Sports Page Atlanta

Just like their next door neighbors the Falcons, the Atlanta Thrashers will have the 3rd pick of the draft. In a lottery drawn on Monday, Atlanta’s Southeast Division rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning won and will pick first (which will most likely be center Steven Stampkos unless they trade it.) The Los Angeles Kings will pick second.

This will be the first time the Thrashers will select 3rd overall. Here is a list of the first picks in the team’s history…

• 1999: C - Patrik Stephan (1st overall)
• 2000: LW - Dany Heatley (2nd overall)
• 2001: LW - Ilya Kovalchuk (1st overall)
• 2002: G - Kari Lehtonen (2nd overall)
• 2003: D - Braydon Coburn (8th overall)
• 2004: D - Boris Valabik (10th overall)
• 2005: RW - Alex Bourret (16th overall)
• 2006: C - Bryan Little (12th overall)
• 2007: RW - Spencer Machacek (67th overall)

photo credit: Timmy!!one