The Low Cost of Acquiring a 40-Goal Scorer

The Atlanta Thrashers might have been better off continuing to negotiate a contract with Ilya Kovalchuk, even if they ended up losing him for nothing. The package of assets they received from New Jersey amounts to not much more.

In return for Kovalchuk, one of the NHL's few game-breaking stars, the Thrashers brought back a No. 4 defenseman (Johnny Oduya), a potential second-line forward (Niclas Bergfors), a controversial, B-level prospect (Patrice Cormier) and what will be a very late first-round pick in the 2010 draft.

If Kovalchuk resides in New Jersey for only a few months and his team fails to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, the Devils may not win this trade -- but they will never lose it. For the magnificent Kovalchuk, even as a rental, the Thrashers did not pick up a single piece of wow.

Atlanta general manager Don Waddell was in a virtually impossible spot, one he is partially responsible for backing himself into. His team's all-time everything turned down over 100 million dollars -- as reported by ... well, the Thrashers -- and the GM was faced with watching the left wing walk without getting anything in return. Although Waddell does not have a magician's track record in big deals (see what's left of his Marian Hossa deal of two years ago), we have to assume he took the best offer. So let's look at who they got for Kovalchuk, who has averaged 47 goals the last four seasons, and defenseman Anssi Salmela.

Oduya has developed into a very good NHL defenseman ... on the New Jersey Devils. With the Thrashers, Johnny Will Merely Be Good.

Bergfors, 23 next month, is a rookie from Sweden who had an eye-opening start to his season but hit the wall early. Regarded as an offense-first wing, Bergfors does not have a point in his last 13 games. He has potential, but not enough for the Thrashers' disillusioned fanbase to believe they at least acquired a future star.

Cormier's upside is a bigger question mark. A recent second round pick of the Devils, Team Canada's captain at the World Junior Championships is best known for a vicious elbow that sent an opponent into convulsions during a junior hockey game. Cormier is suspended for the rest of this season. While the youngster has ability and spark, you would think Waddell could have insisted on a better prospect from New Jersey's system. 2008 first round pick Mattias Tedenby would have thrived in Atlanta coach John Anderson's quick-tempo system.

The first round pick acquired by Waddell will be between selection 20-30. If the Thrashers' scouting scores big, the prospect will be at least three years from making an impact.

Waddell spoke tonight of hockey being a true team game, how he believes one superstar is not as important as 18 skaters and a goaltender executing a system. We'll give him that one for now; this was a day he called "tough" and "bittersweet" while opening his press conference. And for years we've seen hockey teams rally stunningly after an injury or departure of a top player.

Unless the Thrashers add a significant player in a follow-up transaction -- Waddell said he had the support of ownership to do so -- they will not earn one of the eight playoff berths in the Eastern Conference. That wouldn't be so bad, if they could talk sincerely about next year.

But the Thrashers have been talking about next year since they came to Atlanta. And with this trade, next year doesn't look so special.