With the 2009-10 NHL season bearing down on them, Atlanta Thrashers fans look forward to . . . 2010-11. Specifically, to see if Ilya Kovalchuk, whose name dominates a team's record book like no other in pro sports, will have flown the nest.
The Thrashers failed to get Kovalchuk's signature on a contract extension prior to Saturday's opener, so he is likely a free man after this season. Can't blame him. Kovy (left) wants to evaluate how serious the low-budget Thrashers are to reaching the playoffs at a pace quicker than once every lunar eclipse.
The roster is beefed up, which didn't take much doing. GM Don Waddell brought in Kovy's buddy and ex-Russian teammate, Nik Antropov.
Wherever he winds up, Kovy can expect a raise from his five-year, $32 million deal that runs out after the season. On hockey's scale, he deserves it. In a less than passionate puck city, he is the only lure (on the Thrashers) to Philips Arena.
Assuming the Thrashers are outside-looking-in at playoff time, which is the consensus, team followers won't be looking at the standings as much as at Kovy's quotes and body language. If he bolts, it's a setback from which the Thrashers won't recover soon.
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