As you probably already know, a trio of Thrashers are over in Moscow competing at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship. Kari Lehtonen and Ilya Kovalchuk each have two games under their respective belts (though Lehtonen rode the bench in Finland's first game) while Marian Hossa played his first game with Slovakia today, picking up an assist in the process. Defensive prospects Tobias Enstrom and Ilja Nikulin are also participating in the tournament, representing Sweden and Russia respectively. Below are some handy links for the tournament (friendly warning: the game summaries on the tournament site all launch PDF files).

Official Site | Schedule | Standings | Scores | Teams

Today's update from Thrashers PR:

Marian Hossa made his tournament debut and recorded an assist today to help Slovakia down Germany 5-1 at the 2007 World Championships, being held in Moscow, Russia, through May 13 … Former Thrashers defenseman Uwe Krupp serves as Germany’s head coach.

Slovakia (2-0-0) blanked Norway 3-0 on Saturday, and closes out the preliminary round against Canada on Wednesday.

Kari Lehtonen stopped 17 of 19 shots to help Finland (2-0-0) skate past Denmark 6-2 on Sunday … Lehtonen served as a back-up goaltender in Friday’s 5-0 win over Ukraine for Finland, which takes on Russia on Tuesday.

Thrashers prospect Ilya Nikulin leads Russia’s defensemen and shares second on the team with two goals … Ilya Kovalchuk has recorded an assist in two games for Russia, which beat Ukraine 8-1 on Sunday to improve to 2-0-0 at the tournament … Russia plays Finland on Tuesday.

Thrashers prospect Tobias Enstrom, a defenseman, helped Sweden improve to 2-0-0 with an 8-2 win over Latvia today … Enstrom is scoreless in two games for Sweden, which beat Italy 7-1 on Saturday and faces Switzerland on Wednesday.

All 16 countries participating in the tournament will play three preliminary-round games, with the top 12 teams advancing to the qualifying round scheduled for May 3-7 … Following the qualifying round, the top eight teams move on to the quarterfinals from May 9-10 … The semifinals will be played on May 12, with the gold-medal and bronze-medal games slated for May 13.

(The following is the final submission of this season's Fan Correspondent, Sean Grace. We've thoroughly enjoyed having Sean help us out and he is without a doubt one of the two best fan correspondents we've ever had.)

Playoff Post Mortem

The season was over with a little over two minutes elapsed in the 2nd period of game three of our playoff series with the Rangers. The score was 5-0 and our team was beaten in every sense of the word. I turned off the TV and didn’t watch another second of the series. Watching this nightmarish game for me was like witnessing a close friend getting attacked and not being able to assist. This was the abyss of the emotional roller coaster that was the 2006-2007 season.

For every team but one, in every competition, the end is defeat. The key to losing well is taking a lesson from defeat. This is what I hope our franchise can take from this 4-0 trouncing:

Accessing the season as a whole has been difficult considering the manner in which it ended. But with time comes perspective. The Thrashers 2006-07 season consisted of five distinctive sub-seasons.

Part I - Emergence
October

Out of the gates, we were tough. In October the Thrashers failed to gain points in only two games. On the morning of November 1st our record stood at 8-2-3 and every facet of the game was clicking, including special teams. The Thrashers scored clutch goals, made the key plays and there was joy in Blueland.

Part II – Helter Skelter
November – January

During this prolonged stretch, our boys displayed all the symptoms of a deep-seeded personality disorder. Take a look at this little run:

The holiday season consisted of consistent inconsistency. (I dare you to say this five times, fast, without lisping). During this period, the trend that would eventually bite us firmly in the behind, emerged. Both our power play and penalty kill began to deteriorate. Coach Hartley’s inexplicable “box” PK formation was born. I renamed this strategy “stand around and watch the other team score a power play goal.” But the team also displayed prolonged periods of brilliance. Blueland was rocking as some of the most exciting games in team history were played in this timeframe. We managed to stay in first place in the Southeast. Also, the Thrashers lost 5 games in OT during this time and picked up a point in those games. This was another key to our season, accumulating points from OT losses.

And then depression set in…..

