The Atlanta Thrashers sent left winger Ilya Kovalchuk and defenseman Anssi Salmela to the New Jersey Devils Thursday night for right winger Niclas Bergfors, defenseman Johnny Oduya, prospect Patrice Cormier and a 2010 first-round pick.

The teams also swapped second-round picks this year.

Kovalchuk, 26, set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, turned down the Thrashers' 12-year, $101 million extension offer.

Since the Thrashers drafted Kovalchuk No. 1 overall in 2001, the Russian Olympian leads the NHL with 328 goals, but Atlanta has made just one playoff appearance and has never won a postseason game. Kovalchuk had 31 goals and 27 assists in 49 games this season for the Thrashers.

The 28-year-old Oduya has two goals and two assists in 40 games this season. He's set to play for Sweden in Olympics.

Bergfors, a 22-year-old Swede, is fifth among NHL rookies with 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists). He was drafted 23rd overall in 2005.

Salmela, 25, had a goal and four assists in 29 games this season for Atlanta. The Finn was acquired by the Thrashers from the Devils in exchange for defenseman Niclas Havelid and forward Myles Stoesz on March 2, 2009.

Defenseman Mike Komisarek will miss the rest of the NHL season and will not play for the U.S. Olympic team because of shoulder surgery. The decision to operate in Alabama next week comes after weeks of rehabilitation. His absence is another blow to the U.S. Olympic team. New Jersey Devils defenseman Paul Martin will miss the games because of a broken forearm. Former Penguins defenseman Ryan Whitney, now with the Anaheim Ducks, and Tim Gleason of the Carolina Hurricanes were selected as replacements.

A day after he was fired as head coach, Ken Hitchcock declined to take any parting shots Thursday at the club's management, calling his departure "growing pains," and said he is eager to see how the franchise's young talent develops. The Blue Jackets have a 22-27-9 record a year after making the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time. Assistant Claude Noel was tabbed as interim head coach Wednesday. Hitchcock had a 125-123-36 record in four seasons in Columbus.

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