The Atlanta Thrashers have added Evander Kane to their lineup after picking him fourth overall at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.  I really enjoyed watching him during the World Junior championships and I think that he could be a real asset. 

I know a lot of people have been wondering if he’s coachable after some reports suggested he was hard to work with but I am hoping it’s just a matter of him being very competitive.  I think a good coach could give him the direction he needs.  He led the WHL with 23 power-play goals with the Vancouver Giants and I think that he has the potential to be a 40-50 goal player.  I also think he could work well with Ilya Kovalchuk so, again, it will be interesting to see how the Thrashers fare next season.

The Montreal Canadiens have definitely been struggling but, last night, they finally had reason to celebrate.  In a game against the Atlanta Thrashers, Alex Tanguay earned five (two goals, two assists) points for the third time in his career and helped lift the Habs to a 6-3 victory.

image: TSN.ca

Tanguay is one of my favorite players in the league (if you’re a regular reader, you’ll know I was crushed when the Calgary Flames traded him) so I was thrilled when I saw the highlights last night.  Tanguay, along with fellow veteran, Alex Kovalev and captain Saku Koivu, won this game for Montreal.  Hopefully, this is a sign that the club is ready to fight for a playoff spot.

The Edmonton Oilers might have been celebrating the return of captain, Ethan Moreau, but the excited was short-lived since they went on to lose 4-3 in overtime against the visiting Atlanta Thrashers.  Unfortunately, the night also turned bittersweet for the victorious team since they lost their captain, Ilya Kovalchuk to an undisclosed upper body injury during the first period.  "We don’t want to say too much right now because we don’t know for sure," said head coach John Anderson. "He’s day to day as we speak right now. He had a little problem yesterday and I didn’t practice him. He said he was OK to go today and obviously he wasn’t, but I’ve got to give him credit for trying."

I hope Kovy is alright and can rejoin his team soon.  You really don’t want to be without your leader at this point in the season.

The Anaheim Ducks have acquired Erik Christensen from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for prospect, Eric O’Dell.  

If you remember, Christensen was part of that blockbuster deal at last year’s trade deadline when he, along with Colby Armstrong, Angelo Esposito and a first round draft pick were traded by the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis.

So far, Christensen has 15 goals and 14 assists in 47 games this season. 

image: TSN

The New Jersey Devils acquired Niclas Havelid from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for defenseman, Anssi Salmela. 

The veteran defenceman, who had two goals and 13 assists in 63 games this season with Atlanta, will add some depth to the blue line for the Devils.

"Niclas Havelid is a veteran defenseman who brings a wealth of experience to our hockey team," New Jersey GM Lou Lamoriello said. "We look forward to Niclas joining our defensive corps."

Ilya Kovalchuk has been named the new captain of the Atlanta Thrashers.  The team had been without a captain for the first half of the season. 

The 25-year-old is the club’s seventh captain but he will also be just the “fifth Russian-born and trained player in NHL history to become a team captain.”

He has been an alternate for the past two seasons alongside Colby Armstrong, Niclas Havelid, Slava Kozlov and Mathieu Schneider.

"Ilya has earned the opportunity to take a larger leadership role on this team and has grown into this position over his six-plus seasons as a member of the Thrashers," said executive vice president Don Waddell. "We’re very pleased, and excited for Ilya, that his fellow alternate captains approached us and felt he should be given the responsibility at this time. We’re confident that he’ll embrace it and represent the organization and his teammates appropriately."

So far, this season, Kovy has 15 goals and 27 assists in 42 games.  He also is the club’s all-time franchise leader in games played (508), points (508), goals (269) and assists (239).

I think this is the choice that makes the most sense.  Congrats, Kovy!

image: TSN

Retroactive to October 31, 2008, Kari Lehtonen has been placed on the injured reserve.  The Atlanta Thrashers goaltender has been out of the lineup for more than three weeks - first because of an illness and then because of some back problems.

Lehtonen was off to a rocky start with a 3.44 goals-against average and .903 save percentage.  Maybe things will improve by the time he’s reactivated.

image: TSN

Philadelphia Flyers @ Atlanta Thrashers - October 28, 2008

WOW.  What else can you really say?  Well, I guess you can say that, for some reason, the Atlanta Thrashers seem to just fall apart when they have to play against the Philadelphia Flyers… It was a nightmare of a game for any Atlanta fan to watch their team not only get beat but shut out with a score of 7-0.  Let me say it again - WOW…  Here is the scoring summary:

• PHI: Lupul, J. (01:20 in 1st), Knuble, M. (03:13 in 2nd), Gagne, S. (SHG, 19:45 in 2nd), Knuble, M. (PPG, 01:02 in 3rd), Lupul, J. (PPG, 01:39 in 3rd), Gagne, S. (07:56 in 3rd), Metropolit, G. (PPG, 17:20 in 3rd)

Last night, the New Jersey Devils triumphed over the Atlanta Thrashers in a 1-0 victory.  They can thank goaltender, Martin Brodeur, for the win - the veteran player notched his 97th career shutout.  It’s so early in the season so can you imagine if he were to continue getting shutouts from this point on?  I know it’s not likely but could this be another banner year for the netminder?  I hope so. 

I love the trend in the NHL now where we are seeing some incredible work from “older” players.  It just goes to show that, while players like Crosby, Phaneuf and Malkin have youth on their side, there are times when you just can’t beat experience.  Watch highlights from the game:

The Atlanta Thrashers have re-signed goaltender Johan Hedberg.  The netminder has been given a multi-year contract but the terms of the deal were not disclosed.

During the 2007-2008 season, Hedberg appeared in 36 games, earned a 14-15-3 record, 3.46 goals-against average, a .892 save percentage and one shutout. 

I hope this is a good decision for the Thrashers.  I guess I can’t really form an opinion until I know how much the contract is worth…

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