Part III –What the $%#@?
February

It started with a three game home losing streak. Included in the “lost weekend” was yet another defeat at the hands of the mighty Flyers who finished last in the East with 56 points. They owned the Thrashers, (4-0), this season. Expectations were high for this home stand. The unexpected thrashing sent the club into a miserable 1-4 west coast tailspin. From February 1st through 24th, the Thrashers won 2 more games then you and I. Our special teams play brought back memories of the 1999 season. On the message boards the sky was indeed falling. Blueland demanded the public flogging and beheading of “Don” and Coach Hartley. First place was a memory and the Thrasher faithful, accustomed to wretched tragedy, had the feeling of ‘here we go again.”

Bring in the reinforcements….

Part IV – Don Waddell is a God Among Men
February 6th – April 6th

Around the trade deadline, the most maligned man in our organization became a hero. Mr. Waddell, (no longer just “Don”), made moves that injected immediate life into the franchise. The addition of most unpronouncibly, (I made a new word), named players in team history ignited Atlanta. Tkachuk, Dupuis, Belanger, and Zhitnik along with Kari, carried the Thrashers through the thrilling home stretch. It started innocently as Belanger immediately contributed a goal during a 3-2 road victory in Boston. From March 2nd on, Kari and Moose allowed more than 3 goals in any game only once. We won often and the new guys were the key more often than not. A highlight of this season occurred on the weekend of March 16th as the Thrashers won two heart-pounding games over the Rangers and Sabres. We held a precarious lead over Tampa during the final weeks of the season but the boys came out on top of the Southeast, winning their first division title in franchise history.

Part V – Why We Are Fans
April 7th and April 12th

The final game of the season was a celebration. The division was clinched and the atmosphere was relaxed for the first time in a long time. The Thrashers came back from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 over Tampa in OT in front of a full house in Blueland. Fans lingered in the bulb after the game and took in the satisfying flavor of victory. There were smiles all around and a sense of accomplishment. I stood in the club section, waiting for the post-game party, and took it all in. The journey, (painful at times), was worth it. Seven years of allegiance to our franchise paid off at this moment.

A few days later, 10 minutes before the puck dropped in our first playoff game, the cheer of “Let’s go Thrashers” enveloped Blueland. Chills ran through me and still do when I think about it. This was the finest moment in our history.

The Greatest Accomplishment

It wasn’t the division title although it is the most tangible measure of the success of the 2006-07. But that’s not it. Our greatest achievement is the birth of you, the true fan. Atlanta has long been criticized as a sports city that lacks passion and dedication. You changed that perception this year. You multiplied and the resulting army in blue energized the team. You screamed your guts out and wanted it badly. You stuck with it and now you’re stuck with it. You’re going to care about this team more now. It’s going to be hard on you. Being a fan is taxing. But you’re in and you can’t get out anytime soon.

We’ve a planted a seed and it will grow. There will be playoff victories and greater moments next year. And you will be there. There will be crushing losses, and you will be there. You will be there because it’s entered your heart and become part of you. It happened this season, you bought in and that is the greatest accomplishment. I am very proud to call myself a Thrasher fan, just like you.

It’s been a pleasure representing you as the Fan Correspondent. I want to say thank you to the Thrasher organization for this unique opportunity. I also would like to thank all of you who read my rantings and sent comments throughout the year. I’ve learned that this is something I’d like to do more of in the future. My time in this role is over but maybe my begging will persuade the Thrashers to keep me around in some capacity.

But I’m not going anywhere. God willing, I’ll be sitting in my seat in section 119 for 50+ games next season cheering on this team, which I have come to love.

You’re up next. A new Correspondent will be named for the 2007-08. If you enjoy writing and have a passion for our team, I strongly suggest you enter the contest next year.

See you in September!

Your Loyal Servant,
Sean Grace

The NHL Conference Semi-Finals (also known as round two) begin tonight with one game in each conference. The Sabres host the Rangers in the early game before the Ducks host the Canucks out west.

I'm trying to figure out what my dream and nightmare scenarios would be for the Cup Finals, and I think I've got it figured out.

