From (the great) Matthew Barry: I Loved All The Things That DIDN’T Happen!
1) Tavares – So Dreger and the Union Leader and almost everyone else on XM204 was saying Duchene was going first – THAT didn’t happen and it didn’t seem like there was ever any doubt it was Tavares.
Dreger – so plugged in, and yet…
2) Brian Burke’s failure to move up – yes, he good a great draft pick and that was a CLASSIC sound byte of him telling Bryan Murray “we’re taking your guy” – but what I loved even more was the look on his face when the Kings took Schenn.
What’s extra funny was that it was obvious even before I heard about the sound byte that this is exactly what he was doing. You don’t usually get a quote — much less an exact quote — and MUCH MUCH less a sound byte of an exact quote — of what would normally be a “photoshop a caption” moment. Also, I agree completely, the shot of Burke after Schenn was selected was like a Saturday Night Live parody.
3) As Ek mentioned, JayBo didn’t move – Vinny didn’t move – Jack Johnson and Alex Frolov are still Kings. Every time Bettman said “we have a trade” it was for draft picks. THAT’S HOW IT SHOULD BE – It was about the DRAFT and not trading players.
4) Flyers fans weren’t given a box of chocolates after being used, abused, and pounded like a slab of veal. FOUR first round picks???? FOUR for Pronger???? That’s just NUTS!!!!! The price just went UP, UP, UP on Heater and every other talented player. If you’re going to pay 4 1st rounders for a guy with 1 year left on his contract and will be on the other side of 35, what’s Heater and Gaborik and Hossa and all of the others worth?
I don’t think it’s going to inflate anything, for the simple reason that, in Heatley’s case, Murray is over a barrel, and the UFAs have to find someone with cap room, which is a rare commodity and getting rarer all the time. Also, to state the obvious, Philly is (probably) out of the UFA market.
Okay, okay, take it easy, I know Lupul was a complete salary dump and I’ll be so happy not to see Prongers stupid grin in the West anymore, but still, Sbisa and 2 first rounders is still a serious price to pay – Now, tell me, now that you ADDED a million dollars to payroll, who gets dumped next?
At least six million worth of somebody.
via HockeyBuzz.com – Matthew Barry – I Loved All The Things That DIDN’T Happen! .
Andy Strickland – Will Ottawa Refuse To Pay Heatley His Bonus?
Murray is telling people that if they’re stuck paying Heatley his signing bonus on July first then they won’t be moving him. How awkward will that be for Heatley and everyone else in the Senators organization if he ends up playing in Ottawa this season?
Which to me means they HAVE to move him now. Or at least, Bryan Murray has to feel that way. In other words, NOBODY (e.g. the Kings) should overpay for Heatley.
Things would really be interesting if Senators Owner Eugene Melnyk sticks to his threat of not paying Heatley his signing bonus if they are unsuccessful in moving him. A league source tells me Melnyk has said “There is no way we are paying him his $4 million bonus, I don’t care if he sues us.” Who knows if Melnyk will follow through with such a claim? Can you blame him for being angry though?
Oh that’s so funny.
I’m not so sure they can find a way to get around paying Heatley, but it gives fans a idea of how upset the club is at their star player. Ottawa has bent over backwards for Heatley since the day he was traded there. His career was at a crossroads when you consider his off-ice issues combined with a serious eye injury he suffered. Ottawa did everything to protect him from the media when Heatley was performing his community service hours which was required as part of his plea deal. They also hired and paid for a personal driver to chauffer Heatley around after he had his driver’s license suspended. The bottom line is Ottawa went above and beyond for Dany Heatley to revive his career and this is what they get in return. Sources with first hand knowledge of the Senators tell me the whole Heatley situation has made Melnyk “sick”. There is no doubt he’s an awesome hockey player, but you can’t overlook what Ottawa has done to help this kid out.
But maybe he secretly has the Kings logo tattooed on his ass.
I think what Dean should say to Bryan Murray: “My offer is this: nothing, not even the fee for the gaming license, which I would appreciate if you would put up personally.” Of course, Bryan Murray says no, and then he wakes up in a brothel with a dead hooker and Ron Hextall standing over him saying, “now all that’s left is our friendship.”
via HockeyBuzz.com – Andy Strickland – Will Ottawa Refuse To Pay Heatley His Bonus?.
Pension Plan Puppets (mlse) on Twitter
Cory Clouston just called Heatley a liar. Awesome.
Details, please.
NHL.com – News: Senators say there’s nothing imminent on Heatley – 06/25/2009
Assistant General Manager Tim Murray said Thursday that no serious offers for the services of Heatley had surfaced yet, despite published reports to the contrary.
Ottawa executive vice-president and general manager Bryan Murray is shopping Heatley after the sniper told the team during the Stanley Cup Final that he would like to be moved.
“I think there is a lot of tire-kicking going on,” Tim Murray said. “It doesn’t sound serious and then a team calls and makes a serious offer, which could happen at any time. Lots of discussions; I know that Bryan has talked to a number of teams. It doesn’t seem like there is a serious offer there right at this moment.”
Thank god.
via NHL.com – News: Senators say there’s nothing imminent on Heatley – 06/25/2009.
Via Faceoff.com: Heatley remains a tough sell
If Murray can’t get a deal done by Friday, it’s not going to break his heart, because only one of the interested teams has offered a draft choice.
That’s interesting.
Burke Reveals Standards, Updates Zeno’s Paradox
Burke stated that the Leafs had no interest in the two-time 50 goal scorer, largely because of the way he has chosen to handle his trade request. “We’re not going to be in on that,” Burke stated. “He’s a good player but I have certain guidelines on how players ask for trades. [...] When you have players come ask you for a trade, I tell the players ‘don’t finish that sentence,’ because once you ask, I’m going to move you,” Burke stated. “If a player wants out, you’re darn right I’m going to move you.” [That's pretty clear. Call it Rule #1. "If you ask for a trade, I will trade you, provided you finish the sentence."] “I’m not kissing anyone’s ass to play in my town, so to hell with you, don’t finish the sentence.” [Okay. I guess that's Rule #1a: "...but I hate you now."] My second rule is if I hear about this, you’re not going anywhere.” [Rule #2: "However, if you tell anybody else that you want a trade, and I hear about it, I will not trade you. Instead, I will make your life a living hell."] While Burke stated that he has no problem with players requesting a trade – [But, see Rule #1a above.] — he was unhappy with Heatley’s decision to go public with his request, thus making Senators’ general manager Bryan Murray’s chances of moving the sniper extremely difficult. ”For a player to pop off and say he wants out or leak it (to the media), in my mind you are now no longer interested in your team. […which, per rule #2 above, you will play for until your contract expires, because of rule #1a above.]
TSN: Heatley Heatley Heatley (Heatley)
Bryan Murray (a.k.a. Murray 2):
“I have had some conversation with several teams. I don’t really have a timetable but I have encouraged anybody that is really interested to try to make the contact before the draft and we will get something done by that time I hope.”
via TSN .
Meanwhile, am I to understand that Heatley chaffed under the OTT team defensive system? Is that the deal? If so, that sounds like one of these.
The Hockey News: Heating up
Heatley reportedly wasn’t happy playing for coach Cory Clouston, who replaced Craig Hartsburg at mid-season and reduced the winger’s playing time, including moving him for a spell onto the team’s second power-play unit.
With five years and more than $37 million remaining on his current contract, Heatley’s decision sparked considerable vitriol from Senators fans as well as a few pundits slamming him as spoiled and selfish, even comparing his trade request to Alexei Yashin’s contract holdout a decade ago.
Not every pundit opted for character assassination. Chris Stevenson of the Ottawa Sun took the more sensible approach of suggesting Heatley’s request provides an opportunity for Sens GM Bryan Murray to not only free up valuable cap space, but also add much-needed roster depth.
It’s been suggested Heatley, a two-time 50-goal scorer, could net perhaps a puck-moving defenseman and a top-six winger in return.
Heatley, who has a no-movement clause, will have a say over where he could be dealt and it’s believed he would prefer to play for a Western Conference team, although his agent said his client isn’t fussy so long as he’s allowed to play a “significant role.”
Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, L.A., Anaheim and San Jose have been cited as possible trade candidates.
That’s given rise to wild trade speculation, with Dion Phaneuf, Roberto Luongo, Dustin Penner, Corey Perry and Patrick Marleau bandied about as possible returns, but it is highly unlikely those players will be swapped for Heatley, especially if the Senators’ concern is for depth and extra cap space.
Given the uncertainty over the salary cap for the next two years, the Vancouver Sun suggested Heatley could be one of several expensive players on the move this summer.
That may well be, but a stagnant cap could also mean teams trying to move high-salaried players might find a limited market.
At 28, Heatley is still in his prime and should attract considerable interest, but there are conflicting reports over how many teams have contacted Murray about his disgruntled winger.
One reason could be the $4 million bonus he’s due to get on July 1 whether he plays for the Senators or not.
That’ll put pressure on Murray to move Heatley before that date, but the GM could find interested parties more willing to wait until after then so as not to take on that bonus.
via The Hockey News: Rumor Roundup: Rumor Roundup: Heating up.
Around The Habs: I wanted you to trade for a big-ass scorer and you didn’t do it and I was mad but now I am glad
Anyway, people started hasseling [Gainey] for not landing Hossa. After looking at what the Pens gve away for him, I knew it was good for him not to. Take a look at the Pens now, they lost Armstrong, Christensen and Esposito and a draft pick for Hossa and Dupuis. Good thing Bob didn’t pull the trigger on a deal like that or this team would be destroyed (not that they aren’t already). The Pens were screwed. Once the season went to waste after they got eliminated, they had basically traded away three solid, young players, for Pascal Dupuis.
via Around The Habs.
This is what I’m worried about happening to the Kings this summer. Well, not really. Because I don’t think Lombardi will make such a trade. But it’s what I think would happen if one of the trades people (i.e. Kingnuts) keep negotiating with themselves (e.g. Kovalchuk, Heatley, etc.).
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