Thrashers high on Russian Several UM players could be drafted

SUNRISE, Fla. – Atlanta Thrashers general manager Don Waddell describes right wing Ilya Kovalchuk as having the skill of Florida’s Pavel Bure and the toughness of San Jose’s Owen Nolan.

Enough said.

Barring a last-minute trade, the Thrashers likely will select the talented and sometimes temperamental Kovalchuk with the No. 1 pick Saturday, continuing their plan of building through the draft.

“We truly believe he can be a special player,” Waddell said. “His skill level is very high. … He’s going to go around guys, but he’s also going to go through guys. He’s a bulldozer.”

Kovalchuk, a 6-foot-2, 207-pound scoring sensation, is one of three 18-year-old Russians expected to go in the top five picks. Left wing Stanislav Christov and center Alexander Svitov are the others.

Two prize recruits headed to the University of Maine and several veterans could also be selected in the draft. Recruits Paul Lynch and Ben Murphy have attracted NHL scouts’ attention along with current Black Bears Martin Karyia, Chris Heisten, Mike Schutte and Francis Nault.

If a player is selected by an NHL team, he can choose to stay in college, but his rights would be with that team when he left school.

Canadian centers Jason Spezza and Stephen Weiss also are highly coveted. Spezza, who broke into the Ontario Hockey League at 15, had been touted as the top pick but slipped slightly because of questions about his skating.

“That’s where everyone wants to go, but it really doesn’t matter,” Spezza said of being drafted No. 1. “I can’t wait to see where I end up. It’s just awkward that I can’t do anything about it.”

The New York Islanders have the second pick, followed by Tampa Bay, Florida and Anaheim.

The draft order probably will change before the first pick. In what is considered one of the deepest drafts in recent history, there could be plenty of wheeling and dealing – including possible trades involving veterans Jaromir Jagr, Alexei Yashin and Michael Peca – as teams try to move into the top 10.

The spotlight will be on the Thrashers, who have the top pick for the second time in three years. With the No. 1 pick in 1999, they chose Czech forward Patrik Stefan. They had the second pick last year and took Canadian forward Dany Heatley.