Ilya Kovalchuk is flying out of Atlanta.
The Thrashers' captain is headed to the New Jersey Devils.
The Devils will send defenseman Johnny Oduya, forwards Niclas
Bergfors and Patrice Cormier and a first-round draft pick to
the Thrashers for Kovalchuk and defenseman Anssi Salmela.
Trade rumors took off after Atlanta general manager Don
Waddell insisted the team couldn't meet Kovalchuk's demands for a
maximum NHL contract. According to Waddell, the Thrashers were
aggressively exploring all of their options in an attempt to trade
him before the March 3 deadline.
Earlier Thursday, Waddell reportedly said Kovalchuk turned
down a 12-year, $101 million offer. Kovalchuk is scheduled to be an
unrestricted free agent July 1.
Since the Thrashers drafted him No. 1 overall in 2001,
Kovalchuk leads the NHL with 328 goals, but Atlanta, an expansion
team that debuted in 1999-2000, has made just one playoff
appearance and has never won a postseason game.
He was in his second season as captain for a team that is
11th in the Eastern Conference with 56 points. Three teams are tied
for the eighth and final playoff spot with 57 points.
The NHL has changed the schedule for teams to make roster
moves because of the break for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Teams are forbidden to make any transactions from 3 p.m. on Feb. 12
to just before midnight on Feb. 28.
-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
