Nathan Oystrick News

It's tradition here at KB headquarters to provide running analysis of the NHL's trade deadline.

I couldn't wait. The NHL trade deadline isn't until tomorrow, Wednesday the 3rd of March at 3 PM EST, but there are already rumblings of a few deals that are making the rounds.

The Atlanta Thrashers have added a legend to their roster. Atlanta signed unrestricted free agent defenseman Chris Chelios to a contract on Tuesday.

OK...by now I'm sure you've seen C-Viv's report that the Thrashers made a trade with the Anaheim Ducks.

The Thrashers saw a familiar face last week on their visit to Toronto. Garnet Exelby was in the lineup for the Maple Leafs on Tuesday.

Reporting in early from Wednesday's Thrashers practice. Here are the line combinations on the ice.

Jim Slater 's shoulders are just fine. Enlarge photo AJC file Jim Slater, who had eight goals and 10 assists in 2008-2009, is healthy and ready for the season, which begins Saturday at home against Tampa Bay.

It took Nathan Oystrick 26 years for the chance to speak to the person who gave him life.

It is unlikely that Ilya Kovalchuk will re-sign with the Thrashers before the start of the regular season on Saturday.

The Thrashers signed Max Afinogenov and Mark Popovic to one-year contracts Tuesday.

Wea ve been a round and a round the whole subject of whether or not John Andersona s a oeplay more in regular season gamesa comments were in reference to Maxim Afinogenov or not.

John Anderson was caught by surprise. Enlarge photo AJC File Head coach John Anderson used first two exhibition games to evaluate talent, but says to expect captain Ilya Kovalchuk to see more playing time this preseason.

With Kari Lehtonen coming back from another injury and surgery, can he get back into the form he had when Atlanta drafted him and stay healthy for the rest of the season when he gets back on the ice.

He roamed. He handled the puck. He attempted rink-length passes. In other words, it was business as usual for G Mike Smith in the Lightning's 2-1 overtime win over the Thrashers on Friday night at the St.

Outlook: After making their first playoff appearance in 2007, the Atlanta Thrashers have not been able to sustain that momentum the past two seasons, instead finishing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.