By MIKE KNOBLER The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Friday, September 26, 2008 St. Louis — Mathieu Schneider says he feels young enough to play three or four more NHL seasons. For now, the Thrashers are counting on only one, and if it’s as good as they think it could be Friday might turn out to be a turning point in franchise history. The Thrashers added about $4 million in payroll to get Schneider, a two-time all-star defenseman who at 39 might still have the skills to be a difference-maker. Schneider became the team’s oldest and second-highest-paid player on Friday when the Thrashers picked him up in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks. He cost relatively little in personnel — defenseman Ken Klee and forwards Brad Larsen and Chad Painchaud — but a lot in salary. He’s in the second year of a two-year, $11.25 million contract. “He’s a player we can lean on in many, many ways,” Thrashers general manager Don Waddell said in a teleconference with reporters, adding that Schneider will bolster the defense, be the catalyst on the power play and make the kind of passes out of the defensive zone that will jump start the offense. The 19-year NHL veteran also could serve as a mentor to 18-year-old Zach Bogosian, the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft. “A player like Matt could help him immensely,” Waddell said. Schneider said he was “extremely happy” with the trade, in part because his brother, Jean-Alain, lives in Atlanta. He also said he’s excited about playing alongside the Thrashers’ young talent. AJC
