The NHL trade deadline came and went on Tuesday, and the biggest story surrounds two players who have not played, and will not be playing this year.
Disgruntled superstars Michael Peca of the Buffalo Sabres and Eric Lindros of the Philadelphia Flyers, who were both team captains last year, are currently in heated disagreements with their respective team managements and are refusing to suit up and play.
Both demanded to be traded to contenders and in both cases the many offers dissolved into nothing. The Saint Louis Blues showed serious interest in Lindros but decided to go another way, trading with the Phoenix Coyotes for left winger Keith Tkachuk.
Similarly, the Dallas Stars were in negotiations with the Sabres for the rights to Peca. In the end the deal could not be worked out because Peca demanded a lofty salary, and the Sabres wanted ample trade compensation.
The difficulty in trading these two players has come in the form of protection for Philly and Buffalo. While Lindros and Peca wanted to land with contending teams, the Flyers and Sabres want to avoid dealing them to a conference opponent they might face in the playoffs.
Philadelphia and Buffalo are currently ranked fourth and fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, respectively, and have looked to the West for possible trades. This way, a meeting between the trading partners would only occur if both squads landed in the finals.
Regardless, the Flyers and Sabres were not going to be forced into an unfavorable trade. They demanded to be compensated with players that would have greatly improved their team both this year and down the road.
If Lindros and Peca will not play for their current teams - which are performing well without them - the best option for these squads is to keep them off the ice in any city, which has resulted in the no-trade option for either man.
These players have provided much entertainment in the past with their quality of play. Now, when both players are still in their prime and both teams are doing well, the two sides are arguing, leaving the sport without a pair of its brightest stars.
Blues on the Rebound?
The Saint Louis Blues may finally be back on track. After winning only twice in 13 games, including the latest streak of seven winless games, the Blues topped the Minnesota Wild 1-0 in overtime on Wednesday despite a season-low 15 shots.
In his first game with the Blues, wingman Keith Tkachuk did not have an impact on the game, but coaches are hoping that the acquisition of Tkachuk from Phoenix will inspire their team to play better. They are also hoping to see improvement when their injured players, such as Chris Pronger (expected back by the start of the playoffs) join Tkachuk in the lineup.
The Blues were in control of the Central Division back in December and January, but their current tailspin, combined with superb play by division foe Detroit Red Wings, resulted in the Wings' ascendancy to first place in the division.
While the skid was ugly, the Blues have been fortunate not to slip from the playoff scene altogether. They are currently ranked fourth in the Western Conference and still have a nice cushion of ten points between themselves and the fifth place San Jose Sharks.
Coming up for the Blues in the next week are two games against weak opponents, the New York Islanders and the Calgary Flames. Wins over these teams would give St. Louis needed confidence for its bout with the red-hot Colorado Avalanche next weekend. The playoffs are right around the corner, and if the Blues are not careful, they might be looking at an early exit.
