2008–09 Atlanta Thrashers
Division
4th Southeast
Conference
13th Eastern
2008–09 record
35-41-6
Home record
18-21-2
Road record
17-20-4
Goals for
257
Goals against
280
Team information
General Manager
Don Waddell
Coach
John Anderson
Captain
Vacant (Oct-Jan)Ilya Kovalchuk (Jan- )
Alternate captains
Colby Armstrong
Niclas Havelid (Oct-Mar)
Ilya Kovalchuk (Oct-Jan)
Vyacheslav Kozlov
Mathieu Schneider (Oct-Feb)
Arena
Philips Arena
Average attendance
Average: 14,535
Capacity: 78.4%
Total: 276,166
Team leaders
Goals
Ilya Kovalchuk (41)
Assists
Todd White (49)
Points
Ilya Kovalchuk (89)
Penalties in minutes
Eric Boulton (163)
Plus/minus
Rich Peverley (+14)
Wins
Kari Lehtonen (18)
Goals against average
Kari Lehtonen (3.09)
The 2008–09 Atlanta Thrashers season is the 9th season of the franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Thrashers will attempt to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2006–07 season.
Regular season [ ]
Divisional standings [ ]
Southeast Division
No.
CR
GP
W
L
OTL
GF
GA
Pts
1
2
Washington Capitals
82
50
24
8
272
245
108
2
6
Carolina Hurricanes
82
45
30
7
239
226
97
3
9
Florida Panthers
82
41
30
11
234
231
93
4
13
Atlanta Thrashers
82
35
41
6
257
280
76
5
14
Tampa Bay Lightning
82
24
40
18
210
279
66
Conference standings [ ]
Eastern Conference
GP
W
L
OTL
GF
GA
Pts
y -Boston Bruins
82
53
19
10
274
196
116
y -Washington Capitals
82
50
24
8
272
245
108
y -New Jersey Devils
82
51
27
4
244
209
106
Pittsburgh Penguins
82
45
28
9
264
239
99
Philadelphia Flyers
82
44
27
11
264
238
99
Carolina Hurricanes
82
45
30
7
239
226
97
New York Rangers
82
43
30
9
210
218
95
Montreal Canadiens
82
41
30
11
249
247
93
Florida Panthers
82
41
30
11
234
231
93
Buffalo Sabres
82
41
32
9
250
234
91
Ottawa Senators
82
36
35
11
217
237
83
Toronto Maple Leafs
82
34
35
13
250
293
81
Atlanta Thrashers
82
35
41
6
257
280
76
Tampa Bay Lightning
82
24
40
18
210
279
66
New York Islanders
82
26
47
9
201
279
61
bold - qualified for playoffs, y - division winner
Game log [ ]
Green background indicates win (2 points).
Red background indicates regulation loss (0 points).
White background indicates overtime/shootout loss (1 point).
2008–09 Game Log
[hide]Preseason: 1–5–0 (Home: 0–3–0 ; Road: 1–2–0)
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
September 25
Atlanta
4 - 2
Nashville
Pavelec
10,558
September 26
Atlanta
4 - 9
St. Louis
Hedberg
12,526
September 28
Atlanta
0 - 4
Detroit
Lehtonen
17,714
October 1
Detroit
4 - 1
Atlanta
Lehtonen
10,817
October 3
Nashville
6 - 4
Atlanta
Hedberg
6,753
October 4
St. Louis
4 - 1
Atlanta
Lehtonen
7,648
[hide]October: 2–6–2 (Home: 2–3–0 ; Road: 0–3–2)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
