July 3
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The text message might have been the best part. After Thrashers general manager Don Waddell signed unrestricted free agent Nik Antropov on Thursday, his cellphone buzzed with a message from Ilya Kovalchuk. Great job" it read. A whirlwind week in the Thrashers' offseason continued with the signing of Antropov to a reported a four-year, $16 million contract. The Thrashers did not disclose terms of the contract. Antropov gives the Thrashers a top-6 forward, an offseason priority. They also traded for top-4 defenseman Pavel Kubina on Wednesday and drafted nine players last weekend, including forward Evander Kane. The No. 4 overall pick could make the NHL roster next season. "Antropov really ..."
July 2
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The Thrashers' whirlwind offseason continued Thursday with the signing of free-agent forward Nik Antropov to a four-year, $16-million contract. The signing of the Antropov gives the Thrashers a top-6 forward, one of their offseason priorities. The Thrashers also traded for top-4 defenseman Pavel Kubina on Wednesday. They drafted nine players last weekend, including forward Evander Kane, who could make the NHL roster next season. The 29-year-old Antropov, who is 6 foot 6 and 230 pounds, had career-highs last season with 59 points, 28 goals and 31 assists while splitting the season between Toronto and New York. He recorded 46 points (21 goals, 25 assists) with the Maple Leafs, where he had ..."
July 2
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
As expected the Thrashers have re-signed Chris Thorburn to a multi-year deal. It will be announced a little later and I fill you in on the details, but wanted you folks to know first. Help me out with what's next for the Thrashers."
July 2
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Trade winds are blowing. Even with the start of the NHL free-agency period Wednesday, the Thrashers acquired Pavel Kubina from the Toronto Maple Leafs for Garnet Exelby and Colin Stuart. The Thrashers also acquired Tim Stapleton. Kubina, 32, has one year and $5 million remaining on his contract. He played for the Maple Leafs the past three seasons after spending the previous eight with the Tampa Bay Lightning, including when they won the Stanley Cup in 2004. He played all 82 games for the Leafs last season and tied a career-high with 40 points (14 goals, 26 assists). Kubina, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound defenseman, was an all-star in 2004 and played for the Czech Republic in the 2002 and 2006 ..."
July 2
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
OK folks, it is official. The Thrashers just announced that they have acquired defenseman Pavel Kubina and the rights to forward Tim Stapleton from Toronto for Garnet Exelby and Colin Stuart. I had a pretty good idea the Thrashers had something planned with Toronto. Don Waddell was very forthcoming that they were talking to the Leafs when I asked about Tomas Kaberle. And he said they would act fast with the groundwork being set at the draft last week. Certainly they are not done making moves, but the roster is starting to take some shape with Marty Reasoner and Anssi Salmela signed, Evander Kane drafted, qualifying offers made and now this trade. Still, I would look for Kari Lehtonen or ..."
June 30
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Thrashers defensman Ron Hainsey was one of 34 players invited to USA Hockey's Olympic Men's orientation camp. The camp, which will be held Aug. 17-19 near Chicago, is to assist in the preparation of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey team that will compete at the Vancouver Olympics in February. Hainsey was also a member of Team USA in the recently completed World Championships in Switzerland. Those player invited to the camp are: Goaltenders: Ryan Miller, Jonathan Quick, Tim Thomas"
June 30
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The Thrashers made qualifying contract offers to seven players Monday, ensuring that they will remain with the team for the 2009-10 season. The club made the one-year offers to restricted free agent forwards Colby Armstrong, Jordan Lavallee and Jim Slater, defensemen Scott Lehman, Grant Lewis and Boris Valabik and goaltender Kari Lehtonen. Forward Chris Thorburn and goalie Dan Turple were not made offers, making them unrestricted free agents on Wednesday. The Thrashers said they will continue negotiations with Thorburn and expect to re-sign him."
June 29
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The Thrashers made qualifying offers to several restricted free agents on Monday. The Thrashers made qualifying offers to restricted free agents Colby Armstrong, Jordan Lavallee, Scott Lehman, Kari Lehtonen, Grant Lewis, Jim Slater and Boris Valabik. Offers were not made to Chris Thorburn and Dan Turple, meaning they will become unrestricted free agents on July 1."
June 28
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Day Two of the NHL draft can be hectic - with just a minute between most selections. It was fast paced Saturday as rounds 2 through 7 were completed in less than four hours. Most players selected on the second day are several years away from the NHL, making the dizzying process even more of an inexact science. Thrashers general manager Don Waddell was pleased with his organization's efforts after having a chance to catch his breath. • The Thrashers added eight players to go with Friday's first-round selection of Evander Kane. Waddell labeled several of those picks "steals." • Five of the eight picks were power forwards with size, something Waddell said was a priority. • In two trades, the ..."
June 27
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Evander Kane's "welcome to the NHL" moment might have come minutes after being selected by the Thrashers. "You're going to look good next to Ilya Kovalchuk," general manager Don Waddell told Kane right after taking him with the No. 4 overall pick in the first round of the NHL draft Friday. The Thrashers selected the center from Vancouver of the Western Hockey League, where he had 96 points (48 goals, 48 assists) last season. The Thrashers project him as a power winger in the NHL. It might not be long before the 17-year-old is indeed playing alongside Kovalchuk. "That is our belief, that if he continues to get stronger in the next eight or 10 weeks, he has a very good chance to be with us." ..."
June 26
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Bill Tiller
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Our old pal Craig Custance twittered …or is it twitted…or twittled…anyway, he informed us by way of "twitter" yesterday that the "Thrashers have made qualifying offers to at least three potential restricted free agents - Kari Lehtonen, Jim Slater and Colby Armstrong." This now leaves Jordan Lavallee, Scott Lehman, Grant Lewis, Chris Thorburn, Dan Turple and Boris Valabik as impending RFAs that the team will need to extend offers to. However, as Ben Wright of the Blueland Blog writes, "The Thrashers have a lot of RFA's and it won't shock me if some of them don't receive qualifying offers". If so…who amoung those renaining might be left out in the Thrashers' plans for the future? Well, we'll ..."
June 22
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The Thrashers officially named Rick Dudley as associate general manager on Monday. Dudley, who re-signed as the Chicago Blackhawks assistant general manager four days ago, will assist Thrashers general manager Don Waddell in hockey operations. His primary responsibility will be scouting and player development. He has had noted success at all levels as a player, coach and general manager, and his nearly 40 years of professional experience will certainly prove beneficial to our organization," Waddell said in a statement."
June 12
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Mark Bradley
"
This has Marian Hossa written all over it, only in larger letters. The Thrashers dumped their second-best player at the 2008 trading deadline because they knew they couldn't re-sign him. Their best player is about to enter the final season of his contract, and Don Waddell shouldn't let Ilya Kovalchuk enter it as a Thrasher. Kovalchuk was the NHL's 11th-highest-paid player in 2008-2009, and some club will make him one of the top five come 2010-2011. It would be an upset if that team is the Thrashers. And if they can't keep him, they should trade him. Last month Waddell, the Thrashers' GM, told esteemed colleague Chris Vivlamore he wouldn't trade Kovalchuk this summer or at the deadline or ..."
June 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Jeff Schultz
"
Eleven years, nine seasons, 16 goalies, three coaches (not including himself twice between firings) and one lone playoff berth after his hiring, Don Waddell is sitting at a table in his office, doing research. "One, two, three . . ." He's counting team logos on the cover of an NHL reference book. "Four, five, six . . ." Seven. Only seven other NHL general managers have been in their respective jobs as long as Waddell. Three run teams that have won Stanley Cups (Detroit, New Jersey, Carolina). Two have been in the finals (Buffalo, Washington). One made the playoff seven straight seasons (St. Louis), the other four straight (Nashville). And then there's the Teflon Don. "I put myself in good ..."
