Thrashers Name First Captain

September 28, 1999 / 9:25 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Kelly Buchberger, who spent the last four years as captain of the Edmonton Oilers, will be the first captain for the expansion Atlanta Thrashers.

The team named Buchberger captain on Tuesday, a move widely expected since the 32-year-old right wing was acquired from Edmonton in the expansion draft.

Also, the Thrashers pared their roster to 27 players by assigning goaltender Corey Schwab and left wing Jason Botterill to Orlando of the International Hockey League.

The Thrashers also released right wing Alexei Yegerov, meaning Atlanta will have to cut four more players before Saturday night's opener against New Jersey.

Buchberger spent 13 seasons with the Oilers, playing on three Stanley Cup teams and taking over as captain in 1995.

Schwab, who played 40 games last season for Tampa Bay, provides minor-league insurance for the Thrashers. The top two goalies are Damian Rhodes and Norm Maracle.

Botterill scored one goal and had seven penalty minutes in four exhibition games, while Yegerov had not played during the preseason.