Atlanta Thrashers Name Scott Mellanby Team Captain

[VodkaFish]

The Atlanta Thrashers have named veteran right wing Scott Mellanby as team captain and right wing Peter Bondra, center Bobby Holik and left wing Vyacheslav Kozlov as assistant captains, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell. The assistant captains will rotate on a game-by-game basis.

"Scott has the experience and character to provide our team with the leadership that is necessary to be successful," said Waddell. "We are very fortunate to have four individuals of this caliber who can help guide our younger players and set the tone in the locker room."

These four players have combined for four Stanley Cup Championships and eight appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals, including five in the last 10 seasons. In addition to their 460 games of playoff experience, they have combined for 4,099 NHL regular-season games and eight appearances in the NHL All-Star Game.

"We have increased the veteran presence on our roster and these players provide us with the winning attitude and quality leadership that will help us reach a higher level," said Head Coach Bob Hartley. "Their influence will be highly beneficial on the ice and in the locker room and is important to the growth and success of this team."

Mellanby, who signed as a free agent on July 26, 2004, is a veteran of 19 NHL seasons with Philadelphia, Edmonton, Florida and St. Louis. He served as captain of the Panthers for four seasons from 1997-2001, and helped guide them to an appearance in the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals. Mellanby, who participated in the 1996 NHL All-Star Game, also played in the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals with the Flyers and has appeared in 132 playoff games. In 1,291 NHL regular-season games, he has registered 770 points (340 goals, 430 assists).

Bondra, who signed as a free agent on Sept. 18, 2005, has recorded 477 goals and 362 assists in 984 NHL regular-season games in 14 seasons with Washington and Ottawa. He has played in 80 playoff games, recording 30 goals and 26 assists, and led the Capitals to the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals. He has led the league in goals two times (1997-98 and 1994-95), and has played in the NHL All-Star Game five times (1999, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1993).

Holik, a two-time Stanley Cup-winner with New Jersey in 2000 and 1995, signed as a free agent on Aug. 2, 2005. He has played in 1,024 NHL games over 14 seasons with New Jersey and the New York Rangers, recording 642 points (281 goals, 361 assists). Holik, who has played in the NHL All-Star game two times (1999 and 1998), has appeared in 134 playoff games, including a third trip to the Stanley Cup Finals with New Jersey in 2001.

Kozlov, who served as an alternate captain with the Thrashers for the past two seasons, won two Stanley Cups with Detroit in 1998 and 1997. A veteran of 13 NHL seasons with Detroit, Buffalo and the Thrashers, he has appeared in 114 playoff games, collecting 79 points (42 goals, 37 assists). Kozlov, acquired in a trade with Buffalo on June 22, 2002, has appeared in 800 NHL games, notching 559 points (252 goals, 307 assists). He also helped the Red Wings to an appearance in the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals.

[fridge29]

Excellent choice. I've always been a Mellanby fan.

[mick32]

Nice. Great bit of humorous writing Vodka.



Oh, wait, Mellanby really IS still in the league???????

[jkidd]

Originally Posted by mick32

Nice. Great bit of humorous writing Vodka.



Oh, wait, Mellanby really IS still in the league???????

i know, i could have sworn he was in a retirement home. oh well, i guess they got a lot of experience wearing the "c".

[mick32]

My brother, who doesn't really like hockey anymore, points out the fact that players NEVER retire as a reason for this. Every time I try to argue, a game will be on an Scott Mellanby or Murray Baron or Dave Andrechuk is the screen. I really don't have an argument at that point.