Thrashers' Valabik to have MRI

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Thrashers defenseman Boris Valabik had an MRI exam on Tuesday on his right leg. Results of the test were not expected before Wednesday. Coach John Anderson declined to give a specific location of the injury, describing it only as a “lower body injury.”

Valabik injured his leg after falling in practice Monday while skating backward. He favored his right leg upon leaving the ice. He did not practice Tuesday.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” Anderson said. “He took a pretty big spill. He was up and moving around so that’s a good sign. We’ll let the MRI do the talking.”

Gratton clears waivers: Forward Josh Gratton cleared waivers on Tuesday and was re-assigned to the team’s AHL affiliate in Chicago. Gratton scored two goals in four exhibition games for the Thrashers during the preseason. The move puts the Thrashers roster at 22 players, clearing the way for forward Colby Armstrong to return from injured reserve. Armstrong, who suffered a groin injury in an exhibition game, is likely to be activated prior to Thursday’s game at St. Louis. Armstrong again skated with the team’s third line – along with Rich Peverley and Evander Kane – in Tuesday’s practice.

Minor-league report: Jason Krog was named captain of the Chicago Wolves. Kevin Doell and Nathan Oystrick were named alternates. The Wolves dropped their season opener on Saturday, a 3-2 loss to Milwaukee. Tim Stapleton and Rylan Kaip scored for the Wolves. Goaltender Drew MacIntyre stopped 35 of 38 shots.

Welch rehabbing: Defenseman Noah Welch, recovering from surgery on the patella tendon in his right knee, continues to rehab at the Thrashers practice facility. Welch, who signed with the Thrashers as an unrestricted free agent in July, said his knee is taking longer to heal than expected. He is scheduled to see doctors next week.

Welch appeared in 73 NHL games with Pittsburgh, Florida and Tampa Bay.

Hitting the road: The Thrashers will leave after Wednesday’s practice for the first two legs of a five-game road trip. The Thrashers play at St. Louis on Thursday and at Ottawa on Saturday.

“Obviously we’d like a few more home games, but it will be like we are back in training camp,” veteran defenseman Pavel Kubina said. “We’ll spend time as a team, maybe have a few team dinners and get to know each other a little. You pretty much spend all day around your teammates.”

The Thrashers don’t play again at Philips Arena until Oct. 22.

“Sometimes the road trips bring your team a little bit together because you are spending time together on the road, as opposed to after practices where everyone heads their separate ways,” Anderson said.

Filling up the stat sheet: The Thrashers had 11 players score points in Saturday’s season-opening win over Tampa Bay.

Ilya Kovalchuk and Peverley each had two goals and one assist. Tobias Enstrom and Bryan Little each had two assists. Anssi Salmela and Zach Bogosian each scored a goal and Eric Boulton, Max Afinogenov, Chris Thorburn, Kubina and Kane all had assists.