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Maybe things are different once the media leaves the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins locker room.

But with one day before Monday’s NHL trade deadline, the AHL Penguins don’t appear very worried about the possibility of being moved to another organization. Virtually every player, at least when the microphones are on, recites the same mantra of “It’s out of my hands so I don’t worry about it.”

“I really don’t think about it,” goaltender Matt Murray said. “I know it’s an exciting time for the hockey community and you never know what’s going to happen. Whatever happens, I’ll adapt to it.”

There have been reports that a few NHL clubs have reached out to Pittsburgh about moving Murray but there’s reportedly no interest in doing so.

Murray has heard all the rumors and while he’s not worried, he is flattered.

“It’s always nice to be wanted. My goal is to play each and every day, every game and every practice, and that way teams will want me,” Murray said. “A lot of people know I’m a pretty hard competitor. It’s definitely an honor to have people asking about you.”

While being traded to a team that wants you may be an honor, it doesn’t always make life easy.

In 2010, Tom Kostopoulos was enjoying his second season with the Carolina Hurricanes when he was traded to Calgary. While Kostopoulos had to depart for his new team the day after the trade, his wife and two young children remained at home.

“It was tougher on them. She had to pack the whole house and she was there for a couple of weeks trying to organize and move our family across North America,” Kostopoulos said.

Defenseman Tim Erixon has been traded four times since 2011 and the days of worrying as the deadline approaches have long faded. Since 2014, Erixon has been traded twice – from Columbus to Chicago and from Toronto to Pittsburgh, and has learned to view any move that happens in a positive light.

“It’s a compliment a team wants you,” he said. “Those last couple days leading up to the deadline, you never know. If you think you do, you don’t.”

During his years in the NHL, Kostopoulos has seen the impact that rumors surrounding the trade deadline can have on players. He said it’s mostly the high-profile players who are the focus of much of the speculation, and some players do get rattled when their name is constantly mentioned in trade rumors.

While Kostopoulos stressed the best approach is to not worry about an aspect that you can’t control, he admitted a trade can be challenging.

“It’s tough. A lot of mixed emotions,” Kostopoulos said. “On one side you’re happy the team you’re going to wants you. On the other side, you’re disappointed the team you were on didn’t really want you.”

Still, if the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton players are worried about being uprooted in a trade, they’re not talking. Perhaps the road trip that took the team into New England for three games in three days has helped them get their minds off the trade talk.

“You don’t hear any rumblings about it,” said head coach Clark Donatelli before the team left for Portland on Thursday. “I actually forgot all about it. We’re so busy trying to take care of business here. That’s where our focus is.”

Tim Erixon has been traded four times in his career, but he’s not worried about Monday’s NHL trade deadline.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Erixon-1.jpg.optimal.jpgTim Erixon has been traded four times in his career, but he’s not worried about Monday’s NHL trade deadline. Fred Adams| for Times Leader

Murray
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_MattMurray-MUG.jpg.optimal.jpgMurray Fred Adams| for Times Leader

By Tom Venesky

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Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky