This probably shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone, but Chris Vivlamore is reporting that Slava Kozlov has asked to be traded.
Kozlov has been a healthy scratch lately and would obviously like to be playing more. With his contract up at the end of the season he could be an attractive player on the trade market as teams load up for playoff runs prior to Wednesday’s 3pm trade deadline. Kozlov has a no-trade clause, so he has control over potential destinations, but if a serious Cup contender comes calling I don’t think he’ll hesitate to waive it.
If Slava Kozlov hits the trade market what do you think a reasonable return for his services would be?
Whatever happens, Slava Kozlov will go down as one of the greatest Thrashers ever. He currently ranks second in franchise history in games played, goals, assists, and points as well as multi-points games, power-play points, power-play goals and game-winning goals.
As The Falconer pointed out today, Kozlov’s acquisition back at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft should also go down as one of the best trades in franchise history. Kozlov has scored 145 goals and 414 points in 534 games for the Thrashers and was picked up from the Sabres for a third-round pick and a swap of second rounders. A great return thanks to the efforts of a great player.
Slava is my all time favorite Thrasher… would love to see his number in the rafters one day. Not sure if his career has warranted it or not.
Fair value would be a prospect or a 2nd round pick.
I think he’ll stir the pot of any Ray Whitney suitors… I’ll say Detroit, Los Angeles or Phoenix. Maybe even Pittsburgh.
I agree GaVaHokie, Kozzie is my favorite Thrashers as well. I hope he goes to a team where he has one last chance to win another Stanley Cup. John Anderson handled this situation poorly and I dont blame Kozzie one bit for wanting out. He deserves much better than he has gotten this year.
I know he hasnt performed as well this season as he did last year and the years before that (not counting 2008 of course) but any team who wants a loyal leader and a shootout king would love to have him.
I dont know what the trade value would be for him, but honestly I dont care. I just want Kozzie to be happy because that’s what he deserves.
I don’t see Kozlov breaking into the top 6 for many cup contending teams and he has very little value in the bottom 6. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him traded for “future considerations” just as a kindness to Slava. If we get anything back I would be tickled.
Couldn’t agree more with John and GaVaHokie. He is my favourite Thrasher and I wish Kozzie to find a team, which can get him chance to score his 1000′s NHL point. Atlanta could get a 3rd-line defenceman and 3rd- or 4th-round draftpick.
Question:
When does the trade ban get lifted? Just curious.
I like Kozzie, but It looks like his age finally caught up to him. Prospects or picks would probably be a good trade for him. I hope he lands someplace that gives him the opportunity to close out a good career. Based on the story in the magazine about his introduction from Russia into the NHL, he has a fantastic story of coming from behind the iron curtain to play at the highest levels in the West.
sorry, I mean “team, which can give…”
Kozlov could be a great PP1 or PP2 option for some teams… he’s great at setting up the zone.
I’d love to see him wearing the Indian sweater, though I don’t think they really need the likes of Slava.
Wow, tough days at the blueland blog, eh, Ben?
I think a better question would be: Why would a respected, solid, Stanley Cup-winning veteran ask for a trade from a team this time of year?
I must agree with everyone so far… Kozzy has been my favorite Thrasher since he first came to Atlanta. As I look at a signed puck of his right now I just go back to the fond memories of him as a Thrasher. Though I am saddened by this, i 100% understand.
Kozzy, I kow you probably don’t read this but… Thank you for being an awesome player who gave it his all. Thank you for being an awesome leader, but mostly thank you for being fan friendly. It means so much to me that one of my favorite NHL players of all time would take some time and talk to me about non-hockey things. You are a great player and more importantly and great man. I wish you luck in your future and I hope that one day you will return to Atlanta when we hang your number in the rafter as our first retired number.
Derek G.
For those of you who are suggesting the team retire Kozlov’s number, I think he’d probably have to retire here for that to happen. I find it odd that a player who left the city requesting a trade would get his number retired (except Ray Bourque, but that’s different). Not to mention he’ll probably be in the KHL next season.
