Thrashers may move Byfuglien to defense

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dustin Byfuglien may be on the move again.

The forward, obtained by the Thrashers in a June trade with Chicago, could move to defense this season, according to general manager Rick Dudley. Byfuglien did play some defense in Chicago, where Dudley was assistant general manager before joining the Thrashers prior to last season.

“It’s a position that he likes to play,” Dudley told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It’s a position that I thought he was well on his way to being a top, top defenseman in Chicago. We moved him to forward because we had no size up front. Obviously, he proved to be a very effective forward but that doesn’t mean he’s not an effective defenseman.”

Surgery update

-- Forward Nik Antropov started skating last week as he recovers from offseason hip surgery. He said he hopes to be ready by the start of training camp.

“Slowly but surely,” Antropov said of the rehab process after taking part in a voluntary workout with other team members. “… I hope [to be ready by training camp]. Hopefully, yes, but maybe two or three days after. We have to wait and see how it reacts. Every day is a new day for me.”

-- Boris Valabik is skating and feeling good – and that’s a big deal.

The Thrashers defenseman was limited to 23 games last season that started with an ankle injury and ended with a torn ACL in his left knee.

“I feel good and I feel confident,” Valabik said. “I really hope to stay healthy this year. Enough is enough.”

Valabik, the Thrashers first-round pick (No. 10 overall) in 2004, missed the first 16 games of the season after injuring his ankle in training camp. His season abruptly ended in February when he tore his knee ligament in a game at Washington. He knows the importance of the upcoming season, which will be his third full year in the NHL.

“I need to feel confident in order to play well,” Valabik said. “In order to feel confident I need to play. It’s a vicious circle. My first year, I didn’t feel confident – new guys, new team, new league. My second year, last year, I played well when I was healthy and I felt really good when I was healthy. I finally told myself, I can play in this league. That was very important. That was a big turnaround for me. Then I got hurt. At least now I know if I keep working, I can be successful. It’s huge for me. This is the year to be successful.”

Signing update

The Thrashers remain far apart in contract negotiations with restricted free agent forward Niclas Bergfors. After re-signing restricted free agent Bryan Little last week, the Thrashers turned their attention to Bergors. However, according to Dudley, the two sides differ on terms of a new deal.

“Once again, perhaps what we view the player and what they view the player may not be exactly the same,” Dudley said. “The truth is, and I’ve kept to this, we will not do a deal where if there is a situation where we placed a player on waivers tomorrow, would he be claimed? If we are going to give him more money than that, then it’s silly. That’s been true of every player we’ve signed.”

Begfors’ agent J.P. Barry did not return phone calls.

Tryout

Defenseman Kyle McLaren will be invited to training camp on a pro tryout. McLaren, a 12-year NHL veteran, played for Boston and San Jose. He has not appeared in an NHL game in two seasons after spending the 2008-09 with San Jose’s AHL affiliate in Worchester. He has also battled a knee injury.

“His agent, I’ve know a long time and he assures me he’s got his health back,” Dudley said.

The Thrashers may also invite one more player to training camp on a pro tryout, according to Dudley.