Sinfully Good: Devils Acquire Kovalchuk

Amongst all the trade buzz created, it's the New Jersey Devils who come out victorious in the Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes, acquiring the prolific goal-scorer from Atlanta, along with D Anssi Salmela in exchange for F Niclas Bergfors, D Johnny Oduya, a prospect (Patrice Cormier), and a 1st round pick. Both teams exchanged 2nd round picks as well.

Click here to see Atlanta GM Don Waddell discuss the trade.

Hockey's Future has a profile of Patrice Cormier.

.. I end up going to work, where I'm not able to update blog posts and the trade goes down...nice. Amongst all the media frenzy is the fact that a number of credible sources were riddled with inaccuracies, which amazes me. 


First, Nick Kypreos and Kevin Allen incorrectly name the Flyers the ones that acquired Kovalchuk. Then, they're both refuted by numerous, credible sources that it's Kovalchuk to New Jersey, not Philly. Once the correct team was actually figured out, it was the prospect heading to Atlanta reporters had trouble figuring out, first saying Tenedby, then Palmeri, and finally Cormier.


As far as the deal goes, Atlanta fans can't be too thrilled with this trade. Where's the dynamic player coming back in the trade? Bergfors is still unproven despite having a decent year, Oduya is still young but carrying a 3.5 million a year contract. Cormier is in potential legal trouble with his year suspension in Junior Hockey and may face assault charges.


New Jersey made out in this deal, if you go by the notion that the team getting the best player wins the trade. Kovalchuk will provide an immediate offensive punch to a Devils team that hasn't had a talent quite like this in their franchise before, even if its only for a couple months. The real question is: will Kovalchuk sign long-term in New Jersey?