Dudley Realized the Obvious

So remember all that talk about "goal scoring by committee" where the Thrashers were going to employ a handful of 25-30 goal scorers to do the job of that Russian guy who used to score 40-50? Apparently that plan has gone out the window.

After one season without a true goal scorer, Rick Dudley has given up on that strategy and is actively shopping for someone who can put he biscuit in the basket. Unfortunately, if you peruse the UFA list for this offseason (please don't waste your time talking about RFA offer sheets) there isn't a whole lot out there to get excited about. Brad Richards is the only real top tier talent, and to get him, we would end up paying way too much money.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining that Rick Dudley has had this epiphany. In fact, as I see it, the team needs two top-six forwards to complement Ondrej Pavelec (have you seen what he's doing in Slovakia right now?), a very solid defense, and complete the top two lines along side Little, Wheeler, Ladd, Antropov, and Kane. If one of those five could be bumped down to the third line by superior talent and we didn't have to fill a hole up front with an Anthony Stewart or Tim Stapleton, then Ramsey's affinity for rolling all four lines would be much more successful than we saw in the most recent campaign.