Nightmare Scenario:

Rangers versus Red Wings for the Stanley Cup

The thought of watching Sean Avery play for another three rounds makes my skin crawl, and I can't imagine how many times he'd be interviewed and featured on TV and online between now and the end of the series. I could even see him getting Conn Smyth consideration for his work against opposing top players. Some where along the line Claude Lemieux comparisons would be made. As much as it would be good for the NHL to have these two marquee teams play for the Cup, I'm already sick of Avery, and who really wants to see Detroit (and Hasek) win again aside from Detroit fans? Detroit used to be a bit of a sentimental favorite because it was tough to cheer against a guy like Steve Yzerman. now? It's remarkably easy to pull for whoever is shooting on Dominik Hasek.

Dream Scenario:

Senators versus Canucks for the Stanley Cup

This is my dream scenario. I'm not saying it has to be yours. I'd be backing the Canucks in this one, just because I like what the Sedins bring to the table, I have a ton of respect for Roberto Luongo, and Vancouver fans have been waiting long enough. I wouldn't mind if the Sens won either. I spent three years living in Canada's capital and it's a fantastic city. It would also drive Leafs fans up the wall, and that's always a plus. As an added bonus the Canadian media would have to stop talking about how the deck is stacked against Canadian teams (it clearly isn't, considering the last two finals included Canadian teams from smallish markets, but they're prone to saying it anyway). On the other hand, the "it's our game" talk from north of the border would probably get pretty obnoxious too.

Most Likely Scenario:

Buffalo versus Anaheim

The Sabres have been the best team in the East for the bulk of the season and should rise to the challenge against the Rangers. I think they got bored against the Islanders and I have a feeling that they'll relish a series that pushes them. If they can get their power play back on track they'll handle New York, who should have trouble containing their speed. Buffalo has a great combination of speed, offense, grit and goaltending but so does New York. I think the difference in this round and the next is that Buffalo still has a chip on their shoulder from last season when they felt like they should have beaten the Hurricanes.

Meanwhile Anaheim has two of the top three defensmen in the game in Niedermeyer and Pronger (Lidstrom is the other) and two stud goalies. There's no question they can shut down Vancouver's anemic offense, but can they get by Luongo? If they can they'll make quick work of the Sharks in round three simply because Joe Thornton has shown over and over again that he can't score goals in the playoffs. In his career he averages .314 goals per game in the regular season and .157 goals per game in the playoffs. Is tat the kind of production you want form your leader for a deep playoff run? I'd love to see him prove me wrong, because Patrick Marleau deserves success and as a reformed Bruins fan I'd like to see Bill Guerin and Kyle McLaren hoist the Cup. It's not going going to happen though. Not unless Thornton finally steps up when it matters most.

By the way, both games tonight are on Versus. If you're looking for some more in-depth previews you could do worse than AOL's NHL Fanhouse which has both a Western and Eastern breakdown.

Do you know what I like to see I like to see prospects who are playing out their junior career and waiting for their chance to go pro in the fall lead their junior league in goal scoring for defensemen in the playoffs. Eight goals and five assists in twelve games. Throw in 22 PIM, a +9 rating, a 14.8% shooting percentage, 4.5 shots per game and 2.1 hits per game and you have a pretty solid stat line for a defenseman. Factor in that his team is up 3-0 in its series and is one win away from advancing to the league finals and this kid should be getting plenty of ink, and some serious attention at prospect camp in July, if not training camp in the fall. Who am I talking about? Chad Denny, who is battling Nathan Oystrick for the "Thrashers PP QB of the Future" title. His Lewiston MAINEiacs are one game away from sweeping Rouyn-Noranda in the QMJHL semi-finals and Denny will be going pro when his season is finished. the only question is where the 49th overall pick in the 2005 draft will play next year. Will he be in Gwinnett, Chicago or here in Atlanta? With numbers like that I'd say he'll be with the Wolves who could be a bit short on defensmen in Popovic, Oystrick and Valabik are fighting for spots in Atlanta. Don't count Denny out of that mix yet though.

Assuming Lewiston takes care of Rouyn-Nouranda they'll face either Cape Breton or Val d'Or for the QMJHL championship and a trip to Vancouver to play for the Memorial Cup. If Lewiston and Cape Breton collide then Denny will be up against fellow Thrashers prospect Ondrej Pavelec, who happens to be the best goalie in the QMJHL right now. His 2.07 GAA is a whopping third of a goal better than any other keeper in the playoffs and his sterling .926 save percentage is .11 better than his closest competitor. It helps that he plays behind a strong defensive team, but Pavelec is convincing everyone that he'll have what it takes to compete at a very high level in his pro career. Pavelec was also taken in the second round of the 2005 entry draft, six spots ahead of Denny. Both picks were acquired on draft day when the Thrashers traded down twice in the first round and drafted Alex Bourret (who was traded to NY in March for Pascal Dupuis and a third round pick).

So that's what's going on with Thrashers prospects in the QMJHL playoffs.

In minor-league news, the Wolves won 3-2 last night and now have a 3-0 series lead over the Milwaukee Admirals in the opening round of the AHL playoffs. Thrashers prospect Michael Garnett earned the win for Chicago, bringing his Calder Cup playoff record to a perfect 5-0 while Darren Haydar picked up a goal and an assist. Brett Sterling, who will get a serious look in training camp, scored the game-winner and defenseman Mark Popovic (another player expected to compete for a spot in October) added two assists. The wolves have also called up a trio of Gwinnett Gladiators, including prospects Dan Turple and Scott Lehman.

Here are some long overdue pictures from the trip to NY last week.

One of the highlights of the trip from a "well I never thought I'd find myself doing this" standpoint had to be the bus-ride from the hotel on 52nd to Madison Square Garden on 33rd. Have you ever seen Manhattan traffic at 4:30 in the afternoon on a business day? It's not pretty. So as we all loaded onto the bus on Tuesday and Wednesday there was a uniformed officer waiting beside the bus. When we gave the signal he pulled out in his squad car, turned on the lights and away we went with our own police escort. Want to see New York pedestrians and motorists get upset in a real hurry? Make them wait for  a bus full of guys they don't recognize. The looks (and gestures) that we got were priceless. A 25-block short drive that should have taken about 30 minutes took five or ten. "we're here way too early," cracked Bobby Holik both days. "Can we circle the block a couple of times?"

Eric Boulton and Brad "Beast" McCrimmon with one of New York's finest. Who's protecting who?

Madison Square Garden- the "world's Most Famous Arena."

They call the seats the reds and the blues. They've faded to pink and teal. 

The famous MSG ceiling and scoreboard.

Shortly before the Rangers pulled ahead for the final time in the series.

The end of the road for the 2006-07 Thrashers.

Here's the final installment of our Thrashers exit day coverage. Don Waddell and Bob Hartley were both very candid and didn't make any excuses for the Thrashers' failure to advance to the second round of the playoffs.

Executive VP  and General Manager Don Waddell

Waddell at the 2006 draft with Bryan Little, who signed a Thrashers contract on Friday.

Other points made by Waddell:

• Many roster decisions will be made over the next four to six weeks
• Some players who are currently Thrashers may receive contract offers sometime in May
• Don will be going to the World Championships in Moscow next week to watch some of the Thrashers' European prospects play (particularly Tobias Enstrom)
• Playoff performances will not be the main criteria for evaluating players

Head Coach Bob Hartley

On what the young players learned in their first playoff appearances: "Playoff hockey is a totally different league. It's not the same intensity, and plus it's basically game by game. There's no tomorrow."

Hartley's take on the playoff performance: "The team that played the best got the breaks. It's as simple as this. There's the one game that was unacceptable where we took a 7-0 beating. But the three other games- this series could be 3-1 for us or 2-2 but today it doesn't matter. It's over and we know it. It's not about what we could have done or should have done. That's too easy. We're proactive people and we have to learn from it. I think that for the young players- they all have playoff experience right now. It's obviously a huge disappointment because we thought we would collect way more playoff experience than we did. Four playoff games- it's not up to our standards. We have a better team than this and we could have done better, but losing three games by one shows you that being close doesn't count in the league. You have to be better than the other team and we were not. Full marks to the Rangers. They deserved it and they beat us fair and square."

On the play of the Rangers: "Their puck control was the best part of their game. I can't remember seeing Jagr motivated like this. And not only during those four games. I've scouted along with my coaches and pro scouts- looking at Jersey, looking at Tampa, looking at the Rangers- and that team came together. You look at the trades, you look at the injuries and at Lundqvist's play. Here's a team that basically searched for an identity all year and six weeks before the end of the year they were out of the playoffs when suddenly they took off and who knows who will stop them. They will not be a team who is easy to stop in the second round, but that has nothing to do with us anymore."

