Fallout
June 30th, 2009 by Jason ChenScott Gomez going to Montreal pretty much ensures that Bob Gainey won’t be pursuing the twins via free agency. He won’t be able to fit all three under the cap and flesh out the rest of his defensive corps. He needs to bring Mike Komisarek back and add some more affordable size to his lineup. That cuts the Sedins’ potential suitors down. The twins won’t have as many options as they think. I imagine Mike Gillis’ latest 5-year, $30m offer is going to sound sweeter and sweeter as free agency progresses.
Jay Bouwmeester was one of the few free agents I wouldn’t have mind the Canucks throwing some big money at, but that’s no longer a viable option now that he has signed with Calgary long-term. The Flames will still have to dump some salary no matter what Darryl Sutter says, but I don’t think it’ll be Dion Phaneuf or Robyn Regehr. Or maybe the Flames just plan on playing the season with 16 skaters again. Either way, the Flames blueline just got tougher to play against.
If the rumours that Dany Heatley going to the Oilers are true, the Northwest Division is going to be tough, especially the Canadian content. The Wild have a lot of holes to fill and the Avs are re-building. The proposed deal has Heatley going to Edmonton for Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner, and Ladislav Smid. If the Sens take that put one up for Steve Tambellini. Questions about Heatley’s character aside, he’s a premier sniper who will benefit greatly from playing with Shawn Horcoff and Ales Hemsky. The Sens get a great depth player in Cogliano and a serviceable defenseman in Smid, but Penner’s an absolute liability with his awful work ethic. Bryan Murray must be desperate to not pay Heatley’s $4m bonus to take on Penner and his ridiculous contract. Credit Tambellini for rectifying Kevin Lowe’s big mistake.
Also, congratulations to Ryan Kesler for being named (unsurprisingly) to the US’ Olympic camp roster. I think he’s a lock to make the squad.
Posted in Canucks
2 Responses to “Fallout”
By Ted Bama on Jun 30, 2009
I guess the Sedins could sign at any minute which could totally prove what I am about to say wrong…where is it being reported that the Sedins are being offered 5 years/30 mill? I saw Andy Strickland say that league executives DONT believe Gillis will go that high…it seems like the Sedins have a good chance of resigning, though I’d be happier with Gaborik and guys like Lang and Scott Niedermayer on one year deals so we can take advantage of next year’s FA market crash…
By Jason Chen on Jun 30, 2009
The rumoured deal was on Leafs Lunch with JP Barry and Darren Dreger. Barry wouldn’t specify on the details, but it is for 5 years, and pundits are guessing that it’s for $6m per.
Heatley has said no to Edmonton (for now) which is good news for Canucks fans. The City of Champions has a way of turning people off, doesn’t it?
Next year’s FA market is better for sure, which is why I suggested that Gillis doesn’t have to blow all his money this year. We’ll wait to see what happens. If Niedermayer doesn’t re-sign with Anaheim I think Bob Murray would see that as a kick to the face. He dealt away Pronger on that basis (even though he denies it publicly) and not Giguere.