Exciting Monday for players!

Hi everyone! We are living exciting times again. It’s the time of season when players are nervous about and think of where the career possibly continues. Monday happens to be the trade deadline in NHL, last selling day for players.

Teams and GMs have the final chance to do player transactions and try to make their own team as good as possible. Then the NHL teams divide into two groups: sellers and buyers. Teams that believe they will be in playoffs are buyers, and teams that don’t are sellers. Even one right decision can be the crucial one in the playoffs.

For a player the day is agonized, because the uncertainty about the future of the career is always bothersome. I often think, how cruelly and heartlessly they treat players here. Loyalty has no room in this world where everything is up for sale. We players are mere pawns in the big business. Few people understand how it feels to be traded – not just mentally but in practice. Especially for those with family it’s a huge project. Selling the house (if you own one), moving the stuff, getting new apartment, electricity, water, ordering garbage service, children’s school, doctors etc. Getting used to the new city takes time. Luckily at least the team mates and the contact persons of the new team help with finding the right contacts.

NHL is full of tremendous trade stories. One of those happened to Esa Tikkanen. Edmonton Oilers were in New York playing against the Rangers and on the game day, when Tiki arrived to the arena in the evening, the HUOLTAJA said that "to that locker room, you’ve been traded to Rangers". So to the other locker room and play against team, which players were your team mates an hour ago. Probably wasn’t an easy game!

Especially the first trade is a great shock for a player. It feels like you have failed at your job and let your team down. This happened to me too. Two times I’ve been sold and both times have been bitter, but the first one was the most bitter. It was February 1996. There had been lots of rumours that one of us (Keith Tkachuk, Alexei Zhamnov and I) has to be sold because the team can’t afford to keep three expensive players. We were in Washington when the owner called and told that even if there have been rumours about trade, you’re not being sold so you just play and enjoy!

So I did, because the team was 2nd in the division and I was playing great season and was 5th in scoring in the NHL. Two weeks after hat call the GM of the team John Paddock called after practice to the locker room and told that has traded me to Anaheim. Tears were flowing down my face. There was a minute of silence and then I hung up. That was the thank-you for four year job in Winnipeg. I packed my stuff, thanked my team mates for everything and went home. That was a total knock-out and emotionally/mentally that was the toughest part.

It didn’t make the situation any easier that Sirpa was nine month pregnant. She took the information calmly, even partly excited about new "adventure". Next day I flew to New York and met my new team for the first time. 2 weeks from that I flew back to Winnipeg and out first born Eemil saw the daylight.

Overall the years in Winnipeg were great time, and both the city and the people made an indelible impression to my heart*. It’s said that everything happens for reason, maybe this too. New fresh start in new place, an opportunity to play with a young man called Paul Kariya. That was the start for such a personal chemistry that seldom occurs between players. Playing with Pall was something magical. Even though outside of the rink were are completely different persons, in the rink we were like we shared a brain. It was magnificent time. And even if the team was for years mediocre and owned by Disney, that didn’t want to build successful team, playing with Paul was the best pain killer for that.

In 2001 happened the other trade, which was very similar to the first one. Ducks GM Pierre Cauthier came to talk and told that has been shopping me around the league but hasn’t got any interesting reply. He noted that I was no longer been shopped, so I could keep on playing like normally. 10 days after that phone rings at 6.30 am and Pierre’s secretary called and told and I’ve been sold to San Jose Sharks. To think that that liar didn’t even have balls enough to call and tell about it himself.

From 2003 I have had no trade clause in my contract. That means that the team cannot sell me to anywhere. That has given me complete work peace to concentrate on playing. I can only imagine how many players will continue their career in new team this season.

Often the trade is a relief for a player that won’t get a fair chance in his current team, like Jarkko Ruutu who was traded from Ottawa to us. I was excited about the news and I believe that Rudi** will help us a lot. 20 games left, we’ve gotten our ass kicked in the last 5 games but still the faith to playoff spot is strong. And what best, everything is still in our own hands!
Happy spring time!

1.really not sure if that makes sense…
2.this is totally better than jar jar… just saying ;)

Speaking of trades:

St. Louis has traded Brad Winchester to the Anaheim Ducks the return is still unknown.

Fourth line problems are over! :)

btw could I get a boc style recap on the avs game?…I heard about fights…but by looking at the box score…looks like a non-impressive victory over a bottom feeder? anything to take from that game at all?

Duck or King? Dustin Penner:

Penner is indeed traded… TSN says for Colten Teubert and a draft pick.