On what went wrong: "On our side we simply had no answers- for their puck control. That Hossa, Jagr and Nylander line- they took away lots of our energy and after that their support players which are great players, they played very well. It seemed that every game they got big goals from everyone."

On when planning begins for next season: "We're already starting to think about next year. This is part of our business. In our business you're 12 months on the job. You may not physically be at the rink but you always have to look at how you can make this team, make these players better and make ourselves better. That's the nature of this business. It's about representing a city, representing an organization. It's a huge disappointment for us right now but we have to move on. It's too late to look back. We can only learn from it and starting form today's meeting we've already left the players with tings to do. Feedback that we gave them, feedback that they gave us- it's a big step. We have to look at our entire season. I think it was a very productive season obviously with a bad ending, but still, I think our players deserve lots of credit and I think they did lots of good things."

On what needs to improve: "We have to get better at everything. I'm going to sit with my coaches and we're going to evaluate player by player. then we're going to evaluate all of our situations- special teams, 5-on-5, goaltending- like every team does. Then Don will sit down with me and we'll recap everything and then we can move on with decisions. We have all summer now to get ready and we're already at work. At the same time I don't think there's any rush to jump at stuff. Right now emotions are still running high and it would be a bad situation for all of us."

On Scott Mellanby: "I had a good meeting with Mell. He was our first meeting. What a great individual and a great captain. My entire playoff drive was for Mell. Here's a guy who deserved it. He's a real good man and he's going to have great days ahead of him. We'll just wait on his decision and go from there."

On the risks of being a head coach: "As a coach you come in and you knew the rules form the first day. When we buy suits for behind the bench we should buy suits with a big target on the back. Let's remember that in any rink you go to there are at least 18 coaches waiting to replace you. It even happens at the minor hockey level. I watch minor hockey and you look at parents in the stands who have never skated a stride in their life and suddenly they have all the answers for their son and their team. That's the beauty of our sport and of any sport. I watch football and I watch baseball and I think that I could be the head coach in those sports too, but I'm a fan. You come in and you say you should have made this move or played this guy and that's the beauty of this game. Every day you show up with good intentions and you make the best out of it. If you're doing a job where you're scared, nobody is holding a gun to your head forcing you to do that job. If you're scared you should do something else. 18 years ago I made the decision to become the head coach of a hockey club- the sport that I have loved since the first time that I put hokey skates on when I believe I was two years old. It's not about fear- it's about performing."

On the support he has received form the organization: "It's just to show you it's about enjoying every day and trusting the people around you. I am fortunate in that I was surrounded by a great bunch of guys. A great bunch of players. Fun guys. Even today, on a sad day, it was a productive meeting because we're dealing with good people. As a head coach you're stuck in between. You get feedback from the players and you take that feedback to management. As a head coach you're stuck in between the two sides and I can tell you as the head coach of this organization that I am very fortunate. I was supported by great players and myself and my coaching staff, we were supported by great management."

It was an interesting day up in Duluth yesterday as players met took care of business before going their separate ways. Only a third of the Thrashers roster is under contract for next season, so it's extremely unlikely that the team will the same look next season. the main stars will be back- Hossa, Kovalchuk and Lehtonen- but there is potential for a lot of turnover up front and on the blueline.

There were two dominant lines of questioning from the media throughout the afternoon- how did players feel about their chances of coming back, and what was the difference between the Thrashers and Rangers in the playoffs.

Many players pointed out that the Rangers played solidly as a unit with great puck control and communication. Several pointed out that the main weakness for the Thrashers was a lack of cooperation between the forwards and defensemen. The defense had trouble with outlet passes, but the forwards didn't come back enough to close the gap, leaving passes to be picked off by the Rangers. Consensus was that puck control and speed both need to be upgraded for next season.

As for who may stay and who may go, I'll leave that for the journalists, other bloggers and talk radio to speculate about. Here's what Scott Mellanby and Marian Hossa had to say yesterday:

Scott Mellanby

On Retirement: "I'm 99% there. I'm going to talk to my agent and figure out exactly how I'm supposed to do this. I don't know if I'm supposed to sign papers- I don't really know how it works... I feel pretty comfortable with the fact that I think it's time to move on to something else. I still feel that I can play the game and that I could come back for another year, but I think it's all the outside stuff- the training. the actual preparation and the things that go with it. I'm not sure I'm prepared to go through that again. I guess I'm saying it without coming out and saying it."

On what prompted the decision: "It's at a point where I feel mentally fatigued. When you're in a leadership role on a team there's a lot more that goes into it. It's mentally demanding, and if I'm not prepared to take that on that's another reason. I don't think I can do that again."

On his future: "I think that eventually I'll end up pursuing something (in hockey). It could be here. We'll see where I end up. I'll have some conversations with Don.I wouldn't say (coaching) doesn't interest me. It's a tough job and it's a tough job when you don't want to move. wherever I end up living I'd like to be there for the next 15-20 years. I have kids to think of, and coaching is a tough job when it comes to that kind of stuff. It's not something I'm prepared to pursue at at this point. Maybe there's something else that will allow me to keep my foot in the door."

On being hugged by his teammates after Wednesday's loss: "I had a few tears in the room afterwards. I told the guys that 10, 20 years from now that will be something that stands out for me from my memories of that last game. It meant a lot to me."

On life after being an athlete: "I'm still a kid. Being an athlete is like being a kid and I have to grow up now. I think I'm ready for it. I can still be a kid once in a while."

On retiring on his terms and in good health: "Everybody's day comes and you just have to deal with it. I'm sure there's going to be times, especially come September when guys are back in camp when I'm going to miss it at times. This year I had a lot of tough days of how my body felt or games where I was unhappy with what I had from the standpoint of my legs and things like that. A lot of days where just getting out of bed was a struggle where the first hour I was just feeling like garbage. I always tried to remind myself on those days that down the road when I think how great it would be to be at training camp, remember these days. Your body doesn't recover at 41 like it does when you're 25. I'm lucky. To know you've played your last game and to know you're moving on- There are a lot of guys who don't get that opportunity. A lot of guys get told, or don't get told and they just don't get a contract. I feel fortunate that I'm still in pretty good shape. My shoulders and my knees have never been operated on. I'm leaving the game in pretty good shape and I'm thankful for that."

On what he's looking forward to most: "I'm looking forward to having a regular routine. That's what I'm looking forward to most- feeling better on a daily basis (and sleeping on a regular schedule)."

Marian Hossa

On the difference in the series: "The Rangers controlled the puck. We didn't have the puck on our sticks much so we couldn't create plays that way. When we did have the puck they were right on us and we had a tough time creating chances. That was the difference.

On the Rangers' style of play: "When you look at the Rangers you think of an offensive team, not defensive. But that's what they did- they improved so much defensively and it was so impressive. They played well as a unit and they were exactly in the spot where they were supposed to be. They weren't running around. They did a great job defensively. When we did create chances we ran into some hot goaltending.

On his health: "There's bumps and bruises but nothing that's a big deal."

On what needs to improve next year: "Next year I think we need to have more control of the puck. I felt that we were working hard but sometimes we were just running around. We'd go into the corner and be just a half step behind the play. We tried to chase the puck too much. We need to play with more control, and I think it starts with the first pass from our end. But also we have to be there for the D-man as the forwards. We have to be together instead of chasing the puck."

On criticism of his performance in the playoffs: "Well, that's something that as a professional you have to expect. When you play well people cheer and when you don't people give you criticism. That's fine with me. I know we didn't create much and that's what we deserve and we just have to learn from it."

On what Scott Mellanby meant to him as a teammate: "Mell is such a great player, competitor and an even better person. I learned lots from him. After the loss I looked at him and realized that it could be his last game, probably 99% like he's saying, and it's tough to see. A guy that's been in the league a long time. It's tough to lose in four straight games and I felt bad for him."

On his immediate plans: "I'm going to chill out for a few days and I'm sure my hockey federation back home is going to put some pressure on to play in the World Championship. It's a big thing back home and I'll think about it." (the World Championships begin on April 26).

On following his brother Marcel who plays for the Rangers: "I'm still going to call my brother and see how he's doing. After it was over I shook hands with him and wished him luck."

