Thrashers acquire standout defenseman Kubina

Trade winds are blowing.

Even with the start of the NHL free-agency period Wednesday, the Thrashers acquired Pavel Kubina from the Toronto Maple Leafs for Garnet Exelby and Colin Stuart. The Thrashers also acquired Tim Stapleton.

Kubina, 32, has one year and $5 million remaining on his contract. He played for the Maple Leafs the past three seasons after spending the previous eight with the Tampa Bay Lightning, including when they won the Stanley Cup in 2004. He played all 82 games for the Leafs last season and tied a career-high with 40 points (14 goals, 26 assists).

Kubina, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound defenseman, was an all-star in 2004 and played for the Czech Republic in the 2002 and 2006 Olympics and on four World Championship teams. He was drafted by the Lightning in the seventh round in 1996 and signed with the Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2006.

“We think we have made a huge improvement to our defense,” Thrashers general manager Don Waddell said. “We have a legitimate top-4 defense with Kubina and Ron Hainsey, Tobias Enstrom and Zach Bogosian. … This might be the best top-4 defense we’ve had in the history of the Thrashers.”

Stapleton, 26, scored one goal in four games for the Leafs last season after making his NHL debut Feb. 26. Waddell described the forward as “a skill guy that put up all kinds of numbers in Europe.”

Exelby, 27, played all six of his NHL seasons with the Thrashers after they selected him in the eighth round of the 1999 draft. The fan-favorite defenseman appeared in 59 games last season with seven assists.

“I’m disappointed to have to trade one of my favorite players in Garnet Exelby,” Waddell said. “He did everything we’ve ever asked of him. … When you make a deal and get a good player, you have to give something good back.”

Waddell said that Toronto GM Brian Burke had made several inquiries in the past year about acquiring Exelby.

Stuart, 26, played both of his NHL seasons with the Thrashers after they selected him in the fifth round of the 2001 draft. The forward appeared in 33 games last season and had eight points (five goals, three assists).

The Thrashers are not through trying to improve a team that has missed the playoffs the past two seasons. Waddell said there is a 75 percent chance they will acquire a top-6 forward via free agency.

“We haven’t had any hard discussions, but we are tracking some players,” Waddell said.

If the Thrashers must trade to acquire another forward, they likely will deal one of their goaltenders — a position of depth. Either Kari Lehtonen or Ondrej Pavelec could be dealt. Waddell said there is a possibility that the team will enter next season with Lehtonen, Pavelec and Johan Hedberg competing for the position “if there is not a deal that makes sense.”

Wednesday was also the first day the Thrashers could begin negotiations with star Ilya Kovalchuk, who will become a free agent next season. Thrashers fans should not panic if Kovalchuk is not re-signed immediately. The Thrashers all-time leader in goals has stated that he wants to make sure the Thrashers are moving in the right direction, building a winning team, before he signs a long-term deal.

He is willing to give Waddell time to make the necessary moves.

“I met with Kovy,” Waddell said. “We had a good talk. Kovy is a very positive guy. We didn’t talk about money.”

Waddell said Kovalchuk did not make demands — although he would like to see the team acquire another top forward.

“Kovy knows he can’t manage a team,” Waddell said. “He isn’t going to make demands. Kovy is just the opposite.

“His agent and I will get together in the middle of July. Nothing is going to happen for a little while.”