Post by atlantagm on Apr 16, 2006 12:12:59 GMT -5
Atlanta Thrashers Post Draft Report
ATLANTA (ap) - Twenty rounds of the dispersal draft in the IWHL. Every team has rounded out. The Atlanta thrashers introduced their team to the Public. General Manager Mike Dale and his Head Coach Bob Hartley introduced their team starting with their Captain #94 Ryan Smyth along with the alternate captains, Defenseman Bret Hedican and Right winger Slava Kozlov.
The Thrashers also introduced the temporary lines to start the year. The first line looks to be a fast and dynamic line. Daniel Briere will centre Simon Gagne and Maxim Afinogenov, which hopefully will produce some sensational goals. The second line is just as potent as the first as Chris Drury will centre the Thrashers second pick in the draft, Martin Havlat and Milan Hedjuk. These two lines should be posed to do some serious damage.
Not to be out done is Atlanta’s third line which consists of centre, Vaclav Prospal along with the captain Ryan Smyth and Slava Kozlov playing the wings. The fourth line will feature Chris Gratton centering Bryan Smolinski and Shaen Donovan.
“I am really excited about these lines. We believe that we should be able to get some great scoring punch when we roll out top three lines and the fourth line will be able to check some of the top players in the league.” – General Manager Mike Dale quipped.
The defense is a veteran group. The shutdown defensive pairing will be Cory Cross and Scott Hannan. Hannan is one of the best young defenseman in the league and will be learning from Cory Cross, who is a veteran in the league. The offensive pairing of Richard Jackman and Dick Tarnstrom has two guys who can each fire the puck and possibly be able to put some punch from the point on the power play. Veterans Jaroslav Modry and Bret Hedican round out the pairings. The duo will be counted on to log major minutes.
“Our defense is a veteran group as the average age is 31. But Hannan and Jackman are the young nucleus who we will be counting on for years. Cross, Hedican, Modry and Tarnstrom have proven to be top notch defenseman in the league for years.”
Finally the Thrashers starting goalie will be Kevin Weeks and he will be backed up by Patrick Lalime. Many people have question these two men’s ability to be able to handle the load in the regular season and the playoffs. Weekes is looking forward to the challenge.
“Everywhere I have been I have never been the number one goalie, usually sharing the title. In Atlanta I feel I will show that I can be the number 1 starter.”
The Thrashers have also left themselves with significant cap room. With under 17,000,000 left the Thrashers can be players later in the season to pick up any high priced talent.
As well it was announced that the Thrashers have won the Prospect Draft lottery.
“I am definitely happy about that. In the next couple of days, we will evaluate the talent out their and come to a consensus of which couple of players they will be looking at.”
ATLANTA (ap) - Twenty rounds of the dispersal draft in the IWHL. Every team has rounded out. The Atlanta thrashers introduced their team to the Public. General Manager Mike Dale and his Head Coach Bob Hartley introduced their team starting with their Captain #94 Ryan Smyth along with the alternate captains, Defenseman Bret Hedican and Right winger Slava Kozlov.
The Thrashers also introduced the temporary lines to start the year. The first line looks to be a fast and dynamic line. Daniel Briere will centre Simon Gagne and Maxim Afinogenov, which hopefully will produce some sensational goals. The second line is just as potent as the first as Chris Drury will centre the Thrashers second pick in the draft, Martin Havlat and Milan Hedjuk. These two lines should be posed to do some serious damage.
Not to be out done is Atlanta’s third line which consists of centre, Vaclav Prospal along with the captain Ryan Smyth and Slava Kozlov playing the wings. The fourth line will feature Chris Gratton centering Bryan Smolinski and Shaen Donovan.
“I am really excited about these lines. We believe that we should be able to get some great scoring punch when we roll out top three lines and the fourth line will be able to check some of the top players in the league.” – General Manager Mike Dale quipped.
The defense is a veteran group. The shutdown defensive pairing will be Cory Cross and Scott Hannan. Hannan is one of the best young defenseman in the league and will be learning from Cory Cross, who is a veteran in the league. The offensive pairing of Richard Jackman and Dick Tarnstrom has two guys who can each fire the puck and possibly be able to put some punch from the point on the power play. Veterans Jaroslav Modry and Bret Hedican round out the pairings. The duo will be counted on to log major minutes.
“Our defense is a veteran group as the average age is 31. But Hannan and Jackman are the young nucleus who we will be counting on for years. Cross, Hedican, Modry and Tarnstrom have proven to be top notch defenseman in the league for years.”
Finally the Thrashers starting goalie will be Kevin Weeks and he will be backed up by Patrick Lalime. Many people have question these two men’s ability to be able to handle the load in the regular season and the playoffs. Weekes is looking forward to the challenge.
“Everywhere I have been I have never been the number one goalie, usually sharing the title. In Atlanta I feel I will show that I can be the number 1 starter.”
The Thrashers have also left themselves with significant cap room. With under 17,000,000 left the Thrashers can be players later in the season to pick up any high priced talent.
As well it was announced that the Thrashers have won the Prospect Draft lottery.
“I am definitely happy about that. In the next couple of days, we will evaluate the talent out their and come to a consensus of which couple of players they will be looking at.”
