Poll Results

The voting is in and Colby Armstrong was the winner. The question posed was which current Thrasher is the best fit for the Peverley and Kovalchuk line? Since the poll was posted, John Anderson has since blown up the line combinations.

Most recently, Ilya is playing to the left of Todd White and Bryan Little. Peverley is centering Slava Kozlov and Joe Motzko, while Armstrong stays on the third line with Marty Reasoner and Colin Stuart.

We'll see how the lines change when Jimmy Slater gets back into the mix and also after the trade deadline. Hopefully this team can pick up or call up some players for the future (immediate and long-term).

The poll results:

Chris Thorburn - 2 vote - 22 percent
Bryan Little - 1 vote - 11 percent
Colby Armstrong - 6 votes - 66 percent
Joe Motzko - 0 votes -0 percent

I shall concoct a new poll in a day or two. The cauldren of question has not spoken to me as of yet.

The Future of the Thrashers’ Defense: Part One - Strategy

The saying goes, “Offense sells tickets, defense wins championships.” One of the most overused phrases in all of sports, but that doesn’t make the quote any less true. Nearly nine seasons down the road for the Atlanta Thrashers and exactly one slightly unimpressive championship: a Southeast Division championship in 2006-07.

The futility of the Atlanta hockey defensive system is one of the most well-documented complaints of the Thrashers fan base. There is tons of history to keep us whining and crying about goalies’ groins, pucks going in off defenseman’s heads (I’m looking at you Yannick Tremblay), falling down, not getting up, conceding the blueline and so on and so forth and so so and on fourth…. Get it? The Thrashers defense is bad and always has been.

In this post, I will attempt to explain some of the reasons as to why the current unit of Thrashers is struggling so mightily on the defensive side of things.

When goals are scored, especially in whopping amounts allowed by Atlanta (190, 30^th-dead last in the NHL), the natural and also uninformed knee-jerk reaction is to blame the goalie. He’s guy that is allowing them, right? True, the puck beats the goalie… after it has beaten everybody else. The net-minder is the last line of defense.

A good defense starts with the forecheck. A great defense feeds of the forecheck. Personally, I believe in a two-man forecheck i.e. sending in two forwards into the opposing team’s defensive third. The Thrashers, in theory, also believe in a two-man forecheck, but Atlanta is inconsistent in the forecheck. The same positions, same responsibilities, suddenly become different on a line-by-line, shift-by-shift basis.

Now, I’m the first to rebel against a uniform system. Chances are if you like it, I don’t (unless I can turn you to the darkside!). But the Thrashers and any team system must be uniform. The parts, especially when factoring a team defensive philosophy, must be relatively interchangeable. This uniformity must be within reason. We all know that Ilya Kovalchuk is just not the defensive player that Colin Stuart is on the left wing, but that doesn’t relieve Ilya of his defensive responsibilities and position on the ice.

Ah, the first left wing mention, which brings us to the left wing lock. What’s this you might ask? The left wing lock is a defensive system, supposedly implemented by the John Anderson, to cut down opposing team’s speed entering the Thrashers’ defensive third and reduce odd-man rushes. For a decent explanation of the left wing lock, check this linky out (it’s wikipedia, so you know you are getting the best information!).

Does that sound like the Thrashers to you? I don’t think so.

Here is what Atlanta does, inconsistency not included… On the forecheck, the Thrashers send two forwards in. Good so far, right, here is where the good stops. These forwards (normally the center and the right wing) are supposed to stay relatively tightly spaced (an outstretched stick length apart) to keep passes from going through the middle of the ice. The idea is to force the first pass from behind the net to the side wall, near the circles.

The Thrashers, in most cases, come too far down into the zone as a group, stagger the forwards, and leave way too much space for opposing teams to easily use the middle. When Atlanta does force a pass to the half wall, the forward to that side converges on the puck carrier to force a pass. At this instance, the left wing, who has been playing a zone coverage in the middle of the ice (on the opposing teams’ half) will shift towards the wall, about halfway from the blueline to the redline, to cut off a pass to the middle.

The other forechecking forward will drift back to the blueline, away from the wall on the opposite side. The defenseman on the off side will step up from the blueline to take away the cross ice pass.

The Thrashers, rarely getting this far, get too aggressive in this set. The only forward that is supposed to go after the puck is the forechecking forward on the near side. Everybody else continues to play defense. Ideally, the puck carrier along the wall try and force a pass into the middle that creates a turnover. If he goes backwards, then the Thrashers can re-implement the first stages of the forecheck.

The keys to a healthy forecheck are as follows (in order): First, take away the middle of the ice for the first pass. Second, force the puck to the wall and keep it there. Third, create frustration passes and turnovers through timed aggressiveness. Timed aggressiveness meaning that the forecheckers have to use the right judgement as to when to pressure the puck. This can be an on ice read after a bobble or bad pass or it can be regimented to a certain part of the ice (like along the boards).

In all honesty, the Thrashers forecheck is undisciplined, lazy, and most of the players have mental breakdowns. Imagine a basketball team that uses a full-court press, but two or three of the players are out of position. Will that press work? To me, the forecheck is the most important part of the defensive scheme because it sets the tone for the game.

When looking at defense through the middle of the ice, without a solid forecheck in the left wing lock there is no reason to talk about the defense through the middle.

As we start to take a look at the back end, it is important to note some things off the rush. The Thrashers, as a team, concede the blueline far too easily. This is not the defenseman’s fault, but in fact the lack of a solid forecheck. If the Thrashers are beaten down the ice by the breakout of opposing teams, the failed forwards from the left wing lock are way behind the play.

This creates a rush, either two-on-to or odd-man. The Thrashers defensemen have to concede the blueline in this instance. When Atlanta defensemen such as Garnet Exelby or Mathieu Schneider do end up trying to make a play at the blueline and get beat (which is more likely than making a great defensive play), then the hapless defender is left with one out of position defenseman, three forwards behind the play, and three offensive players on the rush with time and space. The result is going to be high quality scoring chances and goals. Without fixing the forecheck first, the only way to combat this problem is to change the entire way the Thrashers play defense… which may not be a bad idea.

So, if the theme here isn’t obvious enough, the primary task of the Atlanta Thrashers at this point is to fix the forecheck. In my professional experience, I’ve found that coaches can be extremely stubborn when dealing with their system. So, the personnel has to change. The addition of Rich Peverley was a great pickup for Anderson’s system, but guys like Spencer Machacek, Riley Holzapfel, and Jordan LaVallee could all be very valuable assets to the Thrashers system

In part two, we’ll look at the personnel that the Thrashers have and need to improve the team defense.

Joe Motzko... A Thrasher for the long-term?

As the reality of this season smacks Thrashers fans in the face with each and every loss, the Atlanta hockey organization is left with a few questions regarding the approach for the rest of the season. Who do we trade? Who do we keep? What are their prices? Who is a part of our future?

It is my personal belief that the administration (from GM Don Waddell to the coach John Anderson) have accepted the most likely fate of the 2008-09 campaign. A season that will likely end up with a top-5 draft pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. There is no secret that the Thrashers are rebuilding and despite the best hopes and dreams of die-hard fans like myself; we knew this before the season too.

During the year, Atlanta has given chances, second chances, and in some cases third chances to the mid-tier young players in the organization. When I say mid-tier young, I'm not referring to talent, but age; the early to mid-20's players getting their chance at a top six role or a regular NHL job.

Bryan Little, though in his early 20's, has definitively won a job... in the top six no less, but the likes of Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Nathan Oystrick, and Boris Valabik have yet to nail down a spot. With those spots loosely (in some cases very loosely) occupied, the Thrashers have recently called up Colin Stuart and Joe Motzko.

Thrasher fans got a good look at Colin Stuart in his time with the team last year. A solid defensive player with a good skating stride and a decent forechecking game, Stuart is in a battle for a spot on the lower forwards lines. Stuart is not an upgrade by any means, but on a team that has won just 18 of 52 games, nearly every spot is available.

