Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk (17) maeuvers the puck as Boston Bruins left wing Marco Sturm (16), of Germany, defends during...

ATLANTA - OCTOBER 24: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the Atlanta Thrashers limps to the bench after suffering an injury in the first...

ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 21: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the Atlanta Thrashers skates during the preseason game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Philips...

ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 21: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the Atlanta Thrashers skates during the preseason game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Philips...

...Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Hurricanes 4-1. (C)ATLANTA - FEBRUARY 6: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the Atlanta Thrashers gets set for a faceoff against the New Jersey Devils at...

MONTREAL - DECEMBER 2: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the Atlanta Thrashers skates against the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the...

Atlanta Thrashers forward Ilya Kovalchuk (17) of Russia, falls to the ice as he is tripped up by Philadelphia Flyers defenseman...

Atlanta Thrashers winger Ilya Kovalchuk (17) of Russia, and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson (52) of Sweden, and defenseman Brad...

Atlanta Thrashers' Ilya Kovalchuk (17), from Russia, shoots past Carolina Hurricanes' Joe Corvo and goalie Manny Legace to score during...

Atlanta Thrashers' Tobias Enstrom, left, from Sweden, Maxim Afinogenov, center, Ilya Kovalchuk (17), from Russia, and Pavel Kubina (77), from the Czech Republic, celebrate Afinogenov's goal to...

...Steven Stamkos (91), left wing Alex Tanguay (13) and teammates celebrate as Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk (17) skates away after overtime in their NHL hockey game Sunday Nov. 22, 2009, in Atlanta...

...wing Stephane Veilleux celebrates his goal with defenseman David Hale (21) as Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk, right, looks on during the second period of their NHL hockey game Sunday Nov. 22, 2009...

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Andrej Meszaros (14), of Slovakia, and Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk (17) contend for position during the second period of their NHL hockey game Sunday Nov. 22...

Atlanta Thrashers' Slava Kozlov, right, celebrates his go-ahead goal with teammates Ilya Kovalchuk, left, and Maxim Afinogenov in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Edmontopn...

Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk (17), of Russia, center, looks to pass during the third period of an NHL hockey game...