The short version: the Thrashers have signed tough-guy winger Eric Boulton to a one-year, $650,000 deal. That represents a slight raise over the $600,000 he made last year, a nice pay bump for a 33-year old whose hands do a lot more punching than goal-scoring.
The long version: I find this signing a little confusing. Has Rick Dudley lost count of our forwards? Here's my current count:
Expected in Opening Night Lineup (7): Antropov, Kane, Byfuglien, Peverley, Bergfors, Ladd, Little
Fighting for Remaining Spots (6): White, Slater, Thorburn, Boulton, MacArthur, Eager
Prospects/Potentials (5): Pettersson, Klingberg, Machacek, Cormier, Burmistrov
By my count, the typical 13 forward spots (12 starters plus a scratch) are already taken. We've filled our roster and left no room for a rookie to make the team. Now, we could always scratch two forwards or cut somebody, but it just seems like poor player management at this point.
All of this is to say: I don't expect the Thrashers to stand pat with this set of forwards. It doesn't make any sense at all. There may not be any movement until after training camp, but we're carrying too many veterans up front.
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