Eric Healey, C (FA-LA); Shawn Heins, D (FA-Pit); Bill Lindsay, LW (FA-Mtl); Ivan Majesky, D (T-Fla); Randy Robitaille, LW (FA-NYI); Brian Swanson, C (FA-Edm)
Dallas Eakins, D (FA-Van); Mark Hartigan, C (FA-CBJ); Milan Hnilicka, G (T-LA); Andreas Karlsson, C (FA-Europe); Uwe Krupp, D (Retired); Norm Maracle, G (FA-Europe); Jeff Odgers, RW (Retired); Ben Simon, C (FA-Nas); Per Svartvadet, C (FA-Europe)
Who's No. 1? Even coach Bob Hartley might not get an answer to that question until the middle of the season.
Bryon Dafoe was signed last year to solve the Thrashers' goaltending woes, but he was beset by poor play and injuries. Dafoe has proven in the past that he can be a starting netminder, performing admirably with the Boston Bruins, but he'll need to pull off a couple of spectacular games to win over Hartley.
Pasi Nurminen has the edge right now, because he played well down the stretch last season. Nurminen has an excellent glove hand and propensity to make big stops.
The Thrashers are stocked with plenty of young, front-end talent. At the top of the list going into training camp was Dany Heatley.
But a preseason car accident that has seriously injured Heatley and killed teammate Dan Snyder will give Atlanta a serious emotional shock, not to mention how it will affect its offensive gameplan for a loop. Heatley will not likely play this season after tearing ligaments in his right knee. Even if he does return, how will he rebound emotionally from the accident and the charges he'll face?
The easy-going forward flashed on the NHL radar last year with his impressive four-goal performance at the All-Star game. It's become quite clear that Heatley is the future of the franchise. He combined with Marc Savard and Slava Kozlov to form one of the league's most potent lines last year.
But in the near future, at least, the scoring load will again fall heavily on Ilya Kovalchuk, who's on the verge of breaking the 40-goal barrier and has the potential to score more a season. But the burly left winger has trouble when teams can focus on him, and without Heatley, opponents will be able to pressure the young Russian.
Hartley is trying to find a successful pairing for Kovalchuk. The preseason assumption was that he'd see a lot of playing time with Patrik Stefan, who's developed into a fine playmaker, and captain Shawn McEachern.
The Thrashers need some top-line defensive help. Slots No. 3 through 7 are fine. They are filled by the prototypical big, hulking, low-scoring rearguards. Right now, their top man on the blue line is Frantisek Kaberle, who is hardly considered an offensive threat with seven goals last season. Expect general manager Don Waddell to search for a power-play quarterback as the season progresses.
Who knows what this season will be like for Heatley. But he was clearly becoming the Thrashers' scoring leader after playing second fiddle to Kovalchuk back in his rookie year. Heatley possesses a great shot and his 6-foot-3 frame allows him to compete in high traffic areas. Eventually, he could compete for the scoring title. The Trashers will challenge for a playoff spot only if Heatley can continue to elevate to his potential.
