Nov 20, 2009 - 08:47 AM

By Brian McNair

Two of the principal characters in the Brett Parnham story have finally spoken, but it still takes a fair bit of reading between the lines to figure out what happened with the Oshawa Generals' prized overager.

Only one thing is for certain: the Generals have been left high and dry for now.

Chris DePiero, the team's general manager and head coach, said yesterday he was left "disappointed" when he was informed by agent Ian Pulver that Parnham would be pursuing a professional career with the Utah Grizzlies of the East Coast Hockey League, rather than returning to the Generals.

For DePiero, who keeps his cards close to his vest, that's as good as saying he was pissed off to the extreme.

Pulver, who earlier had refused comment until such time as the Generals commented, said yesterday there was disappointment on both sides that things didn't work out in a more satisfactory manner.

Here's how it likely shook down.

Parnham, who had hopes of signing a pro contract in September dashed by dislocating a shoulder while at the Ottawa Senators' rookie camp, probably never had any intention of lacing up for the Generals, a team that's clearly set up more for the future than the present.

While Parnham was using Oshawa's resources to recover and rehab the injury, surely DePiero was wise enough to kick some tires and find out what he could get back in a trade for one of only two players who scored 50 goals in the Ontario Hockey League last season.

He had conceded all along there had been some inquiries, but would never come right and out say he was looking to deal Parnham.

"Those possibilities always existed," is how he put it yesterday. "To be quite frank, there were teams that were making calls, but they were looking to get 50 cents on the dollar."

So, be it DePiero was asking too much or teams were offering too little, a trade never panned out, leaving Parnham with two options: return to play for a team that had no hope of winning this season, or find a place to make a few bucks.

He chose the latter.

And, while that scenario offers the worst of both worlds for the Generals, don't assume we've heard the last of this.

The calls are still coming in, says DePiero, who will protect Parnham's rights past the Jan. 10 trade deadline if need be.

The best guess is that Parnham will yet be dealt to an OHL contender and leave his pro aspirations for next year.

It would be the only thing, at this point, that would help save face for a franchise that desperately needs to do so right now.