And so we come to the arrival of Joe Motzko. A much different style of player than Colin Stuart, Motzko is on the verge of being labled a AAAA hockey player (good enough to play on a scoring line in the AHL, but not productive enough to play everyday in the NHL.)

In conversations and comments from Chicago Wolves fans, Motzko's work ethic is questioned, despite leading the Wolves in scoring in his time in the AHL. To understand a player like Joe Motzko, we must first document his journey to the NHL.

Motzko played four years of college hockey at St. Cloud University in Minnesota. Getting significant time from his freshman year all the way to his senior season, Motzko had 52 goals and 90 assists for 142 points in 154 career games in the NCAA. The 6-0, 184 lb. winger played with former Thrashers Mark Hartigan for four seasons and also shared the ice with NHLers Tyler Arnason and Ryan Malone.

In May of 2003, Motzko was signed by the fledgling Columbus Blue Jackets. He played two games during the 2002-03 season for the AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch. In 2003-04, Motzko got a two game call-up for the CBJ's playing in two February games before being returned to the AHL.

After the lockout, Motzko got two more games in the 2005-06 season. This time Joe played a pair of games in December, including a 5-2 loss at the hands of the Atlanta Thrashers on December 9, 2005 (Ronald Petrovicky had a had trick for Atlanta!).

In January of 2006, Motzko was moved to Anaheim along with former St. Cloud University teammate Mark Hartigan and a 4th round pick for Zenon Konopka, Curtis Glennross, and a conditional 7th rounder. Motzko spent most of the year with Anaheim's AHL team in Portland. Motzko did play in three playoff games for the Ducks including one game in the Stanley Cup finals against Ottawa... sort of, Joe only got 2:46 of ice time.

In July of 2007, Motzko signed with Washington Capitals as a depth forward. Once again assigned to the AHL, Motzko appeared in eight games for the Capitals scoring two goals and two assists before Atlanta acquired him in a deal that sent another AHLer (Alexandre Giroux) to Washington. FYI, Giroux played 11 games with the Capitals earlier this year when Washington was struck with a brash of injuries.

Now, with 398 AHL games, 151 AHL goals, and 195 AHL assists under his belt, Joe will play his 22nd NHL game on Friday when Atlanta hosts New Jersey.

Guys with that many points in professional hockey that have only had a few looks at the NHL, bounced around a little bit, and are 28 years old aren't in the NHL for a reason... usually.

Sometimes that reason is a lack of physical attributes... the NHL is a much more physically demanding game than that of the AHL. In the NHL, players need to be strong, fast, quick, and usually have some size.

Motzko is 6-0 tall and 180 lbs. Those measurements are not what NHL experts would call "having size", but the same experts wouldn't say that he "lacks size" either. He's about average. Skating doesn't seem to be a problem as I watched Motzko intently in Tuesday's game. Once again, Joe is not a great skater, but he can hold his own at the NHL level.

After physical attributes are ruled out, the mental side of the game comes into effect. Now, we as Thrasher fans have a very small sample by which to judge Motzko; just two games. Input from Chicago Wolves fans is always welcome, but I've found that as a Thrasher fan, while I keep in mind what Wolves fans have said, I have to watch a player myself to gauge the mental side of the game.

The one game I've seen Motzko play, Atlanta had a strong game as a team. This weighs into the observation too. However, Joe Motzko was very serviceable at an NHL level on Tuesday. I though the Motzko - Reasoner - Armstrong line was a very good puck possession trio for Atlanta. Joe was in the right places at the right times and scored a goal because of his good positioning. Motzko's goal wasn't spectacular or lucky, just solid.

Now the question that was poised nearly 2,000 words ago... Can Joe Motzko help the Thrashers? Can he stay a Thrasher?

