ATLANTA -- Atlanta Thrashers general manager Don Waddell was busy fielding calls Friday from seven or eight teams that are interested in trading for the Thrashers' pick in the NHL draft.

Atlanta, which had the worst record in the league this past season, is scheduled to pick second overall behind Florida in Saturday's draft at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

Waddell says that if the team keeps the pick, it will get a top player. Or, the Thrashers can make a trade for a player who will help them right away.

The Thrashers have picked first or second each year since joining the NHL in 1999. Their initial top pick, Patrik Stefan, has been an injury plagued disappointment, but the team fared much better the last two years.

Dany Heatley, drafted second overall in 2000, was named rookie of the year at the N-H-L awards ceremony Thursday night. Heatley beat out teammate Ilya Kovalchuk, who was the top pick last year and led all rookies with 29 goals.