Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Bryan Little and Andrei Zubarev are in town and skating at the Ice Forum for an informal team skate. Both seem positive that something will be worked out as far as contract talks go, and C-Viv seems positive that signing announcements will come in the week.
Little will be encouraged to get as close to his 31 goal campaign as he possibly can this year, after dropping off and only scoring 13 goals last season. His numbers suffered in a classic guilt by association setting when Todd White and Slava Kozlov disappointed on the power play and Little stumbled with them.
Zubarev was the Thrashers’ sixth round pick in 2005, and the defenseman has been playing in Russia since then. No word on when (or if) he will be coming over to join the team if a contract deal gets done.