Stanley Cups: 0

2008-'09 record: 35-41-6, 76 points (4th in Southeast, 13th in East)

2008-'09 playoffs: Did not qualify

General manager: Don Waddell (272-357-70, 9th NHL year, 1st team)

Coach: John Anderson (35-41-6, 2nd NHL year, 1st team)

Captain: Ilya Kovalchuk

Top returning scorer: LW Ilya Kovalchuk (43 goals, 48 assists, 91 points)

Top returning goalie: Kari Lehtonen (19-22-1, 3.06, .911)

Key additions: D Pavel Kubina; C Nik Antropov; C Jason Krog; D Noah Welch; RW; RW Tim Stapleton; LW Josh Gratton.

Key subtractions: D Garnett Exelby; LW Colin Stuart; D Clay Wilson; C Eric Perrin; RW Joe Motzko.

Top line: LW Ilya Kovalchuk, C Nik Antropov; RW Bryan Little

Top defensive pairing: Pavel Kubina, Zach Bogosian

Goaltending: Injury-prone Lehtonen missed 21 games following a November back injury and six of the last seven games of the season with a suspected concussion. Did rebound strongly to pace the Thrashers’ second-half surge. Hybrid butterfly netminder can fill net with size and cover bottom half effectively with quick, long legs. Does tend to play back in his net and get himself into trouble by committing too early on shots

Player to watch: C Evander Kane. Top draft pick in 2009 is named after former heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield, and also isn’t afraid to mix it up. Determined competitor figures to start in a checking role and work his way up the forward ladder as he gets his feet wet in the NHL. Still needs some work on his skating, but is a deadly finisher with outstanding hand-eye co-ordination.

Icing: The offense still flows through Kovalchuk, who became captain on Jan. 11. That fueled his second-half run that produced 31 goals in the final 41 games. He was sixth in the NHL with 91 points, including 43 goals, in 79 games. Kovalchuk is the only NHL player with at least 40 goals in the past five seasons. Bryan Little has been a great addition to the offensive mix. The No. 12 pick in the 2006 draft scored 31 goals last season, his second in the NHL. Rookie D Zach Bogosian bounced back from a broken leg that forced him to miss 10 weeks of his rookie season. He recorded points in 10 of his final 16 games, netting six goals and 11 points.

Outlook: Finished last season on a 16-9-1 run, too late to make playoffs, but enough to create some optimism heading into this season. They’ll score plenty, but probably can’t defend enough to qualify for postseason play.

Prediction: 86 points, 3rd in Southeast, 11th seed in East

NHL TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS Teams listed in predicted order of finish; x-playoff team ATLANTIC x-Penguins x-Flyers x-Devils x-Rangers Islanders Vote: Winner? CENTRAL x-Red Wings x-Blackhawks x-Blue Jackets x-Blues Predators Vote: Winner? NORTHEAST x-Bruins x-Canadiens Sabres Maple Leafs Senators Vote: Winner? NORTHWEST x-Flames x-Canucks Oilers Wild Avalanche Vote: Winner? SOUTHEAST x-Capitals x-Hurricanes Thrashers Panthers Lightning Vote: Winner? PACIFIC x-Sharks x-Ducks Stars Kings Coyotes Vote: Winner?

MORE FROM NHL

NHL Section Front

Yzerman set to add Hall of Fame to list of feats Hockey hall throws open doors to Lamoriello Minor league defenseman released from hospital Sharks blank Penguins Ward suffers ‘significant injury’ in 'Canes loss Wings' Williams suffers fractured right fibula Breaking down the perfect NHL player Live odds Matchups/Injuries Vote: Who will win the Stanley Cup? NHL Section Front   Add NHL headlines to your news reader: