Thrashers and Havelid Agree to Terms on Three-Year Deal

[VodkaFish]

The Atlanta Thrashers have agreed to terms with defenseman Niclas Havelid on a new three-year contract, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell.

“Niclas is the ultimate professional who provided a tremendous amount of skill, experience and character throughout his first season with the team,” said Waddell. “He is a huge factor in the strength of our defense and in our locker-room, and we are very pleased that he will continue to be a pivotal part of our success next season and beyond.”

Havelid, 33, appeared in all 82 games for the Thrashers during the 2005-06 season, recording 32 points (four goals, 28 assists). He led the team in average time-on-ice per game (24:25), average shifts per game (30.6) and finished second on the team in blocked shots (190). Among team defensemen, he ranked second in assists, third in goals and third in points and set career highs in assists, average time-on-ice and plus/minus rating (+9).

Havelid, a native of Stockholm, Sweden, helped his country capture the Gold Medal at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy, appearing in seven games. He was also the recipient of the 2005-06 Dan Snyder Memorial Award, presented annually to the Thrashers’ unsung hero who best embodies perseverance, dedication and hard work so that his team and teammates might succeed.

The 5-11, 200-pound defenseman was acquired by the Thrashers from Anaheim in a trade for Kurtis Foster on June 26, 2004. He has appeared in 392 NHL games over six seasons with the Thrashers and Mighty Ducks, recording 28 goals and 89 assists for 117 points. Originally selected by Anaheim in the third round, 83rd overall, in the 1999 Entry Draft, Havelid spent five seasons with the Mighty Ducks and helped the team to an appearance in the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals.

Prior to joining the NHL, Havelid played eight seasons in his native Sweden. He earned 65 points (30 goals, 35 assists) and 212 penalty minutes in 254 games with AIK Solna and Malmo in the Swedish Elite League from 1991-93 and 1994-99. He also registered 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) and 26 penalty minutes in 40 games with AIK Solna’s Second Division team in 1993-94.

In addition to the Gold Medal he earned at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, Havelid has also led Sweden to a Silver Medal at the 2004 World Championships, a Gold Medal at the 1998 World Championships and a Silver Medal at the 1993 World Junior Championships.

[johano90]

Kudos to Havelid for earning that three year contract. He is an underrated defenceman IMO.

[TNG]

Originally Posted by johano90

Kudos to Havelid for earning that three year contract. He is an underrated defenceman IMO.

True. Anaheim trading him for Kurtis Foster wasn't what I call a great idea. Didn't like at the time, dislike it even more now.

[bengino]

Originally Posted by TNG

True. Anaheim trading him for Kurtis Foster wasn't what I call a great idea. Didn't like at the time, dislike it even more now.

what i heard is that trade was made because the Ducks needed to have a lower team payroll.

[TNG]

Originally Posted by bengino

what i heard is that trade was made because the Ducks needed to have a lower team payroll.

Yeah, mostly due to Fedorov's paycheck and Giguere's new (at the time) contract, among other things.
It's just a matter of taste and I like Havelid's play, always saw him as a competent Dman that doesn't do many mistakes, with good ofensive and defensive skills. At the time there were other guys on the roster with same (or higher) salary that should have been traded rather than him... just my 2 cents on the matter.