Thursday, June 24, 2010

Thrashers make a huge trade!

New Thrashers GM, Rick Dudley, hasn’t wasted any time revamping the team roster. Yesterday he pulled off a trade that is truly going to change the makeup of the team. He made a deal with the recent Stanley Cup winners to get a couple of their top players. The Thrashers acquired forward Dustin Byfuglien, defenseman Brent Sopel, forward Ben Eager and prospect Akim Aliu in return we sent the Blackhawks forwards Marty Reasoner and Joey Crabb, prospect Jeremy Morin and first- and second-round picks. The two draft picks are the picks that the team got in the Illya Kovalchuk trade.
Big Buff was a very important part of the Blackhawks run for the cup this year and is a solid all around player. He is a huge physical presence on the ice who can shoot, hit and fight if needed. Sopel is a great defenseman who can score as well. Those two guys alone will make the Thrashers so much better. I hate to see Marty Reasoner go but at least he is going to the current champions and will have a good chance to contribute for them next season.

Now we just need a new coach. There are rumors out there that a coach will be named this week and with this trade it seems like it could be Chicago assistant John Torchetti but the AJC seems to think it will be Boston assistant Craig Ramsay. I would be happy with either guy or maybe both! If it is both, Ramsay would probably be the head coach with Torchetti as the associate head coach. Either way, the Thrashers are already better than last year. Nice work Rick Dudley!
Go Thrashers!

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