Hockey Trade Rumors

Mike Heika

I know it doesn’t matter in the real world of sports, but I like Marty Turco.
He’s a good guy who does a lot of good things for a lot of people. He donates time and money to charity. He believes it’s part of his job to sell the South on hockey. He finds ways to make his job fun.

And that shouldn’t be lost here.

Who knows what’s going to happen in the next month or so? Maybe Alex Auld will take over, and the Stars will look to trade Turco. Maybe they will be right on the edge of the playoff race and will feel they have to keep both goalies. Maybe Turco will lead them to the Stanley Cup and re-sign a long-term deal.

(Well, maybe not…)
But the plan, it appears, is to find another goalie. Turco has been shaky for the past couple of years, and there is some concern that Turco does not have the athletic ability at age 34 to win a Cup. That’s fair. But I will point out that Chris Osgood was 36 when he won his last one (2008); Patrick Roy was 36 when he won his last one (2001); and Ed Belfour was 34 when he won his (1999) and 35 when he lost in the finals.

Now, you have to follow your eye and you have to follow your gut on decisions like this, and Turco has not shown anywhere near the form to pull off a long playoff run this season. So you there’s every chance you move on. I do believe Turco would play somewhere else if he was traded or signed as a free agent.

I liked Ken Hitch***** and Dave Tippett, but the team had to move on. I liked Derian Hatcher and Richard Matvichuk, but the team had to move on. I like Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen, but…
Well, you get it.

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