Most users agreed the Atlanta Thrashers have plenty of developing to do next season, especially after losing Donald Audette to the Dallas Stars in free agency. But not everyone supported the methods -- or the speed -- of general manager Don Waddell.

	Users agree Ray Ferraro (a.k.a. Chicken Parm) will have his work cut out for him next season.

Don Waddell must have gone to the Harry Sinden School of GMs! When I moved from Boston to Atlanta around the time the Thrashers started, I was excited at the prospect of a big-money, big-player team for a change (a.k.a. The Braves)! Getting cheap with Donald Audette and Andrew Brunette ... please.

Karl Haase
Kennesaw, Ga.

Every Atlanta fan sees the youth and talent on the team and cannot help but feel optimistic about the future. But reality is that the Thrashers are still an expansion team that will still experience growing pains, even in their third year. Giving these talented youngsters a chance to play every day, Atlanta will see improvement every single game. I'm just happy that Waddell is not going after that big name free agent just yet. The young players do not need to be overshadowed by a high-priced free agent; they need to find their own niche in the game. Going after hard working role players, such as Scott Pellerin, would definitely be a step in the right direction for this young franchise.

Chris Sieben
Milledgeville, Ga.

The major weakness of the Thrashers is up the middle at center. Ray Ferraro is fine, but is gone after this season, possibly even by the trade deadline for a third-round pick. After that, Patrik Stefan had most of his success on the wing, and Steve Guolla\Hnat Domenicelli are barely fourth-liners. Unless Danny Heatley wears No. 99, Atlanta is going to get smoked.

Ben Cooper
Los Angeles

Defense: The Czech pair looks good, with Jiri Slegr and Petr Buzek. Also, Adam Burt, Gord Murphy, and Frantisek Kaberle have proven to be serviceable. So, I think with the emergency of another defenseman here, one guy to step up his game and play above expectations or a younger guy improving to the next level, this department could be their best.

Goaltending: The Milan Hnilicka is good but young. I think European goalies take time to develop in the NHL. Look at Tomi Salo or Dominik Hasek even. Stick with Damian Rhodes at least another year. Command that he does his job as a good professional. One way to go about it is possibly to swing a trade for a goalie.

Offense: This is the problem area with Atlanta and other expansion teams. The offense always tends to be gritty, but what wins fans and games are goal scorers. If Patrik Stefan doesn't prove his worth, trade him to a big team with good players where he will, and get someone else to carry the burden. Hopefully Ilya Kovalchuk will come through. Sign Andrew Brunette, because who else do you have? Tomi Kallio is a modest producer, and Ray Ferraro is surprisingly good at this late stage in his career. I say keep Ray in the organization even when he quits, he's definitely helped the team takes its first step.

This offense needs someone to score goals and win fans' hearts. Where you get that sort of franchise player? Good luck, Don Waddell.

Chris DiMarco
Detroit

Poor Thrashers. Even the first-year Blue Jackets and Wild had more success than the second-year Thrashers. Don Waddell needs to bring in some more experienced veterans to back up the young talent. Another defenseman or two like Jiri Slegr couldn't hurt either.

Vinay Sarpeshkar
Pittsburgh

The Thrashers sit while the rest of the league gets better. Don Waddell is a "sit and do nothing" GM. He may have his hands tied, but we haven't renewed our season ticket. He keeps talking about these young kids who'll be stars someday -- for other teams, when the Thrashers will have folded. The Thrashers will get trashed in 2001-02.

D.J. Zabkar
Roswell, Ga.

Mostly I'd like to see Simon Gamanche (ninth round, 2000 draft) given a shot to make Atlanta's roster this year and play in the NHL. He was the leading scorer of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and was named player of the year in both the QMJHL and Canadian Hockey League. He also broke some impressive records like Mario Lemieux's total point playoff mark.

Bill Bachrach
Cherry Hill, N.J.

