GameTavern - NHL Trade Deadline

www.tsn.ca compiled a list of trades that were close to hapening, but fell throught. Here is the fully story :

Quote:

Alexei Zhitnik asked to be traded but the Buffalo Sabres didn't get an offer they liked enough to accept.

Sean Burke was sought after but the Phoenix Coyotes didn't get an offer they liked enough to pull the trigger.

Teppo Numminen was targeted by Detroit but he invoked a no-trade clause in his contract to remain with the Phoenix Coyotes.

Damphousse has a no-trade clause but gave the San Jose Sharks permission to strike a deal with the Avalanche. He sat out practice Tuesday and was prepared to pack his gear and head for Denver.

The deal fell through when Avs GM Pierre Lacroix asked Sharks GM Dean Lombardi to pick up $1 million US of the $4-million salary Damphousse can earn next season. Lombardi opted not to subsidize the Avs and the deal collapsed.

The Vancouver Canucks also were interested in Damphousse, and GM Brian Burke was close to a deal before the focus switched to the Avs. Talks collapsed when Damphousse demanded a contract extension from Burke in exchange for waiving the no-trade clause, the Vancouver Sun and Province reports.

Zhitnik, disenchanted by trades that stripped Stu Barnes, Rob Ray and Chris Gratton from the Sabres' roster, told GM Darcy Regier after practice Tuesday that he wanted to be traded. The defenceman sat and waited but the offers were deemed unacceptable by Regier so Zhitnik remains a disgruntled Sabre.

New Jersey GM Lou Lamoriello was reported to have made a strong pitch to Lombardi for Teemu Selanne but the Finnish Flash has a no-trade clause and preferred to remain on the West Coast.

Philadelphia GM Bob Clarke tried to get the Kings to send him defenceman Mathieu Schneider, but GM Dave Taylor opted for the better offer from Detroit GM Ken Holland.

``Bob gave us an offer but we already had a better offer from Detroit,'' said Taylor.

Clarke was reluctant to trade away prospects.

``We thought we had a shot at Schneider but . . . it is one of those deals in which you like to get the player but if you don't you're glad to keep the guys involved, the young players involved,'' he said.

Clarke also bid for Zhitnik. Regier asked for what Clarke, again, deemed to be too much. Clarke's discussions with Lombardi about Mike Ricci and Scott Thornton also were fruitless.

St. Louis coveted Burke before settling on Chris Osgood in a trade with the New York Islanders.

``We said from the start it would take an offer that would have to knock our socks off but it didn't even come close to that,'' said Coyotes GM Mike Barnett. ``It didn't even knock a shoe off.''

``Bottom line, we weren't comfortable giving up what he would cost,'' said Blues GM Larry Pleau.

Toronto forward Darcy Tucker was among players who had a suspicion they might be traded but didn't go anywhere. They spent nervous hours before the 3 p.m. EST deadline.

``In 15 minutes I can finally sleep again,'' Tucker told the Toronto Sun just before the cut-off time.

Lamoriello tried to trade suspended rookie Mike Danton but that didn't happen either.

``He told me he was trying to trade Mike right up until the deadline,'' agent Dave Frost told the Newark Star-Ledger. ``I'm going to take 24 hours to talk to people around the league and find out how sincere he was.''

Those in the media critiquing the deals offered candid assessments.

After Edmonton GM Kevin Lowe traded leading scorer Anson Carter and top defenceman Janne Niinimaa, Edmonton Sun columnist Terry Jones had this terse evaluation: ``On the surface, this looks like the dumbest double-deadline deal in the history of hockey.''

After the Leafs dealt for 39-year-old veterans Doug Gilmour and Phil Housley, after getting Owen Nolan and Glen Wesley days earlier, Toronto Sun columnist Al Strachan offered: ``With their trade deadline deals, the Maple Leafs have put together a team that, on paper, has enough talent to earn consideration as a genuine Stanley Cup contender.''

Traded players were quickly adapting to new surroundings.

``I haven't been able to wipe the smile off my face since I got traded,'' said defenceman Lyle Odelein after playing his first game with Dallas on Tuesday night.

``A chance to play with a guy like (Mike) Modano is a thrill,'' said newly-acquired Stars forward Stu Barnes.

Former teammates adjusted to seeing friends now skating on other teams.

``It's a real sad day,'' Sabres veteran James Patrick said after the departure of Barnes. ``It's just an indication of the economics of today.

``He statistically had a tough year but he led by example and gave everything. It's a big void.''

Steve Thomas was happy to join an Anaheim team headed for the playoffs. He was already in the California city with the Blackhawks for their game Wednesday night against the Mighty Ducks.

``I'm ecstatic,'' the 39-year-old winger said before skating against his former teammates. ``This might be my last chance to kick at it.''

Link : http://tsn.ca/news_stories/33126.html