Atlanta Thrashers forward Nik Antropov has been named the 2009-10 Most Valuable Player. He was presented the award following tonight’s season finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Philips Arena. Fans had the opportunity to vote for any player via online from March 17 to April 2, and one voter was randomly selected to present the award.
Antropov, 30, tallied 67 points (24 goals, 43 assists) in 76 games during his first season in Atlanta. He set new career-highs in points and assists and recorded at least 20 goals and 30 assists for the third consecutive season.
The 6-6, 240-pound center led the team with a plus-13 rating and notched eight power play goals. Antropov ranked second on the team with four game-winning goals and recorded 21 multiple-point games.
The Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan native has tallied 371 points (156 goals, 215 assists) in 10 career NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Atlanta Thrashers.
Atlanta Thrashers forward Jim Slater was honored tonight as the winner of the 2009-10 Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy, given annually to the Thrashers player who best embodies perseverance, dedication and hard work without reward or recognition, so that his teammates might succeed.
The trophy was presented in a special on-ice ceremony prior to tonight’s regular-season finale by the Snyder family, which included Dan’s father, Graham, brother, Jake, sister-in-law, Dawn, and nephew, Reed. Named in honor of former Thrasher Dan Snyder, the trophy has been awarded each season since 2003-04. Previous winners include Colby Armstrong (2009), Eric Perrin (2008), Vyacheslav Kozlov (2007), Niclas Havelid (2006) and Garnet Exelby (2004).
Slater has posted 18 points (11 goals, seven assists) in 60 games this season. He set a new career high in goals (11) on March 27 at Carolina, breaking the mark of 10 established during his rookie season in 2005-06. The 6-0, 200-pound center appeared in his 300th career NHL game on Jan. 16 at Carolina, and tied his career high of two points on four occasions this season: Jan. 5 at Pittsburgh, Jan. 16 at Carolina, Jan. 28 at Philadelphia and March 18 vs. Ottawa. His 58.8-percent faceoff winning percentage currently places him fifth among league forwards (minimum 300 draws taken).
Slater was selected by the Thrashers in the first round, 30th overall, of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
The Atlanta Thrashers have numerous activities planned as part of Fan Appreciation Night before and after the season finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, April 10 at Philips Arena (7 p.m.). The night’s festivities include special award presentations, including the post-game “Jerseys Off Our Backs” ceremony and 7th Fan Award presentation.
The Thrashers also have the following events planned surrounding the game:
Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy: The annual award will be presented in a special on-ice ceremony prior to the game. The award is named in honor of former Thrasher Dan Snyder, and is given annually to the team’s player who best embodies perseverance, dedication and hard work without reward or recognition, so that his teammates might succeed. The award will be presented by members of the Snyder family.
Thrashers MVP: Thrashers fans had the opportunity to vote for any player on the team roster online or via text message from March 17 to April 2. The winner will be announced in a special post-game ceremony on Saturday night and one voter will be randomly chosen to present the award.
Jerseys Off Our Backs: Several lucky fans will have the opportunity to receive game-worn Thrashers jerseys immediately following the game on Saturday night. A special on-ice ceremony will give winners a chance to interact with their favorite Thrashers as they autograph and hand over their jerseys.
7th Fan Award: This annual award is given to the team’s most outstanding fan throughout the season. Based on essays that fans submitted, one winner was chosen and given tickets to the game on Saturday night, a behind-the-scenes tour of Philips Arena, a photo marking their accomplishment that will hang inside Philips Arena throughout the 2010-11 season and they will also be awarded with the first choice in the “Jerseys Off Our Backs” ceremony.
The Atlanta Thrashers have recalled defenseman Arturs Kulda from the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell.
Kulda, 21, will be making his second appearance with Atlanta this season as he was called up on Feb. 11, 2010 and made his NHL debut the following night at Minnesota. He recorded his first career-point with an assist in a Feb. 13 shootout loss at Chicago and was reassigned to the Wolves before the NHL Olympic break. He finished with one assist in two games and a plus-one rating.
