The Post-Kovy Thrashers

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Balsillie Buys Thrashers

Jim Balsillie, the same man who attempted to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes, has successfully bought the Atlanta Thrashers, another struggling small-market team, for $5,000 and a Zamboni. Balsillie has stated numerous times that he will attempt to make the Thrashers a contending team once again, although both of their superstars, Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa, were traded.

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Re: The Post-Kovy Thrashers

There has been a trade. The Atlanta Thrashers have traded the 8th overall pick, the 54th overall pick and their 2011 first round pick to the Boston Bruins for the second overall pick.

It was a surprising day at the draft, as the Thrashers dealt up for Tyler Seguin and were left without a second round pick. With their second first rounder, they drafted goaltender Steven Stanford, and that was it for the day. For the second round, Thrashers GM Rick Dudley sat at a table with Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke as they waited until their next picks. The Thrashers next pick came as the 27th pick of the third round, as they drafted defenseman Mark Pysyk. Everybody was surprised by how long he lasted, as it seems that every team now wants a defenseman who can shoot and backcheck. In another late gem, the Thrashers took defenseman Dylan McIlrath in the fourth round with the 11th pick. They then took d-man Steffan Ulmer, who nobody had heard of before this pick. But hey, it's the 5th round. What do you expect? They then took Kevin Sundher with the Blackhawks' pick in the 5th round, which was another surprise as he projected to be taken in the third round. They then drafted winger Michael Burns with the 8th pick in the 6th round. They then took Yousseff Kabbaj with their last pick in the draft.

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Re: The Post-Kovy Thrashers

Thrashers' Resignings Few In Number, Large In Quality

The Thrashers had a week to negotiate with their soon-to-be free agents, but weren't able to keep all of them from hitting up other offers on July 1st. However, the Thrashers were able to keep their biggest names from reaching free agency, whether it be restricted or unrestricted. Bryan Little was signed to a 3-year tenure, earning him $3.450MM each year. While some could argue that it's a bit too much for someone who really hasn't proved that he can be consistent, it really isn't that bad of a contract. He has the potential to develop into the next Kovalchuk. The Thrashers were also able to keep Ivan Vishnevskiy from signing with another team as they signed him to a 3-year, $3MM 2-way contract. They also signed future star Tyler Seguin to an entry level deal worth $900,000 each year. Goalie Ondrej Pavelec was kept
under contract for 5 more years, while the Thrashers have to pay him $3.865MM a year. Mark Pysyk was signed to an entry level contract, as well as most of the other draftees from this year and last.