With the Los Angeles Kings last season, Modry had five goals and 27 assists in 79 games, and compiled a rating of plus-11.
``He's a guy we targeted,'' Atlanta general manager Don Waddell said. ``We wanted him to be a Thrasher, and we got with his agent and got a deal done.''
The Thrashers acquired 31-year-old defenseman Niclas Havelid in a trade with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks on draft day, and the addition of Modry solidifies what was a weakness for Atlanta.
In the draft, the Thrashers selected teenager Boris Valabik another defenseman with the 10th overall pick. They also went with defense in the 2003 draft, taking Braydon Coburn.
Those two are seen as the future in Atlanta. For now, Modry and Havelid are the present.
``We feel like we're set on defense,'' Waddell said.
He likely will turn his attention to the team's restricted free agents, a long list that includes stars Dany Heatley and Ilya Kovalchuk. After that, Waddell might add a center, but for the most part, he feels good about the roster.
``We might get another forward in the next month or so, but this is it for right now,'' he said.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/7/156532