A look at where Thrashers are prior to UFA season
It is said that one cannot know where they are going unless you first know where you have been…or even where you are now. With that in mind, let’s take a look-see at exactly where the Thrashers are right now before we embark on our trip to the NHL’s UFA talent pool later this week.
Given the players that Atlanta has currently under contract as well as RFAs that have received qualifying offers, I’ve put together a possible lineup that Craig Ramsay could skate out on the ice. Next to each player, I’ve placed their salaries… basing the information on numbers listed on gapgeek.com.
Since I do not yet know what the RFAs have been offered, I have listed their salaries from last year’s contracts…though certainly those will be adjusted once we gain an appreciation of their new offers.
Nic Bergfors, Bryan Little and Nik Antropov should be back o celebrate more goals together. But who else could Rick Dudley bring in to join them? (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Forwards:
Bergfors – RFA ($800,000)
Antropov – $4,062,500
Byfuglien – $3,000,000
Kane – $3,100,000
Peverley – $1,325,000
Little – RFA ($900,000)
MacArthur – RFA ($1,400,000)
Slater – $1,000,000
White – $2,375,000
Eager – RFA ($1,000,000)
Cormier – $845,833
Thorburn – $660,000
Press Box: Kingberg – $790,000/ Machacek – $858,333
Defense:
Hainsey – $4,500,000
Enstrom – $3,750,000
Oduya – $3,500,000
Sopel – $2,333,333
Bogosian – $3,375,000
Kulda – $516,000
PB: Valabik – $762,500
Goal:
Pavelec – RFA ($1,400,000) / Mannino $500,000
Considering the roster listed above, the salaries of those currently under contract totals $37,253,499 and the RFA numbers from last season come to $5,500,000. This would bring the estimated total to $42,753,499…leaving the team with about $16.5 million in cap space.
Should so chose to do so, other players that could be mixed and matched above are…
Forward Anthony Stewart – RFA ($600,000)
Forward Angelo Esposito – $916,667
Defense Ivan Vishnevskiy – $821,667
F.orward Fredrik Pettersson – $615,000
Defense Paul Postma – $875,000
Either way you would put the team together, it can be safe to assume this will not be the lineup we see in three months. But this at least gives a decent snapshot of where we are at the beginning of our journey.
Could Boris Valabik find himself fighting for another NHL team next season if Pavel Kubina re-signs with the Thrashers? (AP Photo/John Amis)
Now, looking forward…where might Rick Dudley look to improve upon what he has to work with at this time?
In goal, I would be stunned if we see a Pavelec/Mannino tandem. I’d also me very, very concerned. But if Hedberg is to be re-signed, then Mannino heads back to the AHL Wolves and we see a return of last season’s pairing between the pipes.
Hedberg made about $1.1 million last season…so his return would elevate the payroll about half a mil or so if he replaces Mannino.
The other options here are a UFA or trade.
On defense, most of us are hoping to see Dudley and Co. bring Pavel Kubina back into the fold. To that measure, Dudley has said the two parties are still a little ways apart and Ramsay hopes the veteran defenseman is will to accept a “hometown discount”.
Kubina seems to like the Thrashers’ decision to hire Ramsey saying, “I like the direction of the team and I really like Rammer. He’s a great teacher”.
If Kubina does return…adding $3-4 million to the payoll…then that alters the makeup of the Thrashers’ blueline. My take would be that he’d replace Valabik on the roster…making Boris expendable for trade. It’s either that or Dudley keeps Kulda in Chicago. But personally, if a choice had to be made between the two, I’d rather see Kulda in a Thrashers jersey than Valabik this season.
Mark Popovic and Christoph Schubert are slated to be UFAs Thursday morning. Dudley has said that they expect the two to take a dip in the UFA pool this week.
Up front…I would love to see the Thrashers come to terms with Maxim Afinogenov. The 24-goal scorer from last season had indicated he’d be willing to play here again, however I can’t blame him at all for turning his nose up at a contract that spans only one season. Personally, I’d have given him at least two years, possibly three given what he did here.
What part of the Thrashers roster concerns you most?
