If there was any question on what the Atlanta Thrashers were going to do with Ilya Kovalchuk, it seems like the answer is to expect a trade.
And with Thrashers scheduled to play their next game Friday in Washington, a move could come fast.
On Wednesday, Thrashers General Manager Don Waddell informed Kovalchuk that he could be traded soon, and on Thursday, he issued a statement saying contract negotiations have reached an impasse.
"Our goal from the start of this negotiating process was to sign Ilya Kovalchuk to a long-term contract," Waddell said. "During the process, Kovy affirmed his desire to be a Thrasher for life. We've spent several months exploring scenarios with Kovy and his agent to reach a mutually beneficial agreement, and offered many lucrative packages in an attempt to meet his financial objectives. Unfortunately, we've reached an impasse and at this point he has declined all of our proposals and we can't reasonably go any higher."
Waddell said the club offered Kovalchuk a 12-year, $101 million deal, but it was rejected. Waddell said it would have been the highest contract ever signed by an impending free agent in NHL history.
Waddell also said a $70 million, seven-year deal was rejected. Waddell said
that deal would have made Kovalchuk's average annual salary $10 million per season, $500,000 more than any player in the League.
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