My response: This year? Yes. Long-term? No. The Thrashers are giving a shot to a hockey player that has paid his dues. Regardless of his faults as a player, Motzko has produced admirably at the AHL level. His playing time in Atlanta isn't snaking any time from a player that deserves it more, in my opinion.

However, unless Motzko thoroughly impresses, I think the Thrashers are going to bring up some of the younger talent to get a good look at the NHL during the final months of the season. Atlanta may be waiting until after the trade deadline to start fusing some of the young prospects into the picture. Players like Riley Holzapfel, Spencer Machacek, Jordan LaVallee, and even Brett Sterling appear to have a brighter future for Atlanta than the Joe Motzkos and Colin Stuarts in the franchise.

I believe that the Thrashers risk losing Motzko to waivers if he is sent back down, so the Thrashers are going to give him a good hard look before making that call. There is an outside chance that Atlanta is trying to showcase Motzko and/or Stuart as add-ons for a deal that might include Marty Reasoner, Mathieu Schneider, Eric Perrin, Colby Armstrong, or Niclas Havelid.

In any event, Joe Motzko is getting a chance. I'm glad the Thrashers are rewarding a player that has produced for the farm team, but I'm wary for now. I'm hoping to see at least LaVallee back in Thrasher blue by the end of the season.

For Joe Motzko... good luck and work hard.

On-Air Tonight

South Atlantic Conference basketball is on the docket tonight for a men's and women's double-header starting at 6 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. airtime for the pregame show.

Women's: Newberry (13-7, 6-3) vs. Mars Hill (11-9, 3-6)
Men's: Newberry (16-4, 6-3) vs. Mars Hill (12-7, 4-5)

If you are in Newberry County, for some odd reason, you can tune your radio to AM 1240 to catch the game.

Audio webstreaming is available at www.wkdk.com and www.redzonemedia.com. Video webstreaming can be found at www.newberry.edu/streamingvideo Enter your email address and the password is "shoes".

Hope you tune in!

A good season, but not Ilya good.

Bottom line: My mouth still hurts a bit from grinning all night after a 2-1 shootout victory over the New York Rangers. It's been over a year and a half since the Thrashers were swept out of the playoffs by the Blue Shirts and I, as a fan with a memory, relish every victory over NYR since that day... because they don't come often.

However, it could have been easier. It could have been nicer. In a season where the Thrashers' futility on the ice has been the most consistent aspect of the team, Thrasher fans, such as myself, could only expect the worse.

With about 30 seconds left in the game, leading by a score of 1-0, and New York's Henrik Lundqvist pulled from the net, John Anderson sent out his best faceoff man for a draw in his own zone. Rich Peverley, who played unspectacularly, but extremely dependable last night, did his job and possession went to the Thrashers.

Empty net. Puck possession. Blood in the water. Who best to sniff out the loose puck and go for the kill than Ilya Kovalchuk?

And so he did. And so I relaxed on the sofa at my fiancee's duplex apartment. I leaned back... at the ready to give a hearty clap and congratulatory, "Thatta boy, Ilya!" But this season is different for Kovalchuk... this season is off.

Down the right side boards, Kovalchuk took a wrister as he was gaining the zone; not in a non-chalant manner or in a victorious pull-up. Kovalchuk missed. Clank. Off the outside of the right post.

Off the outside of the right post? Off the out-SIDE OF THE RIGHT POST!!!!!! How un-Ilya! How very Thrashers.

This is where my point begins. I know that Atlanta went on to victory in the shootout with two sweet goals by Bryan Little and Slava Kozlov. I know that two points in the standings doesn't do much for the Thrashers other than hurt Atlanta's chances of gaining the #1 overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

But I also know that I have never seen Ilya Kovalchuk be off when the game was on the line... sometimes he rings the crossbar, other times he gets robbed by a fantastic save, but when the game is there for the taking... he takes it.

Looking at Ilya Kovalchuk's numbers alone will indicate that he is having an off season. 21 goals... nice. 29 assists... underrated passing forward. 50 points in 52 games... I like it. Solid year so far. But it's not Ilya good.

