Big Shooter IS crazy, but not for suggesting that a goalie, Johan Hedburg, should be considered for team captain.
The Vancouver Canucks have taken Shooter's suggestion and given the C to their best player, Roberto Luongo. The league apparently has stated that there is no rule against making a goalie the captain, but his jersey cannot feature the traditional C designator for some reason. Maybe there's concern that Garth Snow would find some way to put a four foot high kevlar C on DiPietro's shoulder to help cover his glove side.
http://canucks.nhl.tv/team/launch.htm?type=fvod&id=21582&catid=804
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
The Roster So Far
So here's how it looks to me at this point:
Kovy- Crusher -Williams
Kozy- Little -Army
Perrin- Reasoner -Thorburn
Bolts- White -(rotate either Sterling or Stewart)
Toby - Havy
Hainsey - X/Boris
Schneider - Bogo/Kulda
If Kulda ever cracks the lineup this season, you'd probably actually rotate Bogo up to play with Hainsey and let Kulda play with Schneider.
Depending on the play of Christiansen and Little, this could give us an average top line followed by above average second and third lines. Our checking line will be average and won't get much more than 5 minutes per game. But in those five minutes, they shouldn't hurt us at all.
Toby and Havy proved to be a very reliable pairing and will only get better as Toby matures and they develop more and more chemistry. Hainsey should pair well with a stay at home bruiser like Boris or human road cone like X. Schneider plays Crash Davis to Bogo and Kulda's Nuke Lalouche.
On the powerplay, Coach Anderson has more options than his predecessors did. With Toby, Havy, Hainsey, Bogo, and Schneider available to quarterback the play, he doesn't absolutely have to put Kovy on the point. Yes, his shot is brutal from back there, but it would be even more effective from a high face off circle area. move the puck around the outside, then have Kovy step up into that shooting lane to receive a one timer pass from the opposite point man. At the same time the center crashes the net for a rebound and the opposite winger goes to the faceoff circle are on his side for a longer kicked rebound.
While I'd like to see the team upgrade a notch on right wing, I think the team looks competitive right now. Exactly how competitive will depend immensely on the development of the rookies and the play of the Thrashers' netminders. If Anderson's system can cut down on the number of shots Kari faces, I think he'll respond very well and put up some huge percentage numbers this season. Combined with some increased scoring from the ranks under the Czar, that could spell playoffs. Unfortunately right now, the team doesn't look deep enough or tough enough to go past the first round. But hey, I've been wrong before. Once. Back in the 80's.
For the Chronicle, this is Razor Catch Prey.
Kovy- Crusher -Williams
Kozy- Little -Army
Perrin- Reasoner -Thorburn
Bolts- White -(rotate either Sterling or Stewart)
Toby - Havy
Hainsey - X/Boris
Schneider - Bogo/Kulda
If Kulda ever cracks the lineup this season, you'd probably actually rotate Bogo up to play with Hainsey and let Kulda play with Schneider.
Depending on the play of Christiansen and Little, this could give us an average top line followed by above average second and third lines. Our checking line will be average and won't get much more than 5 minutes per game. But in those five minutes, they shouldn't hurt us at all.
Toby and Havy proved to be a very reliable pairing and will only get better as Toby matures and they develop more and more chemistry. Hainsey should pair well with a stay at home bruiser like Boris or human road cone like X. Schneider plays Crash Davis to Bogo and Kulda's Nuke Lalouche.
On the powerplay, Coach Anderson has more options than his predecessors did. With Toby, Havy, Hainsey, Bogo, and Schneider available to quarterback the play, he doesn't absolutely have to put Kovy on the point. Yes, his shot is brutal from back there, but it would be even more effective from a high face off circle area. move the puck around the outside, then have Kovy step up into that shooting lane to receive a one timer pass from the opposite point man. At the same time the center crashes the net for a rebound and the opposite winger goes to the faceoff circle are on his side for a longer kicked rebound.
While I'd like to see the team upgrade a notch on right wing, I think the team looks competitive right now. Exactly how competitive will depend immensely on the development of the rookies and the play of the Thrashers' netminders. If Anderson's system can cut down on the number of shots Kari faces, I think he'll respond very well and put up some huge percentage numbers this season. Combined with some increased scoring from the ranks under the Czar, that could spell playoffs. Unfortunately right now, the team doesn't look deep enough or tough enough to go past the first round. But hey, I've been wrong before. Once. Back in the 80's.
For the Chronicle, this is Razor Catch Prey.
Monday, September 29, 2008
"El Newserino, if you're not into the whole brevity thing..."
- Blackhawks shed Nikolai Khabibulin! Where's he going to go? I suggest the Av's take him now. If the Senators are smart they'd do the same. That way both the Av's and the Sens would have a decent goaltender. There's always the Russia option, of course. Money. Speaking of Russia, does anyone know how Ray Emery is doing in Moscow these days? If he lived a hard-partying lifestyle in that Gomorrah of night-time debauchery--Ottawa--he won't SURVIVE Moscow.
- Once again, NHL season officially opening Over There. Unlike last season, this time the deal happens in places where people actually know what ice hockey is.
-No more news. Except the Thrashers traded Ken Klee and Brad Larsen for Mathieu Schneider. You know, I liked Ken Klee, and he was a reasonably good defenseman, but...
- Once again, NHL season officially opening Over There. Unlike last season, this time the deal happens in places where people actually know what ice hockey is.
-No more news. Except the Thrashers traded Ken Klee and Brad Larsen for Mathieu Schneider. You know, I liked Ken Klee, and he was a reasonably good defenseman, but...
Why I Love Ron Wilson
From a press conference this weekend, a day after a pre-season loss:
Head coach Ron Wilson was highly perturbed right after the loss, threatening to nail those who repeat their mistakes to the bench. A day later, he turned his annoyance on reporters who were wondering about the similarity to last year's team.
Puck Daddy weighs in:
Is this honestly too brutal? As we said in our Leafs preview this weekend, management has already put out the vibe that this team doesn't have NHL talent and that the playoffs aren't likely. The bar is ridiculously low, and Wilson has put his foot on it to drop it even lower. But is it fair to the fans when the head coach declares before a single regular season shift has been completed that this is basically a lost season for the franchise?
I say yes. No point in lying to the poor kids of the Leaf Nation.
Mirtle counters:
I'm of the belief that, no matter how bad you get, there's still a lot of parity in this league - and especially in the Eastern Conference. Toronto will definitely struggle to score goals this season, but they're not alone in that, and I don't think it's ludicrous to think they could steal some games and hang around longer in the race for eighth than many believe.
Tavares. Las Vegas.
Head coach Ron Wilson was highly perturbed right after the loss, threatening to nail those who repeat their mistakes to the bench. A day later, he turned his annoyance on reporters who were wondering about the similarity to last year's team.
“It was an exhibition game – it didn't bother me at all,” Wilson said Sunday. “What bothers me is being asked asinine questions while you're trying to give young players a chance.
“We're not going to win the Stanley Cup this year. There's a news flash for you.”Puck Daddy weighs in:
Is this honestly too brutal? As we said in our Leafs preview this weekend, management has already put out the vibe that this team doesn't have NHL talent and that the playoffs aren't likely. The bar is ridiculously low, and Wilson has put his foot on it to drop it even lower. But is it fair to the fans when the head coach declares before a single regular season shift has been completed that this is basically a lost season for the franchise?
I say yes. No point in lying to the poor kids of the Leaf Nation.
Mirtle counters:
I'm of the belief that, no matter how bad you get, there's still a lot of parity in this league - and especially in the Eastern Conference. Toronto will definitely struggle to score goals this season, but they're not alone in that, and I don't think it's ludicrous to think they could steal some games and hang around longer in the race for eighth than many believe.
Tavares. Las Vegas.
Too Early?
Well, it looks like the Thrashers blew ass yesterday in a pre-season game that pitted a very inexperienced defensive corps and AHL forwards plus the Czar against Henrik Zetterberg, Brian Rafalski, Valterri Filpulla, Johan Franzen, and perhaps most importantly, European rookies discovered by the Red Wings' eagle-eyed scouts in Scandinavia and elsewhere. You know, the same people who dug up Nick Lidstrom.
I agree with Rawhide that it's far too early to start drawing definitive conclusions based on yesterday's 4-0 shutout and Friday's abysmal defeat at the hands of the St. Louis Blues. The only statistic that really bothers me is that we were--guess what?--dramatically out-shot in the Red Wings game.
I don't want to make excuses for our lack of shots, but let's remember two things 1) the Red Wings defense is absurdly good, and their forwards are the best defensive forwards in the game (Zetterberg even tripped the Czar). Judging from the reports from the game it seems the Thrashers had very few real scoring chances. And 2) it takes time for a new coach's system to really sink in among the players. Give it some time.
If we lose every other pre-season game you can start panicking.
Oh, apparently Kari had a magnificent game. The Czar was too busy being awesome to score a goal.
I've always thought a little bit of facial hair enhanced the Czar's czarness.
I agree with Rawhide that it's far too early to start drawing definitive conclusions based on yesterday's 4-0 shutout and Friday's abysmal defeat at the hands of the St. Louis Blues. The only statistic that really bothers me is that we were--guess what?--dramatically out-shot in the Red Wings game.
I don't want to make excuses for our lack of shots, but let's remember two things 1) the Red Wings defense is absurdly good, and their forwards are the best defensive forwards in the game (Zetterberg even tripped the Czar). Judging from the reports from the game it seems the Thrashers had very few real scoring chances. And 2) it takes time for a new coach's system to really sink in among the players. Give it some time.
If we lose every other pre-season game you can start panicking.
Oh, apparently Kari had a magnificent game. The Czar was too busy being awesome to score a goal.
I've always thought a little bit of facial hair enhanced the Czar's czarness.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
"From the makers of the Mighty Ducks and Syriana..."
Apologies to Razor and Shooter, but this is just too funny to keep to myself.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
NHL 09 Review
It's been quite a while since I've been able to really get into an NHL video game. I bought NHL 07, but just couldn't get excited about it. Being so into the actual Atlanta Thrashers, I just didn't get excited about playing GM and making my own trades and drafting virtual players. I just wanted to play with the team we had in real life. My roommates and I ended up just playing a lot of games as Team USA with line changes turned off, using a custom built line of Chris Drury, Tim Connoly, and Eric Cole. The CCD line.
I never bothered to play, let alone buy, NHL 08, and that may have been a mistake. When looking online to see when NHL 09 was coming out, I found out that 08 got several awards from whoever gives video game awards, including Sports Game of the Year. So when somebody told me the other day that he had bought 09 and it was well worth it, I decided to give it a go.
The result: Damn.
If you've played the college football game from EA Sports in the past year or two, you're familiar with their Campus Legend mode. In this feature, you get to either create a player of your own, or pick a player on an existing roster, and go through his career, playing the games just as him rather than the entire team. You don't choose the plays, you just run them as that one player. If you're a quarterback or running back, it's a lot of fun, since you're involved in almost every play (you simulate the defensive plays). You go through the season, running the plays as that character, building your abilities and stats as you go.
Some genius at EA Sports realized that this would be infinitely better in hockey. Thus, they have created the "Be a Pro" mode. You create your own player when you first put the game in your console, then you assign them to your favorite franchise. You start out as a recent draft pick, and get sent to the minors. You can choose what position you play, and what kind of player you are. I of course, chose to be a power forward drafted by Atlanta. So I was sent to Chicago to play for the Wolves, and was put on the third line as a center.
You play the game, controlling only your character. A blue arrow shows you where to go in order to stay in position, and you can call for passes or yell for your teammates to shoot when you're skating around without the puck. The coach gives you feedback after each shift, period, and between games. Do well, and you can work your way up the depth chart from third line to first and eventually get called up to the show.
It's not just your skills with the puck on your tape that matter (as the Czar learned when he first came to America), but also how you are as a team player. So you have to stay in position, pass well, only call for the puck when you're in position and open, and not take too long of shifts, or the coach will be upset with you.
When you're not on the ice, the view shifts to a perspective from the bench, watching the action while your stamina regenerates. When you take a penalty, you spend your two minutes watching the game from the sin bin. It's truly the most realistic video game hockey experience on the market.
Well, enough of the free advertising for EA Sports. I'm going to go back to watching the Tide paint Athens "Overrated" then play some more NHL 09. I just got moved up to the top line on the Wolves with Darren Haydar, and hope to make it to the NHL to center a line with Bolts and Marty Reasoner soon...
I never bothered to play, let alone buy, NHL 08, and that may have been a mistake. When looking online to see when NHL 09 was coming out, I found out that 08 got several awards from whoever gives video game awards, including Sports Game of the Year. So when somebody told me the other day that he had bought 09 and it was well worth it, I decided to give it a go.
The result: Damn.
If you've played the college football game from EA Sports in the past year or two, you're familiar with their Campus Legend mode. In this feature, you get to either create a player of your own, or pick a player on an existing roster, and go through his career, playing the games just as him rather than the entire team. You don't choose the plays, you just run them as that one player. If you're a quarterback or running back, it's a lot of fun, since you're involved in almost every play (you simulate the defensive plays). You go through the season, running the plays as that character, building your abilities and stats as you go.
Some genius at EA Sports realized that this would be infinitely better in hockey. Thus, they have created the "Be a Pro" mode. You create your own player when you first put the game in your console, then you assign them to your favorite franchise. You start out as a recent draft pick, and get sent to the minors. You can choose what position you play, and what kind of player you are. I of course, chose to be a power forward drafted by Atlanta. So I was sent to Chicago to play for the Wolves, and was put on the third line as a center.
You play the game, controlling only your character. A blue arrow shows you where to go in order to stay in position, and you can call for passes or yell for your teammates to shoot when you're skating around without the puck. The coach gives you feedback after each shift, period, and between games. Do well, and you can work your way up the depth chart from third line to first and eventually get called up to the show.
It's not just your skills with the puck on your tape that matter (as the Czar learned when he first came to America), but also how you are as a team player. So you have to stay in position, pass well, only call for the puck when you're in position and open, and not take too long of shifts, or the coach will be upset with you.
When you're not on the ice, the view shifts to a perspective from the bench, watching the action while your stamina regenerates. When you take a penalty, you spend your two minutes watching the game from the sin bin. It's truly the most realistic video game hockey experience on the market.
Well, enough of the free advertising for EA Sports. I'm going to go back to watching the Tide paint Athens "Overrated" then play some more NHL 09. I just got moved up to the top line on the Wolves with Darren Haydar, and hope to make it to the NHL to center a line with Bolts and Marty Reasoner soon...
Schneider Trade Reax
God, my head hurts. And I'm still trying to process Paul Newman's passing.
Anyway, here's some reactions to the Klee-for-Schneider trade from around the blogosphere:
First up, Puck Wyshynski:
Atlanta blogger Ben Wright is happier than Bobby Cox in Havana, and not just because Ken Klee is gone: He believes Schneider, Ron Hainsey, Tobias Enstrom and Niclas Havelid give the Thrashers "arguably the strongest foursome in the Southeast Division." Scary part is that he might be right.
************************************
Over to Mirtle:
New coach John Anderson's suddenly got something to work with — and the need to keep Zach Bogosian with the big club isn't anywhere near as great.
At 39, Schneider has slowed down at little bit, but he was still a very solid 22-minutes-a-night guy for the Ducks last season.
**********************************
Our Craig:
Schneider wasn't complaining. He had no ill feelings toward Burke, who he said worked hard to put him in a good situation.
It's important to understand: Mathieu Schneider was not a failure for the Ducks, and I'm not convinced he's overpaid. I think he'll have a good year in Atlanta. With the recent waiving of Schneider and the fact that 29 teams refused to pick him up for free, I think there's been a lot of misconception that "Schneider has lost it" or that "he's grossly overpaid". Those statements could certainly be applied earlier in the summer to Todd Bertuzzi, but I think in Schneider's case they're off-base.
...
The fact that Burke managed to move Schneider without mortgaging the future means that by my eye, this trade is a whopping success. The Ducks did pick up some $1.8M in salary with Ken Klee and Brad Larsen, but neither is signed beyond this year so it's not even a long-term repercussion.
*************************************
Mortimer Peacock:
The Thrashers get a solid, productive defenseman who will do his job, score points, and teach the younguns. The Ducks get to sign Teemu Selanne, who will score 40-something goals for them this year. Ken Klee gets a guaranteed trip to the play-offs.
Anyway, here's some reactions to the Klee-for-Schneider trade from around the blogosphere:
First up, Puck Wyshynski:
Atlanta blogger Ben Wright is happier than Bobby Cox in Havana, and not just because Ken Klee is gone: He believes Schneider, Ron Hainsey, Tobias Enstrom and Niclas Havelid give the Thrashers "arguably the strongest foursome in the Southeast Division." Scary part is that he might be right.
************************************
Over to Mirtle:
New coach John Anderson's suddenly got something to work with — and the need to keep Zach Bogosian with the big club isn't anywhere near as great.
At 39, Schneider has slowed down at little bit, but he was still a very solid 22-minutes-a-night guy for the Ducks last season.
**********************************
Our Craig:
Schneider wasn't complaining. He had no ill feelings toward Burke, who he said worked hard to put him in a good situation.
There were six or seven teams Schneider said he wanted to play for -- and the Thrashers were one of them. His brother lives in Atlanta and he liked the idea of working with talented young Thrashers defensemen Tobias Enstrom and Zach Bogosian, the team's first-round pick in June.
*******************************
Earl Sleek at the Battle of California:It's important to understand: Mathieu Schneider was not a failure for the Ducks, and I'm not convinced he's overpaid. I think he'll have a good year in Atlanta. With the recent waiving of Schneider and the fact that 29 teams refused to pick him up for free, I think there's been a lot of misconception that "Schneider has lost it" or that "he's grossly overpaid". Those statements could certainly be applied earlier in the summer to Todd Bertuzzi, but I think in Schneider's case they're off-base.
...
The fact that Burke managed to move Schneider without mortgaging the future means that by my eye, this trade is a whopping success. The Ducks did pick up some $1.8M in salary with Ken Klee and Brad Larsen, but neither is signed beyond this year so it's not even a long-term repercussion.
*************************************
Mortimer Peacock:
The Thrashers get a solid, productive defenseman who will do his job, score points, and teach the younguns. The Ducks get to sign Teemu Selanne, who will score 40-something goals for them this year. Ken Klee gets a guaranteed trip to the play-offs.
Preseason Rout
To take the sting off of last night's 9-4 drubbing at the hands of the blues, I will let the Swedish Chef present the recap:
ST. LOOoIS - Defeed Perrun hed three-a guels und un esseest, und Undy McDuneld edded feefe-a esseests tu help zee St. Luooees Blooes tu a 9-4 pre-a-seesun veen oofer zee Etlunta Threshers oon Freedey neeght.
Bred Boyes und Lee-a Stempneeek hed tvu guels und un esseest iech fur zee Blooes (2-1), vheele-a Pool Kereeya und Petreek Bergoolund bot hed a guel und un esseest. Munny Legece-a sterted in guel und feced 15 shuts, mekeeng 12 sefes.
Brett Sterleeng scured tveece-a fur Etlunta (1-1), und Ireec Boooltun und Tudd Vheete-a edded oone-a guel epeeece-a.
Sterleeng sterted zee scureeng joost 1:10 intu zee geme-a vhee he-a cunferted ooffff a Blooes toornufer. Boot Kereeya scured a pooer-pley guel ooffff a scremble-a in frunt 9:04 leter, und Bergloond beet Threshers gueleee-a Juhun Hedberg veet a slepshut et 14:54 ooff zee furst pereeud tu geefe-a zee Blooes zee leed fur guud.
Stempneeek poot zee geme-a evey vhee he-a scured et 2:01 und egeeen et 5:14 ooff zee thurd pereeud tu meke-a it 7-3. Perrun scured et 8:07 und cumpleted hees het treeck vhee he-a pooshed zee poock pest Etlunte's Oondrej Pefelec et 12:09.
And because that was so much fun, here's the Swedish Chef's take on the Schneider signing:
ENEHEIM, Celeeff. - Zee Uneheeem Doocks hefe-a feenelly fuoond a noo hume-a fur Metheeeoo Schneeeder.
Zee NHL teem deelt zee feterun deffencemun tu zee Etlunta Threshers oon Freedey fur blooe-a-leener Kee Klee-a und veengers Bred Lersen und Ched Peeenchood.
Doocks GM Breeun Boorke-a hes beee tryeeng tu trede-a Schneeeder fur veeks tu help get hees teem under zee selery cep.
Schneeeder is dooe-a tu iern US$5.75 meelliun thees seesun - meuneeng Uneheeem veell sefe-a et leest $3 meelliun es a resoolt ooff thees deel. Klee-a ($1.25 meelliun), Lersee ($560,000) und Peeenchood ($565,000) veell cuoont $2.5 meelliun egeeenst zee cep iff zeey ell pley in zee NHL thees seesun.
"It vurked tu oooor beneffeet, zee ooppurtooneety tu edd a pleyer ooff thees celeebre-a veet a teem thet ves up egeeenst zee cep und hed tu meke-a a mufe-a tu get under zee cep," Threshers generel muneger Dun Veddell seeed. "It's a beeg dey fur oooor fruncheese-a."
Zee 39-yeer-oold Schneeeder spent joost oone-a yeer veet zee Doocks, pootting up 12 guels und 39 pueents in 65 gemes. He-a ves seegned lest soommer vhee it luuked leeke-a Scutt Neeedermeyer vuoold retire-a und beceme-a ixpendeble-a vhee zee teem cepteeen deceeded tu retoorn meed-seesun.
Zee seetooeshun hes unffulded emeecebly, veet Schneeeder egreeeeng nut tu repurt tu Uneheeem's treeening cemp thees veek vheele-a zee teem ves in negutieshuns fur a trede-a.
"I'fe-a knoon fur sume-a time-a thet I ves gueeng tu be-a mufed," Schneeeder seeed in a telephune-a interfeeoo. "Breeun ves tremenduoos, vurkeeng veet my egent, tryeeng tu get a deel dune-a. .. Thees murneeng I ves ixtremely heppy tu heer zee noos."
Zee vell-trefelled deffencemun noo eeters hees 19t seesun in zee NHL veet hees ieeght teem. In 1,197 cereer regooler seesun gemes, Schneeeder hes 212 guels und 702 pueents. He-a elsu vun zee Stunley Coop veet Muntreel in 1993.
Zee 37-yeer-oold Klee-a jueens hees feefft teem seence-a zee NHL luckuoot. He-a spent ell ooff lest yeer veet Etlunta und hed oone-a guel und 10 pueents in 72 gemes.
Lersee is a checkeeng furverd vhu vun a Stunley Coop veet Culuredu Efelunche-a in 2002. Zee 31-yeer-oold spent perts ooff zee lest fuoor yeers veet zee Threshers.
Peeenchood is a furmer fuoort-ruoond drefft chueece-a vhu spleet lest seesun betveee zee ICHL und Emereecun Huckey Leegooe-a. Zee 22-yeer-oold hes yet tu pley un NHL geme-a.
ST. LOOoIS - Defeed Perrun hed three-a guels und un esseest, und Undy McDuneld edded feefe-a esseests tu help zee St. Luooees Blooes tu a 9-4 pre-a-seesun veen oofer zee Etlunta Threshers oon Freedey neeght.
Bred Boyes und Lee-a Stempneeek hed tvu guels und un esseest iech fur zee Blooes (2-1), vheele-a Pool Kereeya und Petreek Bergoolund bot hed a guel und un esseest. Munny Legece-a sterted in guel und feced 15 shuts, mekeeng 12 sefes.
Brett Sterleeng scured tveece-a fur Etlunta (1-1), und Ireec Boooltun und Tudd Vheete-a edded oone-a guel epeeece-a.
