Trade Talk Seems to Be Merely That

The most surprising aspect of the trade that sent Ed Belfour from Chicago to San Jose on Saturday is that it was the NHL’s first trade in more than a month, since Chicago sent Ivan Droppa to Florida for Alain Nasreddine and a draft pick Dec. 18 in a deal that mattered only to the players involved.

Despite rumors that have marquee players such as Alexander Mogilny, Adam Oates, Doug Gilmour and Rick Tocchet switching teams, there has been far more talk than action. Including Monday’s trade of Pittsburgh winger Tomas Sandstrom to Detroit for center Greg Johnson, 28 deals have been made since the season began involving 60 NHL or minor league players, draft picks or rights to players. One player, Paul Coffey, has moved twice. The totals will fall well short of last season, when 89 trades were made involving 184 players.

Why the decline in deals?

“Money,” Mighty Duck General Manager Jack Ferreira said. “Contracts are higher.”

The average salary was $892,000 last season, up from $733,000 in 1994-95, and it’s sure to top $1 million when this season’s average is calculated in June.

The NHL’s TV deals aren’t as big as those of the other major sports, and its average ticket price is the highest at $38.34. Clubs are hesitant to raise prices much more, putting many teams on tight budgets.

That leaves general managers reluctant to take on a hefty contract unless they can dump one, which is difficult without Mike Keenan around.

Ferreira also says the close playoff races are deterring traders.

“Everybody is still scrambling,” he said. “It’s not like they don’t want to make a deal, it’s that so many teams are still in it, they don’t want to make a deal that might help anybody else.”

After revivals by the New York Islanders and Boston Bruins, there are no teams more than six points out of a playoff spot.

There’s no urgency yet to make up ground, so teams that have targeted a player to fill a specific need will probably wait a few weeks to see if they still need him. Teams that are a few points out will wait to see if they’re still close enough to justify a deal or if they have fallen so far behind that rebuilding is a better option.

There’s always a flurry of activity around the deadline, which this season is March 20. Until then, though, hot rumors will far outnumber trades.

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED

Belfour, known as Eddie the Eagle, made few friends in Chicago. He influenced the Blackhawks to trade Jimmy Waite and a skinny guy named Dominik Hasek, and he reportedly told teammate Jeff Hackett he would never be more than a backup.

Eligible for unrestricted free agency after the season, Belfour wants more than $4 million a year, and Blackhawk owner Bill Wirtz doesn’t readily share his vast wealth.

But Belfour can play goal, especially in the playoffs. Which is why the San Jose Sharks made a good deal in acquiring him from the Blackhawks Saturday for Chris Terreri, Ulf Dahlen, Michal Sykora and, if they sign Belfour, a 1998 second-round draft pick.

Belfour’s status was a source of tension for the Blackhawks ever since he rejected a new contract last summer. General Manager Bob Pulford, desperate to improve the club’s morale, was dealing from weakness and got only Sykora, a promising young defenseman, a useful forward in Dahlen and a capable backup in Terreri.

The Sharks’ risks are minimal. If they can’t sign Belfour, the biggest loss is Sykora, who couldn’t--or wouldn’t--play as physically as they wanted. The key is, Belfour played behind strong defenses in Chicago, but the Sharks have never given up fewer goals than they have scored. Can Belfour still excel without Chris Chelios and Gary Suter helping him?

The scorecard: The Sharks win in the short term but Kelly Hrudey, who went to San Jose as a free agent last summer, loses his co-No. 1 status. The Blackhawks lose a headache and get some warm bodies and Shark General Manager Dean Lombardi, who is Pulford’s son-in-law, keeps peace in the family.

TIKKED OFF

As if the Vancouver Canucks didn’t have enough problems, with Trevor Linden idled by a knee injury, Mike Ridley enduring back problems and Alexander Mogilny demanding a playmaking center, they had to deal with center Esa Tikkanen’s threat to sit out if he didn’t get a new contract.

