OFF-SEASON ADDITIONS
Akim Aliu, RW (Acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks)
Donald Brashear, LW (Acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers)
Dustin Byfuglien, LW (Acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks)
Nigel Dawes, LW (Signed as a free agent, previously with the Calgary Flames)
Ben Eager, LW (Acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks)
Andrew Ladd, LW (Acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks)
Chris Mason, G (Signed as a free agent, previously with the St. Louis Blues)
Ian McKenzie, RW (Acquired in a trade with the Nashville Predators)
Freddy Meyer, D (Signed as a free agent, previously with the New York Islanders)
Fredrik Modin, LW (Signed as a free agent, previously with the Los Angeles Kings)
Patrick Rissmiller, LW (Acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers)
Jared Ross, C (Signed as a free agent, previously with the Philadelphia Flyers)
Jaime Sifers, D (Signed as a free agent, previously with the Minnesota Wild)
Mike Siklenka, RW (Signed as a free agent, previously with the Red Bulls Salzburg of Austria)
Brent Sopel, D (Acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks)
OFF-SEASON LOSSES
Maxim Afinogenov, RW (Signed with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL)
Colby Armstrong, RW (Signed as a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs)
Evgeny Artyukhin, LW (Unsigned Free Agent)
Donald Brashear, LW (Contract bought out by the team, Unsigned Free Agent)
Chris Chelios, D (Retired)
Joey Crabb, RW (Traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, later signed as a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs)
Chad Denny, D (Unsigned Free Agent)
Josh Gratton, LW (Unsigned Free Agent)
Johan Hedberg, G (Signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Devils)
Rylan Kaip, C (Signed with the Houston Aeros of the AHL)
Slava Kozlov, LW (Unsigned Free Agent)
Pavel Kubina, D (Signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning)
Scott Lehman, D (Signed with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL)
Grant Lewis, D (Traded to the Nashville Predators)
Clarke MacArthur, LW (Signed as a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs)
Steve McCarthy, D (Unsigned Free Agent)
Jeremy Morin, LW (Traded to the Chicago Blackhawks)
Mark Popovic, D (Unsigned Free Agent)
Marty Reasoner, C (Traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, later traded to the Florida Panthers)
Christoph Schubert, D (Signed with Frolunda of Sweden)
Matt Siddall, RW (Signed with the Victoria Salmon Kings of the ECHL)
Tim Stapleton, C (Unsigned Free Agent)
Brett Sterling, LW (Traded to the San Jose Sharks, later signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins)
Michael Vernace, D (Traded to the San Jose Sharks, later signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning)
Ivan Vishnevskiy, D (Traded to the Chicago Blackhawks)
Todd White, C (Traded to the New York Rangers)
2009-10 Season Finish: 2nd Southeast Division, 10th Eastern Conference, 83 Pts.
2009-10 Playoffs: Did Not Make Playoffs
2010-11 Prediction: 3rd Southeast Division, 11th Eastern Conference
The Atlanta Thrashers started off the 2009-10 season a bit slow, but after a mid-season trade that sent star left winger Ilya Kovalchuk to the New Jersey Devils, the team saw its play begin to improve. However, the late-season surge wasn't enough and the Thrashers missed the playoffs by six points. The off-season has brought about a lot of player change in Atlanta, especially on offense, to try to get the team back to the playoffs in 2011. Right wing Nikolai Antropov remains one of the team's top forwards and brings plenty of offensive skill to the team, as well as some two-way talent. Left wing Evander Kane wasn't too bad in his rookie debut last season and will look to better his offensive skills in 2010-11, as well as provide some toughness for the team. Bryan Little saw his production dip a little in 2009-10, but will look to bounce back this coming season. Despite his struggles, he still brings plenty of goal-scoring and playmaking skill to the lineup. Rich Peverley provides plenty of offensive talent to the team, as well as solid faceoff skills, while newcomer Dustin Byfuglien brings lots of size, toughness, offensive skill, and a good shot to the Thrashers' forward lines. Restricted free agent Niclas Bergfors, who was acquired this past February in the Kovalchuk trade, is still not under contract for next season, and according to GM Rick Dudley, negotiations are not going well. The team will likely do all they can to get Bergfors under contract prior to the start of the season, as he brings lots of puckmoving skill, offensive potential, and scoring instincts to the forward lines. Newcomers Fredrik Modin and Andrew Ladd bring plenty of veteran depth and two-way skill to the checking lines, while Jim Slater provides some speed, defensive skill, and a little offensive upside to the team. Ben Eager, Chris Thorburn, Anthony Stewart, and Eric Boulton all bring lots of size, toughness, and grit to the checking lines, while Patrick Rissmiller brings some veteran offensive depth to the fourth line. The Thrashers have a number of talented prospect forwards who will look to make the team at training camp in the coming weeks, including Angelo Esposito, Akim Aliu, Michael Forney, Patrice Cormier, Eric O'Dell, and Daultan Leveille. While the team has plenty of offensive prospects and a few promising forwards already on the team, they lack a proven, consistent goal-scorer. If players like Antropov, Little, Peverley, Byfuglien, and Kane can remain consistent throughout the season, the Thrashers' should have a potent offense. However, if any of these players should struggle or play inconsistent hockey, the team may want to consider acquiring a proven goal-scorer to help pick up the slack.
EDIT
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Thrashers have signed left wing Nigel Dawes to a one-year, two-way contract worth $600,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. Dawes adds some offensive depth to the team, but can be inconsistent at times in his play.
The Thrashers' defense boasts a good mix of veteran talent and younger players, which should help make them competitive defensively this coming season. Ron Hainsey brings mobility and size to the blueline, as well as some offensive ability. Tobias Enstrom brings lots of offensive skill to the team's defense, especially on the power play, while Zach Bogosian brings lots of offensive potential, mobility, and some toughness to the blueline. Johnny Oduya provides plenty of depth as a defensive defenseman, while Brent Sopel brings some puck-moving skill to the blueline and is also a good shot blocker. Boris Valabik adds lots of grit and toughness to the Thrashers' defense, while Freddy Meyer brings a little offensive depth as a sixth or seventh defenseman. Youngsters Arturs Kulda, Paul Postma, and Andrei Zubarev will all look to compete for a roster spot on the team's defense while at training camp this fall.
The Thrashers' have a fairly steady goaltending tandem in Ondrej Pavelec and Chris Mason, which should keep the team competitive in goal throughout the 2010-11 season. Pavelec has plenty of size and puck-stopping instincts, while Mason provides lots of veteran depth and is a solid player in net. Pavelec and Mason will both likely share the goaltending duties throughout next season, unless one of them begins to outshine the other one in goal. Drew MacIntyre and Peter Mannino also provide the Thrashers with some experience in goal, but will likely spend most of next season in the minors unless there is an injury to Pavelec or Mason.
TEAM STRENGTHS
- Possess a good goaltending tandem in Pavelec and Mason.
- Good mix of veteran and young players on defense.
- Plenty of quality, offensive prospects.
TEAM WEAKNESSES
- Lack a proven goal-scorer.
- A few too many inconsistent players on offense.
- Could use a little more toughness on the blueline.
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