Trade Talk May Become Little More

Rumors, rumors everywhere . . . but will any of them come true before today’s trading deadline at noon Pacific time?

Some NHL executives expect few deals and little movement among big names, despite rumors that Toronto goalie Felix Potvin, Vancouver winger Alexander Mogilny and half a dozen other impact players might change teams.

“I think all the big deals have been made,” said Jimmy Devellano, Detroit’s senior vice president for hockey operations. “Everybody’s afraid to do anything. All the teams are bunched together.

“Take the rumors that guys like [Edmonton defenseman] Luke Richardson and [Buffalo defenseman] Garry Galley will be dealt. The problem for teams is how much can you give up when those guys can walk away [as free agents] at the end of the season?”

There were 13 trades on deadline day last season and 13 in the preceding week. This season, only two moderate deals have been made since the six-player deal between Boston and Washington on March 1.

“I have a feeling there won’t be as many trades as last year,” said Ron Caron, general manager of the St. Louis Blues. “Too many teams are crowded for playoff positions. . . . The big trades have been done early, like [Adam] Oates and [New Jersey’s acquisition of Doug] Gilmour. I’m not phoning anybody but I’m returning calls.”

The players most frequently mentioned as trade bait:

--Potvin, center Kirk Muller and defenseman Jamie Macoun of Toronto. Muller drew interest from the New York Rangers, Florida, Philadelphia, Chicago and Vancouver. The Maple Leafs would take top-notch prospects. The Philadelphia Flyers figure Macoun is their best bet for defensive help since Edmonton’s Richardson has said he will try free agency.

Toronto General Manager Cliff Fletcher listed only Mathieu Schneider and Mats Sundin as untouchable, but it would take a huge offer to pry Potvin loose. A persistent rumor has Montreal after Potvin, but it’s difficult to picture him thriving behind the Canadiens’ porous defense. Also, the Canadiens are committed to Jocelyn Thibault as their starter.

Potvin may go to Philadelphia, which reportedly looked at Vancouver’s Kirk McLean, or Tampa Bay. Pittsburgh also likes winger Wendel Clark but doesn’t have much to deal.

--King center Ray Ferraro. A deal for a prospect--Florida center Steve Washburn?--or two supposedly has been on the table while General Manager Sam McMaster debates whether to concede the season. Hartford also likes Ferraro and can give up Nelson Emerson.

--Ottawa defenseman Steve Duchesne. His value as a power-play quarterback drew inquiries from Detroit, Vancouver and others.

--Islander forwards Derek King and Todd Bertuzzi. At 22, Bertuzzi has time to recover from a terrible season. King, a veteran, could help a contender but the Islanders were hesitant to move while the playoffs were within reach.

--Calgary center Dave Gagner. Chicago likes him, but the Flames are expected to re-sign and keep him.

In other possible moves, the Colorado Avalanche may add toughness to replace Chris Simon and the Rangers may seek the same element in Toronto’s Tie Domi. They’re willing to give up Shane Churla.

LAFONTAINE, LE SEQUEL

Buffalo center Pat LaFontaine, out since November because of a severe concussion, resumed practicing last week in non-contact drills. He hopes to return this season but must get doctors’ permission in early April.

LaFontaine, who had to overcome depression as well as headaches and dizziness, is taking things slowly.

“This has been a step in the healing process, whether I play or not,” he said of his return to the ice. “You’re just happy to have come to a place where you’re feeling good enough to be skating and practicing and taking it to another level. It wasn’t until last week that I felt good enough to do what I’m doing.”

EYE ON THE OILERS

Edmonton rookie Mike Grier believes the Oilers’ out-of-the-way location keeps them from getting the attention they deserve in their playoff drive.

“Sometimes our team is overlooked, being a small-market Canadian team, as far as being on Fox, ESPN or ESPN2. I think every team in the league has been on except us,” said Grier, whose father, Bobby, is the New England Patriots’ director of player personnel. “Hopefully we’ll do well in the playoffs and next year we’ll be on TV more.”

