Today we endured the sad part of professional hockey. A trade. We lost two great guys and two good players for us. It is always a shock, mostly for the players involved, but to the rest of us as well. You don't know how to react and what to say. But, for Aaron and Clay, they are getting a new start in the Columbus organization, and for both it is their first trades. As it sounds, Columbus needed defensemen, and so it is nice to know the team who traded for you really wanted you.

I can tell you from experience, when you hear the words, "We have traded you to..." it never feels great. In fact, you almost feel a little sick to your stomach. Then , you catch your breath and sit back and try to take in what has just happened. The first thing you want to do is find out who is on your team and how are they doing. Check that. First, you call your Mom and Dad, then your girlfriend and then your agent. Then everything else comes after that.

My first trade came when Tracy, my wife, and me were at a camp for kids with cancer. On our way back, we get the call. At least Tracy was with me, so I didn't have to call her. The great thing was, my former agent, Brian Burke, was the GM in Hartford, where we were going. Imagine, 18 years later, he is still my GM!

Aaron is a good buddy and I felt very aware of his situation here, having been in the same sort of position my second year in the league. He felt he deserved to be in Anaheim this year, but the numbers game was holding him back from a chance. I went into my second camp and played, I felt, well enough to make the team. That year the Russian invasion started and the Devils brought some players over. So, I went back to the minors and waited for my chance. I know Aaron is anxious to find out his status in Columbus, and maybe this move will give him his shot in the NHL. One thing that Brian Burke always tells his players is that if a team inquires about a player, he won't hold back an opportunity for them to get a chance somewhere else.

Clay Wilson is another good friend and I think the person who will be most unhappy about his trade is my daughter. She has had so much fun hanging out at the games with the girlfriends, and Tiffany, Clay's girlfriend, was one of her favorites. It is going to be hard to tell her the news after school today. But for Clay, he may be able to play the position he likes the most, defense. We will certainly miss both their talents and friendships...

Now, when a trade happens you lose players, but you also get players. And one of the guys we are acquiring is a familiar face, Bruno St. Jacques. A great team guy and a solid player for our organization. I think the guys will love having Bruno in the room.

It is the worst part of our game, but like I said, sometimes it works out in the best interest of all involved. I got traded to Montreal, and it really turned my career around. I ended up playing the most I ever played, in arguably the best hockey city in the world. Without that trade, I'm not sure how my career would have worked out. One of the positives about trades is all the great people you meet on the teams you go to. Having been traded 7 times, I have had many teammates and we have made many great friends in each of the cities. My children have been many places in North America because of where I have played. Yes , it can be disrupting, but you never know what will come about from a new change... we wish Aaron and Clay the best. Weino

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