Atlanta Thrashers Set to Move to Winnipeg

The NHL is on its way back to the Manitoba capital. True North Sports and Entertainment announced today that they have completed a deal to purchase the Atlanta Thrashers and relocate the team to Winnipeg in time for the 2011-12 season. The sale of the franchise is still pending approval from the NHL Board of Governors, which should occur on June 20 in New York. The transfer of ownership will require 75 percent approval from the Board of Governors, while relocation will only need a majority result. True North Sports and Entertainment and the Thrashers' owner, Atlanta Spirit, had been working on a deal for several weeks. The franchise price will be $170 million with a $60 million relocation fee. That relocation fee will be dispersed to the other 29 NHL teams. The team will play out of the MTS Centre, which opened in 2004 and has a seating capacity of just over 15,000. A nickname has not been chosen for the team yet and True North is now launching a season ticket campaign, with ticket prices ranging from $39-$129 per game. According to TSN insider Bob McKenzie, the Winnipeg franchise will remain in the Southeast Division for the 2011-12 season, with realignment set to occur prior to the 2012-13 season. It has been 15 years since the Winnipeg Jets departed Canada and moved to Arizona to become the Phoenix Coyotes. This is the second time the city of Atlanta has lost an NHL franchise. The Flames played in Atlanta from 1972 to 1980 before relocating to Calgary. The Thrashers were an expansion team for the 1999-2000 season. This is great news for the city of Winnipeg and the province of Manitoba, as hockey fans in Winnipeg have been really vocal about getting the NHL to return to their city. It's nice to see Canada getting another hockey franchise and that the team is going to a city with a fan base that will appreciate them. The Thrashers were not a huge grab in Atlanta, so it will be good for the franchise to be in a city that will have a stronger fan base. A big congratulations goes out to the city of Winnipeg for acquiring an NHL franchise. You have certainly earned it.

Fredrik Modin Announces His Retirement

According to thehockeynews.com and tsn.ca, Calgary Flames' left wing Fredrik Modin has decided to retire from hockey. He has missed much of the last four seasons due to various injuries. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 40 games this past season with the Atlanta Thrashers and Calgary Flames, he had seven goals and three assists for 10 points. In 898 career NHL games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Thrashers, and Calgary Flames, he has 232 goals and 230 assists for 462 points. He won the Stanley Cup in 2004 as a member of the Lightning and an Olympic Gold Medal in 2006 as a member of Team Sweden. Modin was always an excellent two-way player throughout his career and a good complementary winger to other skilled forwards. It's a shame to see a rash of injuries bring his career to a close and I wish him all the best in retirement.

Thrashers Acquire Brett Festerling from Canadiens for Drew MacIntyre

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have acquired defenseman Brett Festerling from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for goaltender Drew MacIntyre. Festerling will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while MacIntyre will be an unrestricted free agent. Festerling, who was acquired by the Canadiens this past December from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Maxim Lapierre, has no points in one game with the Ducks this season. He never suited up in a game with the Canadiens. He has also appeared in 48 games with Syracuse and Hamilton of the AHL, scoring three goals and 13 assists for 16 points. MacIntyre has played in 20 games with Chicago of the AHL, posting a 12-5-1, with a 2.91 GAA and a .906 save percentage. He has not appeared in an NHL game this season. This is really just a depth move for both teams, as both players will likely spend most of the rest of the season in the minors. The Thrashers get a hard-working defenseman in Festerling who can chip in offensively from time to time, so he could end up as their sixth or seventh defenseman down the road. MacIntyre adds more depth in goal for Montreal as they head into the playoffs, though it remains to be seen if he will play any games with the club.

Flames Acquire Fredrik Modin from Thrashers

The Calgary Flames announced today that they have acquired left wing Fredrik Modin from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for a seventh round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Modin will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 36 games this season with the Thrashers, he has seven goals and three assists for 10 points. He has missed 22 games altogether this season due to injuries. Not a bad depth move for the Flames, as Modin will bring plenty of offensive skill, two-way ability, and goal-scoring insurance to the team. Despite being injury prone and a bit inconsistent, Modin is a solid veteran addition for the surging Flames.

Thrashers Claim Rob Schremp Off Waivers from NY Islanders

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have claimed center Rob Schremp off waivers from the New York Islanders. He will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 45 games this season with the Islanders, he has 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points. Not a bad depth move for the Thrashers, as Schremp will bring some goal-scoring ability and passing skills to the team. He also adds some depth at center after the Thrashers dealt Rich Peverley to the Boston Bruins last week. He has struggled a bit this season in New York after having a fine season in 2009-10, so perhaps a fresh start in Atlanta can help him improve his game offensively.

Thrashers Sign Mark Stuart to Three-Year Extension

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have signed defenseman Mark Stuart to a three-year contract extension worth $5.1 million. The deal averages out to $1.7 million per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. The 26-year-old defenseman was acquired by the Thrashers on February 18 from the Boston Bruins with Blake Wheeler in exchange for Rich Peverley and Boris Valabik. In 35 games this season with Boston and Atlanta, Stuart has one goal and four assists for five points and 33 penalty minutes. Not a bad move for the Thrashers, as Stuart brings lots of defensive depth to their blueline. He brings lots of shutdown skills to the team's defense and some physical play, so he should be a good fit for the team over the next three years.

Thrashers Acquire Dvorak from Panthers for Bergfors, Rissmiller

In the first trade on Trade Deadline Day, the Atlanta Thrashers have acquired right wing Radek Dvorak from the Florida Panthers in exchange for right wing Niclas Bergfors and left wing Patrick Rissmiller. Dvorak and Rissmiller will be unrestricted free agents this summer, while Bergfors will be eligible for restricted free agency. In 53 games with the Panthers, Dvorak has seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points. Bergfors has 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points in 52 games with the Thrashers, while Rissmiller has no points on only one game. He has spent the majority of the season with Lake Erie of the AHL. This trade works for both teams. Dvorak brings plenty of two-way skill, lots of experience on the penalty kill, and veteran offensive depth to the Thrashers as they make a push for the playoffs. The Panthers get a young scorer in Bergfors to help them in their rebuilding process. Despite struggling in Atlanta this season, he has plenty of offensive potential and could become a steady scorer for Florida. Rissmiller brings veteran offensive depth down the wing, but could continue to play in the minors for the rest of the season, depending on how many players the Panthers deal throughout the day.

EDIT

The Thrashers also acquired a fifth round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft from the Panthers in the trade.

Thrashers Sign Chris Thorburn to Three-Year Extension

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have signed center Chris Thorburn to a three-year contract extension worth $2.601 million. The deal averages out to $867,000 per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 62 games this season, he has seven goals and nine assists for 16 points and 51 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth signing for the Thrashers, as Thornburn has had a decent season as the team's fourth line center. He has good size, plays with lots of toughness, and is decent at killing penalties. While he isn't a great skater or an offensive producer, he brings plenty of depth and grit to the checking lines.

Canadiens Acquire Sopel, Dawes from Thrashers for Maxwell, Draft Pick

The Montreal Canadiens announced today that they have acquired defenseman Brent Sopel and left wing Nigel Dawes from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for center Ben Maxwell and a fourth round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Sopel will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, while Dawes and Maxwell will be eligible for restricted free agency. In 59 games this season, Sopel has two goals and five assists for seven points, while Dawes has one assist in nine games. He has spent the majority of the season with Chicago of the AHL and will now report to Hamilton of the AHL. Maxwell has 11 goals and 29 assists for 40 points in 47 games with Hamilton and will now report to the Chicago Wolves. Not a bad depth move for the Canadiens, as Sopel will bring some much-needed depth to their injury-ravaged blueline. He can play lots of minutes and brings lots of shot blocking skill to the team. Dawes does bring some goal-scoring skill to Montreal, but is very inconsistent in his scoring. He will look to salavage his NHL career with the Canadiens, but if he cannot, this will likely be his last stop in the NHL. Maxwell brings some two-way skill to the Thrashers, but likely won't make much of an impact this season. With the emergence of rookie center David Desharnais this season, Maxwell became expendable to Montreal.

