They score a lot of goals, don't give up many, yet in the standings they are well average or below average. Just wondering what's going on there. Did they win a few games by complete blowouts or are they really unlucky?
They score a lot of goals, don't give up many, yet in the standings they are well average or below average. Just wondering what's going on there. Did they win a few games by complete blowouts or are they really unlucky?
Well, they are currently 12th in the E.C......*
They have played fairly well so far, but, I think most people consider Atlanta to be a playoff bubble team.... 6-12.... Which is pretty much where they are.
*I acknowledge they have (atleast) a game in hand on everyone in the top 8 (and, for that matter, the conference)
I think if they had a stud #1 D and center they'd be one of the top teams in the league. We'll see if they let Bogosian and crew develop into those roles or if they go out and get them.
They may be in 12th but they also have the fewest games played in the entire eastern conference. On top of that, they're only 3 points behind 5th. One of my predictions in the off-season was that they were going to be the darkhorses this year and so far they haven't disappointed me.
They may be in 12th but they also have the fewest games played in the entire eastern conference. On top of that, they're only 3 points behind 5th. One of my predictions in the off-season was that they were going to be the darkhorses this year and so far they haven't disappointed me.
They may be in 12th but they also have the fewest games played in the entire eastern conference. On top of that, they're only 3 points behind 5th. One of my predictions in the off-season was that they were going to be the darkhorses this year and so far they haven't disappointed me.
Being a "darkhorse" is synonymous with being a "playoff bubble team".
Being average isn't good enough to make the playoffs.
Trading young players Kane or Enstrom and high picks for some trusty old veterans will push them in the playoffs. Maybe they can help them to win one or two playoff games.
Being that 8 / 15 teams make the playoffs, you're dead wrong.
You can actually be below average and make it. Look at the Rangers past couple of years.
Being average isn't good enough to make the playoffs.
Trading young players Kane or Enstrom and high picks for some trusty old veterans will push them in the playoffs. Maybe they can help them to win one or two playoff games.
I definitely hope we don't take that route again. Trading away your future for one playoff run is just dumb. I would much rather see this team barely miss the playoffs this year, retain their young talent and be a playoff lock for years to come.
Their G Pavelec is pretty much underrated here... Not only is he an NHL goalie but he's an above average one. He receives 35 shots each game and gives his team a chance to win every one of them. Could a top 10 goalie in 4-5 years in the NHL.
Trading young players Kane or Enstrom and high picks for some trusty old veterans will push them in the playoffs. Maybe they can help them to win one or two playoff games.
We tried that once, and it didn't work out so well. I hope to god we never make that kind of move again.
Quote:
Originally Posted by s h a n Y e
They're just a pure offensive team really, they win big, or they lose big.
Not really. Atlanta has 9 losses, and 7 of them were by 1 goal (including 2 losses in the SO). They have one loss by 2 goals and one loss by 3 goals. When the Thrashers lose, the score is still pretty close.
The problem is that they don't show up for the first 40 minutes and let the opposing team take a solid lead. Then they come out in the 3rd period and dominate (tied for 1st in the league for 3rd period goals), but fall just 1 goal short. If the Thrashers would play a full 60 minutes, they'd be at the top of the standings.
Atlanta's goal differential is +12, but I'm not sure how that compares to the rest of the league.
Going into the year I thought Atlanta was such a 'wildcard' team where I wasnt sure if they'd win the southeast or finish lke 12th-15th. But they've been playing good hockey so far, and even if they're down late in games with the firepower they have they can come back in any game.
Going into the year I thought Atlanta was such a 'wildcard' team where I wasnt sure if they'd win the southeast or finish lke 12th-15th. But they've been playing good hockey so far, and even if they're down late in games with the firepower they have they can come back in any game.
I think it's pretty safe to assume they'd finish somewhere between winning the Southeast and 15th.
They still don't play nearly enough defense, imo. I think they'll make the playoffs, but won't get far because a good team will expose them for their lack of D.
We have to win this year. We need those bandwagoners to save the team financially. Otherwise it's hello Vegas Thrashers. As long as Winnipeg doesn't get the team I will survive.
They are 8th in the conference in 'real standings' (pts per game.) - And that's about how they're playing.
They're phoning in too many first and second periods and allowing way, way too many shots (35.4 - last in the league.) They're asking average goaltenders to do too much.
They aren't underrated. They're underperforming their potential by a lot.
They are 8th in the conference in 'real standings' (pts per game.) - And that's about how they're playing.
They're phoning in too many first and second periods and allowing way, way too many shots (35.4 - last in the league.) They're asking average goaltenders to do too much.
They aren't underrated. They're underperforming their potential by a lot.
This explains it well. We also need to figure out what's wrong on home ice.
I think most people would peg them as finishing between 7th and 11th in the East.
On the optimistic side, the Thashers added several key pieces in the offseason (Afinogenov, Antropov, Kubina, Kane) and teams like this tend to turn it up after the first couple months of the season when everybody gets familiar with their linemates.
One look at their roster in the preseason and you could make an assumption that they were going to be better than last year. After watching them a few times this year, the one major thing that they're lacking IMO right now is more grit up front. They're one of those teams that has all their grit on the bottom lines, and a bunch of skilled guys on the top 2 lines. They're going to score some goals for sure, but could use more grit on their scoring lines.
Atlanta, IMO, is the perfect fit for a guy like Owen Nolan if the Wild move him at the deadline. Wouldn't cost a king's ransom to get him, and would instantly add some jam to a scoring line.
I have a hard time handicapping the Thrashers this year. I'm not sure it's clear yet whether that club is going to make a run. The pieces are certainly in place, but that has been the case for four or five years now, and they don't always get it done.
Right now, there are nine teams in the east between 23 and 26 points. So it's very fluid. One week can see a team move from third and a Northeast Division lead to as far as twelfth in the East.
Only Carolina and Toronto are really not in that mix, and it's early enough for even those teams to gain ground.
They need a top, stay at home defenseman and more consistency in goal to make the playoffs. It is entirely plausible however.
The shots against and goals against have more to do with the system than the personnel. They are really high-octane and rely on quick puck movement from the back end. A strickly stay-at-home defenseman wouldn't fit, as shown through the team's vast improvement after dumping Havelid.
Being average isn't good enough to make the playoffs.
Trading young players Kane or Enstrom and high picks for some trusty old veterans will push them in the playoffs. Maybe they can help them to win one or two playoff games.
Well, considering "average" would mean your in 7.5th place in your conference, average is good enough to make the playoffs.
