Ilya Kovalchuk was one of the players included in a blockbuster NHL trade Thursday. The defensive-minded Devils traded for the marquee left wing in a deal with the Atlanta Thrashers. New Jersey acquired the high scoring, three-time All-Star and Anssi Salmela for four of their own yesterday. Defenseman Johnny Oduya, rookie forward Niclas Bergfors, junior prospect Patrice Cormier and a first-round draft pick were part of the blockbuster swap. Kovalchuk arrives just in time to bolster an ailing and injured New Jersey roster. The 26 year old Russian had 31 goals this season for Atlanta, and has posted 50 goal seasons twice in his young career. General manager, Lou Lamoriello, believes Kovalchuk will add his unsullied hockey sense at the power forward position on the Devils’ ice. The new skater in black and red is expected to play Friday as the Devils host Toronto. He should be an assest to a team that has struggled to score goals as of late. Kovalchuk was drafted in 2001 by the Thrashers. Since his NHL debut, he has continued to lead the NHL. The Olympian has 328 goals and will become a free agent at season’s end.
Oduya, the 28 year old Swedish skater, was having a disappointing season in New Jersey. Oduya and Bergfors are both serviceable players but the Devils got the better end of this bargain deal. New Jersey, second in the conference, immediately upgrades their credibility at both ends of the puck. Oduya has four points all season for the Devils. Bergfors has 13 goals on the season with 27 points, landing him at fifth place among league rookies. Still, it’s hard to decipher whether Bergfors’ future production will equal what Kovalchuk brings to the ice. The Atlantic Division-leading Devils drafted the rookie in 2005 at 23rd overall, but Bergfors is not the better player in the trade. Thrashers GM, Don Waddell, attempted to sign Kovalchuk to an extension. Kovalchuk turned him down what would have been the biggest contract over 12 years. The Russian declined all the offers from Atlanta, a major blow to the suffering franchise. Salmela is a mobile 25 year old defenseman, but his output this season has been mediocre at best. He managed just four assists in 29 games for the Thrashers this year. Salmela was drafted by the Devils in 2008 before being dealt in the Niclas Havelid deal with Atlanta. New Jersey also waved adieu to Cormier, their temperamental 19 year old. Cormier will impact the Thrashers down the road. He captained the Canadian team to a 2010 World Junior Championship but endured a season-ending suspension after hitting an opposing player.
In other Devils news, the Duke Blue Devils showed their horns last night in Durham. The ACC leaders toppled Georgia Tech 86-67 behind Kyle Singler’s 30 point barrage. Jon Scheyer added 21 points for 10th ranked Duke. Nolan Smith contributed 14 for the 18-4 Blue Devils, who hit nearly 67% of their 3-pointers. The Yellowjackets, fourth best in the nation in field-goal percentage defense, couldn’t stop Duke from finishing 45% from the field. Singler stymied Tech from the rainbow and was given the freedom to have open looks all night. The junior forward was 8-of-10 from the arc on this career night. The Devils dominated the second half and it all added up to Mike Krzyzewski’s 15th consecutive Cameron Indoor Stadium victory. Singler, Scheyer and Smith are the most productive scoring trio in college basketball. The three average 53 points per game. It was apparent they were too much for the young Yellowjackets. Twenty-first ranked Tech was led by senior Zachery Peacock’s 11 tallies.
Parting Points: It’s nice to see the LA Kings off to their best start since the ’80 season . At 35-19-3, this Kings fan cannot complain.
“There’s a freedom in your arms that carries me through”- Lee Ann Rimes
Showing posts with label Atlanta Thrashers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Atlanta Thrashers. Show all posts
Friday, February 5, 2010
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Parise Pockets Pair in Physical Play at Prudential
Zach Parise planted the puck between the posts for the first time in exactly a month to start the scoring for the Devils last night in Newark. Parise’s pair of goals Monday were enough to lift New Jersey to a very physical 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers. The 25 year old team leader in goals and points the past two seasons snapped a 12 game scoring drought to give New Jersey their fourth straight victory at The Rock. It is imperative for Parise to fluster the foes in order for the Devils to deliver. Atlanta took 20 hits on New Jersey but fought off early shakiness to make it a closely contest meeting. The Devils own a 27-9-1 record and bounced back from a pre-Christmas spiritless loss to Washington. New Jersey returned to their winning ways with their best skater recapturing the spotlight. The Thrashers dropped their fifth straight game, despite fighting to trim the home lead to one goal with 7:28 remaining in the contest.
