Surveying the Aftermath in Atlanta Post-Kovalchuk

When the Atlanta Thrashers traded Marian Hossa to the Pittsburgh Penguins two trade deadlines ago, it was very clear that superstar forward Ilya Kovalchuk was the face of this franchise for many years to come...or not.

Until just days ago, General Manager Don Waddell didn’t realize that not even 100 million dollars would keep the Russian phenom around. Yes, that’s what was offered to Mr. Kovalchuk hours before being dealt to the New Jersey Devils in a 5-player trade.

Many have argued since the breaking news hit just about every single website related to the sport of hockey a couple weeks ago, that GM Don Waddell simply didn’t get enough assets in return for a hockey player who was supposed to be the key to not only winning hockey games, but keeping the Thrashers in Georgia for years to come. I have to agree with a large population of bloggers and NHL media, that Waddell didn’t get enough assets in return, and their future success plans hit a snag; but I can also guarantee one thing, Don Waddell had no other choice but to make this deal and somehow add pieces to the puzzle that may just work.

Forwards Nicklas Berfors, prospect Patrice Cormier, and defenseman Johnny Oduya along with a 1st round pick in 2010 were acquired for Ilya Kovalchuk. I think everyone was shocked at first, expecting to see the likes of promising, proven prospects like Wayne Simmonds or Jack Johnson. Hey, maybe even Scott Hartnell or Simon Gagne. Listen, those deals simply were not going to happen. Period, end of story. There were deals supposedly in the works for weeks, but in the end, a large percentage of those deals were merely the fantasies of fans and the media.

This is reality hockey fans, and this is what Don Waddell was faced with and had to do.

Bergfors, a 2005 draft pick from Sweden, has 28 points in his rookie season and had to be a part of any deal involving NJ.

The Captain of Team Canada in the 2010 World Junior Championship, Patrice Cormier, has been suspended the rest of the 2009-2010 season for the elbow to the head of an opposing player, but let’s not let that blind us from the fact that this player has a great skill set, a physical presence, and great size at 6’1 205.

Defensemen Johnny Oduya was a popular player in New Jersey, but hardly a top 3 guy on the blueline. What Oduya will provide Atlanta with is a solid defenseman with great shutdown instincts. He has skating ability, but will never be mistaken for an offensive type player. Oduya is a great teammate and leader, and will make an impact almost immediately in Atlanta.

The 1st round pick will fall in the range of 25th-30th. There are no guarantees here. Waddell has no idea how the chips may fall, but it’s a 1st round pick nonetheless, and it needs to be picked wisely.

If you briefly look back at the Atlanta-Pittsburgh blockbuster trade involving Marian Hossa, only thrashers forward Colby Armstrong plays regularly. Forward Eric Christiansen has bounced around the league and is currently a New York Ranger, and prospect Angelo Esposito is constantly injured. This deal was difficult to accept at the time and still haunts the Thrashers today. This deal also contributes to the irate reaction from fans in Atlanta over the Kovalchuk deal. Rightfully so.

However, the Thrashers have a better mix of players now than they did two years ago. The only problem is, they still aren't winning enough hockey games. Even with Kovie in the lineup, the same problem still exists.

So where do you go from here?

Don Waddell must continue to overhaul this roster. There is a good mix in Atlanta right now, but other moves must be made to improve this roster from top to bottom. The Kovalchuk deal needs to be one of many that will deepen a questionable depth chart.

Kari Lehtonen's days were numbered as he conditioned with Chicago of the AHL, and now they are over. Lehtonen is officially a Dallas Star after a trade that sent the terribly injury-prone, yet still promising goaltender to the Stars in exchange for a 4th round pick in 2010 and up-and-coming defenseman IvanVishnevskiy.

Ondrej Pavelec and Johan Hedberg are by no means the long-term tandem moving forward between the pipes. At this point however, Waddell needs to continue to deepen the talent pool in Atlanta, and the two goaltenders he has now, well let's just say it's worked for so far this season.

The Atlanta Thrashers are a game over.500. They are four points removed from the 8th and final playoff spot. With 24 games remaining in the 2009-10 season, the Thrashers ultimate goal is to make the playoffs. It's certainly reachable, and it's not totally far fetched at this point.

Don Waddell will need to continue to find trading partners, and add more pieces to the puzzle in Atlanta. He has learned from past mistakes, and can't afford to make new ones. As this hockey club battles for a playoff spot, players will come and go from now until the March 3rd trade deadline. One thing we can assume at this point, they have a better variety of players now then ever before. That list will grow larger as Don Waddell continues to get the big picture.

Kovalchuk and the Future of the Atlanta Thrashers

This past off-season, I mentioned Atlanta Thrashers General Manager Don Waddell as a suitable candidate for the early season Hot Seat in the National Hockey League. The Thrashers are coming off a disappointing 76-point season in 2008-09, and were again eligible for the draft lottery held this past June. While the signs of promise are certainly there, the Atlanta Thrashers need to turn the corner and compete on a nightly basis with a surprisingly much improved Southeast Division. Most importantly however, Don Waddell must take care of business with star forward and Captain Ilya Kovalchuk. Heading into the final year of his contract, improving the Thrashers and pushing the right buttons in order to sign Kovie is a must.

