<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Atlanta traded high-scoring winger Ilya Kovalchuk to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday after the Thrashers were unable to sign him to a long-term contract, Atlanta General Manager Don Waddell said.</p><p>The Thrashers, who said they had offered Kovalchuk a 12-year deal worth $101 million, received rookie forward Niclas Bergfors, defenseman Johnny Oduya, prospect Patrice Cormier and a first-round pick in this year's NHL draft from New Jersey.</p><p>Russian Kovalchuk, 26, can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, He has 31 goals and 27 assists in 49 games this season for Atlanta.</p><p>"It's been a very tough day for all of us with the Thrashers," Waddell told reporters on a conference call.</p><p>"He has been a big part of our organization for the last eight years. When you have to trade this type of player there are a lot of emotions.</p><p>"But he was too important an asset to let walk away on July 1."</p><p>Kovalchuk leaves the Thrashers after setting many offense records for the team who drafted him with the No. 1 pick in 2001. A two-times 50-goal scorer, Kovalchuk has 615 points in 594 career games.</p><p>Waddell said the Thrashers' captain was looking for a figure closer to the maximum allowable salary of more than $11 million a year.</p><p>"We were willing to go the 12 years but not at that number," said Waddell, adding he was hopeful the young players Atlanta received would ultimately help improve the team.</p><p>"It's a bittersweet day but we have to move forward."</p><p>The Thrashers, in their 10th season, have made the playoffs just once and were swept in the 2006-07 postseason by the New York Rangers.</p><p>Atlanta (24-23-8) are 11th in the Eastern Conference, one point out of the last playoff spot, while the Atlantic division leading Devils (35-18-2) are second in the East behind Washington.</p><p>(Reporting by Larry Fine and Jahmal Corner, Editing by Peter Rutherford; To query or comment on this story emailsportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=68486078&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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