draft selections, sucessful trades, quality FA signings and new hockey-first owners….
Sage of Bluesland
March 20th, 2011
1:08 pm
“This team has inept ownership, a god awful general manager, a no account president, a doable coach, absolutely no leadership (who the hell thought Ladd should be C), just a couple players that care, talent that for the most part would be 3rd or 4th line on most teams. Year after year when a game counts the team goes south. This STH is voting with his money, no renewal this year. I’d rather travel up to Nashville to a game where a professional organization, great coach, and hard working players make it worth the $$$.”
^^^^ This ^^^^
Finally, someone who gets the entire picture, spweadsheets, incremental progress, and countless Waddell-blusterings aside…
Those who pay for this have no excuse anymore….well, haven’t had for some time….
World Be Free
March 20th, 2011
1:42 pm
Sage, we have all gotten this for some time. I think Chris-Buffalo needs to read your posts for the Cliff Notes versions of what we have had to deal with for 11 seasons. No need denying the truth, that’s for sure.
EA-most people leave Buffalo because there are no jobs and high taxes in Western New York. Weather isn’t as big as a factor, until you get to Atlanta and see how beautiful it is here! Or. FLA, or Calfifornia, or Arizona for that matter.
Cliff Fletcher
March 20th, 2011
2:00 pm
you had to be impressed on how buffalo transitioned out of their zone last night. their passing through the neutral zone was superior to Atlanta’s, one of the factors in last night’s rout.
pittsburgh is doing the same to the rangers this afternoon.
kracker // nothing happens here until there is an ownership change. can’t move forward until we get people on top that want to win.
ZAvalanche
March 20th, 2011
2:08 pm
LAC, I have no problem with D joining the play, but the forward who is behind the play needs to recognize that he needs to stay back and cover the missing slot. On average (discounting the few huge butt whoopings) I see games and think “oh, they aren’t playing that bad and are keeping it close”. I have this same view of CO – a bit less so though. And then I watch some of these national games and, clearly, there are some teams that are really just way better and when they get up for a big game it is so fun to see the determination. I’m not saying Thrashy isn’t trying but there is an obvious difference in team passion.
kracker
March 20th, 2011
2:15 pm
Cliff – Yep. From what people say, that may take well into next season at the earliest or maybe until a year from now.
An internet journo (sorry, I don’t remember who or have a link) said that for a sale to happen there has to be some sort of important statement of intent filed with the league by the end of a calendar year for a sale to happen in the following year. If this is true – the journo said no such filing happened last year – we would be looking at an ownership change no sooner 2012. However, we could get news this summer of great progress, the name of the serious person intending to be the new owner, etc.
kracker
March 20th, 2011
2:16 pm
RE the “statement of intent” – It would be filed by the current owners.
Cliff Fletcher
March 20th, 2011
2:36 pm
let’s hope the “intent” is filed soon! this is not working
EA
March 20th, 2011
3:05 pm
WBF, I know that. I was just giving the Buffalo fan a little grief. I have great friends from Buffalo who came here for the job, not the weather.
Saga Of BlueCheese
March 20th, 2011
3:18 pm
Gosh, is there an echo????
Tom Lysiak
March 20th, 2011
3:27 pm
Turning point in the game to me is letting a 5′5″ midget whale away at a puck that your goalie has smothered. On the same play you let Mancari come into the crease and push your goalies pad out of the way??? Hainsey laid down on top of Gerbe and smothered him instead of depositing him in the 3rd row. Teams with character don’t let the other team take those liberties on their goalie. This team is soft and passive, a reflection of the coach. The confusing thing is this is not the type of team Dudley said he wanted to build. It’s no wonder that both players and fans seem confused.
