Avalanche Sign Defenseman Skinner, Re-Sign Forward Dupuis

The Colorado Avalanche announced that they have signed defenseman Brett Skinner and re-sign center Philippe Dupuis to contracts. The exact length and financial terms of their deals were not disclosed. Skinner appeared in 11 games last season with the New York Islanders, scoring no points, before being traded to the Atlanta Thrashers in January for Junior Lessard. Skinner did not play any games with the Thrashers, instead playing in 37 games with their AHL affiliate in Chicago, scoring three goals and 20 assists for 23 points. Dupuis played in eight games with the Avalanche last season, scoring no points. He also appeared in 67 games last season with the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL, scoring 17 goals and 29 assists for 46 points. These are really just depth signings for the Avalanche, who previously announced they will be keeping their payroll down for next season and only target affordable, depth players via free agency. Skinner has decent offensive capabilities on the blueline, but has not been able to bring that success to the NHL. In the end, he’s really nothing more than a reserve defenseman. Dupuis has the potential to become a top-nine forward, but for now, will likely be a fourth line forward for the Avalanche if he makes the team next season.

Hurricanes Re-Sign Defenseman Borer & Goaltender Peters

The Carolina Hurricanes announced that they have re-signed defenseman Casey Borer and goaltender Justin Peters to one-year, two-way contracts. Their deals will be worth $500,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the AHL level. Borer appeared in three games last season with the Hurricanes, scoring no points. He also played in 51 games with Albany in the AHL, scoring four goals and six assists for 10 points. Peters did not appear in any NHL games last season, but did play in 56 games for Albany of the AHL. He posted a 19-30-4 record, four shutouts, a 2.89 GAA, and a .908 save percentage. These aren’t bad signings for the Hurricanes, as both players likely still have futures with the team, but for now, they are just depth signings. Borer has good size and good puck-handling abilities that could see him develop into a top-four defenseman down the road. Peters has not put up great numbers in the AHL, which could result in him seeing very little NHL action. However, he could still develop into a capable backup with the Hurricanes.

Stars Re-Sign Defenseman Fistric to Three-Year Contract

The Dallas Stars locked-up a key piece of their future on Wednesday by re-signing defenseman Mark Fistric to a three-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 36 games last season with the Stars, Fistric scored four assists and 42 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 35 games with Manitoba of the AHL, scoring eight assists and 26 penalty minutes. Not a bad signing for the Stars, as Fistric plays with plenty of grit and toughness and has good stay-at-home defenseman qualities. He will likely develop into a top-six defenseman and should be in a Stars uniform for years to come.

Wild Sign Defensemen Fraser and Sifers to One-Year Deals

The Minnesota Wild added some depth to their blueline on Wednesday by signing defensemen Jamie Fraser and Jaime Sifers to one-year contracts. Terms of both deals were not disclosed. Fraser appeared in only one game last season with the New York Islanders, scoring no points. He also played in 66 games with the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, scoring seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points. Sifers appeared in 23 games last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, his first in the NHL, scoring two assists. He also played in 43 games with the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, scoring four goals and 16 assists for 20 points. These are merely depth signings for the Wild, as neither player will likely see much NHL action next season. Sifers will probably be a career sixth or seventh defenseman, so his role with the team will be limited. Fraser has been impressive at the minor league level and if given the chance, could develop into as a high as a top-four defenseman. If he plays well in the AHL next season, the Wild should consider re-signing him next summer.

Stars Acquire Goaltender Auld from Senators

The Dallas Stars got the experienced backup goaltender they had been seeking last Wednesday by acquiring Alex Auld from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a sixth round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. Auld became expendable to the Senators after Brian Elliot’s success last season and the acquisition of Pascal Leclaire from the Columbus Blue Jackets at the 2009 trade deadline. In 43 games last season for the Senators, Auld posted a 16-18-7 record, with a 2.47 GAA and a .911 save percentage. This is a decent move for the Stars, as the inexperienced Tobias Stephan did not work out for the team last season. Auld has played enough in the league over the past few seasons to give the Stars a solid backup to Marty Turco. If Turco should struggle at any time next season, Auld will easily be able to jump into the starter’s role.

