Canucks' Edler on trade rumors: 'As long as Vancouver wants me, rumors mean nothing'
Vancouver Canucks defenseman and Swedish Olympian Alexander Edler has been at the heart of trade rumors for months - with the Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins all reportedly expressing varying levels of interest since the 2014 NHL trade deadline.
"There is an awful lot of rumors," Edler told Swedish media outlet Expressen late last week via google translate. "It's not something I think about. As long as Vancouver wants me, rumors mean nothing."
The talented 28-year-old offensive defenseman has speed, size and skill; but has arguably never really lived up to expectations, particularly in his own end of the rink.
This past season, the veteran blue-liner posted the worst plus/minus rating (-39) among all NHL players. While that's often used to bludgeon his defensive abilities, it was actually Edler's uncharacteristic offensive struggles, which were driven by an unsustainable low shooting percentage - that resulted in his league-worst on-ice goal differential during the nightmare 2013-14 campaign.
Ignoring his results during a single, dysfunctional year under John Tortorella in Vancouver; Edler's underlying numbers remain strong and he's still a solid bet to contribute as an effective top-four defender going forward. Edler is also likely remaining in Vancouver, as Canucks' president of hockey operations Trevor Linden made clear in early June.
There's also Edler's contract status, which complicates any potential deal that he might be involved in. Edler has five years remaining on a contract that carries an annual average value (or cap-hit) of $5 million, and includes a full no-trade clause.
Edler's girlfriend is expecting a child this summer and it's clear that he wouldn't be eager to waive his no-trade clause. He might do it if he was asked, a situation which the Canucks' new management team recently foisted upon new Tampa Bay Lightning defender Jason Garrison.
"In the end, I get to decide [for myself]," Edler told Expressen, "but if the team wants [a trade] ... well, then you get to decide whether you want to play for a team that does not want you."