Nik Antropov Joins Kubina in Atlanta

So far this off- season Atlanta Thrashers general manager Don Waddell has answered the challenge put forward by his young and talented captain Ilya Kovalchuk. Throughout last season Kovalchuk who accumulated 43 goals and 91 points continuously said that he wants to wait and see what moves the Thrashers make in the off-season before deciding whether or not to sign a long- term contract. Frustrated at playing for a non-competitive team this 26 year-old who is entering his free agent year showed his approval on July 2 when Waddell opened up the wallets and signed former Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers hulking forward Nik Antropov. After this 6 foot 6 230 pound second liner who scored a career high 59 points signed what was a four year deal worth 16 million with the Thrashers Kovalchuk sent Waddell an immediate text saying “Great job.” Kovalchuk and Antopov have some history as they both played together in Russia during the last NHL lockout. Atlanta who finished this past season out of the playoffs with 76 points also got bigger and more dangerous offensively on the blue line when they acquired former 6 foot 4 244 pound Toronto Maple Leafs veteran Pavel Kubina. This 12- year veteran who scored 40 points last season has a Stanley Cup on his resume from 2004 when he was with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Going into the off season Atlanta who have a lot of smallish forwards in the likes of Bryan Little (5 foot 10) and Rich Peverley (6 feet) wanted to get bigger which was addressed with these acquisitions. “We thought to give them the best chance of having some success needed to surround them with some size,” Waddell said. Even though it will take quite a bit of time until Atlanta is ready to challenge for the Stanley Cup, their fans along with Kovalchuk have to be encouraged by management fulfilling their promise to be active during the off-season.