Sterleeng sterted zee scureeng joost 1:10 intu zee geme-a vhee he-a cunferted ooffff a Blooes toornufer. Boot Kereeya scured a pooer-pley guel ooffff a scremble-a in frunt 9:04 leter, und Bergloond beet Threshers gueleee-a Juhun Hedberg veet a slepshut et 14:54 ooff zee furst pereeud tu geefe-a zee Blooes zee leed fur guud.
Stempneeek poot zee geme-a evey vhee he-a scured et 2:01 und egeeen et 5:14 ooff zee thurd pereeud tu meke-a it 7-3. Perrun scured et 8:07 und cumpleted hees het treeck vhee he-a pooshed zee poock pest Etlunte's Oondrej Pefelec et 12:09.
And because that was so much fun, here's the Swedish Chef's take on the Schneider signing:
ENEHEIM, Celeeff. - Zee Uneheeem Doocks hefe-a feenelly fuoond a noo hume-a fur Metheeeoo Schneeeder.
Zee NHL teem deelt zee feterun deffencemun tu zee Etlunta Threshers oon Freedey fur blooe-a-leener Kee Klee-a und veengers Bred Lersen und Ched Peeenchood.
Doocks GM Breeun Boorke-a hes beee tryeeng tu trede-a Schneeeder fur veeks tu help get hees teem under zee selery cep.
Schneeeder is dooe-a tu iern US$5.75 meelliun thees seesun - meuneeng Uneheeem veell sefe-a et leest $3 meelliun es a resoolt ooff thees deel. Klee-a ($1.25 meelliun), Lersee ($560,000) und Peeenchood ($565,000) veell cuoont $2.5 meelliun egeeenst zee cep iff zeey ell pley in zee NHL thees seesun.
"It vurked tu oooor beneffeet, zee ooppurtooneety tu edd a pleyer ooff thees celeebre-a veet a teem thet ves up egeeenst zee cep und hed tu meke-a a mufe-a tu get under zee cep," Threshers generel muneger Dun Veddell seeed. "It's a beeg dey fur oooor fruncheese-a."
Zee 39-yeer-oold Schneeeder spent joost oone-a yeer veet zee Doocks, pootting up 12 guels und 39 pueents in 65 gemes. He-a ves seegned lest soommer vhee it luuked leeke-a Scutt Neeedermeyer vuoold retire-a und beceme-a ixpendeble-a vhee zee teem cepteeen deceeded tu retoorn meed-seesun.
Zee seetooeshun hes unffulded emeecebly, veet Schneeeder egreeeeng nut tu repurt tu Uneheeem's treeening cemp thees veek vheele-a zee teem ves in negutieshuns fur a trede-a.
"I'fe-a knoon fur sume-a time-a thet I ves gueeng tu be-a mufed," Schneeeder seeed in a telephune-a interfeeoo. "Breeun ves tremenduoos, vurkeeng veet my egent, tryeeng tu get a deel dune-a. .. Thees murneeng I ves ixtremely heppy tu heer zee noos."
Zee vell-trefelled deffencemun noo eeters hees 19t seesun in zee NHL veet hees ieeght teem. In 1,197 cereer regooler seesun gemes, Schneeeder hes 212 guels und 702 pueents. He-a elsu vun zee Stunley Coop veet Muntreel in 1993.
Zee 37-yeer-oold Klee-a jueens hees feefft teem seence-a zee NHL luckuoot. He-a spent ell ooff lest yeer veet Etlunta und hed oone-a guel und 10 pueents in 72 gemes.
Lersee is a checkeeng furverd vhu vun a Stunley Coop veet Culuredu Efelunche-a in 2002. Zee 31-yeer-oold spent perts ooff zee lest fuoor yeers veet zee Threshers.
Peeenchood is a furmer fuoort-ruoond drefft chueece-a vhu spleet lest seesun betveee zee ICHL und Emereecun Huckey Leegooe-a. Zee 22-yeer-oold hes yet tu pley un NHL geme-a.
Thoughts On Our Defensive Pairings
Thank goodness for other teams being over the cap! Good job by Waddell to pick up Schneider. I've always said DW's strong point is trades (if you don't count that Coburn guy). It will be interesting to see how our D shakes out over the next couple of weeks.
I'm not sure what this does to Bogo. We still have the same number of D as we did yesterday morning, but we are very much upgraded swapping out Klee for Schneider. This means that we really don't need to rush Bogo if he needs a little bit more time. If he is ready, well by all means bring him on! I think ideally if Bogo and Valabik are on the team you would like them to be playing third line minutes.
Ideally as well, you wouldn't want to pair two rookies together on the same line. You would like to pair the rookie with a veteran. Also, it doesn't do a whole lot of good for a young guy to be with an NHL team and get scratched for half the games. See where I'm going with this?
I see our top four D (in talent, not necessarily who they will play with) being: Havelid, Enstrom, Schneider and Hainsey. That leaves Exelby, Bogo, and Valabik. If you rotate three guys through the final pair you will either have two rookies playing together, or one of them sitting instead of playing... SOMEWHERE.
If both Bogo and Valabik make the team do you break up the top four guys and have one of them on the third line? This would also mean that one of your rookies would be playing top four minutes. What if Bogo has some sort of a Dion Phaneuf rookie season? Unlikely, but possible. We would really be set then!
I suppose I have rambled on enough about this. Has it made any sense whatsoever? I hope so. The point I was trying to get across is that with the top four we have now, that allows us to be careful with the two young guys if they need it. One last point, I think Exelby will have a much better year playing third line minutes.
OK, too much thinking. Now my head hurts.
For The Blueland Chronicle, I'm Big Shooter.
I'm not sure what this does to Bogo. We still have the same number of D as we did yesterday morning, but we are very much upgraded swapping out Klee for Schneider. This means that we really don't need to rush Bogo if he needs a little bit more time. If he is ready, well by all means bring him on! I think ideally if Bogo and Valabik are on the team you would like them to be playing third line minutes.
Ideally as well, you wouldn't want to pair two rookies together on the same line. You would like to pair the rookie with a veteran. Also, it doesn't do a whole lot of good for a young guy to be with an NHL team and get scratched for half the games. See where I'm going with this?
I see our top four D (in talent, not necessarily who they will play with) being: Havelid, Enstrom, Schneider and Hainsey. That leaves Exelby, Bogo, and Valabik. If you rotate three guys through the final pair you will either have two rookies playing together, or one of them sitting instead of playing... SOMEWHERE.
If both Bogo and Valabik make the team do you break up the top four guys and have one of them on the third line? This would also mean that one of your rookies would be playing top four minutes. What if Bogo has some sort of a Dion Phaneuf rookie season? Unlikely, but possible. We would really be set then!
I suppose I have rambled on enough about this. Has it made any sense whatsoever? I hope so. The point I was trying to get across is that with the top four we have now, that allows us to be careful with the two young guys if they need it. One last point, I think Exelby will have a much better year playing third line minutes.
OK, too much thinking. Now my head hurts.
For The Blueland Chronicle, I'm Big Shooter.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Hell Yeah!!!
WE GOT SCHNEIDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, I wonder how long it will take Jeff Dultz to tell us how bad of a deal this is...
Instant Big Shooter analysis:
Great move! You pretty much swap Ken Klee for Schneider. Larsen wasn't going to make this team, plain and simple. Now we have 3 puck moving defensemen on the team. Four if Bogo makes it.
This is how I feel right now:
A little culture folks!!!
For The Blueland Chronicle, I'm Big Shooter.
So, I wonder how long it will take Jeff Dultz to tell us how bad of a deal this is...
Instant Big Shooter analysis:
Great move! You pretty much swap Ken Klee for Schneider. Larsen wasn't going to make this team, plain and simple. Now we have 3 puck moving defensemen on the team. Four if Bogo makes it.
This is how I feel right now:
A little culture folks!!!
For The Blueland Chronicle, I'm Big Shooter.
The Weekend
Good friend of the Chronicle Rawhide cautiously draws some conclusions from last night's pre-season game. Put it this way: Exelby scored an even strength goal.
Thrashers play the Blues tonight.
Enjoy.
Thrashers play the Blues tonight.
Enjoy.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Just So You Know...
Both the Falconer and Blueland Ben have been expertly live-blogging this biotch all the way from Predatorville. Remarkable thing, that Internet.
After the game (nearly over, with us in the lead if NHL.com can be trusted) they're probably going to hang out with Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers and sing "Islands in the Stream" over and over.
UPDATE: Thrash win 4-2!
After the game (nearly over, with us in the lead if NHL.com can be trusted) they're probably going to hang out with Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers and sing "Islands in the Stream" over and over.
UPDATE: Thrash win 4-2!
Pre-Season Starts Tonight
In the sense that the first pre-season game is tonight. In Nashville. Against the team they've got up there, whatever they may be called.
Blueland Ben is excellent enough to provide a link for radio-listening: Nashvillian radio station 104-5 The Zone will be broadcasting the deal at 8.
Apparently the roster is
Sterling-Reasoner-Thorburn
Stuart-Little-Crabb
Esposito-Motzko-Lessard
Boulton-Slater-Hoffman
Valabik-Hainsey
Exelby-Lewis
Oystrick-Rivers
Moose
Pavelec
Enjoy.
Blueland Ben is excellent enough to provide a link for radio-listening: Nashvillian radio station 104-5 The Zone will be broadcasting the deal at 8.
Apparently the roster is
Sterling-Reasoner-Thorburn
Stuart-Little-Crabb
Esposito-Motzko-Lessard
Boulton-Slater-Hoffman
Valabik-Hainsey
Exelby-Lewis
Oystrick-Rivers
Moose
Pavelec
Enjoy.
Q & A With JP DellaSUCK
Give the man his wish I say:
Q: What sport do you enjoy calling the most?
A: That's a trick question. It's the one I'm calling now. I do hockey and I do soccer for the most part. If I had to give up one, I would have to give up hockey. With hockey, I think I'm one of maybe 30 announcers with NHL teams. With soccer and all of the World Cups I've done and all of the years I put into it, that would be a tougher one to walk away from. I've invested more in the sport and the sport has invested more in me, so that would be the one I would miss the most.
On a side note, Kamal says they are going to go with guest commentators for radio. I'm waiting for my call Dan...
Q: What sport do you enjoy calling the most?
A: That's a trick question. It's the one I'm calling now. I do hockey and I do soccer for the most part. If I had to give up one, I would have to give up hockey. With hockey, I think I'm one of maybe 30 announcers with NHL teams. With soccer and all of the World Cups I've done and all of the years I put into it, that would be a tougher one to walk away from. I've invested more in the sport and the sport has invested more in me, so that would be the one I would miss the most.
On a side note, Kamal says they are going to go with guest commentators for radio. I'm waiting for my call Dan...
Deep Thought for the Day
Don't worry about the lull in posts here after last night's incident of blogging under the influence, readers. I've just completed my stint in rehab and I'm a more spiritual person than before.
I even have a thought: I don't get all these pre-season games. They confuse me.
I even have a thought: I don't get all these pre-season games. They confuse me.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
This year's greatest goalie mask award goes to...
Martin Gerber. Yes, I know he hasn't done anything of note since single-handedly embarassing the entire nation of Canada by shutting out their Olympic team in a game against the Swiss. But the Sens netminder now has the coolest mask in all of professional hockey.
Given, I am a bit biased here, because I am a huge Star Wars geek. Did you watch How I Met Your Mother this week? I'm a bigger SW geek than Ted and Marshall and Kevin Smith combined. So when Martin Gerber unveiled his new Darth Vader goalie mask, he instantly vaulted back into my top 10 favorite players, despite the fact that heplays for the hated Kansas City Senators.
Word is Ovechkin has vetoed Jose Theadore's Hello Kitty mask, and they're back to the drawing board.
