Thrashers trade Ilya Kovalchuk to New Jersey
By Chris Vivlamore
WASHINGTON — That didn’t take long.
One day after informing Ilya Kovalchuk that he would be traded, the Thrashers on Thursday night sent its franchise player to New Jersey for two players, a prospect and a first-round draft pick.
The Thrashers swapped Kovalchuk and defenseman Anssi Salmela to the Devils for forward Nicklas Bergfors, defenseman Johnny Oduya, center Patrice Cormier and a first-round pick in this year’s draft. The teams also traded second-round picks this year.
Circle April 6th on your calendar. That’s when Kovalchuk returns to Philips Arena in his new uniform.
After months of negotiations on a long-term contract, Kovalchuk, the franchise’s all-time leader in every major offensive category, turned down the team’s final offer that was worth over $100 million. At that point, negotiations were terminated.
“At the end of the day, we felt we did everything in our power,” Thrashers general manager Don Waddell said in an impromptu press briefing in the lobby of the team hotel. “When you start talking over $100 million, it’s a lot of money.
“As we found out, it was all about money. We built a team that Kovy liked. We knew Kovy wanted to stay in Atlanta for the rest of his career if he could. But when you start looking at trying to sign a player to that kind of contract, tell me which one of our young players — [Evander] Kane or [Zach] Bogosian — you want me to trade, because there is no way you can be able to afford these players going forward.”
In return for Kovalchuk, who will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, the Thrashers received:
–Bergfors, 22, ranks fifth among NHL rookies with 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) and is third in goals. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound right wing ranks fifth on the Devils in points and goals and is sixth in assists.
–Oduya, 28, has appeared in 40 games for the Devils with four points (two goals, two assists). The 6-foot, 200-pound defenseman will represent Sweden at the upcoming Winter Olympics.
–Cormier, 19, had 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 31 games this season with Rimouski and Rouyn-Noranda of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. That was prior to his being suspended for the remainder of the season for throwing a well-publicized elbow into an opposing player. The center served as captain for the Canadian team at the 2010 World Junior Championship.
In trading Kovalchuk, Waddell said the team will be changing its identity.
“This isn’t a knock on Kovy, but Kovy’s been here eight years and we still haven’t won a playoff game,” Waddell said. “This team has to take a different identity. We’ve built around one player for a long time now. It’s time to build this around a team. I think this gives us an opportunity to do it. …
“For fans, it’s tough to swallow, but the bottom line is we need to win hockey games.”
Waddell said he spoke to Kovalchuk only briefly to inform him of his destination.
Jay Grossman, Kovalchuk’s agent, said the player had mixed reactions.
“He is sad to leave Atlanta but it looking forward to the opportunities ahead,” Grossman said.
Once it was clear the team could not re-sign Kovalchuk, Waddell last month began to seek a trade. He said 10 to 12 teams expressed interest in the Atlanta captain with six or seven showing serious interest. Waddell said the Devils entered the picture late, after he scouted a Devils-Kings game last week.
“This fit everything we were looking for,” Waddell said. “We were looking for players to put on our NHL team as we speak. We also were looking to add some assets into the basket. We think we did that very strongly.”
The Thrashers also return Salmela to New Jersey, where he made his NHL debut in 2008-09. The defenseman appeared in 29 games this season with five points (one goal, four assists).
For his part, Kovalchuk knew this was coming.
“Everybody in the locker room can be traded,” Kovalchuk said Thursday morning, before departing with the team for Washington. “I’m in the same position as anybody. If they tell me I can be traded, that’s OK too. I just have to show up and play [until then].
“It’s a business.”
Kovalchuk had been seeking the maximum salary allowed under the collective bargaining agreement, which is 20 percent of the salary cap, or roughly $11.3 million per season. Grossman, confirmed that he had not come off that number during negotiations and was asking for a “lifetime” contract in the 10-to-12-year range.
The Thrashers offered multiple deals, none close to that range. Waddell offered close to the maximum money ($10 million a year) but only in shorter-term contracts (three, five or seven years). The Thrashers’ last offer on the table was for $101 million. But that spanned 12 seasons for an annual average of $8.42 million.
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102 comments Add your comment
R. Stroz
February 4th, 2010
9:01 pm
FIRE WADDELL
waffleboy
February 4th, 2010
9:04 pm
Any word on whether Oduya or Bergsfor may play tomorrow night?
Russian
February 4th, 2010
9:05 pm
FIRE THAT IDIOT.
We got nothing to return. Hossa deal was bad, but this deal HORRIBLE. I hope that Don will be fire tomorrow.
Russian
February 4th, 2010
9:06 pm
No I do not think so they are going to play tomorrow. They will be in lines on away games.
Bob
February 4th, 2010
9:16 pm
did I see we swapped 2nd rounders in 2010 with them as well? So we gave up 15/20? spots in the 2nd round, Salmela and Kovy. So we got Colby Armstrong, Esposito, and a late 1st for Kovy? nice job, Don.
kracker
February 4th, 2010
9:17 pm
HF on Patrice Cormier:
Talent Analysis
Cormier has a very intriguing package of skills. At 6′2, 201 lbs, he is well built to play a power-forward type of game, and he’s definitely not afraid to play that way. Cormier has good hockey sense and an above average shot. He forechecks aggressively, throwing his weight around and will power his way to the front of the net with the puck to create offense. He works hard at both ends of the rink and is a contributor on both the power play and penalty kill.
Future
While Cormier may not be the most naturally gifted player, he’s about as well-rounded a prospect as the Devils have coming up right now. He possesses both the offensive skill set and defensive acumen to eventually be a two-way force at the next level. Having just signed his first pro contract this summer, Cormier will look to make an impact in training camp, and unless he finds his way onto the Devils roster, he will return to Rimouski for the 2009-10 season, with an eye towards turning pro in 2010-11.
