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Naples, Fla. — A new name surfaced among the NHL players available before the trading deadline next week and a familiar one was taken off the list.
According to a league source, Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Jay Feaster is busy shopping forward Brad Richards among his fellow GMs after they arrived here for their annual winter meetings on Sunday night.
Then on Monday afternoon, Don Baizley, who represents free-agent Peter Forsberg, said the star centre ruled out a comeback because of continuing foot problems. This was a serious blow to the teams who had been informed by Baizley last week that they were contenders for his services — the Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, Ottawa Senators and Minnesota Wild.
Forsberg's decision also put Feaster and Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell in a much better position. Waddell is trying to get something for winger Marian Hossa, who may now be the best player available before the Feb. 26 trade deadline. In addition to Richards, Feaster is also shopping forward Vinny Prospal, who has 55 points, plus a list of other players.
Tampa Bay Lightning's Brad Richards pictured in this Dec. 11, 2007 file photo. (Shaun Best/Reuters)
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However, there are a couple of complications when it comes to Richards. First, Richards has a no-movement clause in his contract and it is not known if he is willing to waive it. Second, Richards has three years left on his contract at $7.8-million (all currency U.S.), which is a hefty hit on the salary cap, which is currently at $50.3-million.
Richards is having a difficult season, with 49 points in 59 games, below his usual standard, but is playing well lately.
"I don't want to talk about individual guys," Feaster said on Monday when asked about Richards. "I don't want to confirm or deny and nothing should be inferred by my ability to confirm or deny."
However, Feaster spoke like a GM who reached the conclusion he will be a seller rather than a buyer up to the Feb. 26 deadline. The tipping point seemed to be the Lightning's loss on Saturday night to Southeast Division rivals, the Washington Capitals. That left the Lightning eight points out of the Southeast Division lead with 23 games in the regular season. The Lightning's only chance to make the playoffs is by winning the division title.
"We put together multiple plans based on where we are going," Feaster said. "The result on Saturday night didn't help us."
Also on the block are forwards Chris Gratton and Jan Hlavac and defenceman Filip Kuba. Dan Boyle, an offensive defenceman who is attracting much notice on the trade market, is set to become an unrestricted free agent but Feaster hopes to sign him to a new contract before the trade deadline.
Leafs interim GM Cliff Fletcher had nothing new to report on the trade front. He said the first morning of the winter meetings on Monday was taken up with league matters and that trade talks would probably heat up later in the day and over the next two days.
