Jets GM won't add fuel to Kane trade rumours

Winnipeg Jets forward Evander Kane may have ignited a fire forfans and media with his comments regarding his desire to play for the Jets earlier this week, but GM Kevin Cheveldayoff refused to addfuel to it Friday when he addressed media Friday following the conclusion of the teams annual development camp.

Its a very difficult time right now in hockey, said Cheveldayoff. Youve got the draft, you got all the different things [like] free agency that comes up and theres rumours that abound each and every day that send everyone into different directions.

I can only imagine as a player what goes through your mind when you hear so-and-so is being traded or different things like that. Its got to be difficult. Theyre all professional hockey players and theyre all subject to those types of things.

And even when you have your general manager like Ive been saying, Im open to look to see if theres ways to make improvements on the team and without signalling out any individual, I think everyone starts to wonder whats going on.

Controversy sparked after Kane refused to give a definitive answer to a Vancouver radio station when asked whether he wanted to be a member of the Winnipeg Jets.

With specific reference to Evander, the situation where he wasasked those questions I think hes been asked those kind of questions year after year after year since hes been here and certainly since the time that he signed his contract, added the Jets GM. Evanders a Winnipeg Jet and what I took from his comments there was that hes excited about being healthy and training this summer and really looking forward to having a solid summer of training. He had some minor surgery last year that derailed some of the training side of things."

Cheveldayofftakes cue from Kane

Cheveldayoff took a page from Kanes book, refusing to give a yes or no to the question of whether he would have liked Kane to just come out and say yes in his interview.

You look at situations and circumstances that surround it, he started. If yourname was brought up with rumours each and every day, youd have to maybe start and wonder where things are at. Evander is a professional and I expect that when he comes here for training camp that hes going to be at the peak of his performance.

So has Kane ever asked for a trade?

I have lots of conversations with lots of players all the time and certainly when youre behind closed doors and having conversations, be it with a coach, be it with a manager, be it with a trainer, lots of things are said or not said and those stay in house, said Cheveldayoff.

But the hard part about questions like thatI respond to it, that thats an unfair question. Well, what I mean by that is if I answer every question or every rumour or every speculation that the player may or may not have asked or may or may not have said something, Id be answering those all day long. Evander Kane is a Winnipeg Jet and thats how well be moving forward.