***UPDATE***
USA Today is reporting that Ilya Kovalchuk has been traded to the New Jersey Devils. It is not known yet what the Thrashers will be getting in return. Stay tuned folks, as this is sure to be an interesting night regarding Kovalchuk.
***UPDATE***
Atlanta Thrashers general manager Don Waddell announced today that the reason the team is exploring the trade market for Ilya Kovalchuk largely has to do with the superstar's rejection of a 12-year contract worth $101 million. Waddell further explained that if the team were to offer Kovalchuk any higher of a contract, it would leave them with little cap space to retain their other players when it came time to re-sign them or pursue other players to help make the team competitive.
According to tsn.ca, Atlanta Thrashers general manager Don Waddell has told star left wing Ilya Kovalchuk to expect a trade to another NHL team within the next few hours or days. There is no indication that a deal is imminent, but among the teams that have expressed interest in Kovalchuk include the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, and possibly the Los Angeles Kings and Washington Capitals. Kovalchuk's name has popped up in trade rumors in recent weeks after reports began to surface that he could not come to terms on a multi-year deal with the Thrashers. He is in the final year of his current contract and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 49 games so far this season, Kovalchuk has 31 goals and 27 assists for 58 points. In 594 career NHL games, all with the Thrashers, he has 328 goals and 287 assists for 615 points. He won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy in 2004 along with Calgary's Jarome Iginla and Columbus' Rick Nash as the league's leading goal-scorer with 41 goals.
It should really come as no surprise that the Thrashers are going to deal Kovalchuk. He stated in the past that he would be willing to remain with the team if they could become a playoff team, but over the course of the past few seasons, the Thrashers have not been able to secure a playoff spot. You can't blame Kovalchuk for wanting to leave the team, as he wants a chance to win a Stanley Cup and it just isn't going to happen in the near future with the Thrashers. It will be interesting, however, to see which team ends up acquiring him and what they give up to land him. I just can't see the Blackhawks or Flyers acquiring him, as they would have to send considerable salary the other way to land him. Plus, the Blackhawks are playing so well right now that landing a big star like Kovalchuk could disrupt team chemistry. The Capitals have so much fire power on offense that acquiring Kovalchuk would be unnecessary. Their main focus right now should be adding depth to their defense. The Bruins, Flames, and Rangers could be possibilities given their recent slides through the standings and struggles offensively. However, the Bruins, like the Flyers, would have to swing considerable salary the other way to comfortably afford Kovalchuk. The Flames need to be careful how much they shake-up their roster, as it could take some time for all the new players to comfortably mesh with each other. Of all the teams rumored to have interest in Kovalchuk, the Kings make the most sense. They have the salary cap space to afford him and they have plenty of young prospects that they could part with and not hurt the team. Plus, it has been rumored that the Thrashers would prefer to move Kovalchuk to a Western Conference. However, only time will tell which team he will eventually end up with.
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