Preview: So after finishing the Northwest division, I'm ecstatic with how the division previews are going.
There's been some great conversation and discussion over where teams will end up and how individual players will do, and there's been some positive response to the integration of teams' Community Leaders.
Unfortunately, we're shot on a couple of CL's in the Southeast division—in fact, I'm pretty sure every team needs one.
So I guess we're stuck with just one point of view. Hopefully that suffices...
For a long time, the Atlanta Thrashers weren't really good for anything. I mean, there's being an expansion team, and then there's being flat-out terrible for your entire existence. (Ironic note during the writing: I'm listening to Eternity by Big and Rich. So are the Atlanta Thrashers going to be eternally dreadful? I'm scared to find out.)
Sometimes they'd have a couple of bench-clearing brawls, but aside from that, the Thrash were usually good for a laugh...unless, of course, they were playing the Toronto Maple Leafs, in which case the Buds were good laugh for a Thrasher fan.
Following another sub-.500 season (their sixth in eight years), the Thrashers should have sought out some heavy changes, and some dramatic improvements.
Well...at least they got rid of Bobby Holik.
Roster Additions: Ron Hainsey-D (Free Agent), Eric Boulton-F (Free Agent), Jason Williams-F (F.A.), Marty Reasoner-F (F.A.).
Roster Subtractions: Bobby Holik-F (F.A.), Karel Pilar-D (F.A.), Mark Recchi-F (F.A.), Steve Rucchin-F (Retirement), Jason Krog-F (F.A.), Joel Kwiatkowski-D (F.A.), Steve McCarthy-D (Europe.)
How did 2007/'08 go? 34-40-8, 76 points, 14th in conference, fourth in Southeast division
2008/'09 Goal: Top 12 in conference, third in division
Let's break'er down...
As I said before, the Atlanta Thrashers have been bogged down by mediocrity for their entire franchise history. They’ve only finished above third in their division twice, and the lone time that the Thrashers finished first in their division, ensuring them of their first playoff spot in history, they were swept by the New York Rangers.
Because of that, one has to start to wonder how much longer young superstars like Ilya Kovalchuk are going to stick it out before the lure of greener pastures starts to drag them away from the troublesome Thrashers.
Either that or they might throw themselves off of a bridge.
To be honest, I wouldn't really blame Ilya Kovalchuk for charging a ridiculous price for his services during free agency—so long as Atlanta can't afford to keep him, he'll still be respected a bit in my eyes.
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2 months ago
Harsh. I like it.
2 months ago
Atlanta for Tavares/Hedman
2 months ago
Atlanta is last easily in their division, but not last in the East or league I think. THAT spot is reserved for the Long Islanders
2 months ago
Nice preview Bryan. Keep em coming
2 months ago
This review is so error-filled that I can't take a word of it seriously. Do some fact-checking next time. Exelby higher in the depth chart than Havelid? You're kidding, right? Popovic, McCarthy and Kwiatkowski are all playing in Russia. No mention of more than a couple of key contributors. Zhitnik was bought out a while back. If you're going to rip a team apart, at least get your facts straight before you do it.
from 2 months ago
The Zhitnik sentence I messed up on—it was meant to say "don't expect more than 10-15 points from him wherever he ends up this season". The rest of it was written in past tense, as I referenced last season, but the fact I missed out on that part of the phrase is inexcusable, you're right Chris.
As far as the Popovic/McCarthy/Kwiatkowski thing, I must've referenced an older depth chart. I can assure you that when I was researching this they were listed on the defense, but I can also tell you I didn't reference back to TSN.ca's "Whose playing in Russia" list like I try to while I researching the article, because I definitely don't remember doing that.
Exelby is listed above Havelid for the point of the article—the three I mentioned off the top of the section were the most recognizable names on this defense, as I'm sure Havelid isn't the first name off of anyone's lips when thinking of Atlanta's defense.
Thanks for keeping me honest Chris,
BT
from 2 months ago
Actually, I'm dumb....apparently I knew two of the three weren't there....read the roster subtractions...apparently I forgot to before writing
2 months ago
Bryan have so many things wrong in this article. You might want to do a little more or let me start again. You might want to DO some research before you write your next 'blog'. Feel free to read the Blueland blog on the official Thrashers page for accurate information in response to this article about the Thrashers. I think you owe all the fans an of hockey and apology.
2 months ago
don't worry about it, bry. Ben Wright has your back: http://thrashers.portspaces.com/blueland
2 months ago
Weak. Seriously, Exleby? obviously someone hasn't even watched a thrashers game. Ondrej Pavalec ring a bell? I thought not. Also, not a single mention of Bogosian or Slava Kozlov. ANd what "tools" are you speaking of from Jim Slater. Christiasen is far and away the better 3rd line center on hte team.
At least you spelled Urkel right. I promise that the next comment I make won't be as bitter or as biased as this one, but it was really too easy, I mean, you probably haven't ever watched a Thrashers game.
Learn from Ben Wright. Stay in your place.
from 2 months ago
What about Pavalec? It's not like he is getting a considerable amount of ice time this season and Kozlov is an old, washed up player who will struggle mightily without Hossa this year.... heck, he struggled with him last year.
2 months ago
Don't quit your day job Bryan. If you have to rely on your writng to pay the bills, you're sure to be homeless before hockey season starts.
2 months ago
Nice job "journalist." Not only did you get Ilya's FA year wrong, you also failed to recognize that neither Zhitnik, Mccarthy, Popovic, or Kwiatkowski are even in the Thrashers system anymore. So you chide the organization for having such a poor stable of defensemen by using the names of all the defensemn that they released this season? Nice work again. Excellent research.
Here's my opinion about hack bloggers and journalists- if you can't even figure out who is on the roster, how do you figure to be able to create an accurate analysis of what the team's strengths and weaknesses. I am just going to have to be content with thankingthe good Lord that you have a useless job like hockey blogging, instead of an important one- like a civil engineer (that's what I do for a living- something that matters) because you are obviously horrible and ill-prepared at what you set out to do.
2 months ago
I wouldn't call this idiot a "journalist" especially when anyone can join up and write for this site no matter who you are.
Bryan if you are going to do a season preview for a team you need to get your facts straight before hand and not come back later and make excuses.
You have absolutely zero knowledge of this team. If you want the fans to defend their team then write up to date info from this season and not the ones of past. Don't expect fans to defend this piece of garbage.
2 months ago
Wow. That's all I can. It's one thing to make an honest mistake; we all do that. But it's another thing altogether to write a story that contains so many errors -- errors that a few minutes of fact-checking could have avoided -- that one must question the credibility not just of the writer, but the entire site and all who write for it.
I'd seriously, seriously reconsider writing anything in the future after this. From my newspaper days, I can tell you this with a high degree of confidence: if you wrote something like this for a newspaper, with this many factual errors, you'd probably be looking for a job.
Check your facts, pal. This was horrible. And coming back to make excuses about looking at an old depth chart is weak. This simply was a slam job written in haste, with the focus on being funny. But when you don't check your facts and make this many errors, you -- and your site -- look like a fool.
Bud.
http://thrashers.today.com
http://braves.today.com
2 months ago
buddy you should do some research before you write about a team which you know nothing about
you are the definition of a GIANT DOUCHE
Johhny B for President
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