Ilya Kovalchuk returned to Atlanta for the first time tonight since being traded from the Thrashers to the New Jersey Devils. The trade was the end result of contract negotiations between the Russian superstar and Thrashers general manager Don Waddell.
Atlanta Fans Aren’t Pleased With Ilya Kovalchuk
↵It became apparent during those talks that Kovalchuk didn’t want to spend any more time in Atlanta, and despite hopes from his old teammates that he wouldn’t be booed by the Philips Arena crowd, they did it anyway.
↵↵There were loud boos from the sparse crowd when Kovalchuk stepped on the ice for his first shift during a stoppage in play 29 seconds into the game and also whenever he touches the puck. During warm-ups, some fans held up signs behind the net at the Devils’ end. One read “Miss you Ilya” and another said “Kovy come home.” There are other signs, however, that said, ‘You lie!” and “Koval-who?”
↵A young fan behind the Devils’ bench had a sign that read, “Someone tell Anssi I miss him” and in smaller print “Ilya who?” That one is for defenseman Anssi Salmela, who came to the Devils as part of the Kovalchuk deal, but will be a healthy scratch tonight.
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