In what almost seemed like a coordinated attack, the Calgary Flames front office took the national spotlight caused by hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight to explain that Dougie Hamilton is firmly not on the trade block.
When speaking to media prior to the morning skate, GM Brad Treliving said (via Pat Steinberg) the rumors are “completely false”. Brian Burke, team president, was on Leafs Lunch in Toronto to tell the world that the price for Hamilton is “20 first round picks”. He gave some other choice quotes (via Mike Augello):
As soon as one of the teams that’s in the mix for the leaks is the Maple Leafs, it’s an army of leakers. An army of people that have no god damn idea of what they’re talking about.
He’s 6’5″, he weighs 237 lbs, he’s a right shot, skates like a deer. Yeah. Let’s move him.
Burke believes it all stems from one team who made an “insulting” offer for Hamilton and that he’s almost to the point where he’d name the team publicly. It seems clear that the team is not looking to deal the young defender, however as Mark Spector of Sportsnet points out, teams are still sending their scouts to watch him play.
This would all back up what Darren Dreger said yesterday, that there had been some interest but the team had never had substantial conversations with the Maple Leafs or anyone else about Hamilton. It seems as though the struggling young blueliner will have to find his game in Calgary, because he’s not headed anywhere anytime soon.
Hockey people talking hockey people. How dare you make me a lowball offer!
I didn’t know deer could skate.
Now that Burkie has denied it, I think we can all agree that it’s only a matter of time before Hamilton is traded .. to the Leafs.
Brian Burke is one of those old school types who will eventually say something that is so polically un-correct, it will get him blackballed from the nhl and I for one can’t wait for that to happen.
Dougie is a Mary on the ice.