June 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Marty Reasoner has returned. The Thrashers have re-signed the center, making the announcement on Monday. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. The 10-year veteran was to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He earned $1 million dollars last season after signing a one-year deal with the Thrashers. Reasoner, 32, had 14 goals and 16 assists last season and was given the Thrashers' Players' Player Award by teammates. He was seventh on the team in goals and ninth in points. "This team is starting to build in the right direction," Reasoner told the Journal-Constitution after last season's NHL trade deadline. "I can be part of that. We'd like to produce some more wins. That will come. ..."
June 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The Thrashers signed forward Andrew Kozek, the team's second-round selection (53rd overall) in the 2005 NHL Draft, on Tuesday. Kozek, 23, had 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in 38 games last season for the University of North Dakota. In 167 career games at North Dakota, Kozek had 65 points (38 goals, 27 assists)."
June 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Some of the Thrashers did a little off-season hitting Tuesday. Eric Boulton, Marty Reasoner and Chris Thorburn were at Turner Field to take batting practice prior to the Braves game. It was part of a CSS television show "All in a Day's Work," which will air later in the month. Boulton was first in the cage and swung and missed at his first pitch, delivered from bench coach Chino Cadahia. "I thought I broke my thumb," he said later. Reasoner stroked a couple of ground-rule doubles, prompting Braves manager Bobby Cox, a spectator in the dugout, to say, "Hey, that guy can hit.""
June 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Jeff Schultz
"
Eleven years, nine seasons, 16 goalies, three coaches (not including himself twice between firings) and one lone playoff berth after his hiring, Don Waddell is sitting at a table in his office, doing research. "One, two, three . . ." He's counting team logos on the cover of an NHL reference book. "Four, five, six . . ." Seven. Only seven other NHL general managers have been in their respective jobs as long as Waddell. Three run teams that have won Stanley Cups (Detroit, New Jersey, Carolina). Two have been in the finals (Buffalo, Washington). One made the playoff seven straight seasons (St. Louis), the other four straight (Nashville). And then there's the Teflon Don. "I put myself in good ..."
June 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Did you know Tom Glavine used to play hockey? (Sorry. That was just for the Glavine bashers.) But speaking of hockey: I sat down with a Thrashers general manager (still!) Don Waddell Monday afternoon. WE had an entertaining 35-minute discussion about all sorts of things, one of which was how he's been able to keep his job (he was hired in 1998) despite only one playoff berth in nine seasons and no playoff wins. Don took the hardball questions in good humor. As much as people have always assumed he and I hate each other, given I used to cover the team, I actually like the guy personally. We almost always have great conversations and I think only twice have actually reached for weapons. This ..."
June 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Marty Reasoner says Atlanta gets a bad rap around the NHL. It's a great place to live - and to play hockey. Reasoner got his wish to remain with the Thrashers, signing a two-year deal on Monday. The 10-year veteran center was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Thrashers have missed the playoffs the last two seasons after making the franchise's first trip to the postseason in 2006-07. "I look at it as an opportunity to be a part of something moving in the right direction, the way we finished the end of last year [going 12-6]," Reasoner said. "We had so many new pieces last year, new players, new coaching staff, new system. It ..."
June 8
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Marty Reasoner has returned. The Thrashers have re-signed the center, making the announcement on Monday. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. The 10-year veteran was to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He earned $1 million dollars last season after signing a one-year deal with the Thrashers. Reasoner, 32, had 14 goals and 16 assists last season and was given the Thrashers' Players' Player Award by teammates. He was seventh on the team in goals and ninth in points. "This team is starting to build in the right direction," Reasoner told the Journal-Constitution after last season's NHL trade deadline. "I can be part of that. We'd like to produce some more wins. That will come. ..."
June 8
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The Atlanta Thrashers re-signed center Marty Reasoner on Monday, completing their second offseason move in four days. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. The 10-year veteran was to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He earned $1 million last season after signing a one-year deal with the Thrashers. Reasoner, 32, had 14 goals and 16 assists last season and was given the Players' Player Award by teammates. He was seventh on the team in goals and ninth in points. "This team is starting to build in the right direction," Reasoner told the AJC after last season's NHL trade deadline. "I can be part of that. We'd like to produce some more wins. That will come. I don't feel it's as ..."
