RALEIGH -- Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford called it a busy day and believed it to be a productive day.
But not a happy day, he said. Rutherford would not call it that.
In the final three hours before the NHL's trade deadline Wednesday, the Hurricanes parted ways with five players. They received a few players and few draft picks in return, and Rutherford said the team probably saved about $2 million this year with all its trades, but the late push to the 3 p.m. finish line left everyone limp and exhausted.
Gone were defensemen Joe Corvo, Aaron Ward and Andrew Alberts, all regulars this season. Gone was forward Scott Walker, a gritty player called "a great soldier" by Canes coach Paul Maurice and one of the heroes in last year's playoffs. Gone was Stephane Yelle, a quiet veteran forward.
Before the two-week break for the Olympics, the Hurricanes traded away center Matt Cullen and defenseman Niclas Wallin. Add in the flurry of deals Wednesday and that's seven players dealt in a month's time, and the exodus comes with the Canes playing their best hockey, winning their past six games and 10 of the past 12.
"It was not an easy day for anybody," Rutherford said. "It's a sad day because you're saying goodbye to some people you really care for.
"As far as the criteria we set out, as far as cutting our losses financially and building toward the future and building assets in the draft and getting a couple of young players ... we did what we set out to do. But I can't sit here and say I'm happy. I'm happy the day's over."
Interestingly, the one player not traded was the one who spurred the most trade speculation: Ray Whitney. The veteran winger has a no-trade clause in his contract, but Rutherford said that was not a factor as the deadline neared, that there was no deal that "made sense."
"Ray did not want to go anywhere," Rutherford said. "I think at the end he would have if it was in the best interests of the organization. But the best interests of the organization was for him to finish the season here."
All but Alberts will become unrestricted free agents after the season, able to sign with the highest bidder. So will Whitney. And Rutherford noted the Hurricanes might try to re-sign a player or two, that it may not be a final goodbye.
Ward was the first to be traded Wednesday, going to the Anaheim Ducks for goaltender Justin Pogge and a fourth-round draft pick. Walker soon followed, going to the Washington Capitals for a seventh-rounder.
The next two hours were relatively quiet on the trade front, certainly around the league. But the pace quickened just before the deadline.
Corvo was sent to the Caps for defenseman Brian Pothier, Finnish forward Oskar Osala and a second-round pick. Yelle was traded to the Colorado Avalanche with prospect Harrison Reed for prospect Cedric LaLonde-McNicoll and a sixth-rounder.
Rutherford said he "really teetered" on making the Corvo trade. And just minutes before the deadline the Vancouver Canucks made an offer for Alberts, who had a year left on his contract that would pay him $1.3 million next season. The Canes received a third-round draft choice in return.
"From a business point of view, we felt we had to try and cut our losses," Rutherford said. "We did that, and we did it by not moving any of our core players."
Pothier will be in the lineup tonight against the Ottawa Senators, Rutherford said. The Hurricanes, who ripped the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1 Tuesday in their first game after the Olympic break, also recalled forward Zach Boychuk and defenseman Jay Harrison from Albany of the AHL.
The Hurricanes (25-30-7) had pulled within eight points of eighth place and a playoff position before Wednesday's games. But with 20 games left in the regular season, and given the financial shortfall, the team still was in the position of being a "seller" on deadline day.
"You don't ever want to be a seller," Rutherford said. "When you're a seller, the year's not going the way you expected it to go. It's not a good day."
Ward packed up his gear quickly Wednesday and departed. Walker, after participating in the team practice at the RBC Center, was given the news.
"It's moving day for players, so it's a little tense," Maurice said after practice.
Walker will be remembered as a hard-nosed, hard-working player. He'll be remembered for scoring the overtime winner in Game 7 of the Boston playoff series last season, for being able to compete and perform while his wife battled cervical cancer.
Asked about leaving a team that still believes it can reach the playoffs this season, beating all the odds, Walker's eyes glistened.
"It's tough when they supported me so much last year," he said.
Moments later, Walker exchanged a handshake and a hug with Rod Brind'Amour. It was on to another team.
