Gilmour wants to stay a Blackhawk
Posted: Monday February 15, 1999 05:23 PM
Seems half the media in the NHL had Chicago's Doug Gilmour traded to the Buffalo Sabres over the weekend. One reporter on the famed "Hockey Night in Canada" show Saturday went so far as to say it was a "done deal".
Only problem is it hasn't happened yet and the two general managers involved, Buffalo's Darcy Regier and Chicago's Bob Murray, have denied the deal outright.
That hasn't completely killed the rumor, however. Meanwhile another Chicago rumor, this one involving Blackhawks captain Chris Chelios, does appear to be dead.
Chelios claims he has a handshake agreement with team owner William Wirtz regarding his future. He won't say exactly what that agreement is, but the Chicago Tribune reports that the two have an agreement that Chelios will remain a hawk for the duration of his contract. The deal, which will pay him $3.72 million this season, runs through the 1999-2000 campaign.
The Tribune says that when that contract expires the Hawks will pay Chelios $1 million, and then he will likely become a free agent.
Gilmour on Saturday admitted that he's heard the talk that Murray is looking to slash payroll and wants to start with the $14 million still owned on Gilmour's $18 million, three-year pact.
Contrary to the rumors swirling around WNY, however, Gilmour claims he's told management that he does not want to leave Chicago.
"I signed here for three years to retire here," Gilmour said. "If you're asking me if I asked for a trade, no, I didn't. I'm a Blackhawk and I want to stay here . I'm not the type of guy who wants out when times get tough."
Maybe so, but Gilmour, who has played in St. Louis, Calgary, Toronto and New Jersey during good and bad times, may not have a choice. Murray made a huge mistake with that deal and he needs to square it with owner Bill "Dollar Bill" Wirtz or he, not Gilmour, might be the first to go.
Fleury nixed trade
Sources maintain that Calgary's Theo Fleury put the whack on a trade that would have sent him to the Los Angeles Kings for Yanic Perreault and another player off a short list determined by the Kings.
The deal died when Fleury told the Kings he intended to test the free-agent waters at the end of the season and wouldn't even consider Los Angeles' contract extension offer of five years and $30 million. Fleury has also been linked to deals in Buffalo, Dallas, Phoenix and with the New York Rangers.
Short shots around the NHL
The Phoenix Coyotes were recently scouting the Montreal Canadiens, reportedly with an interest in forward Mark Recchi... Chicago sources maintain center Alexei Zhamnov has fallen out of favor with Hawks coach Dirk Graham and could be had for the right deal. New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs are rumored to be teams that have an interest...Matthew Barnaby continues to sit in Buffalo. Sabres would like to make a deal now, but might wait until closer to the trade deadline and thrown Barnaby into a bigger package...Philadelphia is shopping winger Dainius Zubrus, reportedly to Buffalo for Barnaby and more, but also to Chicago or any team looking to part with a veteran defenseman.
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