The Post-Kovy Thrashers - BAGM (NHL11)

[thrashman]

Re: The Post-Kovy Thrashers - BAGM (NHL11)

BURMISTROV SUFFERS MINOR INJURY


Alexander Burmistrov got a rude awakening to NHL hockey.

September 27, 2010
Associated Press

ATLANTA - Two preseason games into his NHL career, and Atlanta Thrashers rookie Alexander Burmistrov will have to take some time to recover. The 18-year-old 1st round pick suffered a sprained ankle on a check from Tampa Bay defenseman Mattias Ohlund during a 5-1 Thrashers demolition of the Lightning at Philips Arena. The time table for Burmistrov's recovery is between one and two weeks, meaning he will miss the remainder of the preseason.

Burmistrov's injury occurred as he was crashing the net on Lightning goaltender Mike Smith. Ohlund came in and checked the young Russian into the right post of the goal, leaving Burmistrov crumpled on the ice. Eventually, Burmistrov managed to hobble to the bench on his own, but he did not return during the remainder of the game.

"I was pretty scared at first," Atlanta head coach Craig Ramsay said. "It was a pretty nasty hit. You hate to see that happen to a young guy just starting out his career, but fortunately Alex won't miss much time."

The injury comes in the midst of a stellar preseason for Burmistrov, who was already beginning to command notice around the league as a rookie to watch this year. In two preseason games, Burmistrov had 1 goal and 1 assist as well as two penalty minutes and a +2 plus/minus rating. Despite the sprained ankle, it is widely believed that Burmistrov is a lock to make the Thrashers squad and could possibly garner top-six ice time.

[bthomp05]

Re: The Post-Kovy Thrashers - BAGM (NHL11)

What bad luck losing you #1 pick... Hopefully he will be up and running by opener.

[thrashman]

Re: The Post-Kovy Thrashers - BAGM (NHL11)

What bad luck losing you #1 pick... Hopefully he will be up and running by opener.

I think he will. Thankfully the injury is not too serious, but I was freaking out at first.

[thrashman]

Re: The Post-Kovy Thrashers - BAGM (NHL11)

ATLANTA INKS FOUR PROSPECTS


Carl Klingberg will make the jump to North America.

October 2, 2010
Associated Press

ATLANTA - Atlanta Thrashers General Manager Rick Dudley announced today that the club has come to terms on deals with four young prospects drafted by the team in recent years. The players are forwards Carl Klingberg and Ivan Telegin, as well as defensemen Ben Chiarot and Cody Sol. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed, but they are three year entry level deals.

"We have great expectations for these young men in the future," Dudley said to reporters. "Pretty much every successful team in the NHL builds through the draft, and that is what we are trying to do here in Atlanta."

Klingberg, 19, is the highest drafted of the four players signed, picked 34th overall in 2009. The 6'3, 205 pound Swede plays an aggressive and bruising style of hockey that should guarantee him a future bottom-six spot in the Thrashers lineup at worst. If he can continue to develop on the offensive side, Klingberg has a chance to be an intimidating power forward with his combination of size and good skating ability. After spending last season with Frolunda in Elitserien where he scored 6 goals and added 7 assists in 42 games, Klingberg is expected to make the jump to North America and play with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.

Similar in mold to Klingberg with his 6'3, 194 pound frame is 18-year-old Ivan Telegin. Picked in the 4th round of this year's draft, the talented Russian holds a higher offensive upside than Klingberg, but is not quite as physical, although he does play with an edge and can be useful in all situations. A product of the Metallurg Novokuznetsk system, Telegin will report back to the OHL for his second season with the Saginaw Spirit.

Chiarot and Sol are two big, 19-year-old Canadian kids who both have a mean streak to their game, especially Sol. Chiarot is 6'2, 209 pounds and has more mobility and some semblance of an offensive game, while the 6'4, 214 pound Sol may find his niche as an enforcer. Both will return to the OHL for this season, where Chiarot plays for Sudbury and Sol for Kitchener.

