Thrashers trade Ilya Kovalchuk

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The Atlanta Thrashers traded away the best player the franchise has ever had, sending star left wing Ilya Kovalchuk to New Jersey Wednesday. Photos from his career.

The Thrashers traded away the best player the franchise has ever had. Ilya Kovalchuk was traded to New Jersey Thursday.

The Thrashers selected Kovalchuk with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2001 NHL Draft.

Right wing Niclas Bergfors (left) comes over to the Thrashers from New Jersey.

The Trashers also picked up hard-nosed defenseman Johnny Oduya (left), center Patrice Cormier (not pictured) and a first-round draft pick.

A member of the Russian olympic team, Kovalchuk was the first Russian ever taken No. 1 overall.

But it will hard to replace Kovalchuk, who twice set the Thrashers' single-season goal mark with 52 in 2005-06 and 2007-08.

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The Thrashers traded away the best player the franchise has ever had. Ilya Kovalchuk was traded to New Jersey Thursday.

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