Thrashers Re-Sign Forwards Eager, Ladd, Goaltender Mannino

The Atlanta Thrashers have announced that they have avoided arbitration with left wing Ben Eager and re-signed him to a one-year contract worth $965,000. The team has also avoided arbitration with left wing Andrew Ladd and signed him to a one-year contract worth $2.35 million. The Thrashers also announced that they have re-signed goaltender Peter Mannino to a multi-year contract. The financial terms of his deal were not disclosed. Eager was acquired by the Thrashers from the Chicago Blackhawks on June 24 in the Dustin Byfuglien trade, while Ladd was acquired in a separate deal with the Blackhawks on July 1 for defenseman Ivan Vishnevskiy. These aren't bad signings for the Thrashers, as both players will bring plenty of veteran depth to the team. Eager will bring some much needed toughness and grit to the forward lines, while Ladd will also bring some toughness and offensive depth as well. Mannino is really just a depth signing for the team and will likely spend most of the next two seasons in the minors.