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As you all know by now, I never use the term "shopping" when it comes to players. I don't use it for two reasons...
#1. Players are really rarely "shopped" in the true sense of the word. I can think of only really Dany Heatley over the last few years, and that was because he wanted out. GMs have a responsibility to always be looking for ways to improve their team, so they may be "open to offers" on a player, but if were I to list the players teams were "willing to listen to offers on" it would include about 90% of the NHL. Untouchables are far more rare than people think in this business.
As one GM told me once when I asked him if a certain player was untouchable, "The team's sales staff wouldn't be happy about it because I am sure we have a ton of his numbered jerseys hanging in the gift shop, but if I can make the team better of course I will."
One GM told me, "There are two ways a player becomes untouchable...If my owner won't let me trade him or (he laughed) well there is one way." He went on to say that sometimes a contract made a player "untradeable" but there is always another bad contract out there someone will swap out."
#2.. I would much rather report about a team having interest in a player than a team shopping a player. In my opinion it is much more fair to the player themselves and it also is much less disruptive to a team's locker room. Since my main gig is rumors, I need to be very careful with my terms. I have to be in these locker rooms, and I have to be confident looking these guys in the eyes when I see them. I have too much respect to put the "shopping" term in front of these guys.
There are instances when you will hear a bunch of leaks on a team shopping Brad Marchand like we are hearing right now. These leaks are commonly tied to contract negotiations going badly. A team may want the player to know they are willing to move him if a deal can't be reached. Especially a young player from a Cup winning team. Brad definitely wants to remain a Bruin and a team may want him to make that fact "more known" to the player's agent.
It's a bad idea for teams to play this game with an older player because it can really signal the beginning of the end as an older player knows how this goes and may just say to the agent that he wants out if they don't want him there.
Brad Marchand is an interesting case. He was a young star and one of the top 5 reasons the Bruins carried the Cup around the ice last spring. He has had a lot of success quickly here and really the last thing he needs is to not be in camp or to fall behind getting started this year. The pressure will already be ramped up.
While I wouldn't say the Bruins are "shopping" Brad in the truest sense of the word I would say that MANY teams are calling to see if he is available...and the Bruins are listening...they need contingency plans. Teams interested... Toronto, Winnipeg, Anaheim, Minnesota, Colorado (perhaps the most interested) and St. Louis.
more to come...
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