Surprised as they were to hear the news early Sunday that Dion Phaneuf had been traded, none of the Calgary Flames would pretend they were shocked something was going to happen.
Even though GM Darryl Sutter proclaimed last week he wasn't about to shake things up, the team that sputtered through a nine-game losing streak knew what that could mean.
"People were talking about it," said Flames captain Jarome Iginla.
"Definitely surprised when I came this morning, because you never really know what's going to happen. I don't know if you fully expect it.
"But afterwards, when you look back, you can see why some things are made."
The Flames needed scoring punch, and could afford to part with a defenceman from a strong core that includes Robyn Regehr, Jay Bouwmeester and Mark Giordano.
Bringing in offensive talents Matt Stajan and Niklas Hagman was a big move.
"I think it adds skill and creativity to our team, which we need," said Iginla.
Phaneuf's defensive partner Robyn Regehr will have to adapt to a new partner in the coming days. No word as of yet who might suit up beside him with new blueliner Ian White joining the team along with forwards Stajan, Hagman and Jamal Mayers.
"We had our struggles," Regehr said of the pairing that was attempted years back but wasn't made a full-time tandem until this year.
"As for this year, we didn't get off to a good start but we were able to kind of battle back. It's been an up and down year for both of us as a pairing.
"There is a little more uncertainty for me because I've been playing with Dion all year."
