As things continue to go downhill for the Atlanta Thrashers, you have to wonder if anyone would want to stay, especially a player of Ilya Kovalchuk's caliber. The Russian born superstar has single handily run the offense in Atlanta long enough, and it seems to be time for a change. He has made comments in the past that he does not WANT to leave, but his stats this season say otherwise.
The 6'1, 230 lbs left winger has averaged 42 goals over his first six seasons. Twenty-five games into this season, he is currently on pace for 24 goals and 75 points. While this is still considered a fairly productive season, it is an underachievement for Kovalchuk. He has not even generated an average of three shots per game this season, and has been demoted to the checking line twice now.
Season after season of disappointment, an early exit in their most recent playoff stint, and a current 8-14-3 record, the Thrashers are failing and need to rebuild. Kovalchuk has been there for six seasons now. If he was to be the player around which they build, they should have had more success by now.
It is time to trade him and bring in a young core that they can begin to build around. But the question is, where do they send him, should they choose to unload his large contract and rebuild? The Montreal Canadiens have been waiting for their chance at Ilya, but another team has crossed my mind: the New Jersey Devils. Yes, as a Devils fan, I am a writer who is hoping for this to happen, but when you think about it, it does make some sense. Here is why I think this would be a win-win situation for both the Devils and Kovalchuk.
Offense- The Devils have been searching for some flare to liven up their offense for some time now. Zach Parise has been running the show so far for the Devils but he cannot do it alone. Kovalchuk needs play-makers around him, and he is just the guy to revitalize a play making and somewhat underachieving offense that includes names like Parise, Elias, Rolston, and even Madden who was known to be a scorer in his junior hockey career. The Devils have only one big shot to quarterback their power play unit in Brian Rolston, but that will not suffice. Kovalchuk is known for his big slap shot, and physical play which are two things the Devils' offense desperately needs.
Young Talent- What I would expect Atlanta's demand for Kovalchuk would be mainly young talent, and perhaps a veteran player. The Devils have an excess of young talent that they could deal to the Thrashers in this trade. Halischuk, Bergfors, and Vrana are just a few of the young Devils that could appeal to the Thrashers. Young Travis Zajac is also a possibility. Described as a possible up and coming "Joe Nieuwendyk", Zajac has had a decent start in New Jersey and could serve as trade bait as a young up and coming center for a struggling Atlanta team.
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