- Offense (30%, 43 Votes)
- Defense (2%, 3 Votes)
- Goal (48%, 68 Votes)
- All Three (20%, 27 Votes)
Total Voters: 141
Loading ...But it looks more and more likely that Max will seek employment elsewhere come Thursday morning. As Dudley recently told Chris Vivlamore, “We’ve talked to Afinogenov, although it would seem now that Max will test the free-agent market. We’ve made him an offer”.
Colby Armstrong, Eric Boulton and Evgeny Artyukhin are also pending free agents. Bolts is mulling over an offer from the Thrashers while Army and Arty will more than likely seek employment elsewhere.
Dudley has indicated he would like to add a 15-goal scorer. To get one, he could test the waters in the UFA pool, of course…or take a Valabik and/or Todd White, package them up with picks/prospects and go on a little shopping spree.
As far as cap issues are concerned, an apples-for-apples type of deal involving those two would be offset by a player that earns somewhere in the neighborhood of $3-3.25 million. While that seems like a lot of money to shell out for a 15-goal scorer, keep in mind that that level of production would more than double White’s output of last season.
And for only about a mil more. Just sayin’….
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227 comments Add your comment
Red Light
June 30th, 2010
1:02 pm
Thinking that there are as many as five teams, four of them in the SE, that would be interested in Dawes, and that would pave the way for a potential trade if more than one team claims him. Calgary simply gauging interest?
BG33Brown
June 30th, 2010
1:03 pm
Jack, he’s 35 and scored a whopping 3G and 13A last year. Although he only appeared in 28 games last year. The year before he played in 69games and was 20/33 for 53 pts.
R. Stroz
June 30th, 2010
1:04 pm
In the words of Joe Bob Friday, we’re back to “dumpster diving.”
R. Stroz
June 30th, 2010
1:06 pm
Demitra, at 35, is a normal Waddell, oops Dudley, pickup.
BG33Brown
June 30th, 2010
1:06 pm
Here’s a clip from Yahoo’s Canucks report re: Demitra.
Most Disappointing Player: For most of the season, Pavol Demitra was the forgotten man, missing the first 57 games as he recovered from double shoulder surgery—once at the end of the previous season and again in October after continuing to experience pain during a frustratingly long rehabilitation process. But hopes the slick Slovakian winger might yet earn the $4 million the Canucks were paying him were raised when Demitra played like a man possessed at the 2010 Winter Olympics, leading the tournament in scoring with 10 points in just seven games and being named to the all-star team after leading the overmatched Slovaks to the medal round. Like Demitra himself, those hopes quickly disappeared in the playoffs as the soft winger got harder to find the tougher the play got, even sitting out Game 4 of the second round as a healthy scratch.
Joe Friday
June 30th, 2010
1:07 pm
“Please, no speedos”
Great, now I have to go shopping. Thanks for nuthin, Rawhide.
Guys, think about this re. Kovy. Forward pool is very weak this year in UFA. Kovy is 26 yrs old and is a 40 goal scorer, guaranteed, mabye 50. Has anyone ever hit free agency at 26 with his skills? Not in my memory. He will get paid. The only way this contract isn’t huge is if he pulls a Hossa like Russian said and takes a one yr. deal with someone like the Caps at whatever fits them under the Cap to try to win a Cup. But then you’re taking a huge risk of blowing out a knee and ending a career. Don’t see it happening, I think it’s a huge payday for him. Kings sounds right, I just don’t know their ownership situation, they like to spend big money? Frolov gone frees up $4m for them, right?
Freddy Krueger
June 30th, 2010
1:13 pm
If Ramsey tries to pass himself off as me during Holloween I’ll slice him up!!!
World Be Free
June 30th, 2010
1:19 pm
Joe-I think we are all just comparing Kovy’s next contract to the one he passed up here in Atlanta. Just looking at it from a money perspective, since I cannot remember a hockey player passing up these kind of numbers for any alternative situation. As a player, he has unique skills and will improve most teams he joins, for whatever term of contract. But there will always be the money and some fool like me calculating what he gave up compared to what he will ultimately get. I promise not to bring it up again-at least for 24 hours.
Smoothie
June 30th, 2010
1:22 pm
Joe F – I understand what you’re saying but this is going to be a funny market since there aren’t many teams who can actually make a bid for Kovy’s services. Looking at cap numbers as they stand on capgeek.com, there are only about 4 or 5 teams who could realistically afford him at more than $8 M per. Those teams are: LAK, TOR, EDM, COL, NYI and perhaps NJ, but I don’t see Luscious Lou spending beyond $7 – 7.5 M for him.
