In the Thrashers press release the team had alot of news to announce again with another victory over the Bruins and two more trades since last game in Boston.
After the big win in Boston (3-0 W) the teams G.M made a deal on the plane ride home hooking up with the Kings on a minor deal sending P.Kaleta to La for a 6th-7th-1 mill- and solid AHL goalie A.Berkhoel.
G.M's thoughts, "Was a minor deal, Kaleta cant stay in the farm per the BRHL2 rules so we had to move him without going over the roster limit when the league enforce's him to move to the pro league. We had just got him but dont think he can stay in the minors without playing in the AHL last year for 5 games..We got some depth picks, cash, AHL goalie so were happy with it.. Its good for Patrik too he wasnt going to draw into our lineup this season he will play in LA."
The next morning during the teams morning skate R.Miller was the first one on the ice again even after his impressive shutout in Beantown. His dedication and work ethic have been huge to a very young Thrasher line-up getting to watch a All-Star vet practice and work his a$$ off. After a solid practice by the Thrashers coach J.Stevens was asked, "Is Miller going to play his fifth straight for you guys tonight? are you worried about burning him out too early?" the coach replied quickly with, "Ryan has told me he will be starting everygame this year vs Philly, Boston, Detriot all the BRHL2 teams that have had him and he has something to prove to those teams.. I wish more of our guys had that mentality as we have alot of fresh faces on our squad every week and if they all took that mentality they'd stay in Atlanta alot longer."
The game ended up being another blowout for the Thrashers, the topline of Kovalchuk-Savard-Heatley dominated in the first 2 even strength goals by Heater, followed by a Souray bomb on the PP against his old team. After the first Ilya and Dany both had 3 points each.
In the second the Atlanta newly formed third line got a goal near the end of the period from Glencross with Okposo and Filppula getting assits. At the end of two the Thrashers led 4-0.
The third was a similar story with the home Thrashers getting another goal from the third line with Filppula getting his second of the year from Okposo and Luke Schenn. The game ended with Ryan Miller recording his 5th win of the year and second straight shutout against the team he starter for and stole a series in last years playoffs for.. The line brawled cubs seemed pretty much a walk over against the Thrashers in this home and home with a 8-0 final score its clear they need to do some building to contend with the top of the eastern conference :) RIGHT BRYCE :)..
Miller has been a force for the Thrashers this year and is the early season favorite for the Vezina and Hart Trophy.. Not playing in Philly to start the year he has come to Atlanta and been on fire, going 5-0 with a .968 Save% and a 0.98GAA..
After the game was over the Thrashers struck up conversation with Philly regarding cornerstone young Dman Jack Johnson.. Rex wouldnt budge on not upgrading his team following his first loss of the season so was stuck on landing R.Kesler. After it was all finalized the final deal looked like,
To Philly- Ryan Kesler, UFA Mike Comrie, and prospect D.Wolhberg To Atlanta- Jack Johnson, Jarrett Stoll
G.M's thoughts on the deal he struck after running the teams winning streak to five during a conference call after the deal,
"We never take our teams record or a streak we have going into effect while discussing trades, we have the mentality to improve if we can at all times. Giving up Kesler is a really tough move as he is a solid player, but the return we got was something we had to take regarding the future of the kid we landed on the blue-line in Jack Johnson who is a franchise calibre young d-man in our opinion who will be paired with another very good d-man in his NHL situation for many years, his likely 5 yr 1.6 million contract extension he will be signing was also a huge drawing feature for us on Jack. Jarret Stoll is a guy with some pretty great ratings for our team this season aswell with a dominate faceoff man like him who checks and can play PP or PK is great asset for coach stevens to work with. Stoll has also played very well in the NHL this season and is due for a nice ratings boost aswell."
"Again to all the Kesler fans in Atlanta the team is also sad to see him move but trust us when we tell you that a core defense of Erik Johnson, Brent Seabrook, Jack Johnson, Luke Schenn, Ladislav Smid for the future is a great core. With them locking down team's the loss of Kesler will be forgotten.. Having EJ and JJ both great young American d-men is something the team will be holding together for the future."
" The team is happy to update the list of absolute untouchable Thrasher players following the previous deal looking to our future.. The list includes Dany Heatley, Ales Hemsky, Kyle Okposo, Wayne Simmonds, Kyle Chipchura, Clarke Macarthur, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Luke Schenn, Ladislav Smid." "go ahead and mock steve/ian/gareth/bryce/eric/rob (ana)/rob (ott)/ if i missed yah sorry "
Coach Stevens then joined the conference call and announced his likely lines for the teams next practice,
" Were going to try a top line of Kovalchuk-Savard-Heatley with Souray-Hainsey combo on defense, 2nd line were going to shift Johan back to center and go with Okposo-Franzen-Hemsky with Seabrook-Ranger d-combo. Our third line will be strong with our new center Stoll, he will center Filppula and Glencross with Luke Schenn and another new arrival Jack Johnson as a young D-tandom. Macarthur will draw back into the lineup playing with Lapierre and Mayers as our 4th line. Right now unless Smid-Simmonds-Strudwick show me enough in practice to change my mind those will likely be our lines for the next few games with Miller getting a rest soon."
