Atlanta Thrashers Outlook 2009-10

Within the Atlanta Thrashers’ organization, a certain blasé attitude and lack of competitive fire is seen from the outside.  This is considered a fair and fitting description of a club whose highlights have been a single 43 win season and a division title in 2006-07, four unsightly playoff games, and hosting the 2008 National Hockey League All-Star Game.  However, General Manager Don Waddell has built a legitimate team with recent solid draft selections, a waiver claim, and free agency.

Atlanta has no significant free agents outstanding, save depth forward Eric Perrin, and the Thrasher’s recently conducted prospect camp is alive and well.  Injected with a large dose of Western Hockey League talent, the Thrashers have added gritty forwards, complimenting what is an extremely under-rated defense going into the upcoming season.  Jokes, mock interviews, and rapping are evident at camp; the mood is light and at ease, with intensity unheard of in these Georgian rinks before.  Head Coach John Anderson has an intimacy with many of his charges; Anderson’s last gig was piloting the twice Calder Cup Champion Chicago Wolves (Atlanta-AHL).

Fresh talent brought into Atlanta’s prospects camp provides a definite challenge for the 26 year-old Ilya Kovalchuk to remain.  Forwards Evander Kane, Jimmy Bubnick, and Levko Kopar, join defenseman Paul Postma, centre Riley Holzapfel, and proven winner Spencer Machacek, as WHL alumnus that has found a home in the Thrashers’ association.  Machacek had a fine rookie year with the Wolves (23 goals) and is poised to become a member of the the big club.  Prospect Kyle Reed has been a streaky NCAA performer with the Ohio State Buckeyes, but turned enough heads playing on a line with Atlanta prospect John Albert to earn a contract.  Montreal Junior (QMJHL) centre Angelo Esposito has made his mark, winning both the Memorial Cup and the World Juniors Championships.  Esposito could make a mark in Atlanta very soon.

Other additions have certainly made their mark.  Mid-season, the Thrashers took a chance picking up Nashville waiver-wire centre Rich Peverley, which paid immediate dividends as he rang up 35 points, with 13 goals and five game-winners in 39 games with Atlanta.  Unrestricted free agents Pavel Kubina and Nik Antropov will provide a stable base of offense and playoff experience.  While Kubina patrols the blueline at the age of 32, a Stanley Cup ring, a lethal shot from the point, and his influence will be a new high water mark in Atlanta for defenseman.  A top-six forward, Antropov has yet to hit 30 years old and is entering the prime of his career.  After building his goal totals in the previous four seasons in Toronto, Antropov will have many expecting 30+ goals.

Certain players build team morale instinctively, something the Thrashers have been sorely lacking since Scott Mellanby departed.  Veteran Marty Reasoner received the annual ‘exemplary team player award’ handed out by his teammates last season.  After continually winning face-offs and finishing seventh on the team in points, Reasoner recently re-signed and will be in the lineup next season in his shutdown centre role.  Colby Armstrong took strides in his leadership role this past season, progressing to the 22 goal mark, pushing aside the notion that Sidney Crosby was the only reason he did well in a Pittsburgh uniform. 

The team did allow long-standing abrasive defender Garnet Exelby an exit to free agency.  The club hopes that colossal Czech Boris Valabik takes on an expanding role and rounds out the defensive pairings, while Anssi Salmela will need to prevail after a head injury cost him the final five contests of the year.

Kovalchuk is a premier player league-wide and could fetch a handsome price during the season, either with Atlanta in the order of a new contract, or by trading his remaining contract to another team during the season.  Kovalchuk’s annual presence at the All-Star Game and among the NHL’s top scorers undoubtedly leaves the dynamic Russian with a thirst to win.  Running-mate Vyacheslav Kozlov is returning and is still valuable, though both he and Kovalchuk hold Unrestricted Free Agent status (UFA) at year end.  The goaltending situation is also interesting, as Kari Lehtonen and Ondrej Pavelec are slated to receive Restricted Free Agent status (RFA), and trusty standby netminder Johan Hedberg could become a UFA as well.

In the past few years the Thrashers have seen Tobias Enstrom, Bryan Little, and franchise goaltender Lehtonen partake in the annual NHL Young Stars Game, an offshoot of the NHL All-Star Game, highlighting the game’s up-and-coming.  A likely candidate this season, Zach Bogosian is an absolute on defense and will be counted on to bring his full package of assets.  The coupling of a pipeline now beginning to bring validity to the organization and competition within the team has brightened the outlook in Atlanta, whether most see it or not.  Wins and post-season play will come much easier for this bunch to grasp in time.

22 July 2009

Robin Keith Thompson