Why is it justified in this instance? This isn't the first time a player has asked for a trade and won't be the last. The fans don't need to know at this point and management, if they are trying to make a deal happen, is trying to not get hosed in a deal.
- nated81

It isn't him asking for a trade that's the problem. It's the idea that he is po'd at Yzerman that has people upset. Is he a whiner or not?

I don't know how keeping it a secret about whether he asked for a trade or not affects the negotiations. If Yzerman is trying to trade Marty then it's obvious that there is trouble in River City.

The damage: Marty is going from hero to goat by some in the press. If he isn't
upset then the fans need to get their hero back.

Team in midst of a playoff race. They don't need the distraction.

Wow . Who the (frank) knows what's going on in his head anymore , I'm over this poop !!

Michael Stuart: Update: Lawton Says St. Louis Wanted Out in 2009
- Michael_Stuart

This is so bizarre.

It isn't him asking for a trade that's the problem. It's the idea that he is po'd at Yzerman that has people upset. Is he a whiner or not?

I don't know how keeping it a secret about whether he asked for a trade or not affects the negotiations. If Yzerman is trying to trade Marty then it's obvious that there is trouble in River City.

The damage: Marty is going from hero to goat by some in the press. If he isn't
upset then the fans need to get their hero back.

Team in midst of a playoff race. They don't need the distraction.
- Nuts-Bolts

If other teams know that he wants out then they won't offer as much for him. Look at Pronger out of Edmonton Heatly from Ottawa. Both times it was known that the players wanted out and the teams didn't get good value for them.
Do we know for sure that he is PO'd at Yzerman? Maybe he wants to be closer to his family. Wouldn't be the first time a player wanted a trade for personal reasons. It will be interesting to see the outcome of all this though.

If he was truly unhappy then why re-sign? The only logical thought I can come up with is Marty requests trade in 2009 to which Lawton does not grant his wish possibly due to the ownership turmoil and/or pending ownership change. Vinik/Yzerman come in May 2010 to which Marty still has his pending request on the table. Yzerman knows the PR disaster he and Vinik would have if they traded Marty in their first few months, so to avoid this Yzerman "blackmails" Marty into signing the extension instead of being dealt to a team he didn't want to go to. The only hiccup to this theory would be I don't know if Marty's 6yr/$31.5M extension in 2005 had any NTC protection.
- uf1910

Well I ask that question in the blog. Ownership turmoil and being on a terrible hockey club might have had something to do with it in 2009, but those excuses don't work now. Lawton in the interview, which I've linked to, says that he sorted out the issues with St. Louis and convinced him to stick around. I don't know what those issues were/are.

Marty had a NTC in his 05-11 deal.

If other teams know that he wants out then they won't offer as much for him. Look at Pronger out of Edmonton Heatly from Ottawa. Both times it was known that the players wanted out and the teams didn't get good value for them.
Do we know for sure that he is PO'd at Yzerman? Maybe he wants to be closer to his family. Wouldn't be the first time a player wanted a trade for personal reasons. It will be interesting to see the outcome of all this though.
- nated81

Everybody knows he wants out and that he wants to go to New York now. Yzerman has no leverage. There's really no harm in speaking publicly, though I understand why they won't.

Well I ask that question in the blog. Ownership turmoil and being on a terrible hockey club might have had something to do with it in 2009, but those excuses don't work now. Lawton in the interview, which I've linked to, says that he sorted out the issues with St. Louis and convinced him to stick around. I don't know what those issues were/are.

Marty had a NTC in his 05-11 deal.
- Michael_Stuart

In which case my theory is debunked.

To me this would mean they sorted out the issues and/or convinced Marty that the ownership saga(s) of the past are no longer and the Lightning franchise was on the road to stability with Marty at the core.

I have seen that Marty's NMC expires after this season (which coupled with the Olympic snub) might explain why he's asking for a deal to the Rags now.

St. Louis is God. though.

Marty St. Louis... there are two possibilities here:

1) All of this is being blown out of proportion.

2) MSL is having the most EPIC Heel Turn in WWF history. Yeah, I wrote that properly.

Marty St. Louis... there are two possibilities here:

1) All of this is being blown out of proportion.

2) MSL is having the most EPIC Heel Turn in WWF history. Yeah, I wrote that properly.
- OzBolts

World Wildlife Fund?

I'm not worried about how he feels!!!! I'm more concerned a out how this affects the team as a whole and it doesn't look good that's for damn sure!!!!

I'm not worried about how he feels!!!! I'm more concerned a out how this affects the team as a whole and it doesn't look good that's for damn sure!!!!
- Artyukhin76

Completely agree. He's one guy. As much as this sounds bad to see, this team doesn't live or die because of Marty St. Louis. If moving him is best for the team, so be it.

Completely agree. He's one guy. As much as this sounds bad to see, this team doesn't live or die because of Marty St. Louis. If moving him is best for the team, so be it.
- Michael_Stuart

On a less depressing note, Syracuse is going to be (frank)ing loaded next season!!!!!

When i heard that interview today on Hockey Central, I said Wow.I think what bothered me most though was, the maybe tampering part. Coming from Lawton,who knows whats true.I think in the end though,like Lawton said,MSL deserves to go where he wants and finish his career.Doesnt he??

When i heard that interview today on Hockey Central, I said Wow.I think what bothered me most though was, the maybe tampering part. Coming from Lawton,who knows whats true.I think in the end though,like Lawton said,MSL deserves to go where he wants and finish his career.Doesnt he??
- nbboy

I guess that I get caught up on the fact that St. Louis had the chance to leave Tampa and go to New York. He didn't. He re-signed with Tampa, and got a NMC in his contract.

