Kovalchuk Trade Turns Devils into True Contender

Lou Lamoriello is one of the best in the biz for a reason.

By moving Johnny Oduya, Niclas Bergfors, Patrice Cormier, his '10 1st Rounder, and '10 2nd Rounder for Ilya Kovalchuk, Anssi Salmela, and Atlanta's '10 2nd Rounder, Lamoriello has successfully transformed the New Jersey Devils from a mediocre playoff team into one of the top Stanley Cup contenders in the Eastern Conference.

Martin Brodeur turns 38 in May. The Devils offense has been sputtering.

Lamoriello looked at the big picture, put two and two together, and made his move - a great move by a great GM.

Devils Outlook: Johnny Oduya is a solid top four defenseman, but with Devils number one defenseman Paul Martin coming back from injury I wouldn't expect his loss to matter much. Niclas Bergfors has a promising future and has all the tools to be a 55-65 point winger. While his loss may hurt in future years if Kovalchuk doesn't re-sign, I don't see Bergfors as the type of player that I would even bat an eye moving for a player of Kovalchuk's magnitude - even as a rental. Patrice Cormier is a sure-fire NHL prospect, and should be a solid checking line forward - but Lamoriello doesn't deal with guys with character flaws. Cormier is a downright dirty player, and his discarding from the Devils shouldn't come as a surprise. Kovalchuk will make the Devils' power play absolutely lethal (Zach Parise, Travis Zajac, Patrik Elias, Andy Greene/Paul Martin), and will supply the Devils with two very impressive top lines. The Devils are right there with the Penguins and Capitals now.

Thrashers Outlook: Don Waddell got a so-so return for his superstar. Oduya brings them another solid puck-moving defenseman with two years left on his contract and should help them down the stretch, and Bergfors has decent upside as a top-six winger. Cormier will help them within the next two years in the checking line department, and the first rounder will allow them to add a solid prospect. The best thing about this deal is that Waddell adds some decent pieces without taking on any bad contracts, which he probably would've had to do if he dealt Kovalchuk elsewhere.

This trade really shakes things up in the East. The New Jersey Devils are for real.