Don't miss the Boat on this one AS !!!!
Oct 31, 2002 19:35:18 GMT -5
Post by Viper on Oct 31, 2002 19:35:18 GMT -5
TORONTO (CP) - It's not what Byron Dafoe had in mind on July 1 when unrestricted free agency beckoned but the Atlanta Thrashers could end up being his salvation.
The Thrashers, last in the NHL standings, may turn to Dafoe if they don't start to get better goaltending from No. 1 starter Milan Hnilicka.
Hnilicka will be on the bench Thursday night when Atlanta plays the Toronto Maple Leafs with backup Pasi Nurminen getting the start. That's because Hnilicka is 0-8-0 with a 4.10 goals-against average and a .883 save percentage.
``We went through the whole summer and we believed Milan was our guy,'' Thrashers general manager Don Waddell said Thursday. ``We've been trying to give him that opportunity. We are aware that Byron Dafoe is out there and we have spoken with him.
``But up until recently, we really didn't think it was the area that we thought we needed to improve on. What it comes down to now is that yes, if we are interested in Byron Dafoe, it comes down to a financial decision because you're going to spend money that you didn't plan on spending.''
While Dafoe, 31, started the summer looking for something around $5 million US a season, he could settle for $3.5 million to $4 million now that most of his opportunities are gone.
Another option for the Thrashers would be veteran Jeff Hackett in Montreal. The Canadiens, especially once Hart Trophy winner Jose Theodore gets back on track, would like to move the 34-year-old Hackett and his $3.6-million salary in order to finally dress No. 3 goalie Mathieu Garon. The 24-year-old can't be sent down to the AHL without clearing waivers - unless it's a conditioning assignment - leaving Montreal with three goalies on its 23-man roster.
``We pay attention to what's going on around the league,'' Waddell said. ``We know that (the Habs) have three goalies and we know they can't carry three goalies forever.''
Both Dafoe and Hackett would appear to fit the bill for the Thrashers, who need an older goaltender to come in and bridge the gab while 2002 first-round pick Kari Lehtonen of Finland takes time to develop.
``If we were going to go in that direction we'd look for a veteran guy who's been there and done it because we just drafted our goalie of the future,'' Waddell said
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Legaspesian posted this partially in the other thread. I think we need to pull the trigger on a deal before the option's become even smaller than they already are Hackett could get the place he want's as a st5arter for the next 2 or 3 season 's down there and the habs could probably garner the best possible return with the thrasher's.
I just don't see another team in the league that could use hackett's service's as much as This club.
could we maybe pry stefan or bartecko from them if we sent hack and petrov or Audette ??
those are the only 2 of interest to me both young winger's with a little size and so far a bit of a dissapointment for atlanta. a change of scenery might do Stefan wonder's.
The Thrashers, last in the NHL standings, may turn to Dafoe if they don't start to get better goaltending from No. 1 starter Milan Hnilicka.
Hnilicka will be on the bench Thursday night when Atlanta plays the Toronto Maple Leafs with backup Pasi Nurminen getting the start. That's because Hnilicka is 0-8-0 with a 4.10 goals-against average and a .883 save percentage.
``We went through the whole summer and we believed Milan was our guy,'' Thrashers general manager Don Waddell said Thursday. ``We've been trying to give him that opportunity. We are aware that Byron Dafoe is out there and we have spoken with him.
``But up until recently, we really didn't think it was the area that we thought we needed to improve on. What it comes down to now is that yes, if we are interested in Byron Dafoe, it comes down to a financial decision because you're going to spend money that you didn't plan on spending.''
While Dafoe, 31, started the summer looking for something around $5 million US a season, he could settle for $3.5 million to $4 million now that most of his opportunities are gone.
Another option for the Thrashers would be veteran Jeff Hackett in Montreal. The Canadiens, especially once Hart Trophy winner Jose Theodore gets back on track, would like to move the 34-year-old Hackett and his $3.6-million salary in order to finally dress No. 3 goalie Mathieu Garon. The 24-year-old can't be sent down to the AHL without clearing waivers - unless it's a conditioning assignment - leaving Montreal with three goalies on its 23-man roster.
``We pay attention to what's going on around the league,'' Waddell said. ``We know that (the Habs) have three goalies and we know they can't carry three goalies forever.''
Both Dafoe and Hackett would appear to fit the bill for the Thrashers, who need an older goaltender to come in and bridge the gab while 2002 first-round pick Kari Lehtonen of Finland takes time to develop.
``If we were going to go in that direction we'd look for a veteran guy who's been there and done it because we just drafted our goalie of the future,'' Waddell said
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Legaspesian posted this partially in the other thread. I think we need to pull the trigger on a deal before the option's become even smaller than they already are Hackett could get the place he want's as a st5arter for the next 2 or 3 season 's down there and the habs could probably garner the best possible return with the thrasher's.
I just don't see another team in the league that could use hackett's service's as much as This club.
could we maybe pry stefan or bartecko from them if we sent hack and petrov or Audette ??
those are the only 2 of interest to me both young winger's with a little size and so far a bit of a dissapointment for atlanta. a change of scenery might do Stefan wonder's.