Me : “…he’s about as well-rounded a prospect as the Devils have coming up right now.” Nice. He’s no Kovalchuk…but I like the part about him playing both ends and his ‘defensive acumen’
Imagine, a forward that backchecks!
Curly
February 4th, 2010
9:19 pm
Good trade for a One-way rental player.
Oduya – top 4 defensmen (Olympic Caliber)
Bergfors – Rookie – good NHL ready prospect (1st Rd. pick in 2005)
Cormier – Great prospect – Captain of Team Canada, plays physical game
Plus late 2010 first round pick.
R. Stroz
February 4th, 2010
9:21 pm
The problem with Cormier is that he might be spending time in jail.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Video-Patrice-Cormier-s-elbow-could-lead-to-cri?urn=nhl,214200
Hockeyfan
February 4th, 2010
9:27 pm
I guess Zhitnik wasnt available
StateBird
February 4th, 2010
9:30 pm
This trade speaks volumes on so many fronts. First the obvious ineptitude of management and ownership. I’m surprised that the league would authorize such an imbalanced trade.
It makes me wonder if the 28 other teams all felt that Kovy had so little to offer … but my firm opinion is that the ASG gave DW orders to not bring back any salary to speak of. You don’t think the Flames would have traded Phanuef for Kovy straight up given what they got back from Toronto in their trade?
Does anybody know if we now meet the league minimum salary?
mutton
February 4th, 2010
9:30 pm
Why have the Thrashers made their identity the rehab team for troubled prospects??
Bob
February 4th, 2010
9:34 pm
Nice job, Don. Devils players are NOT built for Anderson’s system, square peg round hole, Sweet Lou gets a Kovy rental and Salmela back in return for his chump change (Lou doesn’t trade great prospects away, Moe).
Oduya will be 5 man here this year and probably “replace” Kubina, right? Bergfors on the 3rd line or let him take Little’s spot?
Randy in Conyers
February 4th, 2010
9:39 pm
I would rather have a few young guns with little name recognition who want to be here rather than an all star who doesn’t want to be here. Just for the record Kovy, better let the valet park your car. That neighborhood in Newark is scary. Oh, and don’t bring lots of cash to the rink. You might want to pick up a Toyota too – the Benz is liable to end up on blocks. I have one wish – play the Devils in the first round of the playoffs. Maybe these newbies will pan out. Oh, and I agree – fire Waddell.
Tim
February 4th, 2010
9:53 pm
If Cormier ever plays in a game as a Thrasher I will never attend another game. The viciousness of the elbows he’s thrown is sickening.
I wanted Kovy out of here… because he doesn’t play hard often enough, because he lied to us and told us he wanted to be here and because he’s f’d his teammates. He turned down a king’s ransom to stay so what are we left to believe.
I wanted him out of here but not getting an impact player in return feels like a swift kick in the nads. Pouring salt on the wound is that punk Cormier being in the deal. When he was suspended by whatever league he was playing in in Canada, I watched the video and was sickened. I hoped that the Devils would cut ties with him… NEVER DID I THINK THEY’D DUMP THEM ON THE THRASHERS! OH MY GOD!
Go see for yourself
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=patrice+cormier+hit&search_type=&aq=0
sisu
February 4th, 2010
9:53 pm
Patrice Cormier is a punk, why would anyone want him after the elbow to the head and season long suspension????
R. Stroz
February 4th, 2010
9:56 pm
Well, I see some of you are picking up on Cormier.
The Falconer agrees with me, Cormier is a 3rd or 4th liner in the NHL.
Put the Kool-aide down, Waddell was screwed.
Alex
February 4th, 2010
9:56 pm
Kovy will be the best player to ever put on a Thrashers jersey. Of that there is no doubt in my mind
Tim
February 4th, 2010
9:57 pm
A 3rd or 4th liner? He belongs in jail!!!
JR
February 4th, 2010
10:00 pm
the thrashers’ isiah rider, eeeeh?
when one waits to the last minute to pull the trigger, one is not in a position to make a good trade. why all the screwing around? the gm should have made the maximum offer early in the season and when refused, made his move at that time.
again, the only constant in 10 years of less than mediocrity is the general manager.
Brian B.
February 4th, 2010
10:04 pm
Can anyone think of a GM – any GM, in any sport – who would still have his job after a 10 year performance the likes of which we’ve seen from Don Waddell ?? The excuses are over – this is no longer an expansion team. I don’t want to hear about building a winner in a non-traditional hockey market – not when Carolina and Tampa Bay can win Cups. The fact that Waddell is still here can only mean that ASG is comfortable with a 1-playoff-appearance-in-ten-years rate of failure.
I was 12 when the Flames came to Atlanta. I remember games at the Omni. I remember Flames games on WTCG (forerunner to TBS) I fell in love with this sport. It’s a shame to see the way ASG is treating it and this community.
Randy in Conyers
February 4th, 2010
10:08 pm
Cormier is this generations Willie Plett – I say bring him on and have him mark Kovy. Maybe now we’ll call it Black and Blueland.
Brendan
February 4th, 2010
10:10 pm
YGTBFKM. (You Got To Be F’n Kidding Me.)
Yeah, the acronym’s just what you think it is. You just … don’t trade … with Lou Lamoriello. There’s no chance to win. Lou gets Salmela back. But not only that … he gets to swap the #54 pick for Atlanta’s #38. In the end, Lamoriello might actually improve 20 draft positions with his 2nd round pick. That’s astonishing.
Okay, I like Oduya. I do. But I’m not wowed. We just surrendered the franchise leader in games, goals, assists, points and “figure 8’s” … for this??? No, really? For this?? Cormier doesn’t impress me. I like the tenacity. Lord knows, this team’s never had an Ogie Oglethorpe in its midst before. So, who knows? Sean Avery just might get his comeuppance, after all!
And Bergfors is a pending RFA, I believe. Which means? Well, he doesn’t have to sign here. He can try to take us to arbitration and get a figure Atlanta won’t match, making him unrestricted.
Okay, what about the 1st round pick. Folks, we’re talking about pick #20, at best, and #27 at worst. Need I remind anyone what the rule is. Picks 1-5: Can’t miss prospects. Picks 6-10: Very solid, but nothing guaranteed. Picks 11-15: Still very promising, but there many “can’t miss” players here. Picks 16-30: Crapshoot area of the draft. Picks 31 and beyond: “Shot in the dark.” So? So, we’re getting a “crapshoot” pick. Think, “Spin the Vegas wheel and put it on red.” It’s nothing to write home about. The only thing under contract for next season is Oduya.
Yipeeeeeee. Thud. “Fired in the morning.” What? No, it’s not the name of Waddell’s book. It’s the name of the book I’m writing about Waddell. I repeat, it’s called, “Fired in the morning.”
And ready for this part? “Sweet” Lou may not evennnnn be keeping Kovalchuk. That’s right. Lamoriello has every right to trade Kovalchuk, after witnessing incurable figure 8’s as a Devil, by the March 3, 2010 deadline. In other words, if the Los Angeles Kings still want Kovalchuk, they’ll have to trade with Lou. And Lou just might fleece them.
Ready for the worst part? Are you? The “Village Idiot” Doug MacLean, on Rogers SportsNet, tonight threw his hands up in the air and said, “This trade makes NO SENSE. You make a move like this … to save $860,000??? Kovy’s one of the best players in the world. You hang on to him for the rest of the month, waiting for a BETTER deal to materialize. If Atlanta’s MAIN CONCERN was saving $860,000 between now and MArch 3rd, what does that say about the state of their franchise?”
kracker
February 4th, 2010
10:10 pm
Twitter: CraigCustance – Waddell on possibility of Thrashers being buyers at deadline: “No doubt about it.” Nice…they have a lot of money to spend.
Smoothie
February 4th, 2010
10:11 pm
I like Oduya and in fact had him on my FA wish list last summer. If he gels with Kubina or Bogosian, perhaps Kubina can be convinced to stay. I just don’t know about what this does for Hainsey unless the Thrashers coaches sit down with Zach and ask him to swallow his pride and play 3rd line minutes till either Hainsey is traded or Kubina departs. If nothing else, we are better defensively and that says something. Can we get a bit more goal scoring from Colby, Kaner, Pevs, Max and even Slava to at least score 2.8 or 2.9 goals / game? Over the last 16, we’ve only scored 40 goals WITH Ilya. Can’t get much worse can it? I can’t wait to see more of Zach’s bombs from the point on the PP. But who will creat the traffic? That is still an issue.
BlueSpark
February 4th, 2010
10:14 pm
Ungood. Kovy playing Devils hockey? I’ll have to see it with my own eyes. That’s the square peg, round hole. I couldn’t think of a worse team for him.
kracker
February 4th, 2010
10:18 pm
Twitter: BenThrashers – Rick Dudley was high on Cormier. Thought he would be a good fit for Thrashers. He’s expected to make Thrashers next year.
Smoothie
February 4th, 2010
10:19 pm
Brendan – Bergfors is only 22, he’s stuck with us for the forseeable future and would be wise to take the 4 year deal that Waddell will offer him this spring. He can’t be a UFA until he’s 27 so what’s the point of going to arbitration every summer for a series of 1 year deals? Colby’s situation was different because he had more leverage being 26 at the time of his last deal.
I’m not defending Waddell but really what do you expect to get for a rental that most teams can’t afford to sign this summer? Oduya is more than just a solid D-man. He’s an Olympian capable of playing Top 2 pairing minutes. I think he and Bogosian could be a nice tandem behind Kubes and Enstrom. Don’t know if Kubina will re-sign, but then Oduya slides into the Top pairing.
As for Bergfors, despite his current scoring slump (great, join the club here in Atlanta!!) has far more upside than Armstrong ever did and has already scored more goals than EK in 54 games than Christensen has in over his last 82. Already this is a better trade in that regard. Esposito is probably done so Cormier is better in terms of upside. Only time will tell on the # 1 draft pick. Hopefully it will better than Daultan Leveille. And if we’re comparing the two trades, Hossa was technically a better all-around player than Kovy. How many 100 point seasons does Kovy have with a + / – of more than 15? Okay, so Hossa has only 1, but I’m just sayin’.
R. Stroz
February 4th, 2010
10:19 pm
My favorite quote from Waddell above:
“This isn’t a knock on Kovy, but Kovy’s been here eight years and we still haven’t won a playoff game,” Waddell said
Waddell, you’ve been here for ten years without a playoff win. Can we ship your @ss out to, please for the love of hockey in Atlanta.
Mike
February 4th, 2010
10:21 pm
Wow. It cracks me up to read everyone’s comments. Let’s look at the facts (and a little opinion):
1. People say Thrashers should have tried to sign Kovy before this season but two problems with that (a) if they had, Thrashers fans would have been pissed that they did not have one more year of Kovy and (b) Kovy said he wouldn’t sign before the season because he wanted to see where the Thrashers were headed. Either way, DW doesn’t win with the fans.
2. Kovy said he wanted to be a Thrasher for life and be part of the long term success, but turning down a $101 million contract does not demonstrate that. Allowing a cap hit of only $8.4 million would have allowed them to surround Kovy with more quality players, but I guess that wasn’t good enough for Kovy.
3. There are very few Teams that can afford Kovy for next year so the other GMs were not going to give up a kings ransom to get him. The only other team that had the parts the thrashers were looking for was the Kings and they weren’t going to give up their youth for a rental. I don’t blame them and next year, they will have a great season because they didn’t get Kovy. So why is everyone saying DW should have gotten more…does everyone know exactly what the other teams were offering, what they wanted in exchange and how they compared?
4. I believe the Thrashers can now grow around Enstrom, Bogo, Kane and Little. 4 players vs 1 will in the long term be a better solution.
The rest of the season is going to be interesting. Several things can happen..
1. The Thrashers make the playoffs without Kovy and the fans in Atlanta are happy and go support them.
2. The Thrashers fail to make the playoffs, their record gets worse and all of a sudden their first round pick is a lottery pick. What would be the odds of getting the #1 overall pick. Could you add that to the list of assets the Thrashers got in exchange for Kovy?
3. The Thrashers make a surprise run in the playoffs and sign Kovy in the offseason. Not likely to happen, but putting all odds against it to the side, it is still an option.
4. I honestly believe the Team can get better. The other night, Little and others tried to make that extra pass to Kovy for him to shoot. That extra pass wound up killing the play and the Thrashers lost possession. Hopefully they will work better as a Team and spread the opportunities around, keeping the other team on their heels.
5. Maybe the PP gets better because it isn’t always a shot from Kovy on the left side. You can’t tell me the other goalies didn’t cheat a little his way when he had the puck as the odds were pretty good that he was going to shoot.
Kovy will be missed but I don’t think this is the end of the franchise.
Randy in Conyers
February 4th, 2010
10:23 pm
Excellent analysis Brendan. It will be quite interesting to see how this plays out. This franchise desperately needs good news. A run toward the playoffs would be welcome along with consistant play every night. I hope that since the Kovy distraction is now finally over we can get back to hockey. I still think John Anderson is a good coach – now he will get a chance to prove it.
R. Stroz
February 4th, 2010
10:24 pm
So, I wonder what we are going to get for Armstrong and Kubina?
Midfield
February 4th, 2010
10:25 pm
You know, after the initial disbelief of seeing the result of this “trade” I re-read Waddell’s statement. This is either the man who is completely delusional, or the man spitting in the fans faces with a lot of juicy saliva. Wow. I have to give it to him – he has a lot of content for you, people. And those of you who keep towing his line really deserve this.
Mike
February 4th, 2010
10:27 pm
Brendan…MacLean may be throwing his hands up, but there is also the risk of Kovy getting hurt in the Olympics. He is going to play all out for Mother Russia and there will be other guys in the Olympics that don’t have to worry about a NHL career, so if they have a shot at Kovy, they will take it and not worry about the risk of injury. If Kovy comes out of the Olympics healthy, everyone will say the Thrashers should have waited. If he gets hurt, people will say the Thrashers were lucky to trade him when the did. Either way, hindsight will be a bitch and people will be pissed at the Thrashers. You can’t please everyone all the time.
Mary Ann Hossa
February 4th, 2010
10:28 pm
Is it possible to play 4 fourth lines?
Ashe
February 4th, 2010
10:30 pm
Brendan : you trade him before the olympics, on a roster freeze, because if he gets hurts in them, as a UFA you get stuck with him for the rest of the year, and we’d have NOTHING to show for it. we could always trade his rights for a second.
We got a much better deal with this. We have a lot to do, But we now have a legitimate powerplay. and not pass the puck to kovyplay
R. Stroz
February 4th, 2010
10:31 pm
The Thrashers may have a new identity pretty soon…the team too young to drink alcohol.
Mike
February 4th, 2010
10:40 pm
I hope the fans will show off there anger Saturday.
Mike
February 4th, 2010
10:44 pm
Ok..now there are two Mike’s posting. The one that post “I hope the fans will show off there anger Saturday.” is not the same Mike that posted the two earlier comments.
I personally don’t think the fans should show anger on Saturday. Go support the Team. They are only a point or two out of the playoff spot. Go show the other players that we still believe in them. Why should the rest of the Team be punished because Kovy wouldn’t sign a $101 million contract?
c.j.
February 4th, 2010
10:45 pm
I think Waddell should be Obama’s new Hockey Czar.
mad as heck
February 4th, 2010
10:46 pm
this trade marks the beginning of the end of the second ice age in atlanta the trashers will soon follow the flames out of the atl
ben
February 4th, 2010
10:47 pm
I think he’s going to the khl and we got lucky. I think Waddell . . . um . . . you know what? Who cares! D-WAD is nuts.
R. Stroz
February 4th, 2010
10:48 pm
They are also only a point or two out of the lottery pick AGAIN.
I’ll support the team but chant FIRE WADDELL till I can’t talk for a month.
Mike
February 4th, 2010
10:58 pm
Ben Wright tweets: “Waddell says there’s no doubt he could be a buyer at the trade deadline if the right fit is there.”
Nice to hear. We will see what happens. I don’t think the Thrashers are done. Still have extra defensemen, especially once Schubert is back, and an extra goalie. Maybe they try to extend Kubina during the Olympic break or package him with a goalie to get a nice return before the trade deadline.
Would have been hard to be a buyer if you knew Kovy was going to get paid $10 million next year. Probably would have led to more Zhitnik trades as they wouldn’t have been able to take on a lot of payroll at the trade deadline for the final push.
Also, all of you who said that DW should step aside and let Dudley handles things. I read that Dudley was the one who was high on Cormier and insisted he be a part of the deal. So if the Thrashers didn’t get enough, shouldn’t RD be getting some of the blame too since he seemed to have a say in the trade? Or does all the hate only go to DW?
Out
February 4th, 2010
11:03 pm
Come on Bettman. Time to take the keys out of the hands of the most incompetent group of owners ever known to man kind.
Michelle
February 4th, 2010
11:03 pm
Kovalchuk,
I hope you get gang-raped by a group of rabid transvestites on the streets of Newark, contract more STDs than Michael Vick and have to skate bow-legged while remaining scoreless for the rest of your career.
Burn in H ell, Ilya!
Michael
February 4th, 2010
11:05 pm
Fire Waddell, period, we got more for Hossa than Kovy….I am absolutely sick to my stomach, and not only that, they traded him to a team we would have to play if we had a miracle and made the playoffs this year….Playoffs? Playoffs, you talking about Playoffs….Where is Arthur Blank, my god, please buy the Thrashers, Hawks, and Braves….what the hell are you waiting for….Atlanta is a joke….WADDELL is amazing, the best GM ever, I have never seen a better GM, I am so glad he is in Atlanta, he is even a better coach, I mean come on guyyyyyyyyys, leave him alone, he is so intelligent, he gets everything out of his players….(sarcasm)
kracker
February 4th, 2010
11:06 pm
Right, Mike…the team is still in the playoffs hunt. Play hard!!
Personally, I am suspecting that the big drop-off in the level of play in November is due to the turmoil of the team realizing that Kovy was walking. My question is: Why did DW wait so long to make a trade????
R. Stroz
February 4th, 2010
11:10 pm
Waddell says there’s no doubt he could be a buyer at the trade deadline if the right fit is there.”
Read that carefully, It’s full of Waddellspeak, “no doubt he could be a buyer”. Place a heavy emphasis on the word “could.”
Waddell is great at parsing words.
This team will be selling like crazy…Afinogenov, Armstrong, Kubina, and a goalie.
ThrasherTim
February 4th, 2010
11:16 pm
Mike – 10:21pm post – I have to say, one of the most intelligent posts this year – a rationale perspective. While I am really frustrated as a fan to see Kovvy go and concerned about the future of this franchise, I think the offers were fair. If Kovvy really wanted to stay, he would have found a way to sign one of those offers. We need Anderson to hold EVERYONE accountable now on D and for crashing the nets on O. Maybe we can make some other moves to make the playoffs yet.
KLS1
February 4th, 2010
11:16 pm
We will know pretty quick which way this team is going. I wish Kovy well, but sadly I agree with Waddell, the known commodity was that this team was not a playoff contender as it was built.
We’ll see what happens now. JA will be coaching for his job down the stretch.
kracker
February 4th, 2010
11:18 pm
Stroz: This is how CC reoported it: “Waddell on possibility of Thrashers being buyers at deadline: “No doubt about it.” There’s no ‘could’ in Waddell’s statement as CC reported it. Did CC get it wrong, maybe? I doubr it. Just saying…
Do you really think we will be selling if we are in or right at the playoffs? Really?? No way.
Michael
February 4th, 2010
11:18 pm
Don Waddell and Frank Wren both like fishsticks….so they are gay fish….Ok, let me get this straight, Ok, in Atlanta the last two months we have seen our ace pitcher go and the best Thrasher ever go for Melky Cabrera and a guy that throws elbows….Ok, well that sounds grrrrrrrreat….Waddell speak is great….My first priority is to sign Marian Hossa, my first priority is to sign Kovalchuk….The rest of the league loves us….
Uncle Tom
February 4th, 2010
11:19 pm
Well, in terms of finances, everbody’s cutting back…
Joke By The Coke
February 4th, 2010
11:19 pm
30-24 hahahahahaha
Michael
February 4th, 2010
11:21 pm
They are all laughing at Atlanta….doesn’t make me feel good….
Michael
February 4th, 2010
11:23 pm
I really can’t wait til April 6th though, boo birds better be out in full force….
Michael
February 4th, 2010
11:26 pm
well my Heatley and Kovalchuk jerseys are awesome nowwwwwwwww…..
Michael
February 4th, 2010
11:27 pm
I am offering $3 bucks a game for anyone looking to sell their glass tickets….
Michael
February 4th, 2010
11:28 pm
and oh yeah not to mention that Georgia’s recruiting class took a free fall….
FlamesFan
February 4th, 2010
11:29 pm
DW let it be known what Kovy turned down, to let the fans know that they did the best to keep Kovy. What he doesn’t address is the obvious: Why would Kovy turn down that offer? Because this organization sucks. Plain and simple.
Tom
February 4th, 2010
11:32 pm
I’d be truly FASCINATED to hear what all you wanna-be GMs and self-proclaimed hockey experts think could have been done a whole lot better in this situation. I’m talking THIS SITUATION only…not DW’s overall body of work, which is admittedly shaky.
WHAT MORE DID YOU DOLTS EXPECT TO GET FOR A 25-GAME RENT-A-CHERRY-PICKER???
And what more would you have had the ownership group (the real criminals here as far as the franchise as a whole goes much more so than DW) offer the lying, non-defense-playing, no-leadership fake captain???
I, for one, am GLAD Kovy is gone. I surely won’t miss watching him cruise the neutral zone while the rest of the actual TEAM plays D. I surely won’t miss his acting like the opposition are practice cones in an effing skating drill, only to lose the puck, then stand and watch as the inevitable odd-man rush ensues the other way. I surely won’t miss the entire PP begin designed around trying to get Kovy the one-timer from the circle.
Maybe they can now play a TEAM game (which, for the unitiated, is what hockey is supposed to be in the first place) instead of a system designed to get one egomaniacal spoiled brat of a player the puck.
They have some solid young players and can still add more pieces to make a run this year at the playoffs, although admittedly there’s no shot of any real contention. Then next year, with Kovy gone and money to spend, they can really put something together.
Kane is gonna be a great one and we build around him…not focus on him the way they did Kovy, but build.
I know a lot of you are channeling 11 years of frustration into this one deal, and I can understand somewhat. But this is not one deal to complain so much about. Until ASG either gets its act together (unlikely) or sells to a hockey person/group, there’s not a much point in complaining anyway.
