The 2007–08 Atlanta Thrashers season was the 25th season of play for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 22, 1979, and 33rd season for the organization overall. A year after winning the Southeast Division, the Thrashers failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Key dates prior to the start of the season:
The 2007 NHL entry draft took place in Columbus, Ohio, on June 22–23. The free agency period began on July 1.
Regular season
Starting off 0–6–0, the Thrashers fired head coach Bob Hartley on October 17, 2007, replacing him on an interim basis with general manager Don Waddell.
On December 23, 2007, Marian Hossa scored just 19 seconds into overtime to give Atlanta a 3–2 road win over the St. Louis Blues. Hossa tied Martin Erat, who also scored 15 seconds into the overtime period of the Predators' November 15, 2007, 5–4 home win over the Chicago Blackhawks, for the fastest overtime goal of the 2007–08 regular season. http://ww.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2008_games.html
Excluding six shootout goals, the Thrashers allowed 266 goals, tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the most in the NHL.
Divisional standings
Conference standings
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 5 || Washington || 3 – 1 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 18,707 || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 6 || Atlanta || 2 – 5|| Tampa Bay || || Hedberg || 19,220 || 0–2–0 || 0 ||
| 3 || October 10 || Ottawa || 3 – 1 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 12,751 || 0–3–0 || 0 ||
| 4 || October 11 || Atlanta || 0 – 6 || Buffalo || || Lehtonen || 18,690 || 0–4–0 || 0 ||
| 5 || October 13 || New Jersey || 6 – 4 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 15,606 || 0–5–0 || 0 ||
| 6 || October 16 || Atlanta || 0 – 4 || Philadelphia || || Hedberg || 18,933 || 0–6–0 || 0 ||
| 7 || October 18 || NY Rangers || 3 – 5 || Atlanta || || Hedberg || 14,076 || 1–6–0 || 2 ||
| 8 || October 20 || Atlanta || 2 – 6 || Tampa Bay || || Hedberg || 19,420 || 1–7–0 || 2 ||
| 9 || October 23 || Atlanta || 5 – 4 || Toronto || SO || Hedberg || 19,210 || 2–7–0 || 4 ||
| 10 || October 25 || Atlanta || 0 – 3 || Nashville || || Hedberg || 13,383 || 2–8–0 || 4 ||
| 11 || October 27 || Atlanta || 3 – 2 || Chicago || || Hedberg || 15,789 || 3–8–0 || 6 ||
| 12 || October 30 || Atlanta || 3 – 2 || Montreal || SO || Hedberg || 21,273 || 4–8–0 || 8 ||
| 13 || November 1 || Atlanta || 4 – 6 || Ottawa || || Pavelec || 18,538 || 4–9–0 || 8 ||
| 14 || November 3 || Atlanta || 6 – 4 || Tampa Bay || || Pavelec || 19,155 || 5–9–0 || 10 ||
| 15 || November 6 || Washington || 1 – 2 || Atlanta || OT || Pavelec || 15,530 || 6–9–0 || 12 ||
| 16 || November 9 || Atlanta || 4 – 1 || Florida || || Pavelec || 14,268 || 7–9–0 || 14 ||
| 17 || November 10 || Carolina || 5 – 3 || Atlanta || || Pavelec || 18,545 || 7–10–0 || 14 ||
| 18 || November 13 || Florida || 2 – 3 || Atlanta || OT || Hedberg || 12,599 || 8–10–0 || 16 ||
