Blueliner shoots down online talk he asked GM Sutter for trade

By STEVE MACFARLANE, CALGARY SUN

Stunned as he was to hear about an unsubstantiated online rumour that he recently asked the Flames for a trade, defenceman Dion Phaneuf and reporters reversed roles for a few seconds as he tried to get to the bottom of it.

"Where did you hear it?" Phaneuf asked.

Responding it was posted online, the blueliner fished deeper for more specifics.

"A website? Well ... was it a quote or ... ?"

Learning it was posted to a blog by a fan, Phaneuf's response was what you'd expect from any self-respecting hockey player -- or member of the media, for that matter.

"Oh, a blog," Phaneuf said. "Well, to be honest with you, there's my answer. Those are people sitting behind a computer and writing what they'd like to see happen with our team.

"Everyone has their opinion, and I respect that, but with regards to any talk of (trade), that's the first I've heard of that. I'm not gonna say much of that."

Told the wording was that he'd requested a trade, not just that GM Darryl Sutter was shopping him, Phaneuf was adamant nothing like that had taken place.

"I've never asked for a trade, and I'm very happy here. That hasn't even crossed my mind," he said. "For you guys to be asking me these questions today, it's a huge surprise."

Understanding about the chain reaction forcing people to ask despite the unreliable origin of the rumour, Phaneuf deserves credit for fielding questions about it on a game day -- something he typically avoids as he gets prepared to play.

"That's all I have to say on that," Phaneuf said. "I've never asked for a trade, and I'm very happy here."

Team's got their numbers

Sorry, Patrick Marleau.

Too bad, Eric Staal.

Jarome Iginla will be wearing his familiar No. 12 for Team Canada at the Olympics, leaving the other two with secondary choices.

Only a handful of teammates will have to trade in their NHL numbers for the Vancouver Games in February. Marleau will wear No. 11, while Staal will don 21. Anaheim Ducks centre Ryan Getzlaf will wear No. 51 instead of 15, teammate Corey Perry gets 24 rather than 10, and Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews will sport No. 16 instead of 19.

http://www.calgarysun.com/sports/hockey/2010/01/09/12403506-sun.html