# 17

As some of you know I can talk hockey trade/trade rumors any day of the week and twice on Sundays (especially with football almost done). So that brings us to Kovalchuk...where does he go? The is the question 0.5% of the population of Atlanta (seriously...does anyone down there even pay attention to the Thrashers) and the rest of the hockey community want to know. Let's take a look at where I think he'll go.

Boston

They need a spark. Currently sitting at 12 only 2 points out of 8...they need an X factor to spring them ahead of the rest of the pack. Only 5 points separate the #6 and #13 spot in the East. That's ridiculous. Boston needs an edge and bringing in Kovalchuk for a Cup run would do just that. What will it take to get him? Well rumors are Waddell is looking for a top 6 forward, top 4 d-man, and a pick and/or prospect. Here's how I see it going down. (Now mind you I have no looked at cap figures or anything like that, so this might not work out exactly as I have laid out.)

Boston acquires: Kovalchuk
Atlanta acquires: David Krejci (F), Dennis Wideman (D), Boston's 1st round pick

Analysis: Boston would love to try and dump Ryder here, but it'll have to be in a separate deal. Atlanta receives a great young forward in Krejci who had 73 points last season. He's on pace for 44 this year. He's only 23 and has a ton of upside. Widemann has had an off year so far for the Bruins, but he is solid d-man entering his prime. Boston can afford to give up its 1st round pick because they have Toronto's pick (which looks like it'll be top 5) from the Kessel trade.

If this deal is proposed I think it offers Atlanta some good young players to start to build around. I would first still see what other deals are out there, but Atlanta could do a lot worse for a rental player.

Chicago

Stan Bowman has said he's not going after Kovalchuk. Let's look at the facts...the Hawks extended Kane and Towes, and Keith recently. They cannot afford all their players starting next season, so they'll be dumping some salary. This is their best chance at a Cup run. Why not unload some of those players to bring in Kovalchuk who will be an UFA. Conventional wisdom says they hold onto guys like Cam Barker and Patrick Sharp and load up on prospects and picks this summer instead. Nope...Chicago is going to make a run this year and why not?

Chicago acquires: Kovalchuk and a 3th or 4th round pick
Atlanta acquires: Cam Barker (D), Kris Versteeg (F), prospect (don't know enough about their system to say which one), and a 1st round pick

Analysis: If Chicago comes knocking with a trade such as this...Atlanta jumps on it. The other wild card here would be instead of Versteeg, Chicago substitutes Patrick Sharp. They're going to have to get rid of 2 out of 3 or all 3 of these players in order to make some cap room next year. My hope is that the Sabres make a play for any of these and offer up Gerbe and a 2nd. I digress...Chicago is loaded with good young talent. Atlanta would be wise to pluck up any of these. Barker will be a force on your defense for years to come and Sharp/Versteeg would be a nice 2nd line player (possibly 1st line).

Now my Wild Card team: Calgary Flames

The Flames have need some offensive help and I HIGHLY doubt that dealing away Phaneuf and Jokinen and bringing in Stajan (who is UFA), Haggman (a 20 goal scorer), Higgins (as bad as Jokinen), and Kotalik will solve all their offensive woes.

Calgary acquires: Kovalchuk and a 5th round pick
Atlanta acquires: Dustin Boyd (F), Mikael Backlund (F), Ian White (D), 1st round pick

Analysis: Calgary has a wealth of forwards now. They can afford to part with two. Backlund and Boyd are two young players with some offensive upside to them. Ian White is a great depth player and very inexpensive right now ($750k). He'll be a RFA in the offseason, but is a good puck moving defenseman. I feel as if Calgary may have to sweeten the pot if either Boston or Chicago offer their deals because this is the lesser of the three. I'm surprised Calgary didn't try and offer up Phaneuf to Atlanta to bring in Kovalchuk.

With that I feel he'll either land in Boston or Chicago. And just for the hell of it...if Buffalo trades for him what do we give up?

Buffalo acquires: Kovalchuk and a 4th round pick
Atlanta acquires: Clarke Macarthur (F), Mike Weber (D), Toni Lydman (D), 1st Round Pick

-Brett