Tikkanen said he wouldn’t accompany the Canucks to Chicago, St. Louis and Phoenix last week without an extension and a raise to $2 million from $1.2 million. He went, but he still wants a new deal. What’s laughable is, he didn’t understand why Vancouver fans called him selfish.

Ridley made an impressive return after back surgery but recurring pain may force him to retire. If he quits, the Canucks, already thin at center, will be woeful. The only good news is that Linden may be able to play this weekend.

SWIFTER, HIGHER, STRONGER

Three NHL general managers will oversee selection of Canada’s Olympic team for the 1998 Nagano Games, which will include NHL stars for the first time.

The trio is expected to be Florida’s Bryan Murray, Dallas’ Bob Gainey and Philadelphia’s Bob Clarke. Edmonton’s Glen Sather said no because the Canadian Hockey Assn. wouldn’t give him autonomy in picking the team.

New Jersey’s Lou Lamoriello, general manager of the 1998 U.S. team, says he won’t appoint a coach for a while.

Mighty Duck Coach Ron Wilson, who coached Team USA to the World Cup title with Lamoriello as his boss, remains the favorite.

SLAP SHOTS

Montreal center Saku Koivu resumed skating after having knee surgery and might return this weekend. However, winger Benoit Brunet will miss a month after breaking his hand, the result of a slash with an aluminum stick. Coach Mario Tremblay said such sticks should be banned because, “getting hit by one of them is like getting hit by a club.” . . . San Jose’s Jeff Friesen has 17 points in his last 14 games, coinciding with a move from left wing to center.

Mike Milbury gave up coaching the Islanders only after new owner John Spano strongly urged him to focus on his duties as general manager, especially scouting for the June draft. Former Islander Denis Potvin reportedly will be hired as the club’s president. . . . Commissioner Gary Bettman denied Detroit Coach Scotty Bowman’s appeal of the $10,000 fine imposed on him for criticizing referee Terry Gregson.

The Blackhawks unveiled their third jerseys, a black top with the traditional Indian head logo and stripes on the sleeves and at the waist. “It’s an aggressive, Raiders-type of jersey,” Chelios said. Great. Just what the world needs.

Colorado Avalanche Coach Marc Crawford isn’t distressed over injuries that have idled several of his top players. “Other guys are getting the chance to be go-to guys,” he said. “It’s going to be a blessing in disguise for us. People like Joe [Sakic], he’s played so much in the World Cup. Guys like him and Peter [Forsberg], Claude Lemieux and Valeri Kamensky, our key guys, should be fairly well rested later.”

A Canadian financier donated 600 acres of land in British Columbia for Boston forward Sheldon Kennedy to build a ranch for abused children. Kennedy hopes to help kids who endured the kind of abuse he suffered at the hands of former junior coach Graham James, who, Kennedy says, assaulted him hundreds of times over 10 years.

Edmonton center Jason Arnott, who sat out only seven games after undergoing ankle surgery, returned too soon. Pain and swelling forced him to sit. . . . The New York Rangers may not have to trade to replace injured winger Alexei Kovalev because Vladimir Vorobiev has three goals and seven points in five games since being promoted from the American Hockey League.

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The Puck Stops Here

Goaltender Ed Belfour, traded by Chicago to San Jose last weekend, led the NHL with a 2.47 goals-against average in 1990-91. That average wouldn’t put him in the top five this season. The current leader is Dallas’ Andy Moog, at 2.15. Here are the goals-against average leaders for the last 10 seasons:

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Season Player, Team GAA 1995-96 Hextall, Phil. 2.17 1994-95 Hasek, Buff. 2.11 1993-94 Hasek, Buff. 1.95 1992-93 Potvin, Tor. 2.50 1991-92 Roy, Mon. 2.36 1990-91 Belfour, Chi. 2.47 1989-90 Liut, Hart.-Wash. 2.53 1988-89 Roy, Mon. 2.47 1987-88 Peeters, Wash. 2.78 1986-87 Hayward, Mon. 2.81

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