You may have seen the news last night on Sportsnet.ca or on various message boards, but it's official now- Ex is back. There was never really any doubt that he'd be a Thrasher next season, but he and Waddell were able to work out a deal before Exelby's arbitration hearing (which had been scheduled for July 31). Ex might be young (he turns 26 in August) but he's already a leader in the locker room and he's not afraid to speak up when people are pulling their weight. He loves Atlanta and before everyone packed up for the summer back in April he said that he considers the city home now. The fact that he's locked up to a long-term deal for a reasonable price is an added bonus for a guy that doesn't seem to have any plans to leave.

He won't put up big offensive numbers and he's probably not going to play top-pair minutes, but Exelby will be a key to this year's defensive squad. He'll be counted on to bring his usual toughness and bone-jarring hits, just like he did back n Feb. 8 in Colorado. You know what I'm talking about...

And don't be surprised if Ken Klee takes the young blueliner under his wing over the next year or two. They play a similar gritty style and off the top of my head I can't remember Ex ever having someone like that around who could teach him the tricks of the trade (aside from assistant coach Brad McCrimmon, but it's different when it comes from a teammate).

Welcome back Ex. Here's to plenty more highlight reel hits.