Olli Jokinen not to be traded by Calgary Flames prior to deadline -NHL Update
Rumours about Calgary trading Olli Jokinen before the February 27, 2012, National Hockey League (NHL) trade deadline was reached were killed off by the Flames as they announced to not asking the player to waive the no-trade clause in his contract.
The announcement came a day before the deadline was to be met and would have resulted in teams not being able to deal their players before the postseason, but it was widely speculated that Calgary was looking towards send Jokinen off.
When asked about his plans for the trade deadline, Calgary Flames head coach, Brent Sutter, strictly termed there being no plans as such.
“Our focus is on playing the St. Louis Blues, and I don’t want one player in the dressing room thinking otherwise,” Sutter said on Sunday before their Monday night game against St. Louis. “If something happens and management decides to do something, that’s
their decision. As the coach, my job is to get the most of the group that’s in there.”
Calgary Flames were also in the spotlight due to the lack of any pizzazz from their side but according to the team and its general manager, Jay Feaster, it seems as they will be focused more on healing the team rather than exchanging faces.
For Calgary, which stands at number 11 in the Western Conference with 67 points, three below eighth place Dallas Stars, there is still enough time to make things right.
“This is your time, and this is when you really can take that step, grab it and go after it,” Sutter added. “At the end of the day, that’s what I want every player to feel.”
Jokinen had expressed his desire to stay in Calgary when asked earlier this season and is wishing to sign an extension during the offseason when his current deal comes to an end.
The veteran centre player is currently on a two-year deal with Calgary for a cool $6 million, which will be making him an unrestricted free agent at the end of it.
Whether Olli Jokinen will be staying with Calgary for upcoming seasons in unclear but this year, he is with the Flames.
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