It's Game Time!! And Panthers Fans Are Pissed!

After GM Randy Sexton admitted readily that almost every player on the Panthers' roster is for sale, fans of the Kitty Kats from Sawgrass, at least the few thousand who actually pay attention, are probably as irate as this "lion-cut" cat. I know I'd be a little miffed if Don Waddell threw in the towel at this stage of the game. However, the Panthers have been down this road before and they came up just a couple of agonizing points short last spring. And then they lost Jay Bouwmeester. In light of these realities, I'd say the fans are probably a bit more resigned to the fact that this isn't their year, but still, this entire injury-riddled season has certainly been a bitter disappointment for Panther fans.

Hopefully, their pain is our joy. Already, Sexton has dealt blueliner Jordan Leopold to the Penguins for a 2nd round draft pick. And more moves are sure to come. Vokoun, hero of the Czech Republic, is being rested after an arduous week of games in Vancouver in favor of back-up Scott Clemmensen. Thrashers' players have been buoyed by the news of Chris Chelios, the ageless wonder D-man, signing a deal to play as Thrashers' official property for the duration of the season. Okay, I know you're snickering as you read this. But I'm serious. Cheli can still contribute as he hasn't exactly been playing 3rd line minutes in the AHL. He's been averaging 24 minutes / game for the Chicago Wolves and his +35 rating is second best in the league -- second only to Thrashers' prospect and Chelios mentee, Arturs Kulda. Apparently, Cheli's signing with the Wolves was no accident...at least according to GM Don Waddell in this write-up by Ben Wright of atlantathrashers.com Blueland Blog fame:

"I just got off the phone with Don Waddell and he explained that the move to have Chelios to play with the Wolves this season was made in conjunction with the Thrashers and that there had always been a possibility that he would sign with the Thrashers."

And this wasn't the only move made by Waddell in the last 16 hours. Late yesterday evening, Dealin' Donnie concocted a scheme to wrest behemoth winger, Evgeny Artyukhin, from the Anaheim Ducks. To do so, he had to give up minor league depth defenseman, Nathan Oystrick, and a conditional late round draft pick in 2011. That conditional pick is allegedly predicated on "Arty" re-upping with the Thrashers beyond this season. Only time will tell, but the suprisingly fleet of foot Russian giant (6'5", 240 lbs) may add just the right combination of grit, skill and speed to the bottom two lines. It's still unclear just how he'll fit in, but with the expected departure of veteran UFA, Slava Kozlov, there will surely be room for him in the Top 12 on most nights. When you're fighting for every single point possible, you can never have enough depth.

Stay tuned...more moves are still to come!!! Go Thrashers!!!