The only battle the Thrashers were in last season was a friendly one between two rookies.

Dany Heatley and Ilya Kovalchuk each displayed scoring prowess and unending poise that helped give Atlanta fans strong hope for the future. The recent past, however, was not so bright.

	2001-02 by the numbers
	Record: 19-47-11-5, 54 points (30th overall, 15th East, 5th Southeast) Goals for: 187/2.28 (26th overall) Goals against: 288/3.46 (30th overall) Differential: -101 (30th overall) 20-goal scorers: Ilya Kovalchuk (29), Dany Heatley (26) 50-point scorers: Heatley (67), Kovalchuk (51)

The Thrashers finished at rock bottom in 2001-02, posting the league's worst record at 19-47-11-5 and 54 overall points. A little perspective: Detroit won the President's Trophy with 116.

Heatley, 21, who made the big leap from the University of Wisconsin to the NHL, led all rookies in scoring last season with 67 points, including 26 goals. He took home the Calder Trophy, becoming the first Canadian to win the league's top rookie award since goaltender Martin Brodeur in 1994.

Kovalchuk added 59 points with a rookie-best 29 goals despite missing the last 16 games of the season with a shoulder injury.

With such a formidable -- and young -- scoring tandem, what is it going to take for the Thrashers to rise out of the NHL depths?

After allowing a league-high 288 goals last season, a little defense wouldn't hurt.

Looking at next season
Atlanta has had one of the most active offseasons that no one seems to know about. So far, the Thrashers biggest pick-up is 32-year-old unrestricted free-agent defenseman Richard Smehlik, who leaves the Sabres after nine seasons during which he posted a plus-67 rating with 47 goals and 135 assists. With Smehlik, Atlanta adds a proven blue liner, who will be additionally strong in his own end.

Joining Smehlik is another veteran defenseman, Uwe Krupp. At 37, Krupp is more of a risk, especially since he hasn't been the same player since a back injury in 1998 kept him off the ice for two seasons. But the reported one-year deal with numerous incentives gives the Thrashers some insurance.

Restricted free-agent defenseman Yannick Tremblay still isn't signed, but he will be in training camp after filing for arbitration. If the team doesn't reach a deal with him before Aug. 1, it will be the club's first arbitration case. But GM Don Waddell said he is close to a two-year deal with Tremblay, who had offseason shoulder surgery after posting nine goals and 15 assists in 66 games last season.

Despite all the defensive additions, there is still a glaring question mark in net. Numerous knee and groin injuries gave Atlanta no other choice but to let go of Damian Rhodes. Once thought to be a possible franchise player for the Thrashers, Rhodes became an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

As for Milan Hnilicka, it is crucial the Thrashers sign the restricted free agent. In 59 games last season, the 29-year-old netminder established himself as Atlanta's top goalie, posting a .908 save percentage that ranked 14th in the league. Hnilicka made $650,000 last season, and is looking for a raise. Waddell says he wants to sign Hnilicka before training camp, but added the team won't overpay him just to make a deadline.

The Thrashers added experience to their offense attack as well, acquiring left wings Shawn McEachern (Senators) and Vyacheslav Kozlov (Sabres) to the roster via trades. Atlanta also re-signed Pascal Rheaume, a natural winger who also had a small stint centering Heatley and Kovalchuk. Winger Patrik Stefan showed improvement late in the season, but finished with just seven goals and 23 points. The 1999 No. 1 draft pick has not lived up to expectations, so the Thrashers seem destined to keep him when he could be the ultimate trade bait.

That leaves seven unsigned restricted free agents, but Waddell has emphasized in many reports that he won't financially strap the organization.

After last season, for the Thrashers, the only way is up.