Thrashers focus on five areas to improve

Here is what the Thrashers did, or plan to do, to address some of last season’s weaknesses:

Change the attitude

The hiring of head coach John Anderson from the Chicago Wolves was only partly about X’s and O’s. Those who have worked with him say he excels at working with people, getting them to believe in themselves and pushing them to achieve a common goal. It brought Anderson five championships and 12 playoff berths in 13 seasons in the minor leagues. For the Thrashers, who have never won a playoff game, learning how to win is an important obstacle to overcome.

Revamp NHL’s worst defense

Nobody allowed as many shots on goal as the Thrashers last season, and only Tampa Bay allowed as many goals. That should change after an offseason in which the Thrashers cleaned house on the blue line. Only three of the seven defensemen on the opening-day roster played for the team last season.

The Thrashers traded for veteran Mathieu Schneider, spent big money on free agent Ron Hainsey, used their No. 3 overall draft pick to choose Zach Bogosian and promoted Nathan Oystrick from AHL champion Chicago.

Upgrade the penalty kill

The signing of free agent center Marty Reasoner from Edmonton might be the most important step in this area, as this statistical comparison shows: Edmonton ranked fifth-best in the league in penalty killing last season, and the Thrashers ranked fourth-worst.

Reasoner spent more shorthanded time on ice than any other Oilers forward. He has jumped right into that role with the Thrashers.

Improve the power play

Good offense isn’t only about good forwards, and Schneider and Hainsey are power-play pros. Hainsey led Columbus in power play points last season with 23. Schneider’s excellent slap shot helped him to 17 power play points for Anaheim.

The personnel won’t be the only change when the Thrashers have a man advantage. Ilya Kovalchuk will be moving around, making it more difficult for defenses to scheme to stop him.

“You’re going to see Kovalchuk not just on the point. You’re going to see him in different spots,” Anderson said. “They don’t know whether to cover him in a certain area or another area.”

Bring back the old Kozlov

At $3.85 million a year, Slava Kozlov is the Thrashers’ second-highest paid forward. They need him to play that way and think he will after offseason knee and shoulder surgeries. The knee nagged him off and on all last season; the shoulder bothered him the last four months. That might help explain why his goal and points totals were the lowest in his five Thrashers seasons.

A healthy Kozlov scores 20-something goals and has 40-something assists, totals that would go a long way toward making the Thrashers playoff contenders.