Hurricanes Sign Forward Goertzen to One-Year Contract

The Carolina Hurricanes announced they have signed right wing Steven Goertzen to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay him $500,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the AHL level. In 16 games last season with the Phoenix Coyotes, Goertzen scored two goals and two assists for four points and 24 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 57 games last season with the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate in San Antonio, scoring six goals and eight assists for 14 points and 90 penalty minutes. This is merely just a depth signing for the Hurricanes, as Goertzen will likely spend most of next season in the minors. However, if he does play with the team next season, it will likely be on the fourth line, bringing them plenty of grit and toughness.

Red Wings Sign Defenseman Janik to One-Year Deal

The Detroit Red Wings added some defensive depth to their roster last Wednesday by signing defenseman Doug Janik to a one-year, two-way contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Janik appeared in 15 games for the Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens last season, scoring one assist. He was traded to the New York Rangers by the Canadiens on June 30 along with forward Chris Higgins and prospect defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko in exchange for forward Scott Gomez and prospects Tom Pyatt and Michael Busto. This is an unnecessary signing for the Red Wings, as they already have plenty of defensive depth on their team. Janik will likely play most of next season in the minors and only see any NHL action if injuries begin to mount on the Red Wings’ blueline. However, Janik does play with some grit, which the Red Wings need a lot more of on their team.

Thrashers Re-Sign Forward Slater to One-Year Contract

The Atlanta Thrashers announced last Wednesday that they have re-signed center Jim Slater to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 60 games last season with the Thrashers, Slater scored eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points. In 274 career games, all with the Thrashers, he has 31 goals and 39 assists for 70 points. This isn’t a bad signing for the Thrashers, as Slater plays with plenty of grit and is a decent two-way player. He has the potential to become a top-six forward, but hasn’t been able to play to that potential. Slater will probably always be a third line, two-way forward throughout his career.

Ducks Sign Saku Koivu to One-Year Contract

The Anaheim Ducks added some offensive depth to their roster last Wednesday by signing center Saku Koivu to a one-year contract worth $3.25 million, ending his 13-year tenure with the Montreal Canadiens. It became more apparent as free agency approached that Koivu would not re-sign with the Canadiens and instead sign in Minnesota to play alongside his brother, Mikko. In 65 games last season with the Canadiens, Koivu scored 16 goals and 34 assists for 50 points. In 792 career games, all with the Canadeins, he has 191 games and 450 assists for 641 points. He won the Bill Masterton Trophy in 2002 for perseverance after missing much of that season recovering from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. This is a great signing for the Ducks, as Koivu has excellent offensive skills and plays with some grit. He will make a great addition to the team’s power play and penalty kill, as he excels on both. Look for Koivu to play alongside fellow Finn Teemu Selanne on the second line next season.

Rangers Re-Sign Forward Brian Boyle

The New York Rangers announced last Wednesday that they have re-signed center Brian Boyle. Exact length and financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Rangers acquired Boyle on June 27 from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a third round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. In 28 games last season with the Kings, Boyle scored four goals and one assist for five points and 42 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 42 games with the Kings’ AHL affiliate in Manchester in 2008-09, scoring 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points and 73 penalty minutes. Not a bad signing for the Rangers, as they are in need of some offensive depth for next season and Boyle will get a chance to further his NHL career instead of sitting in the minors with the Kings. He is a big, physical forward who, in my opinion, still has the potential to become a top-six forward and will likely center the Rangers’ third line next season.

Blackhawks Re-Sign Forwards Versteeg and Bickell

The Chicago Blackhawks locked-up their last two restricted free agents last Wednesday by signing left wing Kris Versteeg to a three-year contract worth $9.2 million and left wing Bryan Bickell to a one-year deal. Versteeg’s deal averages out to $3.067 million, while the terms of Bickell’s contract were not disclosed. The signing comes in the wake of the NHLPA filing a grievance over the Blackhawks’ supposed improper qualifications of their restricted free agents. In 78 games last season with the Blackhawks, Versteeg scored 22 goals and 31 assists for 53 points and 55 penalty minutes. He was a Calder Trophy finalist this past season as rookie-of-the-year, but lost out to goalie sensation Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Bickell did not appear in any NHL games last season, instead appearing in 42 games with the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate in Rockford, scoring six goals and eight assists for 14 points and 60 penalty minutes.