Harry Sinden
February 4th, 2010
11:34 pm
We got nobody for a great scorer– let’s finish the job and waste the two first round picks too.
Tek
February 4th, 2010
11:35 pm
Sweet! Kovi’s hHeaded to Jersey Shore to fist pump and hook up with Snookie!
JAmes_kovyboy from MTL
February 4th, 2010
11:37 pm
We are 2 points out of playoffs with 2-3 games in hand!!!
We got this, stop being negative!
Im particurlarly pissed that kovy is gone, not because of him himself, but because i bought aThrashers 3rd jersey with his name on back
Kovy is gone. SO WHAT! I live in Mtl, and the Habs dont have all-star players (except markov), but they manage to win… thats because THEY DONT HAVE A NON BACKCHECKING, LYING, SELFISH Kovalchuk
So things will get better lets follow our team! We are BLUELAND, we can endure any type of Sh!t thrown at us!
Go Thrashers!
Zorin
February 4th, 2010
11:41 pm
Randy in Conyers:
You talk about ‘Newark’ as if ALT is the pinnacle of safety and beauty. Least the Newark building gets solid crowds and you have a less a chance of getting robbed. Oduya will love the chicken wings.
scottbravesfan
February 4th, 2010
11:42 pm
Are there no rich people that want to buy the Atlanta franchises? I could see the Thrashers not have buyers because the NHL does not make money and have no TV contract. But can someone buy the Braves and the Hawks? The Braves are hugely profitable and we have been stuck with a corporate owner for a couple of decades now. And the Hawks and Thrashers are ran by people who don’t have a clue. Neither team will ever win a championship with this ownership group.
give me a break
February 4th, 2010
11:42 pm
How much money do you idiots make? Or better yet, how much money do you need to be happy? Tell you what, I’ll give you 8.5 mill to be a Thrashers fan, or a Dawg fan, or a Jackets fan…now I’ll give you 10 mill to be a Devils fan, or a Gators fan, or a Seminoles fan…what do you do, leave everything you’ve ever known behind for 1.5? Turn your back and go live in NJ, or the swamp…didn’t think so, i’ll be right happy sitting here with my 8.5 and a bunch of friends, family and city that love me. Hey Kovy, don’t let that thing called a door with the volume control turned straight up bruise you too bad on your way to the landfill…i hear the chemical sunrise is quite a beaut! All you jerks calling for Waddell’s thinking piece should go join Kovy on top of the trash pile and rot!
Zorin
February 4th, 2010
11:46 pm
http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/kk466/superchaos2585/Kovalchukc.jpg
ENJOY!
Somaatl95
February 4th, 2010
11:52 pm
Saturday night “Lets Go Thrashers!” Clap, Clap, clapclapclap “Fire Wad-Dell!” Clap, Clap, clapclapclap “Screw the Spirit” Clap,Clap, clapclapclap.”Lets Go Thrashers!” Clap, Clap, clapclapclap “Fire Wad-Dell!” Clap, Clap, clapclapclap “Screw the Spirit” Clap,Clap, clapclapclap.”Lets Go Thrashers!” Clap, Clap, clapclapclap “Fire Wad-Dell!” Clap, Clap, clapclapclap “Screw the Spirit” Clap,Clap, clapclapclap.”Lets Go Thrashers!” Clap, Clap, clapclapclap “Fire Wad-Dell!” Clap, Clap, clapclapclap “Screw the Spirit” Clap,Clap, clapclapclap.”Lets Go Thrashers!” Clap, Clap, clapclapclap “Fire Wad-Dell!” Clap, Clap, clapclapclap “Screw the Spirit” Clap,Clap, clapclapclap.”Lets Go Thrashers!” Clap, Clap, clapclapclap “Fire Wad-Dell!” Clap, Clap, clapclapclap “Screw the Spirit” Clap,Clap, clapclapclap.”Lets Go Thrashers!” Clap, Clap, clapclapclap “Fire Wad-Dell!” Clap, Clap, clapclapclap “Screw the Spirit” Clap,Clap, clapclapclap.”Lets Go Thrashers!” Clap, Clap, clapclapclap “Fire Wad-Dell!” Clap, Clap, clapclapclap “Screw the Spirit” Clap,Clap, clapclapclap.
Hockey Biltong
February 4th, 2010
11:56 pm
That’s right James KBfM.¡¡¡¡ We will progress from here. It aint the end of the world!!!!
Somaatl95
February 4th, 2010
11:56 pm
Support the team, screw the brainless bosses and bozos at the top of the heap…
mike
February 4th, 2010
11:57 pm
ok loi against don, same as mohamed ali figting with chikin. new nothing about nj new guys but bet 1 to 1000 loi got much better deal. why? because loi @$$ has more brain than don head. by the way 29 team have normal GM, 1 team has insane. i think extension contract for donny asg already done with raise. good job idiots, expect sellouts after sellouts on future thrashers games.
JR
February 4th, 2010
11:58 pm
am i the only one who makes no sense out of mike’s last post? must be late.
Daculafan
February 5th, 2010
12:17 am
I am by no means an apologist for Don Waddell’s career here in Atlanta but I totally agree with those that say that he didn’t have a ton of viable choices that weren’t going to end up with brainless fans calling for his head.
The fact is that Kovy is greedy and Jay Grossman has convinced him that he sharts sunshine and he don’t. I’m actually amused that he’s been moved to New Jersey…where defensive hockey isn’t a system but a religion..he’s so gonna choke..
As for what we got…I didn’t think it was terrible…would I have like to have gotten a 30 goal scorer in there…sure…who wouldn’t? But what we got isn’t terrible.
