This is my third year covering the Admirals, whether it be on the radio or in one of my blogs. In that time, there has been one player in particular that I could never seem to say enough good things about. And then I watched that one player get put on waivers by the Predators organization, which was closely followed by his signing with the Atlanta Thrashers. And now, I feel like everytime I watch this player, he has his hands in the air celebrating another goal or assist for his new team.

Ahh yes. Rich Peverley...

Peverley is a true testament as to what happens with hard work and a little elbow grease, and proves that even the undrafted kids can go the distance and play in the NHL. After 4 years at St. Lawrence University in the NCAA, Peverley played a season in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays. The following season, he played with the ECHL's Reading Royals for 11 games. After scoring 4 goals and 11 asissts in those first 11 games, he caught the eye of the Milwaukee Admirals and spent the remainder of the season in the AHL. Two seasons later, Rich earned his first call up to the NHL with Milwaukee's parent club, the Nashville Predators.

And if you don't mind, I'd like to jump ahead to the present day, as I'm too young to have high blood pressure problems and talking about his departure from Nashville might send me into cardiac arrest...

Pevs recently signed a two-year/2.6 million dollar contract with the Thrashers, and boy did he earn every penny of it. In 56 games he's played with Atlanta since being claimed off waivers last season, he's tallied 58 points. As of today, he's ranked 9th overall in points in the NHL, and is on pace to destroy last years 33 point season between Nashville and Atlanta. **shakes head**

Preds beat writer John Glennon wrote a piece (click here to read it) on Peverley for the Tennessean and has some nice comments from Thrashers head coach John Anderson (who coached the Chicago Wolves while Peverley played with the Admirals).  According to Anderson, he recalled Peverley's offensive prowess from the time he coached against him in the AHL.  He saw an enormous talent in Pevs that Nashville turned a blind eye to.

What irritates me the most about the whole situation is that I've been barking for Nashville to bring a power forward on board that'll put some offensive numbers up. Peverley has become just that, how? Because he's gotten some consistent ice time and has the confidence of an organization behind him. And to think Nashville put him on waivers, as in they didn't get anyone or anything in return for him! 

When Hockey Guy was training our black lab, he'd put her snout right in the mess she made to show her what she did so she wouldn't go it again. Can someone put Nashville's snout in Peverley's 56 points? It worked for the pup... maybe it'll work for the Preds...

Looks like Atlanta is going to have to wait a bit longer before starting goaltender Kari Lehtonen returns to the line up. According to NHL.com, the 25 year-old Lehtonen went under the knife for back surgery last Friday to remove edges of bone that were applying pressure to nerve roots in two spots, sidelining the Finland-native another 6-8 weeks. This procedure was his second back surgery in less than 3 months, his first coming July 20th to repair a herniated disk.

Fans who have followed Kari Lehtonen's professional career know this isn't the first big injury of his career. Since being drafted second overall in the 2002 NHL Entry draft,  Lehtonen has had a string of groin injuries that have sidelined him for substantial amounts of games. At one point, I believe the NHL website considered putting a Kari Lehtonen injury tracker on the league website (that idea has since been filed away in the circular bin, as focus has been turned to a potential league-wide H1N1 tracker for obvious reasons).

Jokes aside, hockey fans know all too well that neither groin or back problems sometimes never quite go away for goaltenders (just ask former Admirals goaltender Brian Finley, he knows a thing or two about ongoing groin issues).

I felt that an expert needed to be consulted on the matter. Enter Thrashers scout Mark Dobson:

-Spoke with Atlanta Thrashers scout Mark Dobson regarding Kari Lehtonen's status 11/12/2009. Dobson says during Lehtonen's second surgery, they found the root of the problem that prompted the first back surgery. Lehtonen is expected to be out 6 weeks, but the Thrashers are hopeful that he'll be playing in net at full capacity by the end of the season. He also said this has been a good learning experience for Pavelec and Hedburg, as they've been spliting ice time while Lehtonen has been out. Sounds like the organization is very optimistic that Lehtonen will return to his pre-injury form after coming back from this surgery.

Now, what has prompted me to write this article is that I see folks in my fantasy hockey league, particularly in deep dynasty formats, dropping Lehtonen. I've seen comments from hockey fans saying things like "he'll never fully come back from this injury" and "why take the chance of him sucking when he returns to the line up". Even Thrasher fans seems to be writing him off, thinking the organization should start exploring the option of bringing a veteran goaltender in that Kari could back up when he's healthy.

*drum roll please* Here is my take on the situation: you are a fool to think Lehtonen is not going to put wins on the board when he heals up from this surgery.  A lot of people I've asked opinions of have disagreed with me, but I'm sticking to my guns on this one.. well...except for Lil' Jon, I think he might be a Lehtonen fan...

Let's take a look at Kari's numbers. He's played 5 seasons with the thrashers (not all complete seasons). His average save percentage is .920. Now look at the league leaders for this seasons goaltenders. Kari's average save percentage (keep in mind there was a HUGE chunk of time in those 5 seasons he was coming back from an injury) would still put him in the realm of 10th place among this seasons goalies.

