PHN Mock NHL Entry Draft: Atlanta Thrashers second pick

ATLANTA, Ga. – One thing that has been a constant for the Atlanta Thrashers is their ability to pick high-quality goaltending and bring them up through the system. In 2001 the Thrashers drafted Pasi Nurminen 189th overall where he had a fairly decent record considering the team in front of him. He would’ve played longer but an off-season injury cut his career short. Then came another netminder from Finland who was drafted second

overall behind Rick Nash in 2002. It was Kari Lehtonen who was slated to become the number one goaltender in Atlanta for years to come, but the problem with Lehtonen is his constant visit to the injury list with numerous groin injuries that takes a significant time to heal. This has caused the team to rush for a search for a top line veteran that can step in. So far that veteran has been Johan Hedberg who has played well when given the call the last two seasons, but this draft season there are plenty of questions that need to be answered by Thrashers General Manager Don Waddell, on top of looking for a new head coach. Lehtonen is a restricted free agent while Hedberg was just re-signed to a contract. In addition to those two goaltenders during this offseason you can throw in a third option. Last season the Thrashers wanted Ondrej Pavelec to take a good percentage of the starts with their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. Not only did he take on the brunt of work, but Pavelec took the team all the way to the Calder Cup Championship. Does Waddell trade Lehtonen for draft picks and bring up Pavelec to split the duties with Hedberg? Or does he give Lehtonen another chance and more seasoning for Pavelec? Whatever the case turns out to be, the Atlanta Thrashers need more talent in net who will be ready in a year or two. As of right now the talent pool in the system, outside of Pavelec has not developed fast enough to be considered to take the next step up. Chet Pickard is that player who is ready to start at the AHL level. The 6 foot 2 inch, 195 pound netminder played three seasons with the WHL Tri-City Americans, two of those seasons he playing behind Montreal netminder Carey Price. The Hockey News had this to say about Pickard. “There are some physical and mental similarities between the two goalies (Price and Pickard). Both are almost identical in height and weight and neither gets too worked up about anything.” On the plus side are his abilities as a puck-handler, but most importantly is his conditioning. Pickard played in 54 games in Tri-City compiling a 46-12-4 record. If you read more into this, most of these skills are also identical to that of Pavelec. Both had almost identical seasons and were the workhorses for their respective teams. Since the Thrashers have already taken a defenseman in our mock draft with the third overall pick, we see the team making this announcement at number 29. “With the 29th pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, the Atlanta Thrashers proudly select from the Tri-City Americans, goaltender Chet Pickard.” Contact the author at Matt.Chin@prohockeynews.com