Atlanta Thrashers

A deadly car crash takes a heavy toll on a club just starting to show signs of progress

By Mark Beech

Team Page | Predicted Finish: 28

Odd as it seems to discuss the Thrashers' prospects in the wake of the Sept. 29 car crash that mortally injured center Dan Snyder and seriously hurt right wing Dany Heatley, the fact is that Heatley, 22, is by far Atlanta's best player. Two years ago he was the NHL's Rookie of the Year, and last season he had 41 goals and 89 points. However, because of Heatley's injuries (broken jaw, torn ligaments in his right knee) and his uncertain legal status (he will appear in court on Friday to enter pleas on a felony charge of first-degree vehicular homicide plus four misdemeanor charges), he will be unavailable for the foreseeable future.

Dany Heatley David E. Klutho SI RANKING (1 best - 30 worst) OFFENSE 17 DEFENSE 27 GOALTENDING 25 POWER PLAY 17 PENALTY KILLING 27 G.M. AND COACH 19

Filling Heatley's spot on the first line at week's end was veteran wing and captain Shawn McEachern, who scored only 10 goals in 46 games last season before undergoing back surgery. However, general manager Don Waddell created the option for future lineup changes by trading a fourth-round pick to Carolina for goaltender Jani Hurme, a steady backup in Florida, whom the Hurricanes had claimed in last week's waiver draft. With three goalies -- starter Pasi Nurminen and Byron Dafoe are the others -- the Thrashers can offer one of them in a trade for a scoring forward. "We're not going to panic," says Waddell. "It would be easy to say we need a first-line winger, but we don't get caught up with names. We get caught up with how a hockey player's going to help our team this year."

Before the accident the fifth-year Thrashers were expected to take another step toward their first playoff appearance. After the team stumbled to an 8-20-1-4 start last year, Waddell fired coach Curt Fraser and replaced him with Bob Hartley, the former Avalanche bench boss. Hartley's disciplined, defensive approach worked, and Atlanta went 19-14-5-1 to finish the season strongly. On offense the club was led by Heatley and 20-year-old left wing Ilya Kovalchuk, who scored 38 goals.

Now the franchise will probably have to wait at least one more year for a shot at the postseason.

Insider

Opponents will aggressively forecheck the Thrashers -- none of their blueliners move the puck well, which makes it difficult for Atlanta to transition from defense to offense.... It's imperative that talented F's Marc Savard and Patrik Stefan become consistent offensive threats to keep the pressure off third-year scoring star Ilya Kovalchuk.... Expect G's Pasi Nurminen and Byron Dafoe to hold the fort until highly regarded 2002 first-round pick Kari Lehtonen is ready next season.

Issue date: October 13, 2003