Penguinsien kohdalla NTC-miehet Milan Hejduk (Avs) tai Martin St.Louis (Tampa) sekä Nik Antropov (Leafs) ovat esiintyneet viime päivinä tiukimmin huhujen keskipisteessä operaatiossa Crosbylle Maaliruisku. Arvatenkin kauppatavarana tarjoillaan Ryan Whitneytä tai Jordan Staalia.
Itsellä on käynyt Hejdukin mahdollinen kauppaaminen mielessä, mutta Denver Postin Adrian Dater tylytti yhtä kysyjää - ja Eklundia siinä samassa - "mailbagissään" seuraavasti:
I think you will be busy with news and feature stories about Avalanche players leaving Colorado. I know everyone wants to get picks, but what about a proven young stud? The Pens want Milan Hejduk, and I read they may be willing to give up Jordan Staal. What do you think of a straight-up deal?
-- Aaron M., Ann Arbor, Mich.
Aaron - Well, first off, Hejduk has a no-trade clause, and he has young kids who have grown up mostly in Denver. So, I'm going to guess that uprooting them from their home would be low on his agenda. So, I think you can write off that trade rumor -- but you still win a prize, for being the 1 millionth person to have come up with a hockey-trade rumor this year that didn't come true. The other 999,999 were from Eklund, so congrats for beating him out. Prize to be determined.
Yes, there will be trades, though. Jordan Leopold probably will be traded. Brett Clark might, too, and so might Ruslan Salei and quite possibly many other guys. But one guy who won't be dealt is Milan Hejduk. Take that one to the nearest bank that isn't facing closure and feel confident.