Ottawa Senators off-season talk

SeawaySensFan wrote:

N4L wrote:

marakh wrote:Murray "hopes" he can talk to Spezza before July 1st?
How about you settle this right now, Mr GM.

Hahaha, ahhhhhhh, things are still messed up in Ottawa. Thought the drama would be over last year but nope, lol.

I would actually laugh pretty hard if he ended up in Atlanta, haha.

Some of my favourite trade destinations are in the East because of the potential return but I'm not crazy about having Spezza in the East.

Now that I've heard that Carolyn Waldo interview it's pretty clear that he wants out. for those gloom-and-doomers that think this is Heatley all over again, Spezza does not have a no-trade. Edmonton offered a boatload in spite of Heatley's no-trade, that barrier doesn't exist for Spezza. We may well have the bidding war I hoped we would get with Heatley.

I'd ideally like a top 10 draft pick but the only teams I can see giving up their top 10s are Florida, Columbus, Atlanta, and Minnesota, all of which NEED a top line center. Florida has had a huge hole their since Jokinen left, Atlanta the same with Savard, someone needs to play with Nash in CLB, and Minnesota is probably the least likely of the four to make this move but may be interested (and may have interest in Lee too).

It's really hard to gauge Spezza's worth too. I think he's worth a top 10 pick and a top six forward or legit prospect. Here's my take on what we can get for him. Take into account the money as well. Not getting $7 million in players back would be a key in this trade as all the teams mentioned have the cap space to absorb Spezza's contract while not having to give back as much financially. I think you want to take a pick and a prospect (or cheap player) back and sign a UFA center if possible.

Columbus: Spezza for Brassard and 4th overall.
Florida: Spezza and Foligno for Weiss, Matthias and 3rd overall pick
Minnesota: Spezza, Lee, and Ottawa 1st for Burns, Gillies, and 9th overall
Atlanta: Spezza and Ottawa 1st for Little, Esposito and 8th overall pick

SpezDispenser wrote:Finally....a Spezza resolution. While I think it would be MUCH more beneficial to keep Spezza, if there's issues he can be moved, we can get some nice pieces back and we can move on from there.

Either way, let's get 'er done please.

Agreed on that point but it's painfully obvious where this guy's head is at and that's poison for everyone. Fans, team, management and the player himself.

Fare thee well...

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Finally....a Spezza resolution. While I think it would be MUCH more beneficial to keep Spezza, if there's issues he can be moved, we can get some nice pieces back and we can move on from there.

Either way, let's get 'er done please.

Agreed on that point but it's painfully obvious where this guy's head is at and that's poison for everyone. Fans, team, management and the player himself.

Fare thee well...

Yeah, I'm excited, this could potentially set Ottawa up for a Cup run year after next instead of 3-5 years down the road if they play this trade right.

SpezDispenser wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Finally....a Spezza resolution. While I think it would be MUCH more beneficial to keep Spezza, if there's issues he can be moved, we can get some nice pieces back and we can move on from there.

Either way, let's get 'er done please.

Agreed on that point but it's painfully obvious where this guy's head is at and that's poison for everyone. Fans, team, management and the player himself.

Fare thee well...

Yeah, I'm excited, this could potentially set Ottawa up for a Cup run year after next instead of 3-5 years down the road if they play this trade right.

It would be a lot of work to figure out which potential trade would best ensure that outcome but off the top of my head a deal to Dallas involving Richards would be instant success.

I haven't watched Lecavalier, so I don't know if he looks "finished" or whatever, but I'd sure like to see a swap of Spez and Kovalev for Lecavalier and St. Louis.

okay, just heard it on team 1200. "I'm signed here, if they want me me here, I'm here". Ouch....'no comment' to whether you demanded a trade? Out you go!

Not sure what grounds he's wanting out on, but if its the fans, then that's stupid. This comes with the territory and media is stupid here, but being here for 8+ years should have made that clear to him before. Don't sign the contract if you don't want this treatment.

SpezDispenser wrote:Finally....a Spezza resolution. While I think it would be MUCH more beneficial to keep Spezza, if there's issues he can be moved, we can get some nice pieces back and we can move on from there.

Either way, let's get 'er done please.

I'm more interested in finding out what your next handle will be? Whatever it turns out to be I suggest that people NOT buy a jersey with that player on it.

Sens4thecup wrote:What kind of message is being brodcasted to potential free agents? (Especially after Heatley and now Spezza.)

I dunno? What kind of message was being boradcasted to UFA's when Ottawa had a room full of coke heads? People act like THIS would be the be all and end all, not even close. Ottawa is still cleaning up the reputation the dressing room had a few years back and whether people like it or not, want to hear it or not, Spezza was a big part of that. He's cleaned up his act off the ice but Ottawa's room was the worst in The NHL.

SeawaySensFan wrote:
It would be a lot of work to figure out which potential trade would best ensure that outcome but off the top of my head a deal to Dallas involving Richards would be instant success.

I haven't watched Lecavalier, so I don't know if he looks "finished" or whatever, but I'd sure like to see a swap of Spez and Kovalev for Lecavalier and St. Louis.

Vinny costs 8+ million I think, that hurts. If we could land him and St.Louis I'm intrigued, but I was thinking Richards and Robidas for Spezza, Foligno, Shannon + pick/prospect (no firsts!).

I thought of this last night when the weird statements were coming out regarding Spezza. Brad Richards and Stephan Robidas are my targets - and I'd like Eriksson too, but I doubt we have the tools to make that work.

HOWEVER, Dallas is in financial hell, they can't do this kind of thing right now I don't think.