1
October 10
Washington
4 - 7
Atlanta
Lehtonen
18,545
1-0-0
2
2
October 11
Atlanta
2 - 3
Florida
OT
Lehtonen
17,085
1-0-1
3
3
October 14
Minnesota
4 - 2
Atlanta
Lehtonen
11,843
1-1-1
3
4
October 16
New Jersey
1 - 0
Atlanta
Lehtonen
11,293
1-2-1
3
5
October 18
Buffalo
2 - 3
Atlanta
SO
Lehtonen
14,091
2-2-1
5
6
October 21
Atlanta
2 - 3
Tampa Bay
OT
Lehtonen
13,922
2-2-2
6
7
October 24
Atlanta
3 - 5
Detroit
Lehtonen
20,066
2-3-2
6
8
October 25
Atlanta
4 - 5
Boston
Hedberg
16,044
2-4-2
6
9
October 28
Philadelphia
7 - 0
Atlanta
Lehtonen
13,207
3-5-2
6
10
October 30
Atlanta
2 - 3
NY Rangers
Lehtonen
18,200
2-6-2
6
[hide]November: 6–6–1 (Home: 3–3–1 ; Road: 3–3–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
11
November 1
Atlanta
1 - 5
New Jersey
Hedberg
14,958
2-7-2
6
12
November 2
Florida
3 - 5
Atlanta
Pavelec
10,584
3-7-2
8
13
November 6
NY Islanders
3 - 4
Atlanta
Pavelec
14,122
4-7-2
10
14
November 7
Atlanta
5 - 4
Buffalo
OT
Hedberg
18,466
5-7-2
12
15
November 9
Atlanta
5 - 2
Carolina
Hedberg
12,398
6-7-2
14
16
November 14
Carolina
3 - 2
Atlanta
Hedberg
16,128
7-7-2
16
17
November 16
Atlanta
3 - 4
Philadelphia
Hedberg
19,437
7-8-2
16
18
November 20
Pittsburgh
3 - 2
Atlanta
Pavelec
13,391
7-9-2
16
19
November 22
Columbus
2 - 0
Atlanta
Pavelec
15,561
7-10-2
16
20
November 25
Atlanta
6 - 3
Toronto
Hedberg
19,297
8-10-2
18
21
November 26
Atlanta
3 - 5
Washington
Pavelec
18,277
8-11-2
18
22
November 28
Nashville
4 - 3
Atlanta
OT
Hedberg
15,022
8-11-3
19
23
November 30
St. Louis
4 - 2
Atlanta
Pavelec
14,078
8-12-3
19
[hide]December: 4–9–2 (Home: 1–5–1 ; Road: 3–4–1)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
24
December 2
Atlanta
4 - 5
Canadiens
Hedberg
21,273
8-13-3
19
25
December 3
Atlanta
1 - 5
Ottawa
Pavelec
17,215
8-14-3
19
26
December 6
Atlanta
5 - 1
NY Islanders
Hedberg
14,174
9-14-3
21
27
December 10
NY Rangers
3 - 2
Atlanta
OT
Hedberg
13,704
9-14-4
22
28
December 12
Boston
7 - 3
Atlanta
Hedberg
15,818
9-15-4
22
29
December 13
Atlanta
2 - 4
Boston
Hedberg
17,565
9-16-4
22
30
December 16
Atlanta
4 - 1
Ottawa
Pavelec
18,746
10-16-4
24
31
December 18
Pittsburgh
6 - 3
Atlanta
Pavelec
15,124
10-17-4
24
32
December 20
Tampa Bay
3 - 4
Atlanta
Lehtonen
14,395
11-17-4
26
33
December 22
Toronto
6 - 2
Atlanta
Lehtonen
16,413
11-18-4
26
34
December 23
Atlanta
4 - 2
NY Islanders
Hedberg
14,227
12-18-4
28
35
December 26
Carolina
5 - 4
Atlanta
Hedberg
16,012
12-19-4
28
36
December 28
Boston
2 - 1
Atlanta
Lehtonen
16,835
12-20-4
28
37
December 30
Atlanta
3 - 4
Toronto
OT
Hedberg
19,260
12-20-5
29
38
December 31
Atlanta
1 - 3
Carolina
Lehtonen
18,137
12-21-5
29
[hide]January: 5-8–0 (Home: 3-3–0 ; Road: 2–5–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
