Kozlov requests trade due to reduced role

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Slava Kozlov has requested a trade due to his reduced role with the Thrashers. The 18-year-veteran forward said he would waive his no-trade clause to accommodate a move.

“I asked [general manager] Don [Waddell] to find a team,” Kozlov told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Friday. “I don’t know if I’m going to be on this team or another team. If we can find a team which I like and which is good for me and my family I will go. If not, I’m going to be here. ...

“With coach [John Anderson] not playing me, what can you do? That’s why I feel I could go play for somebody that needs my help. If so, I’ll waive my no-trade clause.”

Scott Lites, Kozlov’s agent, met with Waddell in Chicago two weeks ago before the Thrashers played the Blackhawks in the team’s final game before the two-week Olympic break.

“He’s disappointed with his reduced role of the ice,” Waddell said. “Like I explained to his agent, coaches make a decision and that they are trying to win games. They feel like right now, he’s not in the top group of 12 guys and other guys are giving us more.

“I told his agent you control it because you have a no-trade [clause]. If you guys are willing to waive your no-trade than I will explore it. That’s how we left it.”

NHL rosters are currently frozen for the Olympic break. The freeze ends at midnight on Sunday. The league trade deadline is Wednesday.

Waddell said he has had little contact with other teams about a trade because executives are just returning from the break.

Kozlov, who is an unrestricted free agent following the season, said he would waive the no-trade clause to join a playoff contender.

“We are waiting right now,” Kozlov said. “I will think about it, talk to my family and my wife and see.”

Kozlov, 37, has been a healthy scratch in eight of the Thrashers’ past 10 games since seeing his franchise record streak of 251 consecutive starts snapped on Jan. 23. He missed the next four games before returning to the lineup for two games on Feb. 5-6. He was again a healthy scratch the next three games leading up to the Olympic break and the meeting between his agent and Waddell.

“Kozzy is a real professional,” Anderson said. “I know he’s hurt by [his reduced role], which I expected. He’s working really hard in practice. He’s not saying a detrimental word. I know how hard it is. He’s a very proud man and been a great player.

"Right now, the way the lines are set up, I think we are putting our best foot forward. If there are some guys that are not doing what we need to do, then he certainly will go in. It doesn’t have to be an injury.”

Kozlov has 24 points this season (eight goals, 16 assists) and a plus/minus rating of minus-16. He has three power-play goals and one game-winning goal. Kozlov had 76 points last season, the second-highest total in his career with 26 goals and 50 assists.

In his seventh season with the Thrashers after signing as a free agent in 2002, Kozlov won two Stanley Cups in 1997 and 1998 with Detroit. For his career, Kozlov has scored 356 goals and 495 assists.

He said before the season that he had no retirement plans and hoped to continue his career several more seasons.

“He’s done a lot of great things for us,” Waddell said. "He’s been a good player for us. Right now, we give our coaches 23 players and they make up the lineup. Right now, they have other players they would rather play in front of him. It’s part of the business, not the fun part. I know Kozzy wants to play next year and if it won’t happen here, he wants to look at other options.”