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
4:42 pm
Jack: Power play, shoot-out and he’ll come cheap. He’s one year and a coach that didn’t appreciate his candor away from a 26-goal,
50 assist season. At the age of 38, he can offer the right team something.
Smoothie: I’d rather have Martin Skoula for $600k
DWTOO
June 30th, 2010
4:44 pm
Semi-surprising that Max isn’t generating much interest. Maybe the Thrasher offer will look better tomorrow. Still hope we resign him.
Badger Bob
June 30th, 2010
4:45 pm
I’ll take Volchenkov as first UFA signing.
Smoothie
June 30th, 2010
4:47 pm
How about Mike Weaver then at $800 k? Blocks almost as many shots and does not turn the puck over very much either.
Lastly, correction of thinking on the Tallinder proclamation: NEVERMIND! Looking at his blocked shots, hits etc, I’ve come to the conclusion he’s too soft. Lydman seems to be a tougher, grittier guy.
At any rate, here are my new favorites: Morrisonn, McKee, Leopold, Weaver, Clark (if he comes down off his $3.5 M price-tag).
Red Light
June 30th, 2010
4:55 pm
Morrisonn for $2.75 million per year. Book it.
World Be Free
June 30th, 2010
5:01 pm
DWTOO-Max had a great year with us, but he also carries a decade-old rep that’s hard to hide from. But you never know, I think we will have alot to talk about this weekend on the Rawhide blog.
Tony C.
June 30th, 2010
5:52 pm
I’d like to see Morrison here… he’s dependable and a pretty nifty playmaker when he has space-who was setting Semin up last seasaon? Granted we don’t have a sniper of that caliber signed, but he’s the type of guy who makes others look good.
If we don’t get Kubina, I’d be pleased with either Martin, Volchenkov or Hamhuis-however, I think Pasha gives us a nice blend of D and O as well as maintaining continuity in the room (which is no small thing).
On Kozlov: This guy is one of the smartest players in the league, keeps himself in great-to-exceptional shape…clearly was #17’s “uncle” and yeah he checked out just like Kovy did once it became apparent #17 was on the way out. Buuuut. That feller over there has his name on The Cup, still owns one of the better snapshot wristers in the game, if allowed to run a line (or PP) is very effective-ask Little & White-and is MONEY in the shootout (which is on the rise-one of you stat guys back me up here). Too bad he won’t be here, one of my all-time favorite Thrashers (will never forget the “rally hat” movement).
On forwards-it’s simple guys we need a 20-goal scorer and those don’t come cheap. Be it through trade or UFA, it’s going to cost. I truly hope Octotards are willing to cough up.
I think interesting developments are right around the corner…. I expect Ellis or Mason signed around 2:30 tomorrow-by us.
R. Stroz
June 30th, 2010
6:41 pm
Would you like to know why the Thrashers low-balled the UFAs and appear to be near the payroll floor?
Here’s why:
When the Hawks meet with Joe Johnson in Los Angeles soon after the start of the free-agency negotiating period at 12:01 Thursday they will offer him a six-year contract for the maximum amount allowed, according to people with knowledge of their plans.
The exact amount of maximum contracts won’t be determined until a league audit is completed over the next week, but it’s expected to total about $119 million for a player with Johnson’s experience.
Pissed yet?
Smoothie
June 30th, 2010
6:48 pm
Well Stroz, if they are stupid enough to invest that kind of loot in a jump shooter who can barely jump, then they deserve every bad financial consequence that is bestowed upon them. It’s one thing to offer a huge contract to one of the best 20 players in the NHL, but I’m not even sure JJ is the best player on his own team!! I fail to see the difference between him and Jamal Crawford.
But that’s besides the point, if they are more concerned with the basketball side of the operation, what can we do? We can only hope they find a majority investor who will help them go to max cap or close to it for hockey. Till then, we’re gonna have to hope that Dudley can build this thing with a restricted budget and hope our young guys really flourish over the next couple of years.
Jack
June 30th, 2010
6:49 pm
ASG ARE CRACK ADDICTS. Joe don’t take it go someplace you can win. Maybe when he declines, Dudley could then spend it. Doubt it but you never know
World Be Free
June 30th, 2010
7:37 pm
Joe Johnson is considered the face of the Hawks’ franchise and it has been long considered a given that the Hawks would offer him the max. They could sign and trade Joe, for a player or players of equal value which is a common practice in the NBA under the current collective bargaining agreement and the salary cap structure. Remember guys, ASG offered a max contract to Kovy last year, only to have him turn it down.