Ilya Kovalchuk's pace has been well-documented by the media. His current scoring output would net him 33 goals, the least since his rookie campaign in 2001-02. A pertinent question to ask here is: why is Ilya's goal scoring down? Is he taking less shots? Well, yes and no.

Kovalchuk is on pace for 270 shots, which would be the least since his sophomore NHL season in 2002-03. His shooting percentage, currently, is 12.3 percent. Seems bad, right? However, those 270 shots are ones that are hitting the net.

Last night, for example, on the powerplay, Kovalchuk was planted at the left point (so he could wind up that big right-handed slapper). Ilya fired puck after puck (at least five) from the point on nice feeds by the likes of Ron Hainsey, Slava Kozlov, and Todd White.

At the end of the night, the NHL stat line had this loneliest number in his shot column: 1. So why is Kovalchuk missing the net? Is it his mechanics? Is this why he's not scoring goals? Is this why he's frustrated?

Those are questions only Ilya can answer and after last night, I'm sure he's asking them to himself. These type of seasons happen... for unexplained reasons really. Sometimes, even for a whole year, the puck doesn't bounce your way. This is not an excuse for Ilya, but it just may not be his year.

Kovalchuk is still having a good-to-solid year. He will net 30-plus goals, be close to a point per game average, and still wreak havoc for many opposing defenses... but it won't be good enough, because the Thrashers as a team are not good enough.

For Atlanta to get back on the trail to success, Atlanta needs #17 to be Ilya good.

Welcome!

Well, I've gone and done it. I've created a blog. So, this is what it's like (looking around my new e-home)... I do like what I've done with the poll to the right... such a pretty blue, hold on a minute... I think I'm just slightly off-topic.

Okay, that was cheesy and this entry is not going to be the benchmark of what this blog is intended to be about, but it is an accurate microcosm of where it could go. For the first entry here at Slightly Off-Topic, I'm going to try and explain what this blog is going to be about, but I'm not sure I completely know how this is going to end up.

First, this is a not a personal blog. I'm not going to wake up in the morning, tell you about what my cat did to wake me up, release a bunch of pent up anger and hope that an e-reader symphathizes with the plight, or lack thereof, that is my life.

In fact, this first entry is probably the closest thing to a personal blog that you will ever read at Slightly Off-Topic, assuming you've come this far. That said, professionalism and creativity in journalism are generally associated with different ends of the spectrum. This blog will not bow to such a claim. Creativity is paramount in parts of both of my jobs, but balance is even more important.

You read, I am a relatively young (25 years old) aspiring sports broadcaster. Currently, I cover NCAA Division II athletics and local high school game as well. Right now, we are in basketball season. Baseball is just around the corner. For those two sports, I provide the role of a play-by-play radio man. For football in the fall, I am an analyst. This is my job... how I eat, how I live, how I exist in our world today.

Becoming a sports broadcaster has since opened my eyes to the disparity at which sports can be seen from the analytic, supposedly objective, viewpoint of a broadcaster and the emotional, sometimes irrational, eyes of a fan.

Slightly Off-Topic is an attempt to bridge that gap. To give fan commentary in a professional manner and to battle fan tendencies in the professional setting... essentially, we are going to be talking a lot of Thrashers hockey. What can I say... it's the best, well not now, but I have some ideas on how it could be.

However, as the name suggests, Thrashers hockey is not the only topic of discussion. If that is what you are here for, just click over to the right and go to all of the topics with the label "Thrashers" but I will also delve into the national sports scene including but not limited to Division I and II NCAA athletics, NFL, NBA, MLB, and, of course, NHL as well as a look into the rocky road of broadcasting.

These entries will most likely be discussionary topics rather than analytical breakdowns. The Thrashers stuff will probably be more in-depth.

If you think you may like it, please come back, but don't feel obligated. There will be times of silliness and times of seriousness. As always, these posts are going to reflect my opinions and any and all feedback is welcome. I'll try to stay as focused as I can, but afterall... I am always just Slightly Off-Topic.