Bryan Murray Vs Dany Heatley: Who Blinks First?

SpezDispenser wrote:I dunno. I still think a team like LA or even Minny might make a play for him. Maybe even SJ. There are teams that have stayed the status quo (essentially) and haven't gotten better, while everyone else around them has added players.

At some point Plan D starts looking pretty good. And that Plan D is Heatley. cool)

Well, we can only hope that's the case.

But there is a good chance this could become an all out war between management and Healtey's camp. The final say always comes down to Heatley so he could just keep rejecting deals until he gets traded to a team he likes. I'd like to think the best will happen but the way things have gone so far tells me things will not go smoothly and this is only the beginning of a long summer.

Urkie wrote:
Well, we can only hope that's the case.

But there is a good chance this could become an all out war between management and Healtey's camp. The final say always comes down to Heatley so he could just keep rejecting deals until he gets traded to a team he likes. I'd like to think the best will happen but the way things have gone so far tells me things will not go smoothly and this is only the beginning of a long summer.

Yeah...I guess there's a big part of me that doesn't buy that a team will get desperate, but it certainly could be an all out war.

I wonder if any calls have been made to Alfie, Phillips, Fisher, and even Spezza.

Murray might just want to check with them to see how they would deal with Heater still being on the roster for training camp. Can't imagine that he'd get the same "respect" as other veterans when it came to a full contact scrimmage.

Come to think of it, the extra money for Neil might have been worth it to make sure that he is part of the welcoming party at camp in Sept.

I vote for keeping Dany until he is so desparate to leave that he either sits out or plays absolutely lights out. I'd be willing to accept a poor showing in the standings as the entertainment value would come from watching that A-hole squirm and sweat, and maybe self-destruct.

The Citizen leads off its hockey coverage this morning with...

Heatley refuses to budge
Senators left hanging on trade offer
Allen Panzeri, The Ottawa Citizen, July 2, 2009

OTTAWA-Wednesday might have been the most frustrating day in Bryan Murray’s long National Hockey League career, but he was hoping it would at least end with Dany Heatley getting fitted for an Edmonton Oilers jersey.

The Ottawa Senators general manager spent all of Canada Day waiting to hear if Heatley would agree to waive his no-trade clause and accept a proposed deal to the Oilers.

Several members of the Oilers management team, including general manager Steve Tambellini, president Kevin Lowe, and new head coach Pat Quinn, flew to Kelowna, B.C., where Heatley has a summer home, to sell the 28-year-old left-winger on a move to the Alberta capital.

However, they had no such luck.

Heatley’s agents were upset at Murray, saying that he hadn’t worked hard enough to arrange a trade. They had hoped to be presented with more options. They also didn’t want Heatley making a decision on Ottawa’s timetable, so they decided to take more time.

“Edmonton is the only option that has been presented to us, and you can’t tell that there aren't more,” J.P. Barry told Sportsnet.ca.

Heatley’s refusal meant that as of midnight the Senators were on the hook for Heatley’s $4-million contract bonus.

Murray took a double hit Wednesday.

Because Heatley’s $7.5-million U.S. salary-cap hit was still on the books, Murray was forced to sit on the sidelines during the lushest free-agent day of the year, while Northeast Division rivals, in particular the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs, loaded up.

Murray’s work on Wednesday was modest. He signed three minor-league players and re-signed right-winger Chris Neil to a four-year contract for $8 million U.S.

It was thought the New York Rangers would enter the fray for Heatley, but they signed Marian Gaborik for precisely the same amount of money they would have had to pay Heatley (five years and $37.5 million), so the Senators’ focus shifted back to the Oilers.

“I’m not going to get in what (Ottawa) was asking for,” Rangers general manager Glen Sather said in a conference call held to announce Gaborik’s signing.
“But, when we signed Gaborik we were happy to get him. We didn’t have to give up anybody out of our lineup. The money is the same. The term is the same.”

Edmonton was not on Heatley’s list of preferred teams, hence his reluctance to waive his no-trade clause.

When initially presented with the proposed deal late Tuesday night, Heatley and his agents indicated they needed more time to think about it.

The deal called for Heatley to go to the Oilers for centre Andrew Cogliano, left-winger Dustin Penner and defenceman Ladislav Smid.

The Senators would take back almost as much salary as Heatley’s $7.5 million salary-cap hit.

Penner is scheduled to make $4.25 million next season, and Cogliano is scheduled to make $1.33 million, while Smid is a restricted free agent who made $725,000 last season.

