Atlanta Thrashers Sign Unrestricted Free Agent Right Wing ..

ATLANTA, GA (Sept. 18, 2005) -- The Atlanta Thrashers have signed
unrestricted free agent right wing Peter Bondra, according to Executive
Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell. Terms of the deal were
not disclosed.

"Peter has been a very explosive scorer and talented winger in this
league for many years and we are very fortunate to add another veteran
player of his caliber," said Waddell. "He brings another offensive
dimension to our lineup and the entire Thrashers organization will
benefit from his years of NHL experience and success."

Bondra, 37, has earned 839 points (477 goals, 362 assists) in 984 NHL
games over 14 seasons with Washington and Ottawa. In the last 10
seasons, he has recorded more goals (376) than any player in the NHL,
with the exception of Jaromir Jagr (412), and ranks third in the league
in power-play goals in that time (117). Since entering the NHL in 1990,
only four players have recorded more goals than Bondra (Brett Hull,
Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan, Joe Sakic). Bondra, who has appeared in
the NHL All-Star Game five times (1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1993),
currently ranks 13th among active NHL players in goals and is 40th all-
time.

Bondra has recorded 20-or-more goals in the past 13 NHL seasons,
including 30-or-more goals nine times and at least 40 goals on four
occasions. He has twice recorded 52 goals in a season and led the NHL in
goals two times (1997-98, 1994-95) and power-play goals twice (2001-02,
2000-01). He has collected at least 70 points six times and set a career
high with 85 in 1992-93.

Bondra split the 2003-04 season between Washington and Ottawa after
being dealt to the Senators for Brooks Laich, Ottawa's second-round
choice in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and future considerations on Feb. 18,
2004. He scored 49 points (26 goals, 23 assists) in 75 games for the
Capitals and Senators and tied for fifth in the league with 14 power-
play goals. He appeared in seven playoff games with Ottawa. Last season,
he appeared in six games for Poprad of the Slovakian Extraleague,
recording six points (four goals, two assists).

The 6-1, 205-pound right wing has played all but 23 games of his NHL
career with Washington, and is the Capitals all-time leader in points
(825), goals (472), power-play tallies (137), game-winning goals (73)
and short-handed tallies (32), and ranks second in games (961), and
sixth in assists (353). Born in Luck, Ukraine and raised in Slovakia,
Bondra was selected by the Capitals in the eighth round, 156th overall,
in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.

Bondra, who has played in at least 75 games over the past four NHL
seasons, helped Washington reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs 11 times,
including a trip to the finals in 1998. Bondra, who has recorded 56
points (30 goals, 26 assists) in 80 playoff contests, shared the team
lead with seven goals and was fourth with 12 points in the 1998 Stanley
Cup Playoffs.

Bondra has represented Slovakia on four occasions in international
competition, including the 1998 Winter Olympics, the 1996 World Cup of
Hockey and the World Championships in 2002 and 2003. He scored a
tournament-leading seven goals and ranked third among all players with
nine points to lead Slovakia to the gold medal at the 2002 World
Championships. He notched five points (three goals, two assists) in
eight games to help Slovakia earn the bronze medal at the 2003 World
Championships.