Standing Pat?

As the selling happens fast and furious in the Champs conference, why are the Rovers on the sidelines?

Iqaluit, NU (IFPW)

This past week has been a very busy one in the Champions Conference. Two franchises, the 500s and the Selects, have announced that they are each overhauling their star-studded rosters with an eye to the future. Names like Sundin, Tanguay, Schneider, Hejduk, and Souray have landed with new teams, some of whom are in direct competition with the Rovers at the top of the standings. Why then has GM Steve Stringer not gotten in on the action? Doesn't he feel that he owes it to the fans to get involved and bolster the team? We cut to the chase with the man himself.

IFPW: So what's the deal, how come these big names are going to division rivals?
SS: Come on, do you think I can stop teams from trading guys to certain teams just because I'm in a race with those teams? At least be realistic with your questions.

IFPW: Ok then, let's talk specifically. How come Alex Tanguay isn't a Rover?
SS: The reason is money. Our payroll is such that we just can't add anyone at this time. Yeah, we did talk to the 500s about some guys and there was a fair exchange of ideas, but in the end if we can't pay them, there's no use in acquiring them. We could have agreed on a return, but the finances didn't make sense.

IFPW: That's crap. When Mats Sundin goes to the Mounties, you've got to respond.
SS: Maybe you should look back. We've been one of the more active teams this season. We acquired Mark Recchi, Cory Stillman, and Danny Markov during times when we weren't fighting a feeding frenzy caused by a mass sell-off. Of course we'd love to add more players, but at some point you've got to be realistic.

IFPW: What is your take on the Rover prospect list? Could any of them be moved for further help this year?
SS: You never say never, but there are some guys who I believe will play for a lot of years in Iqaluit. Phaneuf is one, Malkin another, and Lehtonen another. Frankly I don't think our youth pool is that deep that we can just trade away promising youngsters willy-nilly. A lot of deliberation went into the trading of Grigorenko and Tambellini. We feel that both guys will be quality RHLers in the near future. But we look at things over the long haul; we know our revenue situation and our bank balance will dictate that in the coming seasons we'll have to spend less than we have been over the past three seasons. That will mean that our youth will have to play an even more prominent role in keeping our team successful both on the ice and on the ledger.

IFPW: You're in the middle of a run for first overall and you're talking about the ledger?! That's not what the fans want to hear!
SS: I'll tell you what the fans don't want to hear: 'Sorry, we're broke because we traded the farm for rental guys, and now we have no money for free agents and limited prospects for the future. See you in three seasons when we can be competitive again'. That's something I'm not going to let happen. Of course the focus is on this year's team. We've been doing very well, and anticipate a long run in the playoffs. But anyone who doesn't also look ahead isn't doing the fans a favour either.

IFPW: All I can say is you'll have a lot of angry fans if this team crashes and burns in the second round because you didn't add that final piece.
SS: I'll be more disappointed than anyone, and I'll ultimately be accountable to the fans. But don't try to paint this as we haven't been trying. We've stepped up and spent the money to bring in the guys we felt we needed. Now it's their time to step up, and we feel that they will.

I. C. Stair for Iqaluit Frozen Puck Weekly