Tuesday, March 18, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
When NHL teams that believe they can win this season talk to teams that believe it's time to build for the future, deals can happen. Just as often, it means a lot of talk and no action.
If teams do decide to deal in the last hours before today's noon PST deadline, the lackluster Toronto Maple Leafs could be in the thick of things, with several veterans reportedly on the block for the right offer.
Defensemen Larry Murphy, Jamie Macoun and Dimitri Yushkevich were believed to be available, although Murphy would be hard to move at $2.35 million a year.
"It's part of the business," Murphy said of the trading rumors. "It's part of our job. Nobody wants to hear them, but they will."
Toronto coach Mike Murphy says the Leafs have no one but themselves to blame for such talk.
"It's something that's been dictated by their poor play," Mike Murphy said. "We have to get our team in better shape for the rest of this year and certainly for next year."
Gritty Leafs center Kirk Muller, fan favorite Wendel Clark and starting goalie Felix Potvin have also been the subject of trade rumors, although it would take a special offer to move Potvin.
"I'm happy in Toronto, I never asked to leave," Potvin said. "This is just part of hockey."
Muller could find himself in Miami, where the Panthers need someone to step in for the injured Brian Skrudland.
Changes to Pittsburgh's lineup wouldn't surprise anyone, considering the slumping team just returned from a winless road trip, earning only one point with the 5-5 tie in Phoenix. Interim coach and general manager Craig Patrick stayed off the ice and on the telephone for much of Monday.
"I've been on the trading block all season long ... and it could easily happen to me," defenseman Francois Leroux said.
The name of Petr Nedved also comes up in trade talk. Unlike Leroux, the Penguins aren't shopping Nedved, but the forward has a nomadic history.
Edmonton defenseman Luke Richardson has also attracted attention, although Oilers president Glen Sather says he won't necessarily make a move.
"I don't want to make a deal just to make one and risk upsetting the team," he told the Edmonton Journal.
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