EDIT FROM YOUR FRIEND MORTIMER PEACOCK: Since Razor can't make the image-creating capabilities of the blogging life work, it's up to me (I once stayed in a hotel room in San Francisco) to introduce (Rachel Maddow, total lesbian, on TV right now; I'd do her; I'm so crunk right now) this thing:
Things look blurry when you're crunk.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Given, I am a bit biased here, because I am a huge Star Wars geek. Did you watch How I Met Your Mother this week? I'm a bigger SW geek than Ted and Marshall and Kevin Smith combined. So when Martin Gerber unveiled his new Darth Vader goalie mask, he instantly vaulted back into my top 10 favorite players, despite the fact that heplays for the hated Kansas City Senators.
Word is Ovechkin has vetoed Jose Theadore's Hello Kitty mask, and they're back to the drawing board.
EDIT FROM YOUR FRIEND MORTIMER PEACOCK: Since Razor can't make the image-creating capabilities of the blogging life work, it's up to me (I once stayed in a hotel room in San Francisco) to introduce (Rachel Maddow, total lesbian, on TV right now; I'd do her; I'm so crunk right now) this thing:
Things look blurry when you're crunk.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Could This Man Be Captain?
At the Town Hall Meeting the other night John Anderson said we would be waiting until after the regular season started to name a Captain. At first I was disappointed. I'm a firm believer in having a captain to look up to for the entire year. I also hate it when teams rotate the captaincy. I am also a firm believer in having one goalie for the playoffs. If he sucks it up, change it and keep that guy in there. Whatever happened to Bob Hartley anyway?
It is now being reported on the official message boards (I know) that Waddell said the players will be naming the captain (after the season starts). Bravo I say. This is how every team should do it. This leads me to one thought. If the players are choosing the captain, I say we should be the first team in NHL history to have a goalie as captain.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce you to... Captain Moose:
It is now being reported on the official message boards (I know) that Waddell said the players will be naming the captain (after the season starts). Bravo I say. This is how every team should do it. This leads me to one thought. If the players are choosing the captain, I say we should be the first team in NHL history to have a goalie as captain.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce you to... Captain Moose:
Toby Keith Enstrom Signs New Deal!!!
He will stay in Atlanta through 2013... AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Edit:
I saw yesterday that Johnson with the Blues tore his ACL. What I didn't know was how he did it. Look at this:
"Johnson suffered the injury while attempting to stop his golf cart to step out and hit his next shot. The 20-year old jammed his right foot between the accelerator and brake and felt a painful tweak in his right knee."
Maybe Erik is better suited for baseball? I feel bad for the kid, but come on!!! You gotta expect a little something when you hurt yourself in a golf cart!!!!!
Edit:
I saw yesterday that Johnson with the Blues tore his ACL. What I didn't know was how he did it. Look at this:
"Johnson suffered the injury while attempting to stop his golf cart to step out and hit his next shot. The 20-year old jammed his right foot between the accelerator and brake and felt a painful tweak in his right knee."
Maybe Erik is better suited for baseball? I feel bad for the kid, but come on!!! You gotta expect a little something when you hurt yourself in a golf cart!!!!!
Hockey Writing Cliches Part I
TSN's 08-09 team analysis of the day is my beloved San Jose Sharks. It contains the following sentence: "The Ducks looked weary after their season-opening trip to London and the Sharks smelled blood in the water with a feeding frenzy on opponents."
All the "tools to use when writing about the San Jose Sharks" boxes are checked: blood in the water, feeding frenzy. Get it? Because they're called the Sharks.
The News-uh
Thanks, M.E.S. Now, on to the news.
Mike Knobler has exploded! Lots of articles from training camp:
- Toby Enstrom looking to score more in his second year.
- Erik Christensen injured. I repeat: Erik Christensen injured. Not sure how serious this is, but I don't like the sound of it. It looks like the job of #1 center is definitely going to Jason Williams now.
- Knobler reporting that Chris Thorburn and Todd White are having a good training camp. John Anderson is fulfilling his promise to push players like them to score more goals. I predict Thorburn plays on a line with Marty Reasoner.
- More Knobler fun here.
- Maali at Fire Wagon wonders: Could the Leafs have a good season? With Ron at the helm anything could happen.
- Erik Johnson has torn his ACL and his MCL. Big Shooter can tell you that means an entire hockey season missed. Poor guy; I hope he recovers in time to represent the United States in 2010. If I were a Blues fan (I mean, I do like them, but I mean a Fan Fan) I'd be falling into despair right about now.
- A lot of pre-season games going on around the league. Where are my season tickets?
- A lot of pre-season games going on around the league. Where are my season tickets?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
You've Got to be Kidding Me
The Washington Capitals are now a punk band.
The line-up, if you must know, is:
Ovechkin: vocals
Theodore, Semin, and Backstrom: guitars
Brooks Laich: bass
Mike Green: drums
Puck Daddy has a million priceless details here. I have to say Semin looks amazing.
The instrument choices are interesting. To be honest, I've always thought of the goalie as the drummer, the defense as the bass player, the center as the guitarist, and the wingers as vocalists. Though sometimes the center can be the lead singer and the wingers can be the guitarists (like, say, on the Sharks or the Bruins). Sometimes the winger is a keyboardist (Martin St. Louis).
More McLaren-Schneider Madness
Yes, I am hammering away on these two stories.
Someone has to at least TRY and rectify this team's line-up. The Atlanta Spirit might need some cattle-prodding from the Chronicle.
Ken Klee wouldn't be the "multi-player deal" Anaheim Ducks GM Brian Burke seems to be working on to rectify his team's salary cap situation in order for Teemu Selanne to get some Geico during training camp.
One late potential location for Schneider is St. Louis, according to The Fourth Period.
Here's something about Schneider I think we can all agree on: The notion that he, or any other high-priced veteran, "deserves to be dealt to Cup contender" in a capped culture is asinine. He chose to sign with the Ducks in July 2007 when people were still talking about Scott Niedermayer's "retirement" as temporary.
Here's something about Schneider I think we can all agree on: The notion that he, or any other high-priced veteran, "deserves to be dealt to Cup contender" in a capped culture is asinine. He chose to sign with the Ducks in July 2007 when people were still talking about Scott Niedermayer's "retirement" as temporary.
He rolled the dice, and Brian Burke owes him a trade to the Red Wings as an apology? Please.
Amen to that, P-Dad.
If the Thrashers could get Schneider, their defense is upgraded significantly. They then would have three puck movers in Schneider, Ron Hainsey and Tobias Enstrom, plus a dependable defenseman in Niclas Havelid, a tough and rugged defenseman in Garnet Exelby and perhaps a wild card in first-round draft pick Zach Bogosian.
Whatever chance the Thrashers have to improve on last season will center on how improved their defense will be. Schneider could significantly upgrade that unit.
Whatever chance the Thrashers have to improve on last season will center on how improved their defense will be. Schneider could significantly upgrade that unit.
Yes, yes, and yes.
McLaren to Go?
Sharks beat writer David Pollack is reporting that Kyle McLaren has been kept out of training camp scrimmages, and that it appears Doug Wilson is looking to move the big guy to shed some over-the-cap expenses.
A reliable web site has the Sharks $267,000 over the $56.7 million salary cap — and that does not include pending contracts for Tomas Plihal or Alexei Semenov. The Sharks have until the season begins to lop salary and eliminating McLaren’s $2.5 million from the payroll would seem to get the job done.
A reliable web site has the Sharks $267,000 over the $56.7 million salary cap — and that does not include pending contracts for Tomas Plihal or Alexei Semenov. The Sharks have until the season begins to lop salary and eliminating McLaren’s $2.5 million from the payroll would seem to get the job done.
Ooooooh. In other Sharks news, the top line at the opening of training was Marleau-Thornton-Clowe. EXCELLENT first line. The second? Michalek-Pavelski-Cheechoo. Not bad either.
Can we please have Cheechoo?
Darren Eliot Sits Down with the Czar
Our very own commentator talks to the Dude (is this a good alternate nickname for Kovy? I was thinking of letting John Anderson be the Dude, but I also kind of like "the Professor" for him) about his place in France, teeth, and winning. Money quote:
SI.com: There are many who say this is your team -- yours to lead. How does that make you feel?
SI.com: There are many who say this is your team -- yours to lead. How does that make you feel?
Kovalchuk: I'm ready. I want that pressure. We need to win.
Oh yes.
Schneider and Ryan
There is more talk on Schneider from Kukla.
So there is talk of moving Klee and someone else for $500,000. Then there is talk of Bobby Ryan, the 2nd overall pick behind Crosby, moving as well. So there you have it. More rumors floating around.
So there is talk of moving Klee and someone else for $500,000. Then there is talk of Bobby Ryan, the 2nd overall pick behind Crosby, moving as well. So there you have it. More rumors floating around.
History Not on Bogosian's Side. Meanwhile Bogosian May or May Not Be on Bogosian's Side
Someone told me the easiest way to get attention for your blog is to pick a fight with a much more famous one.
Allow me, readers, to preface this whole Bogosian argument by saying that I actually like James Mirtle's blog quite a lot. He's always interesting and knows much, much more about hockey than most living beings.
Meanwhile, I might as well post my reply (edited, slightly) to his post here:
When I was referring to the "facts" that told Mirtle that Bogosian won't make an immediate impact, I didn't mean necessarily facts about 18 year old defensemen in the NHL in general; I meant to make him consider (not literally; I had no clue Mirtle even read this blog) which facts about Bogosian as an individual player told him he wouldn't make an impact.
The point of the post wasn't to say that I'm dead certain he'll make an immediate impact; the point was that we simply don't know that much about Bogosian as a specific player. I SUPPOSE it makes statistical sense to think of him as just another representative of a general category called 18 Year Old Defensemen, but surely that's reductive and ignores specifics about him and him only.
Does that make any sense?
On the other hand, I DO take his point about Bouwmeester. Cautionary tale indeed.
There's no arguing Mirtle's point that "If he makes the team and plays a full season on the Thrashers blueline, he's certainly in some pretty rarified company." That's certainly true, but I don't think it's beyond the realm of possibility that he could do decently on the third pairing.
What is arguable, of course, are the ages of Rob Blake and Chris Pronger: Pronger sort of was 18, and Blake pretty much was 18 if you don't count two years of his life. So there. I win.
But seriously kids, the overall nugget of wisdom I wanted you to take away from the post was that when it comes to NHL predictions, oftentimes we simply don't know how things will turn out. Mirtle predicted the 07-08 Thrashers would make the playoffs, and so did I. On paper, we had a magnificent team: not just Hossa and Kovalchuk and Kozlov and Lehtonen, but power play wizard Alexei Zhitnik as well!
No one knows anything. Yet. We'll see. And shit.
As for the folk who are confused about what "the South Ossetia of the Hockey Blogosphere" means, I can offer two clues, and two clues only. One is that I live in Atlanta, and Atlanta is most of the time located in the US state of Georgia. The second clue is the existence of Ilya Kovalchuk. Go figure.
Allow me, readers, to preface this whole Bogosian argument by saying that I actually like James Mirtle's blog quite a lot. He's always interesting and knows much, much more about hockey than most living beings.
Meanwhile, I might as well post my reply (edited, slightly) to his post here:
When I was referring to the "facts" that told Mirtle that Bogosian won't make an immediate impact, I didn't mean necessarily facts about 18 year old defensemen in the NHL in general; I meant to make him consider (not literally; I had no clue Mirtle even read this blog) which facts about Bogosian as an individual player told him he wouldn't make an impact.
The point of the post wasn't to say that I'm dead certain he'll make an immediate impact; the point was that we simply don't know that much about Bogosian as a specific player. I SUPPOSE it makes statistical sense to think of him as just another representative of a general category called 18 Year Old Defensemen, but surely that's reductive and ignores specifics about him and him only.
Does that make any sense?
On the other hand, I DO take his point about Bouwmeester. Cautionary tale indeed.
There's no arguing Mirtle's point that "If he makes the team and plays a full season on the Thrashers blueline, he's certainly in some pretty rarified company." That's certainly true, but I don't think it's beyond the realm of possibility that he could do decently on the third pairing.