Last season had some really nice highs, but some really bad lows. This year has to be an improvement. They should move forward with the young talent they have. If they can stay healthy and get good goaltending they should be able to survive, at least a little longer. They desperately need to spend a little of the AOL/Time Warner money on some players that can help out in the near future to give the younger players a little more time to develop.

Alison
Emerson, Ga.

	"	I think the Thrashers have a jewel in Frantisek Kaberle. Along with all the other young talent, they will improve this season for sure."
		– Mark Benvenga, Carmel, Ind.

I think that the Thrashers can only do better this year. They are learning to work as a cohesive unit. This is difficult to do when players from all over the league are thrown together to make a team. They need their young talent to start producing for them, as well. Patrik Stefan can skate very well, but you would never know it from watching him play. Moving him to the wing was a very wise decision. Playing at center puts a lot of pressure on such a young player. At wing, he can just play like he can, without having to worry about so many different responsibilities.

Also, Dany Heatley and Ilya Kovalchuk will be major factors. I think Kovo will do very well for them, but I am still unsure about Heatley. He has never played at the professional level, so there is really no way to know what will happen.

Losing Donald Audette was the worst mistake that the front office ever made. I feel that they did not try hard enough to hang on to him. He wanted a lot, but I'm sure they could have afforded him. He was their best player, so give him what he wants. I really hoped they would re-sign him. They just missed their second and final opportunity to get him.

The best factor in the locker room is Chicken Parm, without a doubt. He decided to hang on for another couple of years so he could help the team succeed, and the city of Atlanta loves you for it, Ray. He is a great leader. Let's hope that he can influence the younger players with his experience.

Blake Warenik
Atlanta

I think it will take a miracle for the Thrashers to make a significant improvement this season. They won't be able to benefit from having a top line like they did last season. Donald Audette is gone, Andrew Brunette probably will be gone, and Ray Ferraro isn't getting younger, or better. Teams will be aware of him and he will produce less. Last I checked, its hard to get better when your top line regresses. Atlanta has plenty of players who need to establish themselves -- Sylvester, Kaberle, Stefan, Tremblay, Buzek, Rhodes, Hnlicka, and now Bartecko to name a few. If they make a big impact this season, then forget all that I said above about Ferraro, Brunette, and Audette. Still, the Thrashers won't make the playoff unless their draft picks produce.

Kyle Kaminski
Ft. Wayne, Ind.

The Thrashers showed tremendous potential in the 2000-01 with one of the best December's of any NHL team. The stellar first line sparked the team into a positive flurry never exhibited by the Thrashers before. Ultimately, however, the team was plagued by injuries too numerous to overcome and crumbled under the lack of depth every expansion team suffers. This year, Atlanta fans should hope for a constant goaltender that the team can place faith in. A dependable goalie holds a team together and will add to the team's overall performance. A solid defensive presence to unify the rear pairs should finally give the team some stability in their own zone, and hopefully Jeff Odgers or Steve Staios can step into this role. Overall, expect an improvement in the Thrashers, who could be contenders in a year or two depending on rookie growth.

Jeff Rice
Atlanta

Leave it up to a top-notch goal-scoring forward (or any professional athlete for that matter) to go towards the money rather than the loyal fans that loved cheering for him a year ago. Of course, I'm talking about Donald Audette, who decided that he "wants to win a Stanley Cup" and refrained from signing basically the same contract with Atlanta. I'm pretty sure Mike Modano had something to do with this, as he did luring Alex Rodriguez away from the Braves, but that's another story for another day.

Bottom line: If Audette wants to stay away from us, let him, the Thrashers will do fine without him. It's not like anyone expects us to win the Stanley Cup, but I believe we will battle for a playoff spot if we can keep the defense healthy. Plus, it's another year for me to be able to display my CHICKEN PARM posters. Did you think I forgot about you this year Ray? Think again, GO CHICKEN PARM!!

Matt
Powder Springs, Ga.