KOZLOV NO CLOSER TO RE-SIGNING WITH THRASHERS.

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION: Jeff Schultz reports Thrashers GM Don Waddell recently sent a contract offer to impending UFA forward Slava Kozlov comparable to the one Columbus signed "the lesser-talented" Geoff Sanderson to (3 years $9.3 million US), but Kozlov's agent apparently rejected it and may make a counterproposal.

Spector's Note: My thanks to Jeff Zielenski for sending this in. I would consider both players comparable and I think that offer is fair. Kozlov should be careful how he handles these talks. A lot of teams are tightening budgets this summer in anticipation of the impending labour talks set for September 2004, which are expected to be nasty. He might not find a better offer than that on the open market

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THRASHERS TO LOSE KOZLOV TO FREE AGENCY?

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION: Guy Cutright reports Thrashers GM Don Waddell hoped to have winger Slava Kozlov re-signed before July 1, but it now appears the veteran could test the UFA market. Waddell offered Kozlov the same deal as Columbus winger Geoff Sanderson (three years, $9.3 million US), but Kozlov's agent is seeking an additional year, which seems to be the sticking point. Waddell hopes to retain Kozlov, who was " a perfect compliment" to right wing sensation Dany Heatley, but while stating he'll continue negotiationing with Kozlov's agent, he also hinted he may seek a replacement via a trade.

Kozlov, Thrashers at an impasse

TSN.ca Staff

Contract talks between the Atlanta Thrashers and Slava Kozlov remain at an impasse.
The Thrashers are reportedly standing firm on their original offer of three years, $9.3-million while the team's second leading scorer is holding out for upwards of $4-million a season.
"One way or the other, I think we can get something done in the next 10 days," Kozlov's agent Scott Lites tells the Atlanta Journal Constitution, adding he has talked to several other teams since free agency began a week ago.

Kozlov scored 22 goals and set a team record with 49 assists last season on a line with forward Dany Heatley.
Ray Whitney has been mentioned as a potential replacement if the Thrashers can't come to terms with Kozlov. Whitney, who played for Columbus last season, is well known to Thrashers general manager Don Waddell who coached him at San Diego in 1991-92.
Whitney posted a career best 76 points last season on 24 goals and 52 assists. He earned $2.6-million last year with the Blue Jackets.

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Thrashers sign Sutton, Majesky

TSN.ca Staff

The Atlanta Thrashers have signed restricted free agent defensemen Andy Sutton and Ivan Majesky, according to Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed.
Sutton, 28, notched 21 points (three goals, 18 assists) and 114 penalty minutes in 53 games for last season. He set career highs with 18 assists and 21 points, and equaled his career best with three goals, despite missing the final 27 games of the 2002-03 season with a high ankle sprain. The 6-6, 245-pound blue liner was acquired by the Thrashers from the Wild in exchange for Hnat Domenichelli on Jan. 22, 2002, and notched four assists and 46 penalty minutes in 24 games for Atlanta in 2001-02.
The native of Kingston, Ontario, has earned 43 points (nine goals, 34 assists) and 471 penalty minutes in 236 NHL games with San Jose, Minnesota and Atlanta. Sutton played collegiate hockey at Michigan Tech University from 1994-98, notching 56 points (22 goals, 34 assists) and 270 penalty minutes in 122 games from 1994-98.

Majesky played in his first NHL season with Florida in 2002-03, registering 12 points (four goals, eight assists) and 92 penalty minutes in 82 games. The 6-5, 225-pound blue liner was among three Panthers to play in every game, and finished second among the club's defensemen with an average ice time of 20:53. The 26-year-old defenseman was acquired by Atlanta from Florida in exchange for a second-round pick, 38th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft (Kamil Kreps) on June 21, 2003.
The native of Bystrica, Slovakia, played seven seasons in Europe prior to joining the Panthers. He notched 28 points (eight goals, 20 assists) in 98 games over two seasons with Ilves Tampere of the Finnish Elite League from 2000-2002, and collected 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 165 games over four seasons with Banska Bystrica (1995-97 and 1998-99) and HKM Zvolen (1999-2000) of the Slovak Republic Extra League. He was a member of the Slovakian team at the 2002 Winter Olympics, notching one assist and two penalty minutes in two games. He was originally selected by Florida in the ninth round, 267th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

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