Early Free Agency Thoughts

Well, that Sutter gamble paid off.

Calgary GM Darryl Sutter took a chance at the entry draft last weekend and gave up the rights to unrestricted free agent Jordan Leopold and a third round pick just for the chance to talk to free agent Jay Bouwmeester a couple days before the rest of the league. Thus, Sutter looks like the smartest guy in the room today having inked the big defenceman to a multi-year deal worth an average of $6.68 million per season.

Bouwmeester is to the Flames now what Roberto Luongo was to Vancouver when he came over from Florida several years ago, a player of immense talent but no exposure to meaningful NHL competition, specifically the playoffs.

Calgary can now line up Bouwmeester, Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr across the blueline, something akin to what Colorado once had with Rob Blake, Adam Foote and Ray Bourque, but not quite as accomplished.

Then there's Montreal. So Saku Koivu is probably not coming back, the club desperately needs a big body and Bob Gainey somehow thinks Scott Gomez is the answer? C'mon. Gomez has a truly ugly contract and is no more productive a player than Koivu, at least not lately.

Strange move for the Habs, and an expensive one.

Then there's the Dany Heatley trade to Edmonton, one that might land more for the Senators in return than seemed likely until Heatley decided to use his no-trade clause.

Gotta love this dude. Signs a long-term deal, demands a trade after one year and then has the gall to also retain his right to pick and choose his new team.

Can't win with people like that.

Comments

[Matt]

For the size of Heatley's contract, he could probably afford to hire a PR person... This guy just can't get a break it seems... And I'm sure he blames it all on the unforgiving press, i.e no ownership for his actions whatsoever... That's the kind of guy I want on my team for the next 5 years!

[David]

It's remarkable to think that a talented individual like Heatley will have managed to burn bridges with 10% of the league's teams if he rejects the trade to Edmonton.

The last player that comes to mind who was this selfish is Alexei Yashin.

[garth]

Heatly has adopted a bold and shrewd attitude in his bargaining. Great for him. The statement that "Can't win with people like that" demonstrates this. Why should he put himself in a position where anyone else can win? That would be plain dumb. He knows that while he is marketable, he can demand anything. He is bargaining that way. Management is not going to be 'nice' to him. Do you think Heatley gives a damn what any of our opinions are worth?

[Malivai David]

From what Damien said in an earlier blog/column, Heatley is (to badly paraphrase) "not riding the most capable Trojan Horse in the war," so I doubt that him being "bold and shrewd...in his bargaining" is not really what is going on. There's a puppetmaster agent calling the shots here. I always felt Yashin's career was started on its way to ruination by him sitting out that year demanding a re-negotiated contract. Well, looks like history may re-HEAT itself if Danny doesn't wisen up.

[ray b]

Bang on...Who is this guy after all?..He gets in a horrific accident, avoids death and ends up killing Dan Snyder..You'd figure a guy that went through this ordeal would be thankful that he is still alive and able to play hockey at all..What about Snyder? Because of Heatly's pitiful driving this poor guy is dead..He won't be signing any more contracts..

He gets paid tonnes of dough and now wants traded but only to teams of his choosing..Can you get any more self-centered than that?...

[Bill]

I'm not a fan of Heatley and if I was a GM I would not trade for him. You would think that he would be more of a grateful person, given that he somehow escaped going to prison, rather than the selfish, self centered person that he is. It's unreal that he would put his team into that position because he doesn't like the coach. He didn't deserve to be traded, the Sens should have told him to shut his trap and play, but I guess it was best to just get rid of him.

[LOCKSTOCK]

Okay, but for the benefit of the doubt, there has been a lot of speculation that it wasn't Heatley's intention for this to become the situation it has become. In short, that his camp didn't release the trade request.

The information we have gotten from NHL clubs this year has been startlingly inaccurate and I know you can all think of a few stories that have worked out far differently than people speculated they would, driven by things people didn't know about.

Maybe it is a little harsh to rip Heatley.

[J Will]

OK Damien - I think there is a lesson here for other teams - Ottawa made a mistake when Heatley asked for the trade - the should have said - "if you want a trade, waive the no movement clause" - if you don't nothing will happen. they didn't do this - heatley is left in total control, appears to have no concern whatsoever for his team-mates, or colleagues in the players association (read Edmonton Oilers including Cogliano, Penner, and Smid) - selfish doesn't begin to cover it. Would like to see some reporters focus on who leaked the Edmonton names - though we probably won't find that out - which is just another example of heatley or his camp using people....all in all Heatley has done some significant damage to two Canadian franchises........and more to his own integrity, reputation, etc..........

[Sanj]

Oh please. You Leaf fans would welcome Heatley and his 50 goals with open arms!!