Bob Pulford continued to negotiate Friday with Vancouver for its holdout center Petr Nedved, who is playing in Lillehammer at the moment with the Canadian Olympic team.
The Blackhawks’ general manager said speculation that only a contract agreement with Nedved stands between a deal being consummated is not correct. But the rumors remain that the Canucks and Hawks have pretty much decided on what players to swap if the free agent can be signed.
“It’s true that I’m talking to Vancouver,” he said, noting he spoke Friday with Canucks GM/coach Pat Quinn. “But the rest of that stuff isn’t true. I don’t know exactly where we’re at.”
Stoking a fire: Pulford said coach Darryl Sutter has scratched Patrick Poulin, a prospect he acquired in trade in early November, in recent games “as a message to him. Eventually, he’ll be a decent player, but he has to learn to be more intense.”
His deal: Pulford said it was Winnipeg GM/coach John Paddock’s idea to work a trade that would send winger Paul Ysebaert to the Hawks for defenseman Neil Wilkinson. “That was his position, not mine,” he said. “Sure, we’re talking. I’m interested in some of his players.”
Pulford also acknowledged he is talking trade with Calgary, which has eight or nine defensemen. But he denied talks are concentrating on Gary Suter. “If you have an idea how I can get him, let me know,” he said.