Ottowa Doesnt Want Heatley In Training Camp

According to Eklund, of hockeybuzz.com, so please, take this with a grain or two of salt. ;)

He says, the only option at this point would be for a trade to happen with the NY Rangers. I am somewhat tired of hearing abut Heatley and nothing happening, but if Sather can get Heatley, even if it means giving up Dubinsky, I say go for it. We could have a Stanley Cup team with 2 all-star 40-50 goal scorers in Heatley and Gaborik. [I bought a signed Gaborik NYR puck of ebay, really cool!]

The way the NY Rangers made it into the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs 2 years ago and put up a really good fight in the first round last year, pushing the Capitals and Alexander Ovechkin to 7 games, with NO REAL SCORING [NOONE SCORED 30 GOALS] really says something about a team. Its truly impressive. I guess you could say you have Lundqvist and our young talented defense to credit for that mostly, but how much can they really carry a team?

Gaborik alone with have a huge impact on the team this year, providing he stays healthy which he should. Id still like to see Brashear the goon traded ASAP...worst move the offseason by Sather hands down. Although his other actions impressed me.

Heatley Deal By Sunday? Dubinsky+Roszival+Del Zotto+Pick

A user a sportsnet posted this:

"We all hope this Heatley saga will end,right? Well good news ,I just talked to my guy on the inside and he said Dubinsky is close to signing a new deal and when this happens it will trigger a deal. Apparently it breaks down as follows:

To NYR:

Heatley
Smith(will be put on waivers by NY)

To Ottawa:

Dubinsky
Roszival
Del Zotto
1st 2010

The plan is to have this done by Sunday before the Canadian camp. The ball got rolling again by Heatley''s people. I am not a fan of the trade but at least there will be closure. "

http://forums.sportsnet.ca/thread.jspa?threadID=301834&tstart=0

is say do it

Rangers Sign Prospal + Bring back the captian.

Its official-the Rangers have added veteran center Vinny Prospal. The deal is a 1 year 1.1M contract. Supposedly Dubinsky will get a shot at the #1 center position, and if it doesn't work out they are going to bring in Prospal to fill that role. Mark Messier has been brought in as the "Special Assistant" Maybe Sather will finally retire and "The Captain" will take his place? I'd love to see it happen...

Update On Heatley-Movement This Weekend?

So the Wild and the Rangers are really the last 2 still hot on Heatley. The Wild would need to make a trade with the Blues first, in order to create cap space. The Rangers on the other hand, just out of the Zherdev arb. just shed about $3M in cap space. They will easily send $6M back to Ottowa. Suposedly the Rangers will still have to give up Dubinsky, but it might be wise to wait and really watch Murry get desperate, then maybe they wouldnt need to give up Dubinsky, a center, which the Rangers are very short on at the moment. I still think the trade for Brad Richards would be better, based on the fact that he is a center, and an amazing playmaker, among other top qualities. If this deal really goes through [Eklund of hockeybuzz.com is saying it will] we will have another 40-50 all star goal scorer, but even one less center, and still no "set up man".

I say Brad Richards is who we want before Heatley. Then bring in the rookie defensemen, and we will be set for the new 2009-2010 season to begin, as a Stanley Cup contender.

My lines:

1st line-Cally-Richards-Gaborik

2nd line-Avery-Drury-Kotalik

3rd Line-Higgins-Anisimov[or grachev]-Lisin

4th line-Brashear[Id rather voros]-Arnason-? Blank

staal-gilroy

girardi-heikkinen

redden-sanguinetti

lundqvist&valliquete

im still hoping to see Betts back, allthough our penalty kill still should hold up ok.

For once I can honestly give Sather a B+ or an A grade for this off season, based on the signings and trades so far, and the trade rumors above. Except the Brashear signing, all I would like to ask is WHY SATHER? He's a goon, a thug, and he will do nothing for the team except maybe "protect" our players, and get suspended. Anyway, the offseason isnt over yet, so SATHER DONT SCREW IT UP!

I will post any news as soon as they happen.

PS- Just bought 2 Artem Anisimov rookie cards off eBay!