39
January 2
Vancouver
3 - 4
Atlanta
SO
Lehtonen
14,902
13-21-5
31
40
January 4
Tampa Bay
4 - 1
Atlanta
Lehtonen
10,750
13-22-5
31
41
January 6
Atlanta
1 - 3
Pittsburgh
Lehtonen
16,975
13-23-5
31
42
January 8
Atlanta
4 - 0
New Jersey
Lehtonen
16,489
14-23-5
33
43
January 10
Atlanta
4 - 8
Florida
Lehtonen
14,323
14-24-5
33
44
January 14
Ottawa
2 - 3
Atlanta
Lehtonen
14,163
14-25-5
33
45
January 16
Toronto
4 - 3
Atlanta
OT
Lehtonen
15,619
15-25-5
35
46
January 17
Atlanta
7 - 2
Nashville
Lehtonen
17,113
16-25-5
37
47
January 20
Montreal
4 - 2
Atlanta
Lehtonen
13,076
17-25-5
39
48
January 21
Atlanta
3 - 5
Philadelphia
Lehtonen
19,766
17-26-5
39
49
January 27
Atlanta
0 - 2
Dallas
Lehtonen
16,726
17-27-5
39
50
January 29
NY Islanders
4 - 5
Atlanta
Hedberg
15,200
17-28-5
39
51
January 31
Atlanta
0 - 2
Carolina
Lehtonen
16,215
17-29-5
39
[hide]February: 6–5–1 (Home: 2–3–0 ; Road: 4–2–1)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
52
February 3
Atlanta
2 - 1
NY Rangers
Lehtonen
18,200
18-29-5
41
53
February 6
New Jersey
1 - 5
Atlanta
Lehtonen
17,069
18-30-5
41
54
February 8
Philadelphia
2 - 3
Atlanta
Hedberg
14,175
18-31-5
41
55
February 10
Atlanta
3 - 1
Tampa Bay
Lehtonen
13,490
19-31-5
43
56
February 11
Chicago
1 - 3
Atlanta
Lehtonen
14,029
19-32-5
43
57
February 15
Atlanta
8 - 4
Anaheim
Lehtonen
17,228
20-32-5
45
58
February 16
Atlanta
7 - 6
Los Angeles
SO
Hedberg
18,118
21-32-5
47
59
February 19
Atlanta
3 - 4
Phoenix
SO
Lehtonen
15,341
21-32-6
48
60
February 21
Atlanta
1 - 3
San Jose
Lehtonen
17,496
21-33-6
48
61
February 24
Colorado
4 - 3
Atlanta
Lehtonen
12,101
22-33-6
50
62
February 26
Atlanta
3 - 4
Washington
Lehtonen
18,277
22-34-6
50
63
February 28
Carolina
5 - 3
Atlanta
Lehtonen
17,796
23-34-6
52
[hide]March: 9–4–0 (Home: 5–2–0 ; Road: 4–2–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
64
March 3
Florida
3 - 4
Atlanta
Lehtonen
10,329
23-35-6
52
65
March 6
Montreal
2 - 0
Atlanta
Lehtonen
14,813
24-35-6
54
66
March 8
Calgary
5 - 2
Atlanta
Lehtonen
13,469
25-35-6
56
67
March 10
Atlanta
3 - 0
Colorado
Lehtonen
13,608
26-35-6
58
68
March 12
Atlanta
4 - 3
Edmonton
OT
Hedberg
16,389
27-35-6
60
69
March 14
Atlanta
4 -3
Buffalo
SO
Hedberg
18,690
28-35-6
62
70
March 16
Washington
5 - 1
Atlanta
Lehtonen
13,336
29-35-6
64
71
March 17
Atlanta
2 - 6
Pittsburgh
Hedberg
17,088
29-36-6
64
72
March 20
Detroit
3 - 6
Atlanta
Lehtonen
18,545
29-37-6
64
73
March 21
Atlanta
4 - 3
Tampa Bay
SO
Hedberg
15,391
30-37-6
66
74
March 24
Atlanta
3 - 6
Montreal
Lehtonen
21,273
30-38-6
66
75
March 26
NY Rangers
5 - 4
Atlanta
SO
Hedberg
13,157
31-38-6
68
76
March 28
Ottawa
6 - 3
Atlanta
Hedberg
17,053
32-38-6
70