June 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The Thrashers re-signed defenseman Anssi Salmela to a multi-year contract Thursday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Salmela, 24, was acquired by the Thrashers on March 2 in a trade with the New Jersey Devils for Niclas Havelid and Myles Stoesz. "He is a guy we wanted to get, and he showed us exactly what we wanted to see [during his time with the Thrashers]," general manager Don Waddell said. "He's a high-end skill player, and we wanted to move forward with him." The 6-foot-1, 200-pound defenseman scored his first career NHL goal in his second game with the Thrashers, which came against the Washington Capitals on March 16. In his nine games with the Thrashers he had three points (one ..."
May 28
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The track record is clear. The Thrashers have made one playoff appearance in nine seasons in Atlanta. They didn't win a game. One thing has been constant over the past 10 years — general manager Don Waddell. Ownership has changed. Players have come and gone. Heck, there is even a new sweater. Still, Waddell remains. So as the franchise faces perhaps the most critical off-season in its history, there are questions. Will Waddell remain to lead the Thrashers into their next phase? And if so, why will this time be different? Waddell has no plans to leave. He told the Journal-Constitution in a recent interview that there have been no talks with ownership to replace him. Waddell would not reveal ..."
May 17
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Ilya Kovalchuk will be a Thrasher next season. General manager Don Waddell told the Journal-Constitution last week that, unequivocally, Kovalchuk will remain with the team as it attempts to re-sign one of the NHL's elite players. There will be no trade deadline move - such as with Marian Hossa - if negotiations reach an impasse. Beyond next season, well, that remains to be seen. The Thrashers face a franchise-defining summer with Kovalchuk entering the final year of his contract. Re-signing Kovalchuk, who will command a major contract, is unquestionably the priority. He is the franchise leader in goals, points and games played. Kovalchuk, 26, has made it clear that to re-sign him, the ..."
May 15
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
I'm back, folks. Sorry for the delay but I got caught up in covering the Hawks' playoff run and the Braves' Brian McCann's new glasses. I will be covering some non-Thrasher stories again next week, but we do have hockey to report. Had a lengthy meeting and interview with GM Don Waddell this week. We talked about many things, including Ilya Kovalchuk, the draft, the goaltending situation, etc. I just finished writing a story on Kovy that will appear in Sunday's paper. We talked at length about the contract negotiations. Here's the hook to the story that I can fill you in on: They will not trade Kovy this year. There will be no Marian Hossa drama at the trade deadline. Here is what Waddell ..."
May 15
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Mark Bradley
"
The Hamilton Spectator reported last week that a Vancouver-based group wanted to buy the Thrashers and move them to Ontario. Don Waddell, the team's general manager, insists that cannot and will not happen, and there's no reason we shouldn't believe him. Still, that got me to thinking: If the Thrashers left, would anybody miss them? (They ranked next-to-last among NHL teams in attendance, averaging 14,626 per home date.) So, via Twitter, I asked. And of 50 respondents, only four said they wouldn't care if the Thrash went the way of the migratory Flames. A selected sampling: John Bragg: "Aside from family, friends, and the basic necessities in life, there's not much I wouldn't trade to see ..."
May 6
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The United States advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Hockey Championships despite a 4-3 overtime loss to Switzerland Tuesday. Thrashers defenseman Ron Hainsey scored two goals in the loss. Also advancing to the quarterfinals were Belarus, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Latvia, Russia and Sweden. Thrashers forward Ilya Kovalchuk continues his solid tournament. He has three goals and seven assists in six games for Russia. Other Thrashers still involved are Zach Bogosian and Colin Stuart (U.S.), Colby Armstrong (Canada), Ilya Nikulin (Russia) and Anssi Salmela (Finland). The quarterfinals of the tournament, being played in Switzerland, begin Wednesday. The semifinals will be ..."
