In today’s rumor rundown, we look at a few more deals that didn’t materialize on trade deadline day and a couple of deals that were rumored to be out there but have been shot down by those that would likely know better than the sources who reported them.
Friedman Notes Trades That Almost Happened
During a radio spot with Elliotte Friedman on Vancouver’s Sportsnet 650, Friedman provided some details on trades he’d heard were in the works but ultimately never happened. The first was a deal between the Calgary Flames and Minnesota Wild that included Jason Zucker.
After a whirlwind, stressful and emotional trade-deadline day, Jason Zucker scores a monster goal for the #mnwild during a late comeback win in Winnipeg.
On the near trade with the #flames, and Joel Eriksson Ek capping another great game w the winner> https://t.co/6ib5989YCn
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) February 27, 2019
Friedman, plus others who have reported on this “almost trade” say that time just ran out for the two sides, otherwise, the deal would have been done.
Friedman also said that Wayne Simmonds almost went to the Winnipeg Jets. He explains, “I think Winnipeg thought they had Wayne Simmonds. They were preparing it and Wayne Simmonds had to waive his no-trade to go to Winnipeg, and it never happened.” The reason it didn’t end up happening is that Simmonds would have had to waive his no-trade clause to go to Winnipeg whereas he didn’t for a move to Nashville. The Flyers simply decided the trade that didn’t require asking the player to waive was easier to do.
Friedman also said that the Vancouver Canucks asked Alex Edler to waive his no-trade clause because they had a deal in place. He declined.
Edmonton Oilers Were Not Moving Adam Larsson
Jimmy Murphy reported the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers were working on a deal that would include Adam Larsson from the Oilers and Connor Brown from the Maple Leafs. Edmonton media and fans went nutty thinking that the Oilers would make such a one-sided trade.
Even though Edmonton was interested in Brown, it didn’t take long for this rumor to be shot down by sources close to the Oilers. It was not Larsson that was ever being discussed.
FYI.
At no point was Adam Larsson's name brought up in trade discussions at the deadline https://t.co/A2eegVNmsS— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) February 26, 2019
Bob Stauffer tweeted, at no point was Oilers Adam Larsson brought up in any trade talk at the trade deadline. The Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson wrote, “Don’t even bother with talk, it’s not true.”
Marc Bergevin Refused Offers to Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin has come out and discussed his team’s lack of action on trade deadline day and said it was mainly due to the offers his team received. His exact words were, “I’m telling you right now, if I would have done what I was asked for, you would probably call me an idiot. Which you probably do anyway.”
Arpon Basu, who covers the Canadiens for The Athletic wrote, Bergevin wasn’t willing to move good prospects he considered untouchable, he didn’t want to disrupt team chemistry by moving a player like Jordie Benn and while he admitted he had inquired about Matt Duchene, said the price was far too high to talk about that deal in further detail.
Why Micheal Ferland Didn’t Move
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators both made last-minute pitches for Carolina Hurricanes forward Micheal Ferland. Michael Smith is reporting the Canes decided to keep him and GM Don Waddell said they’ll hold contract extension talks with Ferland after the season and would like to extend him on a new deal.
