NHL Season Preview: Atlanta Thrashers

Atlanta Thrashers



Last Season's standings: record- 41-33-8 for 90 points. The Thrashers finished the 05-06 season in 3rd place in the Southeast Division and 10th place in the Eastern Conference

In: Vitaly Vishnevsky D (via trade w/ Anaheim Ducks); Niko Kapanen F (via trade w/ Dallas Stars); Scott Mellanby F; Johan Hedberg G (prev. team: Dallas Stars); Glen Metropolit F (prev. team: Ottawa Senators); Steve Rucchin F (prev. team: NY Rangers); Darren Haydar F (prev. team: Nashville Predators); Mark Popovic D; Colin Stuart F; Jon Sim F; Kari Lehtenon G

Out: Patrik Stefan F (via trade w/ Dallas Stars); Jaroslav Modry D (via trade w/ Dallas Stars); Karl Stuart F (via trade w/ Anaheim Ducks); Marc Savard F (new team: Boston Bruins); Tomas Kloucek D (new team: Columbus Blue Jackets); Ramzi Abid F (new team: Nashville Predators); Ronald Petrovicky F (new team: Pittsburgh Penguins)

Season Outlook: This year's club is going to be centered around Illya Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa. The Thrashers have some question marks in net as to the health of #1 Lehtenon who missed time last year with injuries. Depth is also an issue as past the two stars, Savard and Mellanby, the team is young and inexperienced. They have a defensive core that is made up of mostly vets who are solid on the back end. However this team I believe is a year or two from making the playoffs, although they will be contending this year.

Season Prediction: The Thrashers will slide into 3rd in the Southeast, and 9th in the Eastern Conference.