MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
In the biggest no-brainer in Atlanta since vanilla ice cream was paired with peach cobbler, LW Ilya Kovalchuk walked off with the Thrashers' MVP honors. Kovalchuk scored 52 goals, accounting for more than 25 percent of Atlanta's 207 total goals for the season. It's a flattering stat for Kovalchuk but a telling sign of the team's lack of scoring depth.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER
Defenseman Alexei Zhitnik immediately bolstered Atlanta's power play when he arrived late in the 2006-07 season. This season, the veteran seemed disinterested and lost his role to rookie Toby Enstrom, whose playmaking skills and skating ability proved to be the season's biggest surprise. In the end, Zhitnik was scratched for the final 14 games and is likely to be traded if Atlanta can find any takers for his $3.5 million salary.

FREE AGENT FOCUS
Seven Thrashers will become unrestricted free agents as of July 1, most notably captain Bobby Holik. The 37-year-old center has said he wants to finish his career with a team that has a chance to win every night. Clearly, that's not Atlanta at this point.

Backup G Johan Hedberg -- as popular and as respected as he is in the locker room -- isn't likely to return if Atlanta decides that Ondrej Pavelec can fill his role next season.

One of the most intriguing free agent decisions concerns 40-year-old RW Mark Recchi, who clearly has at least one more season in his aging legs. Recchi's slick hands and on-ice vision benefited rookie C Bryan Little. If Recchi returns, he also gives the team some much needed, respected leadership in the locker room.

The biggest changes will surround Atlanta's defense, meaning the likely departure of free agents Steve McCarthy and Mark Popovic.

PLAYER NOTES

The Thrashers haven't played in more than a month, but several of the team's former players remain active in the playoffs.

--Marian Hossa had five goals and five assists through nine games for the Penguins, while Pascal Dupuis, who was traded to Pittsburgh along with Hossa, had a goal and four assists in the same amount of games.

--Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn, who was traded by Atlanta to Philadelphia at last season's trade deadline, had five assists in 12 games for Philadelphia.

--Former Thrasher Dany Heatley was leading all scorers early in the IIHF World Championships being played in Canada. Heatley had six goals and four assists through Canada's first four games.

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