| 19 || November 16 || Atlanta || 3 – 0 || Carolina || || Hedberg || 14,632 || 9–10–0 || 18 ||
| 20 || November 19 || Tampa Bay || 3 – 4 || Atlanta || OT || Hedberg || 13,419 || 10–10–0 || 20 ||
| 21 || November 21 || Atlanta || 5 – 1 || Washington || || Hedberg || 11,669 || 11–10–0 || 22 ||
| 22 || November 23 || New Jersey || 3 – 0 || Atlanta || || Hedberg || 18,545 || 11–11–0 || 22 ||
| 23 || November 24 || Atlanta || 0 – 5 || Pittsburgh || || Pavelec || 17,132 || 11–12–0 || 22 ||
| 24 || November 29 || Toronto || 4 – 2 || Atlanta || || Hedberg || 14,031 || 11–13–0 || 22 ||
| 25 || December 1 || Atlanta || 4 – 0 || NY Islanders || || Lehtonen || 15,355 || 12–13–0 || 24 ||
| 26 || December 2 || Atlanta || 2 – 3 || New Jersey || SO || Hedberg || 14,978 || 12–13–1 || 25 ||
| 27 || December 5 || NY Islanders || 3 – 4 || Atlanta || SO || Lehtonen || 14,018 || 13–13–1 || 27 ||
| 28 || December 7 || NY Rangers || 2 – 4 || Atlanta || || Hedberg || 18,204 || 14–13–1 || 29 ||
| 29 || December 8 || Atlanta || 3 – 6 || Washington || || Lehtonen || 14,014 || 14–14–1 || 29 ||
| 30 || December 12 || Boston || 5 – 3 || Atlanta || || Hedberg || 14,265 || 14–15–1 || 29 ||
| 31 || December 14 || Toronto || 4 – 0 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 16,424 || 14–16–1 || 29 ||
| 32 || December 15 || Atlanta || 3 – 7 || Ottawa || || Hedberg || 20,082 || 14–17–1 || 29 ||
| 33 || December 18 || Tampa Bay || 2 – 6 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 14,060 || 15–17–1 || 31 ||
| 34 || December 20 || Ottawa || 2 – 3 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 14,085 || 16–17–1 || 33 ||
| 35 || December 22 || Montreal || 2 – 3 || Atlanta || SO || Lehtonen || 17,153 || 17–17–1 || 35 ||
| 36 || December 23 || Atlanta || 3 – 2 || St. Louis || OT || Lehtonen || 17,731 || 18–17–1 || 37 ||
| 37 || December 26 || Atlanta || 0 – 2 || Columbus || || Lehtonen ||15,726 || 18–18–1 || 37 ||
| 38 || December 27 || Florida || 5 – 3 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 16,080 || 18–19–1 || 37 ||
| 39 || December 29 || Boston || 0 – 5 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 18,545 || 19–19–1 || 39 ||
| 40 || December 31 || Atlanta || 2 – 5 || Boston || || Lehtonen || 17,565 || 19–20–1 || 39 ||
| 41 || January 2 || Atlanta || 5 – 4 || Carolina || OT || Hedberg || 13,506 || 20–20–1 || 41 ||
| 42 || January 4 || Carolina || 4 – 3 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 16,097 || 20–21–1 || 41 ||
| 43 || January 6 || Buffalo || 2 – 5 || Atlanta || || Hedberg || 15,213 || 21–21–1 || 43 ||
| 44 || January 8 || Philadelphia || 4 – 1 || Atlanta || || Hedberg || 13,047 || 21–22–1 || 43 ||
| 45 || January 10 || Florida || 3 – 2 || Atlanta || SO || Lehtonen || 14,805 || 21–22–2 || 44 ||
| 46 || January 12 || Pittsburgh || 2 – 3 || Atlanta || SO || Lehtonen || 18,545 || 22–22–2 || 46 ||
| 47 || January 15 || Atlanta || 5 – 1 || Detroit || || Lehtonen || 17,408 || 23–22–2 || 48 ||