I don't even really know what to say. I was convinced that Heatley wouldn't be a pain about where gets sent to, but now he pulls this Dung. I'm still not sure if he is there yet, but he seems to realy want usurp Yashin from the all-time #1 dick in Sens land.

At this point BMurray needs to shift his focus to getting some UFA signed...Tanguay...Lang...something...

As for Heatley...it should be off the table all together now...he is a Sen...he can play his heart out (what heart he has)...he should play lights out because he wants to make the Olympic team - then maybe at the trae deadline - Murray will get a deal he likes...

Why the F*ck does Heatley's camp think they are entitled to options? You asked for the trade morons - beggars can't be choosers...

No way I'd deal him now...unless we get swept off our feet with a crazy offer...LA has been kept out of the BIG UFAs...so maybe from them...but if the offer isn't absolutely amazing...Heatley should remain a Sen...

COLLAR UP wrote:At this point BMurray needs to shift his focus to getting some UFA signed...Tanguay...Lang...something...

As for Heatley...it should be off the table all together now...he is a Sen...he can play his heart out (what heart he has)...he should play lights out because he wants to make the Olympic team - then maybe at the trae deadline - Murray will get a deal he likes...

Why the F*ck does Heatley's camp think they are entitled to options? You asked for the trade morons - beggars can't be choosers...

No way I'd deal him now...unless we get swept off our feet with a crazy offer...LA has been kept out of the BIG UFAs...so maybe from them...but if the offer isn't absolutely amazing...Heatley should remain a Sen...

that selfish smug SOB, I can't believe he didn't waive for this deal, not saying it was the best deal or anything, but wow, the canary sings about wanting a deal then shoots down the only valid one out there, even sportsnet sent me out a ticker update of this, but had to retract. Heatley, I hope someone kicks him in the junk.

COLLAR UP wrote:At this point BMurray needs to shift his focus to getting some UFA signed...Tanguay...Lang...something...

As for Heatley...it should be off the table all together now...he is a Sen...he can play his heart out (what heart he has)...he should play lights out because he wants to make the Olympic team - then maybe at the trae deadline - Murray will get a deal he likes...

Why the F*ck does Heatley's camp think they are entitled to options? You asked for the trade morons - beggars can't be choosers...

No way I'd deal him now...unless we get swept off our feet with a crazy offer...LA has been kept out of the BIG UFAs...so maybe from them...but if the offer isn't absolutely amazing...Heatley should remain a Sen...

You're right, we need positives to look forward to as there have been far too many negatives over the past year with the obvious culmination, Mr. Diddle.

Edmonton must feel really rejected and embargoed now. I wonder if they would still even consider this deal. My guess is no because why would you want a guy on your team who has n strong desires to be there? LA might be an option. They seem to have lost out on all the big name UFAs yesterday. It would be sweet if we could just get a couple of their prospects Teubert/Schenn??? Of course, the more Heatley dicks around teh Sens, the less desirable he is for other teams.

How many options did this moron think he was supposed to get. Did he win a contest to be the GM of the Senators for the day? Holy crap! Murray made a deal from the horrible position you put him in and then you balk at it?!

Give him credit Heatley has created a new kind of free agent all by himself. It shall be known as the HFA or Heatley-class Free Agent. In this scenario you have a contract you own. You have the term and the dollars guaranteed and a team over the barrel. Then you pick your team and get to pick the the trade details based on your desired location rather than what is the best return for the club.

Hey Dany, you were neck-and-neck with Yashin last week, but you really blew past him with this stunt. Good for you....

MurderOnIce wrote:How many options did this moron think he was supposed to get. Did he win a contest to be the GM of the Senators for the day? Holy crap! Murray made a deal from the horrible position you put him in and then you balk at it?!

Give him credit Heatley has created a new kind of free agent all by himself. It shall be known as the HFA or Heatley-class Free Agent. In this scenario you have a contract you own. You have the term and the dollars guaranteed and a team over the barrel. Then you pick your team and get to pick the the trade details based on your desired location rather than what is the best return for the club.

Hey Dany, you were neck-and-neck with Yashin last week, but you really blew past him with this stunt. Good for you....

I guess he really wants to go to LA then, and now even in a further position of weakness, Murray seems to be behind the proverbial 8 ball if you want to put it that way.

SensFan71 wrote:

MurderOnIce wrote:How many options did this moron think he was supposed to get. Did he win a contest to be the GM of the Senators for the day? Holy crap! Murray made a deal from the horrible position you put him in and then you balk at it?!

