Archive for March, 2010

New additions Clarke MacArthur (wearing No. 41) and Evegny Artyukhin (wearing No. 76) were at the Thrashers’ morning skate for tonight’s game with the Islanders and coach John Anderson said both will play.

Although coach John Anderson would not publicly disclose the scratches, Slava Kozlov, Todd White and Eric Boulton are out as  forwards. Mark Popovic is out on defense.

MacArthur will be on the line with Rich Peverley and Maxim Afinogenov. Artyukhin will skate with Marty Reasoner and Chris Thorburn.

Goaltender Ondrej Pavelec was not at the skate for what was was described as a delay dealing with a personal issue. Johan Hedberg will get the start, his ninth in the past 12 games.

Pavel Kubina played one season with Artyukhin in Tampa Bay and told me is a very good, and underrated,  player.  Kubina said he is very fast for his size.

Continue reading Artyukhin, MacArthur in Thrashers’ lineup »

The Thrashers obtained Clarke MacArthur from Buffalo for a third- and fourth-round pick this year.

MacArthur, a left wing, has 13 goals and 13 assist in 60 games. He is a minus-14 this season. The 24-year-old is 5-foot-11, 191 pounds and is a restricted free agent. He makes $1.4 million.

Over four seasons with the Sabres, MacArthur has 79 points (41 goals, 38 assists) and is a minus-11.

The move was the only one of the day for the Thrashers, meaning Slava Kozlov will remain with team despite his request to be traded. Kozlov said today that he would considering playing in the KHL next year to continue his career if he doesn’t land with another NHL team.

New addition Evgeny Artyukhin has arrived and skated. He practiced along with Rich Peverely and Max Afinogenov. Coach John Anderson says don’t read too much into that yet. He was just getting a look at the new forward.

Chris Chelios cleared waivers, assigned to Chicago.

Nik Antropov did not skate, which is not unusual as he …

Continue reading Update II: Thrashers trade for Clarke MacArthur »

The Thrashers have signed defenseman Chris Chelios, the team announced Tuesday.

Chelios, 48, has been playing for the Thrashers’ AHL affiliate in Chicago this season, although he was not property of the Thrashers. He signs with the Thrashers as an unrestricted free agent. He appeared in 44 games for the Wolves this season with five goals and 16 assists. He was also a plus-35.

Chelios must clear waivers, which the Thrashers will know by noon Wednesday. If he is not claimed by another team, he will  remain in Chicago. However, he will be available to the Thrashers.

According to GM Don Waddell, Chelios gives the team veteran depth in case of injury.

“You never know,” Waddell said when asked the likelihood that Chelios is called up. “We have a busy schedule. When you go into a run like this, you like to have 10 defenseman in case you get a couple of injuries.”

Over his 25-year NHL career, Chelios won three Stanley Cups. He  scored  948 points (185 goals, 763 assists) and 2,891 …

Continue reading Thrashers sign Chelios »

Here is the transcript on an interview I did with Thrashers general manager Don Waddell Monday about the NHL trade deadline at 3 p.m. on Wednesday. The interview came prior to Monday night’s acquisition of Anaheim forward Evgeny Artyukhin for AHL defenseman Nathan Oystrick and a 2011 conditional draft pick

Q. Is your phone ringing? Or are you making phone calls?

A. It’s a combination.

Q. Is a major deal likely?

A. I can’t say that. There are so many teams that are still in [the playoff race]. So the amount of players being shopped is pretty limited. It works kind of the opposite way. When you have limited players, the values go up quite high. Right now, I can’t say whether we will do something or not. Certainly we will pursue every angle and see if there is something out there. Remember we made trades prior to every one else (Ilya Kovalchuk, Kari Lehtonen). The changes that we’ve made, I think, have been very positive for our hockey team. You want to make sure you …

Continue reading Q and A with Don Waddell prior to NHL trade deadline »