The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed an afternoon notebook article which discusses the realities of the trade deadline for every team, including the Red Wings, who lost Christian Fischer on waivers yesterday:
Fischer’s role gradually diminished this season, and being put on waivers Wednesday wasn’t a total shock. But for Fischer’s teammates, it stung to see him go, and particularly to a rival like Columbus.
“It’s hard,” Larkin said. “I think so highly of him as a guy, a locker room guy, someone that just did anything for the team. You guys had a good sense of what he meant to all of us. It’s hard when he goes to a team, especially that we’re battling with for the playoffs. I’ve seen it a lot. It’s part of the business, but it’s not fun when he goes away for free.”
McLellan has seen the scene play out numerous times on his teams and understands why it’s difficult. But coaches and players all come back to the reality that it’s a fact of life in professional sports.
“It’s a business,” McLellan said. “It’s a cruel business sometimes. When it comes to losing a popular teammate, and we’re obviously talking about Fish, but he’ll get an opportunity. Somebody wanted him there, wanted to play him, and that’s great. But I’m sure every player in the locker room, (even though) we’re battling with that team, are happy for him and sad to see him leave.”
