07-08 RECORD: 34-40-8 76 pointsDIVISION: 4th
CONFERENCE: 14th
RESULT: Missed playoffs
07-08 OFF-SEASON:
ARRIVALS: RW Jason Williams(CHI), D Ron Hainsey(CBM), RW Junior Lessard(DAL), C/LW Marty Reasoner(EDM)
DEPARTURES: C Bobby Holik, D Steve McCarthy, D Marc Popovic, RW Mark Reechi, D Alexei Zhitnik
Is there anyone able to play with Ilya Kovalchuk? That was the question Thrashers GM Don Waddell has been trying to answer for a long time. There have been lots who have tried but there has also been lots who have failed if not all. New coach John Anderson will now face this question, whether he can solve it or not is another question. Waddell looked to free agency and thinks he could have the answer after signing RW Jason Williams. Williams who was injured last season, only appeared in 43 games last season but did manage to score 36 points. He could very well be the perfect setup man for Kovalchuk, only time will tell but I think he is a sleeper for hockey poolers out there. The Thrashers other huge hole was their blueline. With the 3rd overall pick in the draft, the Thrashers selected highly touted Zach Bogosian. Bogosian will be looked upon to step right into the line-up and play important minutes for the Thrashers this season. They then swept up Ron Hainsey on the 1st day of free agency and signed him 5 year contract. With that the Thrashers had pretty much done their spending only to add Marty Reasoner later in free agency to add some depth to their 3rd or 4th line.
CAP HIT: 38.5 million
FORWARDS:
My Projected Lines:
1- I.KOVALCHUK-E.CHRISTENSEN-J.WILLIAMS
2- S.KOZLOV-T.WHITE-C.ARMSTRONG
3- E.PERRIN-B.LITTLE-B.STERLING
4- J.SLATER-M.REASONER-E.BOULTON
E- B.LARSEN-C.THORBURN-J.LaVALLEE
Outside of Kovalchuk, the Thrashers dont have a pure goal scorer. They have potential with Williams, Erik Christensen, Colby Armstrong, Bryan Little and Brett Sterling but those players have alot to prove. Williams along with Todd White and Slava Kozlov are more of the play-maker types of players but other than Williams passing the puck to Kovalchuk, White and Kozlov dont have anyone to pass the puck to themselves. The Thrashers will put huge pressure on Christensen and Armstrong to produce this season. They both played well, especially Armstrong after coming over from Pittsburgh in the Marian Hossa deal but they still need to take it to another level and both will have their opportunities. The Thrashers will look for Little and Sterling to develop into solid NHLers while hoping they made huge strides over the off-season which will help them produce for over their value. Jim Slater, Marty Reasoner and Eric Perrin bring the grit to the team while Eric Boulton brings the toughness.
DEFENSE:
My Projected Pairings:
1- N.HAVELID-T.ENSTROM
2- Z.BOGOSIAN-R.HAINSEY
3- K.KLEE-G.EXELBY
E- N.OYSTRICK-B.VALABIK
This was the Thrashers weakness last season but Waddell made some good moves in improving it this season. Tobias Enstrom was pretty much the only bright spot on the blueline last season and after just signing a new 4 year contract extension, the same and even more will be looked upon him this year. Enstrom's defensive partner, Niclas Havelid has been nothing but consistent since coming to Atlanta a few years back. He is the true anchor of the defense and will be looked upon to lead his team. The addition of Hainsey and Bogosian makes the Thrashers blueline a whole lot younger. Both players skate well while also being able to move the puck with the best of them. Bogosian will have a shot at the Calder trophy this season and will play in every situation. Garnet Exelby is feared around the league with his gigantic hits and along with Ken Klee, they give the Thrashers a very good 3rd pairing. With all the puck-moving defensemen the Thrashers have, they will be looked upon to step into the play and help out the offense.
GOALIES:
1- K.LEHTONEN
2- J.HEDBURG
3- O.PAVELEC
Kari Lehtonen is the key to the Thrashers season and to their future. He has all the talent to be right up there with the best of them but he cant seem to fight the injury bug. Lehtonen has been consistently injured throughout his whole career and the Thrashers haven't been able to survive without him. Johan Hedburg was re-signed for this very reason and has done a good job replacing Lehtonen. Ondrej Pavelec is another highly touted prospect and there have been rumors swirling about if he has a good training camp, the Thrashers may stick with him and look to deal Lehtonen.
OVERALL:
The Thrashers have a very young team and cannot be taken lightly but until they can find or produce another top-6 forward without the name of Kovalchuk, then the Thrashers will have a hard time making the playoffs. Waddell has made some good moves on the back-end to help keep the puck out of the net so that is definitely a start. Look for Bogosian to really show what he's got as he battles it out for the Calder trophy. The Thrashers will work hard under new coach John Anderson and are probably only a year or two away from really being contenders when it comes to the playoffs.
PREDICTION: 5th Division, 13th Conference
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