The Thrashers took tremendous steps forward this past off-season in order to add to what could be their most talented group of players since their expansion year. The first round selection of Vancouver, BC native Evander Kane, the acquisition of hard nosed Czech defensemen Pavel Kubina, the signing of former Leaf forward Nikolai Antropov (a friend of Kovalchuk's), a training camp tryout with a contract to follow for Maxim Afinogenov, and a waiver claim of defenseman Christoph Schubert just hours before the 2009 season began. All in all, a pretty solid off-season for GM Don Waddell and the Atlanta Thrashers, but the work doesn’t stop there. Don Waddell recently signed forward Rich Peverley to a two year deal worth $2.6 million. The additions to this somewhat promising lineup are in place, the results on the ice; well that’s always a story in itself.

A 4-1-1 start for the Atlanta Thrashers is nothing new, been there done that. It’s a different feeling though as this young season progresses. Not only are the Thrashers getting offensive production from off-season acquisitions, there is a balance on this hockey club now. They are getting the secondary scoring, along with solid goaltending from their 2^nd round pick in 2005, Ondrej Pavalec. Goaltending has always been an issue with the Atlanta Thrashers, battling injuries or poor on ice performances. Pavalec looks really solid however, and may just be the go to guy they've been searching for. Johan Hedberg figures to remain as a solid backup to Pavelec, as a once high touted goaltender Kari Lehtonen again nurses an injury. Talented rookie forward Evander Kane’s recent on ice performance indicates a trip back to junior is not in the cards, at least not at this point according to GM Don Waddell. From a defensive standpoint, newcomer Pavel Kubina and Tobias Enstrom have a combined 11 helpers in 8 games.  Kubina's veteran experience is an invaluable tool for the young Thrasher dmen.

The early season success is there for Head Coach John Anderson and the Atlanta Thrashers, but make no mistake, this hockey club is ways away from out of the woods. GM Don Waddell has his work cut out for him in order to put the best possible product on the ice. It all starts and ends with superstar Ilya Kovalchuk, who is due to hit the open market on July 1^st of 2010. The Thrashers must find a way to lock up Kovie, give him what he wants, and continue to place the right pieces to the puzzle around him. A healthy Kovie surrounded by the right players, well that’s exactly what the fans in Atlanta have been waiting for. They might just get their wish.

NHL Summer Update: Eastern Conference Review

[Editor's Note: SportsJudge.com NHL Insider Darren Coslov is back and takes a look at this summer's action in the Eastern Conference.]

NHL Training Camp is less then a month away. General Managers are completing the final stages of their training camp rosters after what has been a very interesting off-season.

I raised my eyebrow on several occasions over moves that mortgaged the future of a franchise. I shook my head at the typical off-season signings which always seem to steer an organization further into the depths of the standings, rather than towards Lord Stanley. I was impressed with moves that filled necessary gaps, yet just as shocked at moves that brought in question marks as replacements for assets lost on July 1st. Welcome to the 2009 NHL off-season, another summer where we've seen a handful of General Managers getting the big picture, while others continue to completely miss the boat.

Question Marks A Plenty: Atlanta Thrashers and New York Rangers

The Atlanta Thrashers and New York Rangers are two Eastern Conference teams which have questions marks all over the board. Starting in the Big Apple with the Blue Shirts, the likes of Scott Gomez, Marcus Naslund, Nik Antropov, Colton Orr and Nikolai Zherdev are out. Headed to Broadway....injury prone Marian Gaborik, inconsistent (and now overpaid) Ales Kotalik, an expensive Tier 2 forward Vinnie Prospal, Christopher Higgins, Donald Brashear, Enver Lisin and Tyler Arnason. One thing we do know at this point is that gamebreaker Marian Gaborik must play 82 games in order for the Rangers to have any chance at surviving the vicious Atlantic Division this season. Much as the Minnesota Wild learned with the Slovakian winger, the Rangers hopes live and die with Gaborik (and his groin). The other additions are solid, but far from the answers. The additions fill voids, but do not improve the big picture. High-priced veteran question marks year after year. Doesn't this sound so familiar when discussing the Rangers? The Blue Shirts defense is also a work in progress with four spots currently in play. Be it developing youth or as usual via trades, the Rangers must improve the blue line to have a chance against the likes of Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. I'm not so sure if it happens.

The Atlanta Thrashers are dying to return to the win column. Ilya Kovalchuk not only wants to win, he wants to win and be successful with top tier forwards surrounding him. Thus far that has yet to happen in Atlanta. Colby Armstrong and Slava Kozlov are not the answers, but neither is the newly-acquired Nik Antropov. Don Waddell is having a difficult go with trying to bring in top-notch UFA’s to sunny Atlanta. Veteran players want to win, and most likely want to win with an organization that not only attracts top players, but does so on a consistent basis. Anthony Stewart, Marty Reasoner and Noah Welch are not the answers and would hardly crack certain lineups around the league, but one thing we know is this, the future is bright with young talent and it’s up to Don Waddell to build the necessary pieces around it.

GM's Glen Sather and Don Waddell, are officially on the hot seat.

Caps Lock: Washington Capitals

Let’s take a look at one team in the East who filled necessary gaps, and filled them well. The Washington Capitals lost Sergei Fedorov and Victor Kozlov to unrestricted free agency. Capitals fans, meet Brendan Morrison and Mike Knuble. The brilliance here is not only did GM George McPhee fill voids created by the UFA departures, he filled them with experienced players who have a tremendous game in several different areas: penalty kill, powerplay, and textbook 5 on 5. Knuble was tremendous on the powerplay in Philadelphia. The thoughts of what he could potentially do with Alex Semin and Alexander Ovechkin on the PP, well that’s yet to be seen, but the Southeast Division will find out soon enough.

George McPhee continues to build a winning franchise in the nation's capital. It’s only going to get better.