Atlanta Thrashers CTCHL

Simon Gagne

Patrick Marleau

Sergei Gonchar

Dan Cloutier

Petr Sykora

Joni Pitkanen

Steve Staios

Bryan McCabe

Dany Heatley

Mariusz Czerkawski

Dany Heatley

Alexander Frolov

Nathan Horton

Thrashers Not Busy At deadline, Most Deals Made Earlier!!!!!

Well yes the Thrashers were not really to busy at the deadline completing only one deal that added just depth, due to being busy 2 weeks before the deadline filling holes.

Brian Blake, quoted at the last team conference after the deadline had this to say, "Nearing the deadline we felt we only had a few holes that needed to be addressed. One: Another star defenseman. Two: Add another depth defenseman. Three: Add another right wing on one of the top 3 lines. A scoring right wing on line 1-2 would be a plus. Four: Depth at centre. Five: Address the lack of scoring. We felt that we met most of those needs earlier on and that we also fixed those needs within our organization. It all started with the rerate camp where McCauley, McCabe, and Staios came into their own and became the players they are now. Then we made some transactions here and there and filled all those needs silently.

It all started with the addition of a depth defenseman in Alexander Karpovtsev. We felt he can be our #7 guy in case there are injuries. Karpovtsev plays a good defensive and stays out of the penalty box. There are a few negatives here and there about Karpovtsev, but he should be the team's #7 guy where there wont be much on the shoulders. This move saw Wade Belak get demoted to the farm team. Need #2 addressed.

After having 3 players rotating on hte 3rd line right wing spot starting from the beginning of the year, the Thrashers had finally found their man. The Thrashers went through Vrbata, Harvey and now Hoglund to see who can play on that 3rd line. No one delivered until Jonas Hoglund. Vrbata was horrible having only 2 assists in 34 games. Also being a -7 was unacceptable. Vrbata was then dealt for Harvey. Harvey who was better on the defensive end and brought in more grit also only scored 1 goal in 19 games. That was pretty bad as well, so closer to the deadline, Harvey and prospect Aaron Lobb then was dealt for Jonas Hoglund. Hoglund fit in perfectly on the team. Hoglund has 7 points in 16 games on the 3rd line. Thats more points then Vrbata and Harvey combined in less games. Hoglund although a fine fit, still gave Atlanta brass second thoughts. With that said the Thrashers talked to a lot of teams about a possible right wings that included names like Owen Nolan, Scott Hartnell, Steve Thomas, Pavel Bure, and Daniel Alfredsson. A trade for Daniel Alfredsson was almost done but the deal eventually fell through. After a few weeks on the team though, Jonas Hoglund is certainly not a problem on that 3rd line. Hole #3 addressed.

On the same day of that Hoglund deal, the Thrashers dealt Rostislav Klesla and prospect Shaone Morrisonn for Buffalo's first round pick that looks to be first overall.

Knowing the value of the first round pick the Thrashers did not know if they were going to keep the pick or trade it. A few days later the question was answered when the Thrashers filled another one by adding a star defenseman. The Thrashers dealt that first round pick from Buffalo for offensive defenseman Sergei Gonchar. There are also future considerations to this deal that shall remain undisclosed. Need #1 filled although the Thrashers are still waiting for Sergei Gonchar to show everyone what he can do.

The Atlanta Thrashers were also unhappy with the play of Viktor Kozlov. The same day the Thrashers made Kozlov available was the same day Kozlov was dealt. Kozlov was dealt with power forward in the making Trent Hunter to Phoenix for Jason Arnott and small, but skilled forward Chuck Kobasew. Arnott then became the Thrashers 2nd leading scorer behind Simon Gagne. The way Arnott had been playing certainly looks like the #5 need of lack of scoring has certainly been fixed.

Now nearing the deadline, the Thrashers had only one need. Get more depth at the centre position. Well about 10 minutes before the deadline, the Thrashers pulled Robert Reichel out of a hat. They sent 3 prospects and a 4th round pick to Phoenix for the services of Robert Reichel. It sure looks like overpayment, but it gets PJ Stock demoted to the farm as he certainly is not a CTCHL player. Now in case of injuries in the playoffs, the Thrashers can put Reichel in, who can be used effectively on the PK. That was the last hole that the Thrashers needed to fill.

Those were the moves that were done nearing the deadline that filled the holes of the Atlanta Thrashers. They were done strategically ahead of the deadline to not worry about fixing holes on the last day. The Thrashers filled the holes slowly but surely. Now the only thing missing is for Dan Cloutier to regain his form that he showed in the earlier part of the year. If Cloutier plays up to his abilities, the Thrashers would not only make the playoffs but could make serious noise in the playoffs.

-----Anita Cunt, Atlanta Sun, May 24th, 2004

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Thank you for visiting the Atlanta Thrashers CTCHL homepage. You can contact the Atlanta Thrashers general manager Brian Blake at drag-on10@mailcity.com or Atlanta@ctchl.net or by ICQ, ICQ# 53507361. Brian Blake is also on the board of directors in the CTCHL-Coast To Coast Hockey League and also writes the TV Networks "Hockey Night In Canada" and for the CTCHL newspaper.

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