Waiting for hockey, pondering Thrashers questions

Aug 19 2008

Published by bud006 at 8:41 pm under Thrashers Analysis Edit This

By Bud L. Ellis
thrashers.today.com

ATLANTA – Sitting here on a pleasant night in mid-August, trying to pay attention to the Braves (who for a change are actually winning), and thinking ahead to how good that chilly air inside Philips Arena is going to feel on opening night.

And with that thought of Thrashers’ hockey, a few random questions as we remain in summer’s grip:

What’s the over/under on how many points the Thrashers have to finish with in order for Don Waddell to have a job on June 1?

Wait, didn’t Waddell have a five-year plan?

What year is this?

Surely the defense has to be better, because it can’t be any worse, right?

Why would Ron Hainsey sign a five-year deal to come play for a defense that gave up more goals and more shots than any other in the NHL last season?

The Thrashers are paying him 20-million-what over those five years?

Is he the next Chris Chelios?

OK, Hainsey isn’t, but is first-rounder Zach Bogosian? Can the 18-year-old come out of training camp with a roster spot?

Given how bad the defense was last year, isn’t Bogosian a lock to make the team?

How long will it take for Ilya Kovalchuk to make SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays with one of his patented blasts from the point?

Who else is going to score goals other than Kovalchuk, and how long until the nightly double- and triple-teams set off the fiery Russian?

Who is going to center the top line? Todd White? How’d that work out last season?

Which Kari Lehtonen will we see: Kari The Great, or Kari Let-Em-In?

How long until fans start calling for Johan Hedberg to start?

How long until Kari gets yanked from a game in the second period?

What’s the over/under on number of times opposing announcers will show a picture of John Anderson behind the bench and comment, “You coached in the minors for 13 years for this?”

How many days until the puck drops? That’s one I can answer: 54. And while it’ll take time to sort through all the questions we have about this franchise, I for one am getting antsy. Opening day, hurry up and get here already.