[hide]April: 3–3–0 (Home: 2–2–0 ; Road: 1–1–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
77
April 1
Buffalo
2 - 3
Atlanta
OT
Hedberg
15,038
33-38-6
72
78
April 3
Atlanta
3 - 1
Florida
Hedberg
15,945
34-38-6
74
79
April 5
Atlanta
4 - 6
Washington
Hedberg
18,277
34-39-6
74
80
April 7
Washington
4 - 2
Atlanta
Pavelec
16,027
34-40-6
74
81
April 9
Florida
3 - 2
Atlanta
Hedberg
15,738
34-41-6
74
82
April 11
Tampa Bay
2 - 6
Atlanta
Lehtonen
17,122
35-41-6
76
Record vs. Opponents [ ]
Team
Points
Record
New Jersey*
106
1–3–0
NY Islanders
61
3–1–0
NY Rangers
95
2–1–1
Philadelphia
99
0–4–0
Pittsburgh
99
0–4–0
Boston *
116
0–4–0
Buffalo
91
4–0–0
Montreal
93
2–2–0
Ottawa
83
2–2–0
Toronto
81
2–1–1
Carolina
97
3–3–0
Florida
93
2–3–1
Tampa Bay
66
4–1–1
Washington *
108
2–4–0
Chicago
104
0–1–0
Columbus
92
0–1–0
Detroit *
112
0–2–0
Nashville
88
1–0–1
St. Louis
92
0–1–0
Calgary
98
1–0–0
Colorado
69
2–0–0
Edmonton
85
1–0–0
Minnesota
89
0–1–0
Vancouver *
100
1–0–0
Anaheim
91
1–0–0
Dallas
83
0–1–0
Los Angeles
79
1–0–0
Phoenix
79
0–0–1
San Jose *
117
0–1–0
Notes: * denotes division winner; teams in bold are in the Southeast Division; teams in italics qualified for the playoffs; points refer to the points achieved by the team whom the Thrashers played against
Playoffs [ ]
The Atlanta Thrashers failed to qualify for the 2009 NHL Playoffs.
Player stats [ ]
Skaters [ ]
Regular season
Player
GP
G
A
Pts
+/−
PIM
Ilya Kovalchuk
79
43
48
91
-12
50
Vyacheslav Kozlov
82
26
50
76
-14
44
Todd White
82
22
51
73
-9
24
Bryan Little
79
31
20
51
-5
24
Colby Armstrong
82
22
18
40
+5
75
Ron Hainsey
81
6
33
39
-16
32
Rich Peverley†
39
13
22
35
+16
18
Tobias Enstrom
82
5
27
32
+14
52
Marty Reasoner
79
14
16
30
+11
36
Eric Perrin
78
7
16
23
-2
36
Erik Christensen‡
47
5
14
19
-7
14
Zach Bogosian
47
9
10
19
+11
47
Jason Williams‡
41
7
11
18
-9
8
Jim Slater
60
8
10
18
0
52
Niclas Havelid‡
63
2
13
15
+4
42
Mathieu Schneider‡
44
4
11
15
-10
50
Chris Thorburn
82
7
8
15
-10
104
Eric Boulton
76
3
10
13
-3
176
Nathan Oystrick
53
4
8
12
-2
50
Joseph Crabb
29
4
5
9
-2
28
Colin Stuart
33
5
3
8
+3
18
Garnet Exelby
59
0
7
7
-2
120
Boris Valabik
50
0
5
5
-14
132
Anssi Salmela†
9
1
2
3
0
2
Joe Motzko
6
1
0
1
+1
0
Brett Sterling
6
1
0
1
-3
2
Scott Lehman
1
0
0
0
0
0
Clay Wilson†
2
0
0
0
-1
0
Jordan LaVallee
2
0
0
0
-1
0
Grant Lewis
1
0
0
0
0
0
Spencer Machacek
2
0
0
0
0
0
Goaltenders [ ]
Regular season
Player
GP
Min
W
L
OT
GA
GAA
SA
SV
Sv%
SO
Kari Lehtonen
46
2624
19
22
3
134
3.06
1498
1364
.911
3
Johan Hedberg
33
1716
13
12
3
100
3.49
875
775
.886
0
Ondrej Pavelec
12
599
3
7
0
36
3.60
301
265
.880
0
† Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Thrashers. Stats reflect season totals.
