2009 NHL Free Agency: Thrashers sign Antropov

by The Falconer on Jul 2, 2009 12:02 PM EDT Comment 16 comments

I was busy working on my Chris Thorburn post and nearly missed this one.

I'll have more details and analysis later.

Quick hits:

Adds size and skill at center position. Probably pushes Peverley to wing next season.(Team depth is looking so much better than last season.)
Russian, probably plays with Kovalchuk.
Has had trouble staying healthy in the past.

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I like the signing but I figured Antropov might be better at the wing. He is horrible at taking face offs and if he plays center someone on the wing is going to have to take them for him.

by Zontar on Jul 2, 2009 12:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good move

I personally like this move by the Thrashers. Adds alot of size, some speed, and a good scoring touch. He was great for the Rangers when we had him, wish Sather could’ve gotten him back. And you also got him for like 1-1.5 million less than he was demanding. First line for you guys will be pretty nasty.

by rmc235 on Jul 2, 2009 12:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nik is going to be hugely overpaid, but until this team is a winner, how else can DW lure UFAs to Atlanta?

by silverpork on Jul 2, 2009 12:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

$4 is cheap for 1st line talent, a little much for 2nd line talent. Antropov probably falls somewhere in between. I’m OK with the amount and the term. I figured Antropov would end up getting $4.5-5.0 for 5 years which would scare me off.

I wonder if playing with Kovalchuk was a big factor. It wouldn’t shock me if Kovy was recruiting him to come here.

by The Falconer on Jul 2, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The reports that Kovy had a hand in this are huge (if they are true). If this is something that helps Kovy feel like we’re heading in the right direction, then I love it regardless of the term or the amount.

by silverpork on Jul 2, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

From everything I’ve heard (and I’ve had my ear to the ground on the Kovy situation) he likes Atlanta and wants to win here. As long as the team appears serious about fielding a solid team he is inclined to stay.

by The Falconer on Jul 2, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is all

great, wonderful, fantastic news. Anyone care to make a 1st line prediction?

SuperStar Fred McGriff gives this post his "full endorsahment"!

by Molly Flogger on Jul 2, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually he’s from Kazakhstan. They didn’t break away from Russia in 1991 for nothing!

But on a more serious note, Antro adds some huge size to Atlanta. He is also a notorious Penguin killer so my boys will definitely be on guard when Atlanta comes to town next season. And hey, at least the Atlanta front office was able to talk him down from his $5 mill + that he threw out in Rangers country.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Jul 2, 2009 12:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Combination brewing?

Kovy played with Antro during the lockout

by rmc235 on Jul 2, 2009 12:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Andy Strickland: Antropov Deal is worth closer to $16.4 mil. Kovalchuk played a role in getting this done.

by rmc235 on Jul 2, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My happiness with the team right now is huge. They have cut dead-weight and added quality players. I don’t know if this new focus on not stinking so much was a product of last season’s horrid attendance, uncertainy over how to spend the Hawks playoof money or simply because we needed to act as a sign of committment for Kovy…but boy is it nice to see them taking action like this.

by godsendjen on Jul 2, 2009 1:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Whatever the process, the news is great!!

If Kovy had a hand in getting Antropov, that is fine. If we got him for 4 mill a year, even better. With Antropov and Kubina, we are definitely better either way!! I am happy with these two acquisitions. Sorry to lose Colin Stuart, but if we get rid of Exelby, who was hurting our defense, and that is who we have to give up to get a quality defenseman, then I am for that trade. I knew that if we got a top 4 d-man, that we were going to have to give up at least one good player such as a forward prospect; Burke is no dummy. In the spring, some of the bloggers were hoping we would get Antropov or Afinogenov from Buffalo. I am glad it was Antropov as he had better numbers, and did contribute the same or more for the Rangers. Since the Trashers are not going after a goalie now, as I doubt they have enough money to go outside of their budget for another goalie, I hope we get at least one more good pk or defensive forward. Like Falconer said, Belanger would not be bad to get, but would he come back here?

On another front, I know Heatly and Hossa would not even think of coming back here and now that Hossa is signed with Chicago, would anyone even entertain the thought of wanting them back? My answer is no! As great a goal scorer each of them are, their actions reinforce how self-serving each of them are. Glad we still have Kovalchuk and got rid of the two of them or traded them or let them go in Free Agency. So glad!!

by BTF on Jul 2, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If this team can get into the playoff in the spring of 2010, Atlanta might become an “attractive” destination during the Summer of 2010 and then the team might be in a position to make a bid for some top talent (ownership resolution might could perhaps lead to a bigger budget).

by The Falconer on Jul 2, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m very happy about this move. Surprised they let loose the purse strings a bit. I wonder what will happen with our surplus of goaltenders. I’m all for having insurance in case of injuries, but do we need two talented young goalies? I really, really like the way the team is rounding out (no, Kari. I don’t mean you — zing!). October can’t come soon enough.

by fatschoonerrat on Jul 2, 2009 2:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

BTW, Falconer, it looks like DW was reading your posts. Lots of big players in the peaks of their careers. Antro is what 28?

So far this offseason exceeds my expectations (which were not very high). I think Antropov > Knuble, whom a lot of people were rooting for. Kubina >= just about any of the available defensemen we had a shot at signing. Plus, he has a lot of skill, which JA’s style demands.

Too bad we have to wait for another 3 1/2 months to see how this team looks on the ice.

by fatschoonerrat on Jul 2, 2009 2:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

At least somebody has been telling him about what I write. Both he and Dan Marr went out of their way to stress that they didn’t avoid small players which was one of my strategies.

by The Falconer on Jul 2, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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