Goalie Johan Hedberg, one of the most popular Thrashers, signed a new two-year contract with the team.

Terms of the deal were not released, but Hedberg said Monday his salary will be "about the same" as he made last season. Hedberg, 35, earned $1.15 million for 2007-08, according to the NHL Players' Association.

"I'm very excited to be back," said Hedberg, adding that he and his teammates felt they had some unfinished business after missing the playoffs in his second season in Atlanta.

"We want to set it straight here and come up with a better effort," Hedberg said by phone from his native Sweden.

Hedberg, who was 14-15-3 last season, is the first potential free agent to sign this offseason with Thrashers general manager Don Waddell, and that's no accident. Waddell had no interest in letting him get away.

"This guy is one of the best character players I've ever had the opportunity to coach or manage," Waddell said. "His work ethic, there's nothing like it. This is a key guy to me because I know what he means to our hockey club."

Hedberg's teammates have twice chosen him to receive the Thrashers Players' Award, given to the man best exemplifying the concept of team play. Hedberg, nicknamed "Moose," has been a fan favorite, too.

His signing leaves the Thrashers with an experienced option to go with No. 1 goalie Kari Lehtonen, 24, and top prospect Ondrej Pavelec, 20.

"I really feel like I can help them out, being older and hopefully team-wise wiser, I've been through some things they haven't," Hedberg said. "Hopefully, I can help them out with the mental part and some other parts, too."

Waddell said he typically looks for his starter to play 55 to 60 games a season. He's confident in Hedberg to do what needs being done, whether it means sitting for a 15-game stretch while the other goalie is hot or carrying the team while the other goalie is injured.

Hedberg said this won't necessarily be his last NHL contract.

He plans to play "as long as I feel like I can compete at a high level and my body and my mind is with me. I don't know if it's two years or 10 years. Hopefully, I can have the same feelings in five years I have now."

Other Thrashers free agents include forwards Bobby Holik, Mark Recchi, Eric Boulton and Steve Rucchin and defensemen Steve McCarthy and Mark Popovic. Some might be back, but Waddell said he wants to leave some room on his roster.

"We haven't extended anybody else a contract," Waddell said. "We're being careful. We know the needs of our team. We have to have some opportunity for some new players to come in, but also for some of our younger players," he said, pointing out that the Thrashers' top minor league team, the Chicago Wolves, just won the AHL title.