Waddell: Trading Kovalchuk is option, not first choice

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Thrashers general manager Don Waddell said Monday that he is not actively seeking to trade star Ilya Kovalchuk. However, a trade remains a possibility should a new contract agreement not be reached.

Waddell said unequivocally in May that he would not trade Kovalchuk, who will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, if contract talks reached an impasse.

“Our first priority still remains to sign him,” Waddell told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Monday. “That’s clear. I probably didn’t leave the door open enough at the beginning of the year because, obviously, I was hoping that this would be long done by now. We also have to protect the asset. He’s an asset to our franchise. ...

“[A trade] still looms as an option, but it’s not my first choice.”

Waddell said that both sides -- the Thrashers and Kovalchuk and his agent Jay Grossman -- have proposals on the table.

“We are at a difference of what the player should be paid,” Waddell said. “It has nothing to do with Kovy being a great player, being our franchise player. It has everything to do [with] that we do this and still have room that we can continue to grow this franchise.”

The NHL trade deadline is March 3. No league transactions can be made during the two-week Olympic break, which begins Feb. 14.

Waddell also said there is an option to play out the season with Kovalchuk on the roster and attempt to re-sign him at a later date.

Antropov doubtful

Top line center Nik Antropov returned to practice on Monday after missing the past three games with a hip injury. However, following practice, coach John Anderson said it was unlikely that Antropov would play Tuesday against the Senators.

Lehtonen practices

Goaltender Kari Lehtonen practiced with the team Monday for the first time since undergoing two back surgeries, the last one in October.

“It went good,” Lehtonen said. “Nothing against our goalie coach, but his shots are not quite as good as one of the top players here. It was exciting to get in some real drills.”

Lehtonen will continue to practice with the team. A conditioning stint at AHL Chicago is a possibility.

“It’s been really tough, the whole season basically, trying to get back,” Lehtonen said. “Now, it might happen.”

More line changes

The Thrashers practiced with four different line combinations. Kovalchuk was skating with Rich Peverley and Chris Thorburn; Marty Reasoner was centering Colby Armstrong and Max Afinogenov; Jim Slater was centering Evander Kane and Bryan Little; Todd White was centering Slava Kozlov and Eric Boulton.

“Nothing is set in stone,” Anderson said. “We are trying to get some grit on each line, some size and presence on each line. That’s what we are trying to do.”

Anderson said in an effort to score more goals, the team must drive the net and “go to those ugly little places that no one likes to go.”

Sunday practice

The Thrashers were scheduled to have an off-day on Sunday, but that changed following Saturday’s lopsided loss to the Capitals.

“You can’t be happy losing at home 8-1,” Anderson said. “ ... [We did] battle drills, lots of skating, just let the guys know that it’s not to punish them but it’s unacceptable to lose 8-1 at home. They all understand that and all expected it.”

Prospects traded

Two Thrashers prospects were traded by their junior teams Sunday. Defenseman Ben Chiarot, a 2009 fourth-round pick, was traded to Sudbury (OHL) from Guelph. Center Jimmy Bubnick, a 2009 sixth-round pick, was traded to Calgary (WHL) from Kamloops. Bubnick had 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists).