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Flames defenseman Robyn Regehr shrugs off trade speculation

Robyn Regehr, Petr Prucha

Phoenix Coyotes’ Petr Prucha (16), of the Czech Republic, gets upended by Calgary Flames’ Robyn Regehr, of Brazil, in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

AP

Being a high-priced player on a team with salary cap problems can make life interesting. Or really annoying. It can be equal parts of both if you’ve got a no-trade clause which, in the case of Flames defenseman Robyn Regehr, he does. With training camp coming up soon, Regehr was available to comment on some of the talk that circled surrounding sending him out of town. Vicki Hall of the Calgary Herald finds out that Regehr just accepts it as part of the current culture in the NHL.

“That’s just a by-product of a team not meeting expectations,” Regehr sighed Wednesday before a golf tournament luncheon at the Pengrowth Saddledome. “Any time that happens, there’s going to be lots of talk. Whether there’s movement or not, as a player, you’re not sure if that’s going to happen. But you will be approached.”

Has he been approached by management to waive his no-movement clause? “I’m not going to get into that,” he said. “That’s just part of sports. That’s the way it is.”

But does he want to leave?

“I would like to win here in Calgary,” he said. “That’s my first option. That always has been. I’ve made that fairly clear not only with talking about it, but also with the actions that I’ve done. Things like re-signing here in Calgary to an extension at the time and not going to the open market.”

Regehr’s words hit on the point in all these situations that sometimes loyalty should count for something. That said, it is still a business and teams are going to do what they can to improve themselves no matter what. Yes, even the Flames who fired up the way-back machine bringing back Alex Tanguay and Olli Jokinen are still trying to win. In the NHLs current economic climate, Regehr and his $4 million cap hit for the next three years probably won’t have to worry about going anywhere anytime soon regardless.