What is arguable, of course, are the ages of Rob Blake and Chris Pronger: Pronger sort of was 18, and Blake pretty much was 18 if you don't count two years of his life. So there. I win.
But seriously kids, the overall nugget of wisdom I wanted you to take away from the post was that when it comes to NHL predictions, oftentimes we simply don't know how things will turn out. Mirtle predicted the 07-08 Thrashers would make the playoffs, and so did I. On paper, we had a magnificent team: not just Hossa and Kovalchuk and Kozlov and Lehtonen, but power play wizard Alexei Zhitnik as well!
No one knows anything. Yet. We'll see. And shit.
As for the folk who are confused about what "the South Ossetia of the Hockey Blogosphere" means, I can offer two clues, and two clues only. One is that I live in Atlanta, and Atlanta is most of the time located in the US state of Georgia. The second clue is the existence of Ilya Kovalchuk. Go figure.
Mirtle vs Morty
Well done, you're stirring things up. Even people are commenting on it. Mirtle went into detail referring and arguing against the Bogo post. And to the commenter why we are the "The South Ossetia of the hockey blogosphere." All I'm going to say is that Caucasian (geographically not socially) imagery never hurt anyone. Also, to the one who commented on us being testy down here. Well, we all know Mortimer is quite the emotive character and passionate, and, at times, testy. So sure.
Monday, September 22, 2008
More Goals for the Czar?
Dan Wood at the OC Register (the Ducks beat writer) is reporting that the NHL is tinkering with its rules yet again. This time around:
In addition to downsizing goaltending equipment and mandating more offensive-zone faceoffs, particularly on the power play, the NHL is emphasizing yet another obstruction-type crackdown this season.
I think the impediment to rampant goal-scoring these days has less to do with New Jersey Devils-style neutral zone trapping, or any defensive tactics, than with the fact that there are a lot of super-talented goalies around. Even the non-elite goaltenders are better than average goal-tenders used to be. Razor Catch Prey once said that we're living in a "golden age of goalies." I see no reason to disagree.
Of course it says quite a lot about the Czar that he can score so many goals in this goalie golden age. And the fact that Jarome Iginla could score 50 goals in last year's Western Conference really says something.
The way I see it, John Anderson' up-tempo style of play + new rules' giving big forwards more scoring chances + the Czar= lots and lots and lots of goals. My bold prediction is that Kovy tops his career record of 52 this year.
In addition to downsizing goaltending equipment and mandating more offensive-zone faceoffs, particularly on the power play, the NHL is emphasizing yet another obstruction-type crackdown this season.
“The new rules are going to be even more stringent on defending in the defensive zone,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said Sunday after the club completed its second day of training camp. “Anything with the free hand — before, players were allowed to put that stick in there. Any type of movement with that stick and arm to stop progression of a player, they’re going to be very, very strict on it.
“They don’t want that ability to pin (along the boards), and hold people on the wall. They want that freedom. There will be very little pinning. There will be free hands, but there won’t be grappling.”
As opposed to favoring speed-type players, the rules interpretation might give more freedom for bigger, stronger players to work their magic in the corners and behind the net.
It'll be interesting to see how this affects the play of the John Anderson-era Atlanta Thrashers. Anderson is adamant about playing a more offensive style, and we happen to have one of the league's premier goal-scorers (one of only three players to score more than fifty goals last season; Mirtle says that goals trended way down last year, probably the reason for this most recent shake-up), so this could lead to even more tallies for the Czar. On the downside, Anderson's beloved mongoosing tactics might be called out occasionally: "Any type of movement with that stick and arm to stop progression of a player, they’re going to be very, very strict on it."I think the impediment to rampant goal-scoring these days has less to do with New Jersey Devils-style neutral zone trapping, or any defensive tactics, than with the fact that there are a lot of super-talented goalies around. Even the non-elite goaltenders are better than average goal-tenders used to be. Razor Catch Prey once said that we're living in a "golden age of goalies." I see no reason to disagree.
Of course it says quite a lot about the Czar that he can score so many goals in this goalie golden age. And the fact that Jarome Iginla could score 50 goals in last year's Western Conference really says something.
The way I see it, John Anderson' up-tempo style of play + new rules' giving big forwards more scoring chances + the Czar= lots and lots and lots of goals. My bold prediction is that Kovy tops his career record of 52 this year.
News from Everywhere
- It appears Chris Pronger has gotten himself a blog. And he can spell! So far the content isn't spell-binding: it's mostly stuff about groins and re-hydrating. I suspect things will get more interesting when the season starts (more hilarious attempted murders on the ice, juicy secrets about Teemu Selanne's locker-room voodoo rituals, etc. ). Big Shooter, have at it with the nasty comments. He does allow them.
- Razor Catch Prey has already reported on this, but it appears the San Jose Sharks' young and talented checking center Torrey Mitchell has gone down with a fractured something or other and will be out for eight full weeks. What is it with the Sharks and injuries? You'd think they played hockey all the time or something. Anyway, the Sharks now have a gaping hole on the Mike Grier Line...might I steal a line from Razor and suggest Todd White? And in return:
- Meanwhile, Steve Stamkos is already scoring goals and whatnot. The Vinny-less Bolts beat the Crosby-and-Malkin-featuring Penguins the other day. My. Also, Sergei Gonchar is injured. Both he and Ryan Whitney will be out for a few weeks. Kris Letang will provide some points, but this is really going to be a stumbling block for the Pens: Whitney and Gonch were their top scoring defensemen.
- Thrashers training camp is on! Mr. Practice has some excellent reports here. My favorite part:
Slava was talking to the police officer who was watching the locker room door and said "You should see my dog, big black German shepherd, OMG."
- Some pictures of training camp here. Report of Day 1 from Mike Knobler here.
- Mrs. Lehtonen at Fire Wagon Hockey is freaking out over the lack of pictures coming her way. I would have gone up to Duluth this weekend and photographed the boys in action, but I felt it was more important to sit on my couch and gaze meaningfully at the TV screen.
- John Anderson talks to Mike Knobler, seems confident as ever. Jason Williams might play center on the Czar Line. It'll be interesting to see how things play out.
- Very Serious Sports Commentator Jeff Schultz knows in advance exactly how everything will unfold. What a joke.
- Elsewhere in the world: Regardless of your political slant, does any thinking person actually believe Congress should PASS this piece of shit?
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Supply and Demand
First off, scroll down and read Shooter's post. I hate to bump him so quickly, and he rightly starts out by directing everyone's attention to the Ryder Cup. There is nothing quite like it. I had never thought of it before, but I realized while listening to it on the radio today that I really just don't like individual sports. As much as I enjoy golf, it is missing that element of playing for something bigger than yourself (vote McCain), and the Ryder Cup injects that into a sport that really needs it. The whole weekend feels like that moment in Miracle when Mike Eruzzioni yells "I play for... the United States of America!" Well for one week every other year, so do FIGJAM, Justin Leonard, Stewart Cink, Jim Furyk, Boo Weekly, and Anthony Kim.
Back to hockey, there's a new development that just might make our dreams of a Czar Train line or McLaren/Hainsey pairing come true. Torrey Mitchell of the San Jose Sharks has gone down with a broken leg. TSN is saying he'll be out at least 8 weeks. I don't know if you've ever broken a bone before, but as I remember it, it takes a heck of a lot longer than that before you feel like playing professional hockey again. So the Sharks may just be in need of a stopgap at Center. They may even be in the market for somebody along the lines of Todd White. Now, with his cap hit, they'll have to offload at least 2 players to make sure they're under the limit. We here at the Chronicle have a couple of suggestions for them.
Back to hockey, there's a new development that just might make our dreams of a Czar Train line or McLaren/Hainsey pairing come true. Torrey Mitchell of the San Jose Sharks has gone down with a broken leg. TSN is saying he'll be out at least 8 weeks. I don't know if you've ever broken a bone before, but as I remember it, it takes a heck of a lot longer than that before you feel like playing professional hockey again. So the Sharks may just be in need of a stopgap at Center. They may even be in the market for somebody along the lines of Todd White. Now, with his cap hit, they'll have to offload at least 2 players to make sure they're under the limit. We here at the Chronicle have a couple of suggestions for them.
Jump On Board Folks
First off, many congratulations to the United States Ryder Cup team on their victory today. It is nice to know that we are better at golf than the Europeans. Not sure why that matters so much to me, but it does.
Now then, isn't it great that training camp is officially underway! I'm really starting to get pumped about the season. It's not going to be as bad as some say. For those of you who have not renewed your season tickets, I say what are you waiting on?!?!? Yes, we haven't been that good in the past. No, we don't have the ideal ownership. Yes, ticket prices went up.
But you know what... it's still hockey. The last time I checked there was nothing in my season ticket holder contract that assured me the Thrashers would be a winner. Spare me the argument that you want to get the most bang for your buck and only have tickets when a certain winning season is on the horizon. I understand the argument. Don't agree with it, but understand it.
I love watching hockey. I love watching NHL hockey in person. Anything above that is icing on the cake. If you haven't renewed yet because of ownership or poor management, that's your call. But before the puck drops on Oct 10th, I urge you to take one last minute to think about things. Is it really worth it to miss an entire season of something you really love just to prove a point? A point by the way, that ownership and everyone in the organization is very well aware of. Do you really think that the organization is trying to lose?
As in most things in life, take a deep breath. Realize that you love hockey, AND JUST GO AHEAD AND RENEW YOUR TICKETS!!!!! The arena is more fun with you there (well, most of you anyway!).
Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
For The Blueland Chronicle, I'm Big Shooter.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Is Bogo Ready for the NHL?
Mirtle wonders whether eighteen-year-old Zacho Bogosian is old enough to "make an immediate impact" in the National Hockey League. Actually, he doesn't wonder; he's certain that "the facts tell us that Zach Bogosian, a big physical defenceman in junior hockey, turned 18 just two months ago and is going to have a hard time stepping right into the NHL."
To which I would answer: How does he know? What "facts" tell him this? PERHAPS Bogosian isn't NHL-ready, but perhaps he is. We don't know yet. That's what training camp is for.
Elsewhere in his post Mirtle says:
It's very, very rare than an 18-year-old defenceman can make any sort of impact in the NHL, and to do so on what appears to be an awful team like the Thrashers would be downright impossible. It makes zero sense to rush Bogosian into the NHL when, if he plays more than nine games this season, a year of his entry level deal will be eaten up.
Bogosian has been compared to Rob Blake and to Chris Pronger; both of them entered the league at age 18 and put up some impressive numbers.
I don't quite follow Mirtle's logic about the awfulness of the Thrashers being an even bigger impediment to Bogosian's making an impact than his age. Surely if the Thrashers are as awful as Mirtle believes, their awfulness would allow Bogosian to have an even greater impact than normal.
Mirtle also seems worried that if Anderson and co. allow Bogosian to play more than 9 games this season the Thrashers will somehow have wasted one year of his entry-level contract.
Who cares? If Bogosian is ready to play in the NHL, he'll play. If he plays he'll more than likely make an impact. What does it matter if the first year of his entry-level contract is 08-09 and not 09-10? If the kid gets results, etc. etc...
Everything Doc Mirtle says in the way of predictions should be taken with a grain of salt, of course. This is the same Mirtle who--along with most other journalists in the echo chambers of the mainstream hockey media--predicted the 07-08 Thrashers would make the playoffs, what with awesome players like Kovalchuk, Kozlov, Hossa, and Zhitnik (such impressive numbers in 06-7!).
If Bogo is NHL-ready, he'll play. A first season on the third defensive pairing should be a relatively easy way for him to begin his big league development. And if he's not ready, we have every reason to believe Anderson will give him more time in juniors.
To which I would answer: How does he know? What "facts" tell him this? PERHAPS Bogosian isn't NHL-ready, but perhaps he is. We don't know yet. That's what training camp is for.
