Wesley on the block
Feb 21, 2003 12:42:21 GMT -5
Post by rocky on Feb 21, 2003 12:42:21 GMT -5
newsobserver.com/
In today's edition of the Raleigh News-Observer. Good solid D-man, will go to a contender, imho
By LUKE DEcock, Staff Writer
RALEIGH -- Glen Wesley has been a part of the Carolina Hurricanes for so long it's difficult to imagine him playing for any other team.
Still, it's something he has started to accept as a possibility.
"I really know in the back of my mind that it's eventually going to happen," Wesley said Thursday. "I guess you just try to prepare yourself as best as possible."
With three weeks to go before the NHL's trading deadline on March 11, the Canes have cleared the way to deal Wesley to a contender. The defenseman has a no-trade clause in his contract but appears willing to waive it.
Wesley, 34, has had a solid season and will be a free agent this summer. Out of playoff contention, the Hurricanes don't need him, but any number of Stanley Cup hopefuls would love to see him in their lineup.
Wesley has been around long enough to understand why the club is willing to trade him.
"Absolutely," Wesley said. "That's the business part of it, and that's understandable."
Handling that business will be Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford, who began to turn his attention back to hockey on Tuesday. His father, John, died on Feb. 12, and the son spent a week with his family in Beeton, Ontario.
Rutherford returned from Toronto with the team Tuesday night, and, with the Canes 14 points out of a playoff spot with 21 games to play, he is looking to trim the payroll heading into next season.
The Canes are more than willing to trade goalie Arturs Irbe, who cleared waivers and was demoted to Lowell (AHL).
Rutherford said that based on his conversations with Wesley's agent, Rick Curran, trading the defenseman for help for the future is the Canes' best option.
"It doesn't appear we're going to be able to re-sign him at this point, and we have to take a look at what our options are," Rutherford said. "He's been a good player for us, and we would have hoped he would finish his career here."
The Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues and New Jersey Devils head the list of teams looking for defensive help, and New Jersey and Detroit have scouted Carolina extensively lately.
"Some of the teams that are viewed as contenders are going to really push to strengthen their teams," Rutherford said. "I suspect that there will be some good deals out there."
Wesley is fourth in franchise history with 621 games played for the Hurricanes and Hartford Whalers. If he plays in six more games, he'll pass Adam Burt and move into sole possession of third place behind Ron Francis and Kevin Dineen.
Acquired in 1994 from the Boston Bruins for three first-round draft picks, Wesley has the longest continuous tenure of any Carolina player.
The Canes have traded away Hartford holdovers Marek Malik and Sami Kapanen this season. Only Wesley and Jeff O'Neill remain from the team that moved to North Carolina in 1997.
In today's edition of the Raleigh News-Observer. Good solid D-man, will go to a contender, imho
By LUKE DEcock, Staff Writer
RALEIGH -- Glen Wesley has been a part of the Carolina Hurricanes for so long it's difficult to imagine him playing for any other team.
Still, it's something he has started to accept as a possibility.
"I really know in the back of my mind that it's eventually going to happen," Wesley said Thursday. "I guess you just try to prepare yourself as best as possible."
With three weeks to go before the NHL's trading deadline on March 11, the Canes have cleared the way to deal Wesley to a contender. The defenseman has a no-trade clause in his contract but appears willing to waive it.
Wesley, 34, has had a solid season and will be a free agent this summer. Out of playoff contention, the Hurricanes don't need him, but any number of Stanley Cup hopefuls would love to see him in their lineup.
Wesley has been around long enough to understand why the club is willing to trade him.
"Absolutely," Wesley said. "That's the business part of it, and that's understandable."
Handling that business will be Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford, who began to turn his attention back to hockey on Tuesday. His father, John, died on Feb. 12, and the son spent a week with his family in Beeton, Ontario.
Rutherford returned from Toronto with the team Tuesday night, and, with the Canes 14 points out of a playoff spot with 21 games to play, he is looking to trim the payroll heading into next season.
The Canes are more than willing to trade goalie Arturs Irbe, who cleared waivers and was demoted to Lowell (AHL).
Rutherford said that based on his conversations with Wesley's agent, Rick Curran, trading the defenseman for help for the future is the Canes' best option.
"It doesn't appear we're going to be able to re-sign him at this point, and we have to take a look at what our options are," Rutherford said. "He's been a good player for us, and we would have hoped he would finish his career here."
The Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues and New Jersey Devils head the list of teams looking for defensive help, and New Jersey and Detroit have scouted Carolina extensively lately.
"Some of the teams that are viewed as contenders are going to really push to strengthen their teams," Rutherford said. "I suspect that there will be some good deals out there."
Wesley is fourth in franchise history with 621 games played for the Hurricanes and Hartford Whalers. If he plays in six more games, he'll pass Adam Burt and move into sole possession of third place behind Ron Francis and Kevin Dineen.
Acquired in 1994 from the Boston Bruins for three first-round draft picks, Wesley has the longest continuous tenure of any Carolina player.
The Canes have traded away Hartford holdovers Marek Malik and Sami Kapanen this season. Only Wesley and Jeff O'Neill remain from the team that moved to North Carolina in 1997.
