Bondra signs with Atlanta

ATLANTA - Unrestricted free agent Peter Bondra signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Thrashers on Sunday.

The deal was thought to include a base salary of around $500,000 and he could earn another $2.9 million if the Thrashers win the Stanley Cup.

Bondra reported to Thrashers training camp when it opened last Tuesday and has been working out with the team. He was not with them for Sunday night's exhibition game in Montreal, but team spokesman Rob Koch said the forward will be on the ice when the team practices Tuesday.

The 37-year-old Bondra, only 23 goals shy of 500 in his career, split the 2003-04 season between Washington and Ottawa. He had 26 goals and 23 assists in 77 games.

The Thrashers were looking to upgrade their depth up front - especially with star Ilya Kovalchuk still unsigned. His agent has raised the possibility that 41-goal scorer could play in his native Russia this season if he can't reach a deal with Atlanta.

In his prime, Bondra was one of the league's most gifted scorers. He led the NHL with 52 goals in both 1995-96 and 97-98, both years with the Capitals. Two other times, he surpassed 40 goals.

Overall, Bondra has reached 30 goals nine times in his 14-season career, nearly all of it spent with the Capitals. He has 477 goals and 362 assists in 984 games.