Elsewhere in his post Mirtle says:
It's very, very rare than an 18-year-old defenceman can make any sort of impact in the NHL, and to do so on what appears to be an awful team like the Thrashers would be downright impossible. It makes zero sense to rush Bogosian into the NHL when, if he plays more than nine games this season, a year of his entry level deal will be eaten up.
Bogosian has been compared to Rob Blake and to Chris Pronger; both of them entered the league at age 18 and put up some impressive numbers.
I don't quite follow Mirtle's logic about the awfulness of the Thrashers being an even bigger impediment to Bogosian's making an impact than his age. Surely if the Thrashers are as awful as Mirtle believes, their awfulness would allow Bogosian to have an even greater impact than normal.
Mirtle also seems worried that if Anderson and co. allow Bogosian to play more than 9 games this season the Thrashers will somehow have wasted one year of his entry-level contract.
Who cares? If Bogosian is ready to play in the NHL, he'll play. If he plays he'll more than likely make an impact. What does it matter if the first year of his entry-level contract is 08-09 and not 09-10? If the kid gets results, etc. etc...
Everything Doc Mirtle says in the way of predictions should be taken with a grain of salt, of course. This is the same Mirtle who--along with most other journalists in the echo chambers of the mainstream hockey media--predicted the 07-08 Thrashers would make the playoffs, what with awesome players like Kovalchuk, Kozlov, Hossa, and Zhitnik (such impressive numbers in 06-7!).
If Bogo is NHL-ready, he'll play. A first season on the third defensive pairing should be a relatively easy way for him to begin his big league development. And if he's not ready, we have every reason to believe Anderson will give him more time in juniors.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Just a Thought
Ilya Kovalchuk - Erik Christensen - Jonathan Cheechoo
Slava Kozlov - Patrick O'Sullivan - Jason Williams
Eric Perrin - Bryan Little - Colby Armstrong
Eric Boulton - Marty Reasoner - Chris Thorburn
Ron Hainsey - Kyle McLaren
Tobias Enstrom - Niclas Havelid
Zach Bogosian - Mathieu Schneider
Kari Lehtonen
Johan Hedberg
Never gonna happen, of course, but there it is. Happy weekend, everybody.
Slava Kozlov - Patrick O'Sullivan - Jason Williams
Eric Perrin - Bryan Little - Colby Armstrong
Eric Boulton - Marty Reasoner - Chris Thorburn
Ron Hainsey - Kyle McLaren
Tobias Enstrom - Niclas Havelid
Zach Bogosian - Mathieu Schneider
Kari Lehtonen
Johan Hedberg
Never gonna happen, of course, but there it is. Happy weekend, everybody.
Thrashers Porn/Czar Porn
This is the first installment of a string of video clips to get you in the mood for the new season.
Ignore the goal by that Slovakian guy.
Ignore the goal by that Slovakian guy.
Patrick O'Sullivan Still Hasn't Re-Signed
Kings training camp starts awfully soon, so GM Dean Lombardi (he of San Jose Sharks fame) has asked him not to show up until a deal is done. Kings beat writer Rich Hammond has a brief interview with Lombardi:
LOMBARDI: ``A little honesty...We're not very close. That's the truth. What I'm most concerned about is, Sully has made great strides but he has to continue to make strides if he's going to put up big numbers on a good team. There's a big difference between being a 50- or 60-point scorer on a team that's out of the playoffs in January, and doing it on a good team.
If so, what team is he talking to?
LOMBARDI: ``A little honesty...We're not very close. That's the truth. What I'm most concerned about is, Sully has made great strides but he has to continue to make strides if he's going to put up big numbers on a good team. There's a big difference between being a 50- or 60-point scorer on a team that's out of the playoffs in January, and doing it on a good team.
``Let's get real. It was just 14 months ago -- 14 months, 16 months, whatever it was -- that we had to put him in the minors. To his credit...he sulked at first but then he figured it out, earned his way up and proved himself. But there's another step you have to take in order to be a good player on a good team. My concern is that this is not the time for him to be sitting on the sideline.''
Hmmm. So what's the deal? Are the Kings refusing to pay a player like O'Sullivan the big bucks he wants or is O'Sullivan talking to another team?If so, what team is he talking to?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Just to make Morty Salivate...
Great analysis from Ryan Garner over at Hockey Buzz of the Sharks' cap predicament and who is most likely on their way out. For those too lazy to click and read, the cliffs notes version states that the Sharks will probably move some combination of McLaren, Cheechoo, and/or Mike Grier.
Plenty of analysis has already been done on this blog about everything brought to the table by McLaren and Cheechoo. McLaren would be an immediate improvement, provide a physical presence (not what he once possessed, but still better than we've got), and is just as good as Matthieu Schneider in a younger package. Cheechoo is a former Rocket Richard Trophy winner who had a rough year last season. On either the opposite wing from Kovy or Kozy, he'd have huge potential in Blueland.
Our loyal readers already know that we here at the Chronicle absolutely love us some Mike Grier. This is a tough, hard working, American guy who came up through the Oilers organization and can contribute on the PP and PK, stick up for your goal scorers by dropping the gloves, and is a great locker room presence. I remember having his rookie card. Where most guys' card featured a picture of them skating around, or at least posing for a promotional shot in their jersey, Mikey Grier's card had a picture of him sitting in full gear on a table in the locker room, grinning while munching on a big piece of pizza.
What the hell? DW, I say take all three of the Sharks' hands. If "an NHL team" just offered you "two NHL players" for Pavelic, make an offer to the Sharks of Pav and White for all three, McLaren, Cheechoo, and Grier. Talk about making your team better right away. Add to that the fact that Cheechoo is under contract until 2011, and the future looks pretty good, too.
Edit: Since apparently I STILL can't get my html tags to work, here's your link: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=16796
Plenty of analysis has already been done on this blog about everything brought to the table by McLaren and Cheechoo. McLaren would be an immediate improvement, provide a physical presence (not what he once possessed, but still better than we've got), and is just as good as Matthieu Schneider in a younger package. Cheechoo is a former Rocket Richard Trophy winner who had a rough year last season. On either the opposite wing from Kovy or Kozy, he'd have huge potential in Blueland.
Our loyal readers already know that we here at the Chronicle absolutely love us some Mike Grier. This is a tough, hard working, American guy who came up through the Oilers organization and can contribute on the PP and PK, stick up for your goal scorers by dropping the gloves, and is a great locker room presence. I remember having his rookie card. Where most guys' card featured a picture of them skating around, or at least posing for a promotional shot in their jersey, Mikey Grier's card had a picture of him sitting in full gear on a table in the locker room, grinning while munching on a big piece of pizza.
What the hell? DW, I say take all three of the Sharks' hands. If "an NHL team" just offered you "two NHL players" for Pavelic, make an offer to the Sharks of Pav and White for all three, McLaren, Cheechoo, and Grier. Talk about making your team better right away. Add to that the fact that Cheechoo is under contract until 2011, and the future looks pretty good, too.
Edit: Since apparently I STILL can't get my html tags to work, here's your link: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=16796
Bogo, Come On Down
The bad news: The Thrashers prospects lost to the Dallas Stars prospects.
The good news: We came in second overall in the tournament.
The even better news: Zach Bogosian scored. Unassisted, in this case.
The good news: We came in second overall in the tournament.
The even better news: Zach Bogosian scored. Unassisted, in this case.
One More Note on the Town Hall
Correct me if I'm wrong, readers, but I got the impression from Waddell that the Atlanta Spirit Group weren't willing to put up any money for Mathieu Schneider. Make of that what you will.
Notes from the Townhall Meeting
So last night was a season ticket holders' town hall meeting meant to introduce fans (perhaps people who haven't renewed their season tickets in particular) to new coach John Anderson and to let them grill Don Waddell on this and that.
All four scribes from the Chronicle were present. This is what went down (I don't have the will or patience to write this in coherent sentences, so it's all in note form; enjoy):
Nothing that interesting really. It was exciting being in Philips again, and almost as exciting as loafing in the CNN Center beforehand. Hockey season is truly upon us.
Nothing inspires confidence like John Anderson. Very compelling speaker, witty and warm and wise, and his plan for next season basically consists of adapting our system to match whatever team we're playing. Like he told us at the bloggers meeting, he plans to play a much more offensive style of hockey, uptempo and more in the other team's zone than our zone. He intends on people other than Kovalchuk scoring twenty goals and more, and presumably on Kovalchuk scoring 100. Sounds good to me.
A pleasant surprise: Ron Hainsey was there! He took a few questions from the crowd and gave thoughtful, interesting answers. Nice dude, I'm excited to have him in Atlanta (he says he thinks a D-corps of Enstrom, Bogo, and himself looks pretty good; I can't disagree), and best of all he reminds me 100% of Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. Columbus fans talk about how he resembles Orlando Bloom, and he does a bit...but when he opens his mouth I literally hear the voice of Christian Bale as Bateman. I think we've discovered a new motif for the Chronicle:
I can't wait for his power play goals.
Now then, on to Don Waddell. Wait, before I get to him, did I mention how much I like John Anderson? He's awesome. And he's going to horse-whip the Thrashers into playing a more offensive game. I mean, why shouldn't we when we have a guy like Kovalchuk? Hainsey said Ilya was one of the main reasons he came to Atlanta. Good for him.
Anderson also said something about our team becoming a chameleon, adapting itself to the opposing team's game. Hainsey noted the importance of each player on the team playing the exact same style/system, whatever that style/system may be. Like those Anaheim Ducks or those Detroit Red Wings, who play very different styles but win Stanley Cups and such. Speaking of Stanley Cups, Anderson said that his goal isn't to get into the playoffs. His goal is to win the Stanley Cup.
Ambition. Confidence. We of the Chronicle like it.
After Anderson and Hainsey finished their spiel D-Wad took the mic and fielded some questions from the audience. Not all of them hostile. Most of the questions were excellent ones, and Don answered them pretty well I thought. I just can't remember anything that was said now. Oh well.
Oh, yes: Apparently Slava Kozlov started sucking in the second half of last season because he was horribly injured and, John McCain-like, couldn't lift his arm above his shoulder or something. Poor Slava....though apparently he's 100% now and will presumably score 30 goals next year. I hope so. I love Slava (he and Hossa's line were the real reason I even got into the Thrashers; them and that other Russian dude) and I hope he'll revive himself this season. Really, why wouldn't he?
Someone asked a question about the Thrashers franchise moving to Las Vegas or Kansas City or some God-forsaken ghost town in Canada. Don said it's not going to happen, as the ownership also owns Philips Arena and something something something.
Basically, we're not moving. Good.
A lot of people asked questions that concerned, in one way or another, the possibility of Kovalchuk being traded. Don said he thinks Ilya is committed to the team and the money we can give him. In response to two questions that recommended urinating on the Czar's skates and running him out of town, Don simply said--as gently as he could--that guys like the Czar don't come along often and you don't trade a generational elite talent (genius, even) for draft picks and the Sedin Twins.
I wasn't give much comfort by Don's answers to questions about how much money the Ownership allows him to play with. I got the impression that he's on a tight stingy leash indeed. He DID say that they firmly supported pursuing Brian Campbell with mega-millions, so that's something I guess. Perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems that the ownership, for whatever reason (the legal imbroglio they're wrapped up in at the moment?), aren't willing to pay enough money for a winning team. Depressing, but not totally hope-destroying. The Atlanta Spirit might inspired premonitions of doom, but John Anderson really does inspire confidence and a hope that doesn't feel totally bogus. Hope that doesn't feel bogus at all, really.
Don also said that "an NHL team" had made him an offer of two "NHL players" for one of our fine goalies. Who who and who, I wonder? I suppose we'll never know. Unless Mike Knobler puts on his muckraker hat and gets seriously dirty.
Some dude from Parallel Universe, USA said something about Hossa being superior to Kovalchuk last year and got applause from exactly one other person. It takes all types to make a world, I suppose.
