The only certainty for NHL teams heading into training camp is that there is bound to be some areas of uncertainty surrounding every team. The Thrashers hit the ice for the first time as a team on Sept. 20 at the Duluth IceForum and there is no shortage of questions as the team looks for a fresh start. Here are the top five training camp questions facing the Thrashers that should be answered by the time the puck drops on October 10 to open the season.

1. Who will center Ilya Kovalchuk on the team's top line?

John Anderson was asked that question on Thursday when he addressed the media in Duluth and he was reluctant to tip his hand. Kovalchuk has played with a variety of centers over the last two seasons and auditions will be held for that role again. Erik Christensen may be the front-runner but don't rule out Bryan Little, Todd White, Eric Perrin or Jason Williams who played as a right wing last year but also has experience as a pivot. Coach Anderson was quick to point out that despite all of the media claims that Ilya need a better center he still managed to score 52 goals last season, so his need for an elite center might be overblown.

2. Will Zach Bogosian make the team out of camp?

The third overall pick in this year's NHL Entry Draft has impressed all who have watched him this summer, whether it was at the NHL Combine, the Thrashers Prospect Camp, the USA Hockey junior camp in Lake Placid, or the Traverse City Prospect Evaluation Tournament. There's little doubt that the 18-year-old defenseman is physically ready. The question is whether or not he can adjust to playing against the best competition in the world on a nightly basis. The Thrashers could choose to play Bogosian in as many as nine regular season games before making a decision on whether or not to keep him in the NHL or send him back to his junior team in the OHL. If he plays a 10th NHL game it will count as a year played on his contract.

Related Links Training Camp Schedule & Roster Management Press Conference Traverse City Summary Zach Bogosian's Blog

3. Which seven defensemen will make the team?

Zach Bogosian isn't the only question mark on defense. Four defensemen are retuning from last season (Nic Havelid, Toby Enstrom, Garnet Exelby and Ken Klee) and Ron Hainsey was brought in via free agency. If you presume those five make the squad (and though that's likely there are no guarantees) then that leaves two spots for the likes of Bogosian, 6-7, 240 lb Boris Valabik, rising star Arturs Kulda, Wolves veteran Grant Lewis and wildcard Jamie Rivers who is an invitee who has a contract with the Wolves but not the Thrashers. The 31-year-old from Ottawa has 454 games of NHL experience with the Blues, Islanders, Senators, Bruins, Panthers, Red Wings and Coyotes. If one of the rookies isn't deemed to be ready don't be surprised if Rivers gets a contract from the Thrashers.

4. Who will earn letters?

Being a captain is an honor that isn't taken lightly in the NHL and the Thrashers find themselves without a captain heading into training camp. Coach Anderson has said that he plans to select three or four assistant captains before the season starts and then he'll select a captain out of that group at some point after the season begins. Nic Havelid, Slava Kozlov and Ilya Kovalchuk are the returning assistant captains but it's not necessarily a given that all three will be selected again. Who will emerge as the natural leaders of this team during camp? Will it be longer tenured Thrashers like Kozlov and Garnet Exelby, elder statesmen like Havelid and Ken Klee, newcomers like Marty Reasoner, Ron Hainsey and Jason Williams or players who have been in Atlanta for a season or less like Eric Perrin and Chris Thorburn? There is no shortage of players deserving to wear a letter with pride.

5. Who will be the biggest surprise?

Much of the uncertainty surrounding this team is focused on the forwards. 31 of them will come to camp and 29 of them have contracts for next season. Some are seasoned veterans and others are just turning pro. All of them have eyes on a roster spot. Could one of the dark horses like Angelo Esposito, Spencer Machacek or Riley Holzapfel stick even though they're coming out of junior hockey? Will any of the players like Colin Stuart, Jordan LaVallee and Brett Sterling who spent the bulk of last season in Chicago with John Anderson make the jump this year? With several forward spots being up for grabs there is bound to be a surprise or two.

Author: By Ben Wright | Atlanta Thrashers