Atlanta Thrashers re-sign Niclas Bergfors
The Atlanta Thrashers have announced that they have signed forward Niclas Bergfors to a one-year contract worth $900,000. The deal ensures that the youngster will be available for training camp and the pre-season.
Bergfors was drafted 23rd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 2005 National Hockey League entry draft. The youngster joined the Devils organization in 2005-06 spending the better part of the next four seasons with New Jersey’s American Hockey League affiliate the Albany River Rats and then Lowell Devils, after the team moved for the 2006-07 campaign. Bergfors had his best season with the club in 2008-09, managing 22 goals and 51 points in 66 games. Last season was the Swedish native's first in the league and he was traded to the Thrashers as part of the deal that brought Ilya Kovalchuk to New Jersey.
Bergfors is expected to play a major role for the organization going forward and the Thrashers brass is likely to be unhappy with a one-year deal. Although, they will be able to take solace in the fact that Bergfors is once again a restricted free agent at the end of the 2010-11 season.
Bergfors performed well in his rookie season and is likely to see his minutes increased heading into his sophomore campaign. The Thrashers are full of mid-level talent up front and Bergfors can expect to see time on the team’s second line, perhaps with fellow youngsters Bryan Little and Evander Kane. Moreover, Bergfors is also likely to garner power play time on the club’s second unit. This additional ice time and responsibility should increase the wingers numbers from last season.
Bergfors has quickly established himself as one of the League’s most promising young forwards and if he is able to build on his already impressive numbers from 2009-10 he could be looking at a multi-year deal at the end of the season.
Last year, split between the Devils and the Thrashers, Bergfors managed 21 goals and 23 assists for 44 points.
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