| Subject: Cowboy Warrener |
Author:
Buffy
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Date Posted: 21:29:22 07/03/03 Thu
In reply to:
Sasha
's message, "Re: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" on 19:49:47 07/03/03 Thu
Rhett is at the Stampede - kind of fitting. Oh and I remembered - he sold his house (the one he shared with Brian) around deadline time because he thought he was going to be traded. He wasnt, so since his house was sold quickly, he had to buy the house that was up for sale across the street. hehe. Looks like he can sell that one - now =(
Calgary Flames acquire Reinprecht, Warrener in three-way deal
By CAROL HARRINGTON
July 03, 2003
CALGARY (CP) - Chris Drury wanted to play for an American hockey team and Rhett Warner's dream was to join a western Canadian hockey club.
The wishes of both players were fulfilled Thursday when the Calgary Flames acquired Warrener and centre Steve Reinprecht in a three-way trade that saw Drury and Steve Begin sent to Buffalo. The Sabres had earlier acquired Reinprecht from Colorado for prospect Keith Ballard, drafted 11th overall by Buffalo in 2002.
"I'm from out here, so I'm excited," said Warrener, a native of Shaunavon, Sask., near the Alberta border.
"You're going to have a tough time taking the smile off my face for a long time."
Standing tall in a grey felt Stetson, cowboy boots and a big belt buckle, Warrener already looked like he belonged in Calgary, where he just happened to be visiting his brother during the Calgary Stampede.
The Flames were going to have a hard time re-signing Drury, a restricted free agent who was looking for a raise on the $2.5 million US he earned last year when he scored 23 goals and added 30 assists in 80 games.
He came to Calgary in exchange for defenceman Derek Morris in a deal with the Avalanche last fall.
Flames head coach Darryl Sutter said the Flames likely couldn't afford Drury, and added that the trade was in the forward's best interest.
"Chris was traded here and it was probably difficult for him coming here," Sutter said. "He probably deep down wanted to play in an American city."
Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said he is pleased with his end of the deal.
"Chris is a proven winner, who scores as well as being a very good play maker," he said. "His addition to our organization gives us great flexibility."
Drury was surprised by the move.
"I didn't see the end of the line coming to this, especially so early in the summer. But that's business, and you move on," Drury said. "I just don't know what to think. I'm in Colorado and they tell me that they like the way I play, and I get traded. I go to Calgary ... and I get traded. I just hope my fiance doesn't tell me she likes me and, well."
The Flames received good value in Reinprecht, a 27-year-old with offensive skill and Warrener, a hard-hitting blue-liner that many teams around the league had their eye on.
Although Reinprecht has played professional hockey a couple of years less than Drury, Sutter believes it was a solid trade.
"Drury has more experience, more so than Steve, but their numbers are almost identical and they are similar type players," he said.
Warrener said he was pleasantly surprised when he got the news he was being traded to Calgary.
"It was kind of surprising when I was sitting in my brother's house here in Calgary, when the phone rang and Darcy said 'We traded you to Calgary,"' he said.
"My first words were, well, I'm already here, so. ..."
The Flames have been working hard to build a strong defence.
"It's tough to build great defences," Sutter said. "So we'll continue to work at that."
Reinprecht, who won gold with Canada at the world hockey championships last month, will be looking for a big raise on the $500,000 he made last season while Warrener was paid $1.65 million.
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