Goaltender Options for the Flyers - Part 2 posted by Kevin Christmann

Part 2 of this series will include Restricted Free Agent options as well as possible acquisitions via trade.

In Part 1 of this series I covered some of the more realistic Unrestricted Free Agent options for the Flyers in their quest to acquire a starting goaltender. In addition to the Unrestricted Free Agent options, there are several viable Restricted Free Agent options. The benefit of restricted free agents is that they are all young…that is, after all, why they are restricted free agents. They are often times coming off their entry level contracts, and just haven’t played enough seasons to be eligible for unrestricted free agency. The bad part about restricted free agency is that, depending on how much the player is signed for, the team is required to pay some sort of draft pick compensation.

The compensation thresholds are dependent upon the salary cap ceiling for that respective season. Since we don’t know what the salary cap will be set at for next season, the compensation thresholds have not been set either.

Last year’s compensation was as follows:

-at or below $863,812 = no compensation

-$863,813 to $1,307,812 = One 3rd round pick

-$1,307,813 to $2,615,625 = One 2nd round pick

-$2,615,626 to $3,923,437 = One 1st round pick, one 3rd round pick

-$3,923,438 to $5,231,249 = One 1st round pick, one 2nd round pick, one 3rd round pick

-$5,231,250 to $6,539,062 = Two 1st round picks, one 2nd round pick, one 3rd round pick

-$6,539,063 or above = Four 1st round picks

Bogosian Proving Worth posted by Jeff Ponder

With the third overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, the Atlanta Thrashers knew that they were going to get something special.  Zach Bogosian is confirming that thought.

After seeing clear-cut number one draft-pick Stephen Stamkos head to Tampa Bay, the Kings were on the clock.  With the 2008 Draft crammed with defensemen, the Kings selected Drew Doughty, a Guelph Storm standout in the OHL.  The Thrashers surveyed their opportunities, and landed on physical defenseman Zach Bogosian, another OHL standout.  Playing with the Peterborourgh Petes, Zach was the only defenseman in the league to lead his team in points (61) and was named to the OHL First All-Star Team. 

Zach made the roster almost with minimal effort in training camp, and looked to be one of the top rookies in the NHL.  But things didn’t get off to the start he was hoping for.  Just eight games into the 2008-09 NHL campaign, Zach suffered a broken leg when he was slammed into the boards by Flyers forward Darroll Powe on October 28th.  Thrashers head coach John Anderson seemed to be more worried about his mental state at the time of the injury:

"We’ll monitor him more psychologically than anything right now.  You don’t want to feel lonely and by yourself and abandoned because you get injured, especially at 18. We’re well aware of the possible mental things he could go through."

After a long 33-game absence, Bogosian returned to the ice on December 31st at Carolina, logging 13:15 throughout his first game back.  Since that time, Zach seems to be playing more and more for the Thrashers, who have a very young defensive core.  On March 26th, Zach saw a season-high 28:01 time played against the New York Rangers, which was a 5-4 OT winning effort by the Thrashers.  Despite the time lost to injury, Zach’s seven goals leads all NHL rookie defensemen, and his 15 points places him in fourth in the rookie defenseman scoring race. 
Continue reading "Bogosian Proving Worth"

Thrashers get Antropov for $16M, 4 years (AP)

The Atlanta Thrashers signed free agent forward Nik Antropov to a four-year, $16 million contract on Thursday, setting up a reunion with Ilya Kovalchuk. The 29-year-old Antropov played with Kovalchuk in Russia during the NHL lockout. General manager Don Waddell said Kovalchuk endorsed the signing with a text message saying "great job." Kovalchuk's approval is important. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Thrashers acquire D Kubina from Leafs (AP)

[read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Thrashers hire Dudley as associate GM (AP)

The Atlanta Thrashers have named former Chicago Blackhawks executive Rick Dudley as associate general manager. Thrashers executive vice president and general manager Don Waddell says the 60-year-old Dudley will oversee scouting and player development for the NHL team. Dudley was assistant general manager of the Blackhawks for the last two seasons. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports