The Danbury Trashers made Jim Duhart an offer he couldn't refuse. When the expansion Trashers asked the Flint Generals for permission to talk to Duhart about a possible trade, Duhart originally wasn't interested.

 

Duhart has been a longtime fan favorite in Flint. He's been the Generals' captain the past three seasons. And his wife, Lori, grew up in Grand Blanc, where the couple own a home.

 

But when Duhart heard the deal the Trashers were offering, he couldn't say no. So, he agreed to a trade that sent him to Danbury, Conn., in exchange for the No. 1 pick in the United Hockey League expansion draft, two selections in next year's amateur draft, and an undisclosed amount of cash.
    
"I'm excited," said Duhart, who was in Danbury for today's press conference announcing the trade. "At first, when it was brought up, I was kind of surprised. But I talked to Danbury and they want to win and base a lot of it around me. Lori and I have always wanted to go out East, so why not?

 

"It's too good of an opportunity (to pass up). It's a team that wants to win. It's way too good of an opportunity for me and my family to stay" in Flint.

 

In Duhart, the Trashers are getting the UHL's top goal scorer. Duhart had a career-high 56 last season, the third time in his 11-year pro career he's topped the 50-goal barrier.

 

At some point during the season, Duhart will be skating alongside another UHL star as the Trashers also traded for center Brent Gretzky.

 

Duhart said the Trashers gave him a three-year contract and also offered him a coaching position when he's done playing. He said that made it impossible to stay in Flint, where he helped the Generals win the 1996 Colonial Cup.

 

"It was a hard decision," said Duhart, who turns 33 this month. "Robbie (Nichols, Flint's coach) is a friend of mine. He helped me get 56 goals to lead the league and I wanted to be part of Kevin (Kerr's) record breaker. Not to play with Bobby (Reynolds) is going to be hard.

 

"I had a lot of great years here. The fans were great to me. There will probably be some happy (fans). I was booed and heckled by some fans the last few years. But they'll be some sad ones, too.

 

"People have to realize this wasn't Robbie's choice, forcing me to go. It was my choice, my doing. It was a tough decision but one that was best for me and my family."