I do agree that it’s time to quit building around one guy..especially one guy who isn’t all that great of a COMPLETE hockey player. He’s a hell of sniper..but can’t back check to save his contract…and I’m sorry but Kovy from the point on the PP is so used up that a 5 year old blind scout who’s never watched a hockey game in his life could call that frickin’ play.
Those of you who want to come out and chant to fire Waddell or the ASG or boo Kovy when he comes back in the building show very little imagination..much less…class
I challenge you to embrace the team…the actual people on the ice…those guys sweating their butts off to entertain you. Cheer them on..and enjoy the game of hockey for what it is…or just don’t bother showing up..
As for Kovy…good luck..and happy trails
Brendan
February 5th, 2010
12:25 am
Tom, I honestly think that were good “possibilities” for a trade wtih Boston. Look, I still see us as a “building project, post-NY Rangers sweep.” And in that regard, the Bruins will get a lottery draft pick from Toronto from the Kessel trade. The Bruins are a bubble team right now, and Kovy would help them. Kovy + Savard is a proven thing. And, well … they’re BOSTON!! They “think” they can re-sign Kovy. Their fans would probably demand it. Boston will pick twice in the Top 20 or so in June. If Atlanta got both those picks, plus some prospect, and whatever salary relief the Bruins wanted to toss us, I truly think we’d come out ahead of where we are now.
Now, I hear ya. What GOOD are draft picks in the hands of the Atlanta Thrashers, when Stefan, Heatley/Hossa, Coburn, Bourret are gone. And can Kari really be that far behind, as well. I respect that argument. But with a NEW GM in place, come June, those two Boston draft picks inside the Top 20 … could either be traded for roster players or used to make selections. I don’t think I’m terribly offbase in that assertion.
I also respect the argument that says Don had to trade Kovy prior to the Olympics … due to possible injury. That does make a lot of sense. No doubt about that.
Tim
February 5th, 2010
1:01 am
Now that I’ve had a chance to digest this a bit and get a bit of perspective (translation… dealt with some REAL problems with my family), I can live with what the Thrashers have gotten in return. That is except for Cormier, go look him up on YouTube if you haven’t already. I will never watch him play.
A few observations:
1) Absolutely go and support the players still on this team. Go tell your friends that they might just be better now. Mark my words, there is talent on this roster that will flourish without Kovy. There are players who play hard and as a team. In fact, I believe that Armstrong will be MORE likely to sign now that Sir-Drifts-Alot is gone. I’ve heard him say that how he and his line-mates play is how they were taught to play and that they all believe hockey is supposed to be played that way. Those are digs at Kovy… flat out.
2) If you’re complaining that we got more for Hossa than Kovy. Newsflash, Hossa is a better, more valuable player. I would not be surprised if the reason he wanted out of Atlanta was because of Kovy. He’s a coach’s son for goodness sake, he knows how to play hockey. Watching Kovy must made him want to vomit. Kovy is a just a rifle on skates. Kovy and other players like him are fool’s gold. He’s all numbers but shows heart only on the occasion he is moved to do so. I’ve cheered for many of Kovy’s Holy Sh_t moments and pulled at my hair for even more Oh Fu_k moments.
3) Kovy will either learn to play defense, take care of the puck and give up the 1 on 5’s in NJ or he’ll be a PP specialist. Does anyone doubt that the greatest goalie ever will shy away from laying down the law? Might be fun to be a fly on the wall in that locker room.
4) The future of this team belongs to Evander Kane, Zach Bogosian, Toby Enstrom, Colby Armstrong (fingers crossed), Pavel Kubina (fingers crossed), Nik Antropov (fingers crossed), Rich Peverly, Brian Little, Jim Slater (yeah, I said it), Marty Reasoner and some guys I’m probably leaving out and some players to be named later. I’ll drink that Kool-Aid. No, there’s not a 50-goal scorer in the bunch. I look forward to watching a team that doesn’t spend half the game looking to feed it’s one-trick-pony.
5) Anyone want to talk goalie glut? Kidding, we’ve had enough for one day.
Tim
February 5th, 2010
1:09 am
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=burnside_scott&id=4888710
ditto
dolfan6072
February 5th, 2010
5:26 am
I have to agree with Management. You dont turn down $101 million over 12 years. Please what was he thinking. He is a great player and he will be missed but please fans the Thrashers will be fine. Remember they havent won a Playoff game with him maybe they can win one without him.
GBiscuit
February 5th, 2010
5:28 am
Waddell said Kovy had been here and the team only made the playoffs once. Hasn’t he been here even longer and they’ve only made the playoffs once as well?
Bobby Orr
February 5th, 2010
7:24 am
Fleeced AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN…..2 NHL players and move about 20 spots up in the draft, for 1 NHL player and 3 maybe’s…..are you kidding me….If I’m a GM I want to trade with Don Waddell all day long…..What a joke this franchise is. It starts at the top as they say and the top is HORRIBLE, Spirit + Waddell = Never make the playoffs again
Here we go again!
February 5th, 2010
7:28 am
Just renewed my (4) FALCONS season tickets!!!
Waddell wouldn’t be here 5 more minutes if Blank bought this team also!!
and since you asked Waddell:
“As we found out, it was all about money. We built a team that Kovy liked. We knew Kovy wanted to stay in Atlanta for the rest of his career if he could. But when you start looking at trying to sign a player to that kind of contract, tell me which one of our young players — [Evander] Kane or [Zach] Bogosian — you want me to trade, because there is no way you can be able to afford these players going forward.”
That is a NO BRAINER…You trade Evander Kane…who will NEVER be a quality NHL player!!!…He WILL be gone in less than a year!!!
invalidname
February 5th, 2010
7:50 am
Start warming up the PA guy: “Let’s make some noise for your Hamilton, Ontario Thrashers!”
David
February 5th, 2010
7:52 am
Waddell, I love your trade habits!!!! Again, trading steak for hamburger. I like want Bobby Orr said;
Also, I like to make a trade with you; I will trade my three Chevrolet Aveo for your BMW M Series.
AM
February 5th, 2010
7:55 am
The Thrashers management group is the complete reason most of the seats are empty and the team has under achieved for 10 years now. They have traded an All Star team away and are not willing to pay for a winning team. From Audette, Brunette, Heatly, Savard, Hossa, And now Kovy. Who wants to spend $200 to watch them loose or bring a client to the game and sit in traffic get to the game 5 minutes late and they are loosing 3-0. Ten years one playoff appearance (losing in 3 games). Wadell is the scapegoat … I will admit he is one dumb scapegoat none the less. The mangement group is arrogant and they will not help you with tickets unless you want season tickets. They should make getting tickets easy and NOT thru tickmaster! Hockey is the game I love but the management team makes it hard to do! Go Hawks!
waffleboy
February 5th, 2010
7:57 am
Brendan – “Kovy + Savard is a proven thing.” Ilya and Savard hated each other and there relationship was part of the reason Waddell felt it unnecessary to sign Savard.
Cindiefk
February 5th, 2010
8:02 am
I am so sad to see Kovy go. The organization needs to realize to build a good team that they are going to have to spend money. I wish Kovy well and I hope the Thrashers management finally gets their wake up call before we lose the team.
j
February 5th, 2010
8:03 am
I think about 80% of you no nothing about the business side of sports, but hey, maybe we should have signed kovy to that insane deal and just watch the team get worse when we couldn’t resign any youth. Can’t say i like who we got for Kovy, but i can say letting Kovy just walk would be even more of a disaster waiting to happen
The Truth
February 5th, 2010
8:06 am
You know we can analyze this thing all day long and we can rant and rave but….here is what gets me more than anything. First, Don Waddell’s track record proves that he is not the man to lead us any longer…that is firmly established but….here is what bothers me and about 20 of my other season ticket holders the most.
The Spirit Group is not putting any time and effort into truly CARING AND GROWING THIS FRANCHISE. They are basketball fans and really could care less about hockey. You can see it with the returns that have been squandered time and again. The Thrashers, in order to survive (and there really is a true hockey fan base here), must have ownership that will develop a ground strategy to both grow the franchise and market it solidly around town. There is no passion for Thrasher hockey and in whether trading Kovalchuk or not, the team has become an afterthought. I, for one, give up and will not renew along with 20 others until a decision has been made to truly give this franchise and chance to grow prosper and gain respect.
Tears for Beers
February 5th, 2010
8:08 am
Would anyone put money on Waddell in a cage match with Lou Lamoriello?
But this is frightening:
“I think it doesn’t set us back at all. We picked up some nice pieces today, some nice assets. It’s one of those moves you don’t look forward to making but we were forced to make it.”
I know Don’s gotta say what Don’s gotta say. But the thing is, I think the guy is so completely delusional that he really, really believes it.
Glenn
February 5th, 2010
8:17 am
Not that bad a trade when you consider we weren’t going to be able to resign him . I bet the Devils won’t either . Atleast we got something .
Michael
February 5th, 2010
8:19 am
To all the Waddell defenders asking what did you want him to do with a rental player….Well, I don’t know maybe see this coming like most of us did, and trade him last year for more….just a thought….a gm is suppose to see the future, he knew Kovy would not stay for 100 million so he should have traded him last year….that is what a good GM would do….
Michael
February 5th, 2010
8:22 am
so right now we have traded Heatley, Coburn, Hossa, Kovy for Colby Armstrong and Defbors….AWESOME!!
Glenn
February 5th, 2010
8:26 am
Valid point Michael . It seems we have become the Montreal Expos of the NHL .
John K
February 5th, 2010
8:30 am
Even the Detroit Lions figured out they had to fire Matt Millen. Why can’t the Thrashers figure it out with Waddell?
David
February 5th, 2010
8:37 am
One more thing, the tale of two teams: The Atlanta Hawks are in the mix at the top of their division and winning most of their games. Leading scorer Joe Johnson is on his last year too, and he may not re-sign with the Hawks. However, the Hawks do not have Waddell. Thank you for that or Joe would have been trade for three bench warmers. Look at the Atlanta Thrashers, they won a few games here or there, they are plenty much every year fighting to get that last playoff spot. Even with there superstar on the team, they do not win like the power teams (Washington and Pittsburgh of the NHL) do; So, good or great teams will take advantage of the Thrashers (on the ice as well as off the ice) want they have to make there team better even for a short year. Only thing about this, I wish we could trade our ownership and GM for a few minor leaguers players. Also, I believe the problem is at the top!!!
David
February 5th, 2010
8:48 am
I will likely see more trade for proven player on this THRASHERS team for a few maybe minor leaguer or fourth line players when the team starts to lose more games rest of this season starting with Washington tonight.
JimG
February 5th, 2010
8:49 am
What other major US city can boast TWO minor league hockey teams?
hook
February 5th, 2010
8:52 am
So all 2,000 Thrashers fans are upset. Don’t worry, they’ll probably be the Las Vegas whatever’s in a couple of years.
Daculafan
February 5th, 2010
10:35 am
Here We Go Again – Stick to the falcons…you don’t know sh*t about hockey. Evander Kane is the real deal and you have no clue what you’re talking about.
Lex
February 5th, 2010
11:01 am
Would any of you Hockey Ladies who are upset over Kovy’s departure like to cuddle with another Thrashers fan?
NASCAR Dave
February 5th, 2010
3:07 pm
FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!!
FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!!
FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!!
FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!!
FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!!
FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!!
FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!! FIRE WADDELL!!!
devilsfan22
February 5th, 2010
10:40 pm
devils all the way. Devils won tonight 4-3 Kovy 2 assist but thats jsut the begining