The official 08-09 Atlanta Thrashers swallow thread

[Sourdoughkeeper]

Its kinda sad that the BIG NEWS of the day/week is the auditions for the ice girls...

In my opinion that deserves a minor mention at best.

[Sourdoughkeeper]

Sorry was drunk beyond beerdick when I posted that...

Some kinda cute chicas there and they did work hard so I reckon it orta be announced. I just meant it makes it seem like nothing hockey-related is news-worthy around the Thrashers camp. But given the right guarantees (pleasing, no diseases, no call required ex post facto) I might hit some of that. If I was getting desperate.

[Sourdoughkeeper]

Bye-bye Odgie. Enjoyed the radio feeds' more than the TV feeds' commentary. Good luck in the next stage of life.

[Sourdoughkeeper]

Just cause Im fuggin bored at the moment, what do yall think about the off-season moves? (on paper)

Personally, I kinda like the signing of Jason Williams, but yet again we have so damn many guys who are 3rd-2nd liners who will be expected to play top-line minutes and put up top-line points. Thats kinda frustrating. I like the Hainsey acquisition, and Im optimistic about our blueline but Im not overly enthusiastic even with Hainsey and Bogey and Valabik probably challenging for a spot. I like the goaltending situation (Ill probly catch some flak for that) and was glad to see Moose brought back. I thought it was just a rough season, but even so Kari's numbers were solid given the team around him. Up front, glad Boults is back, like the move to replace Holik with Reasoner except that Holik was more physical. I think Todd White should be able to have something of a rebound year this season and put up good numbers if he plays as Kovy's center, and like damn near everone else I sorta expect Christensen and Little to have breakout years. All in all, I say we're solid, but not great. If they play with a big bag of knuckles theyll probably surprise quite a few people, but if theyve grown accustomed to mediocrity theyll probably wind up with a high lottery pick.

I say we're close to making the playoffs this year, but not quite. And if things go well next off-season and stay steady this season and next I think we make the playoffs next season.

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by Sourdoughkeeper

Just cause Im fuggin bored at the moment, what do yall think about the off-season moves? (on paper)

Personally, I kinda like the signing of Jason Williams, but yet again we have so damn many guys who are 3rd-2nd liners who will be expected to play top-line minutes and put up top-line points. Thats kinda frustrating. I like the Hainsey acquisition, and Im optimistic about our blueline but Im not overly enthusiastic even with Hainsey and Bogey and Valabik probably challenging for a spot. I like the goaltending situation (Ill probly catch some flak for that) and was glad to see Moose brought back. I thought it was just a rough season, but even so Kari's numbers were solid given the team around him. Up front, glad Boults is back, like the move to replace Holik with Reasoner except that Holik was more physical. I think Todd White should be able to have something of a rebound year this season and put up good numbers if he plays as Kovy's center, and like damn near everone else I sorta expect Christensen and Little to have breakout years. All in all, I say we're solid, but not great. If they play with a big bag of knuckles theyll probably surprise quite a few people, but if theyve grown accustomed to mediocrity theyll probably wind up with a high lottery pick.

I say we're close to making the playoffs this year, but not quite. And if things go well next off-season and stay steady this season and next I think we make the playoffs next season.

eh hainsey is ok, looks lost sometimes, and with the system that johnny runs, he might score more points, but be a worst minus player. bogosian has a spot, when he signs. if he is back in juniors, well then waddells needs to go even quicker. valabik isnt a shoe-in, but look out for oystrick to make one hell of a run at makin the club this year. im not gettin any hopes into the year, cause well the team isnt gonna be good. ilya will leave in two years and not think twice about it. waddells has done absolutely nothing to make him wanna stay. look for 4 forwards on a 5-on-3 pp, usually for a big one-timer from the point (prob ilya). ill add more when it comes to me.

[Sourdoughkeeper]

Originally Posted by chilly666

eh hainsey is ok, looks lost sometimes, and with the system that johnny runs, he might score more points, but be a worst minus player. bogosian has a spot, when he signs. if he is back in juniors, well then waddells needs to go even quicker. valabik isnt a shoe-in, but look out for oystrick to make one hell of a run at makin the club this year. im not gettin any hopes into the year, cause well the team isnt gonna be good. ilya will leave in two years and not think twice about it. waddells has done absolutely nothing to make him wanna stay. look for 4 forwards on a 5-on-3 pp, usually for a big one-timer from the point (prob ilya). ill add more when it comes to me.

