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CRACK THE CODE - March 2, 2007 Trade Talk There’s never a shortage of good quotes around the trade deadline. But you often need Hockey Spy.com to decipher what is really being said: "I wouldn't look at it that the cap will determine what we do or what we don't do," Devils GM Lou Lamoriello told CP on Friday. "Because if you do anything substantial, it has to involve players. Hockey Spy.com translation: “I’ve already manipulated the salary cap every way you can because I was the only GM on the negotiating committee. Too bad suckers.” The defending Stanley Cup champions are without injured wingers Cory Stillman (out another week) and Erik Cole (out three-to-four weeks) and sit eighth in the Eastern Conference, only one point ahead of the New York Islanders for the final playoff spot and two ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs. "We're struggling, we're just not ourselves," said Rutherford. "We needed some help and we got some." Hockey Spy.com translation: “Last years Cup was a total fluke. Surely you don’t expect us to do it again. But I will pretend to try so more fans will buy season tickets.” "It was done for one reason, to free up some ice time for our young guys to play," Jackets GM Doug MacLean told The Canadian Press. "This gives (centre) Gilbert Brule more ice time, and I can bring up some kids from the minors and give them ice, too. "From a coach's perspective, when you've got veterans there, it's not easy if you have to start sitting them. So you'd rather move them, especially if they're not coming back next season." Hockey Spy.com translation: “By playing all the young kids I have a ready-made excuse for all the losing that will happen for the rest of the year. Maybe, just maybe, that will save my butt from being fired.” Laraque is expected to receive a list of the potential suitors before the deadline and would be willing to waive his no-trade clause if the right team was interested, which in turn would allow the Coyotes to make a deal. And Laraque fully expects to that to happen. "Yes, I expect to be traded," Laraque said. Hockey Spy.com translation: “Gretzky can’t stand me, so I’m a goner. Mind you if he was still playing he would want me to stay here and fight all his battles. So instead I will go to Pittsburgh and fight all Crosby’s battles.”

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