 The team also had a fine choice in the 2001 Draft, with first overall pick Ilya Kovalchuk.Both Heatley and Kovalchuk played their first season in the NHL in 2001–02; both players were named to the NHL All-Rookie Team and Heatley was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the League's Rookie of the Year.The early years of the Atlanta Thrashers saw a sharp increase of hockey fans in Atlanta.