Zidlicky waives NTC for possible deal to Jersey

[nilan30]

No trade yet. Kind of a weird article to run. Does it mean a trade is imminent?

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=387874

[JKidd]

From the local media:

As reported on last night's blog, a Marek Zidlicky trade could be coming, and it is indeed, to the New Jersey Devils.

Zidlicky's agent, Larry Kelly, has confirmed to me this morning TSN Darren Dreger's tweet that Zidlicky has waived his no-trade clause to go to the Devils. No deal has been completed yet, but GM Chuck Fletcher and Devils GM Lou Lamoriello are working on it. No word yet on what the Wild may be getting back.

Zidlicky has one more year left on his contract at $4 million.

He has had a very tough season, scoring no goals and 13 assists in 39 games and he's a minus-7. He has scored 60 goals in 546 career games -- 42 on the power play.

As I wrote on last night's blog: The Wild, even though it’s hardly all his fault, cannot win with Zidlicky in the lineup. It’s amazing. The Wild is 2-14-5 in the last 21 games he’s played (1-10-2 in the last 13) and 13-4 in the last 17 without him.

On Jan. 31, when Zidlicky was scratched for the third of four games, he sought me out and complained about his treatment by coach Mike Yeo. Here is that article. I have confirmed that in this subsequent meeting with GM Chuck Fletcher, Zidlicky told Fletcher he would be willing to waive his no-trade to the right team.

New Jersey appears to be that team. I have heard NJ has been interested in Zidlicky for some time, but one thing that was holding it back was the fact that Kurtis Foster, a right-shot defenseman, was playing in that role.

But it appears a trade is close. The funny thing is, as I wrote in last night's blog, I heard from multiple sources that a trade was close and he was willing to waive his no-trade. I was shocked, however, when I saw Zidlicky in last night's lineup because I didn't think that if a trade was a close as I was being told that the team would let him play and risk injury.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/139349703.html

If we get anything more than a used skate sharpener, we robbed the Devils blind!

[NJD Oliwa]

Wonder if this means that foster will be dealt to Minn or in some other deal.

[nilan30]

I've kind of adopted the Wild as my number two team mainly for geographical reasons so I always end up talking about them with a buddy who is a huge Wild fan. If this happens I know he'll be about the happiest guy in the world. The only thing that would make him more happy would be if they got rid of Greg Zanon too.

[smashem]

I just laughed when i saw he had 0 goals, you would figure they would just give him away, but on the other hand if another team is gonna give them something, This would be an ideal time for a bag of pucks.

[JKidd]

Closing this one for now, seems a little premature