Brendan
March 20th, 2011
3:33 pm
Russ certainly has a point. Back in 2006, Dunham lays an egg versus the Caps and the Thrashers get eliminated, while Marc Savard walks for nothing, in free agency, to the Bruins. In 2007, when the Thrashers lost a pair of close playoff games at Philips Arena, Game Three turned into “the most important moment” in franchise history. The result? A 7-0 pasting of the Thrashers, by the Rangers, giving Kari Lehtonen a sun tan on the back of his neck. In 2010, with the season on the line, the Thrashers suffer an embarrassing shutout loss, at the Bulb, versus the Devils, with Kovalchuk putting a bow on the package the Devils wrapped up, in terms of the Thrashers season.
Okay, that’s all history. So, what should have been done differently, to prevent a repeat performance? Isn’t THAAAAAT the question we should be asking right now? Rather than pointing out the obvious, that the Thrashers underachieve and have poor ownership.
At least Rawhide pointed out one possible move not taken: Firing Coach Ramsay. I’ll accept, for the moment, that a budget set BELOW THE FLOOR of the cap should translate into a lottery draft finish. But as Red Light points out, above, this team … generally speaking, competes and keeps itself in the hunt in the first half of the season, then they fold like Superman on laundry day, when the critical portion of the season kicks in.
I think we all know, by now, that games are easier to win in October and November than they are in March and April. Or February, for that matter. When the games that TRULY count happen, this team isn’t ready to compete. Or can’t compete. So, what should be done about it? That’s the question. Would firing the coach solve that latter season problems that plague this team, historically? I think, at a minimum, we should discuss that. We might ultimately conclude … that firing Coaches every February doesn’t fix ownership.
So, what’s different in Phoenix? I suppose, there’s accountability there. There’s belief that, eventually, good ownership will take over that franchise, and let the Coyotes continue what they’ve been building. However, if Ilya Bryzgalov walks in Free Agency, that’s the domino that sends that franchise tumbling down again. It does come down to ownership, EVERYWHERE.
Would shuffling lines have the “fixed the problem” in Atlanta this year? Some people might think so. But really, would it?? A healthy Nik Antropov contributing regularly, and being physical, would have helped. Rich being “Peverywhere” would have helped. Maybe, Pavelec not fainting on Opening Night and playing more would have helped???
Or, do we need to look even further back, at Pavel Kubina, and ask ourselves how and why we couldn’t convince him to sign for 3-years in Atlanta for the same, or more money, than Tampa Bay offered. There’s an argument to be made that Kubina is the best Thrasher defensemen to ever play for the franchise. Can are argument be made for retaining Max Afinogenov?? We had cap room. And the ability to buy out a 5-year contract, if necessary. Jus’ sayin’. Though, that’s a terrible waste of money, for the future. What about losing Colby Armstrong? Was that a blow or a blessing? What about losing Moose Hedberg? I certainly thought we’d gone to the well once too often, on that count. Johan Hedberg was 37, when he walked to the Devils, for nothing.
What about the FRENZY, last July? Should we have been more aggressive, than Chris Mason? And Anthony Stewart, signed July 13th. And Frederik Modin? And Nigel Dawes? Let’s be honest, aren’t those the moves made by a cash strapped organization? And that falls on ownership.
Okay, let’s go back to December, (Okay, I just paid Taylor Swift a royalty on that one,) what should this organization have done differently? Let’s list the players that we KNOW got moved this season by other teams, and what the cost was to obtain them. Then, we ask ourselves, “Could Atlanta have made the same move(s)?” If the answer is yes, then we have BAD MANAGEMENT. That is to say, we had the ASSETS that it would have taken to obtain “Player X,” we simply dropped the ball. Would you have wanted Langenbrunner, for example? What about Craig Anderson? Avs dealt him! Lots of players got moved. Pick anyone you want. Let’s get the discussion going … about what steps this franchise DIDN’T TAKE. And why.
On your mark … get set … GO!!
Tom Lysiak
March 20th, 2011
3:40 pm
Wonder if Mario is going to condemn Matt Cooke’s latest elbow to the head? Nah, I didn’t think so either.
Alan R.
March 20th, 2011
3:40 pm
Instead of blustering, writing novels (Daniel Defoe would be proud), or dealing with moronic trolls… today, I did something constructive.
That’s right. I cleaned out my email account. Over ten thousand messages deleted. I am proud of myself.
Now, if only I could find the same energy to clean the house.
Maybe tomorrow.
Meanwhile, our next game is Thursday. I sure as hell hope that doesn’t mean we’re going to have to put up with this same nonsense until then.
Brendan
March 20th, 2011
4:03 pm
WBF, my Aunt lives on Grand Island, NY. And every time I’ve ever been to Buffalo/WNY/Letchworth/Niagara Falls, I’ve thought the area was very, very pretty. First time I saw Niagara Falls, they were draped by snow. It was, maybe, the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. With people leaving Buffalo in droves, I can’t imagine there’s much of a traffic problem, anymore. The roads are probably in rough shape, due to salt and wear. But, I’d wager, without knowing a darned thing, that you could drive from one end of Buffalo’s suburbs to the other … in any direction … in 20-25 minutes, even in bad traffic. Try to imagine driving from Douglasville to Conyers along I-20, in rush hour. Gotta be well over an hour, on a good day. Now, try to imagine driving from Newnan to Duluth, along I-85 North. Gotta be an hour and a half! Try to imagine driving from McDonough to Marietta, on I-75, through the connector? Or Fayetteville to Alpharetta. C’mon. You couldn’t get halfway there in 20-25 minutes, in non-rush hour.
The result? And, again, this is mere speculation on my part, Buffalonians are probably much closer to each other. It’s just a short trip to someone else’s house, irrespective of the mileage. Who’s on the road? I don’t know if Buffalo has any toll roads, but if they do, it’s gotta be even faster! I know there’s a roll road on some Interstate to get to Niagara Falls, unless you take Niagara Falls Boulevard to avoid it. Grand Island is actually very close to the Falls. Anywho, I don’t see why Buffalonians should be so defensive about their weather. They get the changing of the leaves, a wonderful Indian Summer, and a spring that’s pretty decent, once it finally, finally arrives. Actually, the worst weather I ever experienced visiting my Aunt was in July! It was a sweltering humidity, that made outside just awful. But, that’s pretty much it.
Hoof Arted
March 20th, 2011
6:14 pm
EA, I agree. BlogMaster is far too kind to some of these miserable turd balls like Chris Buffalblow. People like that are just mindless morons who lack the maturity to simply enjoy their team’s win amongst themselves. It shows a certain amount of immaturity and insecurity to make your way to another team’s blog simply to toss around insults and rub noses in the results. Sad and pathetic really.
But it does seems as though Buffalo has more than their fair share of moronic cretins like that. He’s probably chuckling in his mommy’s basement right and feeling quite impressed with himself.
And to say that their AHL affiliate has in Portland has more NHL talent than the Thrashers, or any NHL team for that matter? Well, I guess we can all see who the “uninformed”, “ignorant” person is here.
What a tool.
sisu
March 20th, 2011
7:46 pm
to give up on Bogo at this time would be crazy in my opinion. He is 20, in any other team, especially looking at the cream of the crop Red Wings he would probably not see NHL ice for another year or two…but here he is rushed in too soon. There is no easy solutions to this franchise but new owners would be a great start!
World Be Free
March 20th, 2011
8:05 pm
EA-yeah I never though I would be on the giving end of a Buffalo dude giving us a hard time. Well they got it back today, blowing a 2 goal lead with just over 2 minutes to go then losing in OT. So for as muchg grief as we have given the Thrashers, the Sabres are goats less than 24 hours later! Just shows you how mediocre all the teams in the 8-11 spots are.
Tom Lysiak-Mario is the biggest hypocrite in the game, his team is filled with cheap shots. He whined alot as a player so I am not surprised by his actions. You have to remember the Pens tanked the 1983 season to get Mario’s rights, so PIT has a nice history of this stuff.
Also, Gerbe should have been knocked on his ass last night when he was whacking away. 5′5″ or 6′5″, the player needs to be put down hard!
Brendan, all Buffalonians have ever heard is how bad their weather is, which explains their short fuses on the subject. I have been in enough cities in know others are comparible on the bad weather. My father-in-law is visiting from Rochester, they have had an awful winter constant snow since October, 140 inches total-plenty of pot holes too. You can have it.
sisu-gotta agree on Bogo, though I am starting to lose my patience with him. No matter how old he is, this is season 3, he should be avoiding the meltdowns he had last night. I think Bogo or Oduya will be traded during the draft, one or the other. All depends on if Dudley believes both Postma and Kulda are ready for the big club.
Coach Rammer
March 20th, 2011
8:06 pm
We still have 10 games left, and I think we can make the playoffs…
Think again. were a mockery to all NHL playoff-caliber teams.
Fan with sanity and reason:
We need to finish AT LEAST with a 7-3 record the rest of the way.
Dream on bluelanders. Dream on. NOT GOING TO happen with 2 AHL level goalies, 18+ players with no NHL skillset, and a coach that is just a head-shaven version of that Ba$tard john anderson.
World Be Free
March 20th, 2011
8:07 pm
Brendan-Letchworth State Park is a great place, Grand Island is pretty cool too. Nice having Niagara Falls in your backyard. I remember going there as a kid when they “turned off the Falls”, diverting the American Falls to the Horeshoe (Canadian) Falls to study erosion. Scientists believe Niani Falls will erode back to Buffalo in 10,000 years.
Coach Rammer
March 20th, 2011
8:12 pm
Let’s just draft more players and put them in the trenches immediately.
Swede
March 20th, 2011
8:15 pm
Get bogo to a good summer training not focusing getting jacked and slow would be a start.
glovesave29
March 20th, 2011
8:19 pm
Blake Geoffrion scores a hat trick today vs. Buffalo. As a Florida native, is he the first born (and trained) southerner to turn a trick in the NHL? C’mon Brendan…I am counting on you!
LAC
March 20th, 2011
8:26 pm
Z you are absolutely correct. Most times we have too many rushing and are very exposed on the back end. Best the goalie make a save to stop play, because a rim out and it’s 3on 1 or2 or 2 on 1.
That kills us, if the play is there for the Dman to rush, fine, but to have that as a play that is available to all dmen etc… Simply has not worked out all that well for Atlanta.
My Aunt and late Grandmother live in Auburn, about 120 miles west of Buffalo in the Finger Lakes Region, been going there all my life and it is GREAT in the summer, great area and have worked with a number of railroad guys in Buffalo and they are first-class, plus Buffalo has GREAT Italian food !!!! Nice area to visit, albeit not in January for sure !
Buzzeng
March 20th, 2011
8:53 pm
Russ is right! There was no surprise for me last night…other than (maybe) the run up of goals by Buffalo. Terrible night, but not unexpected. Other teams on the bubble are able to step up and take care of business. Not Atlanta. Wins are fun. Losses are unexpected. Maybe next year will be better for the whole – not just the first few months.
Brendan
March 20th, 2011
9:27 pm
WBF, the 2nd Nashville goal was just like Buffalo’s “whack-a-mole” goal versus Atlanta. I watch that Sabres-Preds game, and I was stunned to see that kind of collapse, at home, by Buffalo, in a game where, clearly, NJ was going to win their game. That was a complete joke job. I think Scott Norwood should hold a press conference to announce, “Did ya see today’s Sabres game. My kick was 47-yards, off grass, and missed by six feet. The Sabres couldn’t close a 1:37 of regulation time. Pathetic.
Glovesave29, we have to establish some rules here. Born in the South, raised up north, counts as a “southerner” or a “northerner?” Born in the north, relocated to the South for high school and/or college, counts as what? North or South? And what about those who hail from southern California? Is that “south” or “West Coast?”
KLS1
March 20th, 2011
9:29 pm
So I think everyone agrees we have some issues with our defense, which is nothing new. Bogosian has been horrible all year…in fact I honestly think we are a playoff team without him, insert anyone.
So what is the deal with Kulda and Postma…I mean if they cannot even get a sniff with this team their futures must not be too bright?
