The Thrashers sent the rights to free-agent center Keith Tkachuk back to St. Louis on Tuesday, reacquiring the conditional first-round pick they traded to the Blues in a deadline deal that helped Atlanta reach the playoffs for the first time. The Thrashers gave up winger Glen Metropolit and their first-round pick in last week's draft to acquire Tkachuk in a Feb. 25 trade. He had seven goals and eight assists in 18 regular-season games for Atlanta, which won the Southeast Division but was swept by the New York Rangers in the opening round of the playoffs. To land the highly coveted Tkachuk, the Thrashers also gave up a third-round choice in last week's draft and a second-round pick next year. In addition, St. Louis would have received a first-round pick in 2008 if Tkachuk had re-signed with Atlanta.