Kulda has appeared in 66 games this season with Chicago, posting 25 points (six goals, 19 assists) and a plus-46 rating which is good for second in the league. The 6-2, 210-pound defenseman has set new career-highs in all three scoring categories this season. He has tallied a season-high two points three times: Nov. 4 at Milwaukee (one goal, one assist), Jan. 10 vs. Toronto (two assists) and March 3 at Toronto (one goal, one assist). He earned a career-high plus-six rating in a 7-1 win on Oct. 24 vs. Abbotsford.
The Riga, Latvia, native has recorded 41 points (seven goals, 34 assists) and a plus-57 rating in 128 career regular season games with the Wolves. He also appeared in 22 post-season games with Chicago following the completion of his junior season in 2007-08, registering six points (one goal, five assists) and helping the Wolves capture the 2008 Calder Cup.
Prior to his professional career, Kulda posted 45 points (nine goals, 36 assists) in 113 career games with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League from 2006 to 2008. He played for his native Latvia in the 2006 World Junior Championships, tallying one assist in six games.
Kulda was selected by the Thrashers in the seventh round, 200th overall, of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
The Atlanta Thrashers have reassigned defenseman Chris Chelios and forward Tim Stapleton to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell.
Chelios, 48, appeared in seven games with the Thrashers after being recalled on March 10. Prior to the recall the Chicago, Ill., native appeared in 46 games with the Chicago Wolves, recording 22 points (five goals, 17 assists) while ranking fourth in the league with a plus-34 rating.
In his 26-year NHL career, the 6-0, 190-pound defenseman ranks fourth in games played (1,651), is eighth in all-time assists by a defenseman (763), and ranks 10th among defensemen in points (948). Among American-born players, he ranks first in games played, second in plus/minus (plus-352) , and third in points by a defenseman.
Stapleton was recalled by the Thrashers on March 26 and appeared in six games, scoring two goals and earning a plus-one rating. The 5-9, 160-pound right wing has also has registered 58 points (29 goals, 29 assists) in 71 games with Chicago this season. At the time of his recall, Stapleton had set a new career high in goals, while ranking eighth in the league and second on the club. He led the Wolves with three shorthanded goals, ranked second in points and plus/minus rating (plus-24), and was third in assists.
The La Grange, Ill., native made his NHL debut during the 2008-09 season, scoring one goal in four games with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 150 career AHL games with Portland, Toronto and Chicago he has posted 142 points (57 goals, 85 assists).
Atlanta Thrashers forward Colby Armstrong has been suspended for two games, without pay, for using his elbow to deliver a blow to the head of Washington Capitals forward Mathieu Perreault in NHL game #1152 last night.
Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Armstrong will forfeit $24,870.47. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Armstrong was assessed no penalty for the hit, which occurred 12:40 into the second period. Perreault was injured on the play but returned later in the game.
Armstrong will miss Saturday’s game at Pittsburgh and Tuesday’s home game vs. New Jersey. He will be eligible to return April 9 at Washington.
Eric Boulton hopes to be sitting in the penalty box at some point during this week’s road trip to Toronto, Washington and Pittsburgh.
That would mean two things: He’s in the lineup and that he’s doing his job getting involved in the game, making things happen and watching his teammates backs.
While he’s watched his teammates plenty the last couple of games it’s been from a different box — the press box, a feeling of powerlessness for a powerful guy and one that’s especially hurtful with Atlanta scratching and clawing its way into the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference.
Yet any personal hurt isn’t evident from watching Boulton in practice and morning skates. He goes full tilt, skating hard to the whistle, kibitzing with teammates between drills, then, staying late and working some more.
“He is constantly working on his game around the net and on his shot and he’s a good person for me,” said Head Coach John Anderson. “I try to give him as much as I can to teach him and he at least tries the things that I’ve asked him. When you have a player that’s coachable that makes it a lot easier on the coach. Believe me.”