Brendan
March 20th, 2011
9:30 pm
WBF, Letchworth State Park is where I discovered Perry’s Ice Cream, the greatest ice cream in the universe. I enjoyed those railroad tracks and hiking trails at Letchworth. I haven’t been there in 20 years!
ZAvalanche
March 20th, 2011
9:32 pm
@ Coach, Pavs is definitely an NHL quality goalie, he just doesn’t have the support he, and every other goalie in the league, needs. There are very few goalies in history that can stand on their own game in and game out with mediocre defenses.
Brendan
March 20th, 2011
9:47 pm
Guys, c’mon. Russ is a very smart poster, but this isn’t the Discovery of the Lost City of Atlantis. Or the Dead Sea scrolls. Or the cure for cancer that space aliens, who visited our world before Dinosaurs ruled the planet, left behind scribbled on underworld caverns … until the medical community hushed-it-up. For obvious reasons. (That’s joke. Move it along.)
We know our own team’s history, very well. This is our tenth year, out of eleven, outside of the playoffs. The year began with a budget below the floor, and will end that way, amazingly, without punishment by the NHL of a loss of a draft pick.
Honestly, now. Just WHAT we you expecting?? A 12-0-0 finish? I could’ve run a contest last month, “Guess the date the Thrashers get mathematically eliminated.” And there would have been 80 guesses to log, all throughout the month of March. With, perhaps, a smattering in April. Obviously, we’re going to lose games down the stretch. Obviously, we’re going to be eliminated.
As fans, we just try to enjoy each and every game. Sometimes we win. Other times, not. But to expect “must win” games to end in victory, for your Atlanta Thrashers, down the stretch … means someone needs to lovingly put their arm around your shoulder … and explain things, with clarity. We all love the idea of Santa Claus. But how can he get from Pittsburgh to Milwaukeee, in a hour, and keep all the gift tags right, without missing a house or two? Riiiiight.
The Buffalo game won’t be the last one, this year, that the Thrashers lose badly. I repeat, as fans, we just try to enjoy, as best we can, each and every game on the schedule. That’s all we can do.
ZAvalanche
March 20th, 2011
10:20 pm
On a side note, I think Upstate NY is beautiful and as always, in the eye of the beholder. I have no problem with 99% of Buffalonians
I just don’t like them beating us.
EA
March 20th, 2011
10:27 pm
The Matt Cooke hit has really set the hockey world on fire. Even Coach Dan did not defend him.
Doug Martin
March 20th, 2011
11:09 pm
Bogo and Tyler Myers were drafted the same year.Last night you can see how far apart they are.Bogo was rushed into the lineup right away; Myers went back to juniors, played for Team Canada, Which guy would you rather have right now?? This team can’t develop players.
jim
March 20th, 2011
11:46 pm
Looks like the Coyotes are staying put in Phoenix as Matt Hulsizer is guaranteeing the bonds as part of the purchase agreement for the team.
Please Atlanta hockey fans,don’t give up on the Thrashers…they still have a shot at the playoffs and need good crowds at home to spur them on.As Brendan said in his comments above, take it game by game and enjoy the experience.With a new owner hopefully the team can build on its foundation and whatever happens this year the Thrashers can be stronger in 2011-2012.
LAC
March 21st, 2011
6:56 am
Brenden, I remember the trade down in 2005, we PASSED on Sectagoochie, I know I BOTCHED that one, and Marc Staal, and I will Always remember waddell saying “We got THE player we wanted” Where is Bourret now ??? I never understood “trading” down ? Makes NO sense and to pass on guys who would/could have helped us, we choose a NOTHING player and get nothing.
We need a whole NEW scouting staff, because what we employ now… Isn’t too good.
Just look at Burmistrov, 4 goals for a first rounder, that is really pitiful to say the least, nothing against the kid, he hustles, but needs to have spent another year in juniors I feel, maybe he will be better next season… Let’s hope so !
