Atlanta Thrashers (12-20-4, 28 pts): The Thrashers have managed to put one of the worst defenses in the league on the ice this season, despite picking up coveted free agent Ron Hainsey in the offseason. The Thrashers have split goaltending duties between three different keepers so far this season, and none of them have a GAA under 3.42.

The Thrashers haven't been terrible on offense. Ilya Kovalchuk (11-24-35) is on pace for another 80 point season, while the aging Slava Kozlov (15-19-34) continues to play well despite his age. 21 year old Bryan Little has emerged as the team's top goal scorer thus far, clearly benefiting from playing with veterans Kozlov and Todd White. Hainsey is contributing what was expected from him offensively, picking up 15 assists thus far this season, but is currently holding a very poor -15 rating.

While Atlanta has managed to score 105 goals, good for 11th in the league, their defensive struggles have completely derailed any hope they had for this season. Star rookie defenseman Zach Bogosian was looking like he could be an immediate contributor at the beginning of the season, but a fractured leg has kept him sidelined to date. His return is supposedly day-to-day at this point, and would be a significant to a defensive corps which has given up a league-worst 132 goals, and boasts only two defenseman with positive plus/minus ratings.

Current League Rankings

Goals - 11th
Goals Against - 30th
Powerplay Goals - 10th
Powerplay Percentage - 11th
Shorthanded Goals - T-27th
Penalty kill percentage - 30th