The Bickell signing is mostly for offensive depth. If he makes the team next season, it will likely be on the fourth line given their offensive depth. The Versteeg signing is a good one for the Blackhawks, as he has lots of offensive potential and plays with plenty of toughness. However, his contract puts the team very close to the salary cap for the next two seasons and the team has to re-sign star prospects Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith next summer. The Blackhawks will likely have to make a salary dumping trade between now and next summer in order to afford to retain their young talent. Versteeg, Patrick Sharp, and Brent Seabrook have all been rumored to be on the trade block to dump salary. The Blackhawks would not be in this position if they had not signed Marian Hossa to such an expensive and long-term contract. Sure, signing Hossa could help the team have a long playoff run this season, but it could hurt the team in the long run because now they don’t have a lot of salary to re-sign key players. It will be interesting to see how the team remedies this situation between now and next summer.

Veteran Forward Claude Lemieux Retires for Second Time

After training for months to make an NHL comeback six years after playing his last NHL game, veteran right wing Claude Lemieux has retired a second time. Lemieux began an NHL comeback this past season with the San Jose Sharks in an attempt to win another Stanley Cup. He began his comeback in the AHL with the Worcester Sharks, appearing in 23 games and scoring three goals and eight assists for 11 points. The Sharks were impressed enough with his production in the AHL that they recalled him in January. Lemieux struggled at the NHL level, scoring one assist in 18 games. He was benched by the team for the last month of the regular season. In 1215 career games with the Sharks, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, and Dallas Stars, scoring 379 goals and 407 assists for 786 points and 1777 penalty minutes. He won four Stanley Cups during his career, two with the Devils (1995 & 2000), one with the Avalanche (1996), and one with the Canadiens (1986). He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1995 as the MVP of the playoffs. Lemieux is probably one of the most hated players in NHL history for his on-ice antics, but was also a very talented winger. He could score goals and play with lots of grit all while agitating the opposition. The playoffs is where he really shined, always playing his best hockey of the season during the post-season, no matter how good or bad he played during the regular season. When I heard Lemieux was planning a comeback, I was skeptical that he would be an effective player for the Sharks, and my skepticism proved to be correct, as he did not play that well for the Sharks. Sure he provided a little grit for the team when they needed it, but his age kept him from performing well against a lot of players half his age. Still, you have to give Lemieux a lot of credit for making it back to the NHL.

Thrashers Re-Sign Forward Crabb & Defenseman Oystrick

The Atlanta Thrashers announced that they have re-signed right wing Joey Crabb and defenseman Nathan Oystrick to new contracts. Exact length and financial terms of their deals were not disclosed. In 29 games last season with the Thrashers, his first in the NHL, Crabb scored four goals and five assists for nine points. He also appeared in 42 games with the Thrashers’ AHL affiliate in Chicago, scoring 15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points. Oystrick appeared in 53 games last season for the Thrashers, his first in the NHL, scoring four goals and eight assists for 12 points and 50 penalty minutes. These aren’t bad signings for the Thrashers, as Crabb and Oystrick were decent depth players for the team last season. Crabb doesn’t possess exceptional offensive skill, but could be an effective checking line winger for the Thrashers next season. Oystrick plays with plenty of toughness and grit and will likely be on the third defensive pairing next season for the team.