Before the Q&A Monsieur Catalogues and I had a good time chatting with the Falconer, mainly about music. He doesn't seem terribly confident about the 08-09 Thrashers, and that's fair enough, but my view is more agnostic. Anderson inspires confidence, like I've said a million times, but the team is full of question marks. Not ciphers or black holes, but question marks. We simply DON'T KNOW how Erik Christensen will do as Kovy's top-line center. He's never played that position before, and it might very well be his natural place. He didn't have that opportunity in Pittsburgh, where he was usually stuck on the third and fourth lines as a winger, not a center. How would, say, Marc Savard perform in those circumstances? Players like Christensen need to be given top six forward minutes to see how they'll perform.
Don said that the Thrash will use Marty Reasoner in a more offensive way than Mac-T did in Edmonton...Who knows how that'll turn out? Who knows how Jason Williams will peform? Kozlov, Bogosian, Armstrong, etc. etc. etc...
There are just a lot of unknowns, as some guy once said.
I consider myself a reasonably skeptical and critical guy, but I do choose to be hopeful about this season. There's no concrete reason for fatalism or doom-mongering, I think, and at the very least we will have improved our defense drastically and embraced a style of play that fits us much better than previous systems.
Like Anderson said, at some point last season we were in first place and then went on an eight game skid. Part of making to the playoffs (and, of course, winning the Stanley Cup) is shaving off those losses and increasing our winning streaks. Like I said in my write-up about the bloggers meeting, Anderson offers a way of looking at the Thrashers that deals in do-able particulars (increasing our winning streaks, getting depth players to score more goals than they did last year) and not in apocalyptic generalizations ("the Thrashers suck," etc.). He could, step by step, make us into a serious winning team.
Another reason to be hopeful: Don Waddell knows we shouldn't do something fuck-stupid like trade Kovalchuk.
Do we have the right stuff? Time will tell.
All four scribes from the Chronicle were present. This is what went down (I don't have the will or patience to write this in coherent sentences, so it's all in note form; enjoy):
Nothing that interesting really. It was exciting being in Philips again, and almost as exciting as loafing in the CNN Center beforehand. Hockey season is truly upon us.
Nothing inspires confidence like John Anderson. Very compelling speaker, witty and warm and wise, and his plan for next season basically consists of adapting our system to match whatever team we're playing. Like he told us at the bloggers meeting, he plans to play a much more offensive style of hockey, uptempo and more in the other team's zone than our zone. He intends on people other than Kovalchuk scoring twenty goals and more, and presumably on Kovalchuk scoring 100. Sounds good to me.
A pleasant surprise: Ron Hainsey was there! He took a few questions from the crowd and gave thoughtful, interesting answers. Nice dude, I'm excited to have him in Atlanta (he says he thinks a D-corps of Enstrom, Bogo, and himself looks pretty good; I can't disagree), and best of all he reminds me 100% of Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. Columbus fans talk about how he resembles Orlando Bloom, and he does a bit...but when he opens his mouth I literally hear the voice of Christian Bale as Bateman. I think we've discovered a new motif for the Chronicle:
I can't wait for his power play goals.
Now then, on to Don Waddell. Wait, before I get to him, did I mention how much I like John Anderson? He's awesome. And he's going to horse-whip the Thrashers into playing a more offensive game. I mean, why shouldn't we when we have a guy like Kovalchuk? Hainsey said Ilya was one of the main reasons he came to Atlanta. Good for him.
Anderson also said something about our team becoming a chameleon, adapting itself to the opposing team's game. Hainsey noted the importance of each player on the team playing the exact same style/system, whatever that style/system may be. Like those Anaheim Ducks or those Detroit Red Wings, who play very different styles but win Stanley Cups and such. Speaking of Stanley Cups, Anderson said that his goal isn't to get into the playoffs. His goal is to win the Stanley Cup.
Ambition. Confidence. We of the Chronicle like it.
After Anderson and Hainsey finished their spiel D-Wad took the mic and fielded some questions from the audience. Not all of them hostile. Most of the questions were excellent ones, and Don answered them pretty well I thought. I just can't remember anything that was said now. Oh well.
Oh, yes: Apparently Slava Kozlov started sucking in the second half of last season because he was horribly injured and, John McCain-like, couldn't lift his arm above his shoulder or something. Poor Slava....though apparently he's 100% now and will presumably score 30 goals next year. I hope so. I love Slava (he and Hossa's line were the real reason I even got into the Thrashers; them and that other Russian dude) and I hope he'll revive himself this season. Really, why wouldn't he?
Someone asked a question about the Thrashers franchise moving to Las Vegas or Kansas City or some God-forsaken ghost town in Canada. Don said it's not going to happen, as the ownership also owns Philips Arena and something something something.
Basically, we're not moving. Good.
A lot of people asked questions that concerned, in one way or another, the possibility of Kovalchuk being traded. Don said he thinks Ilya is committed to the team and the money we can give him. In response to two questions that recommended urinating on the Czar's skates and running him out of town, Don simply said--as gently as he could--that guys like the Czar don't come along often and you don't trade a generational elite talent (genius, even) for draft picks and the Sedin Twins.
I wasn't give much comfort by Don's answers to questions about how much money the Ownership allows him to play with. I got the impression that he's on a tight stingy leash indeed. He DID say that they firmly supported pursuing Brian Campbell with mega-millions, so that's something I guess. Perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems that the ownership, for whatever reason (the legal imbroglio they're wrapped up in at the moment?), aren't willing to pay enough money for a winning team. Depressing, but not totally hope-destroying. The Atlanta Spirit might inspired premonitions of doom, but John Anderson really does inspire confidence and a hope that doesn't feel totally bogus. Hope that doesn't feel bogus at all, really.
Don also said that "an NHL team" had made him an offer of two "NHL players" for one of our fine goalies. Who who and who, I wonder? I suppose we'll never know. Unless Mike Knobler puts on his muckraker hat and gets seriously dirty.
Some dude from Parallel Universe, USA said something about Hossa being superior to Kovalchuk last year and got applause from exactly one other person. It takes all types to make a world, I suppose.
Before the Q&A Monsieur Catalogues and I had a good time chatting with the Falconer, mainly about music. He doesn't seem terribly confident about the 08-09 Thrashers, and that's fair enough, but my view is more agnostic. Anderson inspires confidence, like I've said a million times, but the team is full of question marks. Not ciphers or black holes, but question marks. We simply DON'T KNOW how Erik Christensen will do as Kovy's top-line center. He's never played that position before, and it might very well be his natural place. He didn't have that opportunity in Pittsburgh, where he was usually stuck on the third and fourth lines as a winger, not a center. How would, say, Marc Savard perform in those circumstances? Players like Christensen need to be given top six forward minutes to see how they'll perform.
Don said that the Thrash will use Marty Reasoner in a more offensive way than Mac-T did in Edmonton...Who knows how that'll turn out? Who knows how Jason Williams will peform? Kozlov, Bogosian, Armstrong, etc. etc. etc...
There are just a lot of unknowns, as some guy once said.
I consider myself a reasonably skeptical and critical guy, but I do choose to be hopeful about this season. There's no concrete reason for fatalism or doom-mongering, I think, and at the very least we will have improved our defense drastically and embraced a style of play that fits us much better than previous systems.
Like Anderson said, at some point last season we were in first place and then went on an eight game skid. Part of making to the playoffs (and, of course, winning the Stanley Cup) is shaving off those losses and increasing our winning streaks. Like I said in my write-up about the bloggers meeting, Anderson offers a way of looking at the Thrashers that deals in do-able particulars (increasing our winning streaks, getting depth players to score more goals than they did last year) and not in apocalyptic generalizations ("the Thrashers suck," etc.). He could, step by step, make us into a serious winning team.
Another reason to be hopeful: Don Waddell knows we shouldn't do something fuck-stupid like trade Kovalchuk.
Do we have the right stuff? Time will tell.
More Defensemen Hoping to be Traded
The Red Wings are looking to get back under the cap. With that said, there are about four defensemen that the Red Wings are talking about moving: Andreas Lilja, Derek Meech, Kyle Quincey or Brett Lebda. Lilja is the highest paid one, so they'd want to move him hopefully. Not a bad guy either, but he is older and has less of an upside apparently according to this article
"We got a lot of players battling for jobs," coach Mike Babcock said. "I got 10 NHL defensemen, can't have 10. I got a whole pile of NHL forwards, can't have that; got three NHL goalies, can't have that. So there's going to be some real battles."
The thing is though, all of these players love and I mean love being Red Wings. How can you blame them, except for wanting to be physically in Detroit, but from a professional standpoint, why would want to leave?
So there are four more guys, that maybe we could pick up. Obviously, the Wings don't want anymore players. They'd go for a draft pick. So take what you will. There it is, and so it was. More options.
"We got a lot of players battling for jobs," coach Mike Babcock said. "I got 10 NHL defensemen, can't have 10. I got a whole pile of NHL forwards, can't have that; got three NHL goalies, can't have that. So there's going to be some real battles."
The thing is though, all of these players love and I mean love being Red Wings. How can you blame them, except for wanting to be physically in Detroit, but from a professional standpoint, why would want to leave?
So there are four more guys, that maybe we could pick up. Obviously, the Wings don't want anymore players. They'd go for a draft pick. So take what you will. There it is, and so it was. More options.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
No Schneider, Nilson?
Schneider has cleared waivers, meaning all 29 teams passed on taking him off the Ducks' hands. So officially he's now on the roster of the Duck's AHL affiliate, and he'd have to clear waivers once again in order to go back on the big club's roster. Eklund claims that he's being told somebody will pick him up next time through. Not sure why a team would pass on him this time and make plans to snatch him up in the future.
The Flames have placed Marcus Nilson on waivers now, but I'd expect him to clear as well. While I like the guy, he's not going to be a difference maker on anybody's roster. He hasn't played a full season since 03-04 when he actually played in 83 regular season games by virtue of being traded from the Panthers to the Flames mid-season and playing in every game for each club while on their roster. In the past three years seasons Nilson has managed only 37 points over 180 games in between stints on the IR with knee, hip, and concussion issues. In his defense, he has also been a +22 over those three seasons while playing on the bottom two lines in Calgary. Not a bad stat at all. He works hard, and is kind of like Brad Larsen-light.
All in all, I wouldn't expect to see him wearing a new jersey at the end of the day. Maybe the Flames are making room on their roster to make room for a blockbuster trade that will put Iginla on a line with the Czar in Atlanta.
The Flames have placed Marcus Nilson on waivers now, but I'd expect him to clear as well. While I like the guy, he's not going to be a difference maker on anybody's roster. He hasn't played a full season since 03-04 when he actually played in 83 regular season games by virtue of being traded from the Panthers to the Flames mid-season and playing in every game for each club while on their roster. In the past three years seasons Nilson has managed only 37 points over 180 games in between stints on the IR with knee, hip, and concussion issues. In his defense, he has also been a +22 over those three seasons while playing on the bottom two lines in Calgary. Not a bad stat at all. He works hard, and is kind of like Brad Larsen-light.
All in all, I wouldn't expect to see him wearing a new jersey at the end of the day. Maybe the Flames are making room on their roster to make room for a blockbuster trade that will put Iginla on a line with the Czar in Atlanta.
More on Schneider
I was re-reading James Mirtle's post about it. I didn't realize how waivers exactly worked.
Mirtle says,""The waiver system ranks teams worst to first based on their finish last season until Nov. 1, meaning Tampa Bay would have first crack at Schneider. The Kings, Thrashers, Blues and Islanders would then be next in line."
Now with that in mind, The Kings have already passed. So, in theory, we are next in the decision process. If that's true. I just ask DW, please, please please. Burke and Waddell are buddies. So let's hope at today''s town hall, we all get a little surprise. I'm a hopeful person if you haven't guessed.
Mirtle says,""The waiver system ranks teams worst to first based on their finish last season until Nov. 1, meaning Tampa Bay would have first crack at Schneider. The Kings, Thrashers, Blues and Islanders would then be next in line."
Now with that in mind, The Kings have already passed. So, in theory, we are next in the decision process. If that's true. I just ask DW, please, please please. Burke and Waddell are buddies. So let's hope at today''s town hall, we all get a little surprise. I'm a hopeful person if you haven't guessed.
Kings Pass on Schneider
Both Earl Sleek of the estimable blog Battle of California (one of my favorites on the Interweb, and based out of my favorite state) and the Kings beat writer Rich Hammond are reporting that the next-in-the-waivers-line L.A. Kings will more than likely pass on Mathieu Schneider. Perhaps they got sick of him years ago. Or they're desperately heaping wads of money at the strangely re-signing-resistant Patrick O'Sullivan and don't want to sacrifice him for a 220-year-old.
Anyway, that leaves us next in line.
Hainsey-Schneider
Enstrom-Havelid
Bogosian-Klee/X/Valabik
or some other combination thereof.
Do it.
Anyway, that leaves us next in line.
Hainsey-Schneider
Enstrom-Havelid
Bogosian-Klee/X/Valabik
or some other combination thereof.
Do it.
Thrashers Prospects Continue Their March of Undefeated Demolition
The Thrashers beat the Red Wings yesterday in what sounds like an exciting 3-2 game that culminated in a shootout.
The Thrash are undefeated in the Traverse City Prospects Tournament, 3-0-0, and they're set to play in the Championship Game against the similarly undefeated Dallas Stars.
The best thing about this tournament is that the most valuable players have been the ones everyone's been talking about for a while now: Spencer Machacek, Riley Holzapfel, Angelo Esposito, Arturs Kulda, and that Zach Bogosian guy.
Ben Wright has highlights here.
Concerning the Stars: you kids know what to do. Destroy them.
The Thrash are undefeated in the Traverse City Prospects Tournament, 3-0-0, and they're set to play in the Championship Game against the similarly undefeated Dallas Stars.
The best thing about this tournament is that the most valuable players have been the ones everyone's been talking about for a while now: Spencer Machacek, Riley Holzapfel, Angelo Esposito, Arturs Kulda, and that Zach Bogosian guy.
Ben Wright has highlights here.
Concerning the Stars: you kids know what to do. Destroy them.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Ducks Put Schneider on Waivers...Should We?
Kevin Allen of USA Today reporting that the Anaheim Ducks are clearing cap space for the imminent signing of Teemu Selanne by putting Mathieu Schneider on waivers.
He's priced around $5.75 million, and the waivers system is a "worst-to-first" contraption (as Mirtle usefully reminds us), so the Bolts might snatch him up before we can. Then again, could they handle the cap hit?
We certainly could.
The dude's like a million years old but his numbers are still very impressive.
I vote yes.
He's priced around $5.75 million, and the waivers system is a "worst-to-first" contraption (as Mirtle usefully reminds us), so the Bolts might snatch him up before we can. Then again, could they handle the cap hit?
We certainly could.
The dude's like a million years old but his numbers are still very impressive.
I vote yes.
NHL to Vegas?
James Mirtle, who seems to be in a Vegas state of mind these days (and really, why shouldn't he be?), has happened upon a Las Vegas Sun article that claims "Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer, MGM Studios CEO Harry Sloan and Wall Street financier David Bonderman" are partnering to bring an NHL franchise to Vegas by October 2010.
Good, I say. The best part? The proposed 20,000-seat arena has a good chance of being built right behind the Strip! After the game you can stumble right across the street to the Bellagio and watch the dancing fountain show, drunk.
Okay, so what's the name going to be?
My suggestions:
The Vegas Sinatras
The Las Vegas Wayne Newton (not plural, mind, but singular)
The Las Vegas Lounge Lizards
The Vegas Siegfrieds
The Las Vegas Mafia
...anyone else have better ideas?
Whatever name they choose, their mascot should be a dancing slot machine.
Hockey Moms Against Sarah Palin
Devastating ad, absolutely devastating.
I kind of like the one with the big ear-rings and the tacky leopard-print coat.
I kind of like the one with the big ear-rings and the tacky leopard-print coat.
The Chronicle Sells Out
Massive apologies to Big Shooter for bumping down his lovely elegy for Jack Falla, but we of the Chronicle (or I, acting unilaterally) have an announcement to make.
We're doing ads now. Strangely, this coincides with the much more popular Pensblog's announcement that they, too, are doing ads.
The economy is in the outhouse basement and I need more money. The gigolo business just can't cover all my expenses anymore. So don't be alarmed if you see ugly disfiguring ads in the right column from now on. It's all about money:
We're doing ads now. Strangely, this coincides with the much more popular Pensblog's announcement that they, too, are doing ads.
The economy is in the outhouse basement and I need more money. The gigolo business just can't cover all my expenses anymore. So don't be alarmed if you see ugly disfiguring ads in the right column from now on. It's all about money:
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sad Goodbye To One Of The Best
Sudden deaths are difficult to take. Seems like we've had our share lately. Jack Falla passed away at age 62.
Most of you probably don't know Jack. Put simply, he wrote one of the best books of all time, "Home Ice". Jack was a hockey writer, and Home Ice was his best work. Yes it is a book about hockey. But it is much more than that. There are lots of books about the sport hockey. But very few that focus on the relationships you make through hockey.
Home Ice was about Falla's backyard rink he built for his family. He wrote about all the good times family and friends had on the rink. It is one of the few books that describes hockey the way I see it, as much more than just the greatest sport on the planet. He focuses on hockey at it's very core, friendships.
I hope I have left you wanting to read this great book. If so, I'll make it very easy for you... click here. Jack has a brand new book out called "Open Ice". While I recommend Home Ice first, look here to read up on his new book.
RIP Jack. Hopefully you are somewhere that is cold year round and where the backyard rink never closes.
For The Blueland Chronicle, I'm Big Shooter.
The Old Man's Back Again
Apparently, he is coming home soon this week (I know Mortimer alluded to this, but something was written up today apparently). He ran in the Silver Forest in Moscow and practiced with some trainers in Russia. God bless.
How about that crap job on photo shop I did!
More News from Nowhere
Robert Lang is old, signs with Canadiens. Mats Sundin out of the question.
Wayne Himself says the league's reliance on new, non-traditional hockey markets is a good and healthy thing. Coyotes AT LEAST make it to the playoffs this year. Surely.
Mirtle thinks the Penguins might take a hit this season. Compared to last season, that is. It's possible, I reckon...but assuming either Crosby or Malkin, or both, stay healthy they can't have THAT much to worry about. Unless Fleury goes. Fleury goes and their hopes and dreams get thrown in Guantanamo along with the former librarian of Wasilla, Alaska.
Ovechkin is back on North American soil. That means Kovalchuk can't be far behind...Tarik El-Bashir's take here. Craig Custance's here.
Thrashers' prospects defeat Rangers' prospects up at Traverse City tournament. They haven't allowed a goal yet. Awesome awesome awesome.
From here on the news is political, so if you can't stand it, look away now.
In non-hockey news, the economy is collapsing and your house/apartment is worth nothing. You'll be homeless in a fortnight and your bank has already burned all your savings and eaten the ashes.
In that vein: Merrill-Lynch, apparently some kind of banking and investment institution owned by relatives of great gay American poet James Merrill, has no choice but to be eaten by an outfit called Bank of America, which reporters claim is also a bank.
Obama finally shows signs of non-pussydom (i.e., actually standing up to McCain's moronic smears and made up shit).
Apparently, a slight majority of God's Own Nation enjoys the banking and housing crisis and fully intends to support a regimen of more Bush-style tax cuts matched with cuts in spend--, er, tax cuts matched with heaps of borrowed money lavished on our eternal wars against Russia, Iran, and Evil. Apparently this will make economic sense when Ilya Kovalchuk is in Gitmo and Johan Hedberg is food on Sarah Palin' plate.
Deep Thoughts for the Day
So I'm awake and watching the Thrashers' prospects beat the Lightning's prospects on the old NHL Network, and I says to myself, I says:
1. One day in the future (and hopefully some other days after that) Arturs Kulda and Zach Bogosian are going to be a Moby Dick WHALE of a defensive pairing/power play unit.
2. Zach Bogosian has a Dantean HELL of a slap shot.
3. The thought of Zach Bogosian's slap shot and Ilya Kovalchuk's one-timer sharing the same ice is enough to make me SALIVA salivate.
4. In addition to "Bogo" and "The Bull," Zach Bogosian will also be occasionally known as Zacho Bogosian around these parts, so as to maximize the number of O sounds.
1. One day in the future (and hopefully some other days after that) Arturs Kulda and Zach Bogosian are going to be a Moby Dick WHALE of a defensive pairing/power play unit.
2. Zach Bogosian has a Dantean HELL of a slap shot.
3. The thought of Zach Bogosian's slap shot and Ilya Kovalchuk's one-timer sharing the same ice is enough to make me SALIVA salivate.
4. In addition to "Bogo" and "The Bull," Zach Bogosian will also be occasionally known as Zacho Bogosian around these parts, so as to maximize the number of O sounds.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Custance Meets JR
Via Puck Daddy:
Roenick: I haven't become as popular as I've become in the sport just because of my on-ice numbers. People know me because of the things I'd say. There are a lot of people who say negative publicity is what opens up doors — whatever kind of doors it opens. Nobody wants to hang out with blah, 'We came out, wanted to work hard tonight.' Nobody wants to hear the cliches that go around way too many times. They want to hear, 'Screw that guy or the refs sucked.' The media has made me a lot more popular, but they have thrown me under the bus, too.
SN: So what will it be after you retire — television, radio, movies, coaching ...
Roenick: I think all of the above. I really want to look at the opportunity of staying in the game in the management side. I don't know about coaching, I wouldn't mind being a coach. I wouldn't want to do the two or three years in the minors before I spend my time in the show. I have a couple guys I work with who are determined to make me a Hollywood star. They put me in all these things to get my resume as many TV jobs as possible. I've been in early talks with Sirius Radio, doing a show for Sirius. I have a lot of business deals constantly coming my way.
Our Craig recently had a sit-down with the Greatest Man on the Planet.
Highlights:
SN: Everybody assumes you'll do TV after you retire. Is that where you're headed?
Roenick: I love the camera. The camera is great for me. It was something that I gravitated to very quickly when I became a pro. My first attitude was, the media has a job to do. I'm going to make it as easy as I can for them to do their job. In doing that, I said what I felt, and wasn't worried about the consequences of it. It just blossomed from there. I'm one of those guys who doesn't care if he looks like an idiot. Embarrassment isn't in my vocabulary.
SN: Everybody assumes you'll do TV after you retire. Is that where you're headed?
Roenick: I love the camera. The camera is great for me. It was something that I gravitated to very quickly when I became a pro. My first attitude was, the media has a job to do. I'm going to make it as easy as I can for them to do their job. In doing that, I said what I felt, and wasn't worried about the consequences of it. It just blossomed from there. I'm one of those guys who doesn't care if he looks like an idiot. Embarrassment isn't in my vocabulary.
...
SN: How has your media-friendly attitude affected your career?
Roenick: I haven't become as popular as I've become in the sport just because of my on-ice numbers. People know me because of the things I'd say. There are a lot of people who say negative publicity is what opens up doors — whatever kind of doors it opens. Nobody wants to hang out with blah, 'We came out, wanted to work hard tonight.' Nobody wants to hear the cliches that go around way too many times. They want to hear, 'Screw that guy or the refs sucked.' The media has made me a lot more popular, but they have thrown me under the bus, too.
SN: So what will it be after you retire — television, radio, movies, coaching ...
Roenick: I think all of the above. I really want to look at the opportunity of staying in the game in the management side. I don't know about coaching, I wouldn't mind being a coach. I wouldn't want to do the two or three years in the minors before I spend my time in the show. I have a couple guys I work with who are determined to make me a Hollywood star. They put me in all these things to get my resume as many TV jobs as possible. I've been in early talks with Sirius Radio, doing a show for Sirius. I have a lot of business deals constantly coming my way.
P. Diddy gets the last word: "Is it wrong to want the Sharks to win it all this season so we can see Roenick with the Stanley Cup? Or, more to the point, Roenick's day with the Stanley Cup?"
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