The Atlanta Thrashers have signed unrestricted free agent centre Steve Rucchin.


The deal is over three years that will see Rucchin paid $1.85 million in the first season, $2.4 million in the second and $4.25 million in the final year of the deal.

"Steve is a proven veteran with a versatile skill-set that will complement any combination of our wingers, said Thrashers general manager Don Waddell.  "He possesses solid offensive skills, is strong on face-offs and brings additional character and leadership to our line-up."

Rucchin, 34, has recorded 468 points in 688 NHL games in 11 seasons with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and New York Rangers.  He has recorded 50-or-more points in a season five times and has scored 20-or-more goals on three occasions.  In 37 NHL playoff games with the Mighty Ducks and Rangers, he has recorded 17 points.

The 6-3, 215-pound center played in 72 games for the Rangers in 2005-06, his lone season with the team, recording 36 points.  

Originally selected by Anaheim in the 1994 NHL Supplemental Draft, Rucchin spent 10 seasons with the Mighty Ducks, tallying 432 points in 616 games.  The native of Thunder Bay, Ontario helped the Mighty Ducks reach the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals, scoring a team-high seven goals while adding three assists for 10 points in 21 playoff games.

Prior to his professional career, Rucchin played four seasons at the University of Western Ontario of the OUAA, recording 192 points in 140 games.  He was named an OUAA All-Star his final three seasons and was Player of the Year and a First Team All-Canadian selection for his senior season.