Ain't it Grand?

This is great! There's just been a series of perfectly timed trades this week, so I don't have to think (much) when writing a post! Even better, next week is the Olympics, so I'll have more stuff to write about then! Maybe a preview on monday...
Anyway, Ilya Kovalchuk is a Devil. No, I mean he plays for NJ now.
Thaaaaat's right, folks. Ilya Kovalchuk is the latest member of the Pittsburgh Pirates Atlanta Thrashers to be traded at/near the deadline for more prospects and players. He joins the likes of a playoff choke artist (Marian Hossa) and a murderer (Dany Heatly), both of whom escaped Atlanta previously.

Anyway, NJ got Kovalchuk, Anssi Salmela, and Atlanta's 2nd round pick. Atlanta got Johnny Oduya Now, Niclas Bergfors Patrice Cormier, and NJ's 1st and second round picks.

So who won this trade? While Kovalchuk does provide an entirely new dimension in New Jersey, one never before seen there, it's hard to say that they won because they got 3 months of Kovalchuk and some undercooked meat. Meanwhile, Atlanta has continued to rebuild, though the addition of Oduya makes me think they might actually try and make another run next season.

Of course, for Atlanta, they've lost their only crowd draw. It's unlikely that the likes of Colby Armstrong or Evander Kane will draw in fans by the masses. And Oduya and Bergfors won't do that either. It looks like Atlanta will have some difficulty keeping their heads above water for the rest of the season.

New Jersey, for once, actually has potential to field an exciting team. The trap will be much more difficult to implement after trading a solid defenseman for a goal scorer who, in all likeliness, hasn't even heard the word Defense since his rookie season.

Of course, past this season...NJ is the big loser. They really look like the fool, knowing that Kovalchuk passed up over 8.4 million per season to stay with the Trashers. The most likely outcome? Kovalchuk defects to Russia and the KHL after this season, because there is NO way that I can see any team in the NHL paying him what he wants to make per season.

He's a good goal scorer and all, but he is a defensive liability, and really one-dimensional compare to a Sidney Crosby or Joe Thornton. Hell, even Alex the Great can play better defense after fewer seasons.

This move screams of desperation on the part of Lou Lamoriello. I'm going to join the bandwagon that Marty Brodeur must be retiring after the season. He's got like every goalie record ever, and is a shoe in for first ballot HoF. This move suggests it's time for a little rebuilding in NJ after this season.

Check back later in the day (probably around 6pm EST) for the Friday Pack of Cards!