Daily Links for Friday, Feb. 5

Ladies and gentleman, the Ilya Kovalchuk saga has come to an end in New Jersey - read plenty about it after the break. As for the Sabres, what's the remedy for a devastating loss in your last game? Playing the Carolina Hurricanes, tonight at 7:30 at home. Let's hope the Sabres take out their (and our) frustration and deliver a much-needed win. With a weak schedule to close things out before the Olympic break, Buffalo needs to get back to their winning ways.

PRACTICE UPDATE: REBOUND - Buffalo Sabres
The company site gives us an update about a special teams-focused practice yesterday. WGR has their own take including players who stayed late for extra work right here.

It's not too soon to start thinking about trades - The Buffalo News
Bucky Gleason explores available players for trade and some other hockey talk.

Adam's trick tames Tigres - SabresProspects.com
In case you aren't watching the QMJHL games on your QMJHL Center Ice package (am I the only one...?) you may not have been following Luke Adam's decimation of the league. The cool cat has 10 goals in his last 6 games and 35goals in 41 games on the year. The recent Sabres woes have me thinking about how Gerbe, Ennis, Weber, and Adam will look in Blue and Gold next year.

*Links will most likely be late tomorrow - who ever heard of a wedding on Friday? Not that I'm complaining...

Thrashers ship Kovalchuk to Devils for players, 1st Rounder - TSN
The Atlanta Thrashers look to have parted ways with the most celebrated player in franchise history, trading star winger Ilya Kovalchuk to the New Jersey Devils. The Thrashers acquired defenceman John Oduya, forwards Niclas Bergfors and Patrice Cormier and a first round pick.

OFFICIAL: Ilya Kovalchuk, Anssi Salmela to New Jersey Devils for Johnny Oduya, Niclas Bergfors, Patrice Cormier and a 1st Round Pick - In Lou We Trust
Reports are coming out that Ilya Kovalchuk will become a New Jersey Devil via trade. Details are pending, this post will act as a one-place catch-all post for initial analysis of the trade.

It's done: Atlanta trades Kovalchuk to New Jersey - Puck Daddy
Puck Daddy has thoughts and a statement from Thrashers GM Don Waddell.

Whitney and Gleason added to Team USA roster - CTV Olympics
The United States men's hockey team named Ryan Whitney and Tim Gleason as late additions to its roster on Thursday. The American athletes will replace injured players Paul Martin and Mike Komisarek.