The Toronto Maple Leafs will no longer attempt to acquire restricted free agent Eric Lindros from the Philadelphia Flyers, general manager and coach Pat Quinn announced Wednesday afternoon.
Quinn cited Philadelphia's changing demands and the distraction it has caused his team as the reasons.
"As far as I'm concerned, (Philadelphia's demands) got changed again. We had every reason to believe it was a done deal," he said. "It's been a building cloud over this team and at this moment we have to collect ourselves."
Quinn's announcement, which is the second time in two months the Leafs have called off negotiations for the holdout center, does not eliminate the possibility of Lindros playing for Toronto -- almost three weeks remain until the NHL's March 13 trading deadline and speculation of a three-way deal still exists.
"To suggest nothing will ever happen is ridiculous. It's been hanging around too long. We have to get back to work. Right now, I plan on no conversations," Quinn said.
On Tuesday, Clarke acknowledged some limited conversations with at least two other clubs about a three-way deal in which Lindros would end up with the Leafs. The most obvious third-party deal would be the Phoenix Coyotes for Keith Tkachuk, and perhaps Los Angeles for Rob Blake, but Clarke would not get specific.
"There is nothing confirmed or set up," said Clarke. "There has been some mild interest (in three-way deals), but nothing can get done because we really have our hands tied with Toronto being the only place Eric will play.
"We can't speak for another team, but they (the Leafs) are better off either making it (the trade), or just say they're not doing it and it's over, and then Lindros may decide he has to play somewhere else.
"The bottom line on all of this is that Toronto knows what we want, and as far as we can tell, they are not going to give us what we want. If that's the case, and that's the way it appears to us, then I think it would be better for all involved to just walk away."
Neither Clarke nor Quinn would specify the players involved, although the speculation has centered around forward Nikolai Antropov and defenseman Danny Markov.
And although neither Clarke nor Quinn will comment on the specifics, parties close to the situation indicate that the stumbling block continues to be defenseman Tomas Kaberle.
The Flyers want Kaberle in the deal, the Leafs are not willing to part with him – at least at this point.
"If people really thought about this, they would realize the Flyers are in a position not to hurry. The Leafs offer isn't going to get any less, and as it gets closer to the trading deadline (March 13) it could get better," said one player agent.
The next step to be taken in this process is likely to be a roar from Quinn in Toronto, in which he aims some barbs at Clarke for being too vague about exactly what he wants from the Leafs.
"I think they know exactly what we want," said Clarke, "and they haven't offered it … and I think they have to sell it to all the parties involved with the organization, and then work out a deal with Lindros.
"I told Pat a month ago we should end this. There didn't appear to be any way we could agree on players. Lindros is the one who put them in this position. Look, if they want to accommodate him, fine. But if they don't, just say 'No,' and let us trade him
somewhere else."
Thus, the Flyers management has been stunned at all the reports that a deal was at hand.
"Why anybody would think this is going to be quick is beyond me," said Clarke. "In the first place, the Leafs have to get it approved by their board, and then – even if Pat (Quinn) and I agree, I still have to check with our chairman (Ed Snider) and he will bring it to Brian Roberts, who owns (parent company) Comcast.
"I'm not saying that would be a problem, but that takes a little time. And then, if there was a player who had an injury, we would want the medical records."
That last statement appears to be in regards to Markov, who is out with a back injury, and the Flyers are very wary of back problems as star John LeClair has been out for most of the season with a back injury.
"I told Pat months ago, if they can't give us what we want, they should just bow out of this, and let us trade him somewhere else. And I still think what I thought all along, that Eric Lindros is going to sit out this whole season.
"What happens in Toronto, and whether or not people think there is going to be a deal is really of no concern to us. We've dealt with this situation for some time now, and we are more than willing to simply say nothing can get done right now.
"If Toronto comes to that conclusion, then maybe Eric (Lindros) will realize it's a lot more likely he'll get traded, maybe even to Toronto, if other teams are involved."
Al Morganti covers the NHL for ESPN.
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