Philadelphia
Daily News - March 18, 1997
Philadelphia
Daily News - March 18, 1997by Les Bowen
s
today's 3 p.m. NHL trading deadline approaches, Rod Brind'Amour is
probably headed to Toronto.
The Flyers' charter takes off for that city an hour after the deadline, in preparation for tomorrow's game. And Brind'Amour, a key faceoff-taker and penalty-killer, the only constant on an ever-changing second line over the past two years, seems unlikely to be traded. But that doesn't mean his name isn't part of a half-dozen or so rumors, as it has been at just about every trade deadline since he arrived here 5_1/2 years ago.
Brind'Amour, 26, the Flyer with the longest continuous service, is not having a great year. Over the past week or so, as the deadline has gotten closer and rumors have intensified, his mistakes with the puck have become more frequent. And he is not the only Flyer who seems a bit off-stride.
``It [the approaching of the deadline] obviously can't be a good thing,'' Brind'Amour said yesterday. ``Especially, around here, where the rumors seem to be nonstop. Usually, it's only a couple of guys, but it seems to be about 10 guys this year.''
With 50 points (23 goals and 27 assists) in 70 games, Brind'Amour is almost certainly headed for his lowest full-season total as a Flyer -- coming into this season, he had scored better than a point per game (386 points in 375 games) since he was acquired in a September 1991 trade with St. Louis.
Brind'Amour prefers to play center but has spent much of this season at left wing. In previous years, he usually had at least one quality goal-scorer on his line for much of the season -- Kevin Dineen, Mark Recchi, Pat Falloon. This year, he has played with a large cast of less capable scorers -- sometimes Dale Hawerchuk, who was healthy and productive for about eight weeks, sometimes rookie Dainius Zubrus, sometimes Falloon, sometimes surprise 20-goal grinder Trent Klatt, lately Phantoms callup Vaclav Prospal.
``With me moving around so much, not really playing center, not really having a line, it's easy to think [that a trade might be possible],'' Brind'Amour said. ``Two years ago in the playoffs, my line played really well. Ever since then, they always seem to be bringing in centers . . . That's the way it goes. I'd like to have a line and just play.''
Flyers president and general manager Bob Clarke, who spent much of yesterday huddled in his office with director of pro scouting Paul Holmgren, has told reporters that Brind'Amour is unlikely to be traded, but he hasn't said that to Brind'Amour, and Brind'Amour doesn't expect it.
``That's not his job, to go around assuring guys they're not going to be traded,'' Brind'Amour said. ``If the right deal comes along, he's not going to hesitate to move. He's not stupid.''
Brind'Amour's frustration grew so acute a week ago tonight in Buffalo, he exchanged sharp words with Flyers coach Terry Murray on the bench at the end of a 3-2 overtime loss. Brind'Amour, playing that night with rookies Prospal and Colin Forbes, sat out the final few minutes of regulation because Murray didn't want the rookies in. Then, Brind'Amour wasn't on the ice as a penalty-killer in the overtime as Murray continued his experiment with Eric Lindros and Paul Coffey up top as an extra penalty-killing pair.
``It was no big deal,'' Brind'Amour said. ``It's not an issue. It wasn't an argument between us, just a lot of frustration over losing the game.''
Murray said the next day he had talked things out with Brind'Amour, and didn't blame the player for being frustrated.
Yesterday, Murray said that even though the trading deadline is no excuse for poor play, he knows players are bothered, and expects the team will play better after it passes. The Flyers have lost four of their last six games, for the first time since the opening month of the season.
``It's a very uncomfortable time,'' Murray said. ``Players have wives, families, they're settled in schools. It's a difficult time.''
Lindros stood up for Brind'Amour, whose streak of 308 successive games played currently is second in the league to Montreal's Mark Recchi (450).
``He's been there every night, working hard. It's a tough position, he's always been a real quiet leader,'' Lindros said. ``That's why so many people are interested in Roddy, because he is such a good player. His reputation as a gritty player, a hard worker, is known throughout the league.''
Lindros agreed that several players seem spooked.
``It's never fun to approach a trade deadline . . . Not on top of our game,'' he said. ``It's not a real fun time of year . . . I think things will really settle down once the deadline is past.''
Murray noted that the NHL's deadline comes later in the season than that of any other pro sport. The league tried to move up the deadline this season, but ran into opposition from the NHL Players Association.
``As a coach, it would be better if it were earlier,'' Murray said. ``I think the damn thing should be at the end of January.''
Brind'Amour, who got married last summer, doesn't want to leave.
``I've been through a lot here,'' he said. ``I'd like to see it through.''
Clarke undoubtedly would like to land Brind'Amour some second-line scoring help before the deadline.