The Thrashers management team is very pleased with the direction the team has taken in the past year since the loss due to injury in last years cup finals to Chicago, since then the team decided to move into a more youth movement moving out alot of veterns for picks that were used in last years draft, and are kids now expected to be the key pieces to the future in Atlanta.
Early in this season BRHL2 after seeing the power that is the Buffalo Sabres get off to a insane start, we decided to keep focused on the youth aspect gathering more picks for this upcoming draft instead of trying to pick up top end UFA's like Kovalev, Forsberg etc, etc... Ending up with 3 lottery picks is something the team is very excited about, 1st, 11th, 13th in this years amazing draft class should bring in 3 impact players to Atlanta.
We are extremely excited to have those picks considering the team locked up a second season in a row as the BRHL2 Southeastern Champions. But the topic of this post isnt about this postseason and our tough battle to start these playoffs against Carolina so far. The topic is our proposed lines for our PRO TEAM FOR NEXT STRICTLY...
Our teams lines for next year are listed below.
Kyle Okposo-Marc Savard-Iyla Kovalchuk -- G.M "We love this top unit Savvy will be great passer to set up IK17 one of the top 10 players in hockey. Also Kyle got alot of minute's down stretch in NHL in all situations, PP, PK for the Isles, and put in 40pts which should give him solid ratings, and a chance at a Calder Trophy riding on this line."
Ales Hemsky-Ryan Kesler-Dany Heatley -- G.M "Heater combo with Hemsky will bring alot of offense as both are PPG NHL'ers one a passer one a sniper they will make up a nasty combo when paired with center Ryan Kesler who put up a 60pt nhl yr (25+goals), great faceoff, great df, good scoring, passing this should be great unit aswell"
Brandon Dubinsky -Scott Gomez -Erik Cole -- G.M "This could be the best 3rd line in the BRHL, Gomez is a very underrated player and is the driving force of the Rangers with Lundvist NHL, he is a strong face-off guy who can pass the puck ending the season near 60pts is a down year points wise however the whole team struggled offensively, but he played alot more minutes per game and his other ratings will show a more well rounder player that Scott really is. Having two great bangers like Cole who ended up with 35-40pts in NHL with alot of hits, and will bounce back with a full season in Carolina next year. Brandon Dubinsky on the other wing after putting up 40-45pts and having about 200 hits he should be great third liner for us. We feel these three combined will make this a well rounded third line"
Clarke MaCarthur -Martin Hanzal -Peter Mueller -- G.M "Clarke had a good NHL year putting in 30+ pts (17,14) in only 70games, once his new RFA deal kicks in he will be a steal of a deal at only 655k.. Hanzal also potted 30+ pts, has solid DF, and decent faceoff. Mueller took a step back this season but still did put in 35pts. We still feel like he will be a top line player for us in our future."
DEFENSEMEN--
Alexander Edler --Sheldon Souray- G.M "Sheldon really had a bounce back season in the NHL and will be rated as a true number one d-man in STHS and be counter on to be a huge force for our team. Alex has developed beyond anyones expectations and continues to impress in all aspects of his game. He has the size to compare to M.Ohland defensively, and the offensive skill to put up 50+ points a year in the NHL"
Paul Ranger- Brian Cambell- G.M "Brian had another 50+ point NHL season and will be the one guy who could have an interesting offseason in Atlanta. With his ability to get traded this offseason to a team with their Lemiuex tag he becomes valuable asset at 3.5 million for a 50+ point NHL D-man, the fact he could be tagged the following year aswell only increase's his value as his contract would realistaclly be a 3 yr 3.5 mill deal which compared to the 7.5+million he gets NHL is a STEAL and he could have to be moved to fit room for coughlschencouch. Paul's season ended due to injury but he had put up great minutes in all situation's before he went down and will rate as a solid D-man again next year. At 1.05 he is a bargain 4th d-man for his 4 years remaining after this postseason BRHL2. "
Greg Zanon- Johny Oduya - G.M "Zanon is an elite shutdown defensive d-man who at a bargain price at 850k for 2 more season's is a great for a 3rd pairing defensive d-man. Johny Oduya is someone who had a great season in the NHL for the NJ Devils, he played 21 min a night in all situations, scored 30pts so his offensive rates will be solid, also he can skate and is strong in his own zone, we really like having this mobile all-around guy to fill out our pro defense at only 600k."
GOALIES-
Marty Turco- G.M "Had a down year NHL but his whole NHL team did, will still rate out ok as he played 70+ games and had ok numbers."
Carey Price G.M "Montreal's horrible defense made his number's look bad but Carey is still one of the prize assets in the whole league.. "
Scratches = Cristoph Schubert (can play forward or defense good flex option healthy scratch)
Guys just missing the cut off and playing for the CHICAGO WOLVES STHS next year, N.Grossman, W.Simmonds.WE WILL HAVE FULL WRITE UP FOR THE WOLVES TEAM SOMETIME WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS..ps-rex all the CAPS is always for you..
Thats an awful big write up for a lineup that will be 75% different once trading is opened.
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"Theres also talk of creating more room at the end of the rink by making the nets more shallow, which would be accomplished by encouraging them to spend all their time listening to pop music and reading Twilight books."
