18 replies to this topic

[Jennifer1515]

Hope all works out for Shields

ATLANTA (CP) - Steve Shields could be in the future plans of the Atlanta Thrashers, who have lost starter Kari Lehtonen and backup Mike Dunham to groin injuries.

Atlanta's AHL farm team, the Chicago Wolves, signed Shields to an AHL tryout deal Monday. The Thrashers would still need to sign him to an NHL contract if they wanted to call him up. Shields, 33, attended Anaheim's NHL training camp on a tryout but didn't make the team. The native of North Bay, Ont., is 79-102-39 in 241 career NHL games with a 2.64 GAA and .912 save percentage.

LINK

[GLOVESAVE35]

Atlanta clearly needs a goalie right now. And I'd rather Shields go there than stick around in So Cal and possibly sign with the Kings (should one of their goalies go down with an injury).

[MrsBevo]

Atlanta definitely needs some help in the goalie department. It would be nice to see Shieldsy get a chance somewhere.

[Jennifer1515]

here is some more information on the Thrasher goalie situation

After learning from a specialist in Boston that Kari Lehtonen should stay out for another month to rehab and strengthen the muscles surrounding and including his groin, the Thrashers agreed in principle to a contract with goalie Steve Shields on Wednesday, general manager Don Waddell said.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/scor...more/index.html

[Dark Knight]

Done deal. He was signed to a one year contract and will start tonight against the Pens.

LINK

[Jennifer1515]

Thanks for the link DK

met him this morning. I said: 'Hi Steve, it's Don Waddell, good luck, you're starting tonight,"' the Atlanta GM said Thursday from Pittsburgh.

what a way to find out your starting

"I told him I thought there was an unbelievable opportunity here," Waddell said. "And at the end of the day, if and when everybody gets healthy, we're going to keep the best two guys. I mean, if Lehtonen is out another month, he's not going to be able to jump right back in here, he'll have to go down and play some games."

[goavsgo]

That's good for atlanta i think it will help them. They needed a goalie.

[MrsBevo]

I'm curious to see how he does.

[DropThePuck]

Shields won't have long to celebrate the $575,000 US pact, as he'll be strapping on the pads for the Thrashers' Thursday night encounter against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

<link>


He's probably hoping to stay up in the NHL for awhile with the difference in salary ... here are the other Thrasher goalie salaries listed by the NHLPA:

Berkhoel, Adam $488,000.00
Dunham, Michael $750,000.00
Garnett, Michael $450,000.00
Lehtonen, Kari $900,600.00

[Kimi]

Good signing by the Thrashers. Can't think of a better guy they could have picked up cheep.

I've got a feeling he'll be there for a while with out being sent down. Lets may need a week or two in the AHL to get him back into game shap once he gets back, so they'll still need him there for a bit.

[ahtikullervo]

In his debut he has let 6 in already... Atlanta from 4:0 lead to 4:6. Shields is on fire!!!

[Kimi]

LOL. I've got that game on the radio right now, fun to listen too.

[THE Mighty Duck Man 84]

he ended up letting in 7 didnt he?

[Dark Knight]

he ended up letting in 7 didnt he?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yup. Maybe we should change the thread name to "Shields could be in Thrashers Past."

[Jennifer1515]

yikes...lets hope he figures out that the black rubber thingy isnt supposed to go in HIS net

[MrsBevo]

He only let in three tonight.

[Jennifer1515]

well...at least he is getting better...

[cayli'smom750]

I don't know about that last goal...it bounced off (former duck) Havelid & landed square in the net. Not something that would have been easy to stop. Unfortunately, it was the game-winning goal.

I watched that game last night out of curiousity & I really have to pity ANY goalie that steps in between the pipes for that team. If last night was one of their better efforts, I think the Thrashers are in deep doo-doo again this season.

And to add salt into their wounds, Heatly scored four goals for Ottowa that same night.

[cayli'smom750]

hehehe...and how's this for luck:

Shields finally gets a win as a Thrashers, it set to start against Philly last Saturday, then during warm-ups, he goes down with a knee injury. Mike Dunham, who had just come back from HIS injury & had started the night before against the Capitals, had to play back-to-back.

Jeez...first the chest injury during tryouts with the Ducks & now, this knee injury less than, what, 3 weeks after he was signed? Think his body is saying "enough already!"

I think it's the curse of the Atlanta Thrashers Goalies...every one of them that gets between the pipes gets hit with either an injury or really crappy stats!

hmm...there's a couple of guys I could think of sending to Thrasher netminder purgatory...