Is the Kovalchuk era in Thrasherville nearing an end?
As recently as New Years Eve, I held to the proposition that there was a better than even chance that Ilya Kovalchuk would re-sign with the Atlanta Thrashers…the only NHL team he has ever played for.
But as I also told a handful of close friends around that time, if a deal had not been announced by the team’s annual Casino Night, then chances are he’ll be pulling on the sweater of a different team in the league before he dons the one for his native Russia in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
Could Thrashers captain Ilya Kovalchuk be saluting Thrasherville good-bye in the coming days? (AP Photo)
Casino Night came and went this past Sunday and, of course, there was no surprise announcement similar to last year’s when Kovy was given the “C” to wear on his jersey.
Then Monday morning, Don Waddell told our own Chris Vivlamore, “Our first priority still remains to sign him…that’s clear. I probably didn’t leave the door open enough at the beginning of the year because, obviously, I was hoping that this would be long done by now. We also have to protect the asset. He’s an asset to our franchise. …
“[A trade] still looms as an option, but it’s not my first choice.”
Uh-huh…why do I picture Michael Corleone kissing his brother Fredo in Havana when I read this?
And so, while I was very optimistic that Kovy would sign a contract to remain in Atlanta up to recently, the fact is that since we are at this point of the season and no deal is yet done…it’s easy to see why many feel he’s already got one skate out the door.
Now, the NHL trade deadline this season is 3:00 pm eastern time on Wednesday March 3, which is one day after the Thrashers play their first game after the Olympic break…a home match against the Florida Panthers. However, as I stated earlier, if a trade will be made…chances are good it will be done prior to that date. Actually, I think a lot of deals will be done before the scheduled 2-week break in mid-February given the fact that general managers and owners would rather not risk having players who may be on the trade block injured during the Winter Games while still on their payroll.
Which will be the last home game that Kovy will be a Thrasher
- 1/12 vs. OTT (3%, 6 Votes)
- 1/14 vs. BUF (3%, 5 Votes)
- 1/19 vs. TOR (3%, 6 Votes)
- 1/21 vs. CAR (7%, 13 Votes)
- 1/26 vs. ANA (13%, 23 Votes)
- 2/2 vs. TB (12%, 21 Votes)
- 2/6 vs. FLA (19%, 34 Votes)
- 3/2 vs. FLA (6%, 10 Votes)
- None, he'll re-sign with ATL (16%, 28 Votes)
- He'll be "loaned" via trade, then re-sign with ATL (18%, 34 Votes)
Total Voters: 180
Loading ...Given that, if Don Waddell is in fact unable to accomplish his mission to re-sign Kovy, that means there are seven home games left in which Thrashers fans will be able to enjoy seeing the Russian sniper play in Thrasher blue. Even if the matter does play out until the day of NHL Trade-Deadline-A-Palooza 2010, that would still be just eight games including the March 2 contest against the Panthers.
Thus, the new Fan Poll to the side of this entry is asking for your prediction of what home game will be his last. If you feel he will indeed sign here in the coming weeks, you can vote that way as well.
But moreover, I also want to know what you feel will be an adequate return for the NHL’s first overall draft pick in 2001? Teams that I’ve heard which have expressed an interest in his services include Philadelphia, Chicago and LA…though certainly others will give Waddell a phone call or two in the coming days.
Are you simply looking to replace Kovalchuk’s goals? Are you looking to add defensive help…even if that’s a winger that can back-check like a madman? Are you looking for a combination of a couple solid goal-scorers plus some prospects/high draft picks?
Painting with a rather broad brush here, I only hope that Don Waddell can actually bring a maximum return for Kovalchuk…yeah, yeah, I know, I know. This team needs players that can help right now and we simply cannot be sitting here in two years waiting for certain players obtained via any possible trade to “develop” in order to determine whether or not the transaction was beneficial to the Thrashers.
You know, kinda like we are two years after the last time Waddell was forced to trade away a star player because he was unable to convince him to re-sign with the Thrashers.
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118 comments Add your comment
John
January 12th, 2010
7:51 pm
First it was Marc Savard, then Marion Hossa, now Ilya Kovalchuk? Is this franchise trying to alienate the fans. Trust me, if Ilya is traded they may want to relocate the team b/c no one is going to spend hard earned dollars on a franchise that sits on those hard earned dollars. The ownership group is a complete joke and so is Waddell. Can someone explain to me why Waddell is still employed, while others more qualified are unemployed? If the Thrashers trade Kovy, I’m done with this team. Pay the man, he is the only thing relevant on an irrelevant team.
LAC
January 12th, 2010
7:58 pm
They are KILLING us on the Ottawa telecast, they aren’t coming right out, but you can read between the lines, they are saying #17 is gone and that this will destroy the team. Also pointing out NO FANS, ownership MESS…. How much more BAD press will it take before the National Hockey League steps in and rids us of these spirit idiots ?
I cannot believe they are turning a blind eye towards us, and where are these owners, are they MICE or men ?
Good first period, held most of the play and let’s hope they kepp it up.
