Almost all of Don Waddell's mistakes have been flushed down the toilet, the most recent coming in a trade with the New York Rangers that sent Todd White (above, AJC)to the Big Apple in exchange for Patrick Rissmiller and Donald Brashear. Brashear was immediately bought out. This may seem like a minor deal, but it may have much bigger implications on the Thrashers roster than one would think.
White's $2.375 million cap hit was shipped away, a big positive. White's production dropped 45 points from 2009 to 2010, partially due to injuries and partially due to the fact that Todd White is not a 73-point player like he was in 2008-2009. In fact, White had put up less than 50 points in every season since 2003 until his breakthrough in 2009.
Rangers fans are happy; they think they're getting a guy with 50-point potential, and they are. They're also getting a 35-year-old on the downside of his career, something the Thrashers don't really have room for in their line-up. So now, taking a look at the Thrashers forwards, it should look a little something as such (ignoring any potential line combinations)
TOP 6:
Antropov-Bergfors-Little-Kane-Byfuglien-Peverley
BOTTOM 6:
Slater-Thorburn-Ladd-Eager-Boulton
Some of those guys may be interchangeable, as Ladd may grab a 2nd line spot or Kane may be a third liner. As the roster begins to take shape, two things become evident:
1. Alexander Burmistrov will be in Barrie this season.
2. The third line center spot is Patrice Cormier's to lose.
With the top two lines becoming clearer, it appears as though Alex Burmistrov will be back in Barrie this season. There is no room for a scorer on the top two lines and playing Burmistrov third line minutes in the NHL is hindering his development. At only 18, playing top line minutes in clutch situations in the OHL will be more benefical to Burmistrov's development. Of course, nothing is official yet, but I'd say it's more than likely we will have to wait until 2011-2012 to see Alex Burmistrov's debut.
Secondly, this opens up the door for Patrice Cormier. The Thrashers are building a tough, gritty team; something Todd White is not. At 6'2", Cormier is much bigger than the 5'11" Todd White and plays a much more physical, aggressive game. Rick Dudley has praised Cormier up and down and if Cormier did not make the cut come October I'd be shocked.
This also leaves one last forward spot open, assuming the team will carry 13 forwards. I think it would be most beneficial to see Carl Klingberg play a year in Frolunda and because of this I envision Spencer Machacek getting ice time on the 3rd or 4th lines this season. Machacek has had back-to-back 20-goal campaigns at the AHL level and appears seasoned enough to make a serious run at things when training camp opens in September.
So, as the dust settles the picture becomes a little clearer. It remains to be seen whether Atlanta will make another acquisition in the free agent market. I'd be inclined to say that they won't, and if the team does add another top-6 talent on offense it will likely be via the trade market. Even then I still don't see a lot of possibilities out there and think the team has pretty much come into picture, save a position or two here and there.
So, in conclusion: the Rangers dumped their junk on us, but we don't really need the junk anyways. In fact, half of the trade has already left Atlanta. Rissmiller is a nice depth signing and a solid penalty killer to have around just in case. And finally, Atlanta saves about $1 million on the cap this year, possibly opening the door for another acquisition. It was a win-win deal for both sides, something that hasn't always happened in Thrashers history.
