Zhamnov no longer an option

The Philadelphia Flyers have added former-Chicago Blackhawk captain Alexei Zhamnov to their roster in exchange for Jim Vandermeer, Colin Fraser and a fourth-round pick in the 2004 draft. The Flyers were in need of a center after losing star Jeremy Roenick to a concussion/broken jaw and Keith Primeau to a concussion of his own. They traded away Mike Comrie, another veteran center who they acquired this season from the Oilers, to the Phoenix Coyotes for goalie Sean Burke just before the Roenick and Primeau injuries occurred. The Wings were rumored to be interested in Zhamnov and will now have to look elsewhere for a center, if they are actually looking for one. Washingon's Robert Lang is an option but the Caps have already traded away Jaromir Jagr and Peter Bondra this season and may not be as open to such a deal as before. Other options for big, skilled forwards include Alexei Kovalev or (this is a big, big maybe, just throwing it out there) Sergei Fedorov. The not-so-skilled option is Georges Laraque. I'm disappointed the Wings couldn't get Zhamnov, though they say they weren't interested in the first place. It is a good thing, though, that he has gone to the East and not to another Western Conference team where he would be a factor in the playoffs.