My Newspaper
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Morning Skate Update
Posted by:
Ben Wright on
January 30, 2008 at
12:01PM EST
I'm pressed for time and it was a pretty uneventful morning skate so this is
going to be short.
Kari Lehtonen gets the start in net tonight which should come as no surprise.
For this team to succeed Kari has to play well and get into a groove. Hopefully
that starts tonight. Colin Stuart was skating with Eric Perrin and Marian Hossa
again which means Slava Kozlov is with Holik and Dupuis. Slater is centering
Thorburn and Boulton and White, Recchi and Kovalchuk remain together. The only
question mark is on defense where Steve McCarthy is ready to come back. It not
entirely clear if he'll suit up tonight and it could be a game-time decision. If
he doesn't play Mark Popovic is the leading candidate to be scratched.
Eric Perrin looks ready to go and he says he's not a guy that's going to play
hurt if he thinks someone else could step in and contribute. He doesn't want his
presence in the lineup to hurt the team. Ken Klee is good to go despite two
black eyes and a lot of stitches from the puck he took to the face last week.
The bruising is turning yellow now so it's healing fairly quickly.
This is a huge game for the Thrashers. The team needs to get on a roll and
stay in the thick of things in the Southeast and the best way to do that is to
get a win tonight. They really need four points this week if they expect to keep
pace and they haven't been strong in back-to-back situations like the one coming
up this weekend.
(17) Comments
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Posted by: Matt on January 30, 2008 12:35PM EST
I'm looking to invest in an Enstrom jersey. Do you think it's a good idea, he's only signed through next year and he's only a rookie, he could be playing better than he really is. Just trying to make a good investment.
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Posted by: Paminski on January 30, 2008 12:40PM EST
I'm going to the game tonight with a friend who is a Pittsburgh fan. I'll be in my Thrashers jersey. That should be fun!
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Posted by: Brett on January 30, 2008 12:42PM EST
enstrom jersey is a safe bet. even though his contract is up after next season he is a restricted free agent, making it very likely that he will stay in ATL for a wile.
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Posted by: keep the faith on January 30, 2008 12:45PM EST
Matt,
Enstrom jersey, very nice, I hope he will be with the team for the foreseeable future.
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Posted by: mastiffgal on January 30, 2008 12:59PM EST
The Hossa suspense is killing me... when is the trade deadline?
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Posted by: George on January 30, 2008 1:46PM EST
30 games to play. Hossa still unsigned. Huge defensive breakdowns in front of streaky goal-tending. Confidence wrecking losses. The time has come for the Thrashers to stop looking to "catch" the Canes. No longer are they able to think of sliding into the back door of the playoffs. They must win more than half of the remaining games to have a real shot at going anywhere in the playoffs.( If they even make it this year.) I think that if the defense gets the attention it needs ( some good a$$ chewings) the other problems will work themselves out. That doesnt mean I think that the D is the only problem. Hossa is a distraction I dont care what any of the players (even Hossa) say. This teams confidence is shaken, and I believe that if the problems cant be fixed VERY QUICKLY, the boys will be looking up at more than just the Canes. To Hossa if you read this... Sign the new deal, of do not sign the deal. Just decide. Dont screw this team and the fans that love you. I want you to stay, but I would like for you to make up your mind so that this team can go forward with or without you.--- Hopefully WITH you.
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Posted by: John on January 30, 2008 2:41PM EST
George good call on the defense but they still need to good centers if theteam is going to turn around. I just don't see how for two years they have not done nothing on this issue. Sorry White is a third line guy second at very best.
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Posted by: Michael on January 30, 2008 3:50PM EST
We need to face the facts. Hossa will NOT be in Atlanta next year! If he wanted to play in Atlanta, he would have signed a deal already. This is not a money issue. He can go anywhere and sign a 5 year/$35mm deal. He wants to play for a winning organization and we don't have it. The indecision is killing this team and we need to make some smart trades and start building a team for next year. I would like to see us trade Hossa, Holik and Recchi and get some young talent (especially on the blueline) and make a push next year. This is not our year. Sorry guys!!!
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Posted by: Greg on January 30, 2008 4:32PM EST
How quiet is this board going to be when Hossa figures out what he is going to do? That is all that is talked about.
I also like how "fans" have given up on the season when we are only HALF way through. I don't know if you guys were around 1 year ago, but we were going through a similar situation. THIS SEASON IS NOT OVER!! We are close to .500, and the 'canes are having a season full of ups and downs like us.
Here is an idea? Let's stand behind out boys. We still have a chance! And if you don't agree that we should stand behind them, because "the season is done." Then when we DO, and WE WILL make the playoffs, you ALL need to write an appology here on how you LOST FAITH in Blueland. I will provide Ben with the list of doubters, so he can call you out in the "Appology Blog", and we can read your humble pie. (Also one of the doubters can buy me glass seats to a game.)
THIS SEASON ISN'T OVER!!! GO THRASHERS!!!
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Posted by: mastiffgal on January 30, 2008 4:49PM EST
So Greg, what is your end of the bargain....If the season is in fact over? You should buy us tix- the good news for you is that the seats will be cheap. (I still believe...It is hard sometimes)
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Posted by: aroha on January 30, 2008 5:52PM EST
for a second i didn't know if i was reading the blog or the message boards with all the hossa comments and the "trade him and him and him" comments...lets take it one game at a time, chicken little...a win tonight is the first step.
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Posted by: George on January 30, 2008 6:13PM EST
Lets not give up on this year yet. Lets not trade Recchi. Not yet. Since arriving in Atlanta, he has been one of few producers. As far as the centers go, some new blood would be nice, but the ability to score and pass is here.
I think I may have been misunderstood. Is the season over? No. Are the Thrashers out of the playoff hunt? No. All I was saying is that The days of a .500 team making any real noise on the way to the playoffs are numbered. The facts are that if you dont have at least 90 points+ at 82 games you dont go to the playoffs. If the Thrashers play .500 hockey, they dont go. Its that simple. 30 games. 15 WINS gives the Thrashers 80 points. Which is fine if you are a Leafs fan. Have I lost faith? No. Just conveying the facts.
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Posted by: Brandall on January 30, 2008 7:03PM EST
Greg - I second that! What is the deal with all the band-waggon Thrasher's fans giving up on the season?! Sure the team is going through some tough times, and there will likely be some significant changes during the offseason - with or without Hossa. But the fact remains, this season is far from over, and the Thrashers are FAR from out of the playoffs. True, the lack of consistency with which they've played thus far is not going to stir up stanley cup talkes - but, if you take the games that they've played to their full potential (such as the Detroit game) - then they are definately a contendor. As far as Hossa - if he stays or goes is not really up to him. A couple of the owners aren't really going to bust @$$ and money to get him to resign if he's not going to play to his full potential. If Hossa can show the team that he is still the 100-point player he was last year, the I can guarantee that Atlanta will have him on the ice next year .. . but otherwise, start looking for a replacement. No worries either, Hossa's spot will NOT be filled by a 2nd or 3rd liner. But just remember, whether or not Hossa is still True Blue in -09 is up to him and his effort, period.
GO THRASHERS!!
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Posted by: Craig Buckles on January 30, 2008 8:22PM EST
What the hell is wrong with this club? Its clear we have issues with defense and yet we sit Popovic for 3 games who has a -3. But opt for Zhitnik (shit-nik) who has a -13 and McCarthy with a -18!! How does that make sense....I pray for trade deadline asap to dump these two bucket of pucks and give the youth like Popovic who shine each and every night!!! Remember the Thrashing we took in Buffalo....Popovic was the only saving grace on the ice that night...Come On DOn...sort it out!
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Posted by: George on January 30, 2008 11:47PM EST
As far as Hossa - if he stays or goes is not really up to him.
But just remember, whether or not Hossa is still True Blue in -09 is up to him and his effort, period.
Which is it , Brandall?
Craig, I agree with you somewhat, but what you dont include in your message is that McCarthy and Zhitty were with the team during the 0-6 start the team faced this season. I think if you were to look, most of the guys are suffering due to that reason alone. That being said, their play has been a little off for most of the games. Zhitty is usually a slow starter and seems to be even slower this year. McCarthy seems to be working through some things, but is starting to work a little harder.
As far as Michael saying the season is over, dont give up yet.
This is why I rarely look at these blogs.
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Posted by: Michael on January 31, 2008 9:36AM EST
I'm not giving up, but it depends on your expectations. If you are satisfied with us barely getting into the playoffs and getting drilled in the first round, then we should keep all these players and worked toward that goal. We gave up a lot last year with no real chance to win the cup and look what it has done for us. Nothing! We need to do what the Flyers did last year. We need to trade our marketable guys and get a bunch of young talent. We can make the playoffs this year, but have no chance to win the cup. I would rather see us build a team to win the cup than just sneak into the playoffs every year. It is quite obvious that the owners are not going to spend up to the cap so our only option is young talent. We could get some solid prospects for Hossa, Recchi and Holik. Do you want to win the cup or just barely make the playoffs? With our current defense, we have no chance and that is why I am suggesting trades. I love the Thrashers and was there yelling and screaming last night, but I want to build a team for the future and not a patchwork team from year to year.
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Posted by: mastiffgal on January 31, 2008 10:36AM EST
I agree with you Michael. On the other hand, if the traditionally supporting cast would show up like they did last night, who knows how far we could go. The next couple weeks will tell the story
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