Give him credit Heatley has created a new kind of free agent all by himself. It shall be known as the HFA or Heatley-class Free Agent. In this scenario you have a contract you own. You have the term and the dollars guaranteed and a team over the barrel. Then you pick your team and get to pick the the trade details based on your desired location rather than what is the best return for the club.

Hey Dany, you were neck-and-neck with Yashin last week, but you really blew past him with this stunt. Good for you....

I guess he really wants to go to LA then, and now even in a further position of weakness, Murray seems to be behind the proverbial 8 ball if you want to put it that way.

I would just call him and say.. Hey Dany, glad you have chosen a Sens jersey as your uni for this year. We will be fitting them again in September. Oh, and we are taking that 'A' off of yours. It seemed to slow you down last year. Better make sure you work hard over the summer... see ya...

... oh and don't call us we'll call you.

MurderOnIce wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:

MurderOnIce wrote:How many options did this moron think he was supposed to get. Did he win a contest to be the GM of the Senators for the day? Holy crap! Murray made a deal from the horrible position you put him in and then you balk at it?!

Give him credit Heatley has created a new kind of free agent all by himself. It shall be known as the HFA or Heatley-class Free Agent. In this scenario you have a contract you own. You have the term and the dollars guaranteed and a team over the barrel. Then you pick your team and get to pick the the trade details based on your desired location rather than what is the best return for the club.

Hey Dany, you were neck-and-neck with Yashin last week, but you really blew past him with this stunt. Good for you....

I guess he really wants to go to LA then, and now even in a further position of weakness, Murray seems to be behind the proverbial 8 ball if you want to put it that way.

I would just call him and say.. Hey Dany, glad you have chosen a Sens jersey as your uni for this year. We will be fitting them again in September. Oh, and we are taking that 'A' off of yours. It seemed to slow you down last year. Better make sure you work hard over the summer... see ya...

then I would proceed to send him a flaming bag of dog poo to his home every day right up until he agrees to waive his NMC for the Edmonton deal or any other deal Murray gets.

I think this is an ill-conceived ploy on the part of the Heatley camp. They will likely say 'ok' today knowing Murray wants to up the ante after paying half of Heatley's salary. Thinking Edmonton will balk at adding anything, the trade goes away and they *think* it will look as though they just wanted to take their time to be sure and Murray was the bad guy for changing the deal. If this is the case he is even stupider than I thought...

MurderOnIce wrote:I think this is an ill-conceived ploy on the part of the Heatley camp. They will likely say 'ok' today knowing Murray wants to up the ante after paying half of Heatley's salary. Thinking Edmonton will balk at adding anything, the trade goes away and they *think* it will look as though they just wanted to take their time to be sure and Murray was the bad guy for changing the deal. If this is the case he is even stupider than I thought...

I can imagine his attitude is really making Babc0ck and Yzerman think twice about adding a guy like this to their olympic roster. I know this guy scores a ton of international goals, but wow, his attitude of me first completely contradicts what Babc0ck said in his first press conference after being named coach of the 2010 team. Murray, I hope you can really get this guy out of Ottawa before training camp, and if it's for more than what you had tabled yesterday, you are a genius.

There's a glimmer of a chance that something goes down today, but that list of 4 teams initially kicking tires is now down to 1 (LA). So, in all likelihood, Heatley will not be moved any time soon. Some observations:

1. Edmonton is being screwed over big-time. In a way I feel sorry for them because they are now left without that "start" they were looking for, and Cogliano and Smid know what the organization *really* thinks of them. I figure Penner already knew. And this whole thing just confirms that no-one (except aging goalies) wants to go to Edmonton.

2. Yep, 15 is the new 19. They should retire that number for a little while. I'm not suggesting lifting it up to the rafters, unless they set it on fire first. The Sens got royally screwed over, I'm just waiting to hear Burke remind us all how he does not give out NTC/NMCc as a general rule, so I'll just tell him to shove it in advance.

3. The organization has to remain professional about this. Giving him 4 minutes a night on the 4th line would be spiteful, and not a good example to show other UFAs. They should, however, try to go to the league and the NHLPA and see if anything can be done through those channels.

4. A request to be traded should automatically void any NMC/NTC clause, especially if the request is made public. At the very least there should be som censure to Heatley or his agents over this. At the very worst someone should lose their license, or Heatley's membership in the NHLPA should be suspended. Not sure what this would even mean, but if any legal action is sought against him, the NHLPA would not hire a lawyer to represent him.

5. Any guesses how many games Gaborik plays this year, or how long it will take before his groin puts him back on the sidelines? He's turning 28 in February, so it's not like his tendons are getting more stretchy.

wprager wrote:There's a glimmer of a chance that something goes down today, but that list of 4 teams initially kicking tires is now down to 1 (LA). So, in all likelihood, Heatley will not be moved any time soon. Some observations:

1. Edmonton is being screwed over big-time. In a way I feel sorry for them because they are now left without that "start" they were looking for, and Cogliano and Smid know what the organization *really* thinks of them. I figure Penner already knew. And this whole thing just confirms that no-one (except aging goalies) wants to go to Edmonton.

2. Yep, 15 is the new 19. They should retire that number for a little while. I'm not suggesting lifting it up to the rafters, unless they set it on fire first. The Sens got royally screwed over, I'm just waiting to hear Burke remind us all how he does not give out NTC/NMCc as a general rule, so I'll just tell him to shove it in advance.

3. The organization has to remain professional about this. Giving him 4 minutes a night on the 4th line would be spiteful, and not a good example to show other UFAs. They should, however, try to go to the league and the NHLPA and see if anything can be done through those channels.

4. A request to be traded should automatically void any NMC/NTC clause, especially if the request is made public. At the very least there should be som censure to Heatley or his agents over this. At the very worst someone should lose their license, or Heatley's membership in the NHLPA should be suspended. Not sure what this would even mean, but if any legal action is sought against him, the NHLPA would not hire a lawyer to represent him.

5. Any guesses how many games Gaborik plays this year, or how long it will take before his groin puts him back on the sidelines? He's turning 28 in February, so it's not like his tendons are getting more stretchy.

we can only hope LA takes pity on us, but you can be guaranteed it will not be a deal we like, not like the sexy one we wanted before the draft, Frolov, Teubert/hickey and their 5th. Well obviously the 5th is off the table unless they are open to dealing Schenn (I think not, this guy has been labeled as future captain material by scouts), Frolov, they may still deal if they are overly unhappy with him (I don't think they are though), so we may get Teubert or Hickey, but probably not much else and would have to take some sort of cap hit in return (probably JJ). We all can still hope for Dustin Brown, but the reality of it now is, the only deal Murray gets done is not going to be a hockey deal, it's going to be Ottawa getting fleeced. I wish Mike Milbury was still a GM somewhere.

SensFan71 wrote:

wprager wrote:There's a glimmer of a chance that something goes down today, but that list of 4 teams initially kicking tires is now down to 1 (LA). So, in all likelihood, Heatley will not be moved any time soon. Some observations:

1. Edmonton is being screwed over big-time. In a way I feel sorry for them because they are now left without that "start" they were looking for, and Cogliano and Smid know what the organization *really* thinks of them. I figure Penner already knew. And this whole thing just confirms that no-one (except aging goalies) wants to go to Edmonton.

2. Yep, 15 is the new 19. They should retire that number for a little while. I'm not suggesting lifting it up to the rafters, unless they set it on fire first. The Sens got royally screwed over, I'm just waiting to hear Burke remind us all how he does not give out NTC/NMCc as a general rule, so I'll just tell him to shove it in advance.

3. The organization has to remain professional about this. Giving him 4 minutes a night on the 4th line would be spiteful, and not a good example to show other UFAs. They should, however, try to go to the league and the NHLPA and see if anything can be done through those channels.

4. A request to be traded should automatically void any NMC/NTC clause, especially if the request is made public. At the very least there should be som censure to Heatley or his agents over this. At the very worst someone should lose their license, or Heatley's membership in the NHLPA should be suspended. Not sure what this would even mean, but if any legal action is sought against him, the NHLPA would not hire a lawyer to represent him.

5. Any guesses how many games Gaborik plays this year, or how long it will take before his groin puts him back on the sidelines? He's turning 28 in February, so it's not like his tendons are getting more stretchy.

we can only hope LA takes pity on us, but you can be guaranteed it will not be a deal we like, not like the sexy one we wanted before the draft, Frolov, Teubert/hickey and their 5th. Well obviously the 5th is off the table unless they are open to dealing Schenn (I think not, this guy has been labeled as future captain material by scouts), Frolov, they may still deal if they are overly unhappy with him (I don't think they are though), so we may get Teubert or Hickey, but probably not much else and would have to take some sort of cap hit in return (probably JJ). We all can still hope for Dustin Brown, but the reality of it now is, the only deal Murray gets done is not going to be a hockey deal, it's going to be Ottawa getting fleeced. I wish Mike Milbury was still a GM somewhere.

That deal from L.A. was never on the table. I am not sure who dreamed up that offer but if L.A. did offer Frolov, 5th and a prospect Heately would have been gone in a heart beat!