Kozlov Asks Thrashers Waddell To Make A Trade

Atlanta Thrashers general manager Don Waddell has been given another chance to put his “General Manager” hat on and make his third trade in the month of February.

And just like his other two trades, it would involve a revered franchise player.

However, there is a little twist to his potential third one that the first two didn’t have. This time, the player requested that Waddell make a deal.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported yesterday that Slava Kozlov told Waddell that he wants the team to trade him and that he would waive his no trade clause.

They are two elements to this trade that intrigue me:
(1) The Timing of the Announcement.
(2) Kozlov’s willingness to waive his no trade clause.

With the news about Kozlov’s request breaking on Friday, the timing is perfect because the NHL is beginning to return back from its Winter Olympics Vacation. The Thrashers return to the ice in less than three days, giving Waddell a chance to get the wheels spinning before Atlanta’s first game.

The other part that made my eyes perk up a little bit, Kozlov wanted to waive his no trade clause, because he wanted to be traded to a playoff contending team.

Kozlov doesn’t think that he is on a playoff contending?

Sure, the Thrashers are in 11th place when the league’s playoffs only takes the top eight and there are only 22 games left in the season, but you are also within just two points behind the eighth place Montreal Canadiens.

Who else on the Thrashers’ roster feels that he is not a playoff contending team?
What is even worse than that kind of morale on the team, no deadly, is a team who is struggling with attendance, trading away the faces of the team.

Kozlov has been with the Thrashers since 2002, having two different stints with the team. He spent two years with Atlanta from 2002-2004, then spent the 2004-2005 year in Russia, before returning to the Thrashers in 2005.

He is Atlanta’s all-time leader in power play assists, is second in goals, assists, and games played. He also has the franchise mark for consecutive starts with 251.