(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Outlook on this year Atlanta Thrashers looks brighter then most fans think. Let’s take a closer look at the line up.

One of the NHL’s new and top forward lines, lead by Kovalchuk and Little, with a great versatile two way forward in giant Nik Antropov, to leave the talent room to do their damage.

A second line of offense with Kozlov, White and a nice addition of Afinogenov; though you’ll have to watch out of his turnovers. Also more depth with the likes of Evander Kane, and currently injured Colby Armstrong, great role players in the bottom six in Marty Reasoner and the often pugilists that are needed in Eric Boulton and Chris Thorburn, who each had a fight and added tenaciousness to the game.

The offensive defense is lead by a young Zack Bogosian, with help from a wealth of experience in Pavel Kubina (who has won a cup in 04 with the Lightning) as well as an under-rated Tobias Enstrom and Ron Hainsey to round out the top four. The likes of Anssi Salmela and Boris Valabik have the skills, to grow into a top four defenseman. They might need to add one very defensive defenseman to make it well rounded.

Current starter Ondrej Pavelec, who still can become a number one goaltender, though I don’t believe right now, is his time. The presently injured Kari Lehtonen, who should be a number one, and can be a top goaltender in the NHL, has yet to put all the pieces together; hopefully he can. If not it might be a long season in net.

This team still has a few interesting prospects as well, Angelo Esposito (who could join the team mid season), and Daultan Leveille (who will probably finish his college career before coming to the NHL).

Overall, this team is full of optimism, and brimming of confidence, which now have more tools to take them to the playoffs and maybe do some real damage. Keep an eye on these Thrashers; they’ll be a team to reckon with.

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