Free Agent Frenzy came and it went. On the good news front, Senators GM Bryan Murray was able to lock up UFA Chris Neil to a four year deal worth $8-million. While some bloggers and fan sites were stating that Neil was overpriced before the free agency period the reality became evident that other teams were willing to offer him upwards of $2.5-million per season for his services. In the end, Neil decided to stay where he has always been and continue his work here as our gritty forward. This shows a ton of character to the fans of the Senators when other players just lack it...
Speaking of Dany Heatley, the midnight deadline for Sens owner Eugene Melnyk to pony up a $4-million bonus to the disgruntled winger came and passed as well. You might remember that nearly a month ago Heatley's agent decided to go public with the trade demand in an obvous power play to score his client the big ticket. Murray played host to a few suitors, but the only deal he felt was worthy of Dany Heatley's talent was to get Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner and Vadislav Smid from the Edmonton Oilers. Now, I am not going to analyze that trade to death, but it would have been a bad one for Ottawa. However, it was the only trade worth noting in the end and the ball was in Heatley's court to waive his no movement clause to facilitate his trade demand...
I do want to take a brief moment and discuss the trade demand one more time and explain how come Dany did not get his wish before Free Agent Frenzy. To me, it all comes down to the teams Heatley put on his magic list and how it handcuffed Murray from the get go. According to Sun Media the teams Heatley put on his short list included the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins.
Kings: Rumours swirled surrounding Heatley and the Kings early, but it looked as though those were just rumours. In order for the Kings to be able to acquire Dany they would have to give up a lot of their young talent ... something that they wouldn't be too keen on. Los Angeles hasn't been a hot bed of hockey for quite some time and it would have given Dany a chance to fade away into obscurity while being the teams #1 guy, but the return cost was just too high.
Rangers: Another team that hosted a ton of rumours and it seemed a likely contender for a while when a trade started to materialize. Like LA, it could have easily had Heatley in the spotlight on the club and it seemed a likely contender for the winger to go here.
Sharks: The trade would have cost the Sharks more than they are comfortable with. They have a group of guys who mesh well together and have proven some success. If the first day of free agency is any indication, the Sharks are in no mood to tamper with what they believe is a winning club.
Red Wings: Just because they lost the Stanley Cup this year doesn't mean they are going to go out and start moving names around. While Hossa was set to test the market--then land the big deal in Chicago--the golden rule in Detroit would be turned off by Heatley's cap hit.
Blackhawks: A young team with a lot of up and coming potential where a star winger would be an ideal fit ... if the Hawks felt that winger were a team player. They would need to be capable of not only leading by example, but also taking the team on its shoulders. Heatley's attitude about how his club performed and his role on it last season under Cory Clouston cast a lot of doubt on his character and no doubt the Hawks (as well as other clubs) stayed away because of it.
Canucks: Dany's own agent is the same agent for the Sedin twins ... In order for Heatley to even have a shot at signing in V-city, the Sedins would have needed to have been handled. Needless to say that wasn't dealt with until less than an hour before the twins became UFAs.
Bruins: Who can the Bruins easily afford to trade away to Ottawa for Heatley? The Sens and Bruins are in the same division and would see a lot of one another in coming seasons ... a trade for either side could prove to be frustrating in the long. Not many teams trade in the same division and it was immediately unlikely that Murray would find a trading partner.
Basically Heatley and his agents knew full well the only real option for Dany was either Los Angeles or New York (Rangers). While it was rumoured that the Rangers and the Senators had a deal in the making there was a lot of confusion surrounding that $4-million signing bonus and how it came into play. Sadly, in the end, the only team truly interested in Healtey turned out to be the Edmonton Oilers and although they were not on Healtey's short list, Murray tried to get him to go ... It is clear the GM does not want him in the locker room next year.
The day after there are press releases and reports that JP Barry, the all-star agent of some of the biggest names in the NHL including Heatley, was very displeased with how Murray treated his client's trade demand. Naturally the agent is ticked off at Murray because no one is interested in a prima donna who doesn't appear to be a team player... Sorry JP... but if your client wants out of here so badly he needs to make concessions as well.
I think Heatley should be made an example of. Naturally the Ottawa Senators want to do the same thing, but I also mean by the NHL and NHLPA. I fully believe that:
1) If a player that has a no-movement or no-trade clause demands a trade they automatically forfeit their right to veto.
2) If a player signs on with a club they are not permitted to demand a trade.
3) The only bonus that should be given at the end of a season is production related. If a signing bonus is involved it should be dealt with at the time of signing the contract.
4) If a player has an issue with a coach, they should take every stop possible to work out the issue rather than making a scene. Heatley only spoke with Clouston at the end of season meeting and not since ... how can the issues he had be addressed let alone handled?
5) An alternate captain of any team should be held accountable to his actions.
The next time I write about Heatley I hope it's to tell him good bye and not to let the door hit him on the ass on the way out ... I am beyond the desire to talk ad nasseum about this pathetic excuse for a grown adult.
If I were Bryan Murray I would present Dany (not his agent) with the following options:
1) You work out a trade that is fair for both teams between the Senators and whoever is interested.
2) Accept the Edmonton trade.
3) Sit out the season.
In other news ... Team Canada announced it's orientation roster and the only Ottawa Senator to get the invite was Dany Heatley.
- BigW
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Finally... a break in the silence
In February I started to get very busy, but I had also lost hope in the Senators. I just up and stopped posting because I could not find the time to do so and before I knew it there was nothing to say. The Sens were out of the playoff race months ago and all I could hope for was the next season ... then in late Spring, Dany Heatley provided me with something to consider. He wants out of Ottawa.
Let me be frank when I say this, but Dany drove his own trade value into the floor when his agent(s) broke the news in the media. At the end of the season, Heatley had his meeting with the coaching staff and then management where he expressed his displeasure with his "new" role under coach Clouston. Senators GM Bryan Murray asked Heatley to give it some time and think about what he wants to do and Dany went off to play in the World's. Apparently Heatley's decision did not change and rather than taking his trade request quietly to Murray and letting him do his dealing, Heatley's agent(s) approached the media with the news of a trade demand. Reason stated was the new role on the club and how Heatley did not get along with Clouston.
Well, naturally the fans in Ottawa immediately started forming the mob, grabbing up pitchforks and lighting the torches. We are one thing if not adapt at running players out of here (re: Yashin, Schaefer, Corvo to an extent, Emery, etc). I am not saying that previous players have not deserved to be run out, but not all of them should have been chased away so readily. Needless to say, however, Heatley is worthy of the ire of the fans. Consider that he resigned with Ottawa for an extensive period of time. He wanted to play here when the ink was signed on the paper and rather than deal with Clouston man to man, Heatley decided to take the whiners route. Of course the fans have every right to be mad...
That said, what is Murray going to do with Heatley now? Leading up to the draft, calls were fielded and offers were made, but none of them were reasonable. The one I know of for sure was the NY Rangers offering Zherdev (a RFA worth a junk of change) and Rozsival (7mil) which to say the least was a win for the Rangers but a complete failure for Ottawa. Murray knew if he took that the angry mob would turn on him for already blowing deals that saw other players leave the club for free (we're about to see Comrie walk for the second time unless a miracle happens). Murray is/was looking for a top 6 forward, a prospect / younger player with NHL readiness and a pick. More importantly, Murray was looking to reduce his cap hit from Heatley's contract by 2-3-million if possible so he could wade deeper into the Free Agent oceans on Canada Day.
So now what? Heatley is either going to be dealt before Canada's 142nd birthday, or owner Melnyk will be signing a cheque to the tune of $4-million (which, by the way, is not something he wants to do for an ungrateful player already) and Heatley will be told to attend training camp. That would put the ball back into Dany's court and he would have to face the music or be shamed by his public perception. He would become the next Yashin if he chose to take the latter path, but could Ottawa ride it out and get a quality pick and a unappreciated talent (Spezza and Chara anyone) again?
One thine is for sure is that if Ottawa holds to their guns and if Melnyk eats the $4-million bonus, Heatley will immediately have his trade value increased. However, what I would like to see is something from Dany's lips to the public. He should at least come out to his fans who supported him through thick and thin in Ottawa and explain what is so wrong with Clouston's coaching style? Is it that Cory wants him to actually be active in a play rather than waiting for the puck all time? Perhaps it is because Dany does not want to spread offence around and wants to see everyone else play to his calibre? I want answers.
- BigW
Let me be frank when I say this, but Dany drove his own trade value into the floor when his agent(s) broke the news in the media. At the end of the season, Heatley had his meeting with the coaching staff and then management where he expressed his displeasure with his "new" role under coach Clouston. Senators GM Bryan Murray asked Heatley to give it some time and think about what he wants to do and Dany went off to play in the World's. Apparently Heatley's decision did not change and rather than taking his trade request quietly to Murray and letting him do his dealing, Heatley's agent(s) approached the media with the news of a trade demand. Reason stated was the new role on the club and how Heatley did not get along with Clouston.
Well, naturally the fans in Ottawa immediately started forming the mob, grabbing up pitchforks and lighting the torches. We are one thing if not adapt at running players out of here (re: Yashin, Schaefer, Corvo to an extent, Emery, etc). I am not saying that previous players have not deserved to be run out, but not all of them should have been chased away so readily. Needless to say, however, Heatley is worthy of the ire of the fans. Consider that he resigned with Ottawa for an extensive period of time. He wanted to play here when the ink was signed on the paper and rather than deal with Clouston man to man, Heatley decided to take the whiners route. Of course the fans have every right to be mad...
That said, what is Murray going to do with Heatley now? Leading up to the draft, calls were fielded and offers were made, but none of them were reasonable. The one I know of for sure was the NY Rangers offering Zherdev (a RFA worth a junk of change) and Rozsival (7mil) which to say the least was a win for the Rangers but a complete failure for Ottawa. Murray knew if he took that the angry mob would turn on him for already blowing deals that saw other players leave the club for free (we're about to see Comrie walk for the second time unless a miracle happens). Murray is/was looking for a top 6 forward, a prospect / younger player with NHL readiness and a pick. More importantly, Murray was looking to reduce his cap hit from Heatley's contract by 2-3-million if possible so he could wade deeper into the Free Agent oceans on Canada Day.
So now what? Heatley is either going to be dealt before Canada's 142nd birthday, or owner Melnyk will be signing a cheque to the tune of $4-million (which, by the way, is not something he wants to do for an ungrateful player already) and Heatley will be told to attend training camp. That would put the ball back into Dany's court and he would have to face the music or be shamed by his public perception. He would become the next Yashin if he chose to take the latter path, but could Ottawa ride it out and get a quality pick and a unappreciated talent (Spezza and Chara anyone) again?
One thine is for sure is that if Ottawa holds to their guns and if Melnyk eats the $4-million bonus, Heatley will immediately have his trade value increased. However, what I would like to see is something from Dany's lips to the public. He should at least come out to his fans who supported him through thick and thin in Ottawa and explain what is so wrong with Clouston's coaching style? Is it that Cory wants him to actually be active in a play rather than waiting for the puck all time? Perhaps it is because Dany does not want to spread offence around and wants to see everyone else play to his calibre? I want answers.
- BigW
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
To Trade or not to Trade...
Senators General Manager, Bryan Murray, stated that he is not done making deals leading up to the March 4th NHL Trade Deadline. Currently talks are underway with both UFAs Neil and Kuba to see if there can be a reasonable contract offer for either. Additionally Murray is seeking to resign RFA Comrie who returned to the Senators from the Isles. If the Senators are looking to trade then they will first look at who can leave Ottawa for nothing come summertime.
CHRIS NEIL
As a strong, aggressive and multi-facetted player, Chris Neil is high on the trading block right now. Many teams are rumoured to have been calling looking for his rugged dependability as something to bring to a possible cup contending club. Neil has not been a success for Ottawa the past couple of years because of the changing role requirements placed on him. When the Sens went all the way to the Stanley Cup and lost, Neil was a new father with a new role. He went from being the club’s bruiser to being a deep checker who can chip in on plays. Since then he shifted back to an aggressive checker under Paddock and with Hartsburg he was asked to drop the mitts more often than use them on the stick. If Neil and Murray do not come to terms on a deal then Neil may be shipped out. If and when he is shipped to a different club Neil will most likely be asked to return to his 2006/07 roll and the Senators will be watching from the Links while Neil continues on to a potential cup.
What is Chris Neil’s current market value? Not very high. He can garner a mid-second round pick as he is right now as opposed to what clubs will ask of him. There are some people believing we have a Chris Neil style player waiting on the Injury Reserve in Cody Bass though. Personally I wouldn’t bank on a kid who had his season come to a dead stop from a shoulder injury. More importantly it is the nature of the injury that alarms me. I am more concerned Bass is more like Eaves and less like Neil.
FILIP KUBA
After acquiring Kuba from Tampa Bay he has become a solid blueliner for the Senators. However, there are a few rumours swirling that he may end up traded this year if he chooses to wave his No Trade clause. Murray and Kuba are currently negotiating a long term deal because Kuba enjoys playing here and has no intention of leaving. The only reason why he would go is if both sides could not come to an agreement and it all depends on the NTC or an offer sheet in the summer. Murray is, obviously, going to want the NTC waved over the waltzing out of the capital for nothing.
MIKE FISHER
More often than not I hear two names pop up about possible trades fans want and do not want to see. First is Mike Fisher. Most people want to see Fisher leave the Ottawa Senators it seems and for the life of me I cannot figure out why. He is a mobile player who can usually pot in a fair share of points while being the club’s top energy guy. Just got scored on? Throw Fisher back on the ice and get some energy from a few great hits. Just got a goal but want tempo? Throw Fisher on and see if he can’t nab another one. There is more to a hockey player than stats. If (big if too) Fisher is traded then he is most likely only going to get a mid-to-high end pick in the late first to early second round; maybe. Perhaps a young unsung talent, but otherwise, Mike’s place is here in Ottawa.
