Seven Thrashers RFAs receive qualifying offers – Four do not

The Thrashers have extended qualifying offers to seven players slated to become RFAs later this week. Four did not get offers and will become unrestricted free agents.

Thrashers RFAs Receiving Qualifying Offers

Nic Bergfors– Forward obtained during the trade last February that sent Ilya Kovalchuk to the Devils. He was a first round pick by New Jersey in 2005. Bergfors is coming off a contract that paid about $800K.

Two of the eight goals scored by Nic Bergfors as after joing the Thrashers were game-winners. He is shown here celebrating one of those against the Florida Panthers last February (AP Photo/John Amis)

Bryan Little – Forward, first round draft pick by Thrashers in 2006. He has 50 goals, 51 assists and is a –13 in 206 NHL games. Little’s contract paid him $900 K last year.

Ben Eager – Forward acquired last week in the multi-player deal with Chicago. He was the Phoenix Coyotes’ 23rd overall pick in 2002. eager is coming off a contract deal that paid just under $1-million.

Clarke MacArthur – Forward who the Thrashers got by way of trade with Buffalo last March. The Sabres took him in the third round in 2003 and has 88 overall points in 208 NHL games. MacArthur’s contract paid $1.4 million last season.

Ondrej Pavelec – Goalie who was drafted in second round of 2005 by Atlanta. He is 20-28-7 with a 3.33 GAA and .902 SV% in 61 games played. His cap hit was $1.43 million last season.

Peter Mannino – Chicago Wolves goalie who was 26-5-1 with a .921 SV% and 2.34 GAA last season. He has 3 NHL games played while with the New York Islanders.

Anthony Stewart – Forward signed last summer by the Thrashers. Played last year with the Wolves scoring 13 goals and 18 assists in 77 games. He had 9 goals and 3 assists during 13 AHL playoff games.

Thrashers RFAs Not Receiving Qualifying Offers

Chad Denny– Defenseman drafted by Atlanta in second round of 2005. That 49th overall selection was acquired from San Jose when Atlanta traded their 8th overall pick to the Sharks. Last year with the Gwinnett Gladiators he scored 9 goals and 15 assists in 56 games played.

Rylan Kaip – Forward who was drafted by Atlanta in 2003 with the 269th overall pick. Last year in Chicago he scored 4 goals and 7 assists in 68 games. He had no points in 9 playoff games.

Scott Lehman– Defenseman taken with Atlanta’s 76th overall selection in 2004. He played in 104 games with Chicago over 4 seasons, only 11 games last year, and 75 with the ECHL Gladiators over 2 seasons. Lehman has played in one NHL game with the Thrashers.

Matt Siddall– Forward taken with the 270th overall pick in 2004. He has played 20 total games with Chicago and 92 ECHL games split between the Gwinnett Gladiators and Victoria Salmon Kings. He played fours season with Northern Michigan State.