Parise slipped by Atlanta defenders 10:46 into the first period to beat badly-screened goalie, Johan Hedberg. The winger broke through and knocked in his own rebound over Hedberg’s pads for the first Devils’ tally. His 16th goal of the season tied the game at 1-1. Niclas Bergfors and Andy Greene each earned an assist on the goal. A minute earlier in the quarter, Ilya Kovalchuk recorded Atlanta’s initial goal with a blast from the left circle past Martin Brodeur. Kovalchuk’s extended his point-scoring streak to ten with his 23rd goal. Marty Reasoner and Tobias Enstrom picked up the assists on the score. Devils’ defensivemen, Collin White, chipped in a first period goal to put the Devils ahead 2-1 at 16:34. It was the long-time Devil’s second goal of 2009. The ten year veteran was on the ice for nearly 23 minutes Monday. Bergfors notched his second assist of the night on White’s slapper.
Atlanta was rewarded for their enduring effort after neither team scored in the sloppy second period. New Jersey failed to move the puck and often allowed Atlanta clear shots up the ice. The Devils got on board first with the super speedy Parise’s second of two scores. Patrik Elias swung a cross-ice pass to Parise .59 seconds into the third period. The power play goal was Parise’s 17th, and put New Jersey up 3-1. A two goal lead is usually suffice for the game’s most dominant netminder, Brodeur. Marty allowed Atlanta to best him once more, but finished with 24 saves. Reasoner gave the redshirts a reason for concern by blitzing Brodeur from the high slot after a two-zone Atlanta rush. The 19-15-4 Thrashers wouldn’t get any closer. A solid road effort turned into another loss for John Anderson’s Thrashers. Luckily for the Devils, the defense held up well in advantageous Atlanta situations. New Jersey’s goalie fended off a flurry of attackers and snared shots to the ice to preserve the edge. Brodeur was playing in his first game at the Prudential Center since his historical shutout. The three time Stanley Cup goaltender hung tough behind net, and Parise stepped up with surging, skillful, shining statement to thump the Thrashers.
Parting Points: Are the Vikings caving? Cutler connected in crunchtime to overcome the Favre mystique.
These Mike Leach allegations are disturbing, to say the least.
Tracy McGrady is requesting a trade. I can’t blame the All-Star Rocket for wanting more minutes. Does Houston exchange an expiring contracts or a young shooter?
Parise slipped by Atlanta defenders 10:46 into the first period to beat badly-screened goalie, Johan Hedberg. The winger broke through and knocked in his own rebound over Hedberg’s pads for the first Devils’ tally. His 16th goal of the season tied the game at 1-1. Niclas Bergfors and Andy Greene each earned an assist on the goal. A minute earlier in the quarter, Ilya Kovalchuk recorded Atlanta’s initial goal with a blast from the left circle past Martin Brodeur. Kovalchuk’s extended his point-scoring streak to ten with his 23rd goal. Marty Reasoner and Tobias Enstrom picked up the assists on the score. Devils’ defensivemen, Collin White, chipped in a first period goal to put the Devils ahead 2-1 at 16:34. It was the long-time Devil’s second goal of 2009. The ten year veteran was on the ice for nearly 23 minutes Monday. Bergfors notched his second assist of the night on White’s slapper.
Atlanta was rewarded for their enduring effort after neither team scored in the sloppy second period. New Jersey failed to move the puck and often allowed Atlanta clear shots up the ice. The Devils got on board first with the super speedy Parise’s second of two scores. Patrik Elias swung a cross-ice pass to Parise .59 seconds into the third period. The power play goal was Parise’s 17th, and put New Jersey up 3-1. A two goal lead is usually suffice for the game’s most dominant netminder, Brodeur. Marty allowed Atlanta to best him once more, but finished with 24 saves. Reasoner gave the redshirts a reason for concern by blitzing Brodeur from the high slot after a two-zone Atlanta rush. The 19-15-4 Thrashers wouldn’t get any closer. A solid road effort turned into another loss for John Anderson’s Thrashers. Luckily for the Devils, the defense held up well in advantageous Atlanta situations. New Jersey’s goalie fended off a flurry of attackers and snared shots to the ice to preserve the edge. Brodeur was playing in his first game at the Prudential Center since his historical shutout. The three time Stanley Cup goaltender hung tough behind net, and Parise stepped up with surging, skillful, shining statement to thump the Thrashers.
Parting Points: Are the Vikings caving? Cutler connected in crunchtime to overcome the Favre mystique.
These Mike Leach allegations are disturbing, to say the least.
Tracy McGrady is requesting a trade. I can’t blame the All-Star Rocket for wanting more minutes. Does Houston exchange an expiring contracts or a young shooter?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
