"We tried everything we can"

Ilya Kovalchuk is gone. The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that negotiations with the star had broken down after the team claims Kovalchuk turned down a $101 million 12 year deal. Thrashers General Manager Don Waddell said in a news conference Thursday night. "Unfortunately we couldn't reach a deal. Now we have to turn the page."

The breakdown of months of negotiations led to trading Kovalchuk and defenseman Anssi Salmela in a "rent a star" deal with the New Jersey Devils that will bring the Thrashers Johnny Oduya, Niclas Bergfors, prospect Patrice Cromier and a 2010 first round draft pick.

"We want you, our fans, to know that throughout the negotiation process, the Thrashers organization remained committed to offering Ilya a contract that exceeded those of the league's best and highest paid players," Waddell wrote. "If we had met Kovy' ultimate demand, we would have jeopardized our ability to build a competitive team around him," the statement said.

Phil Foley of the examiner.com blogs said the deal came together starting Sunday, as Waddell scouted the Los Angeles Kings v New jersey Devils game. At the time, Foley reports, the Devils weren't interested in Kovalchuk. But Devils GM Lou Lamoriello entered the bidding Monday and quickly outbid the Kings.

The deal fell into place, according to Foley when the Devils agreed to include Cormier. Cormier, 19, captain of the Canadian 2010 World Junior silver medal team, was suspended for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) following a hit that the league described as "dangerous and intolerable." It was his second notable suspension.

The discussion is that Waddell will try to place Cormier with the Chicago Wolves this season. Waddell said the Thrashers hoped to play Cormier next season, "we look forward to having Patrice join us in the near future," Waddell said in a statement. Waddell told NHL On the Fly that the Thrashers would look at moving Cormier after his junior team was eliminated from the playoffs. A late night e-mail to the American Hockey League to ask if the league will honor the QMJHL suspension has not yet been answered.

The trade comes about a week before the February 12th Olympics trade freeze. The final NHL games before the winter Olympics start happen on February 14th. The NHL will not play during the Olympics. A small trade window will open in March 1-3, after the close of the Olympics.

The AHL is not taking a break for the Olympics.

In action last night against the Abbotsford Heat in Abbotsford, BC, the Wolves won 3-2. The game winning goal was scored by Matt Anderson with just 98 seconds remaining on the clock. The win put the Wolves just one point out of second place in the West Division, two points out of first place with games in hand on two of the teams ahead of them.

The Wolves play the Heat in Abbotsford again tonight, game time is 9:30 Central, with a Comcast carrying the game and the game broadcast over Internet radio and Internet PPV. A win could put the team in a tie for first place in the division.