Kovalchuk traded to Devils
Written by on February 4th, 2010 in Latest News.
Superstar Ilya Kovalchuk was traded late Thursday from the Thrashers to the Devils. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Ilya Kovalchuk’s exorbitant contract demands left Atlanta Thrashers general manager Don Waddell small choice but to deal with the Devils.
Kovalchuk, 26, was traded Thursday evening by the Thrashers to the New Jersey Devils with defenceman Anssi Salmela in return for defenceman Johnny Oduya, rookie forward Niclas Bergfors, junior prospect Patrice Cormier and a first-round draft pick.
Waddell was forced to ship Kovalchuk elsewhere because he is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and the superstar’s asking price to stay place was simply too high.
Kovalchuk spurned Atlanta’s offers of $70 million over seven years and $101 million US over 12 years — pacts that Waddell considered historic in proportion — in the hope of landing a long-term deal worth $11 million annually.
Amid rumours that a trade was imminent, Waddell released a statement Thursday morning confirming the two sides had reached an impasse.
“Our goal from the start of this negotiating process was to sign Ilya Kovalchuk to a long-term contract,” he said. “We’ve spent several months exploring scenarios with Kovy and his agent to reach a mutually beneficial agreement and offered many lucrative packages. Unfortunately, we’ve reached an impasse.”
Kovalchuk has racked up 31 goals and 27 assists for 58 points in 49 games this season, his eighth in the NHL since he was drafted first overall by Atlanta in 2001.
A two-time 50-goal scorer and perennial all-star, Kovalchuk has totalled 328 goals and 615 points in 594 NHL games, all with the Thrashers.
Salmela, meantime, is essentially returned to the Devils, who traded him to Atlanta for defenceman Niclas Havelid and forward Myles Stoesz last March 2.
The 25-year-ancient Finn has one goal and five points in 29 games this season.
Oduya, a Swedish Olympian, has two goals and four points in 40 games this season. He was injured for five weeks and missed 15 games.
The 28-year-ancient rearguard ranked second on the Devils in ice time this season, averaging a small over 21 minutes per outing.
Oduya still has two years remaining on his current contract at a salary cap hit of $3.5 million US.
Bergfors, 22, ranks fifth in rookie scoring this season with 27 points, including 13 goals.
The Swedish forward was drafted 23rd overall by the Devils in 2005.
Cormier, a teenage prospect with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, recently garnered headlines for a vicious elbow that earned him a suspension for the remainder of the QMJHL season.
A highly regarded forward, the Moncton native was captain of the Canadian national team that won the silver medal last month at the world junior championship in Saskatoon.
New Jersey drafted him in the second round (54th overall) in 2008.
