Minor league affiliates ink key players; Tampa Bay makes move to bolster defense

With the beginning of training camp just a few weeks away, the Thrashers have remained quiet, undergoing their final preparations for the 2008-09 season. While all are still awaiting the signing of first-round draft pick Zach Bogosian, a few more signings were made for players with Atlantas two minor-league affiliates, the Gwinnett Gladiators and Chicago Wolves.
The Gladiators last week announced the signing of three players to their 2008-09 squad. Gwinnett signed Bruce Graham, along with Jon Sitko and Phil Youngclaus.
Last year, Graham split time with both of the New York Rangers minor league teams, the Charlotte Checkers and Hartford Wolfpack. Last season, he collected 12 goals and 27 assists while playing in both the ECHL and AHL. He has been one of the most productive defensemen in the ECHL, ranking fifth and third overall on the team in scoring in each of the last two seasons.
Sitko re-signed with the Gladiators after two previous seasons in Gwinnett. Last year the defenseman notched two assists in 36 games with the team.
Youngclaus arrives in Gwinnett after coming from the Pensacola Ice Pilots. The defenseman played in 70 games last year with the Pilots, only his second year in professional hockey, and recorded one goal and 13 assists for Pensacola.
Along with the Gladiators, the Thrashers Triple-A affiliate has also busy building their roster for next season. The Wolves re-signed centers Matt Anderson along with Steve Martins last week. Martins, a 10-year NHL veteran, enters his second consecutive year with the team after posting two goals and seven assists during the teams Calder Cup Championship run. He has played for six NHL teams, but has yet to make it to the NHL as a member of the Thrashers.
Anderson, on the other hand, sits on the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of hockey experience. After earning an Amateur Tryout Contract with the Wolves, Anderson returned to Gwinnett to begin last year before being called up to Chicago. Anderson notched two points in 11 playoff games after the Gladiators were eliminated from the playoffs. At only 25 years old, Anderson is a name to remember for Thrashers fans, as he could be called up next season after an injury or a cut during training camp.
ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST
It was the Tampa Bay Lightning making the biggest noise across the Southeast last week, trading for defenseman Andrej Meszaros from the Ottawa Senators on Friday. Tampa gave up defensemen Filip Kuba and Alexandre Picard along with a 2009 first-round draft pick. Meszaros became expendable after contract negotiations stalled between the Senators and the restricted free-agent. In his first three seasons, Meszaros accumulated 26 goals along with 84 assists for Ottawa.
Boral can be reached atjboral@scoreatl.com.