simonus Posted October 28, 2005 Share Posted October 28, 2005 http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2205889 Just signed Steve Shields. Although not fantastic, he is a real goalie who has started games in the NHL. He's actually only 33 and is playing well in the AHL. They're not going to be great, but maybe the Thrashers will actually be a real NHL team from now on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leafs Suck Posted October 28, 2005 Share Posted October 28, 2005 I picked Atlanta to win their division this year. I was also assuming that Kari Lethonen would be healthy. Shields is their 3rd string. Blowing a 4-0 lead to the winless Pens cannot help their confidence. Right now, call me crazy, by Carolina is the fav to win the Southeast? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAK Posted October 28, 2005 Share Posted October 28, 2005 I don't think sheilds is the answer but he will be better than the others. how is lehtonen injured for?? as for the team who'll finish first of the division, I still thinik that we'll tampa bay once again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
option+ Posted October 28, 2005 Share Posted October 28, 2005 Carolina isn't as bad as we all thought before the season started. Staal is a an absolute stud and they quietly signed some guys who can put the puck in the net (Whitney, Stillman, Matt Cullen). Gerber and Ward have been standing on their heads. But that D is atrocious. I can't really take a team seriously if Mike Commodore, Aaron Ward and Niclas Wallin are in their defensive rotation... and Kaberle + Tverdovsky aren't exactly reputed for their defensive zone coverage either. Atlanta a real NHL team? Blowing a 4-0 lead to Pittsburgh is not a good start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mont Royale Posted October 28, 2005 Share Posted October 28, 2005 Shields is not going to turn Atlanta into a real team. Consistency is their problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathieug Posted October 28, 2005 Share Posted October 28, 2005 That's correct Mont Royale, Shields is not Atlanta's solution. He's a decent backup but he won't be stealing games for them. The trashers will compete with a healthy Lehtonen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
option+ Posted October 28, 2005 Share Posted October 28, 2005 I'm not sure about that defense either. I'm not sure how useful guys like Garnet Exelby, Shane Hnidy and Andy Sutton are now that you can't clutch, grab and tackle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony_ Posted October 28, 2005 Share Posted October 28, 2005 They're better off with Michael Burnett (sp?) if you ask me. He might be their 3rd string goalie but I'd rather see the young guy get some NHL experience then let Steve Shields in nets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonus Posted October 28, 2005 Author Share Posted October 28, 2005 Originally posted by TonyThey're better off with Michael Burnett (sp?) if you ask me. He might be their 3rd string goalie but I'd rather see the young guy get some NHL experience then let Steve Shields in nets. I think that is a good team-building strategy, but it will make their team completely irrelevant until (if) Burnett becomes somewhat consistent. With Shields, they can at least assume that 4+ goals gives them a decent chance to win the game It might end up being better for Burnett to not get shelled every other night. Letting him play every 3 games or so gives him a chance to recover/reprepare with the goalie coach. [Edited on 10/28/2005 by simonus] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortcat1 Posted October 29, 2005 Share Posted October 29, 2005 Pulling a goalie from the AHL can't be, usually, the answer. I'm sure the Thrashers organization know that. I'm sure that, for them, Shields is a temporary fix. I wouldn't be surprised that Shields has a sense of that too. :hlogo::ghg::hlogo: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonus Posted October 29, 2005 Author Share Posted October 29, 2005 Originally posted by Mont RoyaleShields is not going to turn Atlanta into a real team. Consistency is their problem. consistency is the exact and only thing that shields brings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mont Royale Posted October 29, 2005 Share Posted October 29, 2005 Originally posted by simonus Originally posted by Mont RoyaleShields is not going to turn Atlanta into a real team. Consistency is their problem. consistency is the exact and only thing that shields brings. Perhaps. He's bounced around alot in the last 5 years, and his stats have steadily deteriorated. But it depends on the team in front of him, of course. You seem to have a lot of faith in him. If it works out, that's great for him and the Thrashers. My comment on consistency was not solely referring to goaltending, though. They'll need consistent and better performances from others to be a 'real' team. Whenever you lose 9-1 to ANYBODY in this league, there's a lot of blame to go around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonus Posted October 29, 2005 Author Share Posted October 29, 2005 i don't have that much faith in him. I think he is a serviceable NHL backup - which is more than can be said for the current level of goalie play that the thrashers have been getting since the injuries. I don't think the Thrashers are going to suddenly fly up the standings, i just hope that this means that they won't be a throw-away game in the schedule where the only question is how many elbows they will throw as our snipers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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