April 29
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Thrashers defenseman Tobias Enstrom suffered facial fractures that required surgery while competing in the World Hockey Championships in Switzerland. Enstrom is expected to make a full recovery and won't miss the start of training camp, according to Thrashers general manager Don Waddell. Enstrom, who also lost several teeth, was representing Sweden in a first-round game against Latvia Monday. He was hit from behind by Martins Karsums (Boston Bruins) and landed face first where the boards meet the glass. He underwent surgery Tuesday, Waddell said in a statement. "It's not too bad," Waddell told USA Today. "(Goalie) Johan Hedberg talked to Enstrom's dad, and he hoped he would be able fly ..."
April 28
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Thrashers defenseman Tobias Enstrom suffered facial fractures that required surgery while competing in the World Hockey Championships. Enstrom is expected to make a full recovery and won't miss the start of training camp, according to Thrashers general manager Don Waddell. Enstrom, who also lost several teeth, was representing Sweden in a game against Latvia Monday. He was hit from behind by Martins Karsums (Boston Bruins) and hit face first where the boards meet the glass."
April 24
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Marty Reasoner will become an unrestricted free agent if unsigned by the Thrashers by July 1. But his contract status will not change in the immediate future. Blame it on travel plans. Thrashers general manager Don Waddell has said he hopes to re-sign the center during the offseason. However, there have yet to be contract talks, according to Reasoner's agent. "We really haven't had any discussions about it," Stephen Bartlett said. "Don has been traveling, and I'm about to do the same. We have agreed we will have a meeting of the minds. "We are optimistic. Marty enjoyed playing in Atlanta, but it's far from a done deal.""
April 23
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Marty Reasoner will become an unrestricted free agent if unsigned by the Thrashers by July 1. His contract status will not change in the immediate future. Blame it on travel plans. Thrashers general manager Don Waddell has said he hopes to re-sign the center during the offseason. However, there have yet to be serious contract talks, according to Reasoner's agent. "We really haven't had any discussions about it," Stephen Bartlett said. "Don has been traveling and I'm about to do the same. We have agreed we will have a meeting of the minds. We are optimistic, Marty enjoyed playing in Atlanta, but it's far from a done deal.""
April 15
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
It didn't work…nothing we did to try and convince the hockey gods to show favor upon Thrasherville seems to have been enough. The Nasty Nesters toasted a Christmas tree in The Gulch after Saturday's 6-2 win against the Bolts that ended the season as a burned offering unto them…I even heard that the couch was thrown on later in the evening. I'm sure that smelled worse than the smoke from the tree. I shipped via UPS several cases of Labatt, Molson and even a few of Moosehead for good measure. Probably got swiped by those dammed customs agents on the border. I told them to enter via Niagara Falls…not Windsor out of Detroit! Those friggin' Red Wing fans that work the gates won't let anything ..."
April 14
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Job No. 2 for the Thrashers this summer is signing Ilya Kovalchuk to a new contract. That might be impossible unless they complete job No. 1, finding Kovalchuk a few new teammates. The Thrashers' captain is eligible to negotiate and sign a contract extension on July 1 but wants to see the team's other offseason moves before making his decision. "That will be a big factor," Kovalchuk said Monday, two days after the Thrashers ended a 35-41-6 season. "I want to see them do something to get everybody better, the whole organization. If I feel like we're in the right direction, for sure I think we'll figure out a way to sign a new deal." Kovalchuk is under contract through next season. If he ..."
April 14
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The latest addition the list of Thrashers players going to Switzerland for the World Championships: Colby Armstrong. Armstrong has done this before. He scored the game-winning goal in the gold medal game in 2007 for Canada. Other Thrashers in the tournament include Ilya Kovalchuk of Russia, U.S. player Zach Bogosian and Ron Hainsey, Tobias Enstrom with Sweden and Boris Valabik with Slovakia. The players had their final meetings with the coaches today. Hainsey, Enstrom, Kovalchuk, Armstrong, Slava Kozlov and Anssi Salmela skated, too. I will have a little more later. I'm writing a summer look-ahead story."