I think it’s a shame. Slava has not had a great year, to be sure, but how can you get back on your game if you’re not in your game?
It’s another example of the franchise letting respected veterans slip away and one of the reasons the team lacks an identity and a connection to any idea of history with this team. Mellanby, Recchi, Bondra, and even McCrimmon (even though I like Coach Anderson)…we just let them slip away, and they treated them poorly to boot. We’ve missed out on having experienced and wise players around to help establish some deep roots here.
Thrashers are not maintaining any relationships with our past (e.g. the promo for this year saying “hockey came to Atlanta in 1999″. Hello Flames??) nor with any great players who’ve come through. They just have promises of how we’re moving forward and building, but tradition is build on what you’ve done, not what your plans are. I’m not saying a tradition can’t be built with a young team, but I think we’ve squandered many opportunities to have players who have actually touched the Cup showing the younger guys some of the ropes. When Slava leaves who will be left?
If/when he leaves I hope Slava gets out and shows how competitive an “old guy” can be. The Professor will impart his wisdom elsewhere. Too bad for us.
Keep in mind that last season Eric Perrin asked for a trade and when a good situation for him couldn’t be found he played out the rest of the season in Atlanta. Kozlov being dealt isn’t a given, though I’m sure Don Waddell will do what he can to accommodate him.
All this talk of Kozzie being treated poorly…….. NONSENSE!
John is icing the best team available…. Knock off all this phony sentimentality, We’re battling for a playoff spot EH? Far as I’m concerned, it appears ol” Koz is in a snit. Why? at this point, after everything, with arguably the BIGGEST MONTH IN FRANCHISE HISTORY upon us, AND THEM, would he ask for a trade?
How’s about….. GET OFF YOUR AZZ AND EARN PLAYING TIME EH?
Or is that too much to ask of this “Great leader”?
Do your job! LEAD by example! He can still mentor these guys if he’s of the mind.
My personal opine is he’s staying put, and going to contribute yet! Unless he’s poisoned the atmosphere round’ the clubhouse… don’t know.
PS. I’m on record as having deepest respect for the man, his career, a ring, and his time with us in the ATL. Will say same to him personally.
Let’s get on w/ it.
MARCH TO THE PLAYOFFS!!!!!
PS.
B….. I could not agree more w/ your comments regarding the Flames, and our Hockey Tradition here in the ATL.
Have mentioned that failure many times myself. Why would anyone else respect or appreciate our past if WE DON’T?
There ought to be some kind of “wall of Fame”, of “The Boomer”, Knights Championship Photo, ATL V Red Army Team etc……
We have it! BE PROUD OF IT!
B… Kozlov’s situation and standing with the franchise is much more prominent than the veterans you mentioned. Recchi played 53 games in half a season as a Thrasher. Bondra played one year and 60 games with Atlanta. Mellanby played 140 games wearing the baby blue.
Were any of those guys players that really would have given the Thrashers an identity? Sure, Mellanby was the captain, but he was barely able to finish his last season in Atlanta (which was his last playing professional hockey).
Jeff Odgers is a more identifiable Thrasher than any of those three.
Slava Kozlov is a different story. Kozlov has played 534 games in Atlanta and has been a major part of the offense. Keep in mind too that Atlanta has been good to Slava with a solid contract three years ago and a resurrection of his career… a career that saw significant lulls from 1999-2002.
It’s a sad situation when a player can no longer win ice time in his advanced age. Kozlov is a great hockey player and still has some hockey left in him, but Atlanta is no longer the place for Slava. It happens in sports. Waddell is a very accommodating general manager when it comes to moving veterans.
Slava will be missed from a fan’s perspective, but the organization may actually benefit from moving him.
As always, I want what’s best for the franchise and the fact that Kozlov has sparsely been a contributing member of this year’s team makes him expendable from a business perspective.