Other Miscellaneous Player Notes:

JP Vigier commented that the fan base and media coverage have come a long way since his first season with the Thrashers (JP was the first player on this season's roster to don a Thrashers sweater for a game). Within easy earshot of the AJC reporters he cracked that it's nice to go from the back page to the middle, but it would even nicer to make it to the front page of the sports section on a regular basis.

Jon Sim, Steve McCarthy and Thrashers trainer Ray Bear are all waiting for babies to come in early in May. Sim's wife is expecting their second child while McCarthy and his wife will become parents for the first time. Sim's first was born back home in Canada but they're having the second down here which means the baby will have American citizenship.

Pascal Dupuis said he's enjoyed his time in Atlanta and that the city may be under appreciated as a hockey city.

Garnet Exelby is planning on spending the bulk of his summer in Atlanta. He pointed out that he has spent the majority of his early adulthood here and that he now considers Atlanta home.

Keith Tkachuk was sporting a Dice-K Red Sox jersey and predicted that the Japanese-born pitcher would be the MVP this season. He's heading back to St. Louis to be with his family and they'll spend a good chunk of the summer traveling to hockey camps and tournaments. Both of his sons play hockey.

Eric Boulton mentioned that someday down the road when he retires he wouldn't mind exploring coaching. He plans to stay in the South and he thinks that are plenty of opportunities for him when he hangs up the skates given how many ECHL teams there are in the area.

Thank you to everyone who sent in pictures of their playoff beards as part of the Unleash Your Playoff Beard promotion. It's a shame it couldn't have gone on for at least a few more weeks, but those are the breaks. All of the pictures are posted here.

Like him or not, Hockey Night in Canada personality Don Cherry has a large following and what he says carries a fairly significant amount of weight in hockey circles in Canada. When he comes out and says something about a team people aren't particularly familiar with they listen, and what he says goes a long way in shaping their opinions of those teams.

So when Cherry chimed in on the Thrashers earlier this week you can be pretty sure Canada was listening. So what did he have to say? Well, would you believe he was singing the praises of Ilya Kovalchuk? It wasn't exactly characteristic for a guy known for ranting about European players, but it sure was nice to see. You can watch the full Coach's Corner video right here.

It was exit day up in Duluth- the day that players meet with their coaches, get checked out by the team doctors, sign some autographs for charity auctions, prizes and various other causes, and then talk to the media one last time before being released from any team obligations for the summer.

Everyone puts on a brave face and tries to relax, but the only team that ever really enjoys media day is the one that holds theirs in mid-June 48 hours or so after they hold their Stanley Cup parade. That being said, there was much less tension in the air today than there was last season when the goaltending debacle cast a shadow over the team's failure to make the playoffs. You remember- Lehtonen getting hurt for the second time. Dunham playing in the second-last game and getting pulled after an injury and replaced by Michael Garnett, who also got hurt, forcing the last minute recall of Adam Berkhoel for the final game. Five goalies in the first five games. Four goalies in the last seven games and lingering questions about the long-term health and durability of Kari Lehtonen.

I'll take a division title and today's circumstances over the finish to last season any day.

Speaking of Lehtonen, you have to give the young goalie credit for bouncing back this season. One year ago he choked back tears as he talked to the media and said that he felt responsible for the team's failure to reach the playoffs. He knew he didn't show up to training camp in proper shape, and he knew the team's chances of making the playoffs would have been much better with him between the pipes. On that day he committed himself to staying in Atlanta for the bulk of the summer and doing whatever was necessary to come back strong and healthy.

Mission accomplished. For the first time in franchise history the Thrashers completed a full season using the services of just two goaltenders, neither of whom suffered from a single injury. In his parting comments head coach Bob Hartley gave Lehtonen full credit for stepping up and proving himself during the season. While Lehtonen may not have been at his best in his two post-season starts Hartley pointed out that the young Finn got little help from his teammates in Tuesday's 7-0 drubbing. So what did Lehtonen accomplish during the regular season? How about new single-season franchise goaltender records for games played, games started, wins, shutouts, minutes played, goals-against average, shots faced, saves and save percentage?

Tomorrow I'll get into what GM Don Waddell and Coach Bob Hartley had to say about the season, as well as what they envision for next year and I'll go over what some other Thrashers had to say before saying their good-byes.