HOWE--BUT WHY?

Bless Gordie Howe and the genes that enabled him to play professional hockey until he was 52, but his announcement that he’s trying out for the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League in hopes of playing April 1--the day after he turns 69--sounds like a publicity stunt.

Howe signed his first pro contract in 1947 and went on to score 801 goals and 1,049 assists in the NHL and 174 goals and 508 points in the World Hockey Assn. He last played in the NHL in 1980.

Howe, who said he “may appear to be what is termed poetry in slow motion,” could take a spot from a kid who has a chance to play in the NHL, which wouldn’t help the Crunch or its parent club, the Vancouver Canucks. He also risks severe injury against younger, faster opponents.

Even AHL Commissioner Dave Andrews is uneasy over the situation.

“I’d like to hide for a week,” Andrews said. “The league is not in a position to prevent anyone from playing, I guess.”

Andrews should prevent this move if Howe doesn’t realize a comeback would only tarnish fans’ memories of him. If he wants to play, the NHL alumni circuit would welcome him to help its charitable causes.

SLAP SHOTS

Pittsburgh goalie Patrick Lalime, who made a splash with a rookie-record 14-0-2 streak, hasn’t won since Feb. 5. He’s 0-6 since then and hasn’t given up fewer than four goals in a start. . . . When Pittsburgh’s Joe Mullen scored his 500th goal Friday and New Jersey’s Dave Andreychuk got his 500th Saturday, it was the first time in NHL history two players reached that milestone on successive days.

Charlie Simmer, left wing on the Kings’ great Triple Crown line, sees the Flyers’ Legion of Doom as the closest current version of his line. Which is better? “They couldn’t carry our jockstraps,” Simmer said, laughing. . . . Domi’s contract has a bonus clause worth $50,000 if he scores 25 points and if the Maple Leafs make the playoffs. He has 26 points but that second part is the killer.

Chicago Blackhawk Coach Craig Hartsburg, whose team is 16-13-8 on the road but 12-18-4 at home, had players stay in a hotel before a home game last week to make them feel, well, not at home. Couldn’t fool them, though. They tied Vancouver. . . . The state of Connecticut made its last, best offer to keep the Whalers in Hartford. The city also promised to contribute $6 million to help cover the club’s losses while a new arena is being built. It now seems 50-50 that the Whalers will stay. A decision is expected by the end of the month.

The NHL and the NHL Players Assn. have discussed extending the collective bargaining agreement past 2000 so expansion teams added that year won’t have to face a strike or lockout. . . . Tampa Bay Lightning players and officials deny a Montreal Gazette story claiming four players told General Manager Phil Esposito they won’t come back next season if Coach Terry Crisp returns. One of the four reportedly was Alexander Selivanov, who is married to Esposito’s daughter and is nicknamed “Son-in-law-ov.”

Luc Robitaille’s chance of being traded ended when he broke a bone in his foot Thursday getting off the Rangers’ team bus. His $3 million-plus salary had scared everyone off, anyway. . . Flyer center Rod Brind’Amour and Coach Terry Murray had a heated discussion on the bench during a 3-2 loss to Buffalo. Brind’Amour thought he should be killing a penalty in overtime but Murray used Eric Lindros, who lost the puck on the decisive goal. Murray said he and Brind’Amour smoothed things over and Lindros rebounded to score the game-winner against Edmonton in the next game.

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Made in America

Joe Mullen, who scored his 500th goal last week, is the highest-scoring American-born player in NHL history and one of only four in the NHL’s top 100 scorers.

Here are the top American-born scorers and their totals : *--*

Player, team G A Pts *Joe Mullen, Pitt. 500 558 1,058 *Phil Housley, Wash. 284 702 986 *Pat LaFontaine, Buf. 445 506 951 *Neal Broten, Dallas 288 632 919 Dave Christian 340 433 733 Mark Howe 197 545 742

*--*

*--Active player