Power Rankings: Thrashers now get Ilya-free preview

Updated Oct. 27

As hard as it is to imagine a team being in a make-or-break period this early in the season, that's the situation the Atlanta Thrashers find themselves in these days.

Think of it as kind of a Rorschach test for the team. Or perhaps more accurately for its captain Ilya Kovalchuk, who will spend the next three to five weeks on the shelf with a broken foot. How the rest of the players respond to his absence could go a long way toward determining whether one of the league's most dynamic players will remain with it after this season.

Kovalchuk, with nine goals already this season, can become an unrestricted free agent next July and so far has declined to sign a new contract with the team that drafted him first overall in 2001. More important, he has expressed his frustration several times over the last few years at the organization's failure to make any real progress. But Kovalchuk has been sounding positive notes this season after Atlanta added veterans Nik Antropov, Maxim Afinogenov and Pavel Kubina.

The newcomers and some strong play by youngsters Evander Kane and Zach Bogosian helped the Thrashers get off to a quick start. Atlanta stumbled last week, dropping three games in a row including one to San Jose when Kovalchuk was injured. Now the issue is whether the Thrashers can keep their heads above water and stay in the playoff race while missing their superstar for a dozen games or so.

If they do, it would go a long way toward convincing Kovalchuk that the team really is on the right track and worth the commitment of a new contract. If not, well ...

"That's why they call it a team," Atlanta coach John Anderson said. "We're not based just on one player. As much as Kovy is a great player and we need him, other guys have to play well too. We need to play like a team."

More than ever.

Here are the power rankings through Monday night's games:

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Sharks · Trends	1
	Thornton, Heatley and Marleau make a pretty good line, don't they? All are among the top five scorers.
	2	Blackhawks · Trends	5
	A Thanksgiving treat is coming for the Blackhawks, who are about to get Marian Hossa in the lineup for the first time this season.
	3	Devils · Trends	2
	Suddenly the road isn't as friendly to the depleted Devils, who have added Dainius Zubrus to the long injured list.
	4	Flyers · Trends	4
	Philly's power play is struggling and the penalty killers have been burned five times in the past three games, twice in a 3-1 loss at Phoenix.
	5	Flames · Trends	6
	Jarome Iginla keeps lighting it up for the Flames, with nine goals in his past 11 games.
	6	Capitals · Trends	7
	Mike Green has been on fire lately and has taken over the scoring lead among D-men.
	7	Penguins · Trends	8
	After a blazing start, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has cooled off in November. He's 3-5 and has been pulled twice.
	8	Sabres · Trends	3
	Good starts weren't enough to overcome less than impressive play at even strength for the Sabres and resulted in an 0-2-1 mark last week.
	9	Predators · Trends	15
	Even if Nashville still isn't scoring much, the power play has been timely lately. And the Preds have nine wins in 11 games, including five in a row.
	10	Senators · Trends	23
	The Sens offense showed some life with 14 goals in wins over Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Toronto last week.
	11	Bruins · Trends	20
	The B's got a boost from Milan Lucic's return and have another one coming with Marc Savard set to go.
	12	Panthers · Trends	22
	Panthers seem to like playing in front of crowds because they swept their trip to Buffalo, Detroit and MSG. Tomas Vokoun has been outstanding in goal, and Florida has won eight of 11.
	13	Red Wings · Trends	9
	Detroit's offense ranks seventh, but the numbers are deceiving because 19 goals came in three games. The Wings have scored two or fewer nine times.
	14	Kings · Trends	10
	Call this gut-check time for the young Kings and particularly Anze Kopitar, with veteran Ryan Smyth on the shelf for a month.
	15	Blue Jackets · Trends	14
	Derick Brassard has been a disappointment this season, with only three goals a minus-8 rating through 20 games.
	16	Canucks · Trends	12
	Slowly but surely getting the key pieces back, with Luongo a couple of weeks ago and now Daniel Sedin.
	17	Coyotes · Trends	18
	Still winning games on the ice, but losing at the box office. Bankruptcy court filings show the 'Yotes could be $50 million in the red from this season.
	18	Avalanche · Trends	13
	Reality may be setting in for the slumping Avs, who have blown two-goal leads to lose the last two games and are 1-4-1 in the last six.
	19	Lightning · Trends	16
	Doing things the hard way. Tampa Bay has been outshot in 10 of the past 11 games, yet the Bolts have managed to get 14 points by going 5-2-4.
	20	Stars · Trends	21
	Brad Richards and linemates James Neal and Loui Eriksson have accounted for nearly half of the Stars' goal-scoring so far.
	21	Thrashers · Trends	11
	Atlanta is struggling at home but tough when it gets a lead. The Thrashers are 7-0 when scoring first and 6-0 when ahead after the first period.
	22	Rangers · Trends	17
	Marian Gaborik and Vinnie Prospal are carrying the offense, but it isn't enough for the free-falling Rangers.
	23	Islanders · Trends	19
	Trent Hunter has been on a roll since returning from the IR with a point in all six of his games.
	24	Blues · Trends	27
	After a quick start, Paul Kariya has picked up only one assist in his past 12 games.
	25	Canadiens · Trends	24
	Carey Price has been a lot better of late, allowing no more than two goals in each of his last five starts.
	26	Oilers · Trends	25
	Coach Pat Quinn, whose Oilers have lost five of six and eight of 10: "There is some intelligence needed in this game, some IQ. We have some skill, but skill hasn't done squat for us yet."
	27	Ducks · Trends	26
	Corey Perry is riding a 14-game point streak, but the Ducks need better work from both of their goalies.
	28	Wild · Trends	28
	Andrew Brunette has stopped scoring with only one goal in 11 games after getting seven in his first 11.
	29	Hurricanes · Trends	30
	Unlike the rest of the 'Canes, Tuomo Ruutu has been on fire lately with four goals and five assists in the last six games.
	30	Maple Leafs · Trends	29
	At least now Vesa Toskala doesn't have to worry about going winless this season.