I Love Trades: Rumor Time

[mattola]

TradeCentre: Tuesday's rumours from around the NHL

 

[jstewismybastardson]

from Mike Russo

As I hinted at this morning, this Marek Zidlicky thing has hit a breaking point.
Zidlicky is unhappy, something I learned this morning when the veteran defenseman came looking for me to offer his opinion on the fact that tonight against his former team, the Nashville Predators, he’ll be scratched for a third consecutive game.
Zidlicky was critical of coach Mike Yeo, the way he has been treated and the fact that he loves the game too much to sit idly by if the Wild keeps scratching him.
While Zidlicky didn’t say he has asked for a trade, he indicated he is willing to waive his no-trade clause if this continues.
“I can’t be quiet,” Zidlicky began during our sitdown, which you can read more details about in tomorrow’s Star Tribune. “I think three games healthy scratch, it’s more than just like a healthy scratch. [Yeo’s] put me in this position that I am in right now. It’s not easy for me. It’s good for team probably because the guys played pretty well the last two games, but for me, I did everything what he wants me to do. I played like 17, 18 minutes ice time, I play just third, fourth line, I stood on the blue line, I didn’t do anything what I did years before. He said everything I do with the puck and without the puck, it’s wrong. So I have a little different opinion.”
Zidlicky said that since he doesn’t get out with top guys, he spends most his shifts in the defensive zone and “if you spend most time in our zone, you can’t do anything. It can be anybody.” He said he has tried to tell Yeo twice what’s wrong with the power play and who can play the power play, but Yeo told him it wasn’t his business.
“He doesn’t like what I’m doing,” Zidlicky said. “If I’m an offensive player, I’m supposed to play with the top guys. He should show me, ‘You are that guy, and you will be out there the last minute when we need to score.’ There was a lot of times when I just laid on the bench and just wait for my chance. We had a couple meetings about that after 10, 15 games in the season, and I can’t change my style. That’s what I know. That’s for sure. He wants to play easy hockey. I tried everything what he wants, but apparently it doesn’t work.”
Zidlicky, who turns 35 Friday, said of Yeo’s system: “It wasn’t me. It wasn’t my style. I tried to explain it to him couple times, but he wants something different. I don’t think I can change something when you are like 34 years old.”
Zidlicky’s no-trade and no-move clause lasts through the draft. I asked Zidlicky if he has asked to be traded. He paused long.
“That’s, that’s the option, too. That’s only what I’m thinking right now because I still love hockey. That’s my whole life. Every player likes hockey and nobody likes to be healthy scratch three games, four games. It doesn’t help yourself, it doesn’t help your team, it doesn’t help anybody. I’m just thinking it’s pretty tough right now for me. My son, he’s in first grade and he needs both parents here. So it’s very tough. I don’t want to be selfish, go somewhere and I will be happy and leave my son here in the school. So, we will see. I just wanted to say something about this situation because a lot of guys are writing something different about me and I just wanted to tell you my opinion.”
However, to be clear, I asked again if he’s willing to waive his no-trade. He essentially said he wants Yeo to tell him where he stands and that if he continues to be scratched, he’d rather be elsewhere.
“If he doesn’t have a place here for me, OK, I will take that. Just talk to me more and just tell me what’s my position,” Zidlicky said. “It’s not easy. I like the hockey. I like to play. I’m never thinking about myself. I’m never thinking how many scores I will have after the season. I just do my best for team. I enjoy the hockey. That’s the key. If you don’t enjoy the game, you’re done.”
After Zidlicky sought me out this morning, I went to get a response from Yeo. That will come later tonight I believe, but Zidlicky’s comments to me did trigger a long meeting between Zidlicky and GM Chuck Fletcher.
Fletcher has chosen to keep the contents of that meeting private, but you can bet this is a distraction Fletcher doesn’t want to infiltrate the locker room.
Fletcher has a lot of respect for Zidlicky and believes in him as a player, but there is zero doubt Fletcher will investigate trading Zidlicky now. If he finds a fit, it’ll be up to Zidlicky as to whether or not he wants to move.
He has one more year left on his contract at $4 million. He has no goals and 11 assists in 34 games and is a minus-9 the past 13 games and was a minus-5 in Philadelphia and Toronto (the last two games he played).
In the past 15 games without Zidlicky, the Wild is 12-3. In the past 16 games with him, it was 2-10-4.
Do I think Zidlicky can be moved? He’s obviously not had a very good season, but he has performed very well throughout his NHL career, is a power-play specialist and everybody covets a right-shot defenseman with a big shot. So, I do think it’s possible.
“Z is a talented player, and he at times can be quite creative, almost to a fault,” Preds coach Barry Trotz said this morning. “He has a tremendous skill level. He was an important player for us a few years back. Players go through that.”
I get how frustrated Zidlicky is. This guy cares a lot, he’s got a lot of pride. He’s competitive. But after two wins in a row, it was doubtful Yeo was going to change the lineup tonight and you can bet the team’s not happy that after two wins in a row, this was the forum Zidlicky decided to air his grievances.
The team was losing with Zidlicky in the lineup, and after the last two losses on that ghastly road trip, Yeo had to do something. You can’t just keep pulling guys, like Justin Falk, or sending guys that are performing well to the minors, like Nate Prosser, because you don’t want to bruise a veteran’s ego.
So how does this end? Stay tuned

 

[sbb122]

He said he has tried to tell Yeo twice what’s wrong with the power play and who can play the power play, but Yeo told him it wasn’t his business.


Hey Marek, nobody in Pittsburgh will disagree with you on this point.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Why the heck is Poulin in goal tonight instead of Nabokov??

