BUFFALO -- There were a couple of unexpected twists Friday for the Carolina Hurricanes: Cam Ward wasn't able to play, and Niclas Wallin wasn't traded.
Before the morning skate at HSBC Arena, the Canes announced Ward had an upper-body injury and had returned to Raleigh. That put Manny Legace in net for Friday's game against the Buffalo Sabres and resulted in goaltender Justin Peters being recalled from the Albany River Rats of the AHL.
For most of the day, it was assumed a trade involving Wallin would be completed and the defenseman would be off to join his new team, the San Jose Sharks. General manager Jim Rutherford on Thursday said the trade was pending and added the Canes would receive a "good young asset" in return - possibly a high draft pick.
But Rutherford said late Friday afternoon, "There is no trade."
Rutherford said Wallin did not waive the no-trade clause in his contract. That indicates Wallin and his agent were not happy with all the conditions of the deal, keeping Wallin a Hurricane.
Ward started the first two games of the Canes' road trip, losses at Edmonton on Monday and Wednesday at Calgary. Canes coach Paul Maurice said Ward was not injured against the Flames but began to stiffen up during the flight Thursday from Calgary to Buffalo.
Ward, who has been slowed by back spasms in the past, is "day to day," Maurice said. The coach noted Peters might play today when the Canes face the New York Islanders in Uniondale, N.Y.
Injured forwards Erik Cole and Tuomo Ruutu, both with upper-body injuries, are with the team on the trip, and the Canes had hoped either would be able to return to the lineup. Both skated Friday but neither is ready, and the team on Friday called up forward Zach Boychuk from Albany.
Wallin was a healthy scratch for the Sabres game, another unexpected twist.