Good points Chilly. Im not overly enthusiastic about this season too, although I am more than ready to be pleasantly surprised if they are good. I havent seen much of Hainsey so I cant really say much, but I also got the impression that he'd probly be a minus player on the Thrashers, although I figured he would probly be close to even. Wouldnt hurt my feelings if DeeDub left, but I greatly fear who the Atlanta (Lack of) Spirit Group would choose to replace him with. I havent seen much of Oystrick either but Ive been impressed, and the guys a worker and stands up fairly well from the youtube clips Ive seen. I havent really heard much about Oystrick making the jump but I wouldnt really be surprised if he got a call-up given some injuries. I halfway agree about the powerplay (I agree with the shot from the point) but with the Enstrom, Hainsey, Havelid and now Bogosian I dont know if I think therell be 4 forwards or not.

Someone Ive been wondering about though is Kulda. Hows he look? Atlanta had nothing but praise for his cup run performance, and from what Atlanta said it sounded like he was almost guaranteed a spot on the blueline in Chicago. Whats your take Chilly?

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by Sourdoughkeeper

Good points Chilly. Im not overly enthusiastic about this season too, although I am more than ready to be pleasantly surprised if they are good. I havent seen much of Hainsey so I cant really say much, but I also got the impression that he'd probly be a minus player on the Thrashers, although I figured he would probly be close to even. Wouldnt hurt my feelings if DeeDub left, but I greatly fear who the Atlanta (Lack of) Spirit Group would choose to replace him with. I havent seen much of Oystrick either but Ive been impressed, and the guys a worker and stands up fairly well from the youtube clips Ive seen. I havent really heard much about Oystrick making the jump but I wouldnt really be surprised if he got a call-up given some injuries. I halfway agree about the powerplay (I agree with the shot from the point) but with the Enstrom, Hainsey, Havelid and now Bogosian I dont know if I think therell be 4 forwards or not.

Someone Ive been wondering about though is Kulda. Hows he look? Atlanta had nothing but praise for his cup run performance, and from what Atlanta said it sounded like he was almost guaranteed a spot on the blueline in Chicago. Whats your take Chilly?

oystrick is gonna be a surprise in camp. he'll give the 6/7th d-man a run for his spot, if atlanta even has that many to play up there. you made a good point about the 5-on-3 pp. i dont think that atlanta has enough forwards for that idea to work. i could see hainsey gettin first dibs on the 5-on-3, then enstrom next or with him. kulda had one hell of a playoff run when signed from the ohl. he earned his time, by not making many mistakes. being a rookie during the playoffs, he made the simple play most of the time and didnt get to out of shape in his own zone. he'll be a 3-6 d-man this year hopefully not much more, but we dont know what were gettin from atlanta to start the year. he needs time though to learn the art of hitting and learn how to read plays better in the offensive zone.

atlanta d-men:
havelid, hainsey, enstrom, exelby, klee, bogosian (valabik, oystrick for the extra d-man)
wolves d-men:
oystrick/valabik, kulda, sipotz, denny, lewis, lehman

also look for jordan lavallee and/or colin stuart to make the team too. just a hunch!!!

[Sourdoughkeeper]

Originally Posted by chilly666

oystrick is gonna be a surprise in camp. he'll give the 6/7th d-man a run for his spot, if atlanta even has that many to play up there. you made a good point about the 5-on-3 pp. i dont think that atlanta has enough forwards for that idea to work. i could see hainsey gettin first dibs on the 5-on-3, then enstrom next or with him. kulda had one hell of a playoff run when signed from the ohl. he earned his time, by not making many mistakes. being a rookie during the playoffs, he made the simple play most of the time and didnt get to out of shape in his own zone. he'll be a 3-6 d-man this year hopefully not much more, but we dont know what were gettin from atlanta to start the year. he needs time though to learn the art of hitting and learn how to read plays better in the offensive zone.

atlanta d-men:
havelid, hainsey, enstrom, exelby, klee, bogosian (valabik, oystrick for the extra d-man)
wolves d-men:
oystrick/valabik, kulda, sipotz, denny, lewis, lehman

also look for jordan lavallee and/or colin stuart to make the team too. just a hunch!!!

I get the feeling that LaVallee is going to make a name too. Stuart was pretty good in his callup so I could see that too. Personally, Id give yall Ex in exchange for Oystrick or Valabik. Ex seems to have gotten to the point where he feels his spot on the NHL club is secure and therefore he neednt work for it. Seems like he just gets caught way the hell outta position too many times and makes way too many bad passes. Im sure Valabik and Oystrick have that happen too at least some, but it almost seemed like Ex was trying to get us scored on...

[Lead]

Kulda had a interview in local press some time ago. He said he feels ready for big club and thinks he has a chance, just he wants to get more physical in offseason.

[StealinUrCar06]

Originally Posted by Sourdoughkeeper

Anybody optimistic? I am, but really only about our defense, and then only if the forwards can keep the pressure off enough that the D aint gotta carry the team straight into another mid-season collapse. As of now, I do not expect playoffs; and unfortunately, therefore, I do not expect Kovalchuk to re-sign here.

Fvck

Theyll be dirt without Kovy, what the hell are the thrashers without kovalchuk.

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by StealinUrCar06

Theyll be dirt without Kovy, what the hell are the thrashers without kovalchuk.

huh??? we know that they already suck with him, which is gonna make him not wanna re-sign after this deal ends. which means waddells will trade him by the deadline next year.

[chilly666]

Forwards

The signing of versatile forward Jason Williams – perhaps one of the more overlooked free agents on the market this summer – to a one-year deal on July 14 gives Anderson some additional options on right wing following the departure of Recchi.

A preliminary lineup could include Todd White, who had 14 goals and 37 points in 74 games last season, centering for Kovalchuk and Colby Armstrong (4 goals, 11 points in 18 games with Atlanta).

This could be the year for the 25-year-old Armstrong to take that next step. He established career-high totals of 16 goals, seven power-play goals, 24 assists and 40 points in only 47 games with Pittsburgh in 2005-06.

Bryan Little (6 goals, 10 assists in 48 games) could work the middle for Slava Kozlov and Williams on another line. Kozlov finished fourth on Atlanta with 41 points and Williams had 23 assists and 36 points in 43 games with Chicago last season. Kozlov’s point total was his lowest in a season in which he played at least 47 games. Anderson is hoping the 36-year-old Russian can return to the form of 2006-07, when he registered 28 goals and a career-high 80 points.

Another unit could find center Erik Christensen, who had 2 goals and 2 assists in 10 games with the Thrashers following his trade from Pittsburgh, with Brett Sterling and Colin Stuart. Christensen, originally selected by the Penguins in the third round of the 2002 draft, was dealt to Atlanta along with Armstrong, Angelo Esposito and a 2008 first-round draft pick (center Daultan Leveille), for Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis on Feb. 26.
Eric Perrin, who skated with Thrashers prospects Esposito and Danick Paquette during an informal scrimmage, could then be joined by Eric Boulton and Chris Thorburn. Center Marty Reasoner, Esposito and Junior Lessard should also fit into the rotation. Reasoner, who signed a free-agent contract on July 17, appeared in all 82 games for the Edmonton Oilers last season. In addition to scoring 11 goals and 25 points, he sported an impressive 52.8 percent face-off winning percentage.

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=...ticleid=379911


now where in the hell does this guy think that esposito is gonna make the team out of camp and not be sent back to quebec? i think this guy needs a little help.

[BrianTheAdsFan]

Sterling and Lessard both up in Atlanta?

I gotta get some of his mad peyote...

[Sourdoughkeeper]

Originally Posted by chilly666

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=...ticleid=379911


now where in the hell does this guy think that esposito is gonna make the team out of camp and not be sent back to quebec? i think this guy needs a little help.

GyodDAMN I could disagree with quite a lot of that article

Maybe they got someone who usually covers figure skating or something i dunno guys

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by Sourdoughkeeper

GyodDAMN I could disagree with quite a lot of that article

Maybe they got someone who usually covers figure skating or something i dunno guys

yeah i posted imo the most retarded part of the article.

also brian if one of them make it up they'll be lucky. i doubt that lessard will make it but will be given a chance if an injury occurs.