NHL free agency/Trades

[Colby]

There's no sense "dumping" players if you get nothing in return and it's hard to sign someone with no cap space. As for Neil, it was either Toronto or the Rangers who offered him more money, he stayed here for less, although I agree, 2M a season is too much for a player like Neil.

Murray had plenty of time to dump or trade players before the draft to open up some money so he could go after a guy like Gionta.

As for Heatley it is kinda funny to see the Rangers make a decision to sign Gaborik instead of dealing for Heatley, I am sure Tortarella had something to do with that scenario. Why sign a potential problem when you can get real scoring punch with Gaborik and no head aches.

Heatley has really done damage to his reputation, I cannot see how it would have been more difficult to work things out. He will quickly become another former Sen who will be booed every time he touches the puck.

Question, if he refuses to show up at Training Camp can he be suspended? I hope the Sens really play the waiting game and make him play and suffer this season. If he is a true professional he will play hard, if he does not his name and reputation will dwindle substantially. I really hope he does not play for Team Canada next Olympics either, we need character guys, not selfish ones.

[jeffc]

Gaborik will be a flop in NY. He will be injured half the time, as he was in MN.

[leftylucas]

There was talk on TSN that his injuries played less of a part than other issues there. Usually a fresh start can do wonders for a player. He is very talented but he is prone to injury. Heatley would have fit better in NY.

[Weazl]

Too late, they already invited the selfish SOB: http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hock.../10002176.html

[LobWedge]

Too late, they already invited the selfish SOB: http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hock.../10002176.html

Doesn't mean he's a lock for the team. If he ends up staying put and doesn't put out the required effort for the Sens, you can bet that Yzerman will not look favourably on that.

[Weazl]

Agreed.

[Bouche]

nice to see andy mcdonald in the list of forwards

[sillywilly]

ok let me get this straight... this guy (one of the top 15 players in the league) is upset because his playing time is going down... who wouldn't be?? it effects his future. If he gets lets minutes or isn't going to be used in a way that gets the most of him and showcases his talent.. he should demand a trade. After all, when his contract is up he is gonna try to get another contract isn't he? he is going to try to get as much money as possible right? won't that be hard to do if he is only scoring 30 goals a season instead of 50+? He is well within his rights to ask for a trade. He didn't once say, if I don't get traded I'm not going to play. He is a good canadian kid and he will give it his all like he always has. As for wanting to sleep on the EDM move, its his right to think it over. maybe he wants to see what his other options are AFTER the sens pay the 4mil as i'm sure he knows more teams will be interested in him.

I don't see anything wrong with what he did, i do however have a problem with these stupid GMs giving NTCs in these huge contracts. When will they learn? Don't hate the playa, hate the game

[jonf]

ok let me get this straight... this guy (one of the top 15 players in the league) is upset because his playing time is going down... who wouldn't be?? it effects his future. If he gets lets minutes or isn't going to be used in a way that gets the most of him and showcases his talent.. he should demand a trade. After all, when his contract is up he is gonna try to get another contract isn't he? he is going to try to get as much money as possible right? won't that be hard to do if he is only scoring 30 goals a season instead of 50+? He is well within his rights to ask for a trade. He didn't once say, if I don't get traded I'm not going to play. He is a good canadian kid and he will give it his all like he always has. As for wanting to sleep on the EDM move, its his right to think it over. maybe he wants to see what his other options are AFTER the sens pay the 4mil as i'm sure he knows more teams will be interested in him.

I don't see anything wrong with what he did, i do however have a problem with these stupid GMs giving NTCs in these huge contracts. When will they learn? Don't hate the playa, hate the game

Heatley needs to man up and rise to a challenge for once, instead of running away from his problems when things get a little tough.

First of all, his ice time suffered because he was playing like crap. If he was playing like the star he is, he would have got the ice time he deserved. He feels entitled to ice time that he should have to earn.

He is definitely within his rights to ask for a trade. But to demand a trade publicly is an asshole move that puts the Sens in a terrible position. The mature thing to do would have been to tell Brian Murray privately that he wanted a trade. That way Murray has a chance of making a decent trade. At this point, everybody knows that he doesn't want to be here, which makes it hard to get a decent price in return. If Heatley doesn't go public with his demand, the situation improves for the Sens and for Heatley. The sens have a chance at a trade, and he doesn't present himself to the world as a huge self centred idiot.

Third, beggars can't be choosers. He signed a contract to play with Ottawa, and now wants out. He better damn well be willing to go where the Sens choose to send him. The idea that the Sens should be forced to honour his contract, giving him a $4 million dollar bonus and giving him the final say over any trade, while he has no responsibility to honour the committment that HE made to the Sens to play for them, is completely non-sensical.

Basically, Heatley has not been acting in good faith, and deserves every nasty word that is sent his way. He's acting like a complete punk, who feels the world ane everyone in it exists for the sole purpose of making him happy. They don't, and I dearly hope the sens dig in their heals and teach him a lesson. Let him play out his contract in Binghamton.

[leftylucas]

Oh, so sign whatevcer you want and dont honor it, that makes sense. He actually was putting up better numbers with the new coach. He also would get more ice time if he did what the coach wanted. He signed a contract, would not try to discuss and iron out the situation with the management and then unilaterally demanded a trade but completely on his own terms, sure he did nothing wrong, what is every one else thinking?

[mberube]

what do you hab fans think of this one?

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283329

I like it. Especially that this trade was made to lure other UFA like Gionta and Camelleri. Now if Kovy signs I will be anxious for next season.

Habs fan..

[spackler]

I like it. Especially that this trade was made to lure other UFA like Gionta and Camelleri. Now if Kovy signs I will be anxious for next season.

Habs fan..

They are good players but boy are they small as a group. Not sure I understand giving up McDonagh for Gomez either, that is a brutal contract. The Sens can't get a bag of pucks for Heatley and yet Gainey gave up a top top prospect for Gomez? The only thing I liked about yesterday's spending by the Habs was that most of the guys have won cups. Still can't believe he'd give Gionta $5M per, but couldn't beat $4.5M for Komisarek? Hal Gill is no replacement, he's terrible.

I am a habs fan too.

[mberube]

They are good players but boy are they small as a group. Not sure I understand giving up McDonagh for Gomez either, that is a brutal contract. The Sens can't get a bag of pucks for Heatley and yet Gainey gave up a top top prospect for Gomez? The only thing I liked about yesterday's spending by the Habs was that most of the guys have won cups. Still can't believe he'd give Gionta $5M per, but couldn't beat $4.5M for Komisarek? Hal Gill is no replacement, he's terrible.

I am a habs fan too.

McDonagh is 4-5 years away and they have a tone of young D’s in line. The only thing I dislike about Gomez is his salary. It’s big time $$$$ in a longterm contract. Impossible to compare Lecavalier and Gomez but Vince was not available period. Gomez is small but he plays bigger then his size. Camellerie is small but if you can play and perform in Calgary then you can play anywhere. As for Gionta, he is hot and cold. We’ll see.

Gill is not that bad. He always played against the #1 line during his cup run. If you can play against Ovy, Zetterberg, Stall…I will admin I was not impressed with the aquisition but I’m guessing this signing will help 1 or 2 young D’s like Weber and PK make the big leap.

[leftylucas]

That may be true Geoff and I for one thought it was very odd and seemed out of character but wanting out and then putting his own needs and wants in front of everything else has shaded this. If his "reason" is so rightous then we should all know it by now and the Sens would have done everything to help him out. he vetoes the Edmonton deal so now we wonder even more about his motives.

[jeffc]

agreed Luc. If he really wants out, he would have accepted a trade anywhere. Turning down Edm. just makes him look like a selfish baby.

[leftylucas]

Well in any case he will have to take it all since he will not divulge the reasons, they must be whopping to keep them close to the heart like that. If they are so honorable he should return the $4 million bonus and specifically state the teams he will go to, that would be a sign of good faith. Even better, he can agree with Ottawa to rip up the current contract and then Murray could trade him for fair value and the next team can make their own deal with him. Naw, that is too simple.

[Big Johnny69]

Well in any case he will have to take it all since he will not divulge the reasons, they must be whopping to keep them close to the heart like that. If they are so honorable he should return the $4 million bonus and specifically state the teams he will go to, that would be a sign of good faith. Even better, he can agree with Ottawa to rip up the current contract and then Murray could trade him for fair value and the next team can make their own deal with him. Naw, that is too simple.

