Jesus. LeBrun suggesting the proposed (accepted?) trade was for Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling. Brutal.

http://espn.go.com/blog/n...-nixes-trade-to-predators

I think if Murray took the Blues last offer of Berglund and the 21st most Sens fans would have vomited.

Interesting to note that Dorion said they were going to take Englund in the first round if they had a pick after twenty. They seem genuinely giddy about this kid.
- Cup 06

Then why not accept the Ducks 24th pick instead of insisting on the 10th?

Jesus. LeBrun suggesting the proposed (accepted?) trade was for Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling. Brutal.

http://espn.go.com/blog/n...-nixes-trade-to-predators
- Travis Yost

I can't get over this, if true.

Would've been an absolute disaster. And Hornqvist isn't even a bad player.

I agree. I don't know if Ottawa has a choice, though. I'd guess first solid offer post-Stastny gets it done.
- Travis Yost

Spezza isn't closed minded. Even his agent said this today:

When asked whether his client would change his mind about going to Nashville, Spezza’s agent Rick Curran said, “I really can’t say one way or another. Nashville was on Jason’s list that we put together a while ago and without the benefit of a crystal ball, I can’t say. Call me in three or four days and we might have a better answer.”

I think if Murray took the Blues last offer of Berglund and the 21st most Sens fans would have vomited.

Interesting to note that Dorion said they were going to take Englund in the first round if they had a pick after twenty. They seem genuinely giddy about this kid.
- Cup 06

I expect to take a lot of heat next winter. I really like the way this team is coming together. But every time they hit a dry spell in scoring all the Spezza fans will be out in full force. This will be a very tough team to play against. They will play more like the team of two years ago than last year.

Spezza isn't closed minded. Even his agent said this today:

When asked whether his client would change his mind about going to Nashville, Spezza’s agent Rick Curran said, “I really can’t say one way or another. Nashville was on Jason’s list that we put together a while ago and without the benefit of a crystal ball, I can’t say. Call me in three or four days and we might have a better answer.”
- Cup 06

Been traveling all day did not see that quote.

Translation: I need to see the number and term.

Yeah it is certainly up for debate the benefits of being so candid. At least it's entertaining.
- Cup 06

This quote from TSN kinda turns the table on the argument of a hack job in play against Spezza:

“I'm sure it's disappointing for him, it's disappointing for me because I'd like to accommodate him if I could, but he does have a year left on his contract," Murray said. "If that's the case we'll have a pretty good player for next year."

It's other GMs being Richards, as is their right. Hope they double back next week and that Ottawa signs statsny for fun just to (frank) with their heads. Melnyk's horse stables were worth $6.9 mil, right?

I think if Murray took the Blues last offer of Berglund and the 21st most Sens fans would have vomited.

Interesting to note that Dorion said they were going to take Englund in the first round if they had a pick after twenty. They seem genuinely giddy about this kid.
- Cup 06

You are the only person I've heard say that the Blues offer was Berglund and their first. Who is your source on that? If you don't mind me asking.

I can't get over this, if true.

Would've been an absolute disaster. And Hornqvist isn't even a bad player.
- Travis Yost

I believe the 14th pick was involved as well. Dallas had tabled a workable offer as well but they are also on his list.

You are the only person I've heard say that the Blues offer was Berglund and their first. Who is your source on that? If you don't mind me asking.
- Hull16

Is have to kill you and I don't want to do that.

Sens would have done the deal if it was Oshie.

a player should have to forfeit his no trade if he requests to be traded.

Spezza needs to file a new list of no trade teams this Tuesday. We will see if the two teams remain excluded...
- spatso

If he is ready to remove those teams from his list he simply would have agreed to waive his NTC when the deal was proposed to him. The list could change, but it would make no sense that a team he could have accepted a trade to would be removed. But then (hee-hee-hee) Spezza (hee-hee-hee) is (heehee-hee) not a rickey scientist.

I believe the 14th pick was involved as well. Dallas had tabled a workable offer as well but they are also on his list.
- Cup 06

Huge pressure on the Blues. Spezza wants to go to the Blues. But the teams making the biggest effort to get a deal done are Nashville, Dallas and Chicago. Murray is no innocent nor is Curran. A deal will get done and everyone will say they are happy.

Just Murray being Murray

a player should have to forfeit his no trade if he requests to be traded.
- Zombie27

Sounds so simple and attractive, but it is unworkable.

What constitutes asking to be traded?

A GM saying a player asked wouldn't cut it, so it would have to be in writing. Unless a player is absolutely desperate to leave he will find away to let the team know without making it a formal request. The team would still have all the issues of an unhappy player; nothing would change.

The only way players might agree to this (in the next CBA many years form now) is if by a player asking to be traded the team was then forced to make a deal within say four weeks.

If he is ready to remove those teams from his list he simply would have agreed to waive his NTC when the deal was proposed to him. The list could change, but it would make no sense that a team he could have accepted a trade to would be removed. But then (hee-hee-hee) Spezza (hee-hee-hee) is (heehee-hee) not a rickey scientist.
- ght120

I am sure Spezza is fine with Dallas, for example. He does a new list for Tuesday. But the list gives him some control. He wants a new contract. Fair enough, he is entitled to negotiate a new one July 1. By slowing down the process he gets to be able to bring everything together on the same day.

Always thought Dallas, Nashville and Florida as well as other teams on the list were the guys to look out for. Always thought there was way too much early noise from St. Louis. Really hard for them to get a deal done once Murray neutralizes the squeeze.

Huge pressure on the Blues.
- spatso

Not really. Already one of the top scoring teams in the league, offense only dried up in the playoffs due to injuries. Plenty of options out there at center, Statsny being the best for us; and others that aren't as good as Spezza, but have minimal cost.

Not really. Already one of the top scoring teams in the league, offense only dried up in the playoffs due to injuries. Plenty of options out there at center, Statsny being the best for us; and others that aren't as good as Spezza, but have minimal cost.
- Antilles

I am sure they will find another option. But, they got caught. They tried to squeeze Murray into a fast deal. But once their squeeze is broken it is really hard to stay in the game. The two teams who made acceptable offers (Dallas and Nashville) never went public.

Not really. Already one of the top scoring teams in the league, offense only dried up in the playoffs due to injuries. Plenty of options out there at center, Statsny being the best for us; and others that aren't as good as Spezza, but have minimal cost.
- Antilles

And lack of talent.

And lack of talent.
- forbetterorWORSE

Yeah, they were in the hunt for the Presidents trophy due to lack of talent. Good call genius.

I am sure they will find another option. But, they got caught. They tried to squeeze Murray into a fast deal. But once their squeeze is broken it is really hard to stay in the game. The two teams who made acceptable offers (Dallas and Nashville) never went public.
- spatso

How did they try and squeeze anyone into a deal? They didn't schedule the draft, the NHL did. If Murray wanted a first round draft pick from them, he had to make a trade before the draft, since they don't have one next year. Blues offered what they considered fair value for Spezza. Murray didn't take it. My guess is he tried to get Anaheim and St. Louis bidding against each other. Instead, Anaheim got Kesler, and Blues got to talk to Statsny enough to think they have a good chance of signing him. Now the pressure is all on Ottawa to get something for Spezza before teams start using up all their cap space on free agents Tuesday; or get stuck having a player on the roster that everyone knows doesn't want to be there.

With respect to NMC, I think if a player asks to be moved then they are asking to get out of the contract with their team. So the NMC should be void in the event of a player asking to leave. As the rules stand today that's not the case.

But what bugs me is what the hell is happening to the Ottawa Senators. The organization that 10 years ago was a dominant beast, perennially contending, has become a circus. Every summer it's the same crap. 'Heatley wants out, nothing we can do, Alfie's leaving, nothing we can do, Spezza wants out, nothing we can do. This bush league crap has to end, pretty much this season, or else 65 won't be resigning. For me it starts at the very top. How that gets fixed, I have no idea.

Yeah, they were in the hunt for the Presidents trophy due to lack of talent. Good call genius.
- Hull16

Compared to the power houses in the league, your top 6 doesn't hold a flame. Spezza wouldn't fix all your problems, but it would be a start. He would be the most offensively gifted centre on your team . Oh, and congratulations on your presidents trophy...

"If he (Heatley) doesn't want to be here, he has to let us make a move" - Jason Spezza (July 2, 2009)

oh how ironic to watch this now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMxJzdVYtXY