They say a watched pot will never boil so perhaps if we leave this Dany Heatley situation for a day there will be some kind of development over the course of the day.
While the Heatley saga has grabbed the headlines in Ottawa there are other issues that will need to be addressed before the 2009/2010 season.
With contracts like Jason Smith, Christoph Schubert, Alex Picard and Chris Kelly all seemingly expendable, Bryan Murray will have some tinkering to do before the season starts. Theres still no official word on the status of Jason Smith but the thinking is he may start the season on the long term IR.
When it comes to Picard and Schubert there really doesn't appear to be much of a market. Schubert still has his supporters in the Ottawa organization and its possible he could be given one last shot although the log jam on the Senators blue line heading into this season he could be in tough when it comes to cracking the big club.
A couple weeks back there was word that Mike Comrie was mulling over a few offers and that the Senators were one of them. With the Kovalev signing its hard to see how Murray could fit Comrie's contract in, particularly with Dany Heatley still on the books.
I continue to hear Brian Elliott will be under contract 'soon' but to this point nothing is official. I'm actually surprised it has taken this long to get something done. With Auld out of the picture Elliott is the clear number two this season and will be an important player for the Senators this season.
The people over at Hockey Future's have done a review on the Senators performance at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Worth a read... Also, the guys over at On the Forecheck have put together an interesting look at how much each team travels over the course of the season. Check it out here.
Lastly, an article in the Ottawa Sun says that the city of Ottawa is in the running to host the 2012 All Star Game. Seems overdue to me.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Can Dany Really Come Back?
(UPDATE 3:54 PM)- The NHL has released the schedule for the 2009/2010 season. Here is the link to the Senators schedule.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/schedulebyseason.htm?team=ott
So the apparent deadline from the Edmonton Oilers has come and gone and Dany Heatley is still a member of the Ottawa Senators.
All the talk today seems to indicate that the Senators really are preparing to have Heatley in their line up this coming season.
I'm still not convinced this isn't just posturing on the part of the Senators. The organization has to appear as though they are prepared to bring Heatley back if they want to get the deal they're looking for. This may drag on longer than we were all hoping for but I really do feel like in the end a team will step up and offer Murray something he likes.
With that said, all the chatter today has become focused on Dany Heatley returning to the Senators line up this season. Seems to me its about time Heatley comes out and addresses the fans in this city. The longer he remains silent the harder it is for him to come back and pull on the Senators uniform again.
Would you welcome Dany Heatley back?
Also, the NHL will release the schedule for the 2009/2010 regular season today at 3:00 PM. I will post a link to the Senators schedule as soon as it becomes available.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/schedulebyseason.htm?team=ott
So the apparent deadline from the Edmonton Oilers has come and gone and Dany Heatley is still a member of the Ottawa Senators.
All the talk today seems to indicate that the Senators really are preparing to have Heatley in their line up this coming season.
I'm still not convinced this isn't just posturing on the part of the Senators. The organization has to appear as though they are prepared to bring Heatley back if they want to get the deal they're looking for. This may drag on longer than we were all hoping for but I really do feel like in the end a team will step up and offer Murray something he likes.
With that said, all the chatter today has become focused on Dany Heatley returning to the Senators line up this season. Seems to me its about time Heatley comes out and addresses the fans in this city. The longer he remains silent the harder it is for him to come back and pull on the Senators uniform again.
Would you welcome Dany Heatley back?
Also, the NHL will release the schedule for the 2009/2010 regular season today at 3:00 PM. I will post a link to the Senators schedule as soon as it becomes available.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Oilers Ready to Pull Out?
(UPDATE- 3:22 PM)- What I thought would be a busy day has been strangely quiet. Nothing new from the Heatley camp at this point and Ottawa remains quiet on other potential suitors. I did receive word that it may be pretty much impossible for the Sharks to get involved in any Heatley trade. I wouldn't rule them out completely but they would need to make a few moves to make the cap space required to add Heatley's contract. Sigh
(UPDATE-10:34 AM)- Daniel Alfredsson speaks on the Heatley situation for the first time. The article can be found here.
As reported by the Ottawa Sun and Chis Stevenson this morning, the word is the Oilers may have set today as their day for Heatley to make a decision on a move to Edmonton.
While Heatley rejected the deal back on June 30th he has not officially ruled out a move to Edmonton. The Oilers are getting tired of waiting around and want to know their direction as soon as possible.
Today could be a big day in this process as Heatley will be faced with the decision to either accept the move to Edmonton or risk being forced into a return to Ottawa this coming season. While there are other teams at least partially interested in Heatley, the Oilers are the only team that have gone as far as to make an official offer.
What it gonna be Dany? Take the sure thing in Edmonton or roll the dice and hope another offer comes in?
How badly do you not want to play for the Ottawa Senators?
(UPDATE-10:34 AM)- Daniel Alfredsson speaks on the Heatley situation for the first time. The article can be found here.
As reported by the Ottawa Sun and Chis Stevenson this morning, the word is the Oilers may have set today as their day for Heatley to make a decision on a move to Edmonton.
While Heatley rejected the deal back on June 30th he has not officially ruled out a move to Edmonton. The Oilers are getting tired of waiting around and want to know their direction as soon as possible.
Today could be a big day in this process as Heatley will be faced with the decision to either accept the move to Edmonton or risk being forced into a return to Ottawa this coming season. While there are other teams at least partially interested in Heatley, the Oilers are the only team that have gone as far as to make an official offer.
What it gonna be Dany? Take the sure thing in Edmonton or roll the dice and hope another offer comes in?
How badly do you not want to play for the Ottawa Senators?
Monday, July 13, 2009
Quick Monday Update
Its been a pretty hectic last week or so for me but things are slowing down now so I'll be able to get back to digging up the latest information
That said, its been a pretty slow news day to start the week.
Things remain quiet on the Heatley front. While I continue to hear that teams have interest, no team other than the Oilers has tabled an official offer thus far. The Oilers offer remains on the table but there hasnt been any indication that Heatley has changed his mind on a move to Edmonton.
Dany wants to go to California but with the Kings seemingly out of the running and the Sharks looking for cap space, the Heatley camp will have to be patient if thats what they want.
This really is turning into an excruciating waiting game, as all of those involved wait for the other to blink. Like someone pointed out in the comment section, Jason Spezza is apparently getting married this weekend so it should be interesting to see if Heatley returns to the Ottawa area over the course of the next week.
I keep reading in other locations that the Senators have interest in forward PJ Axelsson but thus far I've yet to hear anything concrete on this front.
That's all for now. Hopefully to have more tomorrow.
Just under three months till the season gets going again!
SENSCHIRP ON TWITTER
That said, its been a pretty slow news day to start the week.
Things remain quiet on the Heatley front. While I continue to hear that teams have interest, no team other than the Oilers has tabled an official offer thus far. The Oilers offer remains on the table but there hasnt been any indication that Heatley has changed his mind on a move to Edmonton.
Dany wants to go to California but with the Kings seemingly out of the running and the Sharks looking for cap space, the Heatley camp will have to be patient if thats what they want.
This really is turning into an excruciating waiting game, as all of those involved wait for the other to blink. Like someone pointed out in the comment section, Jason Spezza is apparently getting married this weekend so it should be interesting to see if Heatley returns to the Ottawa area over the course of the next week.
I keep reading in other locations that the Senators have interest in forward PJ Axelsson but thus far I've yet to hear anything concrete on this front.
That's all for now. Hopefully to have more tomorrow.
Just under three months till the season gets going again!
SENSCHIRP ON TWITTER
Saturday, July 11, 2009
The Saga Continues
On June 9 the news became public that Dany Heatley asked to be traded from the Ottawa Senators.
In the wee hours of June 30th, Dany Heatley was traded from the Ottawa Senators.
It is now July 11 and Dany Heatley is still an Ottawa Senator. Could he actually be in training camp with the Senators this coming fall? With each passing day, as this painful saga drags on, that scenario becomes more and more likely.
The facts are what they are at this point. The Edmonton Oilers are the only team that has tabled an official offer to acquire Dany's services. They remain the most interested party with 3 or 4 other teams (Sharks, Avalanche, Wild and maybe Columbus) all kind of waiting in the weeds. Besides the Oilers there really haven't been any concrete trade talks regarding the two time 50 goal scorer.
The Senators organization is in a position where all they can do is wait. Unless another team steps up, they can either wait for Dany Heatley to agree to a trade to Edmonton or else be prepared to have Heatley in camp this September.
The fact that Dany Heatley has remained silent this long really makes me think he and his agents have spoken with a team, with permission from Bryan Murray, and have been told there is a definite interest. Perhaps this unnamed team is waiting it out a little bit in hopes that Murray might become a little more desperate as the season approaches.
A word of advice to any GM who thinks he's going to wait Bryan Murray out; don't bother. The Ottawa Senators organization is 100% prepared to bring Heatley back next season if they don't get the deal they want.
I really get the sense that those teams waiting in the weeds will eventually start putting together packages for Dany Heatley. To this point the Oilers are the only team to do so but I really think other GM's will start to step up once they realize the asking price isn't going to change.
Love him or hate him, Dany Heatley is an elite player in this league. Teams looking for a shake up and a star player who can put the puck in the net will see what really is a rare opportunity to add a 50 goal scorer to your line up.
My prediction; Dany Heatley is a member of the San Jose Sharks by the time training camp roles around.
How do you think it will end?
In the wee hours of June 30th, Dany Heatley was traded from the Ottawa Senators.
It is now July 11 and Dany Heatley is still an Ottawa Senator. Could he actually be in training camp with the Senators this coming fall? With each passing day, as this painful saga drags on, that scenario becomes more and more likely.
