Atlanta Thrashers 2009 Season Preview, Picks & Odds

With the NHL Hockey season just around the corner, we are providing season previews for all 30 teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best NHL Hockey Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2009 season preview. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the NHL in our recommend sportsbooks. View the rest of our 2009 NHL Season Previews here.

Atlanta Thrashers 2008-’09 record:
35-41-6, 76 points (4th in Southeast, 13th in East)

Atlanta Thrashers 2008-’09 playoffs:
Did not qualify

The Thrashers had a pretty rough first half last year and were among the league’s worst teams at the All-Star break. However, superstar Ilya Kovalchuk was named as the team’s captain in January and he was exceptional thereafter, scoring more than a point per game. The team’s play on the ice improved noticeably as well and the Thrashers finished with one the NHL’s best 2 nd half records. However, it wasn’t enough to qualify for the playoffs as Atlanta finished with a 35-41-6 record, good enough only for a 4 th place finish in the Southeast.

Atlanta Thrashers 2009 Preview

Atlanta Thrashers General manager: Don Waddell (272-357-70, 9th NHL year, 1st team)

Atlanta Thrashers Coach: John Anderson (35-41-6, 2nd NHL year, 1st team)

Atlanta Thrashers Captain: Ilya Kovalchuk

Atlanta Thrashers Top Returning Scorer: LW Ilya Kovalchuk (43 goals, 48 assists, 91 points)

Atlanta Thrashers Top Returning Goalie: Kari Lehtonen (19-22-1, 3.06, .911)

Atlanta Thrashers Key Additions: D Pavel Kubina; C Nik Antropov; C Jason Krog; D Noah Welch; RW; RW Tim Stapleton; LW Josh Gratton.

Atlanta Thrashers Key Subtractions: D Garnett Exelby; LW Colin Stuart; D Clay Wilson; C Eric Perrin; RW Joe Motzko.

Atlanta Thrashers Top Line: LW Ilya Kovalchuk, C Nik Antropov; RW Bryan Little

Atlanta Thrashers Top Defensive Pairing: Pavel Kubina, Zach Bogosian

Everything revolves around the explosive talents of Kovalchuk. A former Richard Trophy winner, Kovalchuk has never really played with a ton of talent around him and it will be interesting to see how he meshes with Antropov. As he’s in the final season of his contract, it will also be very interesting to see if the Thrashers hold onto him for a playoff push if they haven’t inked him to an extension by that point. The team’s performance on the ice could go a long way towards keeping one of the five most talented players on the planet in Atlanta.

But Kovy isn’t the only threat for the Thrashers. Vyacheslav Kozloz, Brian Little, Todd White and Colby Armstrong all broke the 20 goal mark last year and young center Rich Peverly was one of the team’s best players down the stretch. Add Kane and Antropov to the mix and there is the potential for a big jump in scoring.

Another big boost to the Thrashers will be the presence of Kubina on the blueline. Kubina has a cannon shot and has the potential to really help the offensive attack. On top of that, Zach Bogosian might have been the team’s best defenseman as a rookie until he was felled by injury last year and a full year of production from him will really help. Don’t forget about Toby Enstrom and Ron Hainsey either, because both are strong two way players and Enstrom in particular really blossomed into a great puck mover last season. This is a much improved group of defensemen.

Atlanta has a full out goaltending battle going on between erstwhile superstar Kari Lehtonen and youngster Ondrej Pavelec. Lehtonen has to take the job by the horns or he’s probably going to find himself wearing another sweater since this is the final year of his contract and he’s never truly lived up to his exceptional billing. Expect him to take the job out of camp and relegate Pavelec to the minors initially (as veteran backup Moose Hedberg is going to fill the #2 goalie role) but it wouldn’t be a shock to see Pavelec back in Atlanta this season. However, if Atlanta wants to make the playoffs, Lehtonen has to step up.

2009 Atlanta Thrashers Goaltending:

Injury-prone Lehtonen missed 21 games following a November back injury and six of the last seven games of the season with a suspected concussion. Did rebound strongly to pace the Thrashers’ second-half surge. Hybrid butterfly netminder can fill net with size and cover bottom half effectively with quick, long legs. Does tend to play back in his net and get himself into trouble by committing too early on shots.

2009 Atlanta Thrashers Player To Watch:

C Evander Kane. Top draft pick in 2009 is named after former heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield, and also isn’t afraid to mix it up. Determined competitor figures to start in a checking role and work his way up the forward ladder as he gets his feet wet in the NHL. Still needs some work on his skating, but is a deadly finisher with outstanding hand-eye co-ordination.

2009 Atlanta Thrashers Offense:

The offense still flows through Kovalchuk, who became captain on Jan. 11. That fueled his second-half run that produced 31 goals in the final 41 games. He was sixth in the NHL with 91 points, including 43 goals, in 79 games. Kovalchuk is the only NHL player with at least 40 goals in the past five seasons. Bryan Little has been a great addition to the offensive mix. The No. 12 pick in the 2006 draft scored 31 goals last season, his second in the NHL. Rookie D Zach Bogosian bounced back from a broken leg that forced him to miss 10 weeks of his rookie season. He recorded points in 10 of his final 16 games, netting six goals and 11 points.

Atlanta Thrashers 2009 Season Predictions

Finished last season on a 16-9-1 run, too late to make playoffs, but enough to create some optimism heading into this season. They’ll score plenty, but probably can’t defend enough to qualify for postseason play.

We predict that the Atlanta Thrashers will finish 3rd in NHL Southeast, 11th seed in East: 86 points.

Atlanta Thrashers Betting

Atlanta Thrashers Stanley Cup Odds: +3000
Atlanta Thrashers Eastern Conference Odds: +3000
Atlanta Thrashers Southeast Odds: +1500

Will the Atlanta Thrashers will go all the way to the Stanley Cup? Or, will their season be lackluster? Either way, you can still enjoy Atlanta Thrashers betting at our feature sportsbooks. Atlanta Thrashers Betting is serious business; where you can make a ton of money placing informed, smart Atlanta Thrashers bets. Check out these highly reliable, trustworthy, online sportsbooks.

Join Sportsbook.com Today and Bet on the Atlanta Thrashers and receive a 50% Sportsbook Bonus!