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Thrashers agree to three-year deal with D Havelid

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Thrashers were satisfied with how
Niclas Havelid helped anchor their defense.

The Thrashers agreed to a three-year contract with the
defenseman on Wednesday.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Playing in his first season with Atlanta in 2005-06, the
33-year-old blue-liner recorded four goals and a career-high 28
assists while appearing in all 82 games. Among team defensemen,
Havelid finished second in assists and third in both goals and
points.

With Havelid in the mix, the Thrashers recorded the first
winning season in their six-year existence, just missing out on
the playoffs with a 41-33-8 record and 90 points.

"Niclas is the ultimate professional who provided a tremendous
amount of skill, experience and character throughout his first
season with the team," Thrashers general manager Don Waddell
said. "He is a huge factor in the strength of our defense and
in our locker room, and we are very pleased that he will
continue to be a pivotal part of our success next season and
beyond."

Acquired from Anaheim in a trade for fellow defenseman Kurtis
Foster in June 2004, Havelid has notched 28 goals and 89 assists
in 392 career games with the Mighty Ducks and Thrashers.

A native of Sweden, Havelid was a member of his country's
gold-medal winning squad at the Winter Olympics in Torino this
past February.

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