This is my offer:

To Dallas:
Jason Spezza
Nick Foligno
Ryan Shannon
Filip Kuba
3rd round pick/Colin Greening/Roman Wick (rights)

To Ottawa:
Stephane Robidas
Brad Richards
Loui Eriksson

Go big or go home.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

N4L wrote:

marakh wrote:Murray "hopes" he can talk to Spezza before July 1st?
How about you settle this right now, Mr GM.

Hahaha, ahhhhhhh, things are still messed up in Ottawa. Thought the drama would be over last year but nope, lol.

I would actually laugh pretty hard if he ended up in Atlanta, haha.

Some of my favourite trade destinations are in the East because of the potential return but I'm not crazy about having Spezza in the East.

Now that I've heard that Carolyn Waldo interview it's pretty clear that he wants out. for those gloom-and-doomers that think this is Heatley all over again, Spezza does not have a no-trade. Edmonton offered a boatload in spite of Heatley's no-trade, that barrier doesn't exist for Spezza. We may well have the bidding war I hoped we would get with Heatley.

Wouldnt care if he was in our division. Easiest player in The NHL to play against.

Or, is this the time to make a run at Shea Weber and Jason Arnott for Spezza + + +?

Michallica wrote:okay, just heard it on team 1200. "I'm signed here, if they want me me here, I'm here". Ouch....'no comment' to whether you demanded a trade? Out you go!

Not sure what grounds he's wanting out on, but if its the fans, then that's stupid. This comes with the territory and media is stupid here, but being here for 8+ years should have made that clear to him before. Don't sign the contract if you don't want this treatment.

Exactly. IF he did ask for a trade (which I think he has, no proof) then he's just proving people right about his character. On the ice he looked like a quitter, off the ice it seems like it's the same deal.

Spezza signed that contract, he got 49 million dollars to be part of The Ottawa Senators and because HE played poorly in the playoffs and HE made the rookie mistakes, he wants out. He's no better then Heatley.

SpezDispenser wrote:Or, is this the time to make a run at Shea Weber and Jason Arnott for Spezza + + +?

You need waaaay more then just Spezza for that.

More like Spezza, Cowen or Wiercoich and Foligno.

N4L wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Or, is this the time to make a run at Shea Weber and Jason Arnott for Spezza + + +?

You need waaaay more then just Spezza for that.

More like Spezza, Cowen or Wiercoich and Foligno.

Cowen, Spezza and Foligno? Sounds good, let's do it.

N4L wrote:

Michallica wrote:okay, just heard it on team 1200. "I'm signed here, if they want me me here, I'm here". Ouch....'no comment' to whether you demanded a trade? Out you go!

Not sure what grounds he's wanting out on, but if its the fans, then that's stupid. This comes with the territory and media is stupid here, but being here for 8+ years should have made that clear to him before. Don't sign the contract if you don't want this treatment.

Exactly. IF he did ask for a trade (which I think he has, no proof) then he's just proving people right about his character. On the ice he looked like a quitter, off the ice it seems like it's the same deal.

Spezza signed that contract, he got 49 million dollars to be part of The Ottawa Senators and because HE played poorly in the playoffs and HE made the rookie mistakes, he wants out. He's no better then Heatley.

His answers to Waldo were proof enough for me. Any GM in the NHL who heard that knows it too.

Where's Waldo?

To Dallas:
Jason Spezza
Nick Foligno
Ryan Shannon
Filip Kuba
1st round pick 2011

To Ottawa:
Stephane Robidas
Brad Richards
Loui Eriksson

I changed it to a 1st in 2011 because I feel the package Dallas is sending is amazing.

Please, please, please, please, please can we have Richards - re-signed on July 1 at 6 X 6? Please?

SeawaySensFan wrote:

N4L wrote:

Michallica wrote:okay, just heard it on team 1200. "I'm signed here, if they want me me here, I'm here". Ouch....'no comment' to whether you demanded a trade? Out you go!

Not sure what grounds he's wanting out on, but if its the fans, then that's stupid. This comes with the territory and media is stupid here, but being here for 8+ years should have made that clear to him before. Don't sign the contract if you don't want this treatment.

Exactly. IF he did ask for a trade (which I think he has, no proof) then he's just proving people right about his character. On the ice he looked like a quitter, off the ice it seems like it's the same deal.

Spezza signed that contract, he got 49 million dollars to be part of The Ottawa Senators and because HE played poorly in the playoffs and HE made the rookie mistakes, he wants out. He's no better then Heatley.

His answers to Waldo were proof enough for me. Any GM in the NHL who heard that knows it too.

Yup, I agree. I heard it was before all this came out so Im in no state of shock.

In my mind, this is a gutless move, it just shows he cant cut it in an actual hockey market. I always knew this guy was dumb but how can you possibly not say "No I never requested a trade, I want to be in Ottawa". You spit out stupid cliches all year long and you cant spit one out now? Really? Has the hampster stopped running upstairs?

The sooner he is gone the sooner Ottawa can compete for a true shot at a cup. Even without Spezza, The Sens are better then Toronto, Buffalo, and Montreal... hell, it might be nice to see guys that are hungry from game 1 to game 82 this year. Unlike a lot of other people I think Ottawa has a very nice team along with peices in place that will really show The Sens fans what Murray has done. If Spezza wasnt in the Pitts series, does it end any differently? Personally, I think they go 7 games or maybe win without him. Regualr season, I think they end with basically the same record.

Spezza was treated like an absolute God until all the ice off crap and he signed that huge contract. 3 years later his play has deminshed, he gets paid top dollar, and get held accountable and he cant take it? Later.

The Sens organization treated him just as well, this is a collective spit in the face to the city, fan, and organization. Yeah, they committed 7 years and 49 million to you because they wanted you to be the wipping boy. He's a quitter, always has been, always will be, this is just more of the proof that people who doubt him are right.