Top draft pick provides hope for Thrashers’ D

Aug 22 2008

Published by bud006 at 10:50 am under Thrashers Analysis Edit This

By Bud L. Ellis
thrashers.today.com

ATLANTA – “And a babe will lead them from the wilderness …”

Can’t blame Thrashers fans from looking at Zach Bogosian and uttering that phrase. The team’s top pick in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft, the 18-year-old might look more suited for a seat in a college classroom.

But make no mistake: The 6-foot-2 defenseman can play.

And where he plays is why Thrashers’ fans are singing the praises of the youngster. In case you missed last season, words can’t describe how bad Atlanta was on defense. Beyond allowing the most goals and the most shots of any team in the NHL in 2007-08, it was the inability of the Thrashers’ blueliners to keep opposing players from camping in front of Kari Lehtonen and Johan Hedberg that doomed this team to a 14th-place finish in the Eastern Conference.

Enter Bogosian, who isn’t a bruiser by trade but knows when to lower the boom on speedy wingers and crafty centers. He logged 135 penalty minutes the past two seasons with Peterborough of the Ontario Hockey League, and is skilled enough to jump into the fray offensively. Bogosian scored 61 points (including 11 goals) last season in the OHL, ranking second in the league with 50 assists and leading his team in scoring.

Under normal circumstances, Bogosian would be heading to the minors for another season of seasoning. But with the Thrashers in dire need of shoring up their defense, it’s certainly possible Bogosian is donning Thrashers’ blue for the season opener Oct. 10 against Washington at Philips Arena. He turned enough heads during last month’s developmental camp to warrant a long, hard look when training camp opens in September.