I guess that I get caught up on the fact that St. Louis had the chance to leave Tampa and go to New York. He didn't. He re-signed with Tampa, and got a NMC in his contract.
- Michael_Stuart

Yeah youre right!!!Im not a fan of the whining either and cant imagine not wanting to be in beautiful Tampa.Lot of promise there..But I think hes done alot there for the team and if he wants to go (frank) him let him go.Its too bad.

Yeah youre right!!!Im not a fan of the whining either and cant imagine not wanting to be in beautiful Tampa.Lot of promise there..But I think hes done alot there for the team and if he wants to go (frank) him let him go.Its too bad.
- nbboy

Oh, of course. If he wants to go, he should go. No sense having a guy on the team who doesn't want to be there. As hard as Vinny's contract was to deal with, I'd take a committed Vinny over a Marty who doesn't want to be a Bolt.

Lindback with a 30 save shutout in Syracuse tonight. Reports from everyone who watched indicate that he played really well.

Lindback with a 30 save shutout in Syracuse tonight. Reports from everyone who watched indicate that he played really well.
- Michael_Stuart

I'm glad for lindback

Oh, of course. If he wants to go, he should go. No sense having a guy on the team who doesn't want to be there. As hard as Vinny's contract was to deal with, I'd take a committed Vinny over a Marty who doesn't want to be a Bolt.
- Michael_Stuart

A "committed" Lecavalier didn't play as well as St Louis game in, game out for the past several seasons.

The Philly fans are already questioning Lecavalier and his contract.

"What has been the most concerning is, in addition to his lack of production, Lecavalier has not been a very impactful player on the ice."

http://www.examiner.com/l...a-flyers/vinny-lecavalier

Yes, I am a committed St Louis fan and own his jersey. I still hope this trade deadline will come and go.

Why bring up Vinny again?

A "committed" Lecavalier didn't play as well as St Louis game in, game out for the past several seasons.

The Philly fans are already questioning Lecavalier and his contract.

"What has been the most concerning is, in addition to his lack of production, Lecavalier has not been a very impactful player on the ice."

http://www.examiner.com/l...a-flyers/vinny-lecavalier

Yes, I am a committed St Louis fan and own his jersey. I still hope this trade deadline will come and go.

Why bring up Vinny again?
- Leafsandbolts

I wasn't making that as a serious proposal or anything. My point is just that I'll take players who are committed and useful (which, regardless of what anyone says, Vinny was when healthy for the Bolts) over a superstar who is unhappy to be on the team. I get that Marty will be a professional through this process, but it doesn't stop the story from hanging over the dressing room.

Is Marty more important to the Lightning than Lecavalier was? Absolutely. Would losing Marty and having Lecavalier be a fair trade off? Probably not. But I'm talking about the person. Nobody can question Vinny's commitment to the team and city. I'll take a guy like that on my team over the guy who doesn't want to be a Bolt but is only willing to waive for one team every day of the week.

I wasn't making that as a serious proposal or anything. My point is just that I'll take players who are committed and useful (which, regardless of what anyone says, Vinny was when healthy for the Bolts) over a superstar who is unhappy to be on the team. I get that Marty will be a professional through this process, but it doesn't stop the story from hanging over the dressing room.

Is Marty more important to the Lightning than Lecavalier was? Absolutely. Would losing Marty and having Lecavalier be a fair trade off? Probably not. But I'm talking about the person. Nobody can question Vinny's commitment to the team and city. I'll take a guy like that on my team over the guy who doesn't want to be a Bolt but is only willing to waive for one team every day of the week.
- Michael_Stuart

St Louis is a committed professional and will play as hard game in, game out as before this media attack.

This team is still St Louis' team until they take his "C" away. I doubt they will and so far it is interesting that Yzerman has had No Comment. What was his role in this story?

As for Vinny's commitment, he had a die for contract for a player who's best years were behind him.

Both St Louis and Lecavalier were/are totally committed to their charities and communities in Tampa.

If the loyal Lightning fans want St Louis gone, I hope he gets traded since he doesn't deserve to be treated so poorly after what he has done on the ice.

St Louis is a committed professional and will play as hard game in, game out as before this media attack.

This team is still St Louis' team until they take his "C" away. I doubt they will and so far it is interesting that Yzerman has had No Comment. What was his role in this story?

As for Vinny's commitment, he had a die for contract for a player who's best years were behind him.

Both St Louis and Lecavalier were/are totally committed to their charities and communities in Tampa.

If the loyal Lightning fans want St Louis gone, I hope he gets traded since he doesn't deserve to be treated so poorly after what he has done on the ice.
- Leafsandbolts

If he wants out, he deserves to be dealt. It's that simple. There's no sense in keeping a player who doesn't want to stick around, especially a guy who has built up a ton of respect like Marty.

His reasons for wanting out can be debated all day long. It's not a media attack. People, in general, don't think he's handled this all that well. And I'm really of the belief that any player who has asked for a trade can't really be totally committed to his current team. He'll play well just as he always has, but I don't think it's right to say that Marty is totally committed to the Lightning right now.

It's not really interesting that Yzerman has no comment; that's standard practice in this sort of situation.

TSN Radio's Ian Mendes asked the following:

"If Martin St. Louis is asking for a trade and is only willing to go to NYR, is that any different than what Dany Heatley did in Ottawa?"

The Lightning have a great chance to load up on some more players by trading their 38y/o winger. I would hate to see him go but what a great way to get some more assets for a 38y/o. The Lightning hold the cards. Until they get what they want, they don't have to trade Marty. I don't see them winning this year anyway. They are too young and too small. They need some size to go with the young talented but small forwards. This team should be real good in 2 years, and good for a while if things go well. A stud D prospect from the Rangers along with a bigger mean and gritty forward and a top draft pick might get the job done. If not, Marty will be a Free Agent when he is 40. Then the Rangers can sign him.