Thrashers Roster Has Huge Void To Fill

Published in Inside Hockey Magazine and The Examiner

Originally from Detroit, Tom is a Los Angeles based writer covering the NHL. His NHL material has been published in several national magazines including The Hockey News (Canada) and USA Hockey Magazine as well as the New York Daily News, Washington Times, Men’s Book and 360 Thrashers Magazine. Contact Tom at tom@tomferda.com

ATLANTA – It seems like an eternity ago when the Atlanta Thrashers’ roster was overflowing with high-profile, star-caliber players, won the Southeast Division and made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Philips Arena was rocking with wall-to-wall fans in blue with dreams of their team orchestrating a long playoff run . . . a run that could possibly lead to the NHL Stanley Cup Finals.

It may feel like distant history but that was actually April 2007, only fifteen months ago and that dream ended abruptly when that star-studded roster was easily swept by the New York Rangers 4-0.

Just like that, four games and out! Barely a week into the playoffs and the high-salaried, underachievers from Blueland had an early exit onto the golf course.

GM Don Waddell carefully built that roster around proven veterans with tons of playoff experience and leaders who had been on Stanley Cup winning teams. The main acquisitions were Bobby Holik who signed for 4.25 million per year and Marian Hossa, one of the brightest NHL stars, who went on to tally a club record 100 points that season.

In addition to Holik and Hossa, Ilya Kovalchuk, Slava Kozlov, Alexei Zhitnik, Keith Tkachuk and captain Scott Melanby wore Thrashers blue that year but a lot has changed in Blueland since then.

After under-achieving again last season and unable to make the playoffs, this year’s 2008-2009 roster is looking quite different. When the Thrashers take the ice at Phillips Arena this October, all the above-mentioned stars have exited through trades or free agency except for Kovalchuk and Kozlov.

Last year’s Thrashers Mark Recchi and Pascal Dupuis have also moved on and fan-favorite Eric Boulton (127 PIM) is currently testing the free agent market. The only transaction worthy of mentioning this off-season thus far is the signing of Columbus Blue Jackets puck-carrying defenseman, Ron Hainsey.

Hainsey, a former first-round pick is expected to add much needed help on the blue line but this current roster is packed with young and lesser-known players than the team that won the division in ‘07. A successful year depends on some of these prospects having break-out seasons and that is too big a gamble.

There is talent on this roster but much of it is still developing and the locker room is in need of established leaders. That is why Waddell made an aggressive attempt to sign premiere veteran free agents like Brian Campbell and Brian Rolston before they decided to sign in NHL cities where it snows several times a year.

Approximately 60 goals departed with Hossa, Dupuis and Holik and in today’s low-scoring NHL that’s a huge void to fill . . . rather than void, you may call it an abyss if the Thrashers are unable to land a few proven goal scorers.

Kovalchuk is one of the most talented players in the league but he will be forced to carry a majority of the load, game in and game out, and with a grueling 82 game schedule, it may wear him down to the point of inefficiency.

With this current roster, an injury sidelining Kovalchuk could put an immediate end to any hopes of the Thrashers having a productive season. Successful teams are built with a combination of youth and experience. Waddell had the right idea with the roster of the ’06-’07 season but the chemistry was missing, maybe due to coaching or not having the right foundation of players in place.

Time is running out as many of the quality free agents have signed elsewhere but there is still plenty of talent out there looking for new contracts. These remaining players may be available at a more affordable price allowing Waddell to add a handful of players to the roster as opposed to spending the bank on a single UFA like Campbell or Rolston.

Either way the Thrashers organization desperately needs to make a few moves to spice up their current roster and they need to make them soon. Working against them may be Atlanta being perceived as one of the least desirable places to play in the NHL.

The Lightning’s Dan Boyle who loved it in Tampa finally agreed to waive his “no trade clause” when he was threatened with being placed on waivers and landing on the Thrashers. He was then traded to the San Jose Sharks.

With a new man behind the bench, John Anderson, who has never coached at the NHL level, it may be more challenging to get established veterans to commit.

Atlanta as a city and organization have a lot to offer NHL players, including money, and Waddell has proven he is not afraid to spend it but the clock is ticking fast. It’s time to sign a few veterans who can put the puck in the net . . . and that group should include a leader . . . a leader capable of donning the Thrashers “C”.

Tom Ferda is an Atlanta-based sportswriter and full-time columnist for Inside Hockey. Contact Tom at his email: tom@tomferda.com

Contact Tom via email: tom@tomferda.com