Thrashers.Today.Com

By Bud L. Ellis
thrashers.today.com

ATLANTA – “Lines, lines. Everywhere, there’s lines.”

With apologizes to Five Man Electrical Band – and to Tesla, who remade the classic anthem of change, “Signs” – it seems the biggest speculation surrounding the Atlanta Thrashers as we’re now within two weeks of training camp is who will skate with who this season.

As last season showed us, lines certainly aren’t set in stone or written in indelible ink. But keeping lines together is the way to build chemistry. Constant line-juggling doesn’t serve anybody well, especially when you have a team where newcomers and young players will play a big role in your success.

The Thrashers weren’t nearly as bad on offense as they were on defense last season. But three of the eight players who tallied 30 or more points in 2007-08 aren’t here anymore. That leaves some big holes on offense, and putting together the right combinations is going to be something new coach John Anderson and his staff will focus on intently once training camp opens Sept. 20 in Duluth, Ga.

Todd White signed a four-year deal before last season, but he wasn’t even the most productive center on the squad, points-wise. That honor went to Eric Perrin, who totaled eight more points than White, scored just two fewer goals (14 to White’s 12) and had a plus-minus rating that was seven points better.

Thrashers’ fans have spent the offseason howling about White’s ability – or in their mind, inability – to center a top line in the NHL. Certainly one thinks White has to bounce back for this team to make a move north in the standings, regardless of where he skates.

Whoever mans the middle of the top line will have scoring machine Ilya Kovalchuk (52 goals last season) on one wing. On the other side, look for Colby Armstrong – acquired in the Marian Hossa trade – to earn the nod. At just 25, Armstrong has a ton of upside and could find himself with plenty of room to operate in the offensive zone, as defenses understandably sag toward Kovy’s side.

So, who ends up between Kovy and Colby – which sounds like a Nickelodeon show, but I digress – centering the top line? I’m thinking the Thrashers will give White every shot to redeem the disappointment from last season. That means, to me, Perrin finds himself centering either the second or third line, with Bryan Little running the middle of the other line. Were it me, I’d give Perrin the nod for the second line, with veteran Slava Kozlov on one wing and newcomer Jason Williams on the other side.

Williams intrigues me. His signing of a one-year deal in July didn’t garner a lot of attention, but could be a move that really pays off for Atlanta. With Kozlov slowing down (his goals dropped to 17 a season ago from 28 in 2006-07), the Thrashers really need Williams to build on his 13 goals and 36 points with the Blackhawks last season.

If Perrin is slated for the second line, Little would reunite with Brett Sterling on the third line. Both Little and Sterling fueled the Chicago Wolves’ powerful offense in the American Hockey League, and both are highly touted prospects. Colin Stuart could fill the other wing in this line. Under this scenario, the fourth line probably would consist of center Erik Christensen (who also came over in the Hossa deal), and wingers Chris Thorburn and Eric Boulton.

Again, I’d write this in pencil if this being crafted on notebook paper, and I’d have an eraser handy. Same with the defensive pairings, except for the top line. There, I’d write Tobias Enstrom and Nic Havelid in permanent marker. Last season, the two Swedes were the lone bright spots for an Atlanta defense that was miserable. Top draft pick Zach Bogosian seems a great fit for the second line with veteran Ron Hainsey, who signed a five-year deal in the offseason and is poised to become one of the better blueliners in the NHL. Two veterans looking for bounce-back seasons, Garnet Exelby and Ken Klee, are the favorites to make up the third defensive pairing.

Again, most of this should be taken with a grain of salt … or three. When you finish next-to-last in your conference, there should be plenty of competition in training camp. And there will be – which is why for all the speculation on lines leading up to the start of camp, the groups we see jumping off the bench come opening night Oct. 10, a lot of work will be done during the next four weeks to determine who fits best and where.

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