Posts Tagged ‘Zach Bogosian’

An Interview with Thrashers Beat Writer Chris Vivlamore

21, Jul 2010

First off I would like to thank Chris Vivlamore of AJC for taking the time to do this interview.

Q: What is the Thrashers biggest remaining need heading into the regular season?

A: At this point, I would say they would like to have another goal-scorer, maybe in the 15-goal a season range. In Ilya Kovalchuk, Colby Armstrong; and if Maxim Afinogenov doesn’t return, they’ve lost more than 60 goals from last season. They have obviously added some pieces in Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd and Brett Eager. Getting a healthy Todd White back and a return to form of Bryan Little will help. Goal scoring was an issue at times last season, so I think if they could add another piece the Thrashers would look to the offense. I was recently told by GM Rick Dudley that there are “irons in the fire.”

Q: What is the latest on Ondrej Pavelec and what are the Thrashers plans for him this season?

A: Ondrej Pavelec will be back next season. The team made him a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent. He does not have arbitration rights. Rick Dudley said at the time of the Chris Mason signing, that both goaltenders will receive significant playing time. He even said in an ideal world both goalies would play 41 games. We’ll see about that. I think Pavelec still figures heavily in the team’s future plans, but it wouldn’t be a stretch to say this season will be a big one for him.

Q: What is the latest with the Bryan Little contract talks?

A: At this point, there is nothing to report. Little is also not arbitration eligible and received a qualifying offer from the team as a restricted free agent. Again, I don’t think it would be a stretch to say this season will be a big one for him. Is he the player who scored 31 goals two seasons ago or the one who scored 13 last season?

Q: What can we expect to see from the Thrashers this season?

A: The Thrashers have certainly gotten bigger, even with the loss of Pavel Kubina. I think that will help this season. New coach Craig Ramsay intends to play an up-tempo style with defense joining the rush when appropriate. They certainly have the D-men to do that with Ron Hainsey, Johnny Oduya, Tobias Enstrom and Zach Bogosian, who should be recovered from a wrist injury that was a significant issue most of last season. Ramsay told me he expects everyone who steps on the ice to be able to score. “What’s the use in playing if the best you are going to be on a night is even,” Ramsay said.

Q: Last but not least can the Thrashers make the playoffs this season?

A: I think they certainly can. On paper, they are improved over last season when they finished just five points out of a playoff spot. I think if they get what offense they expect out of certain players – like Byfuglien, Little and Rich Peverley for example, that will help. Evander Kane will get an expanded role. Patrice Cormier could make the team and be a significant contributor. The sixth defenseman will be another key, should Boris Valabik be ready or a young player like Arturs Kulda is able to step right in. Goaltending consistency may be the biggest factor. Lastly, I would say the need a leader to step forward, give the team an identity and be the voice that’s able to step in and stop a losing streak, which was an issue last season.

This concludes my interview with Chris Vivlamore, enjoy.

 

This article can also be found at MTRMedia.com

For the latest news and rumors follow me on twitter @ToddNHL

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com

World Cup: Semi-Final Preview

6, Jul 2010

Lars Baron – Getty Images

12 days ago:

JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 03: David Villa of Spain celebrates after …

Thrashers Fans Unhappy Over Departure of Pavel Kubina

2, Jul 2010

Do Atlanta Thrasher fans remember former Thrasher Garnett Exelby?

Exelby was a tough guy that was traded for defenseman Pavel Kubina .

The trade was a good one for Atlanta as Kubina quickly emerged as the Thrashers best and most consistent defenseman.

With high potential newcomers like Zach Bogosian, Arturs Kulda, and other established regulars such as Tobias Enstrom, Johnny Oduya, and Brent Sopel, Kubina was allowed to leave Atlanta and sign a lucrative multi —year contract as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

General Manager Rick Dudley has maintained that he will pay strict attention to paying what each unrestricted free agents (UFA’s) are worth. He recently made one —year qualifying offers for most of the teams free agents to continue the negotiation process. Kubina ended up going back to Tampa where he won a Stanley Cup.

New Tampa General Manager Steve Yzerman showed astute judgment in signing Kubina who will add immediate strength the their blue line corps.

The business side of hockey has again been illuminated in Kubina’s departure. Make no mistake, the salary cap and the sobering reality of red ink faced by many NHL teams cannot be overlooked and definitely plays a part in every decision NHL teams make nowadays.

Rick Dudley has proven to be an active participant in numerous transactions since his elevation to the top job. It is unlikely that Dudley was taken off guard by Kubina’s departure since the Thrashers and Kubina have been negotiating continuously since the season ended.

Many Thrasher fans have expressed unhappiness at Kubina’s departure but given the defensive talent now available, the Thrashers will still produce a quality on ice product.

There are just only so many minutes of playing time that are available in a game, so the Thrashers like many NHL teams were forced to make tough decisions weighing talent with economic sensibilities.

In the past without salary cap pressures teams would stockpile talented players to insure a steady stream of talent moving up from minor league affiliates each season. The Montreal Canadiens were legendary for that approach.

Things are dramatically different today.

The Thrashers have several defensemen who will vie for improved playing time in the 2010-11 season.

New Thrasher coach Craig Ramsay has made it known that he will support his defenseman jumping into the offensive flow and contributing which should make for a very interesting season for Thrashers blue liners.  

Zach Bogosian will have an opportunity to log additional playing time with consistent powerplay minutes this upcoming season. Last season Bogosian was sporadically used on the point due to Ilya Kovalchuk operating the point position along with Enstrom.

Bogosian began the year with strong offensive numbers leading all defensemen in goal scoring before sustaining an injury.

Starting the season healthy with a tremendous upside, Bogosian could have a breakout season in his third year.

If Johnny Oduya provides the same performance he has produced since coming from New Jersey he will also pick up a substantial amount of minutes logging time on the penalty kill and perhaps on the second powerplay unit.

Brent Sopel arrives from Chicago where he won a Stanley Cup and will bring with him some consistency and quality minutes on the blue line. Sopel will also bring a needed locker room attitude which was something that was lacking early last season. 

Tobias Enstrom is coming off an excellent offensive season emerging as an effective playmaker on the blue line. Enstrom logged impressive minutes on both the powerplay and the penalty —killing unit while also taking a regular shift.  

Arturs Kulda may be ready to make the jump from the minor leagues to the NHL having made an impact during the 2009-10 season with improved defensive play. “He is very strong,” Dudley said in a Automotive News interview.

“When he hits, (opposing players) stay down. His processing ability is above average and that’s very important, because he usually makes the right selection depending on what play is available. He’s gotten to the point now where he can get the puck out of the zone. He can hit the open man. He processes the game much better.” Kulda had a plus rating of 47 while playing in the AHL for the Chicago Wolves.

With Ron Hainsey and several other prospects vying for a position, the Thrashers will have fewer spots than defense men to fill them.

 

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Atlanta Thrashers Max Afinogenov May Test Free Agency

15, Jun 2010

Give the new Thrashers GM a lot of credit.

Rick Dudley is already displaying his savvy management ability in the early stages of his tenure.  In negotiations with forward Maxim Afinogenov, Dudley has shown considerable shrewdness in offering a short-term one-year contract for over one million dollars.  

Afinogenov is rumored to have received a raise from his $800,000 last year after his 24-goal performance in the 2010 season.

The Thrashers seem to be concerned about Afinogenov’s history of inconsistency when given a long-term deal.  Afinogenov signed a multi-year deal with Buffalo for $700,000 in 2007 and then disappeared.  

The Thrashers then picked up Afinogenov and signed him to a one-year deal for the 2009 season.

Legendary GM Jack Adams was known as a skilled negotiator for the Detroit Red Wings in the 1950s.

At the time, the Wings were perennial Stanley Cup favorites and had an unprecedented lineup of future Hall of Famers, including Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Alex Delvecchio, Terry Sawchuk, Red Kelly, and Marcel Pronovost.

Adams still offered them minimum contracts and kept player payroll low enough that many of the players had to take on jobs in the offseason to supplement their earnings from professional hockey.

Those days are gone.  Most hockey players today are millionaires, or close.

Still, the NHL collective bargaining agreement has created budgetary issues that continually must be addressed by team management in the NHL.  The Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) has reported rumors that the Thrashers are seeking financial investors for the hockey club, indicating that they are banking heavily on the prowess of Dudley to turn their fortunes around before they consider selling the team.

The Thrashers, while under the salary cap, must consider a leaner payroll due to significant losses and the potential for light attendance at the start of the 2010-11 season.

Dudley has some work to do, signing both restricted and unrestricted free agents to contracts that are reasonable and that will produce the necessary stimuli to race for a playoff berth.

He does have some positives on his side, however.

With Afinogenov, Nik Antropov, Niclas Bergfors, Tobias Enstrom, Johnny Oduya, Evander Kane, Jim Slater, Zach Bogosian, and Rich Peverley, the team is not far away from the talent pool needed to make a playoff run.

It will still be necessary to pick up a top-tier skill player and somehow sign a solid goaltender to solidify the team’s chances.  

Even more interesting is that the Thrashers will still have rookie prospect Patrice Cormier and two first round draft choices to work with.

Dudley seems to have a game plan that focuses on addressing each priority.

He was quoted saying that he has made offers to all of the team’s restricted and unrestricted free agents.

Finding a way to sign Afinogenov while staying within the budget is one of many goals he will have to accomplish before July.    

 

 

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Ushering in a New Generation: Atlanta Thrashers

2, Apr 2010

In our newest feature, Ushering in a New Generation, our talented writer Katlyn Gambill takes a deeper look into team success based on a player’s age. Today, she looks at the Atlanta Thrashers, who are the twelfth oldest team in the league.

In the nine years of Atlanta’s existence, only once did the team qualify for [...]


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