Kovalchuk trade talk heats up

EDMONTON – Almost since the season began, with star winger Ilya Kovalchuk skating in the final year of his contract with Atlanta, the rumors have run rampant.

For weeks, the Flyers have been connected to the Kovalchuk sweepstakes. Those rumors heated up yesterday, as it appears Kovalchuk’s time in Atlanta will be coming to an end at some point this week, long before Thrashers general manager Don Waddell is backed into a corner at the March 3 trade deadline.