JASON SPEZZA
Yup, Spezza. Listen. Spezza is a talented young center, but he is a liability on the ice as much as he is an asset. He often cannot and will not play well without Heatley whereas Heatley has proven in the past to play fine with any talented center willing to shovel him pucks. Spezza’s cocky attitude both off and on the ice has been noted over the years and sooner or later it will catch up with him. However, why Spezza is such a great idea in my books is because of his trade value. If Murray is trying to signal that this is a rebuild year then unloading some cap space for younger more mouldable talent is the way to go. Spezza can be moulded still, but Clouston is going to have to ride him hard (if permitted) and correct him at every mistake. So far Clouston has done that, but I am not entirely sold on Spez’s future with Ottawa. It feels as though he has been mailing in this season knowing the Sens will not make the play offs.
IN THE END
No matter what happens between now and the trade deadline, Murray needs to make some key and bright decisions. If he makes a bad trade now his career is fated to end. If he does not make a trade at all he is going to be lynched by the fans. After twelve years of making the playoffs the Ottawa Senators fans want to have a cup. We got inches from it once and since then the team, at its nucleus, has not been the same. Either it has to change or something huge has to be done to spark them.
- W
CHRIS NEIL
As a strong, aggressive and multi-facetted player, Chris Neil is high on the trading block right now. Many teams are rumoured to have been calling looking for his rugged dependability as something to bring to a possible cup contending club. Neil has not been a success for Ottawa the past couple of years because of the changing role requirements placed on him. When the Sens went all the way to the Stanley Cup and lost, Neil was a new father with a new role. He went from being the club’s bruiser to being a deep checker who can chip in on plays. Since then he shifted back to an aggressive checker under Paddock and with Hartsburg he was asked to drop the mitts more often than use them on the stick. If Neil and Murray do not come to terms on a deal then Neil may be shipped out. If and when he is shipped to a different club Neil will most likely be asked to return to his 2006/07 roll and the Senators will be watching from the Links while Neil continues on to a potential cup.
What is Chris Neil’s current market value? Not very high. He can garner a mid-second round pick as he is right now as opposed to what clubs will ask of him. There are some people believing we have a Chris Neil style player waiting on the Injury Reserve in Cody Bass though. Personally I wouldn’t bank on a kid who had his season come to a dead stop from a shoulder injury. More importantly it is the nature of the injury that alarms me. I am more concerned Bass is more like Eaves and less like Neil.
FILIP KUBA
After acquiring Kuba from Tampa Bay he has become a solid blueliner for the Senators. However, there are a few rumours swirling that he may end up traded this year if he chooses to wave his No Trade clause. Murray and Kuba are currently negotiating a long term deal because Kuba enjoys playing here and has no intention of leaving. The only reason why he would go is if both sides could not come to an agreement and it all depends on the NTC or an offer sheet in the summer. Murray is, obviously, going to want the NTC waved over the waltzing out of the capital for nothing.
MIKE FISHER
More often than not I hear two names pop up about possible trades fans want and do not want to see. First is Mike Fisher. Most people want to see Fisher leave the Ottawa Senators it seems and for the life of me I cannot figure out why. He is a mobile player who can usually pot in a fair share of points while being the club’s top energy guy. Just got scored on? Throw Fisher back on the ice and get some energy from a few great hits. Just got a goal but want tempo? Throw Fisher on and see if he can’t nab another one. There is more to a hockey player than stats. If (big if too) Fisher is traded then he is most likely only going to get a mid-to-high end pick in the late first to early second round; maybe. Perhaps a young unsung talent, but otherwise, Mike’s place is here in Ottawa.
JASON SPEZZA
Yup, Spezza. Listen. Spezza is a talented young center, but he is a liability on the ice as much as he is an asset. He often cannot and will not play well without Heatley whereas Heatley has proven in the past to play fine with any talented center willing to shovel him pucks. Spezza’s cocky attitude both off and on the ice has been noted over the years and sooner or later it will catch up with him. However, why Spezza is such a great idea in my books is because of his trade value. If Murray is trying to signal that this is a rebuild year then unloading some cap space for younger more mouldable talent is the way to go. Spezza can be moulded still, but Clouston is going to have to ride him hard (if permitted) and correct him at every mistake. So far Clouston has done that, but I am not entirely sold on Spez’s future with Ottawa. It feels as though he has been mailing in this season knowing the Sens will not make the play offs.
IN THE END
No matter what happens between now and the trade deadline, Murray needs to make some key and bright decisions. If he makes a bad trade now his career is fated to end. If he does not make a trade at all he is going to be lynched by the fans. After twelve years of making the playoffs the Ottawa Senators fans want to have a cup. We got inches from it once and since then the team, at its nucleus, has not been the same. Either it has to change or something huge has to be done to spark them.
- W
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