‡ Traded mid-season
underline/italics denotes franchise record
Note:
Pos = Position; GP = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;
Awards and records [ ]
Records [ ]
Milestones [ ]
Regular Season
Player
Milestone
Reached
Zach Bogosian
1st NHL Game
October 10, 2008
Colby Armstrong
200th NHL Game
October 10, 2008
Garnet Exelby
300th NHL Game
October 11, 2008
Nathan Oystrick
1st NHL Game
October 14, 2008
Mathieu Schneider
1,200th NHL Game
October 14, 2008
Jason Williams
300th NHL Game
October 16, 2008
Todd White
500th NHL Game
November 2, 2008
Bryan Little
1st NHL Hat Trick
December 26, 2008
Kari Lehtonen
200th NHL Game
March 16, 2009
Eric Perrin
100 NHL Point
March 24, 2009
Transactions [ ]
Trades [ ]
Date
Details
September 26, 2008
To Anaheim Ducks----
Ken Klee
Brad Larsen
Chad Painchaud
To Atlanta Thrashers----
Mathieu Schneider
January 13, 2008
To New York Islanders----
Junior Lessard
To Atlanta Thrashers----
Brett Skinner
January 14, 2008
To Columbus Blue Jackets----
Jason Williams
To Atlanta Thrashers----
Clay Wilson
2009 6th round draft pick
February 16, 2008
To Montreal Canadiens----
Mathieu Schneider
2009 conditional draft pick
To Atlanta Thrashers----
2009 2nd round draft pick
2010 3rd round draft pick
March 2, 2008
To New Jersey Devils----
Niclas Havelid
Myles Stoesz
To Atlanta Thrashers----
Anssi Salmela
Free Agents [ ]
Player
Former team
Contract Terms
Player
New team
Bobby Holik
New Jersey Devils
Mark Recchi[1]
Tampa Bay Lightning
Jason Krog
Vancouver Canucks
Claimed from waivers [ ]
Player
Former team
Date claimed off waivers
Rich Peverley
Nashville Predators
January 10, 2009
Roster [ ]
#
Nat
Player
Pos
S/G
Age
Acquired
Birthplace
20
Canada
Colby Armstrong (A )
RW
R
27
2008
Lloydminster, Saskatchewan
4
United States
Zach Bogosian
D
R
20
2008
Massena, New York
36
Canada
Eric Boulton
LW
L
34
2005
Halifax, Nova Scotia
39
Sweden
Tobias Enstrom
D
L
25
2003
Nordingrå, Sweden
2
Canada
Garnet Exelby
D
L
29
1999
Ste. Anne, Manitoba
6
United States
Ron Hainsey
D
L
29
2008
Bolton, Connecticut
1
Sweden
Johan Hedberg
G
L
37
2006
Leksand, Sweden
17
Russia
Ilya Kovalchuk (C )
LW
R
27
2001
Tver, U.S.S.R.
13
Russia
Vyacheslav Kozlov (A )
LW
L
38
2002
Voskresensk, U.S.S.R.
32
Finland
Kari Lehtonen
G
L
26
2002
Helsinki, Finland
38
United States
Grant Lewis
D
R
25
2004
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
10
USA
Brian Little
C
R
22
2006
Edmonton, Alberta
7
Canada
Nathan Oystrick
D
L
27
2002
Regina, Saskatchewan
11
Canada
Eric Perrin
C
L
34
2007
Laval, Quebec
47
Canada
Rich Peverley
C
R
28
2008
Guelph, Ontario
19
United States
Marty Reasoner
C
L
33
2008
Honeoye Falls, New York
23
United States
Jim Slater
C
L
27
2002
Petoskey, Michigan
49
United States
Colin Stuart
LW
L
28
2001
Rochester, Minnesota
30
Canada
Dan Turple
G
L
25
2004
Oakville, Ontario
27
Canada
Chris Thorburn
C
R
27
2007
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
49
Slovakia
Boris Valabik
D
L
24
2004
Nitra, Czechoslovakia
12
Canada
Todd White
C
L
35
2007
Kanata, Ontario
Draft picks [ ]
Atlanta's picks at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa • Ontario.
Round
#
Player
Position
Nationality
College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1
3
Zach Bogosian
(D)
United States
Peterborough Petes (OHL)
1
29 (from Pittsburgh)
Daultan Leveille
(C)
Canada
St. Catharines Falcons (GOJHL)
3
64
Danick Hudon-Paquette
(RW)
Canada
Lewiston Maineiacs (QMJHL)
4
94
Vinny Saponari
(RW)
United States
US National Team Development Program U-18
5
124
Nicklas Lasu
(LW)
Sweden
Frölunda HC (Sweden Jr.)
6
154
Christopher Carrozzi
(G)
Canada
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors (OHL)
7
184
Zach Redmond
(D)
United States
Ferris State University (CCHA)