"Nigel Dawes is looking to put down some roots. On his fourth team in two years, Dawes is fighting for roster spot with the Thrashers. After stints with the New York Rangers, Phoenix and Calgary, the forward is in Atlanta's training camp just two weeks after agreeing to a contract. "I've been traveling a lot the last few years," Dawes said. "I want to find a steady place here and be in the lineup every game. I want to be able to contribute and stick around on a team and be part of it." Dawes was in the lineup when the Thrashers opened the preseason against Columbus at Philips Arena on Tuesday night. The Thrashers got a goal and an assist from Bryan Little and Fredrik Petterson in a 5-2 loss to Columbus. The Blue Jackets scored twice early in the first-period, 28 seconds a part, en route to the win. They score once in the second period and twice in the third. Little scored a first-period power-play goal with assists from Jaime Sifers and Pettersson. Pettersson knocked in the rebound of a Little shot in the third period. Freddy Meyer got the assist. Ondrej Pavelec took the loss, stopping 21 of 26 shots. The Thrashers used the game to look at several prospects. Six players who have never appeared in an NHL game dressed. They also wanted to look at several veterans, including Dawes, Sifers, Meyer and Patrick Rissmiller. "I thought Dawes did a great job for us," Thrashers coach Craig Ramsay said following the game. Dawes, 25, knows what he is up against. He doesn't lack for confidence." http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-thrashers/nigel-dawes-hoping-for-618539.html
