"When Ilya Kovalchuk returned to Atlanta last week, he didn't mince words about the lack of playing time for fellow Russian Slava Kozlov.

Kozlov was a healthy scratch in 26 of 30 games down the stretch.

"I don't know what is going on," Kovalchuk said. "I think a guy like Kozzy, they need him real bad right now with his experience. I think the guy has played over 100 playoff games. Some personal reasons don't have to go against the team. Especially now with all those injuries, and he's still not playing. I don't think it's right to treat guys like that. They did it to [Alexei] Zhitnik first, now Kozzy. He's just too professional. You can't say any bad word against him. They just sit him down and all the guys are disappointed, too."

Kozlov, who is an unrestricted free agent, asked to be traded at the deadline but was not moved.

Around the Thrashers

*Tim Stapleton's stay was short, but he left an impression. The forward played in six games for the Thrashers before being re-assigned to AHL Chicago on Wednesday after the Thrashers were eliminated from the playoffs.

Stapleton, acquired from the Maple Leafs in the Pavel Kubina trade, scored a goal in two consecutive games in his brief stint. Stapleton appeared in four games with the Maple Leafs last season."