Atlanta Thrashers sniper Ilya Kovalchuk is going to be wearing a new NHL uniform soon, but don’t expect it to be Orange and Black. Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren admitted to having conversations with Atlanta general manager Don Waddell lately, but he’s made it clear the price for the talented Russian winger is too high, both in terms of salary and player compensation. The Thrashers are looking to hit a home run with Kovalchuk and are believed to have asked the Flyers for a package starting with Jeff Carter. The Flyers scuttled that request and the Thrashers likely went to Claude Giroux on their pecking list, followed by James van Riemsdyk and/or Matt Carle. The Flyers are at a severe disadvantage because they have little room under the salary cap, they have little chance of signing Kovalchuk in the offseason and they do not have a first-round draft pick this year or next. Instead, look for the Flyers to make a push for Carolina forward Ray Whitney, who could replace Darroll Powe on the second line. The Flyers have very little to give, but would part with Powe, Riley Cote and perhaps defensive prospects Oskars Bartulis or Kevin Marshall. OILERS 1, FLYERS 0 A questionable Darroll Powe high sticking penalty on Edmonton’s Sam Gagner with 50 seconds remaining in regulation led to former Flyer Ryan Potulny scoring the game-winner with 17 ticks remaining in regulation, giving the Oilers the win and ripping at least one point out of the Flyers’ hands

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