There are other teams with cap space, but either have restrictive internal budgets (DAL, CAR, TB etc) or still need to sign 5 o 6 guys to ice a full roster. Now LA, TOR and say COL could get into a bidding war, but I just don’t see it happening because teams seem to be moving towards younger, cheaper rosters with more flexibility. COL, PHX and NSH have already proven you don’t have to spend a fortune to make the playoffs and even make some noise while there.
Red Light
June 30th, 2010
1:26 pm
Here’s my report on Demitra: Anyone who has 768 points in 847 NHL games is worth a look right? 2 years until a prospect is ready to go? Represented by Matt Keator, Ron Hainsey’s agent. Like moving Pevs down to third line, and if Jokinen or Lombardi, etc aren’t available, he’s a logical option and his career numbers are shockingly consistent. More worried about his injury and price tag than his capabilities.
Just asking, “has anyone ever confirmed that the Thrashers offer to Kovy was what it was reported to have been?”
Alan R.
June 30th, 2010
1:30 pm
Well, this is peculiar… (from Twitter)
Real_ESPNLeBrun
Ah _ important update on O’Sullivan/Vandermeer: traded for each other but both players then bought out according to a source. Strange.
TableHockey
June 30th, 2010
1:37 pm
I saw that Alan – it does not compute for me unless Edmonton is getting something else in return. Bob McKenzie speculates that Edmonton may play Vandermeer – but like your post says – I heard they bought him out already. Very strange…
Rawhide
June 30th, 2010
1:37 pm
…passing through again from helping set up for pool party tomorrow…
Red Light – Just passing through to get some peach ice tea for Trixie, but to answer your question…yes. The deal was $101 million over 12 years or $10 mil per season for either 3, 5 or 7 years.
…heading back out to pool…
Red Light
June 30th, 2010
1:55 pm
OK, here’s a quick, informal poll. Which of these 10 coveted UFA’s signing will be announced first tomorrow?
Your choices:
Kovalchuk
Volechenkov
Hamhuis
P. Martin
Gonchar
Nabokov
Turco
Torres
Kubina
Morrisonn
kracker
June 30th, 2010
1:55 pm
More on the O’Sullivan/Vandermeer swap….
TSNBobMcKenzie OK, Oil are keeping Vandermeer to play him. Makes sense now. PHX saves money on buyout (O’Sullivan cheaper than Vandermeer).
Jack
June 30th, 2010
1:56 pm
Thank you for the info, just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing anything…
BG33Brown
June 30th, 2010
2:01 pm
RL-good points. And as some have said previously, maybe a smaller player like Demitra can operate better with some of the bigger bodies we have been bringing in.
glovesave29
June 30th, 2010
2:02 pm
RL – I say Turco in Philly. They are dying for solid keeping.
R. Stroz
June 30th, 2010
2:03 pm
I’m curious to see if the Thrashers bring Exelby or Colin Stuart back. Both are UFAs.
glovesave29
June 30th, 2010
2:04 pm
Jeez Stroz…talk about dumpster diving! Why not add Mandy Sutton to that?
TableHockey
June 30th, 2010
2:06 pm
RL – along the lines of glovesave but I was thinking Nabakov would be the first to be announced
R. Stroz
June 30th, 2010
2:07 pm
glovesave29 – I stated curious.
glovesave29
June 30th, 2010
2:15 pm
Yeah, but now its in print. Just the sight of that makes me physically ill!
Joe Friday
June 30th, 2010
2:20 pm
“Looking at cap numbers as they stand on capgeek.com, there are only about 4 or 5 teams who could realistically afford him at more than $8 M per.”
It’s important to remember that the Cap rule isn’t that you can’t ever go over the Cap, just that you have to be under the Cap at x date. So, any club could sign him tomorrow or Friday at whatever price, and then move signed players via trade to get back under the cap.
“COL, PHX and NSH have already proven you don’t have to spend a fortune to make the playoffs and even make some noise while there.”
They got to the playoffs but how much noise did they really make? None were Cup contenders in my view. My Hawks just proved that going out and paying for talent wins you a Cup. He’s gonna get paid, the wish that he turned down out $8.4m and now he’s not going to get near that is just not going to happen, barring the Hossa type one yr deal he did with Detroit to try to win a Cup, this contract is going to be huge and long term. He’s 26!
Joe Friday
June 30th, 2010
2:23 pm
“I’m curious to see if the Thrashers bring Exelby or Colin Stuart back.”
I hear ya, all the warning signs are there, aren’t they? Torchetti, Kubina, Max, Hedberg. Let’s just hope they allay our fears over the next 48 hours and show they’re ready to start getting real.
Joe Friday
June 30th, 2010
2:28 pm
Red Light, I think Colby Armstrong is the first one signed, back to the Pens, how bout that?
I really have no idea but it makes me think of one thing I’ve always suspected. Does anyone really believe that no UFA player or agent has been contacted yet by teams interested in them? The rule is that each UFA is under contract to their current club until noon tomorrow, right? Meaning Kubina is ours until noon tomorrow and no one could talk to him. Anyone think that really happens or are these guy’s agents talking already to potential suitors? I’ve always suspected that they are negotiating ahead of time as you have contracts being signed and announced within the 1st hour of free agency, why they heck would a guy wait for years in free agency and then go ahead and make up his mind who to sign with in the first hour, does not compute.
kracker
June 30th, 2010
2:48 pm
gee thanks Stroz….it’s stuck in my head again
Well you came and you gave without taking
but I sent you away, oh Mandy
well you kissed me and stopped me from shaking
And I need you today, oh Mandy
Smoothie
June 30th, 2010
2:48 pm
Joe F – I’ve always wondered the same thing about the first hour or so of free-agency. How does so much happen so fast without tampering?
But I still disagree with you on Kovy and the salary cap. Also, you’re being unfair in diminishing the accomplishments of those three teams, two of which nearly won their series with one against the eventual Cup winners. You’re telling me that half the league (the have nots) are not jealous as hell of what they have or are not attempting to copy them?
There will probably be two or three stupid GM’s who will prove me wrong by driving up Ilya’s price-tag, but even Glen Sather has said “hell no!” in a text msg to Pierre Lebrun. I just don’t see it. Times are a changin’ and this 5% increase in the cap is a temporary thing. I have a feeling things will be adjusted downward at the next CBA just to keep things from getting out of hand…that is, barring some miracle turn-around in the economy. Oh yeah, how’s that stock market doing? Consumer confidence? Strength of the Euro? Bwa ha ha ha
Oh yeah, last thing: I predict at least 4 NBA franchises will fold before 2015.
kracker
June 30th, 2010
2:49 pm
I guess that should be gee thanks Stroz and Glove
Dwayne
June 30th, 2010
3:05 pm
Mandy and Doris, our 3rd d pairing, the big wussy line.
Rawhide
June 30th, 2010
3:08 pm
OK Dammit…who put on a Barry Manilow record?!? Kracker…was that you?
We will have NONE of THAT around here!
Dwayne
June 30th, 2010
3:10 pm
Buff: What the hell are yall wearing?
Mandy:Their called Kilts
Bolts: Did yall have to wear matching ones?
Doris: I didn’t know he was wearing his Thrasher blue one today
glovesave29
June 30th, 2010
3:13 pm
Smoothie – You bring up an interesting point…the future CBA. The NHLPA has enlisted the services of one Don Fehr. I am afraid we are heading for another work stoppage. He and Bettman are going to get into one huge pissing contest, and the only losers will be the fans. Oh, and I hope that the ENTIRE NBA folds. I hate basketball. I think of the Blackhawks winning the cup, and all they can think of is holding the grail and celebrating with their teammates. The a week later, the NBA Lakers are also celebrating their triumph…by almost every player searching out the TV cameras to yap in front of. Basketball sucks.
JF – cant answer your question. I can be pollyann-ish and say no it never happens, but I am pretty confident in saying that it has happened in past. But what if a GM talks early to a player – and that player signs elsewhere? Kinda leaves that GM hanging in the wind as to if the player will say something to his new employer or a league official. I can’t image an agent approaching a team early and risk losing his license to be a player rep just for one contract.
GaVaHokie
June 30th, 2010
3:25 pm
I always love looking at this list from Fourth Period each summer…
http://www.thefourthperiod.com/freeagents/top30ufas.html
Looks like we’ve been added to the huge list of players seeking Volchenkov… perhaps we’ll throw the Kubina money his way?