[bthomp05]

Re: The Post-Kovy Thrashers - BAGM (NHL11)

Great working in securing your future. Those two d-men will come in handy down the road.

[thrashman]

Re: The Post-Kovy Thrashers - BAGM (NHL11)

Great working in securing your future. Those two d-men will come in handy down the road.

And I expect some D spots to open up by at least next offseason, so hopefully someone can contribute.

[thrashman]

Re: The Post-Kovy Thrashers - BAGM (NHL11)

THRASHERS SOLID IN PRESEASON


Dustin Byfuglien has made a good first impression in Atlanta.

October 2, 2010
Associated Press

ATLANTA - The revamped Atlanta Thrashers hope to have shown what both fans and themselves expect this season, a winning hockey team. Craig Ramsay's new look crew managed a 3-1-0 record in the preseason, something they hope to build off of with the NHL's regular season kicking off next week. However, many Thrashers teams of the past have given fans optimism in early October, only to let them down. Maybe this latest version of Atlanta's club won't follow that same path.

Atlanta opened the preseason at Verizon Center against the vaunted Washington Capitals and seized momentum early by jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the 1st period on goals by Dustin Byfuglien and Bryan Little. However, Washington goaltending prospect and current Kingston Frontenac, Philipp Grubauer would settle down after the Thrashers initial onslaught and wind up with 35 saves on the night. The Capitals pulled even in the 2nd on goals from Brian Willsie and Alexander Ovechkin, leaving a deadlock that would have to be settled in a shootout. Atlanta's snipers were up to the challenge, scoring on all three of their shootout attempts to pull out a 3-2 win.

The Thrashers then returned home to Philips Arena to face a Tampa Bay Lightning team with high hopes for this season. At least for this night, those hopes were not to be realized as Atlanta crushed Tampa Bay 5-1 to the delight of the hometown crowd. The Lightning got the lead in the 2nd period on a Ryan Malone goal, but by the end of the period goals from Niclas Bergfors and Ben Eager put the Thrashers ahead. Three 3rd period goals from Alexander Burmistrov, Evander Kane, and Anthony Stewart sealed Tampa's fate, although the highly touted prospect Burmistrov would leave the game with an ankle injury shortly after scoring.

The only slip-up for the Thrashers during the preseason came in Sunrise against the Florida Panthers who entered the game with an 0-3-0 record. Tomas Vokoun was on his game during this occasion though, stopping 23 of 24 shots for a team who hopes the 2010-2011 season will end a playoff drought that began back in 2000-2001. Chris Higgins and Rostislav Olesz found the back of the net for the Panthers, while only Dustin Byfuglien could crack Vokoun for the Thrashers who fell 2-1.

Returning back to Atlanta, the Thrashers closed out the preseason against the Carolina Hurricanes with nail biter. After two periods, only Johnny Oduya had tallied a goal, but the 3rd period turned out to be a wild one. Rich Peverley put Atlanta up 2-0 before the Hurricanes answered with three goals from Erik Cole, Patrick Dwyer, and Chad LaRose. With less than five minutes left in regulation, Zach Bogosian pulled the Thrashers back even and the game would eventually go to a shootout. In the third round, with no one scoring so far, Niclas Bergfors finished a forehand-backhand move by Cam Ward to give the Thrashers a 4-3 win.

Newly acquired Dustin Byfuglien led the Thrashers in the preseason both in goals (2) and points (3). Rookie Alexander Burmistrov also had a good preason with 1 goal and 1 assist in 2 games before being injured. Leading the team in penalty minutes was Evander Kane with 6, but he did add 1 goal and 1 assist as well. Tobias Enstrom had a disappointing preseason with 0 points, as did Thrasher newcomers Andrew Ladd and Fredrik Modin. Goaltending was solid both from Ondrej Pavelec and Chris Mason. Each had 1.92 goals against averages, while Pavelec's save percentage was .935 and Mason's was .875.

[thrashman]

Re: The Post-Kovy Thrashers - BAGM (NHL11)

NEWS


Sign LW Paul Kariya to 3 year deal



Sign D Marc-Andre Bergeron to 3 year deal

[bthomp05]

Re: The Post-Kovy Thrashers - BAGM (NHL11)

Hahaha, Sabes pick up Kariya....

[thrashman]

Re: The Post-Kovy Thrashers - BAGM (NHL11)

PRESEASON STATS

Dustin Byfuglien - 4 GP: 2 G, 1 A, 3 PTS, 0 PIM, +3
Johnny Oduya - 4 GP: 1 G, 2 A, 3 PTS, 2 PIM, +1
Evander Kane - 4 GP: 1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS, 6 PIM, +1
Brent Sopel - 4 GP: 0 G, 2 A, 2 PTS, 0 PIM, +1
Alexander Burmistrov - 2 GP: 1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS, 2 PIM, +2
Bryan Little - 4 GP: 1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS, 2 PIM, +1
Ben Eager - 4 GP: 1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS, 0 PIM, +2
Nik Antropov - 3 GP: 0 G, 1 A, 1 PTS, 2 PIM, Even
Niclas Bergfors - 4 GP: 1 G, 0 A, 1 PTS, 0 PIM, Even
Zach Bogosian - 4 GP: 1 G, 0 A, 1 PTS, 0 PIM, +2
Rich Peverley - 3 GP: 1 G, 0 A, 1 PTS, 0 PIM, Even
Mike Siklenka - 1 GP: 0 G, 1 A, 1 PTS, 2 PIM, +1
Jim Slater - 4 GP: 0 G, 1 A, 1 PTS, 4 PIM, +2
Anthony Stewart - 2 GP: 1 G, 0 A, 1 PTS, 2 PIM, Even
Ron Hainsey - 3 GP: 0 G, 1 A, 1 PTS, 0 PIM, +2
Eric Boulton - 1 GP: 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, 0 PIM, -1
Tobias Enstrom - 3 GP: 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, 0 PIM, +1
Robert Nilsson - 2 GP: 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, 2 PIM, +1
Eric O' Dell - 1 GP: 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, 0 PIM, -1
Andrew Ladd - 4 GP: 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, 5 PIM, Even
Tim Stapleton - 2 GP: 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, 0 PIM, +2
Fredrik Modin - 4 GP: 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, 4 PIM, +3
Chris Thorburn - 3 GP: 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, 0 PIM, +3
Boris Valabik - 1 GP: 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, 0 PIM, -1
Angelo Esposito - 1 GP: 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, 0 PIM, Even

Ondrej Pavelec - 2 GP: 1 W, 1 L, 1.92 GAA, .935 SV%, 0 SO
Chris Mason - 2 GP: 2 W, 0 L, 1.92 GAA, .875 SV%, 0 SO

[thrashman]

Re: The Post-Kovy Thrashers - BAGM (NHL11)

NEWS


Sign D Ryan Molle to 1 year deal
Sign D Ryan McGinnis to 1 year deal



Claim RW Adam Hall off waivers from Tampa Bay



Sign G Tyson Sexsmith to 2 year deal

[thrashman]

Re: The Post-Kovy Thrashers - BAGM (NHL11)

NOT SO HOT START


Shaky goaltending has plagued Atlanta to start the season.

October 16, 2010
Associated Press

SAN JOSE - It was not the kind of start to the 2010-2011 season the Atlanta Thrashers were hoping for as the team has stumbled out of the gate to a 1-1-3 record. In the five game stretch, Atlanta's fewest goals allowed in a game was 3, while they are also zero for three in extra time hockey with one overtime loss and two shootout losses. Still, the team was a respectable 1-0-2 on a West Coast road trip, and hope to use that momentum to put together some wins once they return to Philips Arena.

