Atlanta Thrashers Rumors & News

Dustin Byfuglien may be on the move again. The forward, obtained by the Thrashers in a June trade with Chicago, could move to defense this season, according to general manager Rick Dudley.

The Thrashers signed defenseman Andrey Zubarev to a two-year contract Tuesday. The deal is a two-way contract that will pay Zubarev $625,000 in the NHL and $65,000 in the AHL.

There are budgets to pore over, marketing plans to approve. There are season-ticket holders and sponsors to woo, plus NHL meetings to attend.

Ben Eager’s summer was short. That’s what happens when you play into the month of June en route to winning the Stanley Cup. Still the new Thrashers forward – one of four members of the title-winning Blackhawks to join the franchise this offseason – had enough time off. He joined the many other players that have reported to the team’s practice facility for voluntary workouts in advance of training camp. He is the first of the former Blackhawks to arrive. “It was that time,” Eager told the AJC. “I had been off for a couple months. I like to get back at it early and get back on the ice and get ar...

As promised, here is the update on Nik Antropov leftover from Thursday’s trip to the Thrashers practice facility. Antropov started skating last Tuesday as he recovers from offseason hip surgery. He said he hopes to be ready by the start of training camp next month. “Slowly but surely,” Antropov said of the rehab process after taking part in a voluntary workout on Thursday. “I have been doing rehab all summer, since day one. Last week, for the first time, [I started skating]. “I hope [to be ready by training camp]. Hopefully, yes, but maybe two or three days after. We have to wait and see...

A ton of newsy items from my trip to the Thrashers practice facility Thursday to watch voluntary workout. I won’t bury the lead. According to general manager Rick Dudley, it is a very real possibility that newly acquired Dustin Byfuglien could play defense next season. Here is the part of my interview with the GM on the subject. Q. It appears the defense is close to being set with several players, like Arturs Kulda, competing for final spot. Would that be a fair statement? A. I think Kulda has a chance to challenge for regular duty – as do some other people. A lot of it depends on what we do ...

Boris Valabik is skating and feeling good – and that’s a big deal. The Thrashers defenseman was limited to 23 games last season that started with an ankle injury and ended with a torn ACL in his left knee. “I feel good and I feel confident,” Valabik said last week. “I really hope to stay healthy this year. Enough is enough.” Valabik, the Thrashers first-round pick (No. 10 overall) in 2004, missed the first 16 games of the season after injuring his ankle in training camp. His season abruptly ended in February when he tore his knee ligament in a game at Washington. He knows the importance of the...