Atlanta, GA --
Today the Atlanta Thrashers officially annouced Marcus Ragnarsson to their media. Marcus signed a two year deal with the Thrashers yesterday, becoming the first UFA signing for the organization this summer.
"We really needed some help on the blue line, and Marcus is a geat leader and very solid. We think he is a great fit for our organization." Commented GM Love.
Reports are also flying all over Atlanta that the Thrashers are planning a spending spree this summer. The Thrashers made a ton of cash last season and are a little more than 20 million under the cap with players that they plan on making the big club. The goalie situation is Atlanta is fairly unknown. It is rumored that the Thrashers are huge fans of Dwayne Roloson and want him to end his career in Atlanta, step in and be the go to guy, and be a mentor to Lehtonen who is the most coveted young goalie in the OTHL. It is also rumored that Sakic and Blake have been offered very large contracts by the Thashers as well.
"Obviously we are interested. We got the money and we want to win a cup. Blake would be the cornerstone of our defense and give us that all-star d-man that can control games, be a leader and push our team over the top. We would be ecstatic if he decided to join our organization and beautiful city." GM Love told reporters today. "And with Sakic, we think he is the greatest center in the world. We have a dream of playing him between Kovalchuk and Heatley. He would give us the strongest offense in the league and make us an automatic cup favorite."
The are also reports that the Thrashers are very, very interested in Jason Arnott for the 2nd line center position as well as Vaclav Prospal, Kirk Maltby, Greg deVries, Dallas Drake and Sean Hill.
Stay tuned for more details.