Bruins Sign Goaltender Sabourin & Defenseman Fata to One-Year Deals

The Boston Bruins announced on Tuesday evening that they have signed goaltender Dany Sabourin and defenseman Drew Fata to one-year contracts. Terms of both of their deals were not disclosed. Sabourin split last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers after being traded to the Oilers by the Penguins with Ryan Stone and a fourth round pick in 2011 in exchange for goaltender Mathieu Garon. In 19 games last season, Sabourin posted a 6-8-2 record with a 2.85 GAA and a .898 save percentage. Fata split time last season with the Phoenix Coyotes and Ottawa Senators organizations after being traded to the Senators from the Coyotes in exchange for forward Alexander Nikulin. Fata did not appear in any NHL games last season, but played in 75 AHL games with San Antonio and Binghamton, scoring seven goals and nine assists for 16 points and 141 penalty minutes. Sabourin gives the Bruins a more than capable backup to Tim Thomas, who will see the bulk of the starts next season. However, prospect Tuukka Rask will definitely challenge Sabourin for the backup role next season, as he is seen as the goalie of the future for the Bruins. Fata is a very tough and physical defenseman, but is nothing more than a depth defenseman. He will likely play most of next season in the minors, but if he does get recalled by the Senators, he will likely be the sixth or seventh defenseman.

Stars Sign Defenseman Woywitka to Two-Year Deal

The Dallas Stars added some much needed defensive depth to their team on Tuesday by signing defenseman Jeff Woywitka to a two-year contract worth $1.3 million. The deal averages out to $650,000 per season. In 65 games last season with the St. Louis Blues, Woywitka scored three goals and 15 assists for 18 points. In 152 career games, all with the Blues, he has six goals and 29 assists for 35 points. This is an okay signing for the Stars, as Woywitka will bring the Stars plenty of much needed offensive depth on the blueline as a fifth or sixth defenseman. He wasn’t bad on the power play last season, so he could see some time on the man advantage with the Stars next season.

Lightning Sign Forward Veilleux to One-Year Contract

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced on Tuesday that they have signed left wing Stephane Veilleux to a one-year contract worth $750,000. In 81 games last season with the Minnesota Wild, Veilleux scored 13 goals and 10 assists for 23 points. In 361 career games, all with the Wild, he has 43 goals and 47 assists for 90 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Lightning, as Veilleux gives the team plenty of offensive depth, decent two-way skills, and some grit. Look for him to be a fixture on their checking line and penalty kill throughout all of next season, just don't expect him to do a lot of scoring.

Flyers Sign Defenseman Pronger to Seven-Year Extension

Just a couple weeks after acquiring all-star defenseman Chris Pronger from the Anaheim Ducks, the Philadelphia Flyers have signed him to a seven-year contract extension worth $35 million. The deal averages out to $5 million per season and includes a no-movement clause. The Flyers acquired Pronger from the Ducks on June 26 from the Ducks along with forward Ryan Dingle in exchange for forward Joffrey Lupul, defenseman Luca Sbisa, first round draft picks in 2009 and 2010, and a conditional third round draft pick in 2010 or 2011. In all 82 games last season with the Ducks, Pronger scored 11 goals and 37 assists for 48 points and 88 penalty minutes. In 1022 career games with the Ducks, Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, and Edmonton Oilers, he has 142 goals and 464 assists for 606 points and 1457 penalty minutes. Locking up Pronger long-term definitely makes the trade worthwhile for the Flyers, as they will have a top-two defenseman under contract with them for the next several years, but I still think they gave up too much to land him. However, Pronger will bring the Flyers lots of grit, toughness, leadership, and offense on the blueline. Their only problem now is that his contract has pushed the team over the salary cap by about $1.5 million. However, the Flyers have until the start of the 2009-10 season to get below the cap, so they will have a few months to hopefully work out a salary dumping trade. If not, they may have to bury some players in the minors at the start of the season to get below the cap.

Maple Leafs Sign Goaltender Gustavsson to One-Year Contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs landed one of the most coveted players in the Swedish Elite League on Tuesday by signing goaltender Jonas Gustavsson to a one-year contract worth $900,000. Nearly every team in the NHL had lined up to bid for Gustavsson’s services over the past couple of months. Just recently, he had narrowed his choices down to the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, and Dallas Stars as the teams he would prefer to play for. In the end, the Maple Leafs won the bidding war and got the high-end prospect goalie they were seeking. Gustavsson, also known as “The Monster,” appeared in 42 games last season with Farjestad on the Swedish League, posting a 1.96 GAA and a .932 save percentage. This is a tremendous signing for the Maple Leafs, as Gustavsson has the potential to become an elite goaltender in the NHL. He will likely back-up Vesa Toskala next season, and if he performs well, could become the Maple Leafs’ starting goalie within the next couple of seasons.

