Thrashers top goalie spot 'up for grabs'

By CHRIS VIVLAMORE

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Kari Lehtonen did not take part in Sunday’s practice, the Thrashers’ first of training camp. The goalie is recovering from off-season back surgery.

Lehtonen was not expected to miss training camp following the surgery, but coach John Anderson said Sunday he did not have a timetable for Lehtonen’s return.

“Backs are a little iffy, so right now I wouldn’t want to speculate,” Anderson said. “The trainer has to tell me how he feels. The sooner the better, but right now no one knows.”

In Lehtonen’s absence, Johan Hedberg, Ondrej Pavelec, Drew MacIntyre and Manny Legace practiced in goal.

“Right now, he’s not in the mix,” Anderson said of Lehtonen. “Saying he’s No. 1, that’s not true. I’ll put him in when he’s actually ready, but right now the No. 1 job is up for grabs. Right now there are four guys that look really good out there.

“I want to make sure we get off to a good start and I want to establish a No. 1 goalie early on. If Kari is not here [finding a No. 1 goalie] is a priority of our training camp.”

Kane on track

Want a sign that Evander Kane has an inside track to make the Thrashers’ roster? Look no further than the line he played on during the first practice.

Kane, the team’s top draf pick this year (No. 4 overall), was the right wing on a line with Marty Reasoner and Colby Armstrong.

“We want them to get used to each other right away,” Anderson said. “If we have to move them around, we’ll move them around. Training camp is so short. We only have six games. We might as well get them used to each other as soon as possible.”

Kane scored five goals in four games during last week’s Prospect Evaluation Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan.

“I wanted to make the statement that I was the best player in that tournament,” Kane said.

Kane would be only the third 18-year old to make the Thrashers roster, joining Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Bogosian.

“It’s great playing with those guys,” Kane said of his training camp line. “They’ve been around the league for so many years. I’m just trying to learn from them and keep up with them. It’s great playing with those guys and hopefully I can be their linemate.”

The team’s top line of Nik Antropov, Bryan Little and Kovalchuk also skated together.

Kubina on trade

Pavel Kubina must not have heard the trade rumors.

The Thrashers obtained the 6-foot-4, 245-pound defenseman in an offseason trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

His reaction?

“I was shocked,” Kubina said. “A friend of mine called me from Toronto and said ‘You are going to Atlanta.’ I said ‘Really? Well, better players than me have been traded before.’ This was my first time ever I got traded. I thought about it and I had a good feeling about it.”

Etc.

● Toby Enstrom said he is completely recovered from the facial fractures he suffered playing for Sweden in the World Championships.

“I don’t remember much what happened and I haven’t seen it,” Enstrom said of the hit from Martins Karsmus. “Right now, everything is OK. I took four weeks off to recover. Everything is good.”

● During physical testing on Saturday before training camp, veteran Slava Kozlov had the best time in the cardio test known as the VO2.

“Yeah, our 60-year-old won the VO2,” Anderson joked.

Well, almost. Kozlov is 37 years old.

● Kovalchuk said it is important for the Thrashers to get off to a good start -- not an easy task considering that after opening the season at home, the Thrashers play the next five games on the road.

“The first 10 or 15 games are going to be the difference on how you play the season,” Kovalchuk said. “Sometimes you start picking up later on but it’s too late.”