It’s not hard to believe. Boulton’s not some kid making his first trip around the block. The 33-year-old left wing is finishing his ninth NHL season. He knows every block of every neighborhood and has met the muscle hanging out on each corner.
“That’s my job since I broke into the league,” said Boulton, originally a ninth-round pick of the New York Rangers in 1994, who played four years in Buffalo (2000-2004) before signing with Atlanta as a free agent in the summer following the lockout. “It’s to stick up for your guys and let them know that you are there for them so they can play a little more on edge. Make sure the guys know that no one’s going to take liberties on them and if they do.”
Nobody’s done it like Boulton, who with a five-minute fighting major at 3:49 of the first period on March 20 against Philadelphia (and Ian Laperriere), recorded his 536th penalty minute, passing Jeff Odgers to become the franchise leaded in penalty minutes.
While time in the penalty box isn’t usually something be taken lightly, doing it more than anyone else in team history is.
“It’s always fun to be a franchise leader in something,” said Boulton, with a laugh. “For me it’s penalty minutes. It’s nice to be up there with Jeff Odgers.”
Boulton spoke in glowing terms of Odgers, who played with the Thrashers from 2000 through 2003.
“‘Odgie’ was an old-school tough guy, no holds barred, never backed down from a fight,” said the 6-1, 225-pound Boulton, who never got into it with the 5-11, 200-pound Odgers. “He would stand in there and just chuck ‘em with the biggest guys. He was definitely an entertaining fighter. Definitely was an old-school fighter that was tough as nails.”
No one questions Boulton’s toughness — a smart move — or his ability and desire to play the game.
“He’s the ultimate team guy,” said Chris Thorburn. “On the ice, he’s out there to pretty much protect a lot of guys, skilled guys especially. Not only that, he brings skill, which you don’t often see from tough guys, if you want to label him as that. I’ve been playing with him for three years now and he definitely makes plays ones you wouldn’t expect from a guy slotted in that kind of role.”
Making plays isn’t as important to Boulton as protecting the guys who are expected to make them.
“For guys like me, it’s more of skating, creating stuff on the forecheck and being sound defensively,” he said. “I’m never going to score 20 goals. I’m just going out there to do my job as an enforcer and make sure I bring the energy to the locker room and on the ice.”
He certainly brings that.
“He’s the kind of guy that keeps the dressing room light, makes jokes, everyone laughs at him — even though his jokes aren’t funny at times,” said Thorburn, his roommate on the road. “But he’s great to have in the room, especially when it comes to important games where the guys might be a little tense.”
Boulton is as good lightening the mood outside of Philips Arena, as he’s a fixture on trips to children’s hospitals and other places around the Atlanta area. Such efforts led to his sharing the Gilner-Reeves Award for community service last season, an award he modestly shrugs off.
I’m never going to score 20 goals. I’m just going out there to do my job as an enforcer and make sure I bring the energy to the locker room and on the ice – Eric Boulton
“I think it’s part of everyone’s job to give back to the community,” he said. “We’re very fortunate to play in the NHL and be in a great city like Atlanta. Me and my family have made a home here. So whenever I get a chance to help the Thrashers out or help charities out, the kids, whenever I can help out like that I”m more than willing to do that.
“I’m very fortunate to have four healthy kids,” he continued. “Those kids that are stuck in the hospital for that long, they’re warriors. They’ve got a good set-up at the hospital now with the Garth Brooks Foundation. Any time you can go and put a smile on their face for a few minutes and hang out with them, and let them know you’re a regular dude, they like that.”
Next season will be Boulton’s 10th in the NHL, but he’s not counting down the days on his career.
“I’ll just take it season by season and try to play as long as I can,” he said. “Age isn’t a huge factor anymore with the way guys take care of themselves and train. Like [Chris] Chelios, he’s playing and he’s 48. I know I’m not going to be doing that but I’m not going away any time soon.”
