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Miikka Kiprusoff threatens not to show up to new team if traded: Report

Greg Wyshynski

Goalie Miikka Kiprusoff of the Calgary Flames doesn’t have an active no-movement or no-trade clause in his contract. So with the trade deadline looming next week and the Flames looking like sellers, he did the next best thing: He invented one.

According to Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet, Kiprusoff has told the Flames that “if they trade his rights he will not report ciitng family reasons.”

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Family reasons in this case means a baby boy named Oskar, born to Kiprusoff and his wife last week. It’s their second child.

The Calgary Herald asked him about being on the trade block with a newborn, to which he said:

“I try to keep it simple, still. I try to help team here. Try to win games.

“Everything else is out of my control. So there’s no reason to think about it. At all. It’s NHL. Every year, it’s the same talk. A part of the game. My name is out there, too.

“But I can’t worry about it too much.”

Or maybe he does have some measure of control. Can we still call this 'Pulling a Zezel' or has the statute of limitations passed?

Kiprusoff has one year left on his contract, and looked to be the hottest goaltending property at this year’s trade deadline, despite there not being a glut of teams seeking a veteran netminder. The Toronto Maple Leafs were rumored in the mix for him; a team like the Tampa Bay Lightning could have also make their pitch.

But if the Flames are looking to have a fire sale, they might have to take Kiprusoff out of the display window.

So is this a selfish more or do you tip your cap to him for putting family first? In other words: Can you respect a professional athlete who doesn’t have a no-move clause, trying to block a trade for the sake of his family?

Hate to say it, but it’s the nature of the profession. Be a pro, and show up where you’re dealt.

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