Yep I appreciate all Kozlov has given to this team and franchise, but it is very obvious his age has caught up to him. He may be in good shape, but it’s obvious his skills and work ethic has dwindled. He just doesn’t seem to have much left to give out on the ice. He seems to have played very tentatively all season. He’s not really creating much out on the ice. His shots seem to be right into the goalies gut or just plain misses the net. When have we seen Kozlov miss the net on so many occasions? I agree that White should be scratched over Kozlov or at least more than Kozlov, but Kozlov has had many chances to play and do something and he really hasn’t done much except in shootouts. Anderson is trying to get this team to the playoffs and if you aren’t performing then you might get scratched over someone who is performing. Just because this is the..ahem…”Atlanta Thrashers” doesn’t mean players can’t be held accountable. If this franchise is to turn a corner it’s about time there is a coach and players that is serious about winning, playing a team game, playing on both sides of the ice, and most importantly accountability.
I definitely think that Slava has lots of hockey left in the tank that could be useful HERE –he just needs to learn how to develop a different role within the Anderson system if his old way of playing doesn’t work for him anymore.
I didn’t disagree with his initial benching, really. A -16 rating is pretty brutal. But giving the guy two (decent) games back in the lineup to get into a stride wasn’t sufficient–but here’s Whitey still on the ice. I know he’s a centerman and Slava plays wing, but do the guys look up to Whitey like they look up to Slava? Despite the stats I think he has a lot of good habits on the ice and he leads a lifestyle that shows the younger guys what it takes to have a long career in the NHL.
And I agree, Zim, that Slava’s contribution is much more significant than those others, but it’s a bad precedent we’ve set with all of those guys. I think it’s sad that people want to just dump a good man when they perceive he’s nearing the end of his career instead of allowing him the dignity of developing a new style for himself within the team. I think, instead of looking for a trade for Slava, the organization should be figuring out how to keep him here as a player and beyond.
What decent players will want to come here (and stay here) now that it’s been established that they will become disposable as soon as they are no longer deemed “useful”?
I believe #13 probably won’t be worn any one in a while like #15(Dany Heatley) and #17 will probably be a unofficial retired number. Well I think Slava will go back to Detroit. I think he will be ok with it and Detroit needs to make trades to get into the playoffs. The trade wont get anyone like Slava’s Stats but someone we can use in someone hurt or something.
Possible Trades:
1.) DET: Slava Kozlov & 1 or 2 Late Picks. ATL: Johan Franzen & a 2010 Late Round Pick(or a Late Round Prospect).
2.) DET: Slava Kozlov & 2010 Late Round Pick(or a Late Round Prospect) ATL: Jason Williams
3.) DET: Slava Kozlov. ATL: a Late Rounded Prospect.
@B, remember that Slava Kozlov asked for the trade. Don Waddell did not approach Kozzy asking him to waive his no-trade clause. I hold nothing against Kozlov for asking to be moved, but I also hold nothing against John Anderson for scratching Slava.
The Thrashers are 3-2-3 with Kozlov out of the lineup which is good for 9 out of a possible 16 points. Is that great? No, it isn’t, but prior to Kozzy’s scratches, The Professor had just five assists and no goals in his previous 16 games. Slava had just two points (1 goal, 1 assist) during the Thrashers nine game losing streak and Kozzy was a -9 during that stretch.
Hard to blame Anderson for benching him and even harder to blame Kozlov for wanting a change of scenery after his career. The Thrashers are simply not in a position to have liabilities on the ice and unfortunately for Anderson, he has to choose between quite a few players that are struggling (White, Kozlov, to some degree Little, Bogosian).
@SV, unfortunately, the third trade scenario is the most likely with your other two extremely unlikely. Franzen isn’t going anywhere and Atlanta will be hard pressed to get any sort of NHL ready talent for Kozlov. Anderson and Williams already established that their games are not compatible.
I’m wishing, hoping, and praying that Detroit will send us Jan Mursak, but I’d expect a mid-level draft pick and maybe a marginal prospect or AHL player for depth.
oh i didnt know that was the same jason williams and franzen is pretty soild i didnt know he was hurt i thought he was scratch for a while. So everyone agree that Kozlov would probably be going to the Red Wings. The Red Wings need to make some trades because their team isnt what they were last year. The Thrashers need to step up and start a winning streak.