The biggest disaster so far was the Thrashers embarrassing 6-2 thumping from the Washington Capitals on opening night in Atlanta. Washington jumped out to a 3-0 lead less than halfway through the 2nd period on goals by Dave Steckel, Alexander Ovechkin, and Mike Knuble before a Jim Slater shortanded goal gave the Thrashers their first tally of the season. Still, it was not enough to stop the Capitals' momentum as a horrendous debut by Atlanta was summed up well with three seconds left in the game when Ondrej Pavelec played a puck off a broken stick which went right to D.J. King for a wide open goal.

The next night in Tampa Bay, Atlanta acquitted themselves better, though the Thrashers still fell to the Lightning 5-4 in overtime. In fact, it looked as if a late goal by Simon Gagne with less than six minutes left in the game may have been the decider, but the Thrashers recieved a miracle when Rich Peverley scored a shorthanded breakaway goal with 0.4 seconds left in the 3rd to tie the score. However, it would be Gagne who struck just 19 seconds into overtime, forcing Atlanta to settle for their first point of the season.

Atlanta found the win column for the first time in 2010 when they traveled to Los Angeles to meet the Kings. Keeping with their good offensive start, Atlanta piled up the goals during a 6-3 win that included two goals by rookie Alexander Burmistrov. Despite the victory, goaltending continued to be an issue for the Thrashers, as the three Kings' goals against Pavelec came on just 14 shots. Still, it was a much needed positive start to Atlanta's trip through California as a loss could have sent the team heading towards a downward spiral.

The next game against Anaheim may haunt the Thrashers for some time though, as Atlanta blew a 3-0 lead and eventually fell to the Ducks 4-3 in a shootout. The Thrashers started hot with a 1st period goal by Fredrik Modin and 2nd period goals from Andrew Ladd and Jim Slater, but a Brent Sopel turnover led to a Corey Perry goal with only 5 seconds left in the 2nd period that woke up Anaheim. Ryan Getzlaf and ex-Thrasher Andy Sutton would score in the 3rd, then Jonas Hiller stopped all four Atlanta attempts in the shootout before Joffrey Lupul potted the winner.

"A loss like that really hurts when you're trying to find your game," head coach Craig Ramsay said. "We will find out a lot about our team toughness in how we respond to such a setback in the coming days."

After such a bitter pill to swallow, Atlanta would look to be still sulking as a trip up to San Jose saw them fall behind 2-0 in the 1st period to the Sharks. However, the Thrashers would fight back from that and a 3-1 deficit to force a shootout with the score tied 3-3. Unfortunately for the Thrashers, they once again couldn't come through in the shootout and would have to settle for one hard fought road point.

Bright spots for Atlanta include Johnny Oduya who leads the team in points from the blueline with 1 goal and 5 assists, while newcomer Andrew Ladd has 2 goals and 2 assists, and rookie Alexander Burmistrov has 2 goals and 1 assist. The Thrashers need more production out of Dustin Byfuglien, who after a hot preseason, has only 1 assist in 5 games. Bryan Little and Evander Kane are also struggling as each only has 1 goal. However, the biggest problem is between the pipes where Ondrej Pavelec's save percentage is .815, barely edging out the also awful .814 of Chris Mason.

[bthomp05]

Re: The Post-Kovy Thrashers - BAGM (NHL11)

Ouch, not a great beginning there. But you have plenty of time to turn it around.

[actionhank]

Re: The Post-Kovy Thrashers - BAGM (NHL11)

Hahaha, Sabes pick up Kariya....

That might not be a terrible pick up.
Some speed and scoring wouldn't hurt, and in game he isn't as injury prone.
I have to admit, i kind of miss him on the Blues.
Granted with our luck this season with injuries, he would probably be dead.

On Topic, interesting read!
I'm liking this.

[Eaglesrownage]

Re: The Post-Kovy Thrashers - BAGM (NHL11)

Awesome stuff man keep it up