The facts are what they are at this point. The Edmonton Oilers are the only team that has tabled an official offer to acquire Dany's services. They remain the most interested party with 3 or 4 other teams (Sharks, Avalanche, Wild and maybe Columbus) all kind of waiting in the weeds. Besides the Oilers there really haven't been any concrete trade talks regarding the two time 50 goal scorer.
The Senators organization is in a position where all they can do is wait. Unless another team steps up, they can either wait for Dany Heatley to agree to a trade to Edmonton or else be prepared to have Heatley in camp this September.
The fact that Dany Heatley has remained silent this long really makes me think he and his agents have spoken with a team, with permission from Bryan Murray, and have been told there is a definite interest. Perhaps this unnamed team is waiting it out a little bit in hopes that Murray might become a little more desperate as the season approaches.
A word of advice to any GM who thinks he's going to wait Bryan Murray out; don't bother. The Ottawa Senators organization is 100% prepared to bring Heatley back next season if they don't get the deal they want.
I really get the sense that those teams waiting in the weeds will eventually start putting together packages for Dany Heatley. To this point the Oilers are the only team to do so but I really think other GM's will start to step up once they realize the asking price isn't going to change.
Love him or hate him, Dany Heatley is an elite player in this league. Teams looking for a shake up and a star player who can put the puck in the net will see what really is a rare opportunity to add a 50 goal scorer to your line up.
My prediction; Dany Heatley is a member of the San Jose Sharks by the time training camp roles around.
How do you think it will end?
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Slow Day
Pretty slow day thus far in Senators land. In the past few days we have been spoiled with a major signing and a minor trade but today has actually been pretty quiet thus far.
The Dany Heatley situation continues to drag on with no real resolution in sight. I still don't think there's anyway Heatley is in a Senators jersey this fall but there isn't much to report in the way of tangible trade talks just yet.
The Oilers, Sharks and Avalanche continue to be the most interested parties but each is facing an obstacle of sorts preventing them from making the move. The Oilers are at a disadvantage because thus far Dany has show little to no interest in playing there. The Sharks are being slowed by some pretty significant cap space issues and the Colorado Avalanche have yet to decide what direction they want to take in the wake of the Ryan Smyth trade and the Joe Sakic retirement.
The Jackets look like they could join the fray but to this point their GM as vehemently denied any interest in the services if Dany Heatley.
The discouraging news is that thus far, I am told the Senators have not engaged in any 'serious' trade talks for Dany Heatley. Other than the very public talks with the Oilers it has mostly been a case of kicking tires and setting the asking price.
While the Heatley dilemma continues to grab the headlines in the Nation's Capital there are other issues that will need to be addressed before the 2009/2010 season. Back up goaltender Brian Elliott is close to a contract at this point and getting him inked shouldn't be a problem.
It should come as no surprise that the Senators are looking to rid themselves of contracts like Jason Smith, Chris Kelly and Christoph Schubert but have yet to find a way to do so thus far. If Dany Heatley is eventually moved you can be sure Murray would look to include one of these contracts in the swap.
SENSCHIRP ON TWITTER
The Dany Heatley situation continues to drag on with no real resolution in sight. I still don't think there's anyway Heatley is in a Senators jersey this fall but there isn't much to report in the way of tangible trade talks just yet.
The Oilers, Sharks and Avalanche continue to be the most interested parties but each is facing an obstacle of sorts preventing them from making the move. The Oilers are at a disadvantage because thus far Dany has show little to no interest in playing there. The Sharks are being slowed by some pretty significant cap space issues and the Colorado Avalanche have yet to decide what direction they want to take in the wake of the Ryan Smyth trade and the Joe Sakic retirement.
The Jackets look like they could join the fray but to this point their GM as vehemently denied any interest in the services if Dany Heatley.
The discouraging news is that thus far, I am told the Senators have not engaged in any 'serious' trade talks for Dany Heatley. Other than the very public talks with the Oilers it has mostly been a case of kicking tires and setting the asking price.
While the Heatley dilemma continues to grab the headlines in the Nation's Capital there are other issues that will need to be addressed before the 2009/2010 season. Back up goaltender Brian Elliott is close to a contract at this point and getting him inked shouldn't be a problem.
It should come as no surprise that the Senators are looking to rid themselves of contracts like Jason Smith, Chris Kelly and Christoph Schubert but have yet to find a way to do so thus far. If Dany Heatley is eventually moved you can be sure Murray would look to include one of these contracts in the swap.
SENSCHIRP ON TWITTER
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Auld to Dallas
(UPDATE 3:53 PM)- Just working on the details of this one but it seems like it will be just a draft pick (6th Rounder) coming back Ottawa's way. Clears the way for an Leclaire/Elliott tandem this season.
Kudos to the guys over at GM Hockey and HFBoards for sniffing this one out a while before it became official. Well done fellas.
Kudos to the guys over at GM Hockey and HFBoards for sniffing this one out a while before it became official. Well done fellas.
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