Los Angeles Kings captain Rob Blake made it public knowledge Monday that he will not waive his no-trade clause in the upcoming days prior to the National Hockey League’s trade deadline, a fact that bears much more interest than it probably should in this day and age of the NHL.

Ever since the lockout ended a few seasons ago, ever since the salary-cap era began, and ever since larger and larger magnifying glasses have been placed upon player contracts and their writings-up, the no-trade clause (or no-movement clause, as it pertains to the cases of a select few players) has gained a certain degree of notoriety, and wrongfully so.

Approximately 90 players, which figures to be just less than an eighth of the league, currently have the clause ( in one form or another) embedded into their contracts. So, it stands to reason, they are catching on in popularity, or, rather, players are catching on as to how to better negotiate their contracts. Really, having a no-trade clause helps players maintain some semblance of control in a business in which the winds of change are as common as a goal being scored. Hockey, after all, is a game of streaks.

So, one has to wonder, if all these players intend on staying put for better or for worse, at least intended initially, why do their names keep reappearing in trade rumors and why do they, time after time, need to justify to journalists and fans alike their desire to not be shopped? Sure, like most anything else in the legal world, should both parties be in agreement, the clause can be waived. But these players asked for the chance to stay put with their respective teams for a reason. Why for the love of God would they willingly let such a crucial building (or stumbling) block to their deals be swept out from under them? Out of the goodness of their gentle hearts?

That’s what most fans, particularly in Toronto with regards to forwards Mats Sundin and in Los Angeles with defenseman Blake, are hoping for, that their captains bite the bullet and allow their rights to be sold the highest bidder as the playoffs approach. Both are unrestricted free agents at season’s end (meaning they could sign another contract with whatever team in the league, even their current ones if they are eventually dealt… if they so choose) and the Kings and Maple Leafs are each well out of any race to the postseason. Thus, the prospect of getting a hefty return on their most valuable commodities, losing them for merely the remainder of what is already a lost season seems like quite a bargain. But wait! Blake just cried foul at the media’s attempt to ship him off prematurely and Sundin has continuously reiterated similar feelings in Toronto the past few months. Neither wants to leave their basement-dwelling teams, even if it means a chance at playing for a contender for the Stanley Cup, even as the two aged stars ever approach the ends of their careers (Blake has already won one with the Colorado Avalanche; Sundin, playing for the drought-ridden Leafs for the past 14 years has never reached the league final).

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With the Feburary 26th trade deadline looming for the NHL, the following looks at all trades that have transpired to date for the 2007-'08 season:

2007-08 NHL TRADES

September 

• Sept. 11: Boston traded C Ben Walter and a conditional pick in the 2009 Entry Draft to NY Islanders for C/RW Petteri Nokelainen.
• Sept. 24: Anaheim traded D Nathan Saunders and D Brett Skinner to Boston for C Mark Mowers.

October 

• Oct. 11: Chicago traded RW Pierre Parenteau to NY Rangers for a conditional pick in the 2008 Entry Draft.

November 

• Nov. 8: St. Louis traded G Jason Bacashihua to Colorado for a conditional pick in the 2008 Entry Draft.
• Nov. 15: Anaheim traded D Aaron Rome and LW Clay Wilson to Columbus for C Geoff Platt. 
• Nov. 19: Dallas traded D Mario Scalzo to Tampa Bay for D Bryce Lampman.

Nov. 19: Washington traded C Brian Sutherby to Anaheim for Anaheim's 2nd-round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft.

December 

• Dec. 6: Phoenix traded G Alex Auld to Boston for LW Nate DiCasmirro and Boston's 5th-round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft.
• Dec. 10: Philadelphia traded D Jussi Timonen to Dallas for a 7th-round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft. 
• Dec. 14: Anaheim traded C Andy McDonald to St. Louis for C Doug Weight, LW Michal Birner and a 7th-round pick in the 2008 Entry Draft.
• Dec. 18: Chicago traded D Jim Vandermeer to Philadelphia for LW Ben Eager.

January 

• Jan. 2: Anaheim traded D Shane Hnidy and its 6th-round pick in the 2008 Entry Draft to Boston for RW Brandon Bochenski. In addition, the Ducks relinquished their option to exchange 4th-round picks with the Bruins in 2008.
• Jan. 9: Anaheim traded RW Matt Keith to NY Islanders for RW Darryl Bootland. 
• Jan. 10: Chicago traded D Magnus Johansson to Florida for a 7th-round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft.
• Jan. 15: Dallas traded RW Junior Lessard to Tampa Bay for D Dan Jancevski. 
• Jan. 17: Carolina traded RW Craig Adams to Chicago for future considerations.
• Jan. 22: Colorado traded RW Mark Rycroft to Columbus for D Darcy Campbell and C Philippe Dupuis. 
• Jan. 29: Columbus traded LW Jody Shelley to San Jose for a 6th-round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft.
• Jan. 31: Carolina traded C David Gove to Pittsburgh for C Joe Jensen.

• Feb. 1: Columbus traded LW Curtis Glencross to Edmonton for D Dick Tarnstrom. 
• Feb. 7: Carolina traded D J.D. Forrest to San Jose for future considerations.
• Feb. 8: Detroit traded RW Brett Engelhardt to Montreal for RW Francis Lemieux. 
• Feb. 11: Carolina traded D Mike Commodore and LW Cory Stillman to Ottawa for D Joe Corvo and RW Patrick Eaves.

Source: National Hockey League

In 1999, William Davidson bought the Tampa Bay franchise for $115 M. With yesterday's announcement, he is expected to pocket close to double that amount if the purchase of the team by Hollywood producer Oren Koules is accepted by the Board of Governors of the league.

The CEO of Lightning owner Palace Sports & Entertainment announced Wednesday that Hollywood producer Oren Koules signed a purchase agreement to buy the team, the St. Pete Times Forum lease and 5 1/2 acres near the arena for $200-million.

Wilson spoke of the "passion" Koules will bring as an owner. And certainly unloading a Tampa operation Wilson said has lost about $80-million since it was purchased in June 1999 is good for Palace Sports' bottom line.

But Wilson has been here before, on Aug. 7, when Absolute Hockey Enterprises, of which Koules was part, signed a similar purchase agreement. Three months later, the group imploded as Palace Sports nullified the deal and Koules was sued by two of his partners.

The Koules offer is good for 105 days (May29) or the current owner can revisit the agreement. The producer is head of OK Hockey, the ownership group that includes, among others, Mark Burg and California banker Russell Belinsky.