- Kevin

Brad Richards Trade VERY CLOSE Includes Dubinsky!

bleacherreport.com is reporting that a deal between the new york rangers and the dallas stars is VERY close. It would be Dubinsky, Rozsival, and a prospect for Brad Richards and "another player yet to be named" His salary is $7.8M. They say the only reason dubinsky has not been signed yet is because they plan to package him in a deal. They have recieved confirmation from their sources that the deal is extremely close. Dubinsky is suposedly asking for more than Callahan recieved from arbitration, and this is why Sather has stopped talks with him and is planning this trade. LETS HOPE THIS DOESNT BACKFIRE AND DUBINSKY DOESNT DEVELOP INTO SOMETHING GREAT AS TORTS BELIEVES! This website was the first to report the Morris to Boston signing. We shall see how this pans out! Link HERE

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Trade Talks Starting To Heat Up With Heatley

This was a good article I though I'd post here.. original page here.

Rangers Back On The Chase For Heatley? Dubi Included?

From Eklund of hockeybuzz.com -

"Dubinsky to Ottawa possible for Heatley?

It is possible as rumors of the Rangers getting back into the Heatley saga pick up amazing amounts of steam."

Damn I say do it do it do it! It would make the Rangers almost a complete threat.

Zherdev Told To Take A Walk-Official

There had better be a good explaination for this. And unless a three way deal is performed, you can kiss the Heatley trade goodbye. Why not sign him, if not only to execute a trade with him included. But no, Sather goes and gives him away, and gets nothing in return. Very poor move in my opinion. I hope Sather can work something out that will give us better talent and future than Zherdev would have-either playing him or trading him for someone...

Stay Tuned For Zherdev News Today, Maybe A Trade?

The NY Rangers GM Glen Sather has until 12 noon today to decide whether or not to sign Zherdev to his $3.9M award. Most speculation today is pointing to a sign and trade with Zherdev, now that his market value is set in stone, it should be easier. I just hope Sather can aquire equal if not better talent in said deal. "

From sportingnews.com

"Newsday reports that an arbitrator awarded New York Rangers forward Nikolai Zherdev a $3.9 million contract on Sunday, $650,000 more than the team's $3.25 million qualifying offer that was tendered and rejected by the restricted free agent from Kiev.

The decision put the Rangers on the clock—48 hours (sometime today) to accept the deal or walk away, which would make Zherdev an unrestricted free agent. The 24-year-old Russian, who scored 23 goals last season, had asked for an arbitration award in the $4.5 million range.

According to Newsday, the Rangers are likely to sign Zherdev and try to trade him, which might be easier now that his market value has been set. Many question whether Zherdev could thrive under coach John Tortorella's attacking style, especially after he seemed to run out of gas late last season and in the playoffs."

3 Teams Involved In A Trade Bringing Heatley To NYR? Perhaps

According to Eklund of hockeybuzz.com,

"Does Zherdev Ruling + Oilers Blessing= Dany Heatley, the NY Ranger? Maybe." Zherdev awarded $3.9M, Oilers are interested, Ottowa GM Murray pressed against the wall even moreso. Eklund could be right, and I hope he is. I would love to see Heatley wearing Rangers blue. He is a league elite, who has proven more than once he can score 50 goals. Imagine the powerplay. With Gaborik, Heatley, Kotalik, and who knows else! Powerplay problem solved if this goes down. Scoring completely solved if this happens. [Gaborik's already here] I could care less about this guys personality, if he plays hard, and he wants to be here, hes going to score at least 4o goals. Here is the official report from hockeybuzz.com "I talked about it today on the podcast but it is worth repeating. With the Oilers giving the Rangers their blessing and the Zherdev ruling all but assuring the Rangers are out of nearly 4 million, I would not be surprised to see the Rangers back into the running for Heatley. And many of my sources agree. One just texted me, "Dubinsky is the key still, but now it is possible that a deal that would not include Dubinsky could indeed get it done." Back with more...we are picking up our new puppy this afternoon...the family is ecstatic! cheers, Ek"

Zherdev Awarded $3.9M

Zherdev has been awarded $3.9 Million Dollars. So, I would like to have him back, but if a better player is invloved in a trade deal I would be even happier.

Zherdev's Abritration Hearing

Is going on right now - he is participating through a telephone call from Russia. After the hearing the judge has 48 hours to make a decision, and the Rangers have 48 hours following that to either accept or allow him to become a free agent. Rumors are saying he is looking for around $4.5M

The Rangers should give him another chance definatley, he is very skilled, but not for that price. I think anything under $4M would be fair if he plays with 100% effort every game. Zherdev is believed to have gained more skill during the off season.