It is expected that Olli Jokinen will be in the Calgary Flames' lineup when they play tonight in Calgary against the Philadelphia Flyers. Brandon Prust may also be in the lineup but it could be Brian McGrattan instead.
In any case, it is clear that the deal that looked on Sunday night as though it was agreed to - Jokinen and Prust to the New York Rangers in exchange for Chris Higgins and Ales Kotalik - is not going to happen over the course of today.
It's obviously possible the deal may not get done at all, but the mere fact that one or both players are in the Flames' lineup tonight doesn't mean for certain it won't get done either.
Sources tell TSN that while the Rangers thought they had the deal basically agreed to on Sunday night, the Flames weren't ready to pull the trigger, in part, because they felt they needed Jokinen in the lineup tonight against Philadelphia in Calgary. There are reports that Kotalik isn't prepared to waive his no-trade clause to go to Calgary but the indication is the Rangers were fully able and prepared to do this deal, but Calgary backed away at the last moment.
It is unusual, to say the least, to play players who are supposed to be part of a trade - an injury could scuttle the whole thing - but it's quite possible that's exactly what the Flames are doing and that the deal could still be resurrected after the game.
We should know more after tonight's Calgary-Philadelphia game.
Follow Bob McKenzie on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnbobmckenzie.
