Patrik Stefan. (AP)

1998-99 record: expansion team
Coach: Curt Fraser (first-year Thrashers coach)
New faces: Everyone, from GM Don Waddell to first-round draft pick C Patrik Stefan
Losses: None
Strengths: Enthusiasm. A full month before the season, the Thrashers announced their first four regular-season games are sellouts. That dispels the misconception that hockey never sold in Atlanta. By choosing Fraser over a host of coaching retreads, Waddell took a bold step. Fraser spent four seasons as coach of the IHL's Orlando Solar Bears, who rallied from a 3-0 deficit to reach the 1999 Turner Cup finals and nearly pulled off a similar comeback before falling one win short. As an expansion team, not much will be expected from the Thrashers. But Waddell pulled a draft day coup by trading up and taking Stefan with the top overall pick.
Weaknesses: Offense. With 13 goals apiece last season, veterans C Ray Ferraro and RW Nelson Emerson are Atlanta's top snipers. While Stefan has a wealth of potential, his durability is questionable after two concussions limited him to 33 games last season with Long Beach of the IHL. As an expansion team in 1998-99, Nashville built around G Mike Dunham. The Thrashers do not have a similar workhorse in the nets, with Norm Maracle and Corey Schwab expected to battle for the backup role behind Damian Rhodes. While Ferraro, Emerson and RW Kelly Buchberger will be counted on to provide veteran leadership, all three have missed significant time in recent years due to injury.
Fraser says: "Certainly, consistency through the year is going to be critical. As long as we don't get too many injuries, that's a major problem. Finding the right mix out there, the right lines, who's going to be able to play with Patrik, who's going to do a good job with Ray. We have 10 real good defensemen, but we can only dress six. So these are the things we have to look out for. But as we get into the season with our team, building the team from within, getting them close and tight, jelling together is going to be very important."