Kane Makes Impact in Atlanta

The Atlanta Thrashers have played the fewest games in the NHL to date and are still sitting in sixth in the Eastern Conference.

Their 4-1-1 record is on pace to match their best start in franchise history. They started 8-1-3 in ’06-’07 and eventually made their only playoff appearance, a four-game sweep at the hands of the New York Rangers.

That year the Thrashers were led by Marian Hossa 43G 100PTS, Slava Kozlov 28G 80PTS and Ilya Kovalchuk 42G 76PTS. Well, Hossa as you know is long gone. Kozlov is 37-years-old now and although he’s still effective, he can’t be counted on for that kind of production. Kovalchuk is off to his best start since ’03-’04 when he wound up winning the Rocket Richard with Jarome Iginla and Rick Nash.

The question that remains is who’s going to add the secondary scoring for the Thrashers. Well, former Barrie Colt Bryan Little is coming off his best season, so are Nik Antropov and Rich Peverly but none of them have ever put up big numbers at the NHL level. The Thrashers will need someone else to be a consistent contributor.

That’s where 18-year-old Evander Kane comes in. The former Vancouver Giant was a late addition for team Canada at the WJC last Christmas after Dana Tyrell was injured in an exhibition game. The scrawny 6’1” Kane tallied two goals and four assists in six games en route to a gold medal. He would go back to the Giants and finish his season with 48 goals and 96 points in just 61 games. After his season ended Kane hit the gym hard in an effort to bulk up before the NHL Entry Draft. The Thrashers then selected the defensively responsible sniper fourth overall and he hasn’t looked back since.

“He leads with his stick, finishes his checks all over the ice, and has been very well-schooled coming out of junior,” says Thrashers head coach John Anderson.

Kane has two goals and four points in his six NHL games. Any hope of the forward being sent back to the WHL was squashed when he scored a beautiful goal against Martin Brodeur last week.

“There’s nothing that indicates we want to send him back,” said Anderson during a conference call. “He’s been a pleasure to coach, and he’s been doing everything we’ve asked, especially defensively. He’s been very good defensively.”

Of the top rookies in the NHL right now Kane has averaged the fewest amount of minutes at just of 13 a game. That’s mostly due to a lack of power play time. Something that Anderson says will come in time.

“Certainly Evander will get some,” explained Anderson. “It’s just a matter of time. I know he scored 48 goals last year and has been a real help offensively this year also.

“But it’s gonna take him a little time to figure everything out. He does do penalty kill for us, so we’re trying to get him to be an all-round player. I’m sure he’ll get on the power play at some point.”

At 190lbs Kane still has to fill out but Anderson says that, so far, he’s giving more hits than he’s receiving.

“He’s taken a couple hard hits, but he’s gotten right up and right back into play. I don’t think size is a problem for him,” said Anderson.

The Vancouver Giants and team Canada’s loss is the Thrashers gain. If the Thrashers hope to get back into the playoffs this season they will need their star rookie to continue his early season play throughout the remaining 76 games.