LAC
January 12th, 2010
8:09 pm
TODD WHITE SCORES !!!!!!!!!!!!! 4-1
HookyBob
January 12th, 2010
8:16 pm
OK,…Bolts lets work on your passing.
stendec
January 12th, 2010
8:25 pm
Who are these guys in blue? Certainly not the Thrashers! WOW. ++STENDEC++ Offense must have been saving up!
stendec
January 12th, 2010
8:28 pm
It is now 5-1! Are you kidding me? ++STENDEC++ I know, I know, it is only Ottawa. But still…I saw these guys against Washington!
stendec
January 12th, 2010
8:32 pm
John. How in the Hell is Ilya “Me First” Kovalchuk revelant? Sorry, but I strongly disagree. Truly believe this team will be much stronger without distraction of figure eight skater. Been watching hockey long? ++STENDEC++
stendec
January 12th, 2010
8:39 pm
This is one SportSouth replay I will not regret losing sleep to watch. A virtual offensive explosion by guys in Blue. On home ice to boot! Just wow. Absolutely amazing. ++STENDEC++ Sorry, did not realize John is Ilya Kovalchuk agent. My bad!
R. Stroz
January 12th, 2010
9:04 pm
If I was reading lips correctly, after Charmin scored, he said “F.U. Rawhide.”
Matt
January 12th, 2010
9:08 pm
R. Stroz-If that’s what White really said, he needs to SHUT THE HE!! UP AND PLAY. Up to now he’s been a waste of bench space for this team.
Where the heck was this offense on Saturday or heck even against the stRANGERS?
Might we actually see a regulation win for the first time in nearly two MONTHS?
FIRE WADDELL!!
stendec
January 12th, 2010
9:23 pm
Hope Thrashers did not use up their quota of goals tonight. Just kidding. Nice to see victory. In Regulation. On home ice! Kudos all around! ++STENDEC++
stendec
January 12th, 2010
9:47 pm
Pavs has been an embarrassing sieve lately. Excellent job tonight in goal. Well done young man. A few more efforts like that one might keep Kari Lehtonen on injured reserve for a bit longer. PLEASE! ++STENDEC++
John Robertson
January 12th, 2010
11:20 pm
First of all, I believe Kovy will stay in Atlanta. Why, you ask? Because, he loves the CITY of Atlanta. That doesn’t count the Atlanta Hockey Team, the Thrashers. He has settled his family here. His house is relatively close to the practice facility in Duluth and Philips Arena in Atlanta. He is in the perfect location to raise a family. Yes, I think that Kovy is a stuck up, Russian snob that needs to be smacked at times. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t want him to return for a few more years in Atlanta. We traded away Heatly and Hossa, don’t give away our biggest weapon. I have met Waddell through a friend, and he seems like a nice, genuine guy who WANTS what is best for the team. That doesn’t mean he KNOWS what is best for the team.
Secondly, as for the Thrashers moving to a different city. I don’t think it will happen. ASG owns the Hawks, Thrashers, and Philips Arena. If they were to sell the Thrashers, it would put them in a world of hurt financially. This is just my opinion, but I don’t see the Thrashers ever moving. At least not in the foreseeable future.
BlueSpark
January 12th, 2010
11:22 pm
How the fork did Max manage a -1 tonight?
Other than that, this game was good for my soul. A good 60 minutes against Buffalhole would be good too. A win, even gooder.
Brendan
January 13th, 2010
12:14 am
Ranallo warning??
Rawhide
January 13th, 2010
12:20 am
Brendan – Yes…10-minute Ranallo Warning.
Brendan
January 13th, 2010
12:26 am
Well, the Senators are out of control in the Nation’s Capital. No, I’m not referring to hockey team, I meant Canada’s Parliament.
Okay, I mean the Ottawa Senators hockey club. If you think a 5-game losing streak is bad, you haven’t seen anything yet. How much are the Senators in disarray? So much so … that they got b!tchslapped by the imploding Thrashers, who came into the game 1-7-3 in their last eleven (11) games, on the heels of an 8-1 thrashing by the Capitals. If the Sens cannot get a win here, they need to make changes. Lose to the Thrashers, and ‘the threat is real.’ Tomorrow’s Ottawa Sun or Ottawa Citizen very well may be calling for someone’s pink slip. Ottawa is fighting for a playoff spot. One of the teams they’re actually competing with for that spot … is Atlanta. Who just pulled off the ol’ “4-point swing.” And netminder Brian Elliot did very little to help mop up in relief. To make matters worse for them, FORMER Senator, Todd white, a second line forward who was goal-less in 35 games, and how many months?, scored against them. And to add insult to injury, Ondrej Pavelec got on the stat sheet. No, it wasn’t a goal. But still, it’s a goalie point against them. Atlanta’s PP unit came in at 10% over its last 11 games, but it got one tonight, in the form of Eric Boulton’s 1st period tally.
Anyway you slice and dice it, Ottawa’s 5-game losing streak is cause for concern for them. Conditions don’t get any BETTER than this, for Ottawa, to end their streak. They laid an egg. I can’t wait to read the morning paper in Ottawa. Should be GOOD! In Canada, they have this thing called, “accountability.”
Tony C.
January 13th, 2010
12:29 am
Soooooooo.
Found this.
http://www.thefourthperiod.com/columnists/pagnotta100111.html
What jackasses. I understand you want to make your books look the best they can, but isn’t this the same group that boasted about having no significant debtload? One wonders if they’ve ever heard the phrase “penny-wise, pound-foolish” if this blog is any indication, this is messing with an already disgruntled fan-base.
I would like to see if we can get a “NHL HELP US-Atlanta Hockey Fans” Sign up against the glass on the broadcast???
Please those of you who have seats close to that, let’s make that happen.
please