ST. LOUIS - Marek Zidlicky is so deep inside coach Mike Yeo's doghouse, the despondent defenseman may need dynamite to break out.
Despite Mike Lundin's lower-body injury keeping him out of the Wild's lineup Saturday against the Blues, Zidlicky was scratched for the second consecutive game since his agent confirmed his client's desire to waive his no-trade clause to play for the New Jersey Devils.
Zidlicky asked to be traded Jan. 31.
"I think the biggest thing, for all of us, is just to treat it like [Zidlicky's] part of our team," Yeo said. "That's for him, that's for us, and I don't see why we wouldn't. There's no trade that's happened. And as far as I know, there's nothing in the works right now.
"Obviously it's a possibility. And I'm sure [GM Chuck Fletcher's] listening to options and offers, but at the same time, we're not just going to give him away."
Fletcher has said he may hold on to Zidlicky past the Feb. 27 trade deadline because this summer Zidlicky's full no-trade clause becomes limited and he'd have more teams to work with.
"If something works out, then it works out," Yeo said. "If not, then he's part of this team and we expect him to be part of this team."
Asked how Zidlicky can prove that, Yeo said: "[If he's not traded], he'll get another chance to play. That's the best way to prove it. Prove it with what you're doing off the ice, and then when you get a chance to play, that'll be the ultimate measure."
