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Best In Show Winner Declared
Atlanta general manager Don Waddell all but confirmed to FanHouse Wednesday morning that 2009 fourth-overall pick Evander Kane will not be returned to the WHL and will be with the Thrashers all season."Evander is certainly making the decision easy for us," Waddell said in a phone conversation.
Kane just turned 18 in August. By comparison, Islanders first-overall pick John Tavares turned 19 in September. Like any player on his entry level deal, Kane could be sent back to junior hockey before his 10th NHL game and a year would not burn off his contract.
This is very unlikely to happen, now that management has an even better idea of what they have in their first round pick.
The Atlanta center prepared himself to play in the NHL this season. According to Waddell, Kane was 162 pounds in the summer of 2008. At the start of the '09-10 season he was 190 pounds with just 4 percent body fat.
The Thrashers have only played three games so far and their next one is not until Friday in New Jersey. Kane has a goal and an assist, but his play and his approach since the start of training camp give Waddell confidence the young man is ready for the challenges of his rookie NHL season.
"He's used to a first-line role in junior (WHL Vancouver) and he's not getting power play time here because the coaching staff is wisely breaking him in. Evander understands this is a process for him and he's really adapted strongly. He has the speed and the hockey sense to excel at this level right now."
Plenty can happen as the Thrashers play six games over the next two weeks. However, since Waddell appears convinced Kane has the poise to handle anything, count on the top pick being in Atlanta all season.
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