Pavelec and Moose have definetely done a commendable job this season, so don't think I am trying to run them out of the arena. I just think folks have been a little to quick to write off Lehtonen. Once he comes back from this back injury (slowly please Atlanta! Don't bring him back to quickly, we all saw how well that worked after his groin injury!), I think he'll earn his starting position back.

Your turn. Discuss! While you conjure up your thoughts on the topic, check out my favorite picture of ol' Kari. Cracks me up whenever I see it.

The Carolina Hurricanes announced this morning that in response to Cam Ward's unfortunate groin injury, they have signed NHL veteran goaltender slash former Chicago Wolves goaltender Manny Legace to a one-year contract worth $500,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. Starting goaltender Cam Ward, who was injured in Saturday night's game versus Columbus, is expected to be released from the hospital sometime today.

Ward is expected to be out at minimum 3-4 weeks.  

 This story involves a skate, a groin, and an ice pack... This will all make sense in a moment.

 I was working on a story on Friday night about Kari Lehtonen's future in the NHL (stayed tuned, I'll be posting it within the next few days). The story chronicles the many injuries that have kept Lehtonen out of the lineup on and off for the last 5 seasons. About midway through the article, I wrote "I'd have to think chronic pulled groin muscles are the worst injury for goalies to sustain".

And then I watched the Hurricanes game Saturday night and deleted it from the story.

Enter Cam Ward. the 25 year-old starting goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes. While making a routine save on a shot from Columbus Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash, Ward was sliced by the back end of Nash's skate as he fell to the ice. Did I mention the slice was to the groin area *shivers*. For those who haven't seen the footage of this yet, take a look for yourself.

 Also for your reading pleasure is the full story from NHL.com. It doesn't sound like the Hurricanes organization has a lot of faith in backup goaltender Michael Leighton, and it appears the 'Canes are going to have to deal for a veteran goalie if they want any shot at a spot in the post-season. Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports has a nice article about the matter, you can read it here. On a side note, bookmark this blog. Greg Wyshynski (the writer of Puck Daddy) is a genius.

Maybe the New York Islanders would be willing to deal one of their 17 goaltenders to the Hurricanes, as it's reported that Ward might be out a month or more. He spent last night in the hospital, and they are keeping him overnight tonight as a precautionary measure. Sounds like the biggest concern is that medical staff doesn't want infection to set in. Infection in a severed groin region? OUCH! 

Sorry Kari Lehtonen, but I'm pretty sure Cam has you beat in the groin injury department. In the meantime, someone needs to fashion a pair of kevlar long johns for Ward to wear when he returns (note to self, assign that job to Hockey Guy, as I am sure they have some spare kevlar laying around somewhere in afghanistan....).

Chicago Wolves defenseman Chris Chelios (left) and Milwaukee Admirals forward Ryan Jones (right). Photo by Scott Paulus

Now I'm not here to talk Admirals hockey, I leave that to the guys at Short Shifts. However I'd like to say a few words about tonight, as I've been following our dear old friend (pun obviously intended) Chris Chelios since the offseason when he was looking for an NHL team to play with. I've tracked him from the time the rumors of him signing with the Predators starting swirling to the minute it was announced that he'd join the Chicago Wolves for their 2009-2010 season. Ten Chelly's Chili references and 185 grandpa jokes later and he's finally making his debut on Milwaukee ice (please note that Chelly's and grandpa statistics are only estimates, when Hockey Guy returns from his army deployment, I will put him in charge of keeping track of important numbers like these). And for the record, I'm not the only one making the grandpa jokes. One of the groups in attendance at tonight's game are "The Great Great Grandchildren of Chris Chelios". Kudos to the person who came up with that little gem!

Mind you think isn't the first time I've seen Chelios play, as I  saw him in a Red Wings uniform a few years ago when they took on the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul. I don't remember much from that game as I was watching Stevie Y the entire time, as it was his last season before retiring from the league. This time, the tables are turned and I plan on keeping an eye on the proprietor of Chelly's Chili for the entire game. Speaking of the Red Wings, Chris Chelios isn't the only former Red Wing to be playing for the Wolves in tonights contest. Chicago Wolves goaltender Manny Legace spent 6 seasons with the Red Wings. I wonder what other former Red Wings will sign with the Wolves this season. Brett Hull? Darryl Sittler? Maybe even Gordie Howe will want one more skate around the rink.

Chicago head coach Don Granato had Chelios paired with 21 year-old Arturs Kulda in the starting line up. On a side note, Chelios was 26 years-old and playing in his 6th professional season when Kulda was born. His slap shot doesn't have quite the fire power it once did, and his checks look more like pushes, but he did play a big role in 2 of Chicago's 4 goals tonight (one of which was the game winner). His fine performance even earned him the second star of the game.

So a tip of the hat to you, Mr. Chelios. A fine performance from a man who was there the day hockey was invented. Maybe you can still play hockey afterall.