Raccoon wrote:I'm not sure why Tallon, or anyone in the Panthers org, would release info regarding their players. You start releasing names of your own players in potential trades - things are bound to get ugly (see Bobby Ryan). Tallon and Gillis have done business in the past, none of those trade details have been leaked beforehand. Allen could be right, or he could be making an educated guess. Wouldn't be the first time these 'hockey insiders' have done so.
The Bobby Ryan situation is completely different because it was the Ducks themselves that reportedly shopped Ryan around. For Tallon and the Panthers organization, they have very little to lose in releasing names of players they are reportedly unwilling to package in a deal for Luongo. If the players don't get traded then Tallon sends the message that they like them enough to not part with them, and if they do get traded well then it isn't their problem.
You make a good point about Tallon and Gillis having done business in the past and little to none of the trade details were leaked beforehand, but there are media guys that some GMs talk to and a quid pro quo scenario is likely unavoidable. I guess this situation is different than past dealings between the two GMs in the sense that it's no secret that Luongo is being shopped around and that the Panthers are interested. The way I see it, there's very little to lose in saying the Canucks have asked for Bjustad (good for him) and Tallon is not willing to part with him (good for him).