Breaking News: Kovalchuk to Devils

Thrashers captain Ilya Kovachuk has been traded to the New Jersey Devils in a five-player trade.

The news broke Thursday night following Kovalchuk’s rejection of a 12-year, $101 million contract and general manager Don Waddell’s public announcement that Kovalchuk would be traded.

The Devils sent defenseman Johnny Oduya, winger Niclas Bergfors and center Patrice Cormier along with a first-round draft choice. New Jersey will receive defenseman Anssi Samela and the two teams swapped second-round draft selections.

Kovalchuk has spent his entire career in Atlanta after the Thrashers selected him with the top overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

“[The Devils are] a good team with a great chance to make the playoffs and go far,” Kovalchuk told TSN. “But, it’s sad at the same time… I’ve been a Thrasher for eight years and I appreciated everything.”

Kovalchuk will become an unrestricted free agent following this season.

More on the deal as Kovalchuk arrives in Newark and begins playing for the Devils.

Posted by Andrew Knoll on Feb 5 2010. Filed under Atlanta Thrashers, Eastern Conference, New Jersey Devils, Southeast. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.