 

[awaz]

looking for some outside input.. lots of rumors about jvr to the leafs for schenn.. what do you guys think the fair value is? the leafs seem to want a 1st with jvr which i think is crazy.. personally i think it should be a straight up trade.. the most i would add with jvr is a 3rd round pick

what do outsiders think?

 

[rares]

TradeCentre: Tuesday's rumours from around the NHL

Sean Avery, who is currently with the Rangers' AHL affiliate, could also be shopped for a mid-round draft pick.

I LOL-ed.

 

[pixburgher66]

looking for some outside input.. lots of rumors about jvr to the leafs for schenn.. what do you guys think the fair value is? the leafs seem to want a 1st with jvr which i think is crazy.. personally i think it should be a straight up trade.. the most i would add with jvr is a 3rd round pick

what do outsiders think?

Well, both guys have proven their worth at the NHL level but are still working on that upside...but I'd agree with you that a first rounder in addition is a bit much.

 

[evolver115]

looking for some outside input.. lots of rumors about jvr to the leafs for schenn.. what do you guys think the fair value is? the leafs seem to want a 1st with jvr which i think is crazy.. personally i think it should be a straight up trade.. the most i would add with jvr is a 3rd round pick

what do outsiders think?

Both players are former 1st Rd. draft picks. So, I can see where the straight up trade for one another would work. However, IMO a defenseman taken that early in the draft probably has a bit more value than winger in about the same spot. Plus, the Leafs know the Flyers are seeking a defenseman with Pronger out. Burke can deal from an advantage in that way.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I wouldn't give up a 1st rounder & JVR for Schenn. If it's not straight up I wouldn't do it period. Both players have a bit to prove as far as I'm concerned. The problem Holmgren has is Burke is dealing from a strength. The Leafs are very deep on defense.

 

[mattola]

TradeCentre: Wednesday's rumours from around the NHL

 

[higgyfan4]

I LOL-ed.

I did too, especially after the fact that anyone could of had him for free, but now there gonna give up a draft pick to get him? surrrrrre...

 

[banditshcky11]

I wouldn't give up a 1st rounder & JVR for Schenn. If it's not straight up I wouldn't do it period. Both players have a bit to prove as far as I'm concerned. The problem Holmgren has is Burke is dealing from a strength. The Leafs are very deep on defense.

I'm not sure how everyone thinks Burke is dealing from the position of strength. I mean the Flyers are firmly in the playoffs now and Toronto is fighting to keep the 8 seed. Then there's the fact that most of Toronto's scoring comes from 4 guys(Kessel, Lupul, Grabovski & MacArthur) and 2 of those guys are on pace for career years. Otherwise they don't have anyone with more hen 8 pals at the half way point. They do have a plethora of defensive talent, but without some scoring help they won't find it easy to make the playoffs let alone make a splash in them.

Imo The Leafs strength is the Flyers current weakness as much as the Flyers strength is the leafs current weakness. I'm sure it the homer in me but I value the potential 35-40g a year guy more then the physical stay at home d-man so I think the Leafs should be giving up the picks not the Flyers. Then again I do realize that trades need to work out for both sides, so I could get behind a straight up trade.

 

[awaz]

Well, both guys have proven their worth at the NHL level but are still working on that upside...but I'd agree with you that a first rounder in addition is a bit much.

Both players are former 1st Rd. draft picks. So, I can see where the straight up trade for one another would work. However, IMO a defenseman taken that early in the draft probably has a bit more value than winger in about the same spot. Plus, the Leafs know the Flyers are seeking a defenseman with Pronger out. Burke can deal from an advantage in that way.

I wouldn't give up a 1st rounder & JVR for Schenn. If it's not straight up I wouldn't do it period. Both players have a bit to prove as far as I'm concerned. The problem Holmgren has is Burke is dealing from a strength. The Leafs are very deep on defense.

thanks guys.. glad i'm not a complete homer haha.. B&I, the flyers are dealing from a same position of strength in terms of forwards.. they are ridiculously deep at forward..

i think what will benefit the flyers is burke is desperate to make a move (as he always is).. so i think he's going to make a trade no matter what.. if he cant get ryan from the ducks, i think jvr is his 2nd target.. so i think the flyers can hold out and his request for a 1st and jvr will come down.. IMO the flyers shouldn't be desperate to make a move.. another d-man would be nice, but this isn't the year for the flyers to break the bank to make a run, next year or the year after i'd be more open to breaking the bank, but this season should be primarily about getting guys experience.. thats not to say they cant compete, i'm just saying the benefit the flyers could get from a deadline deal isn't going to make or break their chance this season, it could break their chance in the next year or two though

 

[puckhead]

seating chart for Kings-CBJs lists scouts from Van, NYR, StL, Boston (3), Ducks, Nashville, Tor and Phx.

 

[pixburgher66]

I have a feeling TK may be shopped around, just to gauge interest. The Pens have a LOT of depth right now (which isn't bad), but need a tad more scoring touch. Of course adding Staal and perhaps Sid will help, but a guy like Ruutu would be solid. TK's contract just needs to go away.

 

[davnlaguna]

seating chart for Kings-CBJs lists scouts from Van, NYR, StL, Boston (3), Ducks, Nashville, Tor and Phx.

CBJ for sale

 

[puckhead]

According to AHL website, former Ranger Aaron Voros has been released from his PTO with the Connecticut Whale

he was awfully effective for about a month early last season.... then nothing.
wonder what happened.

 

[mattola]

TradeCentre: Thursday's rumours from around the NHL

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

When IS the trade deadline and have we traded Semin yet?

 

[mattola]

When IS the trade deadline and have we traded Semin yet?

Feb 27? i think.


and um





I refuse to answer your second question on the grounds it may destroy your keyboard