Smoothie-I think we can both agree that skill is not a requirement in the NBA these days. Back in the day, you had to play defense and offsense, as well as hit the jump shot regardless of your height. Example-Bob McAdoo
I have mentioned all along that I will hold my review of the Thrashers’ situation until approx July 7. I’ll give credit if it is deserved, or call out the powers that be if we have fallen short. I still think we will spend about $50M on salaries this season, about $7M above the cap and $9M below the max.
World Be Free
June 30th, 2010
7:39 pm
That’s $7M above the bottom of the cap/basement
World Be Free
June 30th, 2010
7:49 pm
Jose Theodore is looming out there. He still thinks he is a starter and will look for a place where he can be a number one. Moose may end up as a 2-3 year backup for one of the many teams he stoned last season. GMs have a long memory when it comes to goaltenders that steal points. Just look at Curtis Joseph who continued playing long after his good years had passed him.
Jack
June 30th, 2010
8:01 pm
theoodore would be a good pick. good enough to fight for the starting position, while putting Pav into another gear. that is if Pav has another Gear
jimbo
June 30th, 2010
8:30 pm
Somebody posted a suggestion for Aaron Asham. He’d be the perfect 15-20 goal scorer, tough and very dependable defensively. Perfect choice but he won’t come here.
World Be Free
June 30th, 2010
9:10 pm
Jimbo-yeah I suggested Asham, as I did a few weeks back. Not sure where he fits in Philly, but he would be perfect here. I was a fan when he was in Montreal.
kracker
June 30th, 2010
9:29 pm
twitter scottywazz My five-star pick– Nabokov to the ATL. YEAAAAAAHH!!!
25 minutes ago via TweetDeck
Retweeted by SpectorsHockey
I only posted this because spector retweeted it
Smoothie
June 30th, 2010
10:59 pm
Versteeg traded!!!
For details, click here: http://thrashingbirds.blogspot.com/2010/06/and-so-it-begins.html
R. Stroz
June 30th, 2010
11:17 pm
WBF – If I remember correctly, the ASG didn’t offer Kovy the max cap hit per year, although the offer was close. Much like Kovy, Johnson doesn’t like to play both ends of the playing surface. Much like Kovy, Johnson is in the top twenty in the league, but definitely not in the top five. Moreover, I’ve seen Johnson play with little or no heart in the clutch for years.
My problem is this: the ASG treats the Thrashers like a red-headed step-child, yet Thrasher fans pay more for the same seat than Hawks fans.
I’ll try to “wait and see” however another year of the Thrashers failing to retain key players, being in the bottom 10% of NHL team payrolls, and finishing the season with less than 80 points will stretch the remaining Thrasher fans to the breaking point.
There is a limit to everyone’s patience.
Brendan
July 1st, 2010
1:41 am
Red Light, my guess is Nabokov is the first UFA contract announced. Is there a contest? If so, I hope I win!
Rawhide, Joe Friday: I like Frolov at LW. But I’m still a little leery of Russian players. The memory of Radulov still lingers for me.
General Comment: My guess is that Atlanta is embarking on a “depth strategy.” So, I look for Tier II types, capable of potting 16-22 goals, paid between 2.0 and 3.3 milllion dollars apiece. Let’s see what happens.
World Be Free
July 1st, 2010
6:28 am
Stroz-I am in total agreement. I am just trying to give this situation a couple days to play out and then we can go from here. Right now, the Thrashers are an improved team before we get to free agency. We have a few more spots to fill and more money to spent. I think you and I want to see that money spent.
World Be Free
July 1st, 2010
6:38 am
Quote from the Buffalo News-
“Colorado, St. Louis, Atlanta and the New York Islanders have $30 million or more in salary room, according to CapGeek.com, so there are millions of reasons to expect them to be busy today.”
They know something we don’t know?
GaVaHokie
July 1st, 2010
8:12 am
That was a nice deal by Toronto… Phil Kessel playing with Versteeg? That will be nice to watch.
GaVaHokie
July 1st, 2010
8:14 am
Pierre Lebrun and others are tweeting that Atlanta has interest in Andrew Ladd.
Chicago is at a $59 million cap hit and needs to move a few more contracts in order to sign Niemi and Hjalmarsson.
GaVaHokie
July 1st, 2010
8:15 am
Dudley said he was seeking another 15 goal scorer, which is down from his 30 goal scorer… I’d say Ladd fits that bill.
Brendan
July 1st, 2010
9:09 am
GaVaHokie, I also saw that tweet. Ladd is okay. I won’t scream. What a deflection he had in the Cup Clinching game for Chicago. One of the best tip-in goals all year.
Hockey Biltong爽
July 1st, 2010
9:45 am
I vote AAsham as well.