Any chance we could land Brad Richards and The Phoenix goalie ? Plus another NHL quality Dman ??? In the UFA market. Gee I hope so !
World Be Free
March 21st, 2011
7:28 am
LAC, yeah Auburn, NY is pretty nice. Like I said before, Buffalo is a great place to be from. I do miss real Italian and Polish food. Totally agree on the new scouting staff, too many blanks fired by this group. Dudley needs time to develop his support staff. The problem is time, is not on our side.
An influx of new players and scouts requires cash, that’s the key to any improvement. This team has been in the hunt for a playoff spot despite the 2nd LOWEST payroll in the league. Commitment requires dollars to get the right people, both on an off the ice.
Doug Martin-there is a recurring them in your post, the need to allow players to develop. Sabres were hesitant to bring up Tyler Myers last year, the year he won rookie of the year. They still believed he needed another year in the minors. They left Zach Kassian in the minors this season allowing him to develop and mature 1 more season. If you are going to rush the kids to the big leagues you might as well trade the pick for value now. Burmie-the kid works hard and hustles, but I remember seeing him in the preseason games, believing there was no way he should be here this year. His season has been wasted, though his hustle has made Burmie my favorite Thrasher. Anthony Stewart should be made to sit in a room and watch nothing but Burmie tapes.
jimbo
March 21st, 2011
8:01 am
HEY SAGE OF BLUELAND- “It’s the ingredients and not the chef”. Great line but definitely doesn’t fit for hockey. Somebody has to put the ingredients together correctly and make adjustments when it’s not right. Anybody who really knows hockey (I played 3 greats in college many moons ago) knows how important a coach is in making adjustments even within games. Hartley did it but Ramsey plays the same style game in and game out and teams know exactly how to attack and defend us.
DWTOO
March 21st, 2011
8:34 am
Know what the problem is – need to go back on vacation. Was on tour for two weeks and the team goes 3-1-1. Come back and it’s more of the same.
The league needs to have different options for players of Bogie’s and Burmi’s talents. Although not ready for prime time neither needed to go abck to juniors – they wouldn’t have gained anything by being the big fish in the little pond. They should be eligible for the ECHL or AHL.
World Be Free
March 21st, 2011
8:34 am
Great game between Chicago and Phoenix last night. Chris Campoli’s arrival in Chicago has made Brian Campbell totally expendable. Anyone else notice that? Soupie is a goner in Chicago.
glovesave29
March 21st, 2011
9:02 am
Brenden – Blake played here in Atlanta and in Tennessee. Played HS in Indiana. Gotta consider that born and raised in the south.
kracker
March 21st, 2011
9:30 am
DWTOO – The CHL wants to keep it’s talent as long as possible so they have an agreement w/ the AHL. I think it is that CHL players have to either be 20 yrs old to begin a season or have played in jrs for 4 years before they can play in the AHL. Or they can make the big club, of course. I don’t know if there is a similar arrangement between the CHL and the ECHL.
But for sure, Bogey, Burni, even Kane would have benefitted greatly from a year in the AHL.
ThrashDawg
March 21st, 2011
9:40 am
We just need more talent via spending some money which is not going to happen with the ASG. Our young talent is doing what young talent does which is they are inconsistent. Bogosian has made big strides in the last dozen games or so but has those lapses, Burmi and Cormier are trying to feel their way around the NHL and trying to stay healthy but they are getting much needed experience. Kane and Pavs as well have been inconsistent, all to be expected. But, what we are missing is the experienced players like Buff, Ladd, Enstrom, Antro, Oduya, Mason, Hansey, etc to step up and lead, outside of Ladd and Entrom that has not happened. It seems to me that Buff has disappeared the second half of the season or since signing his new contract. Our six defensemen are definitely NHL caliber defensemen which is a drastic change for this organIzation. We are just missing quality veteran forwards to pull this team over the top. If we can bring a couple of these guys in and with the young guys starting to mature we will be good for years to come. It is just hell watching the process right now with the lack of money to supplement the youth movement with veteran leadership and scoring.