| 48 || January 17 || Montreal || 3 – 2 || Atlanta || SO || Lehtonen || 16,181 || 23–22–3 || 49 ||
| 49 || January 18 || Atlanta || 1 – 10 || Buffalo || || Hedberg || 18,690 || 23–23–3 || 49 ||
| 50 || January 20 || Edmonton || 4 – 2 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 16,683 || 23–24–3 || 49 ||
| 51 || January 22 || Atlanta || 0 – 4 || NY Rangers || || Lehtonen || 18,200 || 23–25–3 || 49 ||
| 52 || January 24 || Atlanta || 1 – 2 || NY Rangers || SO || Hedberg || 18,200 || 23–25–4 || 50 ||
| 53 || January 30 || Pittsburgh || 1 – 4 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 14,070 || 24–25–4 || 52 ||
| 54 || February 1 || Buffalo || 4 – 5 || Atlanta || SO || Lehtonen || 17,064 || 25–25–4 || 54 ||
| 55 || February 2 || Atlanta || 2 – 0 || Washington || || Lehtonen || || 26–25–4 || 56 ||
| 56 || February 5 || Philadelphia || 3 – 2 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 15,082 || 26–26–4 || 56 ||
| 57 || February 7 || Vancouver || 2 – 1 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 16,813 || 26–27–4 || 56 ||
| 58 || February 9 || Tampa Bay || 1 – 2 || Atlanta || OT || Lehtonen || 18,879 || 27–27–4 || 58 ||
| 59 || February 13 || Washington || 2 – 3 || Atlanta || SO || Lehtonen || 15,285 || 28–27–4 || 60 ||
| 60 || February 15 || Atlanta || 4 – 3 || New Jersey || SO || Hedberg || 14,475 || 29–27–4 || 62 ||
| 61 || February 16 || Atlanta || 1 – 4 || NY Islanders || || Lehtonen || 16,234 || 29–28–4 || 62 ||
| 62 || February 21 || Atlanta || 3 – 5 || Carolina || ||Lehtonen ||13,548 || 29–29–4 || 62 ||
| 63 || February 23 || Atlanta || 1 – 3 || Toronto || ||Lehtonen ||19,390 || 29–30–4 || 62 ||
| 64 || February 26 || Atlanta || 1 – 5 || Montreal || ||Lehtonen ||21,273 || 29–31–4 || 62 ||
| 65 || February 28 || NY Islanders || 5 – 4 || Atlanta ||OT || Lehtonen||16,332 || 29–31–5 || 63 ||
| 66 || March 1 || Atlanta || 2 – 3 || Boston || OT ||Hedberg ||17,565 ||29–31–6 ||64 ||
| 67 || March 2 || Atlanta || 2 – 3 || Pittsburgh || SO ||Lehtonen ||17,132||29–31–7 ||65 ||
| 68 || March 5 || Carolina ||6 – 3 || Atlanta || ||Hedberg ||13,032 ||29–32–7 ||65 ||
| 69 || March 7 || Minnesota || 2 – 3 || Atlanta ||SO ||Hedberg ||18,709 ||30–32–7 ||67 ||
| 70 || March 8 || Atlanta || 2 – 3 || Florida ||OT ||Lehtonen ||16,614 ||30–32–8 ||68 ||
| 71 || March 11 || Colorado || 5 – 2 || Atlanta || ||Hedberg||14,089 ||30–33–8 ||69 ||
| 72 || March 13 || Calgary || 4 – 6 || Atlanta || ||Lehtonen||16,244 ||31–33–8 ||70 ||
| 73 || March 14 || Atlanta || 1 – 4 || Washington || ||Lehtonen ||18,208 ||31–34–8 ||70 ||
| 74 || March 16 || Atlanta || 1 – 3 || Florida || || Hedberg || 15,704 || 31–35–8 || 70 ||
| 75 || March 18 || Atlanta || 2 – 3 || Philadelphia || || Lehtonen || 19,564 || 31–36–8 || 70 ||
| 76 || March 19 || Carolina || 5 – 3 || Atlanta || || Hedberg || 13,251 || 31–37–8 || 70 ||
| 77 || March 21 || Washington || 5 – 3 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 18,562 || 31–38–8 || 70 ||
| 78 || March 27 || Atlanta || 3 - 2 || Florida || || Lehtonen || 17,301 || 32–38–8 || 72 ||
| 79 || March 28 || Atlanta || 1 - 7 || Carolina || || Hedberg || 17,833 || 32–39–8 || 72 ||
| 80 || March 31 || Atlanta || 2 - 0 || Tampa Bay || || Lehtonen || 17,441 || 33–39–8 || 74 ||
| 81 || April 1 || Florida || 3 - 2 || Atlanta || || Hedberg || 15,453 || 33–40–8 || 74 ||
| 82 || April 5 || Tampa Bay || 1 - 4 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 18,732 || 34–40–8 || 76 ||
Legend:
Skaters Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Regular season Player GP G A Pts PIM Ilya Kovalchuk 79 52 35 87 52 Marian Hossa 60 26 22 48 30 Eric Perrin 81 12 33 45 26 Vyacheslav Kozlov 82 17 24 41 26 Mark Recchi 53 12 28 40 20 Tobias Enstrom 82 5 33 38 42 Todd White 74 14 23 37 36 Bobby Holik 82 15 19 34 90 Chris Thorburn 73 5 13 18 92 Bryan Little 48 6 10 16 18 Pascal Dupuis 62 10 5 15 24 Niclas Havelid 81 1 10 11 42 Jim Slater 69 8 5 13 41 Colby Armstrong 18 4 7 11 6 Ken Klee 72 1 9 10 60 Eric Boulton 74 4 5 9 127 Alexei Zhitnik 65 3 5 8 58 Darren Haydar 16 1 7 8 2 Garnet Exelby 79 2 5 7 85 Steve McCarthy 55 1 6 7 48 Joel Kwiatkowski 18 0 5 5 20 Colin Stuart 18 3 2 5 6 Brad Larsen 62 1 3 4 12 Erik Christensen 10 2 2 4 2 Brett Sterling 13 1 2 3 14 Mark Popovic 33 0 2 2 10 Jordan Smotherman 2 1 1 2 0 Kevin Doell 8 0 1 1 4 Boris Valabik 7 0 0 0 42
Goaltenders Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average Regular season Player GP TOI W L OT GA SO SV% GAA Kari Lehtonen 48 2707 17 22 5 131 4 .916 2.90 Johan Hedberg 36 1927 14 15 3 111 1 .892 3.46 Ondrej Pavelec 7 347 3 3 0 18 0 .905 3.11
Awards and records
Records
Milestones Regular season Player Milestone Reached Tobias Enstrom 1st NHL game October 5, 2007 Bryan Little 1st NHL game1st NHL goal1st NHL point October 5, 2007 Brett Sterling 1st NHL game October 5, 2007 Tobias Enstrom 1st NHL assist1st NHL point October 6, 2007 Darren Haydar 1st NHL goal1st NHL assist1st NHL point October 13, 2007 Bryan Little 1st NHL assist October 13, 2007 Brett Sterling 1st NHL assist1st NHL point October 13, 2007 Ken Klee 800th NHL PIM October 16, 2007 Ondrej Pavelec 1st NHL game October 20, 2007 Brett Sterling 1st NHL goal October 20, 2007 Tobias Enstrom 1st NHL goal October 23, 2007 Ken Klee 800th NHL game October 25, 2007 Ilya Kovalchuk 400th NHL game November 1, 2007 Ondrej Pavelec 1st NHL win November 3, 2007 Eric Perrin 100th NHL game November 3, 2007 Todd White 100th NHL goal November 6, 2007
Transactions The Thrashers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2007–08 season.
Trades June 26, 2007 To St. Louis Blues Keith Tkachuk conditional 4th round pick in 2008 To Atlanta Thrashers conditional 1st round pick in 2008 December 8, 2007 To Atlanta Thrashers Mark Recchi Claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh Penguins February 26, 2008 To Pittsburgh Penguins Marian Hossa Pascal Dupuis To Atlanta Thrashers Colby Armstrong Erik Christensen Angelo Esposito 2008 1st round pick (Daultan Leveille)
Free agents