I like the idea of Stempniak… he could do some good damage on a line with Peverley, IMO.
J.B.
June 30th, 2010
3:32 pm
TFP does always get a good list up for free agency. I don’t recall Atlanta ever being so well represtented on it as we are this year. One huge issue with it… i’d be SHOCKED if Belanger was even remotely interested in coming back here. I thought I remembered him saying he wasn’t happy playing in Atlanta at all.
kracker
June 30th, 2010
3:33 pm
twitter RealKyper Scratch one goalie off the UFA list. Sportsnet has learned Michael Leighton has come to terms on short term 2 year/ 3.1M with the Flyers.
Red Light
June 30th, 2010
3:34 pm
Brind’amour retires. Frees up more Cap space for Canes. Rutherford is another laying in the weeds with plenty of cap space.
Leighton re-ups with Flyers on a 2-year, $3.1 million deal.
Smoothie
June 30th, 2010
3:39 pm
Okay, market for average goaltenders has been set! Sportsnet.ca is reporting that the Flyers and Leighton have agreed to terms: 2 years worth $3.1 M or $1.55 M cap hit.
I reckon guys like Biron, Toskala, Lalime, Harding and even Nittymaki will do as well if not slightly better in some cases.
If WSH does something foolish like sign Kovy or overspend on a couple of other pieces, Duds should swoop in and slap an offer-sheet on Michal Neuvirth. To hell with making / keeping friends within the division.
Hockey Steve
June 30th, 2010
3:44 pm
Russian – I heard a similar rumor. No way PIT has the cap space for Kovie….Washington, however, could realistically pull it off (read this on a blog over at SB Nation).
The thought of Kovalchuck and Ovechkin on the same line(hell even the same team) is downright terrifying.
GaVaHokie
June 30th, 2010
3:50 pm
Going after a guy like Volchenkov brings back memories of Atlanta going after another emerging, physical Russian defenseman… Vitaly Vishnevski.
http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=433933
GaVaHokie
June 30th, 2010
3:51 pm
… to clarify… that didn’t work out too well.
Hockey Steve
June 30th, 2010
3:53 pm
Russians play defense?? =)
R. Stroz
June 30th, 2010
3:59 pm
From C-Viv’s most recent article:
This is the advantage. [President] Don [Waddell] has done a good job of keeping our money in line and now we have a little money to spend on the right part. My job is to get the right part.
A little money? Currently, the Thrashers are going to have to spend a little money just to get to the salary floor.
Cheap, Cheap, Cheap
Smoothie
June 30th, 2010
3:59 pm
Fedor “Rootin” Tyutin, don’t call me Putin does!!
R. Stroz
June 30th, 2010
4:03 pm
Why didn’t the Thrashers re-sign Brunnette, Staios…well because they weren’t offered a fair market value contract. Sound familiar?
Red Light
June 30th, 2010
4:08 pm
The sagacious Smoothie knows his hockey. Great call on Tyutin. One of the saddest days ever for me when he was dealt to Columbus.
Jack
June 30th, 2010
4:09 pm
This is the advantage. [President] Don [Waddell] has done a good job of keeping our money in line and now we have a little money to spend on the right part. My job is to get the right part
WTH? translation: has done a great job of not spending any money
Jack
June 30th, 2010
4:17 pm
From the link From GVH, how could the top teams(pitt,wash, det) have interest in a player (kozlov) that could not even get minutes on the Thrashers. Thanks for the link, very interesting who is considering who.
Smoothie
June 30th, 2010
4:32 pm
Thanks Red Light! How about this for sagacious advice? Sign Jay McKee if we’re looking for a cheap-o 3rd liner? Guy is a shot-blocking machine (137) and only gave away the puck 10 times in 62 games. At around $1 – 1.5 M, the Thrashers’ cheap-a$$ ownership should be knocking down his door!
kracker
June 30th, 2010
4:39 pm
“….how could the top teams(pitt,wash, det) have interest in a player (kozlov) that could not even get minutes on the Thrashers…”
I’d hate to think so but maybe Kozzie flipped his switch to ‘off’ when Kovy did. Maybe that was about the same time when JA wasn’t listening to him and Kovy, who knows.