Gabby last year: Offered $8mil per year for 6 years by Wild. This year: Offered $7.5mil per year for 5 years.

Suck it Gabs.

Welp. Midnight comes, and midnight goes, and still nothing from Heatley. I mean, for crying out loud, what other team does he think is going to accept him? He keeps talking about this wish list of teams that will give him an easy walk to the Stanley Cup finals, but none of them want him. And he keeps crying about how the Senators are holding a gun to his head, forcing him to make decision. Like whatever you do man, don't pressure him man, because the man can't stand the pressure! I was really hoping this crap was going to be over with today, but looks like unless Murray blinks first, Heatley's going to be on the Senators' roster next season.

Oh nice. This just came up on HockeyBuzz:

"Source: "Heatley willing to go but doesn't feel right making Oilers pay for a bonus he earned in Ottawa." Source: "Heatley also doesnt feel Murray worked hard enough to get him dealt. Waited for offers."

Are you kidding me? Now he's suddenly all about 'team first' and being fair.

Good luck with that, New York.

Enjoy your IR.

Quadraton: Oh nice. This just came up on HockeyBuzz:

Was it suffixed with (E∞)??

dj4aces: Was it suffixed with (E∞)??

Yeah, you're right. I should know better than to go to that site. It's a bad habit I picked up over the last couple of days.

Why do I get the feeling that, within the next two seasons, Oilers' crowds will be booing Heatly with the same red-hot-hate intensity normally reserved for the likes of Pronger & Comrie?

Stay classy, Heatley.

Bob_Laublaw: Why do I get the feeling that, within the next two seasons, Oilers' crowds will be booing Heatly with the same red-hot-hate intensity normally reserved for the likes of Pronger & Comrie?

I lol'd. The Oiler fans are not to be trifled with.

Quadraton: Welp. Midnight comes, and midnight goes, and still nothing from Heatley. I mean, for crying out loud, what other team does he think is going to accept him? He keeps talking about this wish list of teams that will give him an easy walk to the Stanley Cup finals, but none of them want him. And he keeps crying about how the Senators are holding a gun to his head, forcing him to make decision. Like whatever you do man, don't pressure him man, because the man can't stand the pressure! I was really hoping this crap was going to be over with today, but looks like unless Murray blinks first, Heatley's going to be on the Senators' roster next season.

I'm honestly wondering if he'll just refuse to play. I've liked the guy (had him on fantasy hockey rosters a bunch), and thought he got a bad rap for a stupid youthful mistake with the car wreck thing...but he's getting into "farking douchebag" territory with this stuff.

Trade him to LA for some mid-round picks and prospects! Take Kevin Westgarth, Matt Moulson, and they'll be generous and throw in Teddy Purcell and Davis Drewiske too!

And I said it before and I'll say it again... Hossa for 12 years (front loaded) = newest way to get around the cap

Bob_Laublaw: Why do I get the feeling that, within the next two seasons, Oilers' crowds will be booing Heatly with the same red-hot-hate intensity normally reserved for the likes of Pronger & Comrie?

True Dat!

/this is Mr_Ectomy BTW

Dear Mr. Heatley,

We regret to inform you that your 'care insurance' ran out after you 'moved on to Ottawa' to get away from your careless killing of another human being/hockey player.

Please go DIAF, sit the season out, go wallow in the KHL and get shot in the face by not performing somewhere else.

Thanks.

Hockey Fans Everywhere.

NotEric: Trade him to LA for some mid-round picks and prospects! Take Kevin Westgarth, Matt Moulson, and they'll be generous and throw in Teddy Purcell and Davis Drewiske too!

And I said it before and I'll say it again... Hossa for 12 years (front loaded) = newest way to get around the cap

Only when it comes to buying out the last few years of the contract. Chicagos accoutants are gonna have to pull one huge farking rabbit out of their hat to keep Kane and Toews next summer.

So it looks like the Blackhawks will make it to the finals only to lose? Poor Chicago.

...so why is it the blues can only seem to get their goalies from the wings?

Jolonco: Gabby last year: Offered $8mil per year for 6 years by Wild. This year: Offered $7.5mil per year for 5 years.

Suck it Gabs.

Not being in Minnesota... Priceless

IF Gaborik plays a full season, given how top free agents suck by the time they get to the Rangers, he will be lucky to break 20 goals. I guess its still better than Gomez.

Hossa has an obvious pattern of loosing. Ottawa fans know it. Same with Pittsburgh and Detroit.

Now Chicago fans have him for 12 years... lol, suckas!!

Edmonton is the by far the best place for Heatley to play. He'll be able to play in the World Chapionships every year!

/badum psst

I think it will be interesting to see how Chicago will keep the core of their team with the cost of Hossa. I don't know if he is worth it if you have to give away your young talent. Likewise, you can't keep all of the talent and surround them by utter crap.

Quadraton: dj4aces: Was it suffixed with (E∞)??

Yeah, you're right. I should know better than to go to that site. It's a bad habit I picked up over the last couple of days.

I as well have picked up this bad habit. It's a garbage site. Most of the bloggers seem to be guessing. Even when a trade or signing happens, they are wrong about the rumours leading up to it and it hits the front page at the same time as tsn.ca.

Yes, I was surprised the Hawks went so full-tilt for Hossa while letting Marty slip away. At least Marty played well in the post-season. I would have rather seen them reward a guy that helped get them there. Still, I think it's a good signing.

is it heatleys fault the team front loaded his contract?

that 4mill bonus is for work done. he's done it, now he should be able to collect. they also gave him a no trade clause, so once agian, deal with it.

it's just more bad decisions by ottawa. like most of them, (chara/redden) it has come back to bite them in the arse.

Submitted this link w/ a better headline. And sorry Chicago, looks like you'll have no chance at Lord Stanley's Cup for at least 12 years...

Who's going to play goal for Chicago now that Hav, Khab, the goalie left?

HotKarl: is it heatleys fault the team front loaded his contract?

that 4mill bonus is for work done. he's done it, now he should be able to collect. they also gave him a no trade clause, so once agian, deal with it.

it's just more bad decisions by ottawa. like most of them, (chara/redden) it has come back to bite them in the arse.

Yup, he's got the right to refuse the trade because of the NTC, but Ottawa's got the right to say "fark off" to the trade request since it looks like they won't get shiat for him.

As far as resigning him being a mistake, that's clear now, but letting him walk at the end of his contract would've probably got Murray fired (and rightfully so). Chara vs. Redden became clear too, but that was a cap move. Saved the room necessary to resign Heatley. Yay.

Christ, don't go to Hockeybuzz. It's the Perez Hilton of hockey sites where you can sit around and read the retarded prognostications of people who are never right. If you want hockey rumors, ask me. I'll pull them out of my ass for you with a much higher percentage of getting some right than what Eklund can manage.

/dislike even talking about that site, thereby giving it more publicity

So to recap:
Hossa signs with the Blackhawks, where he'll be replacing Havlat, who signed with the Wild, replacing Gaborik, who signed with the Rangers, replacing Gomez, who signed with the Habs.

Meanwhile, Pronger goes to Philly, Bouwmeester goes to Calgary, Komisarek goes to Toronto, and for some reason Donald Brashear winds up in NY.

Hockey offseasons are the best.

I was going to submit the Hossa deal as "Hossa picks next years loser of the SCF's... and the loser is Chicago"

muymanwell: ...so why is it the blues can only seem to get their goalies from the wings?

Sloppy seconds

StoneG: Edmonton is the by far the best place for Heatley to play. He'll be able to play in the World Chapionships every year!

/badum psst

Hi-yo!

Honestly, for all the effort and ill will this (potential) deal is generating, I think the smart thing for the Oil to do is walk away. Sure, it would be *awesome* to have a sniper to finish what Hemsky starts, but he's coming with a lot of baggage.

This baggage could certainly have been over looked if, for example yesterday or the day before his tone was "Edmonton sounds good, new coach, new-ish management, solid history I look forward to it" instead of "Edmonton?! Can't you do better -- are you even trying? I am super premium goal scoring guy."

But if the Oilers do wind up with Heatley in this deal, it's clear he doesn't want to play here, and that is a dangerous attitude to bring to Edmonton -- see Bob_Laublaw's comment about the booing.

That said, the Oil are almost committed to the deal after dangling Penner, Smid and Cogliano in trade. Those guys have to be feeling a little unwanted right now, and I think regardless of what happens, the team management will have to deal with those feelings.

Ruffian: Yes, I was surprised the Hawks went so full-tilt for Hossa while letting Marty slip away. At least Marty played well in the post-season. I would have rather seen them reward a guy that helped get them there. Still, I think it's a good signing.

don't discount the value of chicago essentially taking hossa from detroit. chicago has gotten better, but detroit has gotten worse.

StoneG: I as well have picked up this bad habit. It's a garbage site. Most of the bloggers seem to be guessing. Even when a trade or signing happens, they are wrong about the rumours leading up to it and it hits the front page at the same time as tsn.ca.

I'm sure there's a 12 step program we can both enter to fix ourselves of this problem :P

Ruffian: Yes, I was surprised the Hawks went so full-tilt for Hossa while letting Marty slip away. At least Marty played well in the post-season. I would have rather seen them reward a guy that helped get them there. Still, I think it's a good signing.

I'd be willing to bet Marty's penchant for getting injured played a role in letting him go.

I am a bit worried about how they'll hold onto Kane, Toews, Buff, and Keith/Seabrook in the coming years with the cap hit Hossa represents though.

/they should get rid of Eager. He's a goon.

swahnhennessy: Christ, don't go to Hockeybuzz. It's the Perez Hilton of hockey sites where you can sit around and read the retarded prognostications of people who are never right. If you want hockey rumors, ask me. I'll pull them out of my ass for you with a much higher percentage of getting some right than what Eklund can manage.

/dislike even talking about that site, thereby giving it more publicity

Seriously, some people have shown he has a hit rate of somewhere between 1% and 2%

He really is just like a tv call-in psychic.

Step 1) Identify what type of player free agent X is.
Step 2) Identify five teams need a player of Free agent X's type.
Step 3) Rank them in order of available cap.
Step 4) Call it a 'rumor' that he's going to one of these five teams
Step 4) Charge $20 for chumps to become 'season ticket holders'

calling Vegas now...

hawks will be in the SC this year only to lose.

Canadian Camp invites are out now for 2010 and they made me think...

This might be the one year the team (Ottawa) has more leverage in a holdout than the player (Heatly). If they freeze him out of camp and out of the first few months of playing that would significantly damage his chances of being on Team Canada.

Jolonco: Gabby last year: Offered $8mil per year for 6 years by Wild. This year: Offered $7.5mil per year for 5 years.

Suck it Gabs.

Two things he doesn't mind about the "discount"

(1) I'm sure hes gonna be happy living in NYC, which as a *substantial* central European population.

(2) Playing in Torts offensive-minded system.

Has anyone come up with a good reason as to why the Canadiens made that Gomez trade yet? They gave up Higgins (a 20-goal guy) and a top prospect to take on a ridiculous contract for a player who is almost a carbon copy of Alex Tanguay, whom they probably could have just re-signed for about $5 m a year.

Alex Chilton: Has anyone come up with a good reason as to why the Canadiens made that Gomez trade yet? They gave up Higgins (a 20-goal guy) and a top prospect to take on a ridiculous contract for a player who is almost a carbon copy of Alex Tanguay, whom they probably could have just re-signed for about $5 m a year.

The Canadiens needed a top centre right away, since they decided early on not to offer Koivu a contract.

Higgins is an RFA, and in all probability would not have re-signed with the team, so they're down to compensation picks.

The real stupidity, at least from my point a view, is that they packaged Ryan McDonagh with the deal. He's a 2007 first-rounder and a top defensive pick.

jekostas: Alex Chilton: Has anyone come up with a good reason as to why the Canadiens made that Gomez trade yet? They gave up Higgins (a 20-goal guy) and a top prospect to take on a ridiculous contract for a player who is almost a carbon copy of Alex Tanguay, whom they probably could have just re-signed for about $5 m a year.

The Canadiens needed a top centre right away, since they decided early on not to offer Koivu a contract.

Higgins is an RFA, and in all probability would not have re-signed with the team, so they're down to compensation picks.

The real stupidity, at least from my point a view, is that they packaged Ryan McDonagh with the deal. He's a 2007 first-rounder and a top defensive pick.

Still, why not re-sign Tanguay for less money than Gomez makes? Gomez is a good player, but he's not elite. He is pretty much the exact same player as Tanguay as far as I am concerned. Unless Tanguay made it clear to Montreal that he had no interest in re-signing, I have no clue as to why Montreal made this trade.

CANADA needs 2 more teams....

Alex Chilton: jekostas: Alex Chilton: Has anyone come up with a good reason as to why the Canadiens made that Gomez trade yet? They gave up Higgins (a 20-goal guy) and a top prospect to take on a ridiculous contract for a player who is almost a carbon copy of Alex Tanguay, whom they probably could have just re-signed for about $5 m a year.

The Canadiens needed a top centre right away, since they decided early on not to offer Koivu a contract.

Higgins is an RFA, and in all probability would not have re-signed with the team, so they're down to compensation picks.

The real stupidity, at least from my point a view, is that they packaged Ryan McDonagh with the deal. He's a 2007 first-rounder and a top defensive pick.

Still, why not re-sign Tanguay for less money than Gomez makes? Gomez is a good player, but he's not elite. He is pretty much the exact same player as Tanguay as far as I am concerned. Unless Tanguay made it clear to Montreal that he had no interest in re-signing, I have no clue as to why Montreal made this trade.

Why in the hell are you comparing Tanguay and Gomez?

Please re-read what I said: The Canadiens were looking for a CENTRE, so they signed Gomez.

Tanguay is a WINGER.

They are not interchangeable.

HotKarl: is it heatleys fault the team front loaded his contract?

that 4mill bonus is for work done. he's done it, now he should be able to collect. they also gave him a no trade clause, so once agian, deal with it.

it's just more bad decisions by ottawa. like most of them, (chara/redden) it has come back to bite them in the arse.

It's Heatley that wants out. He signed the deal and also has to live by it.

He got his oppourtunity to go to Edmonton and quashed it. And then his Agent whined about it on his behalf. The Edmonton management even flew to Heatley's summer home to get the deal done.

Your right, his work is done. He's better off staying home rather than coming to Ottawa for training camp. Even with the cap hit Ottawa will be a better team without him.

jekostas: Please re-read what I said: The Canadiens were looking for a CENTRE, so they signed Gomez.

Tanguay is a WINGER.

They are not interchangeable.

Tanguay is both. He's played center for more than half his NHL career. That said, he's better utilized as a playmaking winger.

Dear Oiler Fans,

What makes you think this year will be any different than any other? What makes you think you will spend money on a player other than a goalie?

Retards.

Signed,

Flames fans

MugzyBrown: Who's going to play goal for Chicago now that Hav, Khab, the goalie left?

Christobal Huet, with Corey Crawford and another rookie (Niemmi i think his name is) as backups.

No idea if I spelled either first name right there..

Quadraton 2009-07-02 12:09:11 AM

Welp. Midnight comes, and midnight goes, and still nothing from Heatley. I mean, for crying out loud, what other team does he think is going to accept him? He keeps talking about this wish list of teams that will give him an easy walk to the Stanley Cup finals, but none of them want him. And he keeps crying about how the Senators are holding a gun to his head, forcing him to make decision. Like whatever you do man, don't pressure him man, because the man can't stand the pressure! I was really hoping this crap was going to be over with today, but looks like unless Murray blinks first, Heatley's going to be on the Senators' roster next season.

Well, it worked for Eric Lindros.

/still laughing at the total destruction put on Philly by Detroit in '97.

MugzyBrown 2009-07-02 09:50:02 AM

Who's going to play goal for Chicago now that Hav, Khab, the goalie left?

Panger. Duh!

I like what the leafs have done up to this point.
I might even start watching again.

swahnhennessy: jekostas: Please re-read what I said: The Canadiens were looking for a CENTRE, so they signed Gomez.

Tanguay is a WINGER.

They are not interchangeable.

Tanguay is both. He's played center for more than half his NHL career. That said, he's better utilized as a playmaking winger.

Tanguay hasn't got the chops to be a first-line centre, hasn't for a while.

solyhhit: Dear Oiler Fans,

What makes you think this year will be any different than any other? What makes you think you will spend money on a player other than a goalie?

Retards.

Signed,

Flames fans

Gee, soly, I often thought you were like a lot of us in here - fans of the NHL who also happen to have a favourite home team. Your comments above sound like the type of fluff emanating from the mouth of a Red Wings fan;)

as an oiler fan, We have had some great years and bad years as well as many different years.

Call it a hunch, but I say Hossa doesn't play out his contract with the Hawks. Just a hunch.

Well Heater, you completely farked us over on draft day. Thanks.

solyhhit: Dear Oiler Fans,

What makes you think this year will be any different than any other? What makes you think you will spend money on a player other than a goalie?

Retards.

Signed,

Flames fans

Don't worry little fella, I'm sure your flames will make it to the playoffs and tank again. Oh also wait until Calgary misses the post season a couple of times your precious dome will be a ghost town.

I don't even mind the flames but the majority of flames fans are 04 bandwagon jumping douches.

douche.

signed,

Oilers fan since 77

Zach's cell phone: solyhhit: Dear Oiler Fans,

What makes you think this year will be any different than any other? What makes you think you will spend money on a player other than a goalie?

Retards.

Signed,

Flames fans

Don't worry little fella, I'm sure your flames will make it to the playoffs and tank again. Oh also wait until Calgary misses the post season a couple of times your precious dome will be a ghost town.

I don't even mind the flames but the majority of flames fans are 04 bandwagon jumping douches.

douche.

signed,

Oilers fan since 77

Don't call it a comeback, us fans have been here for years. Since 89, at least. And tell Steve Smith we said hello.

Ty Conklin carries the true Stanley Cup finals curse.

DaCaptain19: Well, it worked for Eric Lindros.

Yeah, but Lindros didn't have to live in a time with salary caps and tight wallets. Back then, you could at least find a team that was willing to spend the extra cash and give something in return (unless your GM was a moron). Heatley's going to be taking Ottawa for a bath, and he knows it.

Scuderi to Kings, 3.4/Yr for 4 years.

Man got paid, good for him.

As much as I wanted him to resign with the pens, he deserved his payday, and it'll likely be his last chance.

Take care, Rob.

I feel bad for Murray having to deal with Heatley for at least another year, but perversely, I'm dreadfully eager to hear Heater whine now. Suck it up, buddy, you wanted out of town, you had probably your only chance and you blew it. If there was any doubt before, it's absolutely clear now that you deserve all flak headed your way this year.

My level of hate of Heatley has now passed that which I hold for Yashin. Which is a lot.

Doomed: My level of hate of Heatley has now passed that which I hold for Yashin. Which is a lot.

Whoa, that is seriously harsh.

Quadraton 2009-07-02 03:53:43 PM

DaCaptain19: Well, it worked for Eric Lindros.

Yeah, but Lindros didn't have to live in a time with salary caps and tight wallets. Back then, you could at least find a team that was willing to spend the extra cash and give something in return (unless your GM was a moron). Heatley's going to be taking Ottawa for a bath, and he knows it.

My only point was that Lindros, by chasing a Cup, never succeeded in getting one. He MADE Quebec/Colorado the Cup winning team it became via his refusal to play for them.

OK, I'm biased (every sports fan is biased) but take the example of Yzerman...he drafted with a Detroit team that was in the basement and - it took awhile - led the team to be great, INCLUDING changing his own game to achieve lower personal numbers but become much more valuable to the team.

I despise all players who "refuse" to play for a team. Become part of the team, make them better. If you can't grasp that concept, maybe you need to play a more individual sport.

NotEric: Ty Conklin carries the true Stanley Cup finals curse.

That's an interesting theory. It's too bad that St. Louis won't be able to put it to the test.

Doomed: My level of hate of Heatley has now passed that which I hold for Yashin. Which is a lot.

The prospect of Heatley remaining a Senator is definitely possible. Part of me would like to see him benched for the year. But if a deal can't be done, then we need someone playing wing on our top line.

If Heatley came out with a long, profuse and sincere public apology, donated a chunk of money (say $4 mil) to local charities, very publicly fires and castrates his agent, and actually plays like the complete player he can, then I'll forget out this mess.

Also, he has to hand his A over to Spezza during his apology.

IMDWalrus:
That's an interesting theory. It's too bad that St. Louis won't be able to put it to the test.

I'm sure they said the same thing about Edmonton. Then Conklin used his voodoo on Roloson.

Bob_Laublaw: Gee, soly, I often thought you were like a lot of us in here - fans of the NHL who also happen to have a favourite home team. Your comments above sound like the type of fluff emanating from the mouth of a Red Wings fan;)

Nope. I can't cheer for the Oilrs, Canucks, or Leafs. but I do like the Wings :)

heh heh heh

Zach's cell phone: Don't worry little fella, I'm sure your flames will make it to the playoffs and tank again. Oh also wait until Calgary misses the post season a couple of times your precious dome will be a ghost town.

I wouldn't have struck a nerve if it wasn't true.

How's Cujo? I mean Weight, I mean Guerin, I mean...

... I don't understand why they don't spend money on players.

"Oh, we almost lost our franchise, so lets be mediocre for the rest of our collective lives"

You guys are becoming the Flames of the ninties. Young talent that can't take you anywhere. Trust me, I know. I had a lot of lean years cheering for the Shantz, Bassins, Morris', etc, etc, etc...

...how's Penner btw?

/Ouch, oooohhh, ouch

Why is it that nobody wants to play in Ottawa? They aren't even the worst team in the west.

Samuelsson went to the Canucks.

Link (new window)

whereisian: Samuelsson went to the Canucks.

Link (new window)

2.5M year. Not bad.

whereisian: Samuelsson went to the Canucks.

Yep... just saw that. Can't say I'm too broken up over it. Sammy had a tendency to be a bit lazy at times. Sure, he did well for us at other times too... but all in all, not a void we can't fill. His wild shots at the net (whenever he touched the puck) sometimes worked out and sometimes worked to our disadvantage. He also was a bit over confident with his puck handling at times, leaving himself open to get stripped of the puck.