![Atlanta Thrashers' left wing Ilya Kovalchuk celebrates his second goal of the night against the Carolina Hurricanes, in the first period of NHL action in Atlanta, Georgia, January 16, 2004. REUTERS/Tami Chappell Atlanta Thrashers' left wing Ilya Kovalchuk celebrates his second goal of the night against the Carolina Hurricanes, in the first period of NHL action in Atlanta, Georgia, January 16, 2004. REUTERS/Tami Chappell](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D47GAD/atlanta-thrashers-left-wing-ilya-kovalchuk-celebrates-his-second-goal-of-the-night-against-the-carolina-hurricanes-in-the-first-period-of-nhl-action-in-atlanta-georgia-january-16-2004-reuterstami-chappell-tlchb-2D47GAD.jpg)
Atlanta Thrashers' left wing Ilya Kovalchuk celebrates his second goal of the night against the Carolina Hurricanes, in the first period of NHL action in Atlanta, Georgia, January 16, 2004. REUTERS/Tami Chappell
![Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk (R) skates past Tampa Bay Lighting center Vincent Lecavalier (L) in Atlanta, Georgia November 11, 2005. Kovalchuk scored four goals as the Thrashers defeated the Lighting Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk (R) skates past Tampa Bay Lighting center Vincent Lecavalier (L) in Atlanta, Georgia November 11, 2005. Kovalchuk scored four goals as the Thrashers defeated the Lighting](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D2DFMW/atlanta-thrashers-left-wing-ilya-kovalchuk-r-skates-past-tampa-bay-lighting-center-vincent-lecavalier-l-in-atlanta-georgia-november-11-2005-kovalchuk-scored-four-goals-as-the-thrashers-defeated-the-lighting-5-2-reuterstami-chappell-2D2DFMW.jpg)
Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk (R) skates past Tampa Bay Lighting center Vincent Lecavalier (L) in Atlanta, Georgia November 11, 2005. Kovalchuk scored four goals as the Thrashers defeated the Lighting
![Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk celebrates his first period goal against Phoenix Coyotes at their NHL hockey game in Atlanta, Georgia January 5, 2007. REUTERS/Tami Chappell (UNITED STATES Stock Photo - Alamy Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk celebrates his first period goal against Phoenix Coyotes at their NHL hockey game in Atlanta, Georgia January 5, 2007. REUTERS/Tami Chappell (UNITED STATES Stock Photo - Alamy](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2E7P52G/atlanta-thrashers-left-wing-ilya-kovalchuk-celebrates-his-first-period-goal-against-phoenix-coyotes-at-their-nhl-hockey-game-in-atlanta-georgia-january-5-2007-reuterstami-chappell-united-states-2E7P52G.jpg)