Ducks Re-Sign Todd Marchant for Two Years

The Anaheim Ducks retained some offensive depth on Tuesday by re-signing center Todd Marchant to a two-year contract worth $2.25 million. The deal averages out to $1.125 million per season. Marchant appeared in 72 games last season for the Ducks, scoring five goals and 13 assists for 18 points. In 1038 career games with the Ducks, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, and Columbus Blue Jackets, he has 176 goals and 292 assists for 468 points. This is a decent signing for the Ducks, as Marchant is a decent two-way player with lots of experience and good skills on the penalty kill. Marchant’s production has definitely dropped over the past several years, but his two-way play still makes him an effective shutdown player on the ice for the Ducks.

Red Wings Sign Forwards Kris Newbury & Jeremy Williams

The Detroit Red Wings added a couple of depth forwards on Tuesday by signing center Kris Newbury and right wing Jeremy Williams to one-year, two-way contracts. Terms of both deals were not disclosed. Newbury played in only one game last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring no points. He also appeared in 33 games with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, scoring six goals and 23 assists for 29 points and 72 penalty minutes. In 11 games last season for the Maple Leafs, Williams scored five goals and two assists for seven points. He also played in 46 games for the Marlies in 2008-09, scoring 27 goals and 13 assists for 40 points.

These are likely just depth signings for the Red Wings, as they have more than enough offensive talent on their team for next season. Newbury plays with lots of grit and toughness, something the Red Wings need on their roster, so if he plays on the team next season, it will likely be on the fourth line. Williams has the potential to become a third line forward, so this may not be a bad signing for the Red Wings. He has decent offensive potential and could end up playing on the team’s fourth line next season.

Flames Sign Forward Jaffray, Re-Sign Forward Lundmark

The Calgary Flames announced on Tuesday that they have signed right wing Jason Jaffray and re-signed center Jamie Lundmark. Exact length and financial terms of the deals were not disclosed. In 14 games last season with the Vancouver Canucks, Jaffray scored two goals and two assists for four points. He also appeared in 56 games for the Canucks’ AHL affiliate, Manitoba Moose, scoring 23 goals and 26 assists for 49 points. Lundmark appeared in 27 games last season for the Flames, scoring eight goals and eight assists for 16 points. In 259 career games with the Flames, New York Rangers, Phoenix Coyotes, and Los Angeles Kings, he has 35 goals and 52 assists for 87 points.

These are likely just depth signings for the Flames. Jaffray has had a lot of success at the minor league level, but at 28-years-old, he doesn’t have a lot of time to prove himself in the NHL. However, he still brings plenty of offensive depth to the team. Lundmark brings the Flames plenty of offensive depth and gritty play. Both players will likely end up on the Flames’ fourth line next season.

Panthers Sign Forward Jeff Taffe to Two-Year Deal

The Florida Panthers added some depth to their offense on Monday night by signing center Jeff Taffe to a two-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Taffe played in eight games last season for the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring two assists. He also appeared in 74 games for the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, scoring 25 goals and 50 assists for 75 points. In 153 career NHL games with the Penguins, Phoenix Coyotes, and New York Rangers, he has 20 goals and 22 assists for 42 points. This is mainly a depth signing for the Panthers, as Taffe is nothing more than a fourth line forward. He was once tabbed to become a top-six forward, but could never play up to his potential. Still, he will bring the Panthers plenty of offensive depth.

Ducks Re-Sign Defenseman Salcido to One-Year Deal

The Anaheim Ducks announced late Monday night that they have re-signed defenseman Brian Salcido to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Salcido played on only two games for the Ducks last season, scoring one assist. He also appeared in 76 games for the Ducks’ AHL affiliate, Iowa Chops, scoring 10 goals and 33 assists for 43 points and 108 penalty minutes. This is a good signing for the Ducks, as Salcido has good offensive skills on the blueline and plays with a physical edge. He has the potential to become a top-four offensive defenseman in the league and will likely be an important part of the Ducks’ future for the next several seasons.

Islanders Sign Four Players to Contracts

The New York Islanders added several depth players to their team on Monday evening by signing right wings Greg Moore and Greg Mauldin, left wing Matt Moulson, and defenseman Mark Flood to one-year, two-way contracts. Terms of all four deals were not disclosed. Moore did not appear in any NHL games last season, but played in 71 games with the Rangers’ AHL affiliate in Hartford, scoring 23 goals and 16 assists for 39 points. Mauldin did not play in any NHL games last season as well, instead appearing in 80 games for the Ottawa Senators’ AHL affiliate in Binghamton, scoring 24 goals and 277 assists for 51 points. Moulson appeared in seven goals last season for the Los Angeles Kings, scoring one goal. He also played in 54 games last season with the Kings’ AHL affiliate in Manchester, scoring 21 goals and 26 assists for 47 points. Flood played in 76 games last season for the Carolina Hurricanes AHL affiliate in Albany, scoring six goals and 25 assists for 31 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game.

The Moore and Moulson signings aren’t bad for the Islanders, but the Mauldin and Flood signings are mainly for depth. Moore has enjoyed some offensive success at the AHL level, scoring an average of 25 goals per season for the past few seasons. He has the potential to become a top-nine forward in the NHL and could be a good fit for the Islanders’ as they continue to rebuild. Mauldin will be nothing more than a depth forward for the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, as he has not played in the NHL in the 2003-04 season when he appeared in six games for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Moulson has been a steady winger in the parts of two NHL seasons he’s played and could be an effective third line forward for the Islanders as he has decent offensive potential. Flood will likely spend another season in the AHL, where he will provide effective defensive depth for Bridgeport. If he is recalled at any time next season by the Islanders, he will likely be a sixth or seventh depth defenseman.

Thrashers Sign Four Players to Contracts

The Atlanta Thrashers announced on Monday that they have signed center Jason Krog, defenseman Joel Kwiatkowski, and goaltenders Drew MacIntyre and Peter Mannino to contracts. The exact lengths and financial terms of the four deals were not disclosed. In four games last season with the Vancouver Canucks, Krog scored one goal. He also appeared in 74 games with the Canucks’ AHL affiliate, Manitoba Moose, scoring 30 goals and 56 assists for 86 points. In 202 career games with the Canucks, New York Islanders, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, and New York Rangers, Krog has 22 goals and 37 assists for 59 points. This will be his second stint with the Thrashers. Kwiatkowski played in 52 games last season for Cherepovets of the KHL, scoring 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points. In 282 career NHL games with the Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Atlanta Thrashers, he has 16 goals and 29 assists for 45 points. This will be Kwiatkowski’s second stint with the Thrashers. MacIntyre did not appear in any NHL games last season, instead playing in 55 games for the Nashville Predators’ AHL affiliate in Milwaukee. He posted a 34-15-4 record, four shutouts, a 2.30 GAA, and a .921 save percentage. Mannino played in three games for the New York Islanders last season, posting a 1-1-0 record with a 4.51 GAA and a .885 save percentage. He also appeared in 34 games last season for the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, posting a 17-12-2 record with a 2.94 GAA and .900 save percentage.

These are merely just depth moves for the Thrashers and all four players will likely spend most of next season in the minors. Krog has enjoyed lots of success at the minor league level with his offensive skill and goal-scoring abilities, but has not been able to bring that success to the NHL. He showed some promise with the Ducks during the 2002-03 season, but has been used at the NHL level sparingly ever since. He will likely play on the fourth line for the Thrashers if recalled by the team at any point during the 2009-10 season. Kwiatkowski has been a number six depth defenseman for his whole NHL career and will likely play the same role with the Thrashers next season. MacIntyre had a very successful season in the AHL in 2008-09 and should be a solid goalie for the Thrashers’ AHL affiliate in Chicago next season. Mannino played well in college, but struggled in his first seasons in the NHL and AHL. He will likely hone his skills in the AHL, or quite possibly ECHL, next season in order to get back to the NHL.