AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > February > 01
Friday, February 1, 2008
Kozlov won’t waive no-trade clause
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I don’t think anyone was worried about Ilya Kovalchuk’s MRI coming back positive, but it still has to be a relief that there was no structural damage. The team stressed that it was all precautionary and they were right. He’ll still miss both games this weekend, but, knowing Kovalchuk, it’ll be tough to keep him out of the lineup Tuesday. Since I’ll focus the majority of my notebook on an interview later today on Ilya Kovalchuk, here’s some stuff I gathered this morning at the skate you might find interesting:
No trading Kozlov: Since I’m trying to prepare for every possible scenario as the trade deadline approaches, I’ve been trying to gauge who might get dealt if the Thrashers completely fall out of the race and become sellers. Obviously there’s Hossa, and we’ve talked about Mark Recchi and Bobby Holik’s possible value. But what about Slava Kozlov? He’s another veteran with playoff experience and a Stanley Cup. His numbers are down, but he could still be attractive at the deadline. Well, forget it. He has a no-trade clause that extends the length of his contract and he said he’s not waiving it. “I signed this summer, I could pick any team but I like it here. I don’t think I’m going to waive it. I just signed, what? Six months ago?” Kozlov said. But Kozlov also made a good point: In the Southeast, it’s highly unlikely that anybody is going to be out of it by the time the trade deadline rolls around. So this talk of the Thrashers being sellers, outside of any potential Hossa deal, is probably a stretch.
Just plug in Sterls: I chatted for a moment with Brett Sterling, and asked how he handles being the player called up and plugged into Kovalchuk’s spot every time he misses a game. Is there pressure? “I think there is, but at the same time, I can’t come in here and do what Kovy does. I have to fill that spot, try and provide some scoring punch to the team. But as a rookie filling in, you can’t expect to fill that role.” I’ll go on record and say I think Sterling is going to get a goal tonight. You heard it here first. But don’t think I won’t go back and edit this out if he doesn’t.
No easing up on Slater: You’d think now that Jim Slater has broken the goal curse and gotten on the board, people would leave him alone. But you’d be wrong. I couldn’t help but ask him this morning which goal felt better - the one against Pittsburgh or his first NHL goal. Bobby Holik chimed in with: “That wasn’t the same goal?” And so it goes for Slates. “I thought the hounding would stop,” he said. “But I think it’s gotten worse.” It doesn’t help that his locker is right next to Holik’s.
Cross off Minnesota: Alright, so we might not know where Marian Hossa will be playing when the season starts next year, but we know where he won’t. Michael Russo, the great beat writer for the Star Tribune in Minnesota asked Marian Gaborik, Hossa’s close friend, if Hossa would be interested in joining Gaborik in Minnesota. Here’s what he told Russo: “I don’t think he’d want to go to Minnesota anyway. I think that’s impossible. I don’t think he would consider it, and I don’t think they’d have interest either.” There’s also speculation that the Wild might be better off dealing Gaborik this summer so he doesn’t become next year’s Marian Hossa. How about this quote from Gaborik, think it sounds familiar? “I like Minnesota. We’re successful and I’m here right now. But I don’t know what’s going to happen later on. I’m here right now,” Gaborik told the Star Tribune.
