Sens cornering the market on mid-game trades
There have been two trades in the middle of National Hockey League games this season, and the Ottawa Senators have played a role in both of them.
The Senators pulled alternate captain Dion Phaneuf during the second period of Tuesday’s 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, before he was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings with centre Nate Thompson.
Forward Matt Duchene had suited up for the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 5 in Brooklyn to face the New York Islanders when he received word of a three-way deal that sent him to the Senators. Duchene left the ice during a television timeout.
“I found out right before we went out for the third period (that Phaneuf ) was dealt,” Duchene said Tuesday night in Pittsburgh.
“It’s very strange. I know what it’s like, and for me, it was crazier because it was maybe a minute into the game, and I sat there for a while.”
Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said he received a text from Kings counterpart Rob Blake during Tuesday’s game that the deal had been completed. He pulled Phaneuf immediately, while Marian Gaborik and Nick Shore both finished the Kings’ game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh.
“It was a call. I said I’d pull my guy (Phaneuf ) out. Rob and I talked. They’re in a playoff race, we’re not, and he said, ‘Pierre, do you mind if our guys play?’ I said, ‘No, if they get hurt, we’ll still take both of those guys.’ It was just a gentleman’s agreement,” Dorion said. “We had no issues.”
Shore, 25, grew up in Denver. Duchene spoke highly of the new Senator.
“I know Nick pretty well,” Duchene said. “He lived behind me in Colorado when I lived with Adam Foote. I was actually pretty good buddies with his older brother, Drew, and I know all the boys pretty well. His younger brothers used to come and skate on the rink with the Foote boys and me.
“Marian has a pretty amazing pedigree, and they’re guys who can help us right away.”