LEWISTON – Our future is here to stay.

According to Maineiacs’ general manager Normand Gosselin, the team is taking a wait-and-see approach as the trading period begins Friday.

“We need to know what the other teams are doing,” said Gosselin. “The market this year is very different from last year. So many teams are so close in the standings, and there is such a separation between teams like Gatineau and P.E.I., everyone is waiting.”

Last season, knowing that Sidney Crosby would be the top pick in the draft, Rimouski started talking about deals early in the season. This year, however, there is no top pick like Crosby.

“This all might change once a few teams start trading,” said Gosselin.

One thing Gosselin did make very clear, however, is that the team is very happy with most of its players.

“We like the team we have now,” said Gosselin. “We like the players. We want to improve the team, but we will not put our future on the table.”

Gosselin did not rule out possible trades, but he repeated over and over that the younger players, those with potential and those that would help the team next year, would not be going anywhere.

Rumors have persisted in them past few weeks that Lewiston may trade a European player to Cape Breton, which has room on its roster for such a player, for young talent or even goaltending. Other rumors have included sending an over-age player to Rimouski in exchange for young forwards.

The latest rumor, heard first on a Moncton-based website, was that Moncton was interested in Alexandre Picard.

“We are more listening and taking it in,” said Gosselin. “Right now, we are not in a position to be proactive.”

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