Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Thrashers make big moves at trade deadline!

GM Rick Dudley was very busy yesterday on the last day before the trade deadline. There were several big moves and some not so big, but they all should improve the team. The biggest move of the day was a trade within the division for Radek Dvorak from Florida. In order to get the 6 foot 2, 200lb forward, the Thrashers had to give up Nic Bergfors and Patrick Rissmiller. Bergfors has been in Coach Ramsey’s dog house for most of the season. I really think he is a good player and I hate to see him go, but he just didn’t fit in with Ramsey’s system. Rissmiller is a good young player that has a bright future in the NHL. Dvorak is a 33 year old forward that can score and is solid on the penalty kill. Dvorak was originally drafted in the first round by the Panthers back in 1995.

The team also picked up Rob Schremp off of waivers from the New York Islanders. That was a steal! Schremp has 10 goals and 12 assists and is a minus-19 in 45 games for the Islanders this season. Also he will help boost the penalty kill! The Thrashers also added two other young players (Ben Maxwell & Brett Feasterling) that will probably go to Chicago to play for the minor leage Wolves for a while.

Overall I feel like the team made some significant improvements and hopfully it will be enough for the Ice Birds to capture a playoff spot. They currently sit 4 points out and play tonight against Montreal who is sitting in a playoff spot now. I am still questioning why Dudley traded away Freddy Modin to Calgary for a low round draft pick? I guess he wanted to clear some cap space and get Freddy some more ice time.

Anyway, yesterday was exciting watching all the trades go down. Now we have to strap on our helmet and pads and get ready for the playoff push which for the Thrashers starts tonight!

Go Thrashers!

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