Thrashers Acquire Wheeler, Stuart from Bruins for Peverley, Valabik

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have acquired winger Blake Wheeler and defenseman Mark Stuart from the Boston Bruins in exchange for center Rich Peverley and defenseman Boris Valabik. Wheeler and Valabik will both be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while Stuart will be eligible for unrestricted free agency. Peverley still has one more year left on his current deal. In 58 games with the Bruins this season, Wheeler has 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points, while Stuart has one goal and four assists for five points in 31 games. In 59 games with the Thrashers, Peverley has 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points, while Valabik has nine assists and 165 penalty minutes with Chicago of the AHL. He has not appeared in an NHL game so far this season. This is a good trade for the Thrashers, as Wheeler and Stuart will bring plenty of depth to the team at their respected positions. Wheeler will add some two-way depth, size, and offensive skill despite being a little inconsistent in his scoring, while Stuart will add plenty of defensive depth as a stay-at-home defenseman and bring some physical play to the blueline. Trading Peverley will leave the Thrashers a little thin at center and they could perhaps swing another trade for a center before the February 28 trade deadline. Also, the Thrashers likely won't miss Valabik, as he never panned out for the team. It's not a bad trade for the Bruins either, but I give the edge to the Thrashers in this one. Peverley brings the Bruins some offensive skill and two-way ability, perhaps a bit more than Wheeler was providing in Boston. He will also bring some versatility to the team, as he can also play on the wing. At six feet, seven inches, Valabik brings tremendous size to Boston's blueline, as well as lots of toughness and physical play. However, he is a bit slow, tends to take bad penalties, and isn't very offensive minded, which will likely land him a sixth or seventh role with the team for the time being. Although, with Zdeno Chara as a mentor, Valabik's game should improve over time.

Thrashers Sign Dustin Byfuglien to Five-Year Extension

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have signed defenseman Dustin Byfuglien to a five-year contract extension worth $26 million. The deal averages out to $5.2 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent this summer and a likely target for an offer sheet. He was acquired by the Thrashers this past summer from the Chicago Blackhawks along with Brent Sopel, Ben Eager, and Akim Aliu in exchange for Marty Reasoner, Jeremy Morin, Joey Crabb, and first and second round picks in the 2010 Entry Draft. In 58 games so far this season, Byfuglien has 17 goals and 26 assists for 43 points. In 318 career NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks and Atlanta Thrashers, he has 72 goals and 80 assists for 152 points. This is a good signing for the Thrashers, as Byfuglien has emerged as an elite player on the blueline and still has his best years ahead of him. He has excellent offensive skills, especially on the power play, good size, and can log lots of minutes. He can also play on the wing, which makes him a very versatile player for the Thrashers.

Sharks Acquire Ben Eager from Thrashers

The San Jose Sharks announced today that they have acquired left wing Ben Eager from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for a fifth round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Eager, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, has three goals and seven assists for 10 points and 77 penalty minutes in 34 games so far this season. He is currently serving a four-game suspension for sucker-punching Toronto's Colby Armstrong. Not a bad move for the Sharks, as Eager will add lots of grit and toughness to the team. He should be a decent addition to the checking lines as an agitator.

Thrashers Sign Center Tim Stapleton

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have signed free agent center Tim Stapleton. The exact length and financial terms of the deal were not announced, but it's likely a one-year deal. He appeared in six games last season with the Thrashers, scoring two goals. He spent the majority of the 2009-10 season with the Thrashers' AHL affiliate in Chicago. In 20 games this season with San Antonio of the AHL, he has eight goals and seven assists for 15 points. This is really just a depth move for the Thrashers, as Stapleton will likely spend most of this season in the minors. However, he is expected to join the team tonight in Colorado, so he will get a chance to play at the NHL level for now.

***UPDATE***
Stapleton's newly signed contract is a two-year deal. For the 2010-11 season, it's a two-way deal that will see him earning $525,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 if he plays in the minors. For the 2011-12 season, it's a one-way deal, which will see him earn $525,000 regardless if he plays in the NHL or minors.

Thrashers Re-Sign Niclas Bergfors to One-Year Contract

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have re-signed right wing Niclas Bergfors to a one-year contract worth $900,000. He was acquired by the Thrashers on February 4 along with Johnny Oduya, Patrice Cormier, and first and second round picks in the 2010 draft from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Ilya Kovalchuk, Anssi Salmela, and a second round pick in 2010. In 81 games last season with New Jersey and Atlanta, he had 21 goals and 23 assists for 44 points. Not a bad signing for the Thrashers, as Bergfors was a fairly productive player offensively after the trade. He has plenty of offensive potential, some puckmoving skill, and goal-scoring instincts, and should look to have a good season with the Thrashers in 2010-11.

Thrashers Sign Nigel Dawes to One-Year Deal

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Atlanta Thrashers have signed left wing Nigel Dawes to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay him $600,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. In 66 games last season with the Calgary Flames, he had 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points. Not a bad signing for the Thrashers, as Dawes will bring some offensive skill to the team. He works hard on the ice and has some goal-scoring skill, but can be inconsistent in his play from time to time and was never given much of an opportunity in Calgary to prove himself. Perhaps if he is given a little more ice time in Atlanta, he can better his offensive numbers.

Atlanta Thrashers 2010-11 Outlook

ATLANTA THRASHERS

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.

Thrashers Sign Fredrik Modin to One-Year Deal

According to the Swedish website Aftonbladet, the Atlanta Thrashers have signed left wing Fredrik Modin to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 44 games last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings, he had five goals and six assists for 11 points. He missed 31 games last season with a knee injury, as well as another nine games with a bruised right foot. Not a bad signing for the Thrashers, as Modin will bring plenty of veteran, offensive depth to the team. He has decent two-way skill, a hard shot, and some offensive skill to the power play. Although, Modin is prone to inconsistency and has run into injury problems in recent years, but he should still be an effective player for the Thrashers next season.

Thrashers Acquire McKenzie from Predators for Lewis

The Atlanta Thrashers have announced that they have acquired right wing Ian McKenzie from the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Grant Lewis. In 24 games last season with Milwaukee of the AHL, McKenzie had one goal. He also appeared in 24 games with Cincinnati of the ECHL, scoring three goals and two assists for five points. In 36 games last season with Chicago and Hershey of the AHL, Lewis had one goal and five assists for six points. There really isn't much to say about this trade. It's just a depth move for both teams and McKenzie and Lewis are likely to spend all of next season in the minors.

Thrashers Sign Bryan Little to Three-Year Deal

The Atlanta Thrashers have announced that they have re-signed right wing Bryan Little to a three-year contract worth $7.15 million. The deal averages out to $2.38 million per season. In 79 games last season with the Thrashers, he had 13 goals and 21 assists for 34 points. This is a decent signing for Atlanta, as Little has lots of offensive potential. Despite struggling offensively last season, he is a good playmaker, has a decent shot, and has some defensive instincts. Look for Little to bounce back after a poor 2009-10 season and have a decent 2010-11 season.

Thrashers Sign Defenseman Freddy Meyer

The Atlanta Thrashers have announced that they have signed defenseman Freddy Meyer to a one-year, two-way contract worth $500,000. In 64 games last season with the New York Islanders, he had four goals and 11 assists for 15 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Thrashers, as Meyer will bring some veteran experience to the team. He can chip in offensively from time to time and should provide sufficient depth as a sixth or seventh defenseman for Atlanta.