Apparently the Sens can file a grievance in regards to the bonus. Seeing as how Heatley's indecision caused the Sens to keep his salary on the books, thus missing out on some free agents, they can file the grievance.

[Bouche]

Wow....Hal Gill is trash..couldnt stand him on the Leafs nor the Pens. He is a big Pylon and all he is good for is shoving people around the boards....he always looks lost on the ice and his acceleration is brutal!

In terms of Heatley, I am glad he got invited to team Canada...He is a superstar and he belongs on the Canadian Team.

[leftylucas]

What is interesting is that if Heatley cannot be traded and decides not play for Ottawa or play with no passion he will be judged byYzerman on his performance and if it is sub-par he will not be on the team. If they do that then maybe he will ask that Team Canada trade him too.

[Bouche]

What is interesting is that if Heatley cannot be traded and decides not play for Ottawa or play with no passion he will be judged byYzerman on his performance and if it is sub-par he will not be on the team. If they do that then maybe he will ask that Team Canada trade him too.

I think its safe to say that goes for anyone who is trying out for team canada.

[leftylucas]

Yes Bouche but we will see what kind of player Heatley is if he has to play for Ottawa and play well in order to get on TC. If he refuses to play for Ottawa then obviously there is a serious problem with this guy or he is the most stubborn player ever.

[sillywilly]

he wanted to be traded from ATL because he killed his best friend

[mberube]

Actually he wanted to be traded because everyone reminded him he killed his best friend. Same reason different perspective.

I understand that something happened in Ottawa that made him want to leave but I don’t understand why he refused the Edmonton deal. I guess we will never know and fans will continue to bash him despite any reasoning.

[leftylucas]

Until he clarifies things, yes, that will happen, its a pretty normal reaction for a fan. Murray is not a hard case, if there is another reason behind this drama I am sure Heatley could have gone to Murray and gotten something done. If it so serious that he could not go to Murray then he really put himself in a horrible situation with the way he handled this fiasco.

[leftylucas]

I really dont care why anymore as long as we get a good deal so he can leave. I would much prefer seeing him play this fall out of necessity to make the Olympic team. I think he would be better received by his teamates especially if they know the true circumstances of this situation. I can see some disappointment in being on the 2nd PP especially when you see Spezza being sent out by Clouston and still gives the puck away. Cloutson also sent out Spezza to kill penalties on a couple of occasions which I hope was just a bad hunch on his part. Dont send out the weakest player on your team when it comes to fighting for the puck on a PK???????????

[Colby]

WARNING!

Keep it civil. Anymore snide comments about other people and this will be shut down. Get it back on topic please and take your personal attitudes and impressions about each other elsewhere!

[golfott]

so rick nash signs to stay in columbus, that is a HUGE lift for that team, they are going to do well over next 3-5 years

[knickers]

As a Leaf fan Im pretty happy about the moves Burke has made so far. We finnaly have a top 6 defence that are not full of call ups from the marlies.
Not sure they are a playoff team yet but still have some room to breath and alot of rumours still floating around that I would love to see happen. A young forward and a back up goalie might get us there this season.

Not to stir the pot (more a devils advocate). As far as Heatly is concerned has anyone considered this as a blessing in disguise ? Big change is inevetable in this situation and might give the Sens a chance to start getting things back on track before (dare I say) they go 40some years without a cup.

[Mattchew]

As a Leaf fan Im pretty happy about the moves Burke has made so far. We finnaly have a top 6 defence that are not full of call ups from the marlies.
Not sure they are a playoff team yet but still have some room to breath and alot of rumours still floating around that I would love to see happen. A young forward and a back up goalie might get us there this season.

Not to stir the pot (more a devils advocate). As far as Heatly is concerned has anyone considered this as a blessing in disguise ? Big change is inevetable in this situation and might give the Sens a chance to start getting things back on track before (dare I say) they go 40some years without a cup.

The moves the leafs have made so far have certainly made them a bigger, tougher team. still need some skill up front to make them that much better. Not a Leafs fan or a Burke fan but no beating around the bush in what direction they are going.

as for a blessing in disguise...that depends on what they get back and how long this goes on for. think they need change in that room but would have like a few others gone before Heatley.

[bbad]

Has anybody seen or heard what's become of Koivu in Montreal? I